A Favorite Summertime Picture

We surprised David at the fire station one day with ice cream and I got this really cute picture...it is one of my favorites!

Oh summertime...how I do miss you!

THE KINDERGARTNER

And she is off to Kindergarten, all smiles and as happy as can be! Addie had her first half day of Kindergarten this week. They call it Bear Camp! She loved, loved, loved it!

Here she is with her bear, ready to head to school with Logan and me...

Check out her smile...she is missing her two front teeth...

I am very happy to have the two of them at school with me. It really is a treat and highlight of my job!

And here she is with our favorite Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Gilliland! This is Mrs. G's 2nd Dodd kiddo...hoping she has all 3!

Addie came back to school with us on Friday for her 2nd half day. Friday was spirit day. Each grade level has their own color t-shirt. Here we are representing Kindergarten, 2nd, and 3rd grade. How fun!

I have definitely shed a few tears this week! Just can't believe how fast time flies! It's a happy -sad! I'm proud of my babies...very proud and happy for them!

Kindergarten...here we come! First full week for Addie is next week! She is ready...oh...she is SO ready! Go get 'em Addie!!!!!!!!

Remember when Logan started Kindergarten...click HERE, HERE, and HERE (yes...there are 3 posts all related to Logan starting Kindergarten...he is my 1st child!) to remember those days and shed a few more tears with me.

Logan is a 3rd Grader

Logan and I survived our first full week of school. Logan is in 3rd grade and he is loving it! He is a rock star in Miss O'Briens class!

Here he is on his first day... Miss O is a BIG GATOR FAN, graduated from University of FL, so Logan made it a point to wear his UT shirt, hat, and even sunglasses! She loved it!
Here he is with Miss O...

It's going to be a great school year!

Grand Finale to Vacation 2011

We stopped in Atlanta for a Braves game on the way home from the beach. I'm pretty sure it was Logan's favorite part of the vacation! I have to admit, it was a great time!

Logan has a new sports idol...Dan Uggla. He bought a shirt with his name on the back. It's his new favorite thing to wear, along with that hat he always has on his head!

The Braves beat the Marlins, just for Logan (so he says) because it was his first time at a Major League Baseball game! Go Braves!

Great Way to End the Summer

At the beach, playing in the ocean and sand!

It was even better because we had two of our very favorite people come along...

Nana and Pop---It has been about 20 years since these two lovebirds have seen the ocean...

We were happy they came along because we actually got a date night!

Logan LOVED the water and the BIG waves this year...

Can you see his name in the sand???

Addie and Molly had a great time too...

Proud of herself for writing her name in the sand...

And here is our littlest man standing by his name in the sand...

He wasn't crazy about the BIG waves but he did love playing in the sand...

Of course, the kids also had fun crab hunting...

and swimming...

We also had a fun family night out to dinner, driving go-carts, and playing miniature golf...

Addie took this picture of Sam. He looks soooo big!

By the end of the week, I'm pretty sure we all felt just like this little boy here...

Thanks for the fun memories Orange Beach! Now...here is to the back to school season!

Good News...Great News...BEST NEWS OF THE SUMMER

MY SISTER IS HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL! After 3 long months in the hospital, my super strong, amazing, beautiful sister is home! Prayers were answered and we are praising God! She is taking it slow as she still has recovering to do but it is much sweeter recovering at home, watching her little girl play and hanging out with her husband! I'm just so happy for them! Thank you for your prayers and please keep praying as she continues to recover! We love you Jennifer!

No More Diapers...EVER!

One of my goals for the summer was to have Sam potty trained before we went back to school.
It was a bit of an adventure...

He was so excited to bring the potty seat home from his Aunt Tonya and Uncle Jon's house. He literally hugged the thing the entire car ride home. I just knew he would sit right on it and pee. However, when we got home and I sat it on the seat, he looked at me and said, "No Mommy, It my hat!" while he took it off the toilet and put it on his head. He then said, "See Mommy, It my hat!"
After a few tries, he sat on the seat, enjoyed some books, and he finally started doing his thing in the potty. At that point, I was DONE WITH DIAPERS...oh wait, except when we were at the ball field and running errands. Poor thing was confused with no diapers at home but then me smacking a diaper on his bottom to go run here and there and everywhere. After the first week, he was using the potty great at home but he was a bit confused since he was still using a diaper other places. So, I decided to take the diaper off for better or worse, no matter where we were headed or what was on the schedule. Much to my surprise, he did awesome and has had a very few accidents since then. I can count them on one hand...YAY! He is doing great but it has been interesting as he not only puts his pee and poop in the potty, he also likes to put his toys he might be playing with in the potty too!

But at least I can say...

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED...NO MORE DIAPERS FOR THE DODDSQUAD...EVER!