Happy 8th Birthday, Lauren!!

Happy 8th Birthday

to our sweet, smiling, lovable, tumbling

Lauren!!

Hard to believe she is 8...where does time go!

We hope your 8th year is filled with 

fun, laughter, and endless amounts of love.

You are a true blessing to our family

and everyone you meet. May all of your

birthday wishes come true!

We Love You!!

Happy 10th Birthday Kate!

Hard to believe our first-born turned double digits today!! Where have the years gone?!

Happy 10th Birthday, Kate!

You are such a fun-loving, enthusiastic, energetic, and beautiful girl both inside and out. We are so proud of all you have accomplished the past 10 years and can't wait to see what life has to offer you in the years ahead. May you always follow your dreams and live a life full of love and happiness. Thank you for blessing our family each day!

We LOVE You!!!

Our Community Garden

This year our church started a Community Garden giving families the opportunity to grow fresh produce while teaching their children how to garden. All members are allowed to partake in the fruits of our labor...only have to pay $10 a year and work 1 hour a month. Any food that is unclaimed when ready to harvest, is given to a local food shuttle.

We went a couple of weeks ago to put in our hour of work. The girls thoroughly enjoyed trimming tomato plants, picking strawberries, debugging plants, weeding, and planting pumpkins. We have already enjoyed 2 types of lettuce, spinach, herbs, and strawberries!

We're looking forward to more produce in the weeks ahead!

Weeding around the broccoli plants

Trimming tomato plants and debugging

Preparing the soil for planting

Planting pumpkins!

I Can See Clearly...

It looks as though Kate has inherited her mother's eyes as opposed to being blessed with her Dad's 20/20 vision. Last week after a thorough eye exam, it was confirmed that Kate is nearsighted and would need glasses. She was thrilled! How times have changed since I was her age.

After trying on several frames, we selected the ones below (Mom's first choice). She absolutely loves them and the world has once again become clear!

Happy 7th Birthday, Lauren!

I realize this post is VERY, VERY, VERY late! (As my loving brother pointed out in one of his previous posts.) So better late than never...

Happy 7th Birthday

to our kind, loving, sweet,

energetic, zebra-crazed, and beautiful daughter.

Your smile and laughter brightens our day

and your lovable personality touches the lives

of those you meet.

We wish you only the best life has to offer

in the year ahead!

We LOVE You, Lauren!

Mom, Dad, Kate and Kasey

Happy 9th Birthday, Kate!

Happy 9th Birthday

to our fun-loving, enthusiastic, friendly,

thoughtful, jump roping, beautiful daughter!

We are so proud of the wonderful person you are

and look forward to all you will accomplish

and experience in the year ahead.

May all of your dreams come true!

We Love You!

Mom, Dad, Lauren and Kasey

(Sorry for the late post...it was a weekend of parties! More pictures to follow!)

Cake Decorating

A week and a half ago we celebrated Biz's (Mom-Mom's) Birthday. I was in charge of fixing dinner and baking the cake. I made a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting (from scratch!!!). The girls asked if they could have the task of decorating the completed cake.

Here's what their efforts produced! Very colorful and artistic!

The Finished Product

Happy Birthday, Mom-Mom!

Everywhere Fun Fair

The first weekend in August, our entire family participated in Vacation Bible School (VBS) at our church. This year's theme was Everywhere Fun Fair! The theme focused on 5 different countries (Japan, Zimbabwe, United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan) and how we're all neighbors.

I was on the committee that helped organize the event plus volunteered as a Crew Leader the entire weekend. The girls were participants while Mark helped with one of the stations.

Kate invited 4 of her friends from school and Lauren invited one friend. The activities throughout the weekend included Bible stories, crafts, science experiments, food, music, and a Midway with games and popcorn!!

Although exhausted after 3 days, we all had a ton of FUN!!!!

Kate's Crew

Lauren and Dad at the Midway

Our State

Kate came home the 3rd day of school with her first project assignment. She had to make a 3D map of North Carolina showing the 3 regions and labeling the major cities, lakes, rivers, landmarks, and historic sites. Her grade will be based on her creativity (materials used) and meeting all requirements. After several weeks of work, her project is complete!!

She said her teacher loved her "Fun Fact" about Hertford...that's where she was born. (It's always nice to highlight the teacher!)

The Start of Another Year

It's hard to believe we started another year of school last week. Kate has begun 4th grade and Lauren 1st grade. Only 2 more years at the elementary school and then Kate joins her Dad at the middle school.

The girls were nice enough to take their annual picture for mom before heading off for their first day.

Here's to another great year!

Reflections

The girls participated in an art program called Reflections that involves several schools throughout the state. Each child can select as many catergories as they wish and produce a piece of art for that medium. Both girls chose Visual Arts. The theme for this year's competition was "The Magic of the Moment."

Once the artwork is judged at the school level, the selected pieces then advance to the county level, the district level, and finally to the state level. For each category, the pieces are divided by grades K-2 and 3-5.

A reception was held at our school last week for all of the participants. We were very proud of both girls. Lauren received 1st place in visual arts for K-2 at the school level and Kate received 3rd place for 3-5 at the school level.

Looks like they may have some artistic talent in their genes!!

Blue Ribbon

Kate competed in a county-wide competition called First in Fitness a couple of weeks ago. There are a total of six different events. The top boy and girl from each grade (3-5), in each event, are selected to participate. Kate had the highest score for speed rope at her school for 3rd grade girls.

She trained 3 mornings a week for over a month. The day of the event she competed against girls from over 20+ schools in the county. Although it was cold and windy, she still managed to tie for 1st place!

Her score...204 jumps in 1 minute!!!!! We're very proud of our daughter!!!

The photos below show her jumping during the competition, her teammates and coach from school, and she and her coach.

Way to go Kate!

Let's Roll

The girls each received a pair of inline skates and the proper padding a couple of weeks ago. Kate has been invited to several birthday parties at the roller rink in the past few months. Since they also allow inline skates, we felt it would be more beneficial for the girls to have those as opposed to roller skates. Below are photos from their first attempts. With a little more practice, they'll get the hang of it...even if their mother never has!

Fun in the Winter Weather

Although we didn't get snow accumulation, the girls took advantage of the sleet and freezing rain...perfect for ice sledding! After getting out of school 4 hours early yesterday, Kate and Lauren ventured out with Dad into the wintry mix. (Kasey and I opted for the warmth of the house.) The slick sidewalks and driveways were perfect for sledding!

Dear Santa...

The girls made their annual lists to Santa this year...Lauren writing her first list at least 1 1/2 months ago. (We have had several iterations since then.) Below are their FINAL lists with the hopes that Santa will leave at least one of their favorite items.

Happy Birthday Lauren!

Happy 6th Birthday

to our beautiful Lauren!

 Thank you for your love, kindness, laughter, and silliness each and every day. You bring smiles to our faces with your free-spirit and love of life! We hope your year ahead is filled with extra-special moments and the happiest of days. May your dreams always come true!

 

We LOVE You-

Mom, Dad, Kate and Kasey

Trick or Treat!

This year for Halloween we acquired a second dog and were blessed by an angel. The girls once again enjoyed going from house to house in an attempt to replenish their candy supply. They were kind enough to give Mark and I the candy they don't like...which I might add, were only a select few.

All I Want For Christmas...

We are 1/2 way to singing the ever famous song this time of year...

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!"

Last Friday morning, Lauren informed me that her front tooth (which had been loose for weeks) had turned completely around. I offered to pull it, but she insisted that she would fix the situation. After turning the tooth back around, and repeating the act a second time, she took it upon herself to remove the tooth without any assistance from Mom.

Now the other one is loose, just waiting to come out in the next few weeks. Lauren did express that it is much easier, and more fun, to drink out of straws with her bigger opening.

Happy Birthday, Kate!

Happy 8th Birthday

to our beautiful Kate!

Thank you for all of your hugs and smiles each and every day. Your kind, loving, and enthusiastic personality are a blessing to all those around you. We wish you all the best in the year ahead. May you continue to follow your dreams and be surrounded by love and happiness every day. 

We Love You Very Much!

Mom, Dad and Lauren

Daddy-Daughter Dance

This past Sunday evening, Mark and Kate attended the Y-Guides Daddy-Daughter Dance held for 3rd year Y-Princesses. They both dressed up for a night of dinner and dancing. Kate had her nails done (thanks to her friend's birthday the day before) and wore a beautiful sparkly dress (borrowed from our friends) for an evening on the town. Mark looked very handsome and Kate very pretty, not to mention grown up.

 They had a wonderful time with each other and their tribe. Mark commented that the next time she gets dressed up for a dance, chances are it won't be his arm she's on! Oh how the years go by...let's hang on to them as long as we can!!!

Beautiful Girl

Dad and Daughter ready for a FUN night!

Final Picture before Departure

Kate's Y-Guides Tribe