Everyday is just fun & games!

Parker has surprised us all at the new school and with his new class at church. After several doctor appts. last school year because of his anxiety and fear making him physically sick, we were worried about the little guy with the move. He has been so happy,hugging and snuggling with us, and talkative about his day. He has been spotted on numerous occasions at the park, at McDonald's, at gymnastics talking with other kids he did not know. WOW! What a change from last year! With this new attitude, has come some funny comments. The latest exchange occurred one morning on the way to school:

"Mom, since you don't work during the day anymore, could you download some games on your computer, and could you pick me up some doughnuts?" Yeah, Parker, your wish is my command. HA!

The kids were so excited to learn that there are tire swings at the new school and at all the parks in the area. Dallin quickly became the tire swing daredevil, and both boys often spend all of recess pushing others and riding. One day at the park, Dallin decided to go for the "tire swing challenge". Instead of just swinging around in a circle, Dallin likes to spin and rotate. This picture was at the start of the challenge, no pictures for after....when he was barfing in the grass.

You would think the boy would have learned his lesson, but no! He pushed 2 other kids on the swing at school making them barf in the grass. Great job, D-man, you are on your way to getting yourself banned from the tire swing.

Some days I park and walk with the kids into school if I am volunteering, and some days I just drop them off. This morning Gretchen says, "Mom, can you go through the drive thru?"

Sure Gretchen, I'll take 2 boys and 1 girl to go please. :)

She LOVES school, and her teacher said she is so ready for kindergarten. So my newest student says to me: "Mom, you don't need to ask me if I had a good day. Everyday is a good day!"

Happy 3rd birthday Owen & Elijah!

Today is our favorite twinners' birthday! Yippee! For so many years, my kids were the only grandkids. So lonely, yet so spoiled. Finally, thanks to my sister and sister-in-law getting with the multiply & replenish the earth business, we have 2 sweet and beautiful nieces and 3 super duper nephews. My boys get the biggest kick out of playing with the twins. I have so many pictures of them wrestling, playing outside, climbing Papa's tree, "hugging" Charlie, chowing down at Grammer's big table, and getting into boy mischief. They are snuggly, smart, funny, happy-go-lucky, active boys and we just can't get enough of them!

So, happy 3rd birthday boys! We love you bunches! XOXOXOXO We hope to see you soon :)

Breaking News From Nashvegas!

Our sweet little Gretchen has lost her very first tooth. It started to wiggle a little a few weeks ago. Unlike my other children, she never wiggles it with her fingers, only her tongue! She pushed and pushed at it with her tongue until it was no longer connected on the back side. So, we convinced (okay maybe tricked) her into pushing it backwards with her finger, so it would pop out. She tried it but said is hurt. So, off to school she went on Monday, with the snaggliest tooth you have ever seen. I warned her teacher that it was reeeaaallly lose and if she came home with it still in I would be shocked.

Sure enough, at pickup afterschool, up she comes smiling the biggest smile with a tiny little hole in her bottom row. She lost it at rest time, and since it was soooo lose it never bled. (Which was probably good thing, otherwise I think she may have been upset.) She was thrilled that the toothfairy came to see her. Now she is an official member of the "lost tooth club"! YEAH!

I told you my babies were all growing up! :)

Back to School Time!

The kids all started school last monday, in a new city, at a new school. They were so excited to meet some new friends, and their teachers. I am happy to say that all 3 made friends right away! YEAH! They have 3 great teachers that they all love! YEAH! And so far seem to be really enjoying the new school. Dallin loves the cafeteria food, which is costing us an arm and a leg. $2.50/per kid. Lucky for us, he is a social guy and met some boys immediately upon sitting down at his table. Parker came home with a buddy that he talks about often and says he likes to play with the most. I went to eat lunch with him on Friday and saw them playing together on the playground and at lunch they were sitting together and chatting and laughing. (A big relief for mom to see her shy guy with a friend.) Gretchen met a friend before we even got to school from her class at church. In fact, all 3 kids have friends from church that are attending the same school some in their classes. We are still settling in to school routines, we have not gotten homework yet, Gretchen is still staggering and going 1/2 days until next week, and I am trying to find ways to fill up my days with all my babies at school. It is hard to believe that I have reached this point in my life, 3 school age kids. How did I get this old???

Our little Gretchen, its time for kindergarten!

Parker, our 2nd grader, excited for school to start! WooHoo!

The big man on campus, our resident 5th grader, Dallin.

A pic of me and Gretchen, taken by the boys. We are ready for some fun-dixie style.

The boys getting ready for the show at the Dixie Stampede. (Thanks for the tix Rich, I knew there was a silver cloud somewhere to you playing in golf tournaments.)

Gretchen with her new and coveted boot mug filled with rootbeer at the Dixie Stampede. My grandmother brought one of these bootmugs back for my sis Dare, and my kids fight over it everytime we go to Grammer's. Somehow it ended up at our house-sorry Dare!

The birthday boy with his guitar. Happy 10th D-Man! He said he had a great birthday-loved his $ from everyone, guitar hero from us, fishing stuff from Poppy & Grandma and his guitar from Papa & Grammer.

Parker & Papa with full bellies on the porch of the Applewood Farmhouse. YUMMY!

Richard, Gretchen and I hanging out at our new house. HAHA!

The boys playing in the creek, right before Dallin fell in, just like we warned him he would. Water+rocks=slipping

Richard and me at one of the mtn. overlooks.

Grammer & Papa at the old homesite in the smokie mtns.

The boys at the TN Smokies baseball game. Thanks Grammer for the gift basket!

Now, this is my kind of golfer. One who brings her purse with her. :)

Parker is all smiles while on the links.

In case you didn't hear

Towards middle of July, Richard received a promotion at work to Corporate Accounts. He is very excited about this new position, and according to the management psych testing he had done before the offer, it suites him well. We all know Rich could sell sunscreen to the eskimos, or anything else for that matter. We are VERY proud of him and his accomplishments.

BUT...with the promotion comes a relocation to Nashville. We are excited about this part as well, some family members more than others. We are in temporary housing for the moment while we sell/buy homes. So we are out to explore and make a new city home. Wish us luck!

Before we headed further west, we spent some time doing a few of our favorite things: splash Country, putt-putt, TN Smokies baseball game, Dixie Stampede, a couple dips in the pool, and more. We even got a visit from Grammer & Papa for Dallin's 10th birthday. We spent an extended weekend with them. Gretchen & I got to take Grammer to our favorite little tea room for lunch and did a little shopping. We went to the Great Smokie Mtns. and some "hiking", Richard style, to check out some original homesteads in the smokies. We pigged out at the Applewood Farmhouse, and more.

School's Out For Summer!

Our summer break started on May 22nd and ends on Aug. 11th. So we are determined to squeeze in some FUN! We have been doing lots of swimming, which is ranked high with 4 out of 5 in the family. Bet you can guess which one doesn't like it! :) AND Gretchen has taught herself how to swim. We are regulars at the free kid movies on Wednesday mornings. We have been to the library several times, and the girls have read way more books than the boys. I personally have read around a dozen or so since school got out. We had some friends visit from Florida and took them to our favorite places: Splash Country, Dollywood, Fort Kid, trolley ride, Mast General Store, Splash Pad, etc. We had a few cooler days so we went to the park to ride bikes, and to the zoo. We still have a little more than 4 weeks left, and are planning on more fun. Dallin's b-day is in 13 days and Papa and Grammer are coming. We have our best buddies from Texas coming to visit. And who knows what else will happen?!?! Guess you will have to just wait and see! :)

Our newest swimmer in the family, Gretchen, who taught herself how to swim. Smart gal!

The gang enjoying the elephants at the zoo on a rare 80 degree day.

Parker having fun at the splash pad.

Gretchen's favorite animal at the Kratt Brothers Show at Dollywood.

Dallin and Tanner getting "scrambled" at Dollywood.

Parker and Conner waiting to cross the Dollywood train tracks.

Parker, Dallin, Conner and Tanner "hanging out" at Fort Kid
at the World Fair Park.

Our Monkey Bar Champion skipping TWO rungs. Go Parker, Go Parker!

Will the graduates please rise...

Gretchen recently had her preschool graduation. Her Everyday 4 year old class sang several patriotic songs and bible songs for the families. Gretchen did a fantastic job, after all she does love to sing. :) They presented each student with a diploma and told the audience what they wanted to be when they grow up. Gretchen used to say she wanted to be a mermaid , a teacher and a mommy. Now she has decided to be a doctor. Go for it girl! This evening officially marked the end of my "babies". I now have a kindergartner, 2nd grader and 5th grader. OH MY!

The class lining up to go sing for the families. Little Fact: They are lined up from tallest to shortest, and my little princess is 4th in a line of 14!!

Gretchen singing her little heart out.

Gretchen receiving her preschool graduation certificate.

Ms. Marge, Gretchen and Emily. Ms. Marge has taught Gretchen so much this year. She is a remarkable teacher, one who knows exactly how to reach each child. She runs her class like one well oiled machine. They just love her, and so do I. She is the best.!

Gretchen and her best friend, Emily. These 2 have been inseparable since last year's three year old class. Next year they are off to 2 different kindergarten classes. :(

Gretchen and her friend, Ashley, who was in her class last year too!

Ballet & Tap Dancing, All Dressed In Pink & Flowers, Fun With Friends :)
Gretchen had her dance recital last week. This was her 3rd year in dancing, and as always she enjoyed it. If she is not singing around the house, she is usually dancing. In fact, I don't think she ever really walks anywhere, she is either dancing, skipping or pretending to walk a balance beam. They did a couple of ballet dances, one with these flower bouquets, and one with everyone holding hands together or with a friend. It was adorable. Then they did a couple of tap dances, which are amusing to watch. Their little faces are concentrating so hard to make that tap shoe move like it should. Then they did the Kinderdance theme song finale. She was all smiles, loved her pink roses, and snow globe trophy. This was her last year with Kinderdance, now she is on to a professional dance studio.

As we got ready in the bathroom, Gretchen said we needed a few pictures before it started. She said, "I'll pose for you." Obviously,not a camera shy child.

Our little ballerina dancing in her huge tutu!

Ballet dancing together, so cute!

TADA! Gretchen tap dancing to "I Want A Purple Kitty".

The level 3 girls got to pick out their trophy from a 3 different ones, but as soon as Gretchen saw the snow globe trophy with the ballerina in it, she said "Perfect!"

We went fishing with some friends this weekend at the lake. The kids had been dying to go, and once they found out our buddy Eric loved it, they were all on him to take them. Lucky for us, he does love to fish, and thinks our kids are a hoot. So, we loaded up all our scooby poles, bought a bucket of slimy worms, and lots of snacks. All 7 of us fished and only one person caught any fish....DALLIN!!!! That boy caught not one, not two, but THREE fish in about 20 minutes. So, now he is all fired up about it, and once again asking when he can go. Of course, he is asking for a real tackle box now, and better pole. I said, "Why? Obviously, yours is working just fine!"

Parker's class took a field trip to the UT agriculture fair. They had tons of farm animals for the kids to touch and see. Parker was facinated with the shearing of the sheep. They had honeybees with honey sticks to taste, butter to churn & wheat to grind-then homemade bread to eat with the butter, seeds to plant, a hay ride, Smokey the Bear log cabin, and free icecream sandwiches. Parker and his buddies were hilarious, and energetic.

Parker churning butter at the UT agriculture day.

The boys on the hay ride.

Parker, Bryson and Devon with a sheriff car.

Happy 7th Birthday to Parker!

The P-Man had a putt-putt party for his birthday. He had several friends from school come to hang out with him, play some games, eat some pizza & cake, and play putt-putt. The birthday man even had some hole in ones! WOOHOO!

Happy Mother's Day Grammer!

Reasons why Mom/Grammer is GrEaT:

pretty, funny, smart, nice, plays with us, likes to play video games, helps us, good cook, takes us to the movies, comes to visit us for our birthdays, reads books to us, walks our dog, buys us exactly what we want for our birthdays (yeah for Martian Matter), and LOVES us!

We love you! Have a great Mother's Day! Make Papa cook for you tonight!