Riley

This is our new pup! He is 10 months old and quite adorable! We are having such a great time with Riley. We got him from a breeder when he was 8 months old and he was pretty well trained already (that was a life saver!!). I needed to train him to the electric fence though...sigh! Well, it all worked out fine and he was even leaving the yard on a lease with no problems (something our other Lab would never do, so walks were impossible unless you took him in the car to leave the property! UGG!) Anyway, yesterday I was getting the mail and Riley was walking next to me, usually he stops towards the end of the driveway but he must have forgotten and when he heard the warning beep for the fence, he bolted through it instead of retreating backwards. Then he didn't want to come to me because he was scared (do you blame him?) and after finally getting him (now picture me holding the mail and did I mention I was also carrying the baby?) and dragging him back into the yard he was scared to even be in the yard. He is doing better today, but this week, I have a lot of puppy training ahead of me!

He's 5!!

Yesterday, our guy turned 5!! I think 5 is such a big number! You're a big boy when you're 5! What a great kid! At dinner last night he quietly turns to me and says, "Mommy, thank you for giving me the best birthday ever!" I mean really, how sweet is that??! Today we had his birthday party. It was suppose to be a baseball themed party and all the kids were going to play baseball outdoors. Too bad it was raining all day! We moved the party indoors and we ended up having lots of fun. Imagine 16 BOYS inside!! (and 3 lovely little ladies too!) Lots of fun, cake, games, dancing and giggles!! Happy Birthday!! I wish you could have been outside with your buddies playing ball, but I think we had lots of fun despite the bad weather. I love you!!

We will never forget.

Growing

My littlest man is getting so big...this week he cut his top tooth, started walking with the baby walker and is standing for a bit on his own!! STOP growing!!!

First Grade

Today was L's first day of first grade! I really can't believe that he is in first grade. I feel like I just left teaching first grade to go on Maternity leave to have him!! Isn't is great that L is in first grade at the same school where I taught and the same school that I attended K-5!! Love that! He had a fabulous day!! Couldn't say enough about how much he loved his teacher...I love that too!! We did have a little bus drama, but L was fine through it all. C and I had the issue when the bus stopped at our house and our little guy wasn't on the bus!! Hopefully tomorrow all will be straightened out. I know I am a little bias, but I think first grade is the best grade! I still have great memories of my first grade class and teacher.

RU Football

We ended summer today at The Rutgers Football Game! Perfect weather, fun time tailgating, watching football, and being with great friends. It is was a nice way to transition into the fall season. Too bad Rutgers had a bad loss...

Attic Allergies

Every night after tucking in all the kiddos, J is always down the stairs with a woe, or a need, or a "I just have to tell you...". My favorite is when he says, " Mommy, I just have to tell you that....(long pause)....I love you!" It is sugar sweet (and melts my heart every time!), but he is really saying, "Mommy, I want to see what you are doing down here, what is on TV, what you and daddy are up too, etc!!" Anyway, tonight is was, "Mommy, I figured it out!" I said, "What J? What did you figure out (in a very sarcastic voice-because I mean really, do we really need to do this EVERY night!!)?" "I have allergies!" he says. "Allergies?" I say. "What are you allergic to J?" J says confidently, "I am allergic to my attic and that is why I don't like to look at my attic door at night!" I quickly said back "Just don't look at the door and then you won't have allergies." He liked that and said, "Good idea!" and went off to bed!