Long Time - Lots of UPDATES!

Swimming Lessons! Kolin and Karter are both taking Swimming Lessons! They are doing GREAT! Kolin even swam a little without his belt thing, until he realized that his teacher wasn't by him anymore! Kolin's teacher is wonderful! She works one on one with him and does a great job! Karter's teacher is also great! He is improving so much every day! I can not believe that I have swimmers!! So excited for summer!

Karter had a field trip to the bowling alley with his pre-school class! I got to go along! It was so much fun watching all the little ones bowl! Karter also decided that he was "Justin Bieber" for the day and went around singing "BABY BABY BABY, OHHHHH", to everyone! It was so cute! and a little annoying! LOL!

Kailee had her first dance competition this past weekend! It snowed like crazy!!! and I hate to drive in snow! But we made it and it all turned out great! She got 8th overall on her solo, much to her surprise! It was really nice to see her accomplish so much! This is the costume they use for their contemporary ballet! It is a beautiful dance! Don't they all look gorgous! I think they do! I told Kailee that she looked like a Greek Goddess! Don't you agree?!

Daddy let Karter drive the tractor by himself! CRAZY, but he did a good job!

Karter placed 2nd in his Karate Kata Tournament last week! He did a great job! And Karter and Kolin enjoyed some teamwork activities at a Karate B-day party for one of Karter's karate friends! It was a great time!

Karter and I took a walk and stopped to throw rocks into the creek! We have had some warm weather days, and then some crazy freezing cold days! I AM SO READY FOR SPRING!!!!

Kailee had her first band competition on March 5. They did awesome! Their band scored a 1! Which is the best score they could have gotten! I am a little sad that she doesn't want to stick with band, but I have to respect her wishes, and this will be her one and only year in band.

See, warm weather day! LOVED IT! and then it snowed 8 inches 5 days later! CRAZY!

Kailee and her boy friend, see, it is seperated! He is a BOY and her FRIEND, not her BOYFRIEND! LOL! Sure, mom believes that! What kind of boy would want to spend an entire Saturday at a dance competition, I would have to say her Boyfriend! LOL

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

The month of December is always very busy! Kailee turned 12 and took 2 friends with her out to dinner and to the mall. We had so much fun! I laughed so hard!! We thought that we were going to get kicked out of Steak and Shake! They had planned to do some shopping at the mall and then have some cheesecake later, but at 11 pm we thought that it would be a good time to head home! But first we stopped at Steak and Shake and had SHAKES! They were so yummy!!

Karter also made his DEBUT as Joseph in the Pre-School Program! He was so excited that he got to be a "huband" as he calls it! But he assured me that he would not be marrying "Mary" but would rather marry his MOMMIE!! He is so sweet! I am really having a hard time with knowing that I am going to have to sign him up for Kindergarten! It makes me very sad that my last child will be entering school this fall! Where does the time go?! I don't get any older, how come they do?

Santa also made his "early" visit! Checking on the kids to make sure that they are behaving before Christmas! He said that the kids were doing really well, but the parents really needed to work on their behavior! LOL! NOT FUNNY Santa! He also requested a sandwich this year instead of the traditional cookie and pepsi that we normally leave for him!

Karter also participated in his 3rd Karate Tournament. This one was a "KATA" which means routine. He was in a category with other students ranging in age from 4 - 9. He got 3rd place over all! I think that he did really well! A lot better than his first tournament, this time he actually did the "KATA", last time he made his own up! He is always so cute! And he really enjoys doing Karate!

I can not believe that the HOLIDAYS are already over! And my break is already over! It is crazy how fast time goes when your having fun! The kids are all ready to go back to school, I am not sure yet. I almost got caught up on all the laundry (washed, dried, and put away!). Very exciting! I really enjoyed spending my time with my children! We even made it to the movies to see YOGI BEAR! It was adorable! and the kids really enjoyed! We had a very uneventful NEW YEAR'S EVE! It was nice to be home with my 3 favorite men and just relax! We did play a very fastpaced game of "Chutes and Ladders"! A lot of fun was had by all!

Thankful Thursday!!

Well today is Thursday and I have decided that I am going to try to remember all the things that I am Thankful for! Let me start:

I am thankful for last week Thursday where I was able to spend the entire day with my family and my husbands' family for Thanksgiving! We had a lot of yummy food, good conversations, and overall good time!

I am also thankful for the downtown Washington Christmas Lights Parade! We were lucky enough to take not only of our own 3 munchkins to the parade but also my neice Serawit, my nephew Aman, and Kailee's bff, Sydney! We had so much fun! Kolin loves Christmas so much and he looks so forward to this parade every year!! This year was extra special being able to share it with all these wonderful children! You should have seen the look on Serawit and Aman's face at all the beautiful lights and Santa Claus!

I am so very Thankful that I was able to have a night at home last night with my children! We had potato soup and cheeseburgers for supper with Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake for dessert! We sat together and watch the all time favorite "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"! I was such a wonderful evening, my only wish would have been for Brian to have been home instead of out of town again!

I am also Thankful that today is the last day of the Union Tournament! My Cheerleaders have done a great job!

I am also Thankful that I have a job that I love! I really do enjoy these children! Sure, they can get to me sometimes, but it is a lot of fun working with each of them and watching their learning take place!

I am also Thankful for my beautiful, amazing, wonderful children! My awesome and handsome husband, and my supportive and fabulous parents! And all my friends that listen to me complain or brag depending on the day!

Goodness, It has been a very long time!

I can not believe that we are already in NOVEMBER!! This year seems to have passed me by in a blink of an eye!

Kids are so busy these days, that I never have a moment to blog anymore!! Kailee did cheerleading this football season and LOVED it!! She got to do it with her BFF, Sydney! I think I might have a cheerleader in the making!

Karter is back at karate and is now a white/purple belt and is doing great!

And Kolin is back to riding horses! He loves to ride, and even stand on the horse!

So far this year, we have been blessed with the christening of my neice and nephew! Then we went to an Ethiopian Restraunt to celebrate. Kailee brought her BFF with her to join in the fun.

Halloween was a lot of fun! I had "BatGirl", "Spongebob", and "Spiderman". We went trick-or-treat at the Park and Kailee went with her "boy" friend.

I have taken on the job of "cheer coach" for our middle school and it is going great!

Deer Season is fast approaching, and Kailee has been practicing shooting with her daddie!

We have also put up ONE of our christmas trees! I asked Kailee to help decorate, but she ended up decoarting herself more! Kolin loves Christmas, so he is super excited that we have a tree up already!

The first quarter of school is over. We were able to go to attend all of the home Varsity Football Games! Now the boys are trying to make it to the Big State GAME, but I am not traveling to watch them! Kailee and I will honor them and hope that they win by wearing our STATE PLAYOFF SHIRTS!!

The flu season has hit us hard! Everyone in the house has been affected by it in some way or another. The stomach bug has also made it's round, hopefully it will not come back!!

SUMMER and SCHOOL

Kailee did a lot of dancing over the summer. We were able to spend a nice little vacation while she particiapated in Spotlight Dance Cup Nationals. Her dance company did very well and she learned a lot!! She is looking forward to her new year in dance. Kailee has started a new thing this year, CHEER! She is cheering for the Football guys at the Junior High Level! She seems to really enjoy this! She was even named Co-Captain of her squad. It is so nice to see her adventuring out! She was also able to attend 4-H camp this summer. She always has so much fun, but this year she did come back with a little more "ATTITUDE" than I like. Had to nip that in the bud real quick!! She really is a great girl and helper, for the most part. And she only complains and rolls her eyes about 100 times each day!! LOL

We also had 2 special birthdays!! Kolin turned 9 and Karter turned 5!! For Kolin's birthday we went to Chuck E. Cheese's and had a really great time!! Then for Karter's birthday we went to a new place called "Monkey Joe's" . It is an indoor bounce house! This has been the hottest summer that I can remember, so an indoor bounce house was a great idea! Other than the fact that I lost Kolin several times!! But the kids really seemed to enjoy themselves! My sister-in-law and my adorable neice and newphew were able to come with us for both celebrations and they all had a great time!! Summer Birthdays - WHAT FUN!!!!

Then in a blink of an eye, SUMMER WAS OVER! and it was back to school time!! Kailee and Kolin started last week and Karter doesn't start until after labor day. Here are some great pics of the Morning of Kolin and Kailee's first day! Kolin had a little trouble transitioning into the new classroom, he so LOVES his teacher from last year!! He still tries to go to her class! Silly boy!!

and Here is Ms. Kailee!! She looks so grown up! I can not believe that she is already in the 6th grade!! WOW, were does the time go?

Busy End of School!

Kailee went on her Field Trip to JA Biz Town last week!! She was the "On-Screen" Personality for Channel 11 news! Doesn't she look professional! She really enjoyed her job! I was lucky enough to go along and it was quite interesting! A lot of work, that is for sure!

Kailee brought her "boy - friend" with her to her last regional competition. It was a long day but he seemed to enjoy himself! Daddie came also, and both boys were put to work as prop helpers for their "Production" routine! Then this past weekend she went with him to his baseball games!

Karter also had his "Pre-School" graduation! His class was a bunch of Sailors! They were all so excited and looked so cute! Here he is with him very best buddy! They want to have a sleep-over really soon, but since Karter still sleeps with mommie and daddie, I am not sure that is the best plan! :)

Kolin was able to enjoy his friends also! They are so sweet with him!! Today he is at the park all day! I hope that he doesn't get sun burned!

As the school year winds down, it is time to say! WOW, where did the year go?

PICS!

This is Kolin's first grade program!!

Karter and Daddie being silly. Kailee at her talent show.

Mommie and Kolin being silly!



Karter asleep after a long day at the hospital.

Kolin and Kailee at Kailee's dance pictures!

Just some fun pictures of the kids!! They are all growing so fast!! Karter will be having surgery on May 21, 2010, so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he undergoes this tough time!

Kailee has one more dance competition left before Nationals, so please pray that she does well!!

and Mr. Kolin, well he is just a ham!! He is doing fairly well, is ready for school to be out, but who isn't?