Swim Class

March 2013

 

M&M are both still enjoying swim class on Thursdays.  Max's swim strokes have gotten much stronger.  He is learning how to coordinate his breathing on the side better.  His dives off the starting blocks are beginning to look like a real swimmer.  Jay and I are both excited to see what he decides to do with his new skill of swimming.  Mary Kate is also excelling.  She no longer cries during class.  She has mastered jumping off the side and getting to her teacher in the water.  She is slowing learning how to get her arms up to do "big reachers."  I love the fact that they both enjoy being in a pool.  It makes my heart leap when I see Max swim over from his class to Mary Kate.  He always checks on her and gives her kissed during her class.  Sweet kiddos.

 

Max's Ski Trip

March 3-6, 2013

Max got a special treat this winter when he got to go snow skiing with my Dad.  Big Daddy was in ski withdrawal and needed a fix on the slopes.  He needed to feel the corduroys under his skis from the fresh groomed snow and the wind in his hat while riding the chairlift.  He decided that he was going to take a trip and asked Max to travel with him.  Max was elated to get to go skiing again.  He loves the snow just as much as we do.  He has been asking about another ski trip since the plane landed in Nashville from our last trip.  As the plans were made my Mom decided to go along for a few days away.  One of Dad's best friends, Jim, also went along.  They left early on Sunday morning and headed to the hills of West Virginia.  They skied at WinterPlace on Sunday afternoon and then again on Monday and Tuesday.  Dad said that Max did awesome.  I think that he had trouble keeping up with him on a few runs.  Max likes to point his tips down the mountain and take off.  The faster the better for this six year old.  Big Daddy spent the days perfecting Max's style with his turns and stops.  Max loved every minute of it.  He also enjoyed having Bebe to snuggle with when they skied into the chalet for lunch and nighttime.  I am so glad they took him along on this little adventure.  These are the memories that life is made with!  I look forward to taking a big trip with the whole gang again soon.  Hopefully then we will introduce Mary Kate to the world of skiing.  

Days with mKate

 This winter I have enjoyed my days off with Mary Kate.  It has been an adjustment to not have Max with us, but we have learned to have girl time.  Jay takes Max to school each morning and then Mary Kate and I spend the day together.  On Wednesdays we spend the day running around town.  We go to gymnastics with our friends Gindy, Kerrigan, Amanda, and Sawyer.  Then we head out for a lunch date at Chick Fil A so the girls can play.  On other days we shop, visit with Holly and Charlotte, play at the park, eat lunch with Daddy in town, or just hang out at home.  It is such a neat experience to have Mary Kate as an only child for a few hours.  We have never had that and I enjoy the time to focus on her.  She is one vibrant little girl.  Even though we love our time together, we both get excited when it is time to pick up our Bubby.  Our family just isn't complete when he isn't around. 

 

 

 

 Mary Kate, Sawyer, Kerrigan, Charlotte

Kirk's Run

April 29, 2013

Today we went downtown to watch Max's best friend Kirland run.  She has been participating in a kid's running club at school this spring.  They have been logging their miles in cooperation with ING Kid's Rock Marathon program.  The goal was to complete an entire marathon over the weeks of running at school.  The day after the Country Music Marathon the kids all came downtown to run their last mile.  They got to cross the big finish line and mark their 26.2 miles with their team.  Kirland did a fantastic job.  We were proud to be their to cheer her on to the finish.  Kirk a dirk is one special little lady!!

Max's sign

Mary Kate getting a better view from Quinton's shoulders

Kirkland and Michael at the starting line

Coming down the last stretch

Go Kirland!

Kirkland and her friends

Kirkland and her Daddy

Little Cuties!

Sawyer's Big Day

April 19, 2013

Mary Kate got to spend the day with Sawyer for her birthday last week.  She turned the big THREE!  Amanda took them out for an all day girls' day complete with tutus.  The started to morning with Minnie Mouse Waffles at Waffle House.  Next they headed to a local jump place to play on the slides.  After hours of play they headed to Chick Fil A for lunch and then back home for more play time.  Mary Kate had a blast and talked about it for days.  Thanks Amanda for taking time to create such special memories for our girls!  Love them to pieces!

Happy 40th Birthday!

April 14, 2013

Yay!!  Our fabulous neighbor,  the #1 kindergarten teacher, and one of our best friends celebrated her big birthday this weekend.  Michael got everyone together for a cookout on the real day to sing and enjoy cake.  Then a few weeks later he surprised her with the Party Bus.  We all had a wonderful time and are so thankful to have Shannon in our lives.  Happy Birthday Mrs. Miller!!

Horseback Riding

April 13, 2013

We made a weekend getaway this year for Tristan and Kayla's birthdays.  We, along with Chris and Dianne,  met Shannon and Ty and the kids in Gatlinburg for a weekend of fun.  Kayla has been wanting to horseback ride for a long time.  She decided this fall that she wanted that to be her birthday party this year.  Ty set it all up in Pigeon Forge and we had a great time.  Mary Kate even got to ride with Pawpaw.  She told her horse to "getty up, getty up, horsey"  the entire ride.