Happy 7th Birthday Karoline!

Karoline is 7!!!!!!!  I cannot believe my baby girl is 7!  It seems SO much older than 6!  She is just AMAZING... a gift from God that I don't deserve.  She has the most unbelievable heart and love for others... encourages, loves, forgives... I could go on and on.  I'm so thankful for who she is becoming, a beautiful young lady inside and out who loves to reflect the love of Christ!  I love you so much Karoline and I am the luckiest mommy ever! 

 A little celebration at school...

 With her friend Trinity... These girls are so funny together!

 Shy while we sang happy birthday...

Karoline and her teacher, Ms. Driscoll

 Karoline with her friend Meredith... they have been together for 3 years, since 3k

Thankful for my girl...

 Anderson helping with the cards and gifts...

 Emergency stund team practice requires a change in birthday dinner plans... ChickfilA saves the birthday!  We will go out next week after Nationals (we leave tomorrow, Thursday)...

Karoline got a gift certificate for riding a real horse... when it gets warmer... :)

 So excited about her barn and horse :)

 Alice made another AMAZING CAKE!!  Karoline LOVED it!

 Oh my poor parents have the hardest time taking pictures with my camera... a little out of focus, but oh well...

 She made sure she had everything set up for her dolls before she went to bed...

First Time For Everything...

 What kind of mother am I?  I have avoided dying eggs as a part of Easter festivities for years due to my fear of the mess that could be made... so what is a person to do in such a situation??  Put it out there on Facebook your afraid and want someone ELSE to invite you over to do it... let the mess me made at their house :)... so I did, and a friend responded :)

I had to call my mom to ask how to make hard boiled eggs (I am ashamed!)...We went to our friend Dwyer and Courtney's, who are experienced egg dyers, and the fun began...  It was pretty successful... I am not afraid to do this alone in the future.  I am so proud I overcame by fear!

 After we tried to feed the ducks but they wanted nothing to do with us ... :)

Great Blizzard of 2013...

Okay, not a blizzard but snow doesn't happen very often around the beach so any possibility of snow and I get a little excited!  It started snowing around 9pm last night and I tried to get the kids up to see it but they were knocked out cold (no pun intended).  But to my surprise there was still a little white dusting they could play in...  We don't really have good snow gear, especially since a lot is in storage, so they didn't stay out too long...   But long enough to make a few snow angels and have a short lived snow ball fight.  Buster didn't like it at all... Thankful for the fun of a little snow but we will take our 60 degree winter back :)  We have had our fix, now ready for fun in the sun...

 Hot chocolate after playing...

TJ's Half Marathon

Well, I would love to say that after a lot of training TJ finished his 1st 1/2 marathon... but the truth is he hardly trained at all!  Running only 1 time a week he makes me sick!!! :)  He's just a natural I guess!  He runs with his cross fit group once a week and they ran the 1/2 marathon today.  He had an awesome time of 1 hour and 45 minutes!  I told him I couldn't even imagine what he could do if he actually trained for such a race :)  Congrats's TJ!  You are amazing!  I'm so very proud! 

100th Day of School!

 Karoline is the CUTEST 100 year old I have ever seen!!  The 1st graders dressed up like old people to celebrate their 100th day of school.  Karoline was VERY nervous about showing up to school dressed like this and was worried no one else would participate but every one did :)  I can understand her concern... haha... It's hard to tell but she does have gray spray in her hair... It was so cute!

 Of course Anderson wanted a picture too...

Valentines Day!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!  I love Valentines Day!  We always spend it as a family and make an extra special, little fancy meal.  This year though I was sick and the kids were a little sick but that didn't stop us.  But the next day I was down for the count with a fever for 2 days :(  I'm so thankful for my sweet family!  I love them VERY VERY much!  And a special thanks to TJ for making the kids Valentine cards for their classmates!