Mommy's Little Helper

There has been a LOT of nesting going on in the Krauss house lately. Caroline has wanted to join in so she's become quite the little helper. Here are a few things on Caroline's daily "to-do" list.

Setting the table for dinner

Caroline is in charge of placemats, napkins and spoons (for obvious reasons :-)

Sweeping the kitchen

She has her own little "sweep" (her word for broom) but insists on using my big sweep instead

Vacuuming the den

I love my sweet little helper and am glad Caroline has "chores" she likes to do while I'm going crazy in this nesting stage (I don't remember it being this bad with Caroline!!)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Caroline has been having lots of fun this summer with her friends. Here are a few pics with some of her very favorite gals!!

Lovin' some attention from Abby & Kingsley

Lucy and Caroline, proudly showing off their matching bracelets

They love each other a LOT
Swimming with Gracie...it's hard to smile when it's bright outside :-)
Say "cheese" girls

Enjoying some ice cream with Grace before bedtime

Had to sneak in this pic since my mom is one of Caroline's favorite gals too...swimming with YaYa

Swim Lessons

Caroline recently finished two weeks of swimming lessons. She did great! I was very worried because before lessons started, she was so scared of the water and wouldn't even put her face in the water. By the end of the two weeks, Caroline was holding her breath/putting her face in the water and kicking her legs while making "supergirl" arms. Now, she's super comfortable in the pool and swims all over with her float on. I'm so glad she's not scared anymore. Here are some pics from her first and last lessons.

SO excited at first...

...then a little unsure and apprehensive Caroline took lessons with her friends, Asher and Parker. I'm glad she was with friends she knew because these lessons were "drop off"...not mommy and me. She cried for about 10 min the first day and then didn't cry anymore after that (it was a miracle :-)...I think all the candy the teacher used as incentives helped.
Caroline and Parker...waiting for the lesson before them to wrap up
Caroline passed out on the way home from the first lesson...she NEVER falls asleep in the car and was really wiped out
Last day of swim lessons, a.k.a. "show off day"...my mom and mother-in-law joined me to watch Caroline show off some of her new swimming skills. I took these pics with my phone, sorry for the poor quality.

Sitting with Asher on the step

swimming to the wall

Face in the water...woohoo

Here is a video I took on the last day...way to go, Caroline!

6 Years Ago Today...

...was one of the BEST days of my life. I married my best friend AND my high school sweetheart. In honor of our anniversary today, here is a blast from the past:

Matt and I met each other and dated our senior year of high school...we were only 17 years old. We felt so old and "grown up" at the time and now we joke that we were just babies. Here is a pic from the night of our senior prom:

Spring 1998

Christmas 1997...I think Matt looks about 10 years old ;-)
Picture from a high school graduation party:
May 1998

High School Graduation!!

This has nothing to do with our anniversary (and my moms are going to kill me :-) but I LOVE this picture of our moms from high school. Matt and I were neighbors in high school and our moms became fast friends once we started dating. This worked out well since we're all neighbors again here in Dallas...makes for easy, combined holidays and lots of time together. I love these two ladies!

Outside our reception site on our wedding day...July 10, 2004

Just like last year, my sweet mom brought over a similar replica of the top of our wedding cake. She bought it from the same bakery that did our wedding cake and it's to.die.for. We are looking forward to eating this tonight after our dinner date! Thank you mom!

A present day pic...and the first pic of us as a family of FOUR (baby boy in tummy :-)

Looking back at pictures from 13 years ago, it's hard to believe I've known Matt for so long. Although we were high school sweethearts, we didn't date in college. Matt went to school in North Carolina and I was in Texas...it was too hard to do long distance. My college roomies will tell you I never "got over" Matt, and I know they're right (oh, the drama of that relationship they had to put up with for four years...sorry girls :-) A part of me always knew I wanted to marry a guy like Matt. It turns out God had something so special in store for us when Matt moved to Dallas after college and we decided to give our relationship another try. The rest is history!

These past 6 years haven't always been easy but I am more in love with Matt today than ever before. I'm a better person because I'm his wife. Words will never be able to express how thankful I am for the family we have become. This adventure of parenthood is the greatest (and hardest!) thing I've ever experienced, and I wouldn't want to be on this wild ride with anyone else. I've loved our past 6 years together and look forward to 66 more (at least ;-)