I'm a big girl now!

Look at my big girl!!! She went on the potty today for the very first time! Her incentive was these little doggies she really wanted for her little"mouse house" she LOVES to play with. It was soooo cute...I kept telling her all she had to do was "go" in her potty so today she decided she wanted to take off her diaper and REALLY try this time. So, we went about a half hour-45 min. with no diaper and I'm not kidding she kept going to sit on her potty, probably about 15-20 times. We brought it to her room so she could play and Bill was SUPPOSEDLY playing with her (although he was actually trying to nap on her carpet:) while I was cleaning the kitchen. I sent Josh up to check on the "two" of them and he walks in and says "What's that smell in here?" So, sure enough, Bill looks in her potty and THERE IT WAS!!! I hear Josh yell, "She did it!" so we all ran upstairs (yes, this is a very exciting event for the whole family:) She was sooo excited! The first thing out of her mouth (after we all calmed down) was "My doggies!" So, off we went to the toy store (good thing there's one just around the corner:) and here is a pic of the proud "big" girl:

Take me out to the ballgame!!!

Jacob's opening scrimmage game for the season was Saturday morning...looking forward to a fun fall baseball season with the "Riverdogs"!!!

And here's dad and Nate later that afternoon off to Nate's first Gamecocks game...he had a BLAST! And we won!!! Go USC!!!

Just being cute!

She put on Jacob's baseball cap and said, "Let's play baseball, mommy!" I'm really pushing for the dance (which so far she LOVES) and the "girly" stuff, but I have to admit she looks pretty darn cute wearing a baseball cap:)

The results from eating "1" oreo:)!!!

Josh's 1st high school ring:

Josh's ROTC won best in the state and they were able to purchase these winning rings with their names, etc. engraved on them. I couldn't get a good picture(hoping Santa will bring me a new camera for Christmas) but it's really neat. Josh's lawn mowing paid off!:) We told him just don't ever let a girlfriend talk you into letting her have your ring:) "He's not dating yet, just for future awareness!" I think we've scared him off from girls anyway with all our talk about how pesty and how much trouble they can be. He's having too much fun just hanging out with his buddies and going to football games, etc.

We're off to a busy start this school year...

Here's a pic I just couldn't resist of Nate and Hannah reading together on my bed last night:

Well, school's off to a strong start...kids are doing great! Josh is taking health science classes at school and, for those of you who don't already know this, he plans to become a doctor. He is currently getting CPR trained and certified. He's already coming home and telling me what I can't feed Hannah anymore (ie. chicken nuggets due to plaque build-up on the heart from the batter)...oh boy! living with a "doctor" in the house might not be too fun:) He plans to go to USC "Carolina" and then to med school in Charleston. He's only a Sophomore in high school this year but they had to pick a career plan last year so they can plan their classes around it and he chose this field. So far is really excited about it. He is also in ROTC at school and is getting more involved with his youth group at church.

Jacob was thrilled to make the drum section in band this year at the middle school. He's also playing baseball again. And Nate is doing "strings" at school and he chose the viola. He is also practicing tennis with dad (he used to play) when we can squeeze it in to the schedule. And Hannah started tap and her and I are also doing MOPS, library story time, and a bible study. So we are keeping plenty busy this school year.

Oh and can't forget Gamecock football...Josh is working at the game tomorrow, Saturday, with his ROTC and Bill is taking Jacob this time. So, Nate and Hannah and I will be watching from home.

GO COCKS!!!

Prayer Request:

For our family and friends who do not know the Kostjuk family (a family from our church back in California), their baby daughter Reese has been in the hospital since she was born. She is about 10 months now and it looks like she will soon be going "home" to be with the Lord. She has serious health problems and has even had a tracheotomy. But, they thought they would be bringing her home with them soon and even moved to a one story house for her. But she took a turn for the worse the other day, the doctors had to revive her and she is now basically on life support. They have decided to take her off her sedatives as she will not be in pain and see if she will be able to be stable on her own or not. If not, they have to make a decision and if they keep her on sedatives, she is unresponsive. They are praying the Lord will make that decision so they do not have to. Please check out their blog under my links, "Kostjuk family" and keep them in your prayers these next few days especially.

Our little dancer...

Hannah had her very first tap/clogging class today...this is a pic of her right after I put on her tap shoes...she was very excited to get to "business"... Here's a pic of her trying to "shimmy"...

She did get sad when her teacher made all the parents leave but I think once she gets more comfortable she'll be O.K. I told her I would stay and watch her from the other room. Next week they get music and pom-poms...I think she'll like that, she LOVES dancing to music. The teacher asked the 4 little girls what their favorite colors are and I think one said "red" and Hannah and another girl said "pink" so she said she's going to try to do their costumes for the recital in red and pink...how cute!!! Don't know if Hannah will actually stay on stage for it, but at least she'll look cute anyway:)

monkeying around at the zoo

Chapin Labor Day parade

Josh's high school ROTC: poor Josh...his brothers were determined to embarrass him. We couldn't find Josh at first (so I finally just snapped this picture so I'd at least have one) but Jacob and Nate start yelling out, "Oh Josh! Josh! Where are you? We can't find you!!!! You all look the same!! Josh! Oh, there you are Josh! Hi Josh! Hi Josh!" etc. etc. ...Poor Josh....he was trying so hard not to laugh and to look forward and concentrate on his marching.

And this one had a ball catching and eating all the candy, and putting on the stickers, etc. Her favorite I think were the Miss teen Chapin and South Carolina, etc. with their gowns and crowns. She was waving saying, "Hi Princess! Hi Princess"!

And these 2 got more candy than Halloween I think!!! Of course Jacob got twice as much as he kept holding out his bag yelling, "candy for the poor...candy for the poor!" That child is so embarrassing!!! Don't know where he came from:)