She is officially a Preschooler.

 Naomi's first day of preschool was September 6th.  She is a sprout this year attending the same preschool McKay did.  Her teacher is Mrs. Hardwick.  I can hardly believe she is old enough to start preschool and just 2 years ago I was doing this with McKay.  Crazy how time goes by.

I love you Naomi and look forward to a great year of sprouts with you.

Funny story.  We were taking pictures and I lost track of time and then realized we needed to hurry to get to school.  Unfortunately, I was driving fast past the boys elementary school and I got a ticket taking Naomi to her first day of preschool and that made us extra late.

Conversations with Ethan and McKay...

McKay:
Mom I will make you breakfast for your birthday.....What kind of cereal do you like?

Mom, what do you want for lunch?  Do you want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?
 (he kept talking to me about birthday stuff)
He then disappeared and came back with a dollar in his hand and a huge smile on his face.
"A dollar, so you have good luck for your birthday."

Ethan and McKay were relentless in their questions about what I wanted for my birthday.  I told them not fighting would be a great gift.  They didn't like that answer.  I said, "maybe some boots" but their response was, "yeah but we can't drive to the store."  They wanted to hear something they could make.  I told them I would love a good story.  I love stories.   They seemed to be satisfied with this response because they disappeared after dinner and returned once or twice to ask me how to spell words like, "goal and kick."  I wonder what my stories will be about?  I am such a lucky girl.

I think I will be well taken care of me for my birthday!!!

Another funny story, two in the same day.....

We were reading the scriptures tonght, and I asked Ethan what we read about and he said, "He wanted them to leave and get in their closet."

I then explained that Heavenly Father was teaching them to pray in their closets as a description to pray always in their hearts and to find quite peaceful places to pray to feel the spirit more easily, instead of praying to be heard of men and not with sincerity.

Ethan then decided he was going to say his individual prayers in the closet.  So, McKay followed his lead and Mike and I looked at each other while we heard two little boys whispering their prayers in the closet.
Ethan then wrote a note to himself on a sticky note saying, "pray in your closet Ethan." 

Ethan with a smile on his face said, "tomorrow night can we say family prayer in the closet?"

First Day of School

McKay got to choose his seat.  He chose a seat next to his friend from preschool and another friend from t-ball.

This seating arrangement didn't last long.

Conversations with McKay about his first day of school.

McKay: "I said a prayer that I would have a fun first day of school and I DID!!!!"

Mom:  "McKay did you get the note I put in your lunch box?" (Iwrote something very simple that I knew he could understand.  McKay I (heart) You. (heart) mom
McKay: "Yeah, but I can't read, so I gave it to my friend to read."
Mom: "Oh really, so what did the note say."
McKay:  "Hi McKay, Have a great first day of kindergarten.  I love you. love mom."
I wish I could have been there to watch that cute little conversation.

McKay; "Mom, kindergarten is way easier than preschool."

Ethan the big 3rd grader wanted us to drop him off at the curb and then have us park and walk up.  He wanted nothing to do with me.  "Mom do not walk me to my class."

Oh how quickly things change.

Naomi is 3.

Naomi turned 3 back in August.  She had a little princess party with a couple friends and her cousins.  It was all about painting nails, doing their hair fancy, dancing, crafts, and yummy food.  

Naomi is such a fun, sweet, creative, vivacious, smart, and caring young lady.  She loves to keep up with her brothers.  She loves to cuddle with her mommy.  She loves to sing and dance.  She loves being silly and making her brothers laugh.  She loves jumping. 

I love it when she calls me mommio.  I love it when she says, "I marted(with a huge smile)".  She is trying to say farted.  I love it when she walks around singing a song before she goes to bed.  I love that she is so content just being with mom.  I love you Naomi.

So three months ago.........Summer Vacation highlights

Summer vacation road trip.
First we spent a couple of days in Tahoe.    

We did a family bike ride along the Trukee River.

Next, we stopped in Utah to visit my grandma McLeod and our good friends the Tolmans.

The boys

The Girls

The Bikes

The Guns

Good Times!

Grandma McLeod with her Great Grandchildren

Finally we made it to Alta, Wyoming aka. the farm for the Suzuki Family Reunion.

 

We hit the Alpine Slides and a climbing wall in Jackson Hole.

 Naomi had to get on the climbing action as well!

We did some hiking.

 

 Got together with 4 generations of Suzki's

What a crew.

Cousins

It wouldn't be a Suzuki gathering without a treasure hunt for the kiddos. Thanks Kathy.

We all look forward to spending time at the old farm house 

and enjoy the annual Weenie Roast.

  

Oh the tire swing.

 

 I have been going to the farm off and on for 34 years, and this was the first year I hiked Table Rock! It was definitely worth the view.

 

We also visited the private airport and watched the planes land. 

 We also enjoyed some family golfing (haven't done that in about 20 years).

Probably on of the only golf courses you can take your kids too!

 I'm sure we will be back next year!