Gabe's First Day of Preschool!

Gabe was so excited for his first day of Busy Buddies Preschool. I tried to get him to stand still for a moment to take a picture. All I got were his cheesy grins! I love it. He was equipped with his new shoes and a cool backpack.

Daddy took him to school in his "truck". He associates going to school with daddy taking him which is very convenient for me! Gabe goes to school at Stacy Dickerson's (Miss Stacy) house. He goes with a few friends from church. Trey, Shane & Joey. They are such cute boys together. Crazy too! Thanks Stacy for being such an awesome teacher. I am truly amazed at the things you do for them and the things that Gabe is learning. He is so smart! (He must take after me!!)

Labor Day Fun!

On Labor Day we decided to take the kids on an outing to Hamilton Pool. We are trying to visit Texas sites. This was a lot of fun. Very beautiful. The kids loved the outing. We got there early when there wasn't very many people. By the time we left, it was super crowded.

Biv wasn't so sure about the sand and water.

Kyle teasing Gabe...as usual!
My little poser.

Gabe was trying to splash us on the "beach".

Sisters

Steve in typical fashion...always with that phone!

The girls loved searching for the sea shells.

Kyle explored the pools and the cliffs.

The hike was really pretty. I think that if you haven't had a chance to go to Hamilton Pools and live in Texas, you should go! It was a lot of fun.

Happy Birthday Sweet Sassy!! (Sept. 5)

*I know, I know....Lots of catch up. Hopefully I will get some more posts done!!

My first girl turned 10 on September 5, 2009. I cannot believe that she is in the double-digits already (as she calls it!) It seems like just yesterday we brought this runt home from the hospital. She is so dang special! We love her very much and are so grateful for the joy she brings to this family.

Sass has been asking for a camera for forever. So we decided that she should get one for this "special" birthday. She got a pink digital camera. She was so excited! She also got a Project Runway craft thing, school supplies from Nana & Papa and clothes from Mimi & Papa.

We hoped to start her birthday with a yummy breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Steve put us on the waiting list. It was an hour wait, but we decided it was totally worth it. Because who doesn't just love Cracker Barrel breakfast? My favorite!! When our name was called (after the hour wait) we went to check in. Come to find out that Steve only told them 5 people....WHAT!?!?!? They said that they didn't have room for 7 and that it would be another 40 minute wait. SERIOUSLY?!?!?! I was so upset (at Steve mostly). He told me that when they asked him how many he just thought 5...as in 5 kids. OK!!! Anyway, after my anger of waiting over an hour and not being able to get the yummy breakfast I craved, we went and got some Dunkin' Donuts. SO not worth it!

Steve made it up to Sass by taking us all to an early dinner at Chili's. We go early because it isn't so crowded and people don't look at us funny :) Bringing 5 kids into a Chili's isn't like it used to be in Utah. There people don't care. But here....well!! We are crazy :)
Biv loves the chips and salsa.

They came and sang to Sass and brought her their yummy molten cake. Halle, Sass and Biv went to town on that dessert!

On that Sunday we celebrated her birthday with a homemade cake. MMmmmm! Love homemade (from a box) cake!

Sass couldn't get enough of the candles. She kept lighting them and blowing them out and hoping for more wishes.

Happy 10th Birthday Kassadi! We love you so much and are so proud of you. You are a wonderful example to all of your friends. You love to serve others and make people happy with your smiles. You have a sassy attitude which makes us love you even more. Thank you for blessing our lives. XOXO

Gabe's 3rd Birthday (Aug. 17, 2009)

I'M THREE!! This is Gabe trying to hold up three fingers ;)

We celebrated with Nana & Papa before they left home for Utah. Gabe got a "BIG BLACK" truck. He loves it! Mimi & Papa got him a Diego Jeep. He loves Dora & Diego! He watches it everyday :)

Grandpa Berry & The Sell Family sent Gabe cards. He was excited to get his own mail. Thanks for thinking of him!
Halle made Gabe's cupcakes. They had a great time licking all of the icing!



Gabe got lots of trucks and tractors from us. He could play with cars, trucks, boats and trailers all day long. He was so excited to open these!

Happy Birthday little dude! You are a great kid and bring such joy and happiness to this family. And we are soooo very happy you are potty trained! Way to GO! (He has been potty trained for a few months now. I just forgot to post it!)

BACK TO SCHOOL!!

I'm BACK!!! I know...I know... y'all missed me terribly! Lot's has gone on this summer and maybe I will get some of it on the blog. But for now, I am going to start from the present!

The kids were soooooo excited to start school. Maybe even more excited than I was...maybe not!

School in Texas starts at 7:37 am. REALLY early! But we are used to it. The day starts at 6:30 am (at least the girls day starts that early!) They wake up to their own alarm, get themselves ready, feed themselves breakfast and then come and get me up to do their hair. I love it :) Self-maintained kids.

Halle started the 1st grade. She loves her new teacher. She is reading and writing really well. She had a lot of anxiety for the first week about finding her sister and her ride at the end of the school. Her teacher was kind enough to walk her where she should be every afternoon. I am so proud of Halle. She even comes home happy!

Kassadi started the 4th grade. She didn't get any of her friends from last year in her class, but she did get a friend from church. So she was excited about that. This year she gets to rotate between two classrooms and two teachers. This is supposed to help prepare them for 6th grade (middle school). Kassadi got the flu on the second day of school... she missed a couple of days. She was sad about that! She was really worried that she missed stuff.

The girls should be walking home from school but they like to hitch a ride from our awesome neighbors down the street. My kids are so spoiled!!

Kyle is in the 7th grade (his second year of middle school). He is very smart and is in two TAG classes, Math & Science. TAG (Talented & Gifted) is a great program that helps you earn credits toward High School. They are a bit harder, but he loves it. He is taking Spanish this year. He comes home singing the songs everyday. We will all speak Spanish once the year is over!

Needless to say, the kids are doing great! I love the time I get to spend with the two little ones, especially when they are napping! hehe :) Gabe actually starts preschool next week and is so excited. He talks about it everyday.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Happy Father's Day to the most amazing Dad in the world! Thank you for helping me become who I am today. You have given me such a great life. Thanks for being the example and pillar of strength that you are. I love you so much! I will always be your #1 favorite girl ;) xoxo


Happy Father's Day Randy! I couldn't have asked for a better father-in-law. Thanks for teaching your son to be a great father too! I love you very much.

Happy Father's Day Dad. Love Steve.

I also want to thank the Father of my children...Steve. You are a wonderful dad. Your kids love you so much and they look up to you. Thank you for being you! I love you so much!

*This is what happens when you are rushing to church and forget to take a picture so you pull everyone out of the car to take one!!

Olivia Jane's First Birthday!

Kyle filmed and edited Bivvy's B-Day video. Nice job Kyle!

Our night started at Casa Garcias for dinner. Good food! I know that Biv enjoyed it as much as we all did!

She daintily opened up her gifts. She got clothes from Nana & Papa and toys from us.

Mmmmm....CAKE!!

The kids could not stop laughing as she was digging in. She loved it and got it EVERYWHERE!

Gabe enjoyed his cupcakes too!

Happy Birthday Bivvy! You have brought us such joy this past year. You have completed our family! We love you very much.

*Facts about Bivvy: She screams, she cries, she gets whatever she wants...and I mean WHATEVER she wants! She is walking around furniture. She climbs up and down stairs. She sleeps over twelve hours a night. She is the best eater out of all my kids. She pretty much eats anything we give her. She plays really well by herself. (That is if her siblings allow her too!) She loves to take baths, especially with Gabriel (as long as he doesn't pour water on her head.) She loves toilet paper. If there is a bathroom door open she can sense it and heads straight for it. She loves my cell phone. I have already replaced it twice. She is finally starting to grow some hair. She weighs 19 pounds and is 29 inches tall. She truly is a joy. We love her bright smile and her silly laugh. Thanks Biv for a great 1st year!