State Fair of Texas

We have made it an annual tradition to attend the State Fair of Texas and this year was no exception.  We managed to get a very large group of family and close friends together to come with us at the same time and we had SUCH a WONDERFUL time.  

Labor Day Fun 2012

Our neighbors were out of town on Labor Day and they gave us the key to their back gate so we could use their pool.  It was a beautiful day and we had such a great time together.

Valerie-9 months

Valerie has just grown up so fast.  She started taking her first steps a week after she turned 9 months and it didn't take long before she was walking everywhere instead of crawling everywhere.  She is still a very very good baby.  We have discovered that she is allergic to quite a bit though, and we're still discovering.  She stopped nursing right around the same time she started walking and is drinking soy formula.  It took a few tries but then she didn't have any problems with it at all.   She eats very well, sleeps well and is just so pleasant.  

Cousin Raelee and Valerie

Mady loves helping Valerie with just about anything.

Sarah loves holding Valerie even if she's getting a little too big for her to control her....she finds a way!

Sarah and Valerie

Valerie loves to play on the kitchen floor and with the magnets on the fridge.

Grandpa Russell and Valerie

Mady and Valerie have a great time paying together while the big kids are in school.

Valerie carrying the Halloween buckets around.

Here Valerie is 10 months old and we put this outfit on her that Kaden wore as a baby.  They look so similar.  

Big sisters are the best!

First Day of school 2012

Kaden and Sarah started the 2012 school year at Lakeview Elementary on August 27th!  

Kaden is a big 1st grader and is in Ms. Baggett's class.  He LOVES her!

Sarah is our big Kindergartner and has the same teacher Kaden had last year, Mrs. Stewart...who we just LOVE!  

They are riding the bus to school again this year, but then our good friend, Erin Axleson, brings them home everyday.  Mom is very grateful for the transportation set up and they seem to really enjoy it as well.  

Kaden's 7th Birthday

We had a great time celebrating Kaden's 7th birthday.  We were able to get the blow up water slide again and the kids played on it the entire Saturday after Kaden's birthday.  We had cake and he opened his gifts on his birthday, Friday, the 24th!  Once again he was very spoiled by everyone.   He was especially excited about his new bike.  It took him a few tries but now he's a pro!

Here he is talking to Grandma Cook as he opens her package.  A new flying helicopter and game cube! 

All the kids playing on the wet trampoline!

Jeremy, Violet and Raelee

Mom and Valerie (9 months old)

Kaden wanted an ice cream cake this year.  Happy Birthday!

Little Mady having a snack on the picnic table.

All the birthday cousins and friends....Ava, Raelee, Sarah, Kaden, Tony Halverson (Kaden's friend from church), Violet, Kaylee Havlerson, Jeremy and Mady.  Oh, and there's Chase in the left hand corner.

Trying out the new bike.

Kaden coming down the waterslide