School Girl

What a beauty! I love this age and stage. Anna is wonderful!

Poor Rod!

I love watching Rod play softball. That is...until something like this happens: Rod turned his ankle on second base. It was a terrible sprain that has taken A LONG time to heal. Poor guy.

6 * Tanielu's Sixth Birthday * 6

Tanielu turned six! He took cookies into school to share with his class. Then we went to Chuck E Cheese's with Grandma and Grandpa B. After we played there we came home for cake and presents and Nonna joined us.

Tanielu is a wonderful boy! I love that he is so quick to help out around the house and is the best Tani-bear hug giver ever! He always knows how to make everyone feel better and gives great compliments. He has become very good at soccer and T-ball this year and is great on his bike. He has become an excellent reader and has stopped "guessing" at the hard words. Tani loves to watch "Treasure Planet" and the Star Wars movies. He also really likes "Tom and Jerry". He has recently started building with legos and can build some amazing guns and cars. Tani is my "Golden Heart" boy and has a lot of emotion about life...happy, sad, joy, fear, love....Tani feels life to the fullest.

Happy Birthday Tanielu! We sure love you and can't wait to see all you will accomplish this year!

Back to School 2009

School began early this year...August 17. Entirely too early for me...but Anna was excited to start third grade. She looked adorable heading off with her backpack:Tanielu started Kindergarten! I was so proud of him...so handsome and confident. He ran ahead of me into the school. He is still young though...he had me give him kissing hands before leaving. I found myself crying all the way to the car. I told Tani they were "happy tears." There is something joyful and sad about the way time keeps moving along. He will never be home with me more than now...he will just go more and more. That is the way it is supposed to be I guess.Owen started preschool at Learning Dynamics. He is excited to learn to read this year. He went right to class too...no problems. He said he felt like he wanted to cry but he just "tried really hard not to." My tough little guy!

*William's 2nd Birthday*

Wow! My baby is already two! William is the most joyful soul I have ever known. He is always happy and smiles at everyone. He is constantly trying to find ways to make us laugh. What a pleasure it is to have this positive energy around the house! I can't believe that in the last year you learned to walk, run, and then climb all over everything. You think you are the same age as your brothers and want to do everything they do. You are fearless...I am afraid you will be a daredevil! You have earned quite a few nicknames: Billy, Golden Boy, Billy Rockle (from the motorcycle/"rockle" you always carry), and Rock a Billy. You love to give kisses and love to laugh. At night you like to watch "Finefeld" with Daddy. Your favorite tv show is "Go Diego Go" and your favorite song is "Twinkle, twinkle little star." You love to play catch in the evenings and never loose focus.

Happy Birthday to our wonderful Billy!

New Puppy

We surprised the kids with a 7 week old Labrador retriever puppy the other night. He is so very cute. We picked him from a litter of eight. There isn't much that is cuter in the world than a litter of wiggly, white, lab puppies. We were able to meet his mom and dad. Mom, Daisy looked a lot like Chino but smaller. Dad, Walker was a cool old guy. I asked if I could bring him home. He reminded me a lot of Chino and looking in his eyes made me tear up. It took some work to decide on the puppy for our family. This little guy was asleep on his back when we arrived with the other puppies jumping all over him. A bit later he laid his head in Rod's lap and seemed to say "pick me." He appears to be pretty mellow and happy.

The kids were so excited by our surprise! We lined them up in front of the fireplace and had them close their eyes. William gave it away a moment early by exclaiming "puppy!" The kids squealed and surrounded him with love. Owen was overwhelmed and took a minute to join in. I think we may possibly win the coolest parent's award right now.

I don't think Peachy was quite as thrilled with this new family member. Hopefully the bird dog and the bird can work something out. We would like to avoid the "circle of life" lesson for now.The first night home went great. They all slept on the floor like a bunch of puppies. No crying but a few accidents. Crate training has begun. The only problem is the waking up all night long to "go out". He is just a baby after all. Feels a lot like having a newborn.
This is the spot the puppy likes to hide to get away from the kids...especially William who thinks you can sit on puppies. Pretty cute how the puppy can fit under the ottoman...before we know it he will be big.

Now we just have to decide on a name. Anna and Tani like Buddy and Bubba. I like Blue and Bo. Rod likes Jack (after our nephew). We will have to see what fits best. It always takes us a while with names. In needs to be just right because years are ahead of us with this adorable little...soon to be big boy.

Poor Owen!

Day one: Day two:

Day three:

Poor Owen! He pulled the dresser over on himself trying to climb and get something out of the top drawer. It was horrifying! Owen laying under a six drawer dresser. I had to lift it off the top of him. His legs were stuck in a drawer. I was sure they were broken as I unwedged them. Then Tani said: "Mom, look at his face!" Oh my! I rushed him to the ER to be checked. I was terrified of a brain injury. But no broken bones. He is OK. I am so thankful! Owen slept between us that night. What a special little boy. I am so very grateful he was protected and no greater injury occurred!