Marco Island!

We returned to Marco Island and Nana and Papa's house for fall break and then again for Thanksgiving break.
It is always fun with the pool close by and the ocean just a walk away.  Mommy loves the sun.  I like the fishing best of all.  Hadley likes to color by the pool.  And Oliver likes to wake up and ask to go swimming at 8 am.  Nonetheless, there isn't much complaining in Florida.

Fall break pictures

Thanksgiving break pictures

Birthday pictures for Oliver and Hadley.

My slow year blogging has left so much to cover.  I realized I didn't post pictures from Hadley's 6th birthday party or Oliver's third birthday party.  And with my birthday party right around the corner I need to catch up quickly.

Hadley got to have a nail salon party.  We still fight because I wasn't included and she has to be included in mine.  You tell me if that is fair???  But she had a great time with a great group of friends.  And wants to do it all over again for her 7th birthday.

Oliver had a family party because he is three and the third child.  Well that's what mommy says at least.  He is just excited he got a cake and got to kiss girls.

Happy Birthday Rice

Rice,
As I sit here on your 'almost' 9th birthday, I think back on how much you have changed from that little tiny baby we brought home from the hospital that made us parents.  You were always easy.  Easy to put to sleep, easy to get to eat, easy to entertain.  We thought we had this parenting thing down until your brother and sister came along.  Then we realized it wasn't us, it was you.

You are just easy going.  You do get frustrated when things don't go your way but you are quick to realize that is life.  You lost your soccer game and your basketball game this past weekend but you had fun and realized that next weekend you will play again.  It is about playing!

You have always looked to us for confirmation you are making the right choices.  You used to shake your head at us when you wanted us to say 'yes' or you wanted us to give you permission for things.  You still wait for assurance but are also using each day as a lesson to guide you on the right path.  You are quiet at school but voice your opinions and answers at the right time.  You play basketball with the older kids after school but keep to the outside of the game and watch until it is the right moment to steal the ball or take a basket.  You had to dress up for the 100th day of school as a 100 year old person.  You didn't want to do it at first.  It was too far out of your comfort zone but right before you left for school you asked me to put baby powder in your hair to make it grey.

You are amazingly smart.  So quick at math that it amazes me and daddy every day.  You soak up information from books so quickly.  Last week, you asked me if I could name some of the presidents.  I could only name a few so you read the rest of the names to me.  Later that day at dinner you could name way more than I could when we were quizzing daddy.

You know that working hard makes you better.  We see it at all your practices.  You listen to your coaches and try the new things they are trying to introduce. 

Don't get me wrong, you are a nine year old boy who likes to have fun and goof around with his friends whenever possible.  But you will do great things in life because each day you learn a little more and become a little better.  You challenge me to be better.  To learn more.  To react less quickly.  To watch and listen to the world around me for signs.

Happy 9th birthday Rice.  You certainly make this world of mine a better place!