Run, Everett, Run

Today Everett ran in his first Cross Country meet!

He had a great time and may turn into a runner.

Here he is before the race.

There was someone from their school there painting these on the kids faces. E was too cool to get one on his face, so he got it on his arm. I thought she was pretty talented to freehand this!

E and friends from his school who were also running.

The starting line....

....the finish line.

 Best part of this picture is that E overtook both these kids before the actual finish line.

Everett and Graclynn.

Their school came in third in the meet and the kids were SO excited!!

We are so proud of you Everett!!

Vitamix

A couple of weeks ago we got a new mixer. It is a chinese brand of the Vitamix and it is AWESOME!

It has become a "milkshake machine" as Rylie calls it, but they really are more fruit shakes--bananas, ice, milk, honey, strawberries, raspberries. I think that Matt has eaten more fruit since we got this than he had in the whole 34 years prior. The lady at the fruit stand outside our gate knows us by name we now go so much. We might have a small problem.......

Two very happy customers. And Matt is the main operator of the machine, he makes a mean shake!

Ry loves to show you her milkshake mustache after she takes her first sip :)

Crossbows

When Matt came home from his trip he brought us all a little gift. The boys got wooden crossbows. They LOVED them! A friend of ours who also went on the trip, brought them back for his two girls and the four of them have really enjoyed playing in the complex with them.

Everett, Hailey, Reid, and Madison poised and ready to go!

Here is a little video of the crossbows in action

He brought Rylie a fish purse and a necklace. As you can see, she loved it!

Welcome Home Daddy!

A couple of weeks ago Matt went on a business trip and was gone all week. We all really missed him and were SO glad when he was on his way home that Friday. The kids wanted to make a welcome home sign for the door, so we brought the paint out and went to town.

They each painted a word and then got to decorate a part of the sign.

Rylie concentrating hard on painting her heart.

Reid and Rylie were SUPER into the painting

The final product on the door waiting for Daddy to come home. I was a bit worried it would freeze, but it survived!

(This is our outside door in the stairwell of our building--stairwell is outside, which is why i was worried about freezing!)



Prince and Princess

One of Rylie's sweet little friends here is a Valentines baby and had her 4th party this Valentines Day. She had a prince and Princess party and it was so much fun!

They all decorated a princess hat or a crown

Princess Rylie

some of the royal party.

 i love the pose Cooper is striking in the back row!

The girls and the awesome mermaid cake.

please note the chocolate covered strawberries in the corner of the picture. so yum, ate lots of those.

Sleepover

The kids had their first sleepover here last weekend! They all had a great time. Cameron and Laura Cate came so everyone had a friend. Rylie and Laura Cate sleep in the same twin bed--they were so cute!

The boys stayed up reading the Action Bible. So sweet!

We had movie night and they all snuggled up on the floor.

The boys

 Rylie and Laura Cate

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day!

we had heart shaped pizzas for dinner, enjoyed cards from family at home (THANK YOU!)

and Matt took Rylie out for dessert for her first annual Valentines Date. I think he is secretly hoping that if he starts the tradition now, it will prevent her from having another date on Valentines day. ever.

(we went out on a date Thursday night for our Valentines date--just in case you think he forgot me :)