Kourtney the school girl

Kourtney is LOVING that she knows how to read. My days of spelling things to Travis are just about over. She has gone ahead of her classmates and is 3 booklets away from being done with the K4 books. When she is her teacher said they will bring in the Kindergarten books for her. I am glad to know she will stay challenged and not get bored.



She still loves her yellow blankie (that she got as a baby) and will not sleep without it. She loves her hair down "at the edge" she calls it - which means in a pony tail holder at the top of her head with part of her hair in it. She also found a head band in the 75% off bin at Claire's that she LOVES and has been living in for a week. She does not like pony tails, piggie tails, or buns. Unless I can convince her which is rare. She loves to color and draw and is currently writing a book. Well she has this little spiral notebook and has been filling it up with pictures that tell a story. Quite creative this one. She loves her brother and sister. She remembers jokes and tels them back very well. She loves to play board games. She loves Jesus and loves to pray. She loves to go to church, to sing, and to be with her friends. She is a sweet growing young lady and I am proud to be her mommy!

McKenna Banana

McKenna is one of the most giving little girls. She always wants to share. If we are out somewhere and she gets to get something while Kourtney is at school she will say (in a high squeaky voice) "what about Kourtney?!?!" If there is a battle going on between her and Kourtney she is the first that will give in and give Kourtney what she wants. She is a crier. She will cry at the drop of a hat and there is no reasoning with her. She likes to color. She is always the one who reminds us to pray at dinner. She loves to sing and lately is full of way more questions than I have answers for. She is always concerned for her brother (unless she is the one tackling him or giving him a noogie). She has a million and one expressions and is definately the queen of drama in this house. She is a princess through and through. She doesn't like to get her feet or hands dirty. She loves to be outside riding her bike, walking, jumping on the trampoline, driving her car, writing on the side walk, or digging in Caden's yard. When Kourtney is reading she tries to immitate her and then thinks she is reading too. She loves Jesus, her friends, and her family. I am proud to call her my daughter!

Just another week with Blake

This week Blake stopped up the toilet by sneaking into the bathroom and stuffing it with toilet paper... pooped up his back and them smeared it all under his shirt like body paint (while wearing a shirt that says, it seemed like a good idea at the time). Then this morning he was caught putting on my mascara. He knows how to twist the lid off and I guess he has been watching me because he knew it went somewhere on his face.

Blake loves to cheese for the camera. Whenever he sees one this is the face he makes.
Here he is with his blankie. A Pooh Blanket that was given to me by my friend Jessica. It was my friend Jennifer's (Jessica's twin) son's blanket. I have known them since grade school. I like that he made this his blankie. It is sentimental to me!
Here is Blake helping me unload the dishes. He thought they went back into the sink. So I let him think that was what he was supposed to be doing. He unloaded all of the plastic dishes into the sink for me!

Nanny Emily

I have been working since the beginning of December. I go in 4 hrs a day in the afternoons Monday - Thursday. Emily comes to our house to watch the kids. She has been our babysitter since the girls were wee little. It is hard for me to be away from the kids, but easier knowing someone we love and trust is watching them! I also tell myself that they are napping while I am gone so I am only missing them for like 2 hours!

Check up time

This is Dr. Dones. She has been our pediatrician since Kourtney was born and we love her! Blake had his 15 month well visit yesterday. He is doing great. He had two shots and has had a fever last night and today but seems to be in good spirits.

Here are the new stats:
Age: 15 months
Height: 32.5 inches
Weight: 23 lbs, 11 oz

Here is a picture of him not too happy to be at the doctor's office. :(

What goes around...

Yes. I was a bit mischievous at times in high school (and even college I guess). My dad was a pastor at our church and he was my principal in school grades K-11. So I guess I was constantly being watched. But I am guilty of toilet papering the houses of my youth leader, youth pastor, teacher, friend... in fact, some of you reading this blog may have been toilet papered by me, or toilet papered with me. :) I think it is harmless fun. I hear it is a more a northern thing and doesn't happen to often down here. So I wanna know who was sneaky enough to make it past my security gate and roving security guard to do this! Major Props. If it was someone in my neighborhood, like a snotty nosed kid - you better look out. But if it was someone who loves me and pulled it off - thanks! I feel special. Now, who is gonna confess? Travis and I have some theories of our own...

It was a neighborhood effort to clean it up. Thanks for your help!

Sunday CHICK-Kabob

Okay Chris, here ya go!

• I have been hosting the services for about a month now. It is nerve wrecking but I am getting a little more comfortable with it.
• I miss the kids life area but I am loving my new role and the kids areas are rocking with Becky Grimes in charge!
  
• Today Mark Similey hosted the 9:00 and I hosted the 10:30.
• It was our last week of Life Group Registration which has been awesome!
• I passed out our Life Group Curriculum to the leaders and there was a buzz as I can tell people are getting excited about the New Testament Challenge.
  
• Bill Finch even let me know he was getting a jump start on his reading. I thought that was awesome and I just might have to do the same!
• I am wrapping up so I can load up my kids, their dinner, and head to Plantation Key for service!
  

Saturday night date

Travis and I don't usually go out on Saturday nights because Sundays are just big days and I like to be super organized and well rested when Sunday morning comes. However, when Tammy gave us Miami Heat tickets and said she would babysit how could we pass that up? edited to say... the setting on my camera for the outside pictures was wrong and I didn't realize it until later. So those pics are pretty blurry :(.Bernie!

It was a gorgeous night out when we left.

Homestead Rodeo Parade

LPC didn't have a float in the parade this year, but we did pass out this invite card...

My kiddos carried on a four year tradition of watching the parade with the Nelsons (Emily's family). Emily is our nanny. I wish I'd had a picture of all of them, but I only managed to get these few. I really wanted a picture of me with the girls because we all three had on cowgirl hats, but sometimes picture ops just don't happen.