Family of four . . . 11 weeks

New things about Brandon: Brandon has loved swimming and playing up at grandma and grandpa's house this week. It had been very warm for Prescott, so the pool has been great for him. We have also been working on talking since he is supposed to have 15 words by his birthday. I think that we are getting close. He has mastered mama, dada, Buba, GG, papa (in a whisper). He also has many animal noises; cat, dog, lion, bird, owl, and monkey.  We are working on up, please, thank you and grandma. He has also enjoyed coloring this week. Thank you Uncle Al, Aunt Vickey, and Alycia for our new crayons and coloring pages.  We gave Brandon another hair cut at home too!!  We bribed him with a Sonic slush and grandpa's homemade popcorn!!

New things about Natalie: Praise God Natalie is really close to sleeping through the night. She is going for anywhere from 5-8 hour stretches at night! She is also going to bed between 7-8 now. So much easier than her 9:00 bed time. Hopefully we can keep her on this schedule. She has been getting up around 3:30-4:20 to eat. Then, after I feed her I would have time to get in a workout before I get ready for work. I wouldn't have any more excuses. We have also been making Natalie do more tummy and back time. She likes loves to be held, so when I make her lay on her own she doesn't enjoy it as much. Today she managed to turn herself one hundred and eighty degrees!! She will be doing things sooner than Brandon, but just so she can catch up to him!!

New things about Tyler: Tyler went home a few times this week to tutor. He is helping out some kids over the summer, so this gave him time to start working in his new classroom too. He is so happy to finally be in the new building at work. (Maybe I'll be able to sneak some pictures  you guys so you can see how different our rooms are.)

New things about Cassandra: I have been working on a lot of school stuff this week. The back to school sales started so Office Max and I have become very good friends. I wish they would up their teacher limits again, but they still haven't. Makes it hard to buy what you want as a teacher. Just means more trips for me. It was great to be able to spend time with my family who came in to visit too. My aunt, uncle and cousin came to visit for the fourth. We had a great time hanging out at my parent's house. Brandon loved playing with them too!!

Wordless Wednesday

Thoughtful Tuesday

Is a teachers job really ever done? I know I joke around about loving teacher for breaks and summers, but I really do love my kids and teaching! If I didn't why would I spend all summer pinning away on Pinterest, hitting up back to school sales the day they start, looking at curriculum and playing with my Cricut to design awesome stuff for class?!

Friday Five

1. This week has been so much cooler!! We are loving our time up at my parent's house!! Loving that it's 20 degrees cooler up here!!

2. I finished the last book in the Baxter series by Karen Kingsbury. I'm so sad I finished them. Now time to move on to another author. I'm open to suggestions, as I've almost finished all the Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult novels as well.

3. We have been doing a lot of adult beverages this week! Thanks to Pinterest and friends we have tried quite a few new drinks!

4. I forgot how much we love playing the Wii. We have been playing golf, bowling and baseball. We love it!!

5. We are so thankful for Skype! It gives us the chance to talk with family who love far away, and for the kids to see their great grandparents! If you want to Skype with us, or iChat, just let me know!

Family of four . . . 10 weeks

New things about Brandon: Brandon is now a fish!! This past week he started swimming by himself and he now jumps off the edge of the pool!! That took some building up to, but he has no fear now. Up at my parent's house, he jumps into his little kiddy pool here too. I'm just afraid that he's going to break something jumping here. Brandon is loving playing outside up at grandma and grandpa's house, and playing in his pool.

New things about Natalie: Natalie has been sleeping longer at night! She has been going down between 7:15 and 7:45 for the past couple of days. She has been getting up around 3:30 to eat, and then goes back to sleep. The only downside is that she is then up again around 6:00 and is then up for a little while. She is loving her new swing that we borrowed from Abby and Sarah. She enjoys her nap time in her swing, but still loves taking a nap with mommy too.

New things about Tyler: Tyler was able to take this week off, as we have been up at my parent's house. He enjoyed being able to relax, and read a lot! He is having fun playing with Brandon up here in the cooler weather as well.

New things about Cassandra: I am enjoying being up at my parent's house. It is so much cooler up here. Tyler and I celebrated six years of marriage this week, and we were able to escape to Sedona for two nights to celebrate. It was nice being able to watch a movie without having to pause to change a diaper, get a bottle, or put a baby to bed. We were also able to go out to eat, and eat our own food! Plus we were able to go to the movies too!! We are so thankful to my parents that they watched the kids for us so that way we could go and do this.

Wordless Wednesday

Bubba loves his sissy!

Thoughtful Tuesday

It's crazy to believe that Tyler and I have never been married for six years!  So much has happened over the past six years, and we have come so far.  We have been blessed with an amazing family who loves and supports us.  We have two beautiful children, who I wouldn't trade for the world.  We have friends who have become our family in multiple states.  I wish there was a way we could have everyone we love in one place, so we could always spend time with those that we love.  Even though we are all spread out, it makes those times when we get to spend time with those who are far away even more special.

Our awesome family in early May for Natalie's newborn photos, by Christina at Patchwork Photography