8 years...wow has it gone by fast

I still can not believe it has been 8 years (yesterday) since you entered our lives....and made us first time parents....it seems like only yesterday you entered this world but it also seems like it was forever ago as well....

You were born at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia at 9:02 pm on Thursday Feb 9, 2006 in what was a Virginia snow storm....nothing to compared to where we live now.... you weighed in at 8 pounds 2 oz and were 22 inches long......you had a full head of black hair....which proceeded to fall out shortly there after....

8 years later....you are closer to being as tall as me than being the squishy baby you once were....and I know it will happen sooner or later that you will pass me up in height....you resemble your father more than me....but you still have some of my traits in you....your hair color is all mine....even though you may have your father's skin tone....you still tan better than him....which is from me....and your attitude....well I will blame your father on that one....even though I know its mostly me......

This past year its been amazing to watch you grow and learn....the leaps and bounds you have made academically amazing me and your father....when we first put you in your new school you struggled with math at the end of last year....but since entering the second grade....you are now in the challenge group for math....meaning more homework....but that is good...that means you are smart....and doing exceptionally well with it if you need the extra sheet of harder math problems....you are taking after me when it comes to math....cuz lord knows english is not my strongest subject!....you can ask your dad all about the paper's, resumes, emails he has had to write for me.....

We started you up in swim lessons this past fall....and you are doing awesome at that.....you tested out of all the beginner levels and started in level 3....which you passed in your first attempt at it....and now you are in level 4...and man for only 30 minutes of class time they work you over....I have high expectations when it comes to swimming lessons...since your dad and I both used to swim competitively and I used to teach swim lessons myself.....but where you are now....they are doing a great job getting you to try as hard as you can to improve your skills....I love watching you every wednesday night.....you really enjoy it.....

Breyden you are our first born....we learned a lot from you along the way....you have taught us what unconditional love is from the moment we met.....you are a bright, eager to learn, independent little man....who is sassy at times....but loves nothing more than to hang out with his mom and especially his dad.....you are growing up into a little mini version of him....lord help us.....you have a big heart....but sometimes your sassiness gets in the way of that.....

Every year that you get older I know that the time you actually want to spend with us is slowly diminishing....someday soon it won't be cool to hangout with your parents anymore.....for now I will get what I can......

We love you and thank you for choosing us to be your parents!

Love your mom,

December and Christmas

I love Christmas time...I love having a tree up in the house....or two as we did this year....the holidays are all about family time for us....as much as we can sit down and enjoy atleast!!!

The kids made cookies with their daddy.....which they loved doing.....

There were many times were we just hung out as a family on the weekend....and didn't do much....this winter once it started it truly has not stopped....it has either been so cold that school has been cancelled or its been snowing.....so we have for the most part just hung out at home.....

Christmas this year did not go as planned...I was fortunate enough to be able to take 10 days off from work....while the kids were on break....Andrew was able to work from home during that time.....which thankfully he was home to help....Syd ended up getting sick on Christmas Eve and sick enough that we had to take her to the ER at 7pm on Christmas Eve in a snow storm....thankfully she had something that could be cleared up with antibiotics.....it took her the rest of the time we were off to get better....it was a long week....we didn't get home from our ER trip until 12:15am on Christmas Day....the kids were worried that Santa wouldn't come because they were not asleep.....thankfully they went straight to bed....and even more thankful is that my family was able to just come to us on Christmas Day....so we didn't have to move Syd again and she was able to just stay at home....and sleep as she needed......the rest of our time off was pretty much dedicated to her....and trying to get her better....

We did get one night out without the kids....but it ended up being a early night....so we could just hangout.....and New Year's Eve we went to our neighbors....it was a lot of fun....since most of us have been cooped up with this nasty winter.....

Overall December was relaxing....which is good....since we had no idea what was in store for us in January....

Halloween

So the past few months....I have not been that great at keeping up with this....life has just gotten busy.....

In october we did a few things....we went a apple orchard with the neighborhood....the kids saw some farm animals...we went on a hay ride....

We also did football sundays....the kids had fun playing together while the adults got to hangout and watch the game.....

Halloween was a cold night....as per usual in MN....Syd was Minnie Mouse and Breyden was Patriot Ironman....this was the first year that both kids had fun....Breyden has had fun prior but this was the first real year that Syd did....we walked the neighborhood with the neighbor kids....Breyden was a lot quicker than everyone else....but he did stop to wait when asked....Syd was in her element with Mia and Ella....all three walking holding hands....it was a site to see!!!

My Big 2nd Grader

Its the beginning of the school year!!!  The summer literally flew by....and now I am a mom of a 2nd grader....where has the time gone?!

What I wish for you this year.....I want you love your class and teacher....I want you to make new friends...since this is still a new school for you....you were only in it for the last 2 months last year.....but it made a world of difference switching you....and we have no regrets in doing that......I want you to continue on learning and loving it too....now that you can read....its crazy watching you look at the world in a whole new light....I also want you to learn to how not to talk over people....and learn the art of conversation....I know this will come with time....but it something you need to work on.....I also want you to take some of your "first born" habits and calm them down a bit....you are a leader but you don't have to be the boss at everything....let others take over that role and you will learn even more that way....and you will make more friends as well!

You my son are big hearted, caring young man.....who definitely has an attitude to follow it up with....you most certainly know how to piss your dad or I off....watching you grow and learn new things never cease to amaze us....your father and I are very proud of you and love you so much.....and we can not wait to see what this next year has in store for you!