WINNER!

Zachary went with Brandon and my dad to see Ft. Macon this summer while we were at Atlantic Beach.  He had wanted to see it so badly and I am so glad my dad, a huge history lover, went with him.  What a treat for a little boy to do that with their grandfather.  As soon as he got back from Ft. Macon he said he wanted to be a civil war soldier for Halloween...this was July, so I wasn't sure if the idea would stick.  He said he wanted to be a union officer, not confederate too.  So months went on and he still wanted to be a civil war soldier.  So I searched and found him a costume and a corresponding book, Magic Tree House Civil War on Sunday.  They have to be a story book character for their school costume parade.  Last night he was given the chance to wear his costume to his social group he attends on Tuesday nights.  He was so excited to wear it.  Brandon took him and sent me the following video.  Such a wonderful night for a sweet child...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwETjzO-wn0

Pictures...

The pumpkin patch wasn't what we had hoped or expected, but we went, we saw and we marked it off the list. :) It was so very hot and there was little shade...very busy and no pumpkins you could get without taking a long tractor ride that cost extra money....So we plan to hit our usual patch this weekend and know that it will be a success.  Then the kids and I can paint our pumpkins per our annual tradition.  So fun!
But a few photos from the trip to share...we did have fun and saw something new.

Waiting in line for the slide...she loved it.

 Shooting a corn canon...total boy!

 Miss priss in the corn maze...

 Alone on the tractor ride, she loved that thing...

 Enjoying her roasted corn...it was YUMMY!

 Little man....So very tired this day from a big weekend!

 In the corn maze...thankfully we made it through. :)

 BAA BAA!

 Oink Oink...

 Down the slide they go....

 Love those smiles...

 On the tractor together...

 Full of spunk...It was so darn hot out there I am not sure how they could jump around.  88 in mid October is HOT!

 Running across hay bails...

 My boys...

 My little man...

 Oh my Erin...

 The girls...

 I love her to bits...and she totally knows it. :)

 Deep in thought?

 Fun, fun...

Goings on around here...

I don't have any fun photos to share, but promise to share some after the weekend...we plan to travel to Hondo, Texas to a fun pumpkin patch and corn maze this weekend...something new we haven't done before, I hope it will be fun and worth the drive.
We have been super busy around here lately and that is always a good thing, but makes it hard to keep up with the blog and lots of other odds and ends that I need to get to each day.
Erin is loving school...she really loves her lunch bunch days where she goes from 9-3...who would have thought?  I would love to send her every day, but it is expensive and selfishly, I like having her around with me too.  She is really starting to show some interest in reading.  She is sounding out words, talking about what words start with what letter, asking lots of questions on how to say and spell things.  She is constantly drawing and "writing"...thankfully on paper and not her walls right now. :)  She is at that remarkable fun age where it all seems to just click.  I love it. I am also a bit sad to see my baby start to become such a big girl...where did the time go???  She is a ball of joy, energy, fun, laughter and lots of loves. We are so blessed every day with our Erin Taylor...She is becoming a bit more defiant and outspoken, but when push comes to shove, she is a great little girl.  Loving soccer and doing pretty well considering at this age I am not sure any of them know what is really going on...she is usually happiest with her family and big brother.
Zachary is busy.  No way around it.  He is also playing soccer and has 2 practices a week and games on Saturday.  He has therapy 4 days a week directly after school for an hour and his social group on Tuesday nights.  He has been busy with school things too...events at school seem to pop up this time of year.  He went to his first high school football game with Brandon last weekend and LOVED it.  He is going to his first slumber/birthday party on Friday night. I am a bit (okay A LOT) nervous about it, but it is with a family we are good friends with and I know he will be okay.  I have faith in him to make good choices.  He is super excited about it.  He went up the street last weekend and played with a boy in the neighborhood. I usually never let him go alone for  several reasons....Our street is right off the main road and even though they can go ride bikes at the end of it, the slope in it leads right to a busy road.  The boy that always comes down to invite him out usually does so at awful times and it is a bit wild.  But Sunday I chose to step out of my usually over protective mom box and try...I asked him if he wanted to go and reminded him of why I don't like to let him.  He said he would follow all the rules, stay on our street, watch out for traffic and be super safe. I asked him what would would happen to me if something happened to him...he told me, I know you would be heartbroken, so I will be careful.  I was sold on that.  He did great and I only wore a small groove in the floor pacing.
He is doing really well in school and loving it!  He has some great new therapists at the new facility that are all working together with him and I am loving what I am seeing. All in all good things...
Brandon is busy, but doing well too.  He is gearing up for his eye surgery next month. He has chosen to go ahead and get his done, so no more glasses or contacts.  He is super excited, I am totally freaked out by eye drops, so I have no idea how he can be gung ho on this, but they are his peepers not mine. He has been working so hard lately and got put in for field grade officer of the quarter again...so proud of him.  We should know soon...or should I say...we should be able to announce our next base and his school selection very SOON!
I am busy too...running kids here to there...working up at the school doing lots of volunteer work.  Getting projects around the house done and working on cleaning out so much stuff right now.  With a move around the corner it is hard not to feel the need to clean out.
I promise pictures soon!!!!

Not a real blog post...

A friend of mine posted this link on her FB page and I was so excited about it, I had to share. I never wanted to wear scarves because honestly, the act of tying them scared me a bit...here is a lady demostrating a bunch of ways to wear your scarf...ENJOY!

http://jonesdesigncompany.com/fashion/this-is-fun/

Quiet...

I know it seems as if I have been quiet and maybe I have. Nothing specific going on, but I have been busy and not in the mood to type as much as I wish.  I have lots of things going on and things I feel the need to do or I am obligated to do...and when all of that is on my plate, I often let the want to do items go by the wayside.  My blog, being one of them...
The kids are both in full swing of school.  I am in turn, in full swing. I am much more active at Zach's school, but that isn't for the fact I don't adore Erin's preschool. It is awesome and for any person moving to this area with preschool age kiddos, I would pound it into your head that you must send your child there.  But, I haven't gotten involved with as much of the parent activities. I have made a ton of friends through that little preschool and for that I am super thankful.  I attend all that I can, but I tend to spend much more time giving back to Zach's school.  Maybe because I pay for one and not the other, not sure how my mind has processed it, but it is how seems to have turned out whatever the cause.
She is now going 4 days a week, all at one school.  Last year she split between two schools and it was a headache.  I never got the good vibe from the other school and made no friends there.  She is at school Tuesday thru Friday and stays all day from 9-3 on Tue/Thr.  She loves it and I love her teachers.  I feel so lucky to have a place like that for her.
While she is busy there I take those long days to get busy myself.  On Tuesday I am mainly at Zach's school, all day.  I volunteer in his class in the afternoon and in the AM I do work in the teacher workroom, library and also am working with the school social worker.  I love it, I feel busy, purposeful and I get to spy a bit on him too. :)  Trying to make Thursday my appointment day and day to get other things done that are not kid friendly...when in doubt, I will be back at his school too, it seems to be working out that way now.  Wed/Fri I am trying to be at the gym, but wondering if my Y membership is going to continue. When the weather cools down, as it has been in the 90's and 80's the last few days, I find myself always wanting to go for a long walk and not be in the gym.  The amount of money I spend on my membership could also go toward my new wish item...I showed Brandon at the BX today.  :)
We also switched all of Zach's therapies...it was time and needed to be done, but a long process and as always never easy.  I really like the fact that all three therapies are in one place...OT, Speech and ABA.  He goes to a place in Schertz, so closer to our house, the base, etc.  He will go Tue-Fri after school from 3-4.  So, we won't have late nights or not be able to do other things because his therapy is right after school and only one hour long.  It does mean I have to get him early from school almost every day and shuttle back and forth to get both kids at different places at very close times, but it is worth it to have him see people that all work together.  Share information and seem to be more in tune with things I want to work on with him. So far he likes it too. Monday and Wednesday nights he has soccer, Erin also has it on Wednesday after him...LONG night. :)  Tuesday night Zach goes to a social group at a local middle school from 6-7.  Great thing we got him into this year and it is run through the school district.  So...we are busy.  He is busy.  My days are busier than I think most people realize...stay at home mom is not a very accurate term.  But, it is all for the greater good and I am willing to do the work.  He is my job right now and I am working!
The sad part is our time here is drawing to an end.  By next June we will be gone...we should get official word soon to where Brandon got selected for school, but we are pretty sure we know.  It was a top choice and a place we are excited about, but with all things there is good and bad.  If it is the place we think, Brandon has to be there mid May. The kids aren't done with school until May 25th.  I will most likely let the movers take our stuff in early-mid may and stay back with the kids to let them finish school.  It isn't ideal, but I know they deserve to finish their year here and I deserve it too.  I love it here.  They love it here. Heck we want to move back and retire here when we are done...moving won't be easy no matter where we go next.  So as I look at the calendar and know that there isn't another September in Cibolo
So I will keep being busy, living in the moment, trying not to focus on May, but now.  Here comes October, ready or not. ;)

Just a cute moment...

I have mentioned at least once or a million times how much my sweet boy loves school.  I mean LOVES school.  Really, it is awesome.  The night of meet the teacher we had a horrible, rotten, no good, terrible day.  And poof...we walked into the halls of Wiederstein and all was better.  It was like watching him awaken.  He was just happy.  No other way to phrase it or describe it.  He is happy at school with all the cool things to learn and do.  He is happy with the rules, order and schedule of the school day. He is happy with his friends...He does have some and let me tell you, the ones he has are amazing kids that literally have been gifts from God to him. He isn't crazy about writing activities, but that is a hard thing for him, so we are just going to keep working to make it fun and easier.  But the love he has for school is awesome.  Yes, this school is great and I will be beyond heartbroken to leave at the end of the year, but since he was in Pre-K he loved school.
So when I go into his room and see this, I smile...I can't help but to feel so thankful, proud and honored to be his mom. His sweetness makes me feel like I did something right with this boy.  He really is remarkable.  For all the things we work so hard on with him daily, his heart is pure and that is something that is all him.

This is him teaching his collection of build a bear dogs and other stuffed animals...he filled out and graded all their papers too...Poor snoopy got a 70.  :)

Having a best friend is so special...

We have been so blessed that Zachary has made a very special, best friend...Max W.  He has had two Maxes in his class (grade).  They both are super sweet boys that are so kind to my son.  Max W. is also the son of Zach's 2nd grade teacher this year. Their whole family has been super special to us and we have enjoyed their friendship.  Max had Zach over for his first slumber party at the end of the summer too.  It is s special friendship between these boys...here are some photos I took at lunch last week. I was able to go up and bring Max lunch on his birthday and eat with them.  :)

Max and Zachary...two super sweet boys!

 Mrs. Webb (zach's teacher), Zach and Max.

Erin's first day photo..

Erin's first day of preschool was on September 6th...She returned to her little preschool by the base...it is a great school with amazing teachers and sweet families. She loved going there last year and I met some great friends through this school. She was all dolled up in her birthday outfit from my parents and ready to go. My apprehensive daughter walked right into school with a smile and no fear. So thankful I have two children who love school...

Ice skating...

We decided to take the kids ice skating this weekend.  There is a big rink not far from where we live, and they had open skate hours Sunday afternoon.  It has been windy here and Zach's allergies are acting up, so it is a good indoor option on a hot day. :)  Both kids were so excited and had fun.  Erin did really well and for being so tiny, she really held her own.  Zachary looked a bit like a newborn horse out there, but God bless him, he tried his hardest and didn't give up. He never cried and he was so proud of himself when we were done, asking to go back.  I am sure it isn't easy for him to see Erin do it easily, but it was great to see them both cheer each other one and try something new.
Here are a few photos and videos....
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tlS-OMJChM&feature=share

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3fyKoGmcfE&feature=share


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A few more NC photos...

After the beach we were able to spend a little over a week with my parents in Greensboro, NC.  Brandon flew back to TX to work and we stayed behind to have some fun.  It was nice to be able to enjoy some fun activities with the kids while there...lots of children's museums close by, a great pool, time with my nephew and sister...getting to see an old friend from high school and being with my parents...

Well as the news shows, Texas hasn't seen rain in so long none of us know what it looks like.  My children were beyond thrilled to get to see and play in rain while in NC...

 The 4 of us...

 Nowie and Grandpa with Erin and Zach...

 Such love with these two...

 At the Sciworks museum in Winston...fantastic museum and free to military.  We had a ball!

 Visiting one of my best friends from High School....

 All four of our children, Alex, Isabella, Zachary and Erin...

 My parent with Zach and Erin...

 pool time...

 Playing dress up with Jacob...

So now...I am caught up on photos I think.  :)