Natalie started First grade this month! Our schools started early this year, on August 8. She was ready to start learning and see her friends. Natalie is such an awesome kid...she is always happy, always smiling, and has such enthusiasm for life. Everything is exciting to her. I love the light in her eyes. Her attitude helps her excel in school and thrive in that kind of atmosphere. She rides the bus to and from school since it conveniently stops right outside of our house on the corner. Ryan has been quite bored without his sister and Sophia around. We had Sophia all summer and it was so much fun watching the kids together. They are like siblings rather than cousins. Ryan enjoyed teasing and tormenting them like any good brother would do. He really does love them and misses their presence. He is such a rough and tumble little guy...all boy, that's for sure. He can drive me batty and melt my heart all in the same moment. The kids are involved in gymnastics again this year and love every minute of it.
This month we had the pleasure of my Aunt Beryline visiting for a day. She is a rep for the V.A. (my uncle, deceased, was military) and they flew her and a friend out to New Orleans for some meetings. Mom and I drove to New Orleans and picked them up for some quality family time back at her home. So glad we were able to have that time together.
First Day of 1st grade 
Dressed for school in colorful shoes and socks
feeding Lily Cheetos
Mom and her sister-in-law, my Aunt Beryline
Playing in the dirt is fun!
Playing with little brother can be messy...but it rocks!
