First Soccer Game

A few weeks ago we had Olivia's first soccer game! So far she really seems to enjoy it! She is still learning the rules and to focus on the ball! :) But we have seen some improvement already, so that is good! Hopefully it will help her to come out of her shell a little more! Her team is really good, it's a shame they don't keep score!

Our little Red Hot!

Ready for the game to start! Go Livvie!

Look at her in on the action!

Uh-ooooooohhhhhh - other team must have scored!

Rehydrating after that draining game! ;)

Introducing.....

SOPHIE SPARKLES GRANEY!!!!! Here are some pictures of our most recent addition! Sophie is a Cavelier King Charles Spaniel and was born July 18th. We brought her home September 11th, needless to say, it has been an interesting, but good overall, first few weeks!

The day we brought her home

For the first week, I don't think Sophie walked much on her own. Olivia carried her everywhere. Which was probably a good thing because whenever she was on the ground she was peeing!

Jack likes Sophie's things better than the actual dog they are intended for!

He loves to play in her bed, especially if it means booting her out!

It looks like he is petting her here, but he is really pushing her out!

Miss Sophie is actually a really good dog! She had a bladder infection her first week here, which made things rough. But after some doggy amoxicillin she is a new puppy! We still have accidents of course, but nothing compared to that first week. And she is chewing on everything in site, so that is a challenge, but all part of a new puppy! She is super sweet and loves to cuddle! She is also great about sleeping in her crate at night, thankfully!

Block Party

Way back at the beginning of September, Labor Day weekend actually, we had a block party! There were 2 bounce houses and a big slide for the kids. It took awhile for Olivia to warm up to the group, but once she cut loose, she had a blast! She loved the water slide and she and her friend Nina had fun playing with a jump rope... not sure what they were doing, but it entertained them forever! As usual Jack had fun eating and sitting in his stroller! One day he will walk and finally be able to enjoy our outings! :)

Jack in his jammies... somehow he is always in pj's when I get the camera out!

The jump rope game... whatever that was!

Cutie pie

Shut Out

Olivia wanted to color one afternoon on her tray, but didn't want Jack to get her stuff, so she opted to go behind closed doors, into the study! It did not take long for little Jack to sniff her out!

Hey, what is going on in there?

This is Jack's way of pointing, he wanted his sissy! :(

Missing Sissy

Since Olivia started school Jack has really been missing her! And really, so have I, for more than one reason! I didn't realize how much these two really played together, or at least kept each other's attention! Jack is so bored without her, his toys are just no fun! So he spends his days doing the following....

Trying to crawl up the stairs. The mere site of the gate up can bring him to tears!

Crawling through small places (someone please get this boy to walk!) ;)

Eureka! Finally getting to go up the stairs!

Playing with knobs

And he loves, loves, loves to look out the window and yell "hi"!

I have enjoyed spending some good one on one time with Jack and feel so fortunate that I get to do that! As I've said before, he has such a fun personality and can always make me laugh. All that said, he is definitely a boy and keeps me on my toes!

Tying up loose ends....

So, I tried to "quit" the blog in an effort to free up some of my time. But I found that I really missed it! I enjoy the journaling and it's a great way for me to keep up with things for my scrapbook, since I am 4 years behind! :) All that, and my kids have done some super cute things I just had to share with everyone! ;)

So, without further ado, here are some pics from early August when Denny was out of town and the kids and I had a few slumber parties!

Of course Kennedy, Cambry and Julie came over to stay the night! The girls had a great time, the small ones and the big ones! :) Here are our sweet girls in their best friends t-shirts!

The next night cousin Presley and Liz came out to stay with us! The girls were so silly at dinner!
More silliness as we got ready for bed!

And starting to wind down! I just love it when Olivia spends time with her cousins! I had so much fun with mine growing up, I want the same experience for her!

Olivia is Red Hot

Or is a Red Hot! Olivia decided she wanted to try soccer this year and was placed on the Red Hots team! I was really surprised when she decided on soccer over gymnastics, especially since she would not know anyone on the team! But I am so proud of her for branching out and trying something new! Last week they had their first practice and Denny said it went great! Olivia loved it and was quite proud of herself! ;) We eagerly await their first game in a few weeks!

She said the socks were "so itchy"! She couldn't wait to get them off!

GOAL!!!!!

Olivia's Elementary School Debut

As most know school started here on Monday which means my little baby started Kindergarten! Last week I was pretty much a mess, crying at the mere mention of school, and ready to keep Olivia home and try again next year! ;) I am just so sad that she has left behind so many good, sweet friends that go to other schools this year or are not in school yet! I selfishly want her to just have those kids as friends forever! But thankfully Olivia did not share my anxiety! The more I asked her to stay home with me one more year the more determined and excited she became to go! That is a true blessing because it made Monday that much easier on her mommy! When I went in to wake her up at 6:45 she was already awake and very excited to start her day!

My big girl

(Who in this picture desparately needs highlights????)

Can you see the anticipation in her eyes?

I'm surprised she didn't fall backwards with that big ole backpack on!

We were thrilled to find out that Olivia has 3 familiar faces in her class! Two from pre-school last year and one who lives right down the street, Nina. Here are Olivia and Nina doing their "First Kindergarten Drawing"

Jack was ready to stay with his sister! He would have had a great time eating crayons and pulling things off the walls! I'm sure Mrs. Mars would have loved having him in her class!

After leaving Olivia behind, I had a date, which I had really been looking forward to, with 3 great friends! We had our own Boohoo Yahoo breakfast at Breadwinners, mimosas and all! It was so much fun to sit and talk about how each of our girls went off to school for their first time that morning! I will really miss all of those girls being in school together, there is such a comfort with old friends... for Olivia and for myself!

All in all Olivia's first day was a great success and she has loved every minute of it! I just pray her enthusiasm continues!

Rise and Shine

I have really struggled with the fact that Olivia was starting kindergarten this year! As much as I look forward to all of the fun that "real" school entails, I am very sad to leave behind our pre-school way of life.... Not to mention the fact that this means my baby girl is really growing up... fast! From now until Olivia leaves for college our lives will be dictated by the school calendar and tardy bell! Not a fun thought! So, to help me get in the mood, last Friday we had a back to school Rise and Shine party here at our house! We invited all of our friends over for an 8:00 a.m. party of donuts and juice to get us back in gear for the school season! I cannot, by any means, take credit for this super cute party idea! My good friend Summer threw one last year for her daughter and friends and it just looked like so much fun and such a cute idea, I had to steal it! I got permission first of course! :)

Another Graney party where pajamas were the attire of choice! And I promise Olivia does have more than one pair of pj's! (In case some of you didn't notice these are the same pj's she wore at her birthday party! Must be her party pj's!)

It was an all outdoor event, and I was really worried that with all the rain we had Thursday night, and even Friday morning, that we might have to cancel, but we decided to plow on, weather be darned! So, after some rearranging in the garage, we moved the party from the back yard to the front driveway and garage, white trash style! ;) Which explains why there are no pictures of the table or decorations... not as cute butted up against the tool bench in the garage! But it turned out so good it may be in the same location next year, but figure out how to hide the "garage"!

Olivia and Kennedy

I love this picture of them! Olivia will certainly miss her now that school has started, they have been inseparable this summer!

Ally who also started K this year!

Jake, Maci's big bro giving Liv a push! How sweet is he?!

Cambry, Kennedy's lil sis

Jacob and Ethan and Keeley and Luken

Precious Emma

Nicholas, Nina (friend down the street AND in Liv's class!!!), and Olivia

I'm not sure what was going on here, some swinging and screaming... Obviously the sugar has kicked in!

Jake and Tatum (Sawyer's big sis) - both starting 3rd grade!

Stacy, Carey and Sheryl

That was one tiring party!

Sawyer, Olivia, Kennedy, Maci

It was so much fun, despite the weather and plan B, and all us moms and kids being tired at first! We really look forward to making this a tradition for back to school every year! That is until the kids deem it is too uncool! ;)