Sometimes I get sad.

I know Gracie and Cole need to grow up. That is part of life. Our job is to give them good solid roots and then they will grow their wings and leave. Our hope is that they grow up strong and want to be close to us and not go too far away. Today as I dropped Gracie off at school and she walks all be herself, as a big girl should, I drive off looking in the rear view mirror at her, and everyday Cole and I drive away saying, "bye Gracie, we love you, we'll miss you today, have fun." But when I am looking through that rear view mirror, it is such a bittersweet feeling I have inside. She is my baby.

Soccer Pics and Cole, not exactly happy.

Here is Cole, the night of the Father/Daughter dance at Gracie's school (pics to be posted soon). He was extremely upset because he wasn't included in that. He didn't really care that he was going to get to have time with just Mommy and him. He wanted to be attending the dance. Just the thought of being left out was not appealing, I think. We ended up having fun. We put together puzzles, played cars, read books and cuddled. I think he turned out happy, at least I hope. 

Gracie is just about done with Soccer for this season. We really think she liked it, considering it was her first time. I, personally, hope she wants to play again in the Fall. I may even play in the Fall. I always knew that soccer was my favorite. I wish I could have played longer when I was a kid. Cole is now very eager to play as soon as he turns 4. More later....

PS. I am in the process of trying to get a video uploaded to my blog. It is not working :( I am getting frustrated..so keep checking back.

This is Dannen.

Dannen is Josh and Madison's little sister. She is 2. She will hang with just about either group. She is adorable and Cole ADORES her...hmmmm. Gracie has briefed him on that if he marries either Madison or Dannen, it would be cool because she could be in their family. Go figure. But I think Cole would just rather marry Gracie. He doesn't understand that concept yet or doesn't even care to. HA! Nonetheless, he loves Madison, Josh and Dannen. They all get along just great and we are making more and more plans to hang together as families as our kids are getting easier and easier. So cute.

Boys are JUST boys.

Now, this is the other side of the story. This is Josh and Cole-age 3., Gracie and Madison's brothers. They love being boys and doing "boy" things. The girls would just like them to "stick to the boy things and let them do their girl things." But they have other ideas...they love to run and be physical and really stick close to those girls. Sorry Gracie and Madison, we are trying.

Girls..Girls..Girls

This is Madison, Gracie's best friend and first friend at age 2. They are so similar in ways that you wouldn't even imagine. It truly is eerie. Niki and I laugh and muse about it. We have many stories to compare and talk about. They are 3 weeks apart in age, but Niki and I both feel as though we have 6 yr olds who THINK they are going on 16. Just look at the picture and imagine....

More from Aruba.

Final Night-Kim, Brian, Shelley, Joe, Trina and Robert. Flying Fish Bone Restaurant.

More BLUE. Can you even call it that?

Group doing a jeep safari-Kristen, Brett, Julie, Justin, Trina and Robert

Ocean, lucious ocean.

Turquoise waters

Back from Amazing ARUBA

Well, we didn't know what to expect, how the kids would do, if we knew what to say to each other or how to act like adults with adult friends and guess what......WE DID! And we expected it would be awesome, but let us tell you, even better than we anticipated-it was AMAZINGLY FANTASTIC. And we came home realizing ONE very important thing. This is a must for all marriages. We have realized that we need to take time for ourselves as a couple. We love our kids more than life itself, but unless we have our couple time to be with friends and each other, we are stringing ourselves out to NO END. This has rejuvenated us and inspired us to make this a regular occurrence. Whether it is getting away for one night or a week, we know this will continue to strengthen our marriage and in turn pass it down to our kids. We had so much fun - I will post pics later. Thanks to those that were so great to encourage us. We love you.

Love, Trina and Robert