keagan's new thing

Anyone who knows Keagan knows that she talks....a lot....a lot....a lot.  She doesn't stop talking until she asleep.  However, her new thing is sign language.  Not American Sign language, Keagan Sign Language.  So, the majority of the time I don't know what she is trying to tell me.  She knows a handful of real sign language words, such as: girl, thank you, please, tree, mom, dad, beautiful.  When she tries to have a conversation with me--well, it can be difficult because she makes up her own signs.  Sometimes I can figure out what she is saying, other times, not so much.

We were walking home one day after picking Easton up from school and she was having a Keagan Sign Language day.  It was SO QUIET.  And usually in Keagan's presence it is not quiet.  On the way home she told me a story of a girl planting a tree, or at least that is what I think she was telling me.

She always keeps us on our toes.

our visitors

In the middle of August Parker's sister and her kids came out to visit from Virginia.  We hadn't seen the kids in a year, so it was so nice that they stayed with us and we got to spend extra time with them.

One day we went to the dinosaur museum with the other cousins that live here in town.

 the whole group of cousins--all 9 of them.

 Keagan and Olive

 I love this picture of the boys.

Easton, Austin, Aidan, Jackson

 Easton doing the water erosion part at the museum.

 Easton, Keagan, Austin, Briana, Abbey

 Easton, Austin, Briana, Abbey, Keagan

 Keagan and Olive

Another day Carrie and I left the kids with the husbands and went shopping.  Some much needed girl time.

 We totally should have gone to the royal wedding.  We would have fit right in.

my date with easton

a couple of weeks ago Easton and I went on a date to the last night of the Timp. Storytelling Festival.  It was fun to spend that time with just him.  That doesn't happen very much.  It included lots of cuddling, especially when the sun went down and it got chillier, and lots of, "I love you, Mom."

random

the other day I was running errands with Keagan and saw a big sign on the side of the road that read, "black missionaries eat free on Wednesdays."  What??  I did a double-take and quickly realized it was 2 different signs close together.  The way they were placed and the hill I was driving on made it seem like they were one sign.  They actually read, "Margaret Black for city council," and "missionaries eat free on Wednesdays."  :)

heartbreak

The other day I was walking with Easton, holding hands, into the Kindergarten playground before the bell rang and a kid ran by.  Easton dropped my hand so fast.

It broke my heart a little bit.  I am not ready for him to be "too big" to hold my hand.

what a difference a year (or two) makes!

doing the kids 1st day of school pictures, I went back and looked at the old 1st day pictures.  So amazing to see the differences!

 2009-2010 (1st year of preschool) 

Easton was 3 and a half

 2010-2011 (2nd year of preschool)

Easton was 4 and a half

 this year, 2011-2012 (kindergarten)

Easton is 5 and a half

 2010-2011 (joyschool)

Keagan was almost 3--one month away from being 3

this year, 2011-2012 (preschool)

Keagan is almost 4

It is crazy and happy and sad to see how much they change, just in a year!

1st day of preschool

Keagan had her first day of preschool today.  She was up and dressed and ready by the time I got up--which was 8:30, so I don't even know when she got up.  She was SO excited.  She kept asking me, "Is it time to go yet?"  When 10:00 rolled around, she was jumping out the door.

her cute new backpack 

outside preschool.  I have decided this is my new favorite picture of her.

Keagan, I can't believe you are in preschool! (for the 2nd year....)  You are such a fun girl and I hope you discover a love of learning.  I hope you listen to your teacher and learn so much this year!  We are excited for you and love you so much.