Character Counts!

I am SO proud today!! This girl is a rock star. We have had our moments (and still do!) she is strong willed as ever, and we have some hard days but she truly is a KIND, hardworking, caring, girl.

I got a message from her teacher about the first award ceremony of the year and that Hannah was getting an award. I had no idea which award but I was very excited to see her.

They were giving our character awards and honor roll awards. I still had no idea what award she was getting so I just kept filming until I heard her name.

Then I hear her teacher say, "This Exemplary Bobcat award for excellent character goes to Hannah Adkins". My heart just BURST. We work REALLY hard at home on being good friends, kind people, caring people and doing what is right. That might not always go on in our home, or even out in public but for the most part, this girl has Amazing character. In her conference, Ms. Martinez told us she is always so helpful to others and will tell her teacher if another friend needs something.

It meant so much to me to know she got this award because I have always said, I just want to have good, kind, caring, empathetic, loving children. It doesnt matter their test score, how good they are at sports, I just want them to be good people. We are working on it. And in 5 years she has really grown. I was just SO proud of her.

I found her after the ceremony and gave her a huge hug and she just burst into tears. It's really hard for her when I come to school because she knows I have to leave. It broke my heart. So in a couple of these pictures she is on the verge of tears, poor girl.

Hannah you are awesome. Always be a person of character, it means more than any grade, any award, any first place team you could be apart of.

Love you my little Exemplary Imagine Mountainview Bobcat!!!

Closer to 4, than 3!

My little baby is O turned 3.5 yesterday, how on earth is this kid halfway to 4?! I never in a million years knew this little boy would steal my heart the way he has. I am so glad I turned him into a cuddly, snuggly, mama loving little boy! He rarely turns down my request for a kiss or a hug, which is sweet because I ask him ALL day long. I cant really get enough of the way he smells, how soft his cheeks are, or how squishy he still is. I tell him I love him 24/7 and he always responds with "love you forever". I ask him to live with me forever too :) He is saying yes for now!

Even in just the last few weeks he has changed so much with his talking, learning and things he is doing. He started preschool this year and seems to like it. He definitely won't be my school lover like Hannah but he is a good little student and tells me a few things here and there. He is still WAY more interested in playing with trucks and dirt and watching The Axel Show on his ipad than learning anything I want to teach him. What is most important to me right now, is that he is a good friend and a nice kid. The rest will come :)

 We spend alot of time in the carpool line so we play games, I usually tickle him til he cant stand it, we sing songs or just catch up a movie :) He is usually pretty patient. Since he only goes to school Tues and Thurs, we still spend alot of time together. I love the one on one time I get with him. He is a funny kid!

 Love that big smile!

 And some days he unbuckles himself and jumps up front with me! He tells me, "there's no police man, I no get in trouble".

 LOVE this picture of him!

 And then he got a haircut! He hated haircuts up until this last one. He usually screams the whole time saying "it hurts" ha ha but this time he sat on my lap and didnt cry, we were pretty proud!

 We had some rain and he just had to wear his rain boots!

 He still loves trucks, playing in the dirt, running around outside, and being Hannah's "baby" (she tells him when to cry or eat or move ha ha). He is a GREAT brother. For the most part, he puts up with her requests. They can get along so well or 2 seconds later be fighting like crazy. Those two dont really know what to do without eachother.

He sleeps pretty well in his big boy bed, I need to post some house pictures, we did his room in an adorable alligator theme, it turned out so cute. Sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night but for the most part he sleeps great by himself and just wakes up yelling "Mommy, I NEEEEEDDDDDD you!" That's a heck of a wake up call! 

He is still doing great with all his pottying, he wears diapers at night but Im not too worried about that, he sleeps HARD. Hannah can wake very easily so Im glad I have one that sleeps pretty sound. He's a pretty big boy! At 3.5 he wears anywhere from 4T to 5T. I bought a bunch of 4T pants at a sale and now he needs 5T's, and that was like 2 months ago! 

He is so funny, so loving, so playful, and usually always smiling. He is a wonderful little boy and I couldnt even imagine life without this kid! God knew what he was doing adding him to our family. Hannah will look at me sometimes and say, "Owen is so cute" or "Owen is so funny". She recognizes his accomplishments and always looks right at me when he does something to see if I've noticed. She is a great big sister. 

It's not always sunshine and roses, we have fits and tempers and he's learned a really good pout, but it's hard to take him seriously. Those lips and those cheeks make him irresistible!!

It's just hard to believe he was 10 months old when we moved here. Time really flies when you have these precious kids in your life. 

We love you sweet boy, keep on being you!!!

Little Halloween Pirates

Even thought Owens little heart desired to be a ninja turtle or spiderman or something "man" I wanted to see if I could squeeze in at least one more year of matching costumes :) Yes, blame me kids! These cute little pirates didnt put up too much of a fight, but no one will wear the earring :))

They look pretty darn cute! (pictures achieved with the bribery of halloween cookies) 

 that was his scary face :)

 they look like they're looking for something!

 he looks like a lost boy!

 Her pirate face!

We've already had 4 trunk or treats, so Im pretty much over all the candy! 

Happy Halloween!

Catching up....again!

Im playing catch up...again! I for sure thought when Hannah was in school full time that I would have more free time on my hands. Not the case! I guess its a good thing we are busier than we used to be but the days fly by!
Im not even sure where to start so the easiest is to just tell time by the order of my pictures on my phone!

We spend all our nights reading together in bed. I love that Hannah wants to read. I love the versions of her stories. One day she'll read all the words but for now, I love the stories she tells!

 Jeremy was out of town last month for a water conservation conference in Carson City, and he got to speak at the capitol. We were so proud of him!

 This girl had no cavities at the dentist!

 Beautiful afternoon at the Nature Discovery park!

 Sometimes.....they play so well ;)

 Owen enjoyed dessert at dinner :)

 Got him to dress up at the kids museum!

 He picked me "flowers" from the backyard, such a sweetheart!

 We celebrated Daddy's birthday! He's 35!

 This girl loves playing school. Like LOVES it. Plays all day everyday. There are days we truly have to tell her, we need to take a break from school. She would make us be her students 24/7. I mean she gets it honest!

 She got a new perscription for her glasses and they are much stronger so the adjustment was hard. But the doctor we see has been really helpful. But in true Las Vegas fashion....the 2-3 hour doctor appointments are TOUGH with two wild kids. So Hannah played eye doctor to Owen.
H: Owen, close your right eye, what do you see?
O: an airplane
H: Owen, close your left eye, what do you see?
O: an airplane
H: Owen, close both eyes...what do you see??
ha ha ha

 Then Granmommy and Nana came in town and we were SO excited to have them! We made a trip to the pumpkin patch!

 And this is how Owen does life. However he wants to!

 Since my mom and Nana were in town, our California family came in town to see us. It was great seeing them. This is cousin Hannah!

 This kid will pretty much cuddle me and kiss me whenever I ask....and I ask CONSTANTLY. I cant get enough of him.

 Hannah and I went on a date to pick out her $10 surprise for getting green every single day since the beginning of school. She is my little rule follower....praying that lasts forever!

 Owen had his little school conference last week. His teacher told me he is a sweet boy, follows directions, plays well with others (thankfully!) and loves playing dress up :)

Um....vampire/firefighter?!

 Saturday was Hannahs last game of the season....we were so sad to see it come to an end! I think we could play baseball every week. I LOVE watching her, Owen LOVES running and playing with the other kids, Jeremy enjoys coaching and pitching and its something we all enjoy doing together. So we were sad knowing we wont play again until March. And on her last game it RAINED hard all morning. I am surprised we still played but a little rain didnt stop us! The kids loved sliding in the mud as you can imagine.

 Jeremy pitching to Hannah.

 Such a great team.

 4 sweet little girls, kept right up with those boys! (Kelsie, Maddy, Hannah A and Hannah R!)

 Trophies after the game

 Sweet girls!

 Ive said it before but we got so lucky with our team. They have become like a second family to us and being in a city where we really dont know alot of people or have those old solid friendships, they have become our friends outside of baseball. The coaches care so much about the kids and really wanting them to do well, it just makes me so thankful Hannah's baseball career has started out like this.

 I think she was one of the cleanest kids out there on Saturday!

 And you can only guess who loved the rain the most!

 Sunday lunch with these two crazies. Jeremy swore off going out to eat with them until they're 12 or something crazy like that!

This picture makes me so happy. They fight like cats and dogs but they seriously love eachother so much.