climb time

One of our favorite places to go.

Anna's Piano Recital

Anna did a beautiful job on her piano pieces for her piano recital. She has been really good about practicing her songs every day. She is getting to be a great pianist.

Christmas 2011

We have had such a fun Christmas season. I love having Anna, Cole, and Tessa out of school for a couple of weeks without a schedule. We have a chance to try some things that we don't normally get to do. The weather has been abnormally warm which has also made it nice to be outside.

On Christmas morning Anna was the first to rise (besides mom and dad who were working out). We made her wait until we were done. By 7:00 everyone was awake. Santa brought so many nice things and a nice note for us. He was so happy for the cookies that we left for him and the carrots for the reindeer. After opening gifts, eating breakfast, and playing with everything it was so fun to go for a long bike ride. Cole got a new bike before Christmas and he loves to go for bike rides. We got back and got ready to have John and Kathy over for dinner. They are like our family and it was so fun to share the day with them. Christmas day went much too quickly.

Anna Gets Her Braces Off

Look at that cute smile.

Just a little love

Just to share a little something here now that the troops have left Iraq. When I was in Mosul, Iraq in 2006 my family was given two matching gorillas as a gift, a small and a large one. Anna, who was three at the time sent me the small one. I gave that gorilla to this small Iraqi child who was severely injured and came to us with a horrific bowel injury from Syrian fighters who blew up a school. She was in love with this gorilla. My youngest has loved the larger of the two now for two years. It is amazing how innocent children are. It is amazing how these two stuffed animals that came as a pair but are separated by distance both had/have provided an amazing amount of love.

Life Rule Role Model

Anna was the life rule role model for having good manners at school. Good job, Anna.

Cole Turns Seven

Cole's Favorites:

animal-snakes, book-Scooby Doo, cartoon-Scooby Doo, color-gold, food-chicken on a stick, sport-gymnastics, movie-Harry Potter, restaurant-Steak and Shake, place to go-Climb Time, Remember most-being bitten by Griffin, Wants to be when he grows up-a fisherman.

Jolly Days at the Children's Museum

Tessa and I had fun going to Jolly Days at the Children's Museum with a couple of friends. She loved going down the slide, riding the carousel, and playing in the science works area.

Anna's Christmas Choir Concert

Anna sang in the school Christmas choir. They all did a beautiful job.

Thanksgiving in St. George

We had a fun Thanksgiving in St. George. It is amazing how my family has grown. There were 35 family members for dinner. It was so fun to catch up with what everyone is doing. Some of the highlights of Thanksgiving: playing paint ball with sling shots, getting family pictures taken (with everyone there except one nephew), and going to zero gravity (a trampoline gym). What a fun vacation that went way too fast.

Anna Turns Nine

Anna's Favorites:

animal-frog, book-secret series, color-peach, movie-Dolphin Tale, restaurant-Eddy's, sport-gymnastics, place to go-Yogi's, memory-American Girl in Chicago, wants to be when she grows up-crayon maker.

Halloween

We had a great Halloween. The weather was perfect and our neighborhood is always fun to trick or treat at. I didn't see Anna and Cole until they had gone to every house. Tessa and I went slow. Tessa tried a bite of each piece of candy she got. When we got home her bag was full of opened and partially eaten candy. We did our traditional hay ride through the neighborhood and then we were done. It was a fun evening.

Carving Pumpkins

Our before and after pumpkin pictures.

Potter's Bridge

We enjoyed a day of biking at Potter's Bridge in Noblesville. The colors are so beautiful and the air is crisp. Perfect.

Frogs

We had fun during fall break visiting the Children's Museum to see the new frog exhibit.

Deer Hunting

Great Day

Anna and Dad went to the ISO today and we did not have alot of enjoyment during the concert, we left early (after 20 minutes) and then we had a great time...one of the things we did was get this picture of Elmo which Tessa would not let go after we printed it off. She hung on to that picture of Anna and Elmo like it was her best friend. She just loves Sesame Street.

Anna and I walked downtown and had some good ice cream at the South Bend Chocolate Factory.

Overall it was a great daddy daughter date.

***I have to clarify (per Anna) that the only reason she took the picture with Elmo was for Tessa.

During the day we went on about three or four bike rides as Anna got a bigger bike as she is growing and growing. We ended up at the playground and we all had a good time. Especially Tessa, chasing the Geese.

Tessa is such a cutie

Life Rule Role Model

Cole was one of the role models at school this week. We are proud of him.

I asked Cole how he got it and why.....his response in quite a put out way as if "why are you asking me this" was....."well, dad, it is just what I do everyday!"

Cole doing Vertical Push-ups

Cole asked me if I could do these.....obviously the answer was NO....he is one strong six year old!!!

Picking Seeds for a Service Project