Birthday Girl

All and all her 7th birthday was a hit! On Friday, her actual birthday, we took her to CiCi's for dinner and then back to the house for her gifts which she was greatly anticipating!


Our friends went with us to dinner and back to the house with us. Here is Michal Kate and her BFF Madi!
Michal Kate opening her iTouch.

Saturday morning, Noah had a basketball game which was filled with family. Gramma, Gram and Papa were all there along with some cousins, Sean and Zane! Then it was back to the house to play and lunch! Here is Gramma with some of the cousins that were there. It was a beautiful day so we had lots of fun outside.
That evening we let MK pick 3 friends and their families to come over for hamburgers and hot dogs. Here they are. Aubrey, Joey, MK, and Madi
In the last couple of months we have watched a sweet friendship bud between these two cousins. They are 9 weeks apart and have so much fun together! dirty faced Jack and Cambri
We were blessed to have Aunt Janetta, Sean, Chris, and Zane with us to celebrate. Here we have Sean and Elijah, Gramma and Gran Gran's oldest grandchild and their youngest.
Joey and Michal Kate are sweet together...
My dad, Papa, and Michal Kate
She decided she wanted a Wizard of Oz cake which was odd because we didn't even know she had seen the movie, but evidently she had and we got it for her for her birthday. So Gram scrambled and got her this awesome cake. She was so excited about it!Happy birthday baby girl. We love you so much!

Michal Kate

Wow, where has the time gone? It doesn't seem like it is possible that 7 years have passed so quickly. Michal Kate's birth was such a miracle, I know all births are miracles, but for us it was even more so. After the loss of Jackson not even a year earlier then when were given this precious baby girl. Michal Kate was a breath of healing and delight...the calm after the storm Though she wasn't always the easiest of babies, she was healthy and ours. She has a smile that can light up a room, she is filled with a zest for life that I wish I could have a pinch of, she is compassionate and caring, an amazing big sister, and a lover of Christ already! She is a daddy's girl but she loves me as well! Happy birthday baby! Here's a quick look at the 7 years!
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
6 years
7 years

Noah's 1st Basketball Game

This winter we signed Noah up to play Upwards Basketball. For those who know me well, you will assume my excitement for my son to finally be playing ball! I love basketball and always have, and though I wasn't all that good when I played, I enjoyed it. It is the one sport I never mind watching no matter who is playing but I especially enjoy watching when Kentucky is on! Noah asked to lay so I very quickly looked into where we could sign him up. He has a pretty good little shot for a 5 year old and seems to be having a good time. If the weather would cooperate a little I might get to go out and work with him some! Here are some shots of his first game that was on January 22! His little team is called the Lakers.
My little MVP
Dribbling the ball for the first time
Waiting for a rebound

Valentine's Through the Years

I got this idea from a friend of mine and I showed this at Christmas so I thought it would be fun at Valentine's Day as well. Here is a look at Valentine's Day since Michal Kate was born!
2005

Michal Kate's first Valentine's Day

2006

Noah's first Valentine's Day

2007

Somehow I didn't take a picture this year. My only excuse is well, I don't have one.
2008


Jack's first Valentine's Day
2009


2010
Eme's first Valentine's Day

2011
Elijah's first Valentine's Day
May your days all be filled with the love of your family, friends, and most importantly, your Savior!

Leaf Update

Since I didn't take Elijah's picture the same day I took all the others in the leaves,I took him outside the next week to capture it so I can frame them!

Father/Daughter Dance

Friday, February 11 was the annual Father Daughter dance at the school. Richard and Michal Kate got all dressed up and she couldn't have been more excited. Michal Kate was counting down the days until the dance and was ready to get dressed as soon as she got home from school.

Richard and Michal Kate


Michal Kate smelling her flowers
So Cute
Richard and MK went to the dance and dinner with some friends of ours. Here is Michal Kate and her BFF Madi!
Madi, Michal Kate, and Aubrey
I love how all three girls are in hot pink, black, and white and it wasn't planned!
The daddies with their girls.
Richard and Michal Kate, Jacob and Madi, Michael and Aubrey

3 Months

Okay so I am behind on posting. February 2 was Elijah's 3 month birthday! I can't believe three months have gone by so quickly. He is cooing and smiling so much which is displaying his budding personality. He likes to watch basketball on tv which is good for this time of year! (GO UK CATS!) He doesn't like riding in the car anymore unless he can see Michal Kate and have her undivided attention! The cool part is for 3 weeks he has been sleeping 5-6 hours straight at night. Unfortunately for me those hours typically start a7 or 8 and I am not quite ready to go to bed yet at that point. He was a pretty sick little boy as his 3 month birthday rolled around with a nasty cold that kept us up at night a couple of times. (Mommy slept with him in the recliner for the first time just so he could breath, and gave breathing treatments in the night, yuck!) We all think he looks like a Castleman kid for sure, but as to which kid he looks like depends on the day. Because he was sick we took him to the doctor on 2/3 and he weighed 13.2 lbs! So he is a good eater and getting big. He is still wearing 0-3 months clothes, but barely, and has ventured into size 2 diapers. Some of his little pants are a little snug on the waist! We are so blessed to have him in our lives and thankful for him!
Elijah Richard's sweet smile
By his bear
If he can't be held, his most tolerable place to be is in his bumbo chair.