Braxton

Photo Shoot

The little girls and I had a little photo shoot at home last week. It was rainy and cold outside so we were stuck in the house, and I thought it would be fun to have them dress up for pictures. They were really excited about it. It was cloudy outside, which made for perfect lighting conditions. Here are some of my favorites... Gabby
Gabby

Hailey

I love this one, it's so them, trying to make each other laugh.

Saga

Unfortunately, last week we were faced with the decision of putting Saga to sleep. She'd really been going down hill the past few months, not eating, loosing a lot of her hair, not being able to walk very well, not being able to hear or see very well and she'd become very very skinny. We put it off for as long as we could, but came to the conclusion that we were just being selfish, and it was her time to go. I've never had to make this decision before, and it was very hard. You don't realize how much an animal can become a part of your family until a situation like this occurs. She was a really good dog and we all loved her, but we know that she's much happier wherever she is.

(this picture was taken a few months ago, when I was trying to figure out something on the camera. Seeing what she looks like here and remembering what she looked like when we took her to the vet, reconfirms that we made the right decision.)

Braxton's 9!

I am now the mother of a nine year old. There is nothing that makes you feel older, then when your kids grow up. And they grow so fast! He's becoming such a loving, helpful, smart young man.

The week before his birthday, I was asking him what he wanted to do for his birthday, hoping that he wouldn't say he wanted a party. To my surprise he said that he just wanted to be home with his family and closest friends. So, we met up with the Crosby's, Maddox's and the Sampsons at the Golden Coral. Braxton and his two best bud's, Jake and Zach.
Braxton getting ready to blow out the candle on his birthday cupcake.

Noah, Seth, Gabby, Kira and Hailey

Everyone eating dinner.

Happy Birthday Braxton!

Teddy Bear Parade

Hailey's preschool, comes up with some of the silliest things for the kids to do....and the worst part is it's always parents participation. I have been to Hailey's preschool more this year, than the entire two years that Braxton was in preschool. But the kids enjoy it, and Hailey is always excited when Mike and I come and watch. Just before Valentines day they had a "teddy bear parade". The kids decorated a shoe box, like a float, and put their favorite bear in it to pull around. They also were able to wear their pajamas to school that day. It was pretty painful to watch kids pull around shoe box's for 30 minutes and then sing songs about bears. But it's all for the kids right? Some of the boxes the kids brought were amazing! You could tell that the parents had put a lot into the creation of the "float". Hailey and Gabby's boxes were pretty simple, I just covered the entire thing in glitter, so they sparkled. They LOVED them! Hailey and Gabby with their floats, you can't tell, but they really sparkled.
Hailey pulling her float.

The Princess and the Diva

Hailey and Gabby have been "kindred spirits" since the day they met, which was when they were babies. They've always enjoyed being together. Whether its playing dress-up, putting on make-up or riding their bikes, you can always hear them joking and laughing. Since Gabby's family has moved in with us they are inseperable. They share a bedroom and pretty much everything else. It will be a sad day when the Sampsons move out.

We call Hailey the princess, because she loves anything "princess", pink and sparkly...we call Gabby the Diva, because she can have attitude, loves clothes and is obsessed with her hair. showing attitude
Superstars!