Pictures from Arizona

This has been an incredibly hard post for me to organize and get online. These are the pictures from our trip to Arizona for Uncle Bud's funeral back in August. These are the last two days that I spent with Trenda.

The trip in itself was for a very sad occasion, but, despite the circumstances, our family was glad to be together. It was the first time Mandy and our little Texas family got to meet baby Xavier, and it was the first time Marshall and his cousin Knolan played together!

The kids enjoying Knolan's slide!Molly in one of my favorite places to be - Aunt JoAnn's pool!

This picture shows just how much Trenda adored her new little grandson!
Krista gettin' a little chunka with a side of monka!Of course, a visit to Arizona wouldn't be complete without a stop at Grandpa Benny and Grandma Geneva's house! Here Molly is playing with her favorite toy - "Stinky" a silly little bird who repeats everything you say in a really, REALLY annoying voice. Molly and Grandpa always have so much fun with that thing!

Molly and her orange tree...

Great-Grandparents

Back at Aunt JoAnn's the day we were heading back to Houston.

Nana's kids

About an hour after we took this shot, Tren walked me and the kids out to my rental car. We said our good-byes as Tren buckled Molly and Marshall into their car seats and gave them hugs and kisses. Tren and I were both excited because I was set to return the following Friday for a visit over Labor Day weekend... my first trip to Arizona without the kids! Trenda and I were excited to spend some good girl time together without being on the kids' schedule for once.

I wish I had been given some hint of what was to come so that I could have spent a few minutes that day telling Trenda how much I love her and how much joy and love she brought into my life.

Tea for Two

While we were in Arizona for Uncle Bud's funeral back in August, Paul took the kids to Shannon's parent's house while the rest of the family went to the reception at the church after the services. Marshall was in need of a nap and while he slept, Paul and Molly decided to have a tea party, but instead of just raiding the Matwick's kitchen for supplies, they decided to make all the tea necessities out of paper.

I am always amazed at Paul's patience and creativity. Stuff like this always blows me away and makes me so happy he's my baby daddy ;o)

The Tea PotMolly and Daddy's cupsMarshall's place-mat :
Molly said it's decorated with "stinky toots"cookiesThe table is set:It's tea time!

Another Tooth Bites the Dust

Molly had a very wiggly tooth for several weeks that had been driving both of us nuts. Aunt Dana tried to pull it while we were in Florida at the beginning of August, but Molly just wasn't having it. Finally I bribed Molly with a new beanie baby if she'd let me yank the tooth once and for all.

Second tooth lost: August 23rd
(Molly's first day of Kindergarten)

I am so grossed out at the idea of pulling teeth, but that wiggly tooth had to go! Molly with her "bribery bear" and her tooth box.
She got another $2 bill from the tooth fairy

First Day of Kindergarten

On August 23rd, Molly woke up bright and early and super-excited about her first day of Kindergarten at Yeager.

Daddy and I gave her a new bear whom she named Peace...
and a cute little Tinkerbell pencil bag. She quickly decided that Peace would live in her backpack and use the pencil bag as her sleeping bag.While Molly checked out her little goodies, Daddy got to work making an awesome 'first day of school' breakfast.... his famous french toast!What a big girl using her knife and fork properly!
Before we went outside to wait for the bus, Daddy had fun filming an interview of our excited little Kindergartner.Traditional picture standing on the mailbox:
Burning off some energy while we waited and waited on the bus...We had lots of time to take pictures since the bus was nearly 40 minutes late that first day!While we waited Ms. Hannah, Davis and Adalyn stopped by to wish Molly luck on her first day of school!
When the bus finally arrived, Daddy carried his little girl to the bottom of the steps...and about this time I started crying...and we later found out that about this time, Molly started crying...
8 loooooong hours later, the bus finally brought my baby girl back home. I was so happy to see her and loved watching her excitedly wave good-bye to her bus driver and new friends.
What a big girl, no longer a little pre-schooler!