Thursday, April 21, 2011

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Happy 35th Birthday Kevin!  I just wanted to post just a little note to tell you I love you and I'm so excited for your birthday.  Jane and Alice are also very excited to celebrate your birthday.

For everyone else, let me just share a fun memory.  A memory so very sweet and thoughtful and one of the many reasons I am so grateful for Kevin and to celebrate him on his birthday!
This is a picture of Kevin in Shemya, AK

He went there for work.  We had been dating for about 6 months and after being gone 4 months already to Alaska, he was sent there again for 4 months.  He was home for the month of January, but was leaving before our first Valentine's.  So the morning he was flying out, I was headed to work and found my car covered in Hearts.  It was awesome.  My Neon still has some of the stickers from 2004 when he did that.  Then he also gave me a huge box full of gifts and cards.  He said since we couldn't be together, he would give me a card and gift to open every Sunday he was gone.  I cherished each Sunday when I could open his gift and card.  They always made me smile and helped ease his absence.  He also grew a goatee while he was gone, which looked pretty good on him!  Fun times.  Thanks for the memories.

Thank you Kevin for always being so sweet.  I love your ideas.  I love you!  I hope your 35th year (well 36th year) is a spectacular one.  All of your girls cherish you and wish you a very, very, happy birthday!!!!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

March Adventures

Kevin started a new job within Harris, and thus his traveling has started again.  (When we were dating he was gone for 4 months at a time traveling, but that stopped as soon as we were married).  Luckily his travels now are for a few days here and there.  Here is a picture of our family at the airport saying goodbye to Daddy on his way to D.C.
Kevin loved his trip.  I love that Jane and Alice are smiling in this picture.  They love the airport.  It's like a mall with fun Disney stores.

Alice and Kate having a little bonding time while Jane's at school.  Kate looks like she's telling a good joke and Alice is laughing at it.

I bought a hat and gloves for Alice on clearance.  Then I made her try them on so I could take pictures.  She was very willing to pose for pictures.  Too cute.

This is my mango tree.  Last year we got 2 super juicy and sweet mangoes from it, but sadly enough it died in the freeze this year.  Well, we covered it, so I think it was ok from the cold, but then we left the tarp on and pretty much baked it.  However, I was happy to see new life coming from the roots, so there is still hope.

This picture just makes me smile!!!!  Such a happy little girl.

For Jane's spring break I decided that we should take a trip up to Alabama and visit my older sister Kim and her family.  My girls are always asking to play with their cousins.  Whenever they pretend to go anywhere, it is always Alabama!  So Kevin worked it so he had 2 work related things while we were there, so it turned into a business trip too!  We had a great time.  I was so grateful for good car travelers.  Jane and Alice did a super job for 12 hours.  It felt like 2.  Kate had a rough time around hour 2, but after that, she was perfect also.  Yay!!!!

Mikayla's favorite thing was to hold baby Pepper (Kate).  She called Kate, Pepper the whole time we were there.  Pepper had just been there 2 weeks earlier, so it was understandable.

Ok, I love this picture, except what is up with Jane's smile.  I really think she thought she was smiling.  I think we need to work on that a bit.

We got to Huntsville on Thursday evening and spent a fun weekend inside because it rained the whole time.  Kim's house is gorgeous and spacious enough that we didn't feel cramped.  And the rain did stop occasionally.  We all went to see Tangled at the dollar theater.  That was fun.

Originally we planned on leaving Tuesday morning, but then we decided to stay through till Wed.  So Tues morning we went to Cathedral Caverns.  It was beautiful.  Huge cave!

The stalactites and stalagmites

Kevin, the girls and I at the mouth of the cave.

Miner's hats.  Kate was looking until the picture was taken.

The fun golf cart from the tour.  We even got to see a little bat.  It was pretty cool.

The kids loved jumping with Uncle Kevin on the trampoline.  Except, Kevin would have to make everyone stop for Alice to bounce.  She was a little scared.

Such a fun picture.  Left to right, Ben, Joshua, Kevin, Jacob, Jane, Mikayla, and Alice

Well, Kevin got a call from his boss on our way to the caves and found out he needed to be in Tampa Wed for business.  So we decided to leave that evening and drive down to Tampa.  It was a long night on the road, but we made it to our hotel around 5:30am.  The girls and I played in the pool and waited for Kevin to get back from work.  Then this crazy storm came through and the next day was super rainy.

The girls at the hotel

Because of the rain, we chose an indoor venue.  The Florida Aquarium.  It was pretty cool.

Alice and the big fish

Jane and Alice all smiley.

Kate checkin' out the jellyfish

Fun fog machines.  The girls loved them.  Although, at first, Alice was very leary of them.  But once she got going, she had a blast.

After the aquarium we headed home in a huge storm.  I think we trailed the storm the whole way, so it wasn't too bad.  It was a great trip all around.  A bit tiring, but the girls did awesome in the car and had a blast with their cousins.  We're excited to see all of them in just a few months here in Florida!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Kate's 4 month Stats

I have tons to blog, but because I have little time to post, here is just a quick one to let you know just how chubby and adorable our little Kate is getting.

I loved this bonnet when Jane received it as a baby shower gift.  I was so excited when I pulled it out of the bin from Beth.  Needless to say, it was a bit small.  So I put it on Kate and took a picture just for fun.  She loves her bumbo chair.

Her 4 month appointment went well.  She weighed 17 lbs 4 oz (the exact same as Jane at 4 months) and was 25 1/4 inches long.  I have no idea what the percentiles were.  I always forget to ask, but I'm guessing she's in the 90's.  She loves to smile and is just a happy and content little baby.

More posting coming soon.  Tons of fun pictures of our trip to Alabama, Disney, and Tampa.