They're Getting So BIG!

Great send off on the first day of school. Love these kids so much!

Colby is in 5TH GRADE, really? He has been such an awesome kid this summer. While others seemed to fall apart a little, he stepped it up - super helpful, mature, thoughtful. I'm really excited to watch where life takes this stud!

Taylor had the same wonderful teacher two years in a row and her BFF in her class three years in a row. We are going to MISS Mrs. Seely and it is hard to have new changes but I was proud of Taylor for being brave this morning despite being scared. She is amazing! Bring it on 3rd grade.

I'm really looking forward to this year for Halle! I haven't quite figured out what makes Halle tick... what motivates her and inspires her. I'm hoping a little more responsibility at school will give me some insight into this sweet little girl. Good luck in 1st grade baby:)



Blue Bell Factory

I started to do a whole "what we've been up to this summer post" but accidently cancelled it. So instead you get a few shots of our trip to the Blue Bell Factory today... yum!

The whole crew...

Enjoying our free sample... 


 Even Kendall got her first taste...


 Silly girls... 


Avalyn missed her friends this summer...
 

 Too cool for pictures...

 
Everyone wanted their turn with the baby...


 Best shot of the day IMO... except that I took it sideways for some reason;)

I'm Scared!!!

I consider myself a pretty fearless person. I can think of times I was nervous as a child but never paralyzed with fear. And as an adult, very few times I am even nervous. But I've learned something new about myself this summer... I am scared of heights! Like really scared of heights. When we went to Breckenridge this summer, we drove 10 miles up this gorgeous road to get to the start of the most beautiful hike I have ever been on. But in the car on the way up, there were times when a cliff was just to the side of us. Breathtaking views. But I had to turn my head or cover my eyes to avoid feeling nauseous. When we reached the top, I had to back away from the edge.

And now, we are in Destin, FL... in a 12th floor condo. And when I go on the balcony, I have to be sitting down all the way back against the wall. Otherwise, I feel dizzy. My chest tightens up. And I want to throw up! If I try to go to the edge of the balcony, I feel like I'm going to fall over. Is this weird? I had to stay back this morning while Kendall took a nap and I wanted to sit on the balcony to get some sun on my legs. I was practicing the breathing exercises I do with Tay to help her anxiety and I could not get myself to relax. I don't know why I'm blogging about this when I should be posting pictures of the beautiful beaches here but I just can't wrap my head around this new realization. Maybe it's a getting older, vertigo thing?

I'm curious - for somebody who experiences true anxiety on a daily basis... is this what it feels like? If so, my eyes have been opened. My mind is not playing out scenerios that I can talk myself through or prepare for. I literally am having a very physical reaction that is out of my control when I stand outside. Anyway... just thinking. If this is the same thing as anxiety, I am feeling more urgent about bringing Taylor to see somebody who understands it better than I can through books to give her more tools to feel less of this in her life. It is paralyzing. I keep thinking I can control it. I go outside and the physical reactions come back. Strange! So - enjoy the view! Because I can't... haha!