Bus Safety Day

Today was Bus Safety day at school for Camden. All the new Kindergarteners were invited to watch a bus safety video, and go for a ride around the neighborhood on the school bus.

It was very valuable for Camden since this will be his first year riding the school bus. I pray it all goes off without a hitch after our first bump in the road yesterday with the assigned bus stop.

Last night the boys crawled into their bunk beds, watched some Peppa Pig and knocked out nice and early per our new routine. They were having a blast so I just had to take a picture!

Camden sitting and waiting in the school cafeteria. We met some new friends, talked with some kids we already know, and when it was time to go to his classroom he was so independent and I was so proud. SO PROUD!

He did an awesome job getting on and off the bus. All the parents were running to the doors to take pictures of the students safety practicing getting on the bus. I cannot believe I will have a child in "real" school this year.

I am so proud of how well he did!

Family Photos

Today I set out on a mission to get a couple pictures of the children together as a "family". I need some new pictures for above our mantel, and since Will was home for the day I had the extra help.

I got a ton of pictures, but tonight I am only going to post a couple of them, the pictures of the kids together...

 This is the best picture that I got all day long.
All are looking. No one is crying. SCORE!
That is as good as it gets these days!

 No Addie! You can't go yet!

 With this pose, you would think they are both in their twenties already!
Oh Lord! Save me!

 This was probably the second best picture of the day.

 They were officially done, and ready to go to the playground.
(As promised)

Ben and Addie played on the playground today.

I snapped this when none of them were looking and it was priceless.

After I took this, and uploaded it... I came to the realization that Camden is SUCH a big kids

now. I can't even deal with it. It makes me want to cry for my baby boy back.
Next Tuesday, he will officially be in kindergarten!  Where has the past almost five years gone?

They all did awesome though. I thought we were going to have far more meltdowns than we did. Although the day started off with this...

I will post the individual pictures later on during the week!  Tomorrow is our trip to the zoo!

New York City!

This past weekend we took our first trip into New York City as a family and boy... did we have a blast! By the end of the day the kids were surprisingly still going strong, at nearly midnight when we got home. But alas, it was everyone's last hoorah before school starts next week.

The kids waiting for the train!

 

The boys on the train. They had no desire to have their picture taken at all.
Like usual!
Seems like they are "growing out" of their photogenic nature!

Benny wanted to make silly faces

The next time I turned around, he was out like a light.
This kid could sleep anywhere!

 

The boys in Times Square

Cinderella's Pumpkin in the Times Square Disney Store

We met up with my friend Heiddi.
She was a life saver getting around the city, and we had a ton of fun!

 I also wore Ben on my back for most of the day because Addison napped in the stroller.
He enjoyed it. Four days later, my back is still recovering!

 

Camden and Daddy waiting for the Subway

Addison on her first Subway ride.
She had just woken up... Can you tell?

We visited the 9/11 Memorial.
It was really moving.
We also stopped by Ladder 10 which is the closest Fire House to

Ground Zero.
They are also one of the companies that lost the most FD members.

 I snapped this one while none of them were looking.
I absolutely love this picture!

 A family picture!

The boys at the wall outside of Ladder 10.
There is the most beautiful mural there.

Ben and I at the South Tower Reflection Pool

The boys on the train for the ride home.
All smiles at 10:30 at night.
Only these kids!

 

Summertime Pictures

I have really been behind in updating here, and posting pictures. So I am going to post a ton of pictures from the summer thus far. Once the kids are back in school I will have a little bit more time to keep all of my lovely friends and family members who read here more "in the know".

Ben & Addie playing at Grandma's house

 When I ask Ben to pose or smile these days.
This is the face he lives.

 Addie helped Grandma in the kitchen.
Daddy took her brothers to see the Monster Trucks.

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 This is what happens when you are the only
Grand daughter in the family. Grandma decides
to play dress up with you!

I was so happy to be back from BlogHer in NYC.
We were all hanging out and they gave me flowers.
My boys are so sweet!

This is how Addison likes to sleep now.
On her bear, with her blankie.

One Saturday, La La took the kids to the zoo.
All three of them. I was shocked and had no idea what to
do with myself for the day.
I headed to Starbucks, tried a new Frap and of course
wrote two chapters in my book. It felt so good!

Last weekend I went buck ass wild in Addie's room.
I packed away and gave away all the stuff she has grown out of.
Next?
The boy's bedroom! 

 Ben's typical smerk no matter how hard I try to get him to smile.

 Addie is a typical toddler... wanting to climb UP the slide.

 We swung while her brothers ran dozens of laps around the playground.

 We all got in the tunnels to play together.
We had so much fun, and discovered a new playground, we will be back soon!

Ben has decided he no longer needs a nap during the day.
Yes, this completely sucks, because really... he still NEEDS one.
This is him right before dinner time.
Almost nightly now.