Is it really 2012???

Yikes. Where has the time gone? I haven't posted since October-shame on me.  We have definitely been a little busy thought, that's for sure! This is going to be a huge summary post to get us caught up a bit.  We finished up our fall with visits from my parents and my brother Jon and his family.  

We finished up with soccer and were finally able to move into our new home in early November!

The kids have continued to be busy with school and friends.  I have been reading to Alex's classroom each week, and I enjoy being able to be involved more in her class.  It has also been great watching Kellan grow in his preschool class--for their Thanksgiving and Christmas parties they sang songs for the parents, and he was always singing and knew the words and the motions while some other kids were running around acting crazy!

We took a road trip to watch Marlon's team play in Maryland--Des and Adelaide went with us and we got to visit the Museum of Natural History in DC and the Zoo.  It was a fun trip and adds to our growing list of road trips to watch soccer games (we are now at a whopping 2!)

We spent November and December getting settled into the house.  I am loving a bigger kitchen and have been doing more cooking since I have the space!  We were fortunate enough to be able to host both Marlon's family and then my family for Christmas, so we enjoyed 10 days of company and the kids enjoyed many days of playing with their cousins. We were able to meet our newest nephew, Tyce, who is such a sweet little baby!
I was able to enjoy a little hiatus from MOPS stuff for the holidays and we are now getting back in full swing for the spring season.  I have taken up running on the treadmill, a very foreign concept for me but I'm trying really hard to stay motivated by running each day.  I am slowly building up my endurance (I have never been much of a runner at all)--my motivation is an anniversary gift from Marlon for our 10th anniversary--an upcoming trip for us to Cancun!
I feel like I have missed documenting many special moments from the fall, and I hate that.  I hope to get caught up a bit more now that things have settled down a bit.  I hope to pick up on my next post with some photos from christmas!

Welcome Fall!

Fall has arrived and exciting change is around the corner.  In the next month or so we will be moving out of our little 2 bedroom hotel condo that we've been living in for the past 3 months and into our new house! I'm not sure what we will do with all of the space. We've grown accustomed to our close-quarters living here.  It hasn't been bad at all here--it's actually been kind of nice! The kids have loved the pool and riding the elevators every day.  I am looking forward to a shorter drive to and from school for both kids--and I am looking forward to being back in our neighborhood. I am also looking forward to having our dog living with us again.  Marlon's sister and her husband have been kind enough to let Sophie live with them since mid-June and we are looking forward to having her back in the area next week!

The kids continue to enjoy school.  Kellan is very chatty about school each day--he will tell me who sat where, who got in trouble for what, who cried for their mom, who got prize box, etc.  He's just full of information!  He is really taking off in learning, too.  He's only had 8 days of school so far and he has learned the Pledge of A11iegence (well, a pretty close version of it!).  He loves watching the Leap Frog word fact0ry videos at home and has quickly picked up spelling some basic words (some of which are words Alex has had on her spelling tests for first grade--not saying Kellan is super smart, just observing that school takes their time teaching basic words!)  He can spell his first and last name as well.  Here are a few videos of him--I want to remember his sweet voice as he spells his first words :)

I think Alex is finally settling into life in first grade.  For the first month or so I was starting to worry that she wasn't really enjoying school, but I've seen a change in the past few weeks and she really seems to have fallen in love with her teachers and school in general again.  She has a sweet friend, Katie, who gave her her first BFF necklace that she made for her (SO sweet) and wrote her a note along with it.  They have exchanged a few notes back and forth and it's just so hard to imagine that my little girl is exchanging and writing notes with a friend--where has the time gone?!  She is also attending Pioneer Girls again and seems to really enjoy going even though she doesn't have many close friends that attend.  She is still playing soccer (and I am assistant coaching) and she is doing well although her team leaves a little to be desired.  It's not easy to get the attention of 7 6 & 7 year old girls--they would all much rather run around, chase each other, and giggle then do anything relating to soccer.  It will be interesting to see how much longer Alex continues to want to play--she seems to understand the game and make good decisions on the field--but she really needs to learn how to toughen up (and improve her skills a bit!).

A few weeks ago we had a visit from my brother (Josh), SIL Kendy, and my niece Kaylee. Here are Kaylee (who is not quite 4) and Alex (who is 6!) giving me a pose--I couldn't get both of them to look at the camera.

 It was a beautiful day for a soccer game!

And last but not least, these pictures were taken tonight. The kids were playing 1 v. 1 soccer, complete with winter hats and gloves--not sure why because they were sweating at the end.  But they made for cute photos!

First Grade and Preschool

Summer is over and school has begun.  It's crazy to think that both of my kids are in school now--Alex is in first grade and Kellan is now in preschool!

Kellan's first day of preschool (K3 program-2 days a week-3 hours each day) was yesterday and he was a bit excited.  He goes to school in the afternoon and was anxiously awaiting his time to go all morning.  He got to pack a snack in his soccer ball lunch bag and use his Spiderman backpack he got from his buddy Tate. You never would have guessed if you met this little man 6 months or a year ago that he would be so excited to head off to school--he was a Momma's boy who didn't enjoy being left places.  Over the past few months he has really come out of his shell and he is now more chatty, social, and independent!

He had to make a poster to take in on his first day.  Below is a picture of it (we did print out photos of him and our family and add them to the poster...but I didn't do that until we were literally on our way to school so the picture I took at home doesn't include them). In case you can't read some of them, he wants to be a soccer player when he grows up, his favorite foods are watermelon and pineapple, his favorite colors are blue and green, his favorite book is Bat's Big Game, and his friends are Hamilton, Trey, Tate, Adelaide, Taylor, and Nolan :)

 My little man is growing up before my eyes--he loves to model his big sister--for better or for worse.  He asks to do everything just because she does it.  He complains just like she does, too :)

Alex started first grade a few weeks ago.  She was VERY excited to start school again, even when she heard her good friend Meredith was not in her class this year.  She has a tough teacher who has a reputation for being a yeller, and she has a class packed with 30 kids (so there is a second teacher's aide who assists the class).  She had homework the first week so it hasn't been a bunch of fun and play--which was a change from kindergarten--but she seems to be enjoying it anyway.  I can already see that getting her to focus on homework is going to be a challenge as the work gets harder.  She knows the answers and knows what to do but she doesn't pay attention to her work sometimes and makes silly mistakes.  I hope this doesn't come back to get her when she starts getting graded! She has already had one spelling test and will have another this week. First grade is no joke!

Alex my sweet girl--you are so like your mommy in many ways! You will continue to challenge me as you grow--you are very sweet, mothering, and helpful most of the time. You also know how to push the limit with everything you do--always asking for just one more time, or one more snack, or one more book...you are growing up quickly and I hope we are able to continue to raise you to be a kind-hearted little girl who loves God and has a desire to show His love to others. 

As the kids grow it's funny to see how much they resemble Marlon and I in their personalities, even in the little things.  Alex is a chocolate lover, like me.  She loves all things sweet, like me.  Kellan is plain vanilla all the way, like Marlon. Alex loves cheese, like her dad.  Kellan does not care for it, just like me.  Kellan is very competitive and athletic, like his daddy.  Alex seems to have a variety of interests and not a very competitive drive--she prefers to dabble in a variety of different things, like me.  Alex is strong willed and stubborn, like both her mom and her dad.  We aren't sure where Kellan gets laid back, easy going, quick to please attitude. ;)  Alex has a flair for the dramatic--she was prone to tantrum throwing as a toddler--and I don't think I ever can recall Kellan having major tantrums at all. Alex has always been a mommy's girl, and Kellan is turning into a daddy's boy who loves to gang up on mommy with daddy when given the chance!

I'm so thankful to have children with such sweet hearts.  I pray that God will protect those hearts as they continue to grow into the young people they were made to be!

Goodbye Summer

I can't believe summer is almost over.  Alex starts 1st grade in 5 days! Here is a collage that highlights our summer...

Here are videos of the kids swimming at the hotel.  The hotel pool has been WONDERFUL for giving the kids great exposure to the water.  They have both grown leaps and bounds in their swimming abilities in the time that we have been here. 



We have really been enjoying living in the hotel--it's gone much better than I ever expected.  The kids are enjoying sharing a room (I actually think Kellan is going to have a hard time leaving Alex!)--he's also getting used to staying up late with her.  That's all going to change this week as we get the kids back onto a school schedule!  They enjoy having access to a pool anytime they want to use it, and we've had many of their friends over to swim to keep it fun.  We have a playground outside of the hotel that we can walk to, as well as some restaurants that we can walk to as well.  We often forget we are in a hotel because we use a separate entrance so we rarely see the regular hotel guests, and we are on a private floor so we hardly see or hear anyone on our floor either.  Don't get me wrong--I won't miss using a mail cart to take our groceries and bags up 14 floors on the elevator, but it's a good temporary solution.

I have started meal planning (Finally-after 9 years of marriage!) since we've been here, and I'm really enjoying it. I've tried a bunch of recipes that I've acquired from family and friends, and we have found some new favorites!  I have slacked a bit this week since Marlon started preseason and isn't around for any meals, but I hope to get back on track in the next few weeks. 

Our new house is moving along--the electric, heating and plumbing are done, and the insulation should be finishing up today.  The shingles are partially finished on the roof, and the siding and stone are in and waiting to be put on.  We picked out our interior stuff earlier this week--the counter tops, floors, and cabinets.  In the next 2 weeks we need to select paint colors and lighting fixtures!  The progress has moved faster than I anticipated--it's hard to believe that we are over half way through this period of temporary living while we wait for our house to be ready. We are looking forward to having Thanksgiving and Christmas in our new home!

For now we get ready for fall--soccer season is approaching for Marlon--and hopefully for Alex (her team does not yet have a coach).  Alex found out her teacher for first grade-we are told she is a yeller-may be good for Alex ;).  Her good friend Meredith has a different teacher but a few of her other friends are in her class.  Kellan will be starting preschool-2 days a week for a few hours.  We're pretty sure his good buddy Hamilton is going to be in his class, which he will really enjoy.  I am coordinating our MOPS group this year so I have been busy with planning and getting ready for that to begin.  We've had a very busy, very fun summer--and we are excited to see what fall brings!

Summer Summary

I've gotten so far behind that it's been impossible to catch up, so I'm stealing a page out of Renee's book and doing one huge summary post, minus the pictures.  I get so hung up on trying to upload pictures that I just never get anything written.  I'm realizing that if I don't get myself caught up soon I might end up giving up my blogging forever!

It's sad that I have to rewind all the way back to Easter, so I'm going to do my best to fill in the past 3 months--bear with me!  Here's a snapshot of all that we've been doing:

MAY...Got an offer on our house and the packing began. Kellan started playing tee ball.  He was really unsure at first since he didn't know a thing about any sport other than soccer, but it really grew on him.  He had a few friends on his team and he enjoyed it. Alex lost her first tooth while wrestling with Marlon.  Everyone was excited and the tooth fairy brought her a couple dollars.  I was busy with MOPS and the end of Alex's school year.  We had a visit from Ehren and baby Henry.  We went to State College for Michael and Katie's wedding and got to spend time with our old neighbors.  Alex and Kellan really enjoyed playing with Grace and Edie.  We ate ice cream at the Creamery and took pictures at the Nittany Lion shrine.  Alex celebrated her 6th birthday and we celebrated with a little BBQ over Memorial Day weekend. My mom, Jon, Nolan, and Mia came out for the weekend to celebrate and help us with packing.  We visited Hovatter's Zoo, went to the park, made homemade ice cream, and spent some quality time together. My mom stuck around after Jon left to help us get the house packed up...

JUNE...Alex finished her Kindergarten year.  My mom was able to be there for her kindergarten awards, end of year party, and read aloud with her class. Kellan continued with tee ball and we got the rest of the house packed up and ready to move into storage.  My mom, the kids and I headed to PA to spend a few weeks while Marlon was working and traveling.  Alex and I went up to NYC to the American Girl store with Nana and Aunt Lauren.  As their birthday gift to her she picked out her American Girl doll and some accessories.  We ate lunch at the American Girl Cafe.  It was REALLY hot out.  A few days later I went back to NYC with Marlon's mom and sister and we saw Sister Act on Broadway to celebrate her birthday.  Marlon and the rest of the adults met up with us later and we enjoyed a late birthday dinner at Shula's.  We spent the next 2 1/2 weeks in PA/NJ visiting friends and family.  We went to Sesame Place with Grammy.  We went to the Philly Zoo with Ehren and Henry.  We went to the beach with Grammy, Renee, Nolan and Mia. (oh and during all of this we officially closed on our house, became "homeless", and started construction on our new house).  We spent many days at the water park behind Grammy and Granddad's house, playing in the water, at the park, and riding bikes.  We spent a few nights at Jon & Renee's.  We went to church with them every week too.  Alex watched Cinderella (the version with Brandy and Whitney Houston) way too many times.  She also watched Cinderella II a bunch.  We ate lots of popcorn and had plenty of Granddad's milkshakes. We spent a little time up at Eagle Rock where we made a trip to Knoebel's with Renee and the kids.  Alex rode her first real roller coasters. She loved them!  We got to have a cookout with my siblings and their families at Jon & Renee's, complete with S'mores. We headed back to WV at the end of the month to move into our temporary hotel apartment residence--a 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom apartment with a full kitchen, washer, and dryer.  Our new home on the 14th floor! 

JULY...We returned home in the heat of summer. We went to a birthday party for Alex's buddy Layla, a pirate theme that included a water fight and a pinata.  We enjoyed a cookout at our neighbors' house-Rocky and Carrie.  Our house is coming along nicely, framed out, roof on.  We enjoyed fireworks outside the hotel on the 4th with Desiree & Adelaide and the Johnson family.  Marlon was busy with his summer camps and we often met up with him for dinner in the dining commons.  I was asked to coordinate MOPS for this coming year so the planning has started in full swing.  We went blueberry picking. Twice. We spent a few days at the pool.  Alex became a deep water swimmer.  Her swimming skills have improved so much since we have spent so much time at the hotel pool.  Kellan is no longer afraid of swimming on his own with swimmies.  He will jump into the deep end on his own.  He even tried swimming underwater without swimmies while at the lake. Speaking of the lake, we went back to Eagle Rock and spent a few days with Marlon's family up there.  The kids enjoyed playing at the lake. Alex got to swim out to the platform with the big girls.  A lot of good food was eaten.  Then Marlon's family headed home and my family came up for a few days.  There was more swimming, good food, and relaxing.  The kids had a great time and it was great to have Marlon with us for a little vacation.  Alex lost her 2nd tooth and promptly swallowed it while eating a S'more.  Luckily the tooth fairy was still able to find her at Eagle Rock.  We enjoyed a few long days at the pool when we got home to keep cool. 

Ahhh, it feels so good to catch up!  Now hopefully I can stay current.  Thanks for reading, if there's anyone still out there :)

Easter 2011

Trying to play catch up again here...here are some pictures of the kids from Easter. This year was the first time ever that the kids participated in a traditional easter egg hunt. We did one with our MOPS group and it happened to be on a day that Alex was off from school so both kids were able to go. We also did one outside in the backyard with our neighbor Adelaide.

When I was growing up we always did a scavenger hunt with clues hidden in plastic eggs that led us to our easter baskets, and my brothers and I always had fun with it. We've enjoyed keeping that tradition alive with our kids now! Here is Alex searching for her eggs.
After church we enjoyed brunch at the home of some wonderful friends. Good food is always in abundance and the kids have a great time playing while the adults get to socialize.

Time to dye easter eggs...

Funny pictures of Alex posing that I had to include...

Crayola Factory

While visiting PA we took the kids to the Crayola Factory--a place I'd never been and had always thought it would be fun to take the kids...and it did not disappoint! We went on a rainy weekday and practically had the place to ourselves--the place is connected to a Canal Museum that had water tables, boats, trains, etc. so the place had something for every kid! My mom went with us, and Renee and her kids met us there.

Clear wall that you could write on with markers--Alex enjoyed that!

Arts and Crafts

Mia and Grammy

A demonstration of how crayons and markers are made--pretty neat!

The coloring table--Mia's favorite place