Pictures as Promised!

Tuesday was the kids first day of school together at Eastlake! With the exception of a couple alligator tears and a couple nerves they did great! I am so excited to finally have them in school together! Last night at dinner Brooklyn reported Boston's every move around the school, including what he ate for snack, who he ate it with, and where he sat on the rug for line time. Look out Bossy, big sister is watching!

Outside their school...

A little first day of school photo shoot before we left....

The car ride home! Mom's favorite part of back to school!

Labor Day Weekend!

For Labor Day weekend we decided to get out of the city for a break after a crazy week of DNC traffic, picketers and helicopters so we headed to Breckenridge for some clean air, four wheeling, yummy food, hot tubbing and rest! We went with cousin Blake & Sara & family and had so much fun and feel so lucky to have such a beautiful mountain house just a short hour and 30 minutes away, Thanks Lee and Shirley for sharing!!

Ty, BC and Boss ready to go!

Best Buddies, Allison Carlson and Brooklyn

Mom and her buddy taking a nap! So sweet!

We came home to this deer grazing on the lawn!

Boston eating his broccoli with "Dip It" (also known as ketchup) yuck!

My two kiddos!

100% Boy!

Brooklyn and Daddy headed down the trail! So beautiful!

Mommy and Boss

Boston's First Day of School!

Monday was Boston's first day of Montessori! I wish I could say that I sobbed and was devastated to drop him off, but I wasn't... My Mom called to check on me and to see if I was having a hard time, she asks..."Did you even cry?" My reply.... "Not one tear!"He has been so envious of his big sister over the past year as we would drop off and pick her up daily! At drop off time the kids go straight out to the playground for about 15 minutes, followed by a couple hours of "jobs & practical life skills" and then the last 15 minutes of the day they are playing in the school yard when parents pick up... Which means outside playing activities is all the Boss has seen take place at this so called "Big Boy School." Poor kid has been thinking I am depriving him of 4 straight hours of sandboxes, swings, slides, water tables and monkey bars, not realizing there actually is some schoolwork involved... His first week went great, his favorite activity....Snack Time! He informed me after I picked him up on his 2nd day that "they only give me fruits and vegetables, NO MEAT!" In case you didn't know, Boston is 100% carnivore, what more could a mother ask for! This past week was only for the newbies or 1st year Montessori students, so they can get the hang of it before the older kids trample over them... So Tuesday when Brooklyn, my "upperclassman preschooler" tags along there will be more pictures to follow! Here are a couple of Boss on his very first day!

Jamaica, Grand Cayman & Cozumel

Finally an update!

We just returned from an AMAZING week aboard the "Big Boat" (as my kids have been calling it for the past 8 months, they were beginning to question whether this so called Big Boat actually existed). The ship had 3 port stops (Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel....) all of which were amazing! We had such a great time hanging with our little Cousin Maddux, playing in the ocean, riding the giant water slide, amazing food, endless soft serve ice cream cones, chicken nuggets and french fries, swimming with the Sting Rays and late night family fun! Thanks for all the memories guys, it was a great way to end our summer! We miss you already! a
Most of the family Snorkeling in Grand Cayman

Yes, those are giant sting rays swimming around my feet...It's a sensitive subject!

My three fish!

My mom and her girls

Between our boat and another in Cozumel

The Carlson Cru

Sisters!

Best Buddies

Snorkeling in Grand Cayman with our little "sharks"

Ty and I on the top deck

Bop Bop and Boss

Mom and her kiddos after dinner

Boston making his "Skip Face"

Boston on the ship slide! You did it!

Proud Mama!

Brooklyn after I basically threw her down the slide..

Mama and her buddy!

Bryn feeling a little unsure!

The crystal clear beach in Jamaica

Looking for Sharks out our cabin window...

Brooklyn on top of her big girl bunk bed!

Montego Bay, Jamaica!

*** More pictures to follow of Grand Cayman, we had a small domestic dispute involving the batteries in our camera, so I am waiting for a CD to arrive with pictures of us swimming with the Sting Rays... Family, stop laughing!!

Familiar Face?

I think this is too funny... So, a couple nights ago we were watching the Olympics and Aaron Pirisol walked out to swim the 100 meter backstroke... I immediately say aloud, "wow, he's cute!" (followed by a slug in the arm and a "of course you would say that..") So the next day both Ty and I have MULTIPLE people call and mention how much Ty and Aaron look alike! No wonder I thought he was so cute... What do you think? Do they look alike? A

Stroller Strides!

For the last 8 months I have been going to a a Cardio and Strength Class here at Central Park called "Stroller Strides..." It's such a fun way to start my morning, it makes me feel so much better throughout the day and my kids actually enjoy it!! Yeah! Erin, my Stroller Strides instructor was on the news yesterday and I have to brag about her and my fellow stroller strider's... She did an amazing job, didn't seem nervous at all! Way to go Erin! Here is the link to the news segment...

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=97103&catid=403

(once you open the article, off to the right hand side there is a small box that is titled " MORE LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES" below there is a link for "Moms finding ways to exercise with their babies", click on the little video camera and the segment will begin!...

Also, if anyone is interested in coming with me or any other stroller strides classes throughout the US the website is www.strollerstrides.com

Thanks Aunt Nicole!

Thanks for my new "Fancy Nancy" aunt Nicole! I love it and have been reading it to my new baby all afternoon! You're the best! Much love...XOXO...Brooklyn!