Firsts:

This is the First time I have blogged in eternity! I really miss documenting the small things that make my days so memorable. So find below many other firsts that have taken place since I have last blogged:
Blake’s first day of Kindergarten happened August 20. He and Brielle walked in side by side and Brielle made sure to give him the low down on all the kindergarten happenings.
Brady had his first day of preschool- is he really old enough for preschool????
Brady slept without a bink for the first time and did not ask for it for the entire day and quickly decided he did not need his blanket either.
Blake was on crutches for the first time for a torn tendon that occurred on the first full day of Kindergarten.
Blake was getting ready for his first season of Tackle Football when he ended up on crutches so this sport will have to wait another season.
Brielle was found curled up in her bed reading a novel for the first time! Guess it is more fun to read when your eyes work appropriately.
Blake is having his first spend the night at a friend’s house. They are spending the evening at the Scott City football game- have a feeling he is going to feel right at home!
Brielle is having her first slumber party at the house with multiple friends.
Brielle is doing awesome in school- made an A in math- an entirely different story from what we went through last year in this subject!
Brielle had her first Hip Hop and Jazz class this semester and is continuing Ballet and Cheer while balancing school and friends.
Brady is talking- no it is not necessarily his first word but much more fluent- I was beginning to think he was never going to talk- by the third child you aren’t really worried about their language- the silence is really not that bad 

Whats been going on with the family?

This summer we have been busy camping, vacationing and relaxing. At the beginning of the summer we went camping with the Estes at Sam A Baker park. A few weeks later we spent the weekend at the Fishers cabin. In July we met traveled with Brad's parents to Branson to meet up with his sister and family. Most weekends were spent grilling out with the Fishers, LaFaves and Harris.

Brad and I celebrated 10 years together with him surprising me with a date to Rays and childcare provided by his parents- that he arranged!!! We completed several 5K's together and soon hopefully a half marathon.

Hope you enjoy the pics of our summer fun!

Where does time go?

So it has been since March 30th that I have last updated my blog- kinda embarrassing and kinda frustrating. Since March Brielle has completed first grade, performed in a dance recital and has joined a competetive cheer team where she has had the opportuntiy to perform at the Jackson Homecomers and will have many opportunities to travel around the state to competitions. Brielle celebrated her 8th birthday with her friends at the SEMO Rec Center where she collected her presents and later dontated them to the St Louis Children's Hospital Childs Life Department. In her free time you will find her dancing, cheering and riding her bike. Brielle is anxiously awaiting second grade where she will share her teacher with many of her best friends! Blake has played spring soccer, tball and a spur of the moment soccer tournament. He has participated in wrestling camp and basketball camp- both through Jackson High School. He was awarded camper of the day on his first day of basketball camp and camper of the week on the last day of camp. He is patiently awaiting kindergarten and in his free time you will find him riding his bike or tossing around some sort of ball. Blake celebrated his 6th birthday football style with "real" football players and an awesome Jackson Indian TeePee courtesy of Rhonda Norman!! Brady is beginning to talk more so everyone can understand him although he is still very attached to his mink (pacifier) and his silky blanket. Brady has a time keeping up with the big kids thinking that whatever they do there is no reason why he cannot participate. He loves to ride his bicyle and the gator and will kick the ball around for a bit. His all time favorite is trains and cars/trucks. Brady is getting ready for preschool and is enrolled in a soccer clinic for the fall :)

Poetry Scholar

In the winter Brielle wrote a poem for her class assignment. Ms Karnes submitted the poems to Creative Communication to be published. She informed us that we were not guaranteed to be published but that we would try. She also stated that only about 1 out of every 3 submissions is published. After submitting the paperwork I kinda forgot about it until we got the mail this afternoon...

Brielle won Top Ten Poem for the age group of K-2. She is the only 1st grader and the only student from Missouri. She won a $50 savings bond for her awesome poem.

I was quick to call Ms Karnes and confirm her winnings and the reputation of the organziation. She assured me that this was quite an accomplishment and that we should be VERY proud of her. This is quite rare!!

Way to go Brielle!!

Here is the famous poem:
My Brother and My Underwear
by Brielle Blackman
On Christmas morning I ran to the tree.
I wanted to see what was for me.
I got a glass doll and a fat skirt,
Lots of candy and a fancy shirt!
But what happened next,
Made me stare...
My brother had opened my underwear!!

Wrestling Champion

Way to go Blake! His first year competing in wrestling and he had a 6-1 winning record! This past weekend was the championship where Blake pinned his opponent in the first 10 seconds on Thursday; in the 2nd period on Friday and one the last match putting him in first place of his weight class!!! His buddies Randol McDowell and Bryce Norman also won first place in their weight classes!!

Brady's Past times

Any free minute that Brady may have is spent lining up his cars and trucks. He will then drive them through the house making the motor sounds. His all time favorite though is Brielle carrying him face out and he pretends to have a steering wheel and manuevers himself around the house.