Today marks ONE YEAR living in South Florida! Really one year has gone by SO fast! I remember pulling up to our house here one year ago and just bursting out in tears. I remember sitting in the car feeding Hayden as everyone else started unloading the truck and just crying. I wondered what the heck I was doing in this strange, unfamiliar place and why did we have to leave somewhere we LOVED so much. I was scared. Scared of what life was going to be like. Scared we would hate it here. Scared of what Drew's schedule would be like and if he would like it. Scared my kids wouldn't find friends and wouldn't adjust. Scared! I was so grateful that mine and Drew's parents were there with us. They helped in so many ways. By the time they had all left a few days later, my house was completely unpacked, decorated, and clean and organized!

I can honestly say a year later that we really like it here in Florida. Life is good. The boys have adjusted, Drew's program is going well (of course there have been bad days, but for the most part it has been good and we have made it through the first year:) and we have made some great friends. Drew is busy, but the time he does have off, we make the most of it, and this is a great place to live to have fun. We do still miss our Old Kentucky home, and our friends, and our family, but I am grateful for this experience, and grateful to live in this part of the country. 

A few things we have learned over this last year about Florida:

-you really do wear shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops year round (a definite plus for me. Drew claims to miss the seasons, but I know he likes it too!)
Here the boys are when we went out looking at Christmas lights 3 days before Christmas wearing shorts and flops!

- You can always do something outside. Even when it rains it usually will rain for a few minutes, then the sun will come back out and be a beautiful day.
Here Tanner is learning to ride a bike in February

-We swim year round
Here we are swimming in December (notice the Christmas wreath on the fence)

-The best time to go to the park is November thur April.

-There are LOTS of bugs and critters and lizards! (a definite negative for me. I totally get creeped out, especially when I see a lizard in my house!)
This picture is of the tree in front of my kitchen window. I see these guys daily.

- There are lots of fun things to do here

 Disneyworld!

- Everything is more expensive here (rent, insurances, groceries) FYI don't register your car here if you don't have to, you may have to give an arm and a leg!


I am glad for this past year. For the things I have experienced and for all that I have learned!

Here are the boys 1 year ago

 And here they are one year later

Mason finishes 1st grade

 Mason finished 1st grade on June 7th (on Hayden's Birthday). He had an awesome year. He loved his school, his teacher, and his class. The week before, the whole first grade got to go on a field trip to the bowling alley for an end of the year party.

  Eating Lunch

 Mason and his teacher, Mrs. Smith, we loved her!

He really did have a great year. It is so fun to see your kids grow and learn and progress and love going to school each day.

Mason receiving student of the month award. This was earlier on in the year, but I wanted to include it.

 I also wanted to include this. During the year his class had a unit on the Wright Brothers. Mason loved learning about them and how they invented and flew the first airplane. He told his teacher that he would build the first airplane they made and bring it to school. He came home and went right to work. He looked on the internet for some pictures (blueprints) and started building away. This is what he came up with. Pretty darn good replica if you ask me (but I am bias). The pictures really don't do it justice. His teacher loved it and had him share it with the class next door!

 Mason on the last day as a 1st grader...2nd grade here I come!

 

After school, to celebrate we went swimming with friends! A great way to end the year!

Birthday Boy

So here are a few more from Hayden's Birthday. We woke up to this cute 1 year old face!! (notice the teeth marks all along the crib, he is a bitter)

Having a waffle for breakfast. Let me tell you this kid is an eater!

More cake... He LOVED eating his cake.

Pure happiness

Love this one with his cute dimple and toothy grin!

He made quiet the mess, but loved every minute of it!

 

Later that afternoon we went swimming

Later that night when dad got home we opened presents

All in all a great day! We are so lucky and blessed to have this sweet guy in our life.

A few stats...

 Weight: 19lbs 6 oz (6%) hasn't gained much weight the last few months but the doctor isn't to worried since he is still growing in length.

Height: 30.25 (62%)

Crawls super fast!

Walks all along the couches

Pulls himself up on your leg

LOVES to play in the Wii basket (seriously loves it)

Has started opening the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen and pulling things out!

Loves to play with sunglasses (it is his preferred toy of choice)

Loves to swing

Says dadda and mamma

Done nursing

Loves drinking whole milk

Is an excellent sleeper (the last two days has taken a 51/2 hour nap!!)

Happy Birthday to Hayden Kay

Well it has happened... my baby turned one today!! ONE years old!! I honestly can't believe it. I remember life a year ago like it was yesterday, the day he was born, moving to Florida a week later, being so nervous and scared to be in a new place, no friends, and three kids! Looking back over this last year I have been SOO grateful for this little boy. He has brought so much joy and happiness to our family. He really has been the best baby... great sleeper, an excellent eater, so happy and content all the time, everything a mom could ask for. I really feel so blessed to have my Hayder Baby! 

For his first birthday I wanted to make him his own little cake he could dig right into. The second we put it down his face lite up, and he went right for the candle.

  sometime between these two pictures he took a giant bit out of the wax "1" candle. This kid really will eat anything! Drew had to fish it out of his mouth.

 got to love the frosting moustache!

 He couldn't quiet figure out how to break through that fondant. I love the couple of holes he poked through with is fingers.

Happy Happy Birthday to my sweet baby boy!

Park Time!

 A fun beautiful Florida evening at the park.

Pure Joy!