First Day of School!

School Days..school days...dear old golden rule days....

reading and writing arithmetic...

One more look at mom before boarding the bus...199

My big FIRST GRADER!!!

Has teacher Mrs. Scott at Mountain View Elementary School.

Pancakes and hot chocolate for breakfast, per Austin's request...of course with a whipped cream smiley face by Mom.

His buddy Evan at the bus stop.

I was not as much of a big crying mess this year as I sent Austin off to school. Kindergarten was hard. But this year. He boarded the bus just fine. I'd given him a little silver heart in his pocket as a good luck charm. He wanted something to remind him of me while he was gone. So I slipped the little dime size charm in his pocket as he was boarding the bus. That made things a little better. He was a little nervous, he didn't each much of his pancakes, but he was ready for today. Again, Mom wasn't.

I met up with my friends Erika and Mandi where we lament and mourn and can talk openly about our babies growing up at Panera. It's a tradition-the first day of school each year we meet there.

I hate being so sentimental, but I am. I think every single day how time is passing and there will not be another day like today when my babies are this age, and so young. I just wish life would stop right here! But I know that won't happen. Our Bishop bore his testimony at church about how precious time is, and again my life flashed before me...I know that I can only take one step at a time and enjoy each day and each moment for what it is. I love you Austin and am so proud of my First Grader! You'll have as you said, "An Awesome Year!"

Jazzy Bug

First position!

This 6 year old ordered 20 chicken McNuggets. I told him there's no way....he polished off 17 of them. Wow.

Ash started her Jazzy Bugs class this week. She's at the Little Gym and does 20 min of tap, 20 min of ballet and 20 min of gymnastics. It's just enough busy time in each activity to keep the 10 girls going! Ash loves tap! She's really enjoying her class.

Big Boy Room

This is Annie, our viszla's favorite spot once I put the kids down for bed. I find her on top of my bed, ready to snuggle. I put her downstairs in her cage everynight, but before I do, when the kids are away, Annie and I chill and watch my tivo'ed shows together.

She really thinks she's human. Oh, and one more thing. She too, like all the other Toler's has a nickname. There' s Goose, Fritz, Chuck and Cooter. But her name is Eunice. Sometimes it turns into Eukus Pukus. But it's hardly ever Annie, rather it's Eunice, Eukel, Pukus....

Ash will have her princess decorated room probably until she goes to college.

Upon returning from Kenya and Austin was 3 years old, we had the cutest little Sailboat theme in his room. He loved it and we've since expanded with surf decos and Ron Jon and pirate garb. So now at age 6 going on 7, he told me a little while ago he did not want sailboats anymore. Those curtains and quilt are for babies. Sniff sniff. But he is my baby. So much to my dislike, I went to Pottery Barn Outlet and found the perfect skull/pirate duvet and curtains for his room. It's now a big boy room. I'll miss the sailboats.

Soldier Boy-My Hero

Baghdad has been a little crazy recently. Jonathan's doing well. 1 month down. Thanks for all of your support.

Summertime..and the Livin' is Easy....

Halloween...already? We found Austin's Halloween costume (GI Joe's SNAKE EYES Ninja) at Costco--thanks Jen! I wonder if it will even make it till Halloween?

Ash of course is a Princess

Nothing like a haircut from GINO at Great American Barber in Gainesville. Free drink, popcorn and lollipop...what more could a kid want?

We've loved Skyping with Jonathan everyday....(picture compliments of Austin).

Summer Fun Series on the plaza at Gateway Plaza and Fairfax Corner.

Snozzberry? Wasn't that a Willy wonka flavor? I never knew there was such a thing!!! Had to snap a picture!

Demolition Derby

What was this flying creature?

Austin picked out an Eagle to be painted on his face because DADDY was an Eagle on Condoleezza Rice's detail. He was so proud to tell everyone he was just like Dad.

My buddy Erika and I decided to take our kiddos to fill up on funnel cakes and a good ole' demolition derby. The kids even got their faces painted at the Fair. We got as close as we could to the demo derby and the kids had a great time. The firemen came out and sprayed a few of the cars that had caught on fire...the action was great!

Millions of Peaches...Peaches for Me

Rady Park with our buddies the Hucks

Arrgggh! Pirate Ash. They caught Crawfish today!

Towards the end of summer, we always go to Hartland Orchard to pick peaches. My favorite fruit. This particular day we went, it was so HOT and HUMID. This picture above sums up our experience picking peaches. The tears, sweat and bugs....

We picked some HUGE peaches!

Austin loves using the picker-tool.

I even attemped to make my very first batch of freezer peach jam and peach frozen yogurt. Needless to say, 2 weeks later we are peached out.

The Heart Don't Forget Somethin' Like That...

We LOVE the county Fair. Every summer in August, the Prince William County Fair (largest cty fair in VA) comes to town. I like the fair more than the kids. Who can resist the smell of farm animals, funnel cakes, corn dogs, and a demolition derby?

This year we went the opening evening, on half-price day. The kids rode all the little kiddie rides(I don't trust the large carnival rides anywhere) and ate all the fair food they could. We had a great time!

Science Camp

Ash the little Diva loves to shop. That doesn't mean she's great at the stores, as she does like to wander off and look at things on her own. But, she loves to take her time and look at everything. Try things on (including bras) and look at herself in the mirror. I love having a daughter.

Austin did science camp for 2 weeks at the Freedom Center and he LOVED it! If it were year round, he'd do it. He did projects everyday and learned how to make electricity, batteries, a motor, and physics--he even won the construction of the boat that carried the most pennies. Yeah Austin!

Kung Fu panda pose

"Austin's Office-Please knock." Austin set up his own little office in his room. He took all of our downstairs supplies of staper, tape, markers, etc. and had people 'sign in' upon entering his room. He would sell things to us in his room and put them for display. Like his own little store.

Like Father like son. These were the men at the State Dept getting our passports the day Jonathan left. We miss you Daddy.