Emma and Giada

My dear friend Yvonne, who I work with, brought her kiddos over to swim with Cash before the school year started.  Yvonne found out she was pregnant about a month before I did and it was so fun to share our pregnancies together.  Her sweet Giada was born 2 months early and though she spent so much time in the hospital she is absolutely gorgeous, healthy and perfect.

We were able to spend some time together with our girls while our boys played. 

The Pool

Not long after we moved in to our home (mid March 2013) we decided to have a pool put in.  We started getting bids and finally decided on a pool company mid June.  We were hoping that the "digging" would be over before I had Emma but that didn't exactly workout seeing as how she decided to make her appearance 3 weeks early.  We brought Emma home on the 30th of June and the digging continued well in to that first week.  It was to say the least AWFUL!  SO loud!  We loaded up the kids and went to my parents while it was going on.

With all of that said the process was pretty exciting and we looked forward to seeing the finished product.  The entire project took 7 weeks.  That was from the time of painting off the outline of the pool to swimming.

Food for thought:  1) Get at least 5 bids for the job. 2) Look for a pool company that doesn't have a ton of overhead so they don't include their overhead in the cost of your pool. 3) Ask for references and to see those references first hand.  If their work is really that great they should be able to take you to a few jobs they have done and let you see their finished product.

Trip to Port Arthur

This past weekend we made a trip to Port Arthur to see my grandmother 'Missy' and my brothers.  My grandmother turned 90 on Sept 4th.  I literally cannot begin to describe the love I have for this woman.  She is amazing beyond words.  She is beautiful, wise and one of the most important people in my life..not just women but people.

Emma was such a great little traveler..while her brother asked about a million times if we were there yet.:)  I guess that's typical of a 6 year old.  It's funny though because Cash is so much like Ben in the car..he can stay awake forever and Emma (although) an infant seems more like me.  Her eyes close the minute she gets in the car.  

My dad went with us as my mom was already there and of course we made our traditional stop at Bucee's.  That is one of Cash's favorite things to do...and mine too!   One of Cash's other favorite things  to do is stay in a hotel..which we did.  My parents stayed as well so he was in heaven.

We visited with my grandmother on Saturday morning and also before we headed back home.  There wasn't as much time with her as I would have liked but any time is valuable.  I wanted her to meet Emma and see Cash.  He really has a bond with her..even as little time as they have spent together.  I guess he sees all the wonderful things about her like I do.  We got to take some generational pictures together which was really great.

My boys and their guitars

It was time for Ben to buy another guitar and of course Cash loves to go to the music store with his dad...so off we went to Guitar Center.  We bought Cash's 2nd and 3rd guitar there ...and he was 3 and 5.  Now he found his 4th guitar...I captured this pic of the two of them while testing out the newest additions to their collections.

Cash 1st week of 1st grade

Our sweet boy started first grade last week.  I am not sure how I feel about that.  It was good to have him go back to school as he was home all summer with Emma and I.  He had the choice of going to camp a few weeks or staying with us and he really wanted to stay with us.  I was glad as I thought it would be good for him to spend time with his sister.

Its really hard to believe he is already a first grader.  Also hard to believe how different you feel about kinder to first.  I was so sad to leave him at kinder but happy to see him going in to the first grade.  He is growing so fast and I am constantly in awe of how smart he is.  I think the common sense thing may take a bit to catch up but he is smart, creative, outgoing, and very sweet.

His first week of 1st grade went great.  He loves his teacher, Mrs. Veronica DePoyster, and I am hopeful that she is just the teacher for him.  Cash being in Dual Language provides a greater challenge and we really need him to have a strong and organized teacher...and I think she is that teacher for him.