Aubree Claire - My Sweet Precious Baby Girl

Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Girl!

I can't believe that it has been two years since you arrived and brought so much joy and love to our little family. You are something else! I love every little inch of you from your ringlet curls that get tighter with the humidity to your beautiful and delicate red polished toenails. You are one little package of sweetness. I could hug and love you every second of every day and still not get enough of my baby girl! Happy 2nd and know that mama loves you so very much. Your brothers and daddy love you to pieces too!

Love, Mommy

You sure have changed in the last two years

Your second year of life

Mommy looks foward to the next fun year!

It's Kindergarten Time!

Boy, six o'clock came early for us all this morning! My baby boy loves his sleep and I knew it would be hard for him to get up so early. I woke him up at 6:30 and the first thing he told me was "mommy my eye's hurt" and once we got downstairs he said, "why am I awake? It's still dark outside." Oh my sweet boy! Brandon went in late this morning so he could go with us to walk our firstborn (sniff sniff) into the next 13 years plus of his life! Once he could get his eyes open he was super excited to get to school! He walked right in and put his stuff up and was fine. I got teary eyed when we left because I missed him so much already! There were times this summer when I was so ready for school to start, but this morning I just didn't feel like that... I was sad. My baby, in school. Him spending more of his day with someone else than with me. I didn't sob, but I was just sad. Grayson missed him tons and kept asking when we were going to pick him up. He was reunited with his ole' pal Aubree though. They are like an old married couple when they are together without Anderson. They love each other one minute and fight the next. They were so cute though. Grayson even fed Aubree her lunch. Speaking of Aubree she LOVES LOVES LOVES her sleep. The girl can sleep. Monday she didn't get up until 10 am, so this morning when she was awoken at 6:45 she was a little confused. She didn't fuss about being up so early, but it hit her like a tons of bricks around 10 am. She was a fuss pot all day long. I guess she will have to adjust. She didn't get down for nap until about 2:30 so we had to wake her up from nap around 5:30 so she would go back down for the night. Car line was crazy. I got there early, b/c I was told it would be crazy. I was one of the first parents, but still had to wait about 30 minutes. Don't know what's worse waiting before they let them out or after??? Anderson had a great first day, but was pretty worn out after a full day of school. Hope he is as excited in the morning. Looks like the Snyder family has a new normal!

Anderson trying to make a K with his fingers (next year might be a little easier with a 1)

He was ready

My Handsome Kindergartner

Grayson wasn't so sure... Gonna miss bro bro

Proud boy out side of his classroom

We'll see what tomorrow brings. More exciting time for the family with our little princess turning TWO tomorrow!... where has the time gone?

Beach Weekend with the Holby's

Jenn and I had been talking for a while about trying to plan a long weekend beach getaway and surprise the kids with it. We schemed together with our hubbies and decided to go to Isle of Palms at the end of July. We stayed in Charleston, and just did the drive over on Friday and Saturday to IOP. The kids knew there was a surprise coming at the end of the week, but they didn't know it was a trip or that it involved their buddies. I packed secretly, but by the time we had the car loaded with them all it in and the Holby's van behind us, Anderson pretty much had it all figured out. By the time we got to Columbia all of the boys knew we were all going to the beach together. They were pretty excited. So were the mommies and daddies. We needed a break too! Here are the pics:

Sandy boys

Bro-bro's forever
Cheese

Trying to get a picture of the girls together was impossible

Aubree loves the beach

All the boys working hard on the hole

Taking a break from digging

On Sunday, we drove downtown and went to the battery before heading home. Anderson loved the cannons. He climbed all over them even though the signs said "Please don't climb on the cannons"

Another attempt at getting a pic of the girls

Daddy's Girl

We thought it would be cute to get a picture of all of the kids (in birth order) but that proved to be a lot harder than we imagined. Here's what we got!

This was about the best one we could get

Our attempt at a family picture... turned out a little dark

We had a lot of fun and the kids did too! Next post will probably be from a teary eyed MOM of a kindergartner... My baby starts tomorrow!

DC Trip

Brandon planned a trip for my 31st (yes, 31!!) birthday to D.C. this year to see Dave Matthews. He was playing at the Nationals Ballpark, so we thought it would be a neat venue to see him in. This was probably my 20th time seeing him and I will have to say the best yet! The stage was set up in the outfield and we had tickets for the field. We were amazingly close and it was an excellent show! We had lots of fun, despite the record high temps and horrible humidity in DC that weekend. The Zac Brown Band opened up for Dave and he was really fun to see. I'm not much for Country Music, but I'll have to say he's pretty good! Here is the only picture from that night. A self taken pic in the hotel before we left.

On Saturday, we ventured into Baltimore to hit another ballpark since we were so close. We caught an Orioles game. Our friend Scott, who lives in DC went with us and we had lots of fun. He's a hoot, so it was nice to get to spend some time with him. We watch the show Man Vs. Food and Adam Richman the host has been to Baltimore before for some blue crab. Brandon was determined that we were going to go to Obrycki's Crab house that has been featured on the show to get the full Maryland crab experience. I'm not much on crab, but I was game to go along and see what it was all about. I got a salad and they ordered the 1/2 dozen blue crabs that they just threw on the table for them to eat. I almost lost my stomach when the waiter demonstrated how to de-organ them in order to eat them. Ya know, gotta get the liver and lungs out first! GROSS! Anyway, we ate and then headed out the game. It was a fun night, but very hot still.

Before the massacre

After

Next post: IOP weekend with the Holby's

I'm BAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The wonderful FedEx delivery man rejoined me with my 4th born child today! My sweet hot pink baby girl Dell!!!!!!!!! I'm back. I have lots to post on but it must wait! I'm hosting my first "function" at the new house in about an hour (a fun game of Bunco). Tomorrow night we leave for Florida. In the meantime I have to pack and get everything ready for the trip! But, I'm back!