Back to School!

Where or where did the summer go?!  Part of me was so ready for the kids to get back in school - the part that likes to accomplish anything and go to the store with out 3 kids in tow.  And part of me was sad to see the summer come and gone so quickly.  Our summer was pretty low key and it was nice to be home and when Pierce and Madi were getting along, I was loving it.  It really seems that with kids every year is going by faster and faster, it was hard to believe it was back to school time already!  

I think Pierce and Madi were both a little bummed to have summer over, but as soon as we went to "Back to School" night, they were excited and ready to go!  That always works like a charm, meeting the teacher, seeing their desk, it just brings excitement, thank goodness for that.  Here is a look at my kids on their first day...

Madi, my big FIRST grader!  Can you believe it?  

 It is just crazy how grown up she is in the what seems like the blink of an eye!  She was very excited to be in school all day, to eat lunch at school, and especially to have her own desk!  Very thrilling for this little miss!  She had a great first week and I was very proud of her, it is such a huge adjustment being in school all day long and although I could tell she was very tired, she did great.  She was sad that her best friend Annie, isn't in her class this year, but she is doing well making new friends in her class.  I am excited to see her progress this year, I know she will be an excellent  student, her reading really took off this summer and she had been cruising through "Jack and Annie" books like crazy.  She read 2 of them today!  It is so fun to see her reading so well on her own and really getting into the stories and loving them.

Pierce, the very grown up FOURTH grader!  

 Seriously, blowing my mind that my boy is this big!  He really likes his new teacher and was excited to start 4th grade.  He doesn't have his best buddies in his class, but I am thrilled that he has 2 darling girls from our neighborhood (my cute Activity Day girls) in his class.  I've told him that they'll be giving me a report if he is ever naughty!  He has become very responsible lately and I know he will have a great year!

 Brother and Sister - this girl loves her big "bwudda" 

Sadly, our new traditional picture on the Todd Bench.  It was incredibly hard to believe that this week of school starting marked 2 years since Todd's been gone.  It is still so unbelievable to me, oh how we miss that little guy.  

Best Cousins - Pierce 4th, Madi 1st, Brooke 5th and Matthew 3rd.  I sure love these kids and am so glad we get to be close to them.  

We're off to a great start this year!  And let me just say how great it was going to Costco this week with only 1 baby!  It was a breeze!  

Photog Blog

Just a quick post to share the link for my new blog today.  I am having so much fun working on my photography, I decided to start a blog just for sharing favorites from the shoots I have been doing. I'd love for you to check it out, critiques and comments appreciated as I continue to learn! Thanks!
www.josierobisonphoto.blogspot.com

Pierson's Happy Birthday

As always, this kid was so excited for his birthday, and we were excited to celebrate him!  Pierce loves having his birthday on Pioneer Day and was excited for the all day festivities.  We started the morning early with a yummy cinnamon roll breakfast, when we had gone shopping at Costco, Pierce opted for the delicious looking cinnamon rolls rather than the usual muffin for his breakfast, not a bad choice. Here he is with his little sidekick...

Jens has been quite fascinated with birthday candles with all of our summer birthday celebrations.  

After breakfast it was off to the parade!  I love that Pierson loves going to the parade for his birthday.  Jensen loved it this year too...

I love this pic of him gazing after the horses. 

He also loves to clap, and of course, I think it's adorable!  

 My sweet NINE year old boy, his baby brother loves him so!

And what do you know, miracles do happen!  All 3 kids looked for a picture! 

   Wahoo!  Happy Pioneer Day!  Love my 3 cute kids.  

After the parade and a few games at the park we came home to prepare for the rest of the day.  We literally partied all day for this kid.  We filled water balloons and I made frosting.  Really yummy frosting.  Then it was time for the "friend party".  Pierce chose to do Laser Mania again after having so much fun last year.  I let him pick a few friends to invite and they had a blast playing laser tag and arcade games.  

 Best Dad Ever, Joey, Pierce, Jace and Isaac - his neighborhood buddies

After Laser Mania we came home for cupcakes and gifts...

 Isaac, Pierce, Jace and Joey - pretty excited for big ol' cupcakes!

 My handsome birthday boy!  

And just to you can get a really good look at the delicious cupcakes and frosting.  Really, it was so good, amazing what you can do with a couple sticks of butter! 

Present Time! 

Pierce was so excited for such fun gifts!  A Star Wars lego set from Isaac, a Nerf squirt gun from Jace and the cool new BYU shirt from Joey.  He has really gotten into Legos lately, especially the Star Wars sets and has had his eye on some cool sets.  He was pretty excited about his big "General Grievous Starfighter" from Mom and Dad.  

We also gave him a new package of Nerf gun bullets which he was thrilled about since he was down to one bullet, and some cool new shirts - BYU and Star Wars, you can tell what this kid loves!  And I love how he looks at me and smiles every time I want to take his picture, he is so good for me, I don't know why I can't Madi on board!  

 After friends went home we got ready for our "cousin party".  Pierce wanted to do a water party with the cousins and I was so thankful for Crystal being so gracious and letting us do it in her beautiful backyard. We had so much fun playing with our Hall cousins and were glad the Brooks could join us too!  

Joey, Matthew, Pierce - they had a lot of slip n slip fun!

Joey, Pierce and Brooke, what a good sport Brooke is to play with all these boys!  

The kids had a ball with water balloons and a water version of duck duck goose.  

Then Crystal had a great game for the older kids, she had frozen t-shirts and they had to put them on.  It is pretty hilarious to watch, they were great sports and had so much fun! 

The brave contestants - Brooke, Matthew, Joey and Pierce

Jensen decided the water looked pretty inviting... after Dad let him soak his clothes, he was glad Mom was there with a swim diaper.  We went from this...

 to this...

and finally to this...

He had so much fun splashing in the water!  

After plenty of water games and fun we enjoyed a delicious dinner and then enjoyed yummy cake and ice cream.  Did I mention the deliciousness of the cake I made?  I think I need an excuse to make it again, I don't think I can wait until next year when our birthday season starts again.  

 My happy birthday boy, (sporting the previously frozen t shirt he managed to put on) with Matthew

After dinner we headed to the cemetery to our new traditional Pioneer Day firework spot.  

Remembering Todd - We love and miss you buddy!  

I really do love this.  So nice to sit there as a family with Grandma and our cousins, close to Grandpa and Todd and enjoy the fireworks, not to mention no one around but us.  Perfect way to end a perfect day.  We had so much fun celebrating Pierson all day long.  I really can't believe it's been 9 years since my first baby boy was born.  He is such a sweet, loving and good boy and I am so thankful to be his Mom.  We love you Pierce!