september

september meant the start of a new school year 
kindergarten for this big girl!  we were excited to see two of our neighbors' names on laurel's class roster - hope and lucas!

 
practicing...

 
daddy was in rhode island that week, so he missed the first day of school.  but it looks like he was handling it just fine :-)  (i think he's so handsome in this picture!)

 
we said a little prayer for her day before laurel got on the bus.  i hate that it looks like she was upset in this picture.  she wasn't.  she was SO excited.  freddy and ru ru both came for moral support. 

 
nope.  can't believe it.

 
ready!



 
laurel's assigned seat on the bus is right beside her friend lauren and her friend hope (hope was sick the first day of school.  boo.)

 
so excited and so proud and so independent!

 
freddy and i got laurel a surprise at the bx while she was at school.  new shades and streamers for her bike handles!

 
freddy got a treat too.  and so did mommy.  (score!)

 
day 2.  bff.



 
jude hess.  there are some things we simply don't allow in our house.  like an LSU jersey.  
HA!

 
daddy's girl.  melts me.

 
i have loved having THIS little ham to myself 5 days a week!


this is how he sings along with whatever is playing...

 
these two are so tired after school.  laurel is a little addicted to tom and jerry.

 
on 9/11 laurel's school had a walk to remember.  freddy and i went with our neighbors, beth and jack (caroline is in pre-k there).  freddy joined right in the parade.   

 
freddy's buddies, jack and ru

 
our garage.  we call it the basement.

 
pat took this.  i love it.

 
buddy and kissy came to see us!  see how clean this little house CAN be?  and what it usually looks like...

have i mentioned that we love our little neighborhood?  what a blessing.

 
kissy bought pumpkins to decorate the front porch.  thanks kissy!
(btw, laurel still says "punkwins" and freddy says "plunklins.")

my little ballerina

finally!  a picture of my friend (soul sister) amber.  she and i had such a fun day shopping for dresses to wear to the air force ball.  i think we cleaned up pretty nicely!

our dates aren't too shabby either!

major and mrs. pat rayner, chaplain and mrs. doug hess

the very next day pat and i flew BACK to san antonio for another wedding

it was a whirlwind trip, but we were happy to be there for rene and nikki ramirez's wedding.  and it was fun to see coop, as always.

meanwhile, buddy had gone home and the hesses were taking care of kissy. :)

fall festival/pumpkin patch

 thank you hesses and thank you kissy!

back home

kindergarten is wearing this little girl OUT.  i love our time together between school and when freddy gets up from his nap.

still (and always, i hope) mommy's best helper

this one, on the other hand… HA!  we experimented with just about everything to prepare for potty training boot camp.  stay tuned...