Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween! This year Paige is a sweet black kitty and Chace is Obi Wan Kanobi. They had a very successful evening!

The kids found our newest neighborhood friends Taylor and Andrew Scott and went trick or treating together!

Our Annual Photo Shoot

We thought about skipping a year but Mackenzie Wheatley can really get our kids smiling - and us too! We're so sad that she and her family are headed to Belgium for a few year. Thanks for always getting such great shots Mackenzie! Here are a few from this year you'll see more on the Christmas Card!

Party Time

Star Wars theme party - yippee! We celebrated Chace's birthday with his friends on Saturday, October 15th. A Jedi Knight and Darth Vader came to entertain the kids, fun for all!

Chace's 6th Birthday, October 10, 2011

Here's a flashback of October 10, 2005

At that time he was 8lbs 12 oz and 22 inches long! Now our sweet boy is 49.5 inches tall and weighs 50 pounds!! He is very smart, leading his kindergarten class in reading and doing very well in math. He enjoys playing computer games and watching shows like Scooby Do, Ben 10, Danger Rangers etc. He has many friends and loves to play football in the yard with "the guys". He also loves Star Wars - theme party pics to come. He is taking Tae Kwon Do and getting stronger every week. It's so much fun to watch this kid grow up! I really can't believe he is six years old!!

Let's Dance!

Turn on some pop music and the kids love to dance and sing! Here's Paige on a recent Friday night dance party at the Anthony House :)

August 22, 2011 Chace Goes to Kindergarten

First Day of School poem

 

They started school this morning,

And they seemed so very small.

As I walked there beside them

In the Kindergarten hall.

And as they took their place beside

the others in the class,

I realized how all too soon

Those first few years can pass.

Remembering, I saw them as

They first learned how to walk.

The words that we alone made out

When they began to talk.

These little angels so much absorbed

In learning how to read and write.

It seems as though they must have grown

To childhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred by hastily

I brushed the tears away

Lest by some word or sign of mine

I mar their first big day.

Oh how I longed to stay with them

And keep them by the hand

To lead them through the places

That they couldn’t understand.

And something closely kin to fear

Was mingled with my pride.

I knew they would no longer be

The babies by my side.

But they must have her chance to live,

To work their problems out,

The privilege to grow and learn

What life is all about.

And I must share my little angels

With friends and work and play;

Their not babies anymore –

They’re in Kindergarten today

Last Day at Sherwood Forest

For 3 years Chace has been taken care of by the fabulous people at Sherwood Forest Montessori School. He is sad to leave this wonderful and loving environment but is looking forward to being a big kindergartener at Nottingham Elementary.

Thanks friends!

Farm fun with the Drake Family

In the heat of July we enjoyed a great weekend with the Drake Family. Chace and Brody played well together and so did Paige and Maggie. We visited a local dairy farm, the kids caught fish and just enjoyed our time together!

And Chace milked a cow! Video below:

4th of July

The kids decorated scooters for the neighborhood parade. It was super hot! Paige won the "Most Colorful" award!

Key Largo

Mid-June we took our summer vacation to Key Largo, Florida. We went with our friends the Mock Family and babysitter from Sherwood Forest Margot Garrido. It was great for everyone! The kids loved playing on the beach at the hotel and in the pool along with a visit to Theater of the Sea. The grown ups enjoyed the beach lounge chairs and dinners out along with scuba excursions for Chip and Micheal and a spa excursion for Kristin and Jenny.

Swim Team 2011

Chace's first year on swim team was a success! He ended the season as the "most-improved" six and under boy...and also received the award titled "I prefer to swim on my back" :) He competed in 3 meets due to our busy schedule in June. He is looking forward to next year when he is one of the oldest "6 and under" kids.