KNEE SURGERY

AFTER

BEFORE--unassuming of the pain to come...

On Sept 30, got my first arthroscopic surgery performed. At Fair Oaks Hospital Dr. Ain, a phenomenal orthopaedic surgeon fixed my left knee. I had a large tear in my meniscus. After injuring it June (it's been a long summer) it never healed and I had to get it fixed.

So my mom is here from FL helping me out. The first few days before the surgery, we got pedicures, went to a movie, out to lunch...we had a great time. Now, I've been slowed down. I'm on crutches, my swelling is huge, my knee is like an elephant. It's really hard going from doing everything to having to stay down. So thank you to all of you, my friends for your kind wishes, cards, desserts, flowers and dinners. I'm so blessed to have such great friends and an amazing family. So thanks to all of you, thanks to Grandma--she is in full swing helping us all out! Thanks mom. And thank you Vicoden.

Ants on a Log

Austin now has dog responsibility. After 1 year with Mommy dealing with the dog (and I still do) but Austin can now feed her and take Annie out twice a day. He always adds special treats to her food and makes smiley faces with little dog treats. He's like his dad decorating faces on pancakes.

Ashley had spirit day at her preschool. She's got spirit..how bout you?

Ashley is now an internet junkie. She LOVES playing Dora, Sesame and sprout online.

Ashley also loves helping mommy cook...ants on logs....

Austin this week has said the following and gotten big chuckles from me:

1. As he reaches in his belly button and pulls out a string, "Look what came out of this hole!"

2. "If you were my foster mom, I bet I'd get more allowance."

Also, big news in our little world....Austin no longer needs pull-ups! We've used the nighttime gizmo-Malem nighthawk and it rings vibrates, beeps and shakes! He even picked out a camo one. And after one week of terribly tired mom, he's in underwear! No more pull-ups for any of my kids!!! Phew. And I thought diapers were expensive, those pull-ups were horrible. We're free!!!!

Austin's 2nd Football Season

Ashley and a couple of other 3 year old girls are the Grizzlies Cheerleaders for our team (whatever cute cheerleader outfits we could find...Falcons, Redskins, etc!)

Great stance Austin!

GO AUSTIN GO!!

Have we mentioned that halftime is our favorite part of the game in Football too?

Especially when there's sweet snacks post-game!

Season II of the Gainesville Grizzlies, Flag Football. Austin loves football. Until he has to run, then we don't like it all too much. Although he is Offensive Line, Center again. He loves snapping the ball to the QB. He has an important position and he does great! GO GRIZZLIES!!!!

Ashley's 1st Soccer Game!

Ashley's team the "Lightning" played their first game last Saturday. She is the only girl on the team. She loves the game! But as pictured above, we don't like it when people take the ball away from us...

Half time is definitely the best part of the game!

"Go Lightning! BOOM" She loves the game cheers.

How dare someone kick the ball away from us? We are pouting on the field....

This is my big chance! Go Ashley!

Ashley's 1st Day of Preschool

Such a big girl. She was so excited to go to school! Ever since Austin started going to Haymarket Baptist Preschool Ashley wanted to go with him. We would just drive by it and she would say, "That's my preschool!" So today was the day. We spent a wonderful morning together talking and picking out her outfit (she wanted to wear a big gaudy beaded necklace and luckily it itched her so she took if off). Then she said, Mom, I love you. My little girl.

So we took the pictures, I recorded her reactions as she first went into the school. She acted like she owned the school. She knew exactly where she was going. I really didn't need to be there at all. She loved it. Her class is the "pig" class, as all 3's classes are farm animals. And she has a purple folder--and a purple car to check herself in and out. She loves the independence, new sites, and is totally ready. As I left her, I was fine. Until...

The teacher gave each of us moms a little present as we left the room. It was a special little note with a bag inside was a cotton ball and a tissue and a tea bag.

This is what it said, " Here is a little gift for you as you leave your precious little one with me on this first day of school. As you hold this cotton ball in your hand, the softness will help you remember the gentle spirit of you child. After you've gone and dried your tears with the tissue, make yourself a hot cup of tea. Put up your feet and relax. Remember that together you and I will work for your child to be the best they can be."

I read the note and was in tears. My baby girl is now in preschool. It hit me like I didn't think it would. Maybe because she's my last? I had a good long cry in the parking lot. Life is moving so fast. I'm so thankful for my life. I'm so thankful for my kids and my husband and our families and friends.

I love you Ash and am sooooo proud of you!

Soccer Girl!

When someone got the ball away from us....meltdown....

We do love soccer, but it's also still so much fun to dress up for tap and ballet!

Ash went 2 weeks without a pull-up on at night and wanted a cart as a reward. When we went to the store, and they were out of stock at Target, Ash couldn't understand why Santa would take it off the shelf so early to put in his toy shop. But this week we went back and Ash got her cart! She takes it EVERYWHERE! Little shopper.

Ashley's 2009 Pictures

Every year at the beginning of school, the kids get their pictures taken. Austin now gets the ones that come 'au naturel' capturing the sincerity of the moment at school. Ashley's I'm still doing and can pick just the most adorable poses! Ashley at 3 1/2.

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.