School Pictures 2012

So, in continuing with my tradition of NOT purchasing school pictures, I did portraits of the kiddos the other night instead.  Last year I was a little dissapointed... especially in the terrible smiles I got out of one little five year old boy... but not this year.  This year, I got so many good ones... I know there's a ton, but you wouldn't have been able to choose either!  I sent even more than this off to print!!!  So, for the record, Pearl is in 4th grade, Sam is in 1st grade, Max is starting his first year of preschool, and Miss Ruby is 10 1/2 months old.  Precious.  I kind of love my kids.  

Max is THREE!!!!

Mr Max recently had his third birthday.  His cousin, Maya just had a birthday too.  She got her very own photo shoot with an outfit and a field of flowers... 

Max got 3 minutes in the backyard with his grungy hand-me-down Thomas t-shirt that he wears at least once a week.  Sorry, kid, you're number 3 and you have a cute baby sister.  That's all I can say in my defense:)

 I don't think he minded... not then, and I'm sure he'll forgive me in the future.

 This kid... is STILL obsessed with trains!  We squeaked in one more birthday at the train museum before our passes expired.  The child has everything, so this year, we let him pick out his own present from the train museum... the silver train pictured here.  I'm not sure what the pull was, it was not something I would have picked out for him, but two weeks later he's still sleeping with it.  Most awesome birthday present I ever bought him:)

 He's still generally a happy boy, and more and more interested in what the big kids are doing... especially Sam.  It is safe to say that this one is Sam's shadow.

How I love having this little boy in the family!  I think he's a keeper.

First day of School!!! First day of School!!!

Can you believe it?  School started August 9th this year.  I know, summer was just getting started!  (at least it feels that way...)

Max was a little sad not to be going to school too, his will start up in a few weeks:)

 Pearl is in fourth grade this year, and is now attending the big school up the hill (sniff, sniff!)  Sammy is in first grade, and this is how I know the school knows him well... I was so worried about first grade because they do a lot of whole group instruction with the overhead projector, and he would totally not pay attention, but guess what?  His seat is front and center, right in front of the overhead and the teacher.  Hmm, maybe think his Kinder teacher talked to the first grade teacher?

 I was so busy this summer, and it is SO HOT, that I didn't get around to shopping for a first day of school outfit for Pearl.  Luckilly, I was halfway through a t-shirt dress I was making for her, and was able to finish it in time.  Dorky that I made her first day of school dress, or uber cool?  I can't decide... but she likes it.  She's worn it three times this week!  (don't worry, only once to school:)

 And Sam... this Hawaiian shirt was purchased for his kinder graduation (which I still haven't blogged about) and only worn one day.  Since it's the only non-superhero t-shirt shirt he owns, it became the first day of school shirt.  He didn't complain too much:)

On the first day, it was like 102 degrees, so I dropped them off and immediately took the babies for a 5 mile run.  Ahhhhh, it was SO NICE to just go RUN by MYSELF (and my double stroller:) without having to figure out what to do with all the kids!  Max and Ruby like the ride, the whole way back Ruby was waving and squealing at all the other runners, she got a lot of attention that way:)  Then, we went to wal mart, got some more things done... I love the routine school gives us!!:)  Good good good first day!