We're Back!

Levi wanted to see his blog this past week, and we have all been enthralled! Looking back on all those memories has been such a gift! And Levi has practically been begging me to start back - so here I am. I'll go backwards to the beginning of 2016 to fill in some gaps - but for now, a quick re-introduction.
Levi is 9 and just started the 4th grade.

Kara Jane is 6 and started the 1st grade.

Liza is 4.5. She is in her last year of pre-K.

Mercedes Marathon 2016

Levi has had an opportunity to run an entire marathon through the course of the school year by running some segments at school. Then the weekend of the Mercedes Marathon, all the participating kids get to run the last mile. This was his second year to participate. We skipped kindergarten since I really didn't know much about it and the idea of taking a kindergartner and two baby girls downtown did not thrill me.

Here he is starting out on his last mile of his marathon.


At the end of the race, he got a medal. And a Powerade. A cold but good day!

From Pedro

One of Levi's best friends moved to Oregon before he started second grade. Levi was so sad. When he had a Flat Stanley project, he knew exactly to whom he wanted to send him - Pedro of course! Levi was so excited when he was returned from his adventures in Oregon. Levi got pictures of Stanley with Pedro. It was so sweet!

Levi's Favorite 2016

This picture is writings from Levi's journal at school.

Father-Daughter Banquet 2016

Kara Jane all dressed up for her first Father-Daughter banquet. She was very excited.

Kara Jane even got a corsage from Daddy.


Liza, Levi, and I had some time for just the three of us. Unfortunately we found out just a little after this picture was taken that Liza was sick. 🤢

Fourth of July 2014 - in Madison

Khaki and Q treated us all to a Huntsville Stars game on the fourth of July - and even paid for Levi to have a "party" there - which meant he got to go onto the field,

throw one of the first pitches of the game,

get a picture taken with the catcher for the team,

got a baseball with signatures of all the baseball players, cupcakes, and FUN!!!

The next day we went to the nearby kids' museum.  The kids loved it!

Kara Jane LOVED to dress up like Little House on the Prairie.  

Atlanta Weekend 2014

Growing up in Atlanta, nights at the Laser Show at Stone Mountain was a standard summer activity.  Now that I have kids, I wanted to be able to share that fun family experience with them.  My sisters and parents usually go with us to have a picnic and watch the show, then we spend the night with our awesome uncle and aunt.

We celebrated some summer birthdays with cupcakes.

Before the show started, Levi was convinced he saw lightening.  He's a little worried about things like storms.  When I say a little worried, I mean he can freak out.  Not sure where the fear came from.  Kevin had to show Levi on the phone that a thunderstorm was not on its way.

Roo loved the wagon.

Megan Ruth being adorable, as usual.

 The next morning, we played at the pool in my aunt and uncle's neighborhood.  The kids loved it.

 Bathing beauties in matching suits.  I don't think these girls could get cuter.

Until this picture.  Sweet cousins!!!

First Pigtails for Roo!!

Free Donut Day 2014

I got to start the summer on an alternate work schedule so that every other Friday I have off to spend with my kiddos.  The first Friday was free donut day!!!

End of Baseball 2014

Kevin coached Levi's team for his first season of Coach Pitch baseball.  Levi's team was the Angels, and he played first base.  We had a great team - the parents were absolutely fantastic.  The kids were fun and improved in their baseball skills.

We had a pool party for our final get together for the season.  Couldn't have been more fun!

Reading

This is how I found my three sweet kids when we should have been in the van on the way to church.  Big brother reading Frozen to his baby sisters.  Totally unsolicited, not staged, absolutely precious. 

Regions Field

The ballpark where Levi has been playing baseball got to have all the teams announced and walk on the field of the local minor league team.  The team had a blast!

He even got on the big screen!

A Friend's Party

Kara Jane, along with most all little girls, is somewhat taken with Frozen.  When she was invited to a Frozen birthday party where she would get to meet "Elsa", I couldn't resist taking her.  She had already been talking about her own Frozen birthday party for at least a month, and I thought she'd love any chance to hear or see anything related to Elsa!

Not a super excited face, but trust me: she had a great time!

Liza didn't care too much for the singing princess.  She found other ways to entertain herself.

 Sorry Elsa, but this picture was too cute of Kara Jane.

 Kara Jane would very rarely take her eyes off of "Elsa".

Easter 2014

These matching dresses were a gift from Aunt Joy and Uncle Wes.  

Apparently, I am incapable of consistently taking decent pictures of all three kids.

A-Day 2014

We didn't stay for the game this year, but we did have some fun at the family reunion for my paternal grandmother's family.

Roo pretending her "cousin" wasn't there.

Khaki found these dresses. 

Roo, KJ, and "baby" Megan all matched.  Pretty cute!

These girls love their Q!

Spring Trip to Old Baker Farm

We've been making an annual tradition to go to Old Baker Farm each year to get our Halloween pumpkins.  The kindergartners at Levi's school go to the farm in the spring.  I was really excited to take the day off to go with Levi.

His entire class, except for his teacher, got to go on the field trip.

Levi was waiting to plant his sunflower seeds.

 With his sunflower seeds.

 Levi really took the farmers seriously when they told the kids to only touch the animals with two fingers.

We got to go on a hay ride.

Levi got to shuck some corn.

The farmer put it through a grinding machine so that the kids could feed the goats.

 Two fingers.

The goat gets to be touched with the whole hand.

Lunch in the barn loft.

Levi liked climbing the hay bales.

The whole class had a great time.