Fun with Friends

God has blessed us with wonderful friends.  Just when we think we have meet all of the wonderful people out there - He brings more into our lives!

We now have a "Friday Night Group" and a "Saturday Night Group."  Interestingly, the Friday Night Group has been together for 12 years and the our kids are amongst 7 adults.  The "Saturday Night Group" has been together for just a few months and consists of 8 adults and 12 kids ages 1 years old to 2nd grade.  Chickfila is our hangout spot.  We love our times with each group and praise God for the friendships.

The picture above is with one of the families from our new "Saturday Night Group."  On December 30th we had our "typical" unusually warm weather.  We enjoyed the beautiful day with a double-family bike ride.  We rode over 10 miles through very hilly terrain.  The kids did great!  In the middle of the ride, we visited a local Botanical Garden.  This concrete train was one of the decorations.  It was this ride that gave Cole  and Kaylee the confidence and drive to finally ride without training wheels!

Cason Update

Update:  I just took 8 steps to Smartie (a building toy) and did it two more times to finally get my family off my back about this walking thing!

I am turning into a little boy and am no longer a baby.  I have learned how to exert my opinions and get what I want.  I now point and motion for things.  When I want someone out of my way, I get a solid stance with my feet and push the person in my way.   When I want to go outside I know whisper "outside." I love to be outside as much as possible.  I sit in the coup car and watch my siblings ride their bikes.  Mommy built me a climbing area so that I can watch out the window easily. 

I continue to be a giggle box and Kaylee often says how much she loves my giggle.   For inside play, I enjoy pushing around cars and making noises as they roll over the carpet.  I play very well by myself and sometimes prefer that over someone playing with me. 

My siblings are getting frustrated with me getting into their play things and mommy gets frustrated with me pulling everything out of drawers.  But I make up for all of it with my huge smile and onery eyes.

Kaylee Rides a Bike

My apologies for this post being so late!

After watching Cole ride him bike without training wheels, I decided that I wanted to join the fun.  Mommy was happy to help me when I asked.  We started in the grass and almost immediately Mommy let go and I took off.  I quickly learned how to start and turn circles.  Just a few days later, I was able to ride up and down the lane!  Now I am helping Cole get started on his own and turn circles!

As soon as Daddy gets the program uploaded that I need, I will get a video posted.

What Good 3 Year Olds Do

Mommy put Cason in his chair to eat breakfast.  While she got him his tray and bib, I noticed he needed a drink.  Giggling the entire way, I went to the refrigerator (making sure that Mommy saw me) and got Cason his drink.

After taking it to him, I walked up to Mommy and said, "That's what good 3 Year Olds do!"

Time with Taylor

While at Grams and Papa's we enjoyed an evening with Taylor. As always Taylor blessed us greatly with personal gifts for each of the kids. I don't know how Taylor does it but he always blesses the kids with the coolest gifts. This year they each got hats, flashlights, and puzzles and dress up clothes for Kaylee. The kids LOVE the hats. (I am constantly telling Chad to take it off before he goes to school!) Kaylee loved her hat so much that she wore it to bed the first night.



Taylor holds such a special place in our hearts. I can only pray that our kids will have as sweet and giving of heart as Taylor does.

Christmas with Grams and Papa

We celebrated Christmas with Grams and Papa.  Although it went very quickly, we spent almost a week at the farm.  The time was filled with sawing wood, playing with Kenzie, watching Christmas movies, playing games, and eating.  

Grams is adored by all of our kiddos.  Each of them have their own special relationship with her.

Cason - 14 Months

Yesterday I turned 14 months.  And no, I am still not walking.  Mommy tells me that since I crawled so early the least I could do is walk now!  I take 1-2 steps a lot but have not desire to do any more.  Crawling and cruising work very well for me and I see no reason to take it up a notch.

I am full of personality right now.  Ornery and silly.  Both "looks" really freak my parents out as they are really hoping for an "easy" toddler.  They think that God owes them that!  Most of the time I am either smiling or giggling. Today I said, "uh oh" when I dropped something.

When I am hungry, I am really hungry.  But when I am not, I see no reason to eat.  Thus, I eat two really big meals a day and just snack the third one.  I continue to say "dree" for drink and sign "more" and "please."  I like to first "tongue taste" my food before I actually go all of the way to eat it.  Once I decide it is okay, I will eat all of it first before moving on to other parts of my meal. 

I love to cuddle with Mommy and Daddy and give big hugs.  Even though they don't last very long, my parents drink them up.While I love to be with my siblings, I enjoy venturing off to unoccupied rooms.  There, treasures are waiting for me to put in my mouth. 

When I don't get my way, I have the cry-scream down pretty well.  Unfortunately it isn't doing me much good. Talking on the phone and skyping Grams and Papa is a highlight.  I tell them "hi-ya" and grin really big.  I am quite the ham.

Daddy and I got a really big tent for Christmas from Uncle Heath, Aunt Jennifer, and Kenzie.  We are excited to use it!

Cole's Saying

"Nothing to worry about...Nothing to worry about."

Let's Go Ride a Bike

Cole has been "able" to ride without training wheels for a while but couldn't get over the fear factor.  After going on a 10+ mile bikeride with Max, Sophie and their family, he had a new reason to be able to get rid of the extra wheels.  Today was the first day that he road down the lane without help.  The first time Cole road unassisted he kept saying "Max and Sophie" over and over as he rode. 

Chad's Award

Mom and Dad received a closed envelop from my teacher in my folder this week.  It let them know that I would be receiving an award at the assembly.  They were to keep it a secret.  So they dropped me and our friends off at school and then pulled around into the parking lot again. 

When I came into the gym, I spotted my whole family in the bleachers and knew that I was getting an award.  I assumed it was the Math Master Award but was surprised to receive the Most Improved Wonderful Writer Award for the 2nd Quarter!

Cole's Flashcards

While finishing our Thank You cards for Christmas, I begged Mommy to do flashcards. She said that once we were finished I could go through them. 

For each flashcard, I got try first and Kaylee did anything that I didn't know. 

I surprised Mommy by getting over half over them correct - upper and lowercase letters.  Although I know a few of them already, I figured the rest out by looking at the picture of the animal on the flashcard.  Then, I figured out the first sound of the animal word.  Using the phonetic sound of the letter, I figured out the letter name.  The only ones that I missed where animals that he didn't know or a few weird letters that make different phonetic sounds.  

Here I am holding the stack of flashcards that I got correct.  Kaylee did awesome as she only missed one letter sound out of the entire alphabet!

Clean Bill of Health

Yesterday Cason had a checkup doctor's appt.  With RSV twice last year and problems already this winter, the doctor had us try some new things and wanted to check the progress.  Praise God that everything sounded clear and we can stop all meds. 

He has been a crankpot this last month so hoping that the meds were causing the problem.  Thought maybe we were dealing with something else but no ear infection, teeth (to be seen), or breathing issues were detected.  The doctor said that Cason has no excuse.  That is what Mommy needed to know.

We are very thankful for a clean bill of health.

Cason weighed 22 lbs 6 oz. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a very happy New Year! 

This year is already looking up for our family.  No one is sick on January 1st!