My school boy

My baby went to first grade yesterday! People have told me so many times that once your kiddo starts to school, time flies and before you know it they are graduating and heading out to college. I'm beginning to catch a glimpse of what those people have been trying to communicate to me.

I was snuggling with Tyler the other day on the couch and I asked him if he wouldn't mind just staying 6 years old for a long time so I could keep him this age a while longer. He told me, "No, mom . . .'cause I'm gonna turn 7, then 8, then all the way to 15!!!!" He's excited about growing up and being bigger, and truthfully, I LOVE being a part of him growing up. But there's an even bigger part of me that wants to yell "STOP!!!!" Slow DOWN!! Stay with me!! Be my baby a while longer!!!"

He had a great first day, and I'm sure today has been equally good. God blessed him with a sweet teacher that I'm very impressed with so far. She's beautiful with caring eyes and "loves to be at church" according to what Tyler tells us from what she shared with the class yesterday about herself. That is good by me!!! I'm praying that Lord just continue to go before, behind and all through his days there at school to lead him in a path closer and closer to Jesus.

Sweet hubby suggested we all go to Tyler's new school the night before school started and pray different things for Tyler as a family. I love that he had that idea, and that we all were able to pray over Tyler for specific things about his school days.

Here's Tyler's teacher, Mrs. Neimeyer - isn't she just too cute??

This is what Colby did for a good part of the day while Tyler was at school. He loves holding his new cousin, Annie Caroline!

Boys love Annie!

Had to share these cute ones of my boys with baby Annie . . .they are all enthralled with her, especially Colby. I'm at my sister's right now, and she and Aric just brought Annie home. Colby has been at her side since they walked in the door and has a cute goofy little grin on his face all the time. I think he likes having a new baby girl cousin!

Baby Annie Day!

Yesterday was Baby Annie day! Monica called me at 4a.m. Thursday morning to let me know they were headed to the hospital - she had been up with contractions since 2a.m. I went to work early, then was able to reschedule and cancel patients so I could be up there by noon - I was speeding like nobody's business to get to the hospital! How fun to be on the "bedside" end of a labor and delivery room with my sweet sister instead of her being the one anxiously awaiting one of my babies to be born!! It was very important to me to be there - Monica is my best friend and was there for all of my boys' births, and was even the photographer for the last two. I had asked God so many times for a sweet favor of timing to allow me to be there, and I'm so thankful He gave me that blessing. He didn't have to, but I'm sure glad He smiled and let it be so!

Annie was born at 4:50 p.m. after a long time of pushing. She weighed 6 lbs, 13 oz and is 20" long. Everyone in the little family is doing great, including Daddy Aric. Little Annie has a sweet, girlie sounding cry, beautiful daity features, long legs, arms and feet, and is just BEAUTIFUL! God is so good!! Happy birthday, Baby Annie! I love you! Aunt K

This is a picture of Daddy Aric officially being wrapped around a little finger . .

Help! My baby is a wax-aholic!

My baby is a wax-aholic. He eats wax. He's always been a candle freak - mostly he just love to say, "Candle!" and then blow it out over and over (even though it's not lit). But sometimes he likes to eat the candles - especially these little tea light candles that sit on our sofa table. Good thing I have a big bag of them so I can replace them when he takes a nibble!! Working on that obedience training thing . . .

Then there's crayons. His big brothers love to color, and Brady has begun coloring some as well (that's a little bit of a stretch of terms - mostly he just scribbles a little then slams the crayon on the paper a few times before saying "done done" = all done). Tonight I caught him eating a big fat green crayon. What's so yummy about wax is what I want to know??? I just don't get it? Does anyone have any tips for getting your baby to not eat candles and crayons??? I don't want to just lock those things up, but come on!! Crazy baby.

Vaughn Family Gathering

The Vaughn family gathered together this past weekend at Nana and Papa's house in Littlefield, Tx. This was the first time in we don't remember how long that everyone in the family had been together in one place. At least 2 kids have been added to the number since the last grand kids picture that hangs in Nana's hallway, so it was time for a new shot of the clan! We had a great weekend watching the kids play together, visiting with each other, eating really yummy foods, and more watching (and corralling!) the kids!! Gary, the oldest brother, is a great photographer (his "side career") and he and his wife, Toni, did a great job organizing us to get some sweet pictures:

All the Vaughn women

I just had to include this one of Colby - isn't he just the cutest little guy you've ever seen??? I know I'm slightly prejudiced, but I just think he's such a hansome little dude. I think all my boys are so handsome, but there's just something about this little face that gets me. They've all got this mama wrapped around their fingers!!

And we wonder why little Brady is not so little anymore?? Could it be the cookies?? No . . . surely not!!

Choo-choo train of grandkids from oldest to youngest

Good times part 2 . . .

Wednesday night Monica and I's cousin and her family came to town for a vacation with friends from Carlsbad, NM. Diane and Jimmy have 3 cute boys - she's my hero as a mom and mother of boys! They were going to come to my house for dinner and swim time, but Tyler was sick all day yesterday with a virus and fever, so we quickly moved to "plan B" and met them in Irving close to their hotel for dinner. Diane has always been one of our "cool cousins" who taught us lots of things as young cousins. I have memories of sitting in her room as she taught me how to blow bubbles with big wads of bubble gum. I think Monica and I could both say we loved having older cousins and still love learning from them as parents and, well, just as good people!! Jimmy is a great dad, husband and man of God, and I know my boys especially love being around their boys. Thanks for the fun night, guys!

The boys had fun playing video games, and Brady thought it was just real cool to be like the big boys and wiggle the controls (or just stand on the Dance Mania type thing and look big!). Please excuse the look he's throwing down with the dirty onsie and no pants. Aunt Moni said he looked a little trashy. Oh well - I guess we can't be the cutest all the time!

Now here's a fun one just because. I think this is a great example of the perks of being the third child. Who else would be able to have popsicles at the age of 17 months?? Life is good for Brady Vaughn!

Good times

This past weekend was a very full, very fun time for us at the Vaughn house. I have a group of women that I worked with years ago (my very first job out of grad school) who are very special to me. We get together at least once a year, or when someone has a baby, or for any other good reason we can think of for a gathering of good friends! Three of them are speech therapists, and we added one of our other favorite people, a dear music therapist, to the gathering this time. They all came over with their children and lunch items for a very girly, yummy lunch. They are all such great little cooks - thank goodness I only had to provide food for the kids . . .less pressure, you know. I sure do like friendships like this that go beyond just professional ties. God is good.

My parents came Thursday night and spent the night with Monica, helping her get ready for this little baby to make her appearance soon! We all gathered Friday for some good family time, and loved being all together on Saturday and Sunday as well. I sure do love watching my kids with my parents . . .Brady is figuring out who his grandparents are, and that they are GOOD to him! On Sunday Monica had her last baby shower in Cleburne, and can we just say "PINK??!!". Oh my goodness . . .from the strawberry cake to the decorations to the punch . . pink, pink, pink! This shower was all of the Head family's "teacher friends", and I think they really love the Head family - Monica included. That baby is SET with all the cuteness and practical things a baby can need, I think!! I don't have pictures from the shower to post . . .I took some with Monica's camera . . .maybe she'll do some?? (hint, hint sister)

As soon as I walked in the door from dropping Monica off at home after the shower, we were getting ready for special friends to come from St. Louis to spend the night with us. Ken was a great friend of mine from ACU, and he and his wife, Megan, are very fun for everyone in our family to hang out with! They have 2 sweet little girls that Tyler and Colby had a BLAST playing with, and we just really enjoyed catching up, making memories, and watching our families bond. Today my life long friend, Anda Brown, came over with her 5 kiddos to join us and Ken's family for some swim time and lunch. Can I just say that my pool was loosing water by the second? Ten kids and 4 adults can make some waves!! We had a ball swimming and hanging out with friends. God is so good. I just LOVE these friendships . . .can I just say that one more time? I love it!!


Ken was so good with all the kids . . .I wonder if his shoulders will be soar from all the rides he gave out today??

Has it REALLY been over 30 years since my friendship with Anda began, and over 14 years that I've been buddies with Ken?? I'm gettin' OLD.

So, we're back to just the 5 Vaughns now. A little more quiet, a little more boring, but good. Sure had fun this weekend making memories and creating some noise and chaos, though!!