First Day of School!

Now that the kids are on the same schedule at school I hope to keep up our family blog! The kids were so excited to start school this year. Always makes it easier for them to start when there is so much excitement in the air...

The traditional "by the stairs" picture...

Brody is starting 4th grade this year...with his 1st grade teacher!
Sammi is so excited to start 1st grade...I'm sad to lose my lunch buddy!
The kids "flashed" their grades to me when we went to take pics outside!

Madi moved next door to us...now we get first day pics with her too!

Sammi with her teacher Mrs. Benware...

Sammi was VERY excited to sit at her desk!

Daddy would have stayed all day with Sammi if he could have!

Sammi and the one and only Abbey! Not classmates....but class neighbors!!

Brody and Mrs. Solis...together again!

Brody and his other half Parker!! So excited to be in the same class again!

The close up shot of the first day of school tradition....what is it??

Rice Krispie Treats!! Sam is ready to enjoy hers...

Brody didn't want to smile with it...he wanted to eat it!

First Day of School!!

Summer went by too quickly.....years have gone by too quickly!! Brody is starting 3rd grade and Sammi is starting Kindergarten! They were both very excited for their first day of school.

Brody and Sammi with the "first day of school by the stairs pic"!

Had to move outside to take the traditional "by the front door shot"!

How did five years go by soooo quickly....sending my baby to school. She had to coordinate her outfit to match her new twinkle toes shoes! Such a girl!

Third grader Brody Owen ready to go see his friends....oh yeah, and learn! He had to wear RED for Charger spirit day!

She was practically running to school...she was so excited that she got to go to the BIG school!

Doing the walk with the masses to school....we could barely keep up with Sammi!

Brody was pretty proud walking his little sister into Kindergarten!

One more pose for Mom before my babies walk to their classes!

Brody was VERY excited to find Parker before finding his class....they aren't in the same class this year, but they are right next door to eachother! Phew...

Brody found Taylor too...it's starting out to be a great day, and we haven't even made it into class yet!!

Chris is FINALLY at Chapman Heights! Brody was excited to see his first Yucaipa friend....they met when they were 2 1/2 in tumbling class!! All three boys were on the same all-star baseball team this summer too!

Brody and Mrs. Topoleski....can't call her Lisa until he is out of her class!! It's going to be a great year!

Brody at his desk....and his name is in that fancy writing (aka cursive)!

Sammi and her friend Abbie. They used to be the little sisters that were at the HUGS assembly with their Moms....now they are friends in Mr. Hall's kindergarten class!!

Lined up for their first day of school!! Mr. Hall...they are all yours!!

Sammi was excited to come home to our traditional first day of school treat...Rice Krispie treats!

Brody and Sammi posing with their snack....we always look forward to these!!

Happy first day of school kidlets. I can't believe my babies have grown up so fast...it's hard to let go, but so great when you hear all the stories and see the smiles on their faces!

Taylor SWIFT!!

Sammi had a special treat for her birthday this year....we went to see Taylor Swift at Staples Center in LA! Do you think she was excited??

disneyland play day...

Happy Anniversary to us!!

We celebrated 8 years of marriage today! We took the day for us (thanks to Kristen!) and went back to our old stompin' grounds....we went by my old house, the church where we got married, the restaurant where we had our rehearsal dinner, the buildings I used to work at (NBC, El Capitan, and Miracle Mile), shopping at the Grove....and topped off our evening with dinner at one of our FAVORITE restaurants!

Toluca Lake Methodist Church is just up the street from my old house in Toluca Lake. I enjoyed going to church here before we were married, and this is where we were married and where Brody was baptized! Great memories and a beautiful church~

Miceli's is a great restaurant across the street from Universal Studios. We were blessed to have our friends and family join us at our rehearsal dinner the night before we were married....yum!

Brad was pluggin' his nose in fun at The Stinking Rose. Everybody knows that we LOVE garlic and it's more of an air freshner than a "stink" in our opinion!!

Our waiter helped up celebrate our anniverary by bringing us the traditional candlabra, garlic hat and garlic ice cream with chocolate sauce!! Brad was kind enough to sport the garlic hat!

We had the best day....Happy Anniversary to us! We hope to celebrate 80 more together!

Happy 53rd Anniversay Mom and Dad!

Today marks 53 years of Marriage for my parents! They have set such an example for me and my siblings....and have always been the BEST parents to us. I hope to celebrate my 53rd Anniversary in 2052 with Brad!

Soccer Season....how did it go by so fast?!

It seems like we just started soccer...and I haven't even posted pictures from the kids seasons. Let's face it, I haven't posted ANY pics for sooooo long. Better late then never I say...

Brody and Sammi in their uniforms ready for the first game of the season!! This is Sammi's first year playing soccer. She is playing on the Blazin' Hot Rockets with her friends Rylie and Lauren. It's Brody's first year playing on a U8 team...he is on the Red Devils with his friends Zachary and Kenny!

Sammi and her friend Rylie...

Brody with his two buddies Kenny and Zak...and Sammi peaking over the shoulders!