Kids Stats

Back in November the kids had a check up....here are their basically current stats.

You both are healthy growing kids!

Katie-weight 56 lbs-61% and height 51.3 inches-83%

Owen-weight 44 lbs-69% and height 44.3 inches-74%

Merry Christmas Eve Cereal!

Frosted flakes-katie
Honey Nut Cheerios-owen
Cinnamon harvest-me
Cranberry Orange Granola-daddy

Let's Ice Skate!

Owen and I had a surprise date today...ice skating! We were both excited to get our skates and get on the ice.  We rented our skates and joined the other peoples in the rink.  I have to say, Owen, you worked so hard! The first few times around you held on to the rail and me.  You basically ran in place for awhile trying to get your feet to cooperate only falling a handful of times. :) We took breaks, but each time you were ready to get back in to try and get better because..."This is so so so so hard.  It is much harder then it looks," you told me. By the last lap we were in the middle of the rink and we didn't fall. The highlight was holding hands with my favorite five year old and we ended on a great note!

Happy happy birthday!

Lots to write out later, but so far we've had lots of fun and relaxed today for your birthday! 

We love you!

We celebrated with a day date, eating yummy brunch foods, reading and relaxing at the Umstead lounge.  Thank you Muses for keeping our kids...we know they had fun!  

And then we had a delicious dinner with apple crisp for dessert.

We hope your next year of life is as wonderful as this one has been.  We love that God is growing you up into a man that fears Him, loves us and enjoys life!

Merry Christmas!

Today, totally as a surprise, we sent the kids on a scavenger hunt to find an experience for Christmas! In their stockings they found...Disney On Ice-Frozen tickets! We got huge hugs and delighted smiles.  :) Thankful to be able to bless our sweet ones.  Merry Christmas Katie and Owen!

Symphony!

Thanks Burtons and Pollinger's for our field trip!

Katie Talk...

Justin was helping Katie with her room, well, more specifically her baby doll room.  Kit's room is located in a cleaned out space in her closet.  She has decorated, organized and thought through anything and everything that needs to be in this room.  She has asked for new things for Christmas because she has scoured the American Girl Doll Magazine that faithfully comes to our mailbox each month. If you ask her about Kit, Magnolia, Lily, Hope, Gerrie, Belle...she can and will talk your ear off.  Try it. :)

I asked my mom if I was this interested in dolls at Katie's age, she said I loved the ones I had, but my sister, Jessa, was the one always surrounded and living life with her dolls.  Aunt Pie, I'm sure you are wanting to play dolls with Katie right now, right?

This stage is fun and shows what she is mimicking from our lives.  We can also say with huge hearts-she's a maniac.  :D

Below is a snippet of a conversation around our home between Daddy and Katie...
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Katie-"I am having all these problems with Kit's room. I have all different colors everywhere and non of them match.  I don't have a theme for my room. I need to cut out the different things I have and lay them out to see where each one needs to go, like a room layout," 

Daddy- "I don't think these are really problems."

Katie- "You are right, Daddy, these are not problems they are opportunities."

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Field Trip

@ the IMAX seeing the Lemures!

His Farm Dog

Every good worker needs a farm dog and a good pair of overalls. :)

Our December Leaf Pile

Playing "A Toy Store"

Dear Katie and Owen,

You asked me to play "toy store" with you today.  I so wanted to, but I had so many things to do... I thought about it, thinking for a few minutes. Enough I thought, I'm going to live by what we believe. And doing my never ending list is not at the top of that list. I stopped doing the dishes and put away the breakfast items and join in with your imaginary adventure.  I am so glad I did!  I got to play with you, my five and seven year olds.  I got to pretend to be a Gramma with a funny voice and to watch you both crack up and beg me to continue my Gramma voice all day. I spent $8 and got things for my "grandkids".  I saw how you priced each item, some for $.25, 19$9 and some for $200 which was a hand carved and hand painted marble run by you O.  You told me all about the travel packs you put together and I learned a bit more about you both-you are both so creative and love to pretend.  We had so much fun! I'm glad I remembered that you all won't always want to play and I stopped my never ending list of things to do to simply play!  Thank you Katie and Owen for playing with me!  

Love you both!!

Katie, you shopped after me with your baby, Lily ,and she did a really good job in the Ergo, that you said you will never grow to big to use!

Owen, you did a great job of ringing up my purchases!  You had very kind customer service as you carried my bags to my car.  

:) Love, Momma

Quick, Yummy, Easy

Pumpkin ravioli, brown butter sauce, toasted pecans over a bed of sweet lettuce. 

I think you need to have this in your 30 min or less recipe box. :)

Wearing Red and Black

Thank You Wiley's for the NC State bball tickets!

Go Wolf Pack!

Lov'n on a little

Katie sweetly told me she could read a book to Ansley before her nap.  Well done, Katie. :)

Journaling on a Wordless Wednesday

 A bed needing clean sheets, clothes that need folded, a seven year old worked on homework, the sun set and I stopped to cherished this moment. Breath-Thankful. I love this moment. It shows real life in our home.  It shows me that I do desire to be together in the midst of the days chores. I love that Katie is doing her homework while I folded clothes.  I love that soup was simmering on the stove.  I love that I paused to enjoy this moment-to see, with eyes wide open, life happen in our home. God is at work.  He bring peace between the kids.  He provides work for their Daddy and my love. He gives me a heart to love this.  I love that God is faithful to bring these small joys into our mundane. 

Owen's Sports P A R T Y!

Sweeet Owen, we had your first official birthday party a month after you officially turned 5!  (It took awhile for the gym to be open :)

You requested a sports party and we played and ran for about 2 hours straight in the New Life Camp gym.  You invited 5 friends, Quentin, Durham, Noah B, Noah H, Bryce. We had Gatorade, cupcakes, veggie straws, apple slices, goldfish, punch balloons, sports tattoos, arm bands and Katie's many creations for decorations. "It was the best day ever!"said you. 

We can't believe you have graced our lives for 5 wonderful years, you are growing so fast!  Can't you please stay little?  We love you!  Happy Birthday!

Katie made so many decorations for you!  Here is her confetti!

 Tons of basketball

 Balloon Races

 You and Quentin

 Noah H

 Noah B

 Durham and Bryce

Pumpkin Carving and Trick or Treating

Fall is one of our favorite seasons.  There are so many thing to do dear kiddos!  

We carved pumpkins and went tricker treating this past week and it was so exciting.  Katie and Owen you thought through your costumes many times and settled on the Royals...even though we were all sad they lost in Game 7 of the World Series.  You rocked your outfits, scored $3 burritos at Chipolte, raked in 5 lbs of candy and loved every minute of our festive week.  

 Two artists deep in their work

One helper concentrating with his tongue

Justin did a little artistic work creating the lantern for their newest neighborhood

 I was in character here...I'm Erin Andrews.  I'm interviewing a very important KC Royals Cheerleader.  :) Oh and I got a chance to talk with Hosmer...

 Look at that Coach and little player!

 :)