Gracie was skipping and galloping while I walked her from school today.  I thought at first she may need to use the bathroom but found out she was just happy.  She loves having James hold her hand every morning while he and Jonathan walk her to the kindergarten gate but I think I love it a little more.

July 28th and 29th Birthdays

The kiddos have started school.  It makes me both sad and happy.  I can tell that the highlight of my days will be watching the sweet way Jonathan and James drop Gracie off at the kindergarten gate or pick her up on early-out Wednesdays.  She says she's lucky to have two big brothers "to make sure no one beats me up".

Ryan told me this morning that I’m his best friend.  I was quite flattered.  He is a good little helper and takes pride in it.  A little girl at preschool told him he isn’t a big helper anymore and he was devastated for a few days about it.  Luckily, he is once again a good helper and recognizes that even though he can’t always be the line leader, he’ll be the line leader soon.

A new family moved into the cul-de-sac with a 9 year-old boy.  Jonathan was getting sad that James had his nice friend, Kyler, next door, so hopefully this will mean Jonathan has his own friend to play with. 

Now that Gracie is 5, she has informed us that she no longer carries her blanket around with her and never sucks her thumb.  We are grateful she's so grown up now.  

This morning I was carrying Gracie around in a swimming pool and she told me I was especially comfy to hold in the water.  She likes to make up little songs.  This morning, while I carried her around the water, she did her kicks and made up a sweet little song, "Sharks can eat anything.  They can eat people's arms."

We grew some pumpkins.  I had to hide them because Ryan asks when it will be Halloween every single time he sees them.

Our Bishop at church was talking to the primary children about the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  He asked the kids who they thought was in the fiery furnace with them.  Gracie said she thought it was Jesus telling them to be careful around that fire.

Ryan asks if he can hold me a lot and finds a particular joy in being the first face I see if I'm not up by 6:45 with a huge grin.  He likes to tease me by calling me "baby mommy".