How did we get here.....

I remember almost every detail of being pregnant with both Laken and Brett and as the days get longer I find myself struggling to hang on to what sometimes feels like yesterday but also a life time ago.... I remember the doctors appt. the supper I could barley eat... the restless night and what seemed like the longest drive to the hospital we had ever made..... I remember reading all the books.... and what stood out to me the most was.. "the first five years of a child's life are thee most important...."..Haunting words... debilitating words at times... and now we're here....
               Lake turned 5 in August and as every Birthday that has passed I was in awe of how fast time has gone... This year was different though... It was more like a sense of panic. The first of many finish lines was here... and I felt completely unprepared, rushed and blind sided.... I plan everything, am never late, am always early... How is it that I am completely unprepared feel like I've about to submit thee biggest assignment of my life and am finishing it outside the professors classroom.. An assignment that I have had 5 years to prefect.... The anxiety that August brought completely took me off guard. Had I given Laken 100%, have we as parents provided him with all the necessary tools..... have we shaped him into a successful, well rounded adaptable little man.... Its a lot of pressure those silly books put on a parent... If its not bad enough we second guess, compare ourselves questions every decision we make and now here I was in tears the night before our sons fifth birthday questioning if I had succeeded or failed in "thee most important years of my child's life".......
               Its a question that still follows me and I am sure I will revisit when Brett turns Five...... The conclusion I have come to though is.. I love him... I have since the moment I found out I was pregnant.... I have given him my unconditional love.....  The best I could offer with what I had that  minute, hour or day....I know it wasn't 100% each time... I know I could have done better in many cases... but I do know that I did everything with the best of intentions and it was always smothered in love, even if it came out short tempered and loud...
          And if turning five isn't enough stress on a Mum.... add in Kindergarten... Will he make friends?, Will the teacher love him as much as I do? what type of student will he be?...... It becomes never ending.....  September has come and gone now and I am very happy to report Laken is doing Amazing. He is loving school, his teacher and is making a lot of new friends. He is coming home excited everyday to tell us everything. We've been blessed with an amazing teacher who truly loves Laken for who he is and we couldn't be luckier.
        Soo between turning Five, Kindergarten, Hockey and Swimming Laken is unbelievably busy and Loving it... Mrs. Brett is just as busy with our Day home and Gymnastics which she loves going to with Mark.  She's speaking unbelievably well. Has the sass of a sixteen year old and know exactly what she wants. She is beyond loving gymnastics and is enjoying her alone time while Laken is at school. Each day the kids are growing and Changing and we couldn't be more blessed.
        We've also taken in another Brazilian exchange student. Her name is Nathalia and she is an absolute sweetheart and an amazing addition to our family. It's been such an amazing experience for our kids to not only have her in our home but to learn about her country, food and life.
        The fall has been fast and furious but there is no place I would rather be... here are a few pictures of where we've been ...