Aunt Arla and Uncle Scott Visit - March 2014

Somehow I have gone and lost my external hard drive again! Sometimes I really drive myself crazy!!! :P This time I'm really flummoxed because after the last time I decided I was going to make a conscience effort not to move my computer around the house so I wouldn't lose it again... I haven't moved the computer and somehow the external hard drive is gone... Oh sigh... In any case that is why my posts slowed down again. That said, tonight I realized I had sorted through and resized more pictures than I previously realized so I can at least do a couple more posts! :) If I haven't found my external hard drive by the time I finish with these posts, I guess I'll just post things out of order vs getting so far behind again. I really do want to get caught up so I can start posting about our school year again and not only our social activities.

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While Aunt Arla and Uncle Scott were visiting last spring they gave Reagan her birthday present, a new bike! 

 Silly Jackson on the girl's small tricycle :) 

 Kennedy was working hard to learn how to ride her bike without training wheels.

 Wish we had this effort on video. Aunt Arla and I were laughing so hard we were crying. Uncle Scott was running behind Kennedy when she dumped over. He literally flew up and over her landing on the other side of her bike. lol :)

 Scraped up hands on both accounts...

 Kennedy rescuing our little escapee who was headed for the street.

 I sure do love this baby! :)

 Since Uncle Scott and Aunt Arla gave Reagan an early birthday present we decided to celebrate with a Minion cookie cake. Reagan decided 7 is old enough to light your own candles.

  She also decided it's old enough to cut the cake

 One chocolaty baby! :)

 Reagan showing off her biceps - this girl has muscles!

 Aunt Arla gave the kids these three creatures that grow in water. I don't know what brand they were, but they were the best we've ever had. They grew to at least twice the size pictured here. They were enormous!!!

Thank you for visiting and supporting our activities Aunt Arla and Uncle Scott! We love you and appreciate all you do for us! :)

Cute Kids - February 2014

These were just some cute pictures I snapped the end of February of my munchkins. I couldn't help but share them here because these sweet smiles are just too cute not to share! :)

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McKinley,1 year old

 Jackson, 3 1/2 years old and Kennedy, 5 years old 

 Reagan, 7 years old with roses from Uncle Scott for Valentine's Day

 

Outdoor Play - January 2014

As well as snow we enjoyed some warmer weather as well. Here's a sweet picture of Reagan giving Jackson a ride in the truck Grandma and Grandpa gave Jackson for his first birthday. This has been a well loved and used little truck! :)

 Grand-Dad took all of these pictures of Kennedy on her bicycle. I believe he took most of them because of how silly Missy K was being on her bike. I can't say that I blame him. I mean it's not every day you get to see a 5 year old attempt to ride their bike backwards while lying down...

 Missy K loves to pose. This is her favorite pose and while it does crack me up, it also drives me crazy that she won't just take a normal sweet picture... lol :)

 A serious bike rider

 I believe Grand-Dad said she had to take a fuel brake each time she went around the cul-de-sac. I think he especially enjoyed her antics in the second picture while filling up her bicycle. What a little nut!

 Thanks for being our resident photographer and capturing so many entertaining moments of our munchkins, Grand-Dad! :)

Kennedy Ellen - 5 Years Old

I want to share a little bit about Kennedy at 5 before I continue our family posts. I wish I had shared this last fall, but in this case I definitely think it's better late than never! :)

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At 5 years old Kennedy is certainly a sweet little girl. She is extremely helpful and has a special relationship with all three of her siblings as she is the peace maker in our house. As she frequently tells us, however, "I don't have a temper, but I am the stubborn one, right?" We noticed early on that while Missy K is our easiest child the majority of the time, once she makes up her mind to do (or not do) something there is absolutely no negotiating with her. She is one determined little nut! And speaking of nuts, she is a little goofball and certainly knows how to get herself into the silliest situations. If we're missing someone's clothes or their is a child without shoes, you can just about guarantee that of our four kiddos it will be our sweet Missy K. In the Fall of 2013 Kennedy was beginning her third year of violin instruction. We drive each other a little crazy with violin. :) When Kennedy is paying attention she does a fabulous job, but there are many days I wonder if she has ever seen a violin before, let alone remember how to play any pieces. And that is how reading with Miss Kennedy Ellen has gone as well. She was (and is) doing well and was ahead in terms of reading of most kids her age. Some days she did/does a phenomenal job reading, but as with violin there are days I wonder if she's ever seen a book before. Kennedy was also beginning her third year of gymnastics in the Fall of 2013. Gymnastics is Kennedy's favorite activity and she will not even consider giving it up. Like Reagan, these girls can't seem to get enough hours in the gym. :) Kennedy participated in both the Bluegrass Homeschool Learning Cooperative (BHLC) and was an Abecedarian student in our Classical Conversations homeschool group. As part of BHLC Kennedy was also a Girl Scout Daisy for her second year. She especially enjoys Girl Scouts because of her very favorite pal Zoe Womack who is one of the older girls in our troop. Kennedy has declared Zoe to be her big Big sister. There have been times when Kennedy is telling someone about our family and tells them all about Zoe but fails to mention one of her actual siblings. lol :) Because Kennedy is such an intelligent and determined little girl, with her head in the clouds she generally keeps all her coaches and teachers laughing where ever we go. She also has no volume control so if you're anywhere near you'll be sure to hear and enjoy her adorable munchkin voice. As Missy K continues to grow, I hope she realizes and remembers what a special little girl she is and how much we love her. We thank God each day for the tremendous blessing of having Kennedy in our lives! 

Kennedy's Fairy Tea Party

Since having a tea party for Reagan's 4th birthday Grammy and I have been wanting to have one for Kennedy as well. Since we were in New York for her 4th birthday her 5th birthday seemed perfect. This hat and picture do a great job of capturing Kennedy's personality.

 Here are the girls who were guests at Missy K's birthday - love all those hats! :)

Because we wanted everyone to sit together we rearranged the living room to accommodate all of Kennedy's guests.

 Daddy with the youngest tea party participant

 Grammy helping Missy K adjust her necklace

 Missy K ready for her guest to arrive

 McKinely with her godmother, Kelly

 Kennedy with her godmother, Aunt Julie

 Sweet Miss Anna

 Not sure the Queen herself could provide directions any better

 I enjoyed sitting by Missy Reagan during the tea party

 Grammy and me

 I needed a picture with my birthday girl

 Missy and Grammy

 A picture of all our party guests

Thank you to everyone for coming to share in Missy K's special fairy tea party! Your presence made the party all the more fun and memorable! :)

Missy K's Turns 5 - 2013

Kennedy coming downstairs with a couple of her birthday balloons on her birthday morning to check out her gifts and sitting in the special birthday chair our elf, Hermie (who you can see sitting in the cupcake costume on the tree next to the chair), created for her.

Missy K with her presents and new Hello Kitty bicycle

Kennedy couldn't wait to turn 5 and receive her bag of gum. She was extremely excited and opened it up right away. :)

We met Kennedy's godparents, Uncle Barry and Aunt Annette, at Krispy Kreme to celebrate her birthday breakfast. :)

Kennedy brought her new American Girl Doll, Emily, which she received from Grammy and Grand-Dad.

  Daddy and Jackson checking out the donut making process

  Birthday buddies McKinley and Lauren

 Kennedy, Lauren and Reagan

 The Lueker and Hamlin girls

  When we got home from breakfast (and maybe group violin that day as well - I don't remember everything that was going on, but I remember it was a super busy day) Kennedy resumed opening her gifts in her birthday chair. 

 Grammy gave Jackson this construction outfit and tools which he loved! :)

 Since Grammy gave Kennedy the American Girl Doll bicycle she gave Reagan the scooter

 Kennedy thoroughly enjoyed trying out her new bike and Emily enjoyed riding her new bicycle as well. :)

 That evening we met Uncle Dan, Aunt Dorothy, Heidi and Holden at our traditional birthday dinner place, Chick-Fil-A. Somehow I managed not to get any pictures of the kids but here's Kennedy and her birthday cookie. 

 

Thanks to everyone who made Kennedy's 5th birthday special! :)