Super Fun Day

Today was our annual trip to the Northpark mall to see Santa. I knew at 3 years old, it was pretty much a certainty that Camden would *NOT* be too happy about sitting on the big guys' lap. I was hoping that at 5 years old, Drew was not only not going to be afraid of Santa this year, but that he was actually excited to bring him his list and sit on his lap. Both came true (see above photo).

It's a tradition in our family to see Santa each year. Sit on his lap. Give him our Christmas lists that we have already made. Drew at 3 years of age just would.not sit on Santa's lap and was too afraid and I obviously didn't make him. Poor Camden at 3 was just happy in my arms so I sorta quickly threw her on his lap and dashed out of the photo. I didn't leave her on his lap for more than 10 seconds but look at her screaming!

While also at the mall, we all got pizza for lunch and we grabbed a pretzel on the way out. These two things combined with the fact that Drew got a new die cast car from the disney store made this trip pretty fun for him. THEN on the way out of the mall, Drew waved to a Dallas police officer driving by. The same officer looped around and found us walking in the parking garage and came to give the kids Dallas Police badge stickers and coupons for free slurpees at 7-11. He told us that any boys/girls that wave to him deserve a little something special. Made.Drew's.Day!

Then this evening we got into our new Christmas jammies and listened to Christmas music while we decorated our tree this year.

all around great day! "super fun day" according to Drew!

Drew is 5-My letter to My Boy!

To my favorite little guy-Drew,

We had so much fun celebrating your 5th birthday at Legoland this year! FIVE. I can hardly believe it. Five means big boy. Five means kindergarten next year. Five means no longer my baby. Bittersweet this turning 5 thing.

-you are such a good colorer. you love to color and you are VERY good at staying in all the lines.

-you are starting to read the BOB books, and you know all their letters and sounds. you try spelling and writing words all the time now.

-you are doing great in school this year, makes me sad you won't be in preschool after this year.

-you start our family prayer at dinner each night.

-we got you a new bike for your birthday and we are trying to convince you to let us take the training wheels off.

-you are a great t-ball player.

-you love playing games on your new iphone (mommy's old iphone)

-you LOVE playing UNO while having your bedtime milk and a snack

-you love to play with your light sabers and talk about the Star Wars movies.

-you recently taught yourself to whistle!

-you have figured out that you can't marry mommy or Camden. It was so cute to always hear you say that you were "going to marry Camden".

-MOST days you still take a nap.
-you love to negotiate to see just how far you can go or just how much you can get.
-you do some great flips on the swing set bar.
-you are getting better and better and telling time.
-you are so much fun to spend time with-you are the coolest, smartest, bestest 5 year old I know.

I love you my favorite little boy. I thank God for you every day.

love mommy

Camden is 3-My letter to My Girl

Sweet Camden Reese-

We had so much fun at your 3rd birthday party. All your sweet little girlfriends came for ice cream and candy and to celebrate YOU! You ate your ice cream cone till there was nothing left to drip out of it!

-you have become our little snuggler and I just LOVE it!

-you love looking at books

-You love Mrs. Clay and going to school with your friends

-you love eating snacks or anything with carbs (you are your daddy's little girl!)

-you get mad when you have to go to bed and Drew is still up

-you are particular about what shoes you wear (if I put on ones you didn't want that day, you take them off at school!)

-you love to be outside playing in the backyard with Drew or riding your tricycle out front

-you love to push your babies around the house in their stroller

-you love to "cook" at your kitchen.

-you point out the cows or horses every time we drive by their field, even if they are not outside that day.

-you follow your brother around the house all day trying to keep up with him.

-you and Drew fight over the same 2-3 toys each day. (we must not have enough around here!)

-you give your friends lots of hugs and kisses

-you love to practice your "table top" gymnastics move for an audience.

-you love to grab my hand to take me to what you need/want/want to show me (since you are still not a big talker)

You are our sweet Reesey Piecey Pie and we love every little piece of you sweet girl!

love mommy

First Day of School!

September is here! That has meant back to school for our kids (at the end of August), back to a routine and finally...some *cooler* weather has come!
Both kids had a great first week of school. Drew is going M/W/F and Camden is going W/F. We met both of their teachers the week before school started. Camden did not want to play much on meet the teacher day, which is why I was so surprised that she did great on the first day of school! She started playing at the kitchen with some new friends and I snuck out the door! Of course I watched her threw the classroom window for about 10 more minutes before I left, and she was happily playing :)
Drew started his week before her and he did great. This is his third year at TEC and his last year before going to kindergarten {HOW is it that my *baby* is almost 5?}
We are excited for a great school year!

Camden's first day on Wednesday

Drew's first day on Monday

Summertime!

we are having such a fun summer so far. Lots of swimming and playing with friends. It is so nice not to have such a rigid schedule and lots less on the calendar each week :)...here are some highlights from our summer so far...

-our family is finally back at Sunday church services. Both kids are loving it. Drew looks forward to it all week (and told me next week he wants to bring his bible!) and what great practice for miss C who will be starting 'school' next month!

-Camden saw her first movie (Cars 2) and she loved eating popcorn and drinking fruit punch (july 4th)

-Miss C got her piggies painted for the first time. we painted them red since we painted them on July 4th! She didn't love getting them painted but now loves to look at her 'pretty toes'

-we've been doing lots of swimming! Drew is so much more comfortable in the water this summer and loves jumping off the diving board and doing tricks (cannonballs) and Camden wanted in on the diving board action too...we would throw her off and she did a great job holding her breath when she went under!

-lots of staying up late and watching movies in our bed.

-lots of ice cream and popsicles (Drew especially loves thursdays when the ice cream truck comes to our street)

-lots and lots of coloring!

Still this summer we plan to go to Legoland, the beach, and lots more playdates with friends :)

Four & a Half!

( a month late!)

We celebrated Drew's half birthday with our friends Grant & Avery and had half birthday ice cream cones :)

-Drew *LOVES* to color. I feel like we spend most our days coloring. He is amazingly good too, stays in ALL the lines!

-great big brother, helps sissy all the time.

-he just finished his first blastball season and did great.(with the Yankess...my mom almost passed out when I told her what team he was on!)

-his teachers bragged about him all year, how well behaved he was and how smart he is :)

-he was quite the ladies' man at school this year. apparantly all the girls would talk about him at home.
-loves playing games on my iphone

-when ever I ask him how he got so smart or so cute...he tells me that "God made me that way". true. and so sweet.

-loves to sleep with his blankie and LOTS of stuffed animals.

-had a hearing and vision test today at the doc's and he was SO BIG about it. (and passed)

-taking swim lessons this week and becoming more confident going under water

-*loves* all rescue vehicles and loves when we see them with their sirens on.

-loves thursdays cause the ice cream truck comes to our street.

-asks for a toy everytime we are in the store. (his mama's son!)

-loves catching bugs outside.

I love you Drew, you are so much fun at 4 1/2. Such a big boy now!

Two & a Half...

(a month late)

...my sweet girt is 2 1/2 now! we celebrated with half birthday cupcakes after our street Easter egg hunt. (april 23)

-our sweet girl is *finally* a full time walker. She looks like such a big girl now that she isn't on her bottom scooting all the time. she has been taking lots of steps for months but on Mother's day she *really* began walking full time.

-our dinner time routine now consists of Camden coming to the table to get a bite, then she walks around the house while she chews, then back for another bite, etc. of course we have to let big brother do the same, so dinner time at the Barresi house has turned into somewhat of a circus!

-she loves to give kisses, mostly to her brother and her baby dolls. so cute :)

-she likes to draw (scribble) with Drew.

-super picky eater. loves PB sandwiches though.

-she hates brushing her teeth. I usually have to lay her down on the floor to really get them good. her very first dentist appt is coming up. that's gonna be fun.

-super big mama's girl!

-just finished her winkids class with her bestie Avery, Camden loved getting stamps on her feet/hands from coach Jack.

-she loves to dance to music when we are in the car. she is not much of a talker still but will make sure we all see her getting her groove on!

-the girl loves bath time with brother. she can pull down and step out of her pants by herself and when I help her take off her diaper, she finishes taking it off and hands it to me. every time.

-girl *loves* her paci and lovey. still. oh well, not trying to take it away yet.

-loves to put lotion or make up on with me in the bathroom.

-Camden loves to look for horses or cows as we are driving. she also loves to point out the power lines (um, random!)

-we start her first dance/gym combo class in a couple weeks with her bestie Avery :)

-she is loving the pool already this summer and I was surprised that she tolerated her floaties and her pool shoes just fine :)

-loves books

-she does not like getting her diaper changed in the morning anymore. when I ask her to come here, she just smiles and shakes her head no...stinker.

We love you sweet Reesey Piecey!!!

Bluebonnets 2011

Each year I take the kids out to find a field of Texas Bluebonnets! I just love this time of year and taking their pictures out with our state flower!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from our lil' sweethearts!

The Holidays

Wow- I am neglecting this blog more than I had realized! I thought I would share some pictures from the holidays, so this post is definitely picture heavy. We had a great Christmas. Will took more than a week off and we had the best family time. We were all healthy and enjoyed going to the movies, going bowling, going to see the trains at Northpark Center, and just relaxing and spending time together. We are renewed and refreshed for 2011!

front porch Christmas day

christmas morning joy!

christmas eve at our house

opening presents from grandma & Grandpa

cocoa & caroling night

heading out to see the Interlochen neighborhood lights

heading to ride the North Pole Express

valentine2011

Artisan Diamond Red Valentine's Day Card

Create personalized greeting cards and invitations by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.