Friend Birthday Party at the CCC!

We combined Krue and Kiefer's friend birthday party this year and had it at the CCC (Classic City Center) here in Auburn.  They have a state of the art gymnastics facility that they rent out for parties.  What a fun place to bring lots of friends and have blast!  I think some of the Dad's had just as much fun.  

The boys had their guests bring a donation for a family in need instead of getting presents this year.  This was a great learning experience for them and they handled it very maturely.

Kiefer getting ready to jump into the foam pit off of a spring board.

Papa Sam and Lee helping the kids get in and out of the foam pit.

The kids had so much fun jumping on the huge trampolines.

Krue and his friend Jayden.

Kiefer and his friend Matthew.

Krue and his friend Paige.

Krue and his friend Landon A.

Kiefer and his best friend, Graham.

Krue and his friends Colton and Jeffrey.

Cousins Ella and Kiefer

The boys really wanted Cody to come be apart of their birthday.  We sent him a special invite!

Kiefer and his friend Anna.

Kiefer getting fancy with his jumps!

The kids loved being tossed up in the air by Lee.

Ella flew really high!

Colton, Jack, and Krue

A fun cushioned pit for the kids to play in.

Singing Happy Birthday.

The party table.

So much fun!

Krue's best friend, Lauren.

Krue and his friend, Hugh.

Krue and his friend, Landen B.

Krue and his friend, Ian.

Ornery Kai

Kai, 20 months.  Such a stinker!

At the age of 20 Months Kai could best be described as ornery and playful.  Kai likes to climb up on things, dump things out, take her shoes off, pull her hair bows out, laugh at herself, put other people's clothes on, climb into things and onto people.  We sure love her spirited personality...

...but boy, it can be exhausting for Mom!

Kai dressed herself!

Kai climbed into Leona's carseat.

Kai loves to climb on anyone's back.  Here Krue is taking her for a ride.

Krue's 7th Birthday!

Krue's New Mountain Bike

On March 1, 2011 Krue turned 7 years old!  I really can't believe that he is seven.  Krue has been acting so much more grown up lately... and says things like, "I can't wait to be an adult."  "I can't wait until I have my driver's license." "I can't wait until I am a chiropractor like Daddy."  We keep reminding him to enjoy being a kid and the freedom and joy that comes with it.  

Krue is a hard worker and a good friend.  If he is given a job, he takes it seriously.  He enjoys working at   Lee's office for about an hour a week... and he loves the idea of getting paid for his hard work.  Krue's grades are fantastic and his teacher, Mrs. Dean, just loves him.  We have been told by the parents of many of Krue's classmates that their daughter or son has said that, "Krue is the nicest boy in the 1st grade."  Wow!  That sure does make us feel proud.

 For his 7th birthday, we surprised Krue with a brand new mountain bike.  He has been asking for one so he can "ride the dirt trails" with Lee.  Krue is really very good on his bike.  He has ridden 10 miles with Lee around town and can jump ramps that pop him into the air.  He always puts on his helmet and is very cautious (which makes me feel okay about it).  Krue is not a daredevil... but likes to slowly master challenging tricks through practice.

The Friday after Krue's birthday, we let him invite 3 of his friends over for a sleepover.  They had so much fun "chatting" on their DS's, eating pizza, going in the hot tub, having a dart gun war in the basement, and watching a "Despicable Me" before they fell asleep.   

You are a good kid, Krue!  We love you!

Krue's Buddies - Brayton Schackow, Landon Armstrong, and Landen Brown - Playing Their Nintendo DS's

Getting Ready to go in the Hot Tub

Having fun in the Hot Tub with Lee

Krue - Science Fair - 1st Grade

We are so proud of Krue for doing the 

Science Fair this year!  He worked really hard and got 4th place out of 21 1st Graders!

He is already talking about what he is going to do next year :)

Krue, Gavin Kling, Mr. Teders

Krue thought the coolest part about the science fair was that his principal, Mr. Teders, wrote a special note on his project.  He told Krue how much he enjoyed his project and how proud he was of him doing the science fair.  Krue loves Mr. Teders so this was pretty special!

Upward Basketball 2010/2011 Season

This year Lee was able to coach both Krue and Kiefer on the same team.  Yay! 

 Kiefer was the youngest player in Upwards this year:)  He did really good! He had so much enthusiasm running (skipping) down the court.  He truly enjoyed playing and knew all of his teammate's names after the first practice.  He also knew all of the stars and what each color represented.  He had to straighten Lee out several times :

Krue improved so much from last year!  His dribbling was very impressive and he was not as timid with his defense.  He is going to be a really good basketball player!  Fun to watch him improve with each game.

Lee did a fantastic job coaching, as usual.  He had parents requesting him as a coach :)  Lee is getting quit a reputation for doing an exceptional job with the kids.  They love him!  He took time after each game and told each kid (in front of everyone) what they did well during the game.  The kids just beamed!

The action pictures I took during the game did not turn out :(  I did manage to take some pictures at one of their star ceremonies.   

It was a fun season!

My New Wedding Ring! Valentines Day 2011

On Valentine's Day,  Lee and I had plans to go to Cork N' Clever after work.  As I was getting ready in the bathroom... Krue walked in and asked me to help him with his Nintendo DS.  I looked down and saw a gorgeous ring on his thumb!  I exclaimed, "What is that on your thumb?"  He was grinning from ear to ear.  Lee walked in and I just started crying.  I couldn't believe it.  Lee has always said he wanted to upgrade my wedding ring because we got engaged when we were in college.  He could only afford a small diamond at that time and has always wanted to replace it with a nicer diamond.   I had no clue he was going to do it this valentine's day! 

Krue asked, "Mom, are those tears of joy?"

I said, "Yes, they are!"

What a wonderful surprise.

This is my beautiful ring.  I just love it!

This is a cute picture of King of Hearts Kiefer.  He dressed up as a King for school and he wanted me to take his picture.  It was during Valentine's week so I told him he was the "King of Hearts".  Kai wanted to be in the picture, too :)

My Life With Three Kids

It is always fun to stop and jot down what my daily schedule is like every so often... especially right now, raising three children.  Here is a typical day:

Wake up at 6:15 to 19 month old Kai shouting in the monitor, "Mom!  Mommy!  Mom!"  I walk upstairs in a haze and get her out of bed.  She wants to take her "paci" and "blankie" with her.  I don't argue... I'm still half asleep.  We go downstairs and she sits on the counter while I make breakfast for the kids.  Usually peanut butter toast or eggs, juice (watered down... shhh), and vitamins.  Kai happily drinks her juice and eats her vitamins while I continue to make/pack Krue's lunch for the day... I also start a pot of coffee (my best friend).  Lee wakes up around this time and heads downstairs for a quick workout.

Around 6:45 Kai and I walk upstairs to wake up Krue for 1st grade.  I grab his clothes (we laid out the night before) and contact case and head back downstairs.  Krue gets dressed and I put in his contacts.  He brushes his teeth and I spike up his hair.  He watches TV and eats his breakfast.  Kai tries to steal Krue's breakfast, even though she has her own.  Stinker.

Around 7:15 Kiefer wakes up and sits on the top of the stairs, peering down at the TV.  (It takes him awhile to wake up).  I take Kai into my room so I can quickly get ready.  Kiefer eventually wanders downstairs to eat breakfast.  Lee is done with workout at this time and eats breakfast, grabs a coffee, and gets ready for work.

7:35 I gather up everything Krue will need for the day and send him out the door with Lee.  Lee loves taking Krue to school... he says they have the best talks during this time.

Between 8 and 8:30 I help Kiefer and Kai get ready.  This is always interesting.  Kiefer and Kai are my two arguers :)  It always depends on their mood how smoothly "getting ready" will go :)  Sometimes there is crying, sometimes arguing, sometimes laughing, sometimes singing together.

8:30 we try to be heading out the door for preschool.  Most days it is 8:40/8:45... it seems like I am always forgetting something!  Some days I pick up Graham Blythe and Anna Heath for preschool as well.  9:00 I have Kiefer safely to preschool and Kai and I are heading back home.

9:15-11:45 Kai and I are running errands, doing laundry, dishes, cleaning house, making beds, playing with dolls, learning shapes and animal noises, and reading books.  Kai is a mommy's girl so she likes to be right at my side helping out at all times :)

11:45 we are in the car again driving the 15 minute drive out to Kiefer's preschool.

12:15 we are home again making lunch for Kai and Kiefer.

12:30 Kai goes down for a nap (ahhhh....)

12:45-2:00  I workout and let Kiefer play the Wii (Kiefer's favorite thing right now... he is so good at Mario Cart.  We have to limit him to an hour a day on this or he would play forever!)

2:00-2:45  Kiefer time with Mommy!  We read books, play a game, do a craft, etc.

2:45-3:15  Krue comes home from school.  I go through his backpack and we discuss his day.  We do his homework together.

3:15  Kai wakes up and we make a yummy smoothie (she loves these!)

3:30  Nicole Thiele shows up to babysit and I head to work.

3:45-6:15  Work at Lee's Office... I do rehab on the patients.

6:30  Home.  Make Dinner.  Run kids to any activities (violin lessons, basketball, swim lessons, etc.)

8:00 Kids Baths

8:30 Kids Bed... pj's, brush teeth, read books, prayers, bed.

8:30-10pm  Time with Lee & pick up house.

10pm  Bed... Whew!

*Lots of rest needed to repeat it all over again.  Kai wakes up several times at night at this age.  Usually to for us to help her find her paci.  Kiefer sometimes needs his inhaler or breathing treatment.

Mommy's Special Dates!

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of going on a special date with my two handsome sons, Krue & Kiefer.  We attended a Mother-Son dance and had so much fun! We danced, played games, and had good talks.

I loved this special time with them!  These two are turning into very nice and thoughtful young men.

Love you both, more than you know.

Kiefer's 5th Birthday

Kiefer is 5 years old!  I can hardly believe it. 

At the age of 5, Kiefer is extremely imaginative and funny.  He keeps us laughing and we are constantly amazed by his interesting and creative names and stories he comes up with.  Kiefer still has his imaginary friends, Jam and Boojoe.  He also talks about Jam and Boojoe's cousin, Max, and their dog, Patron.  Kiefer would play Mario Cart on the Wii for hours if we would let him.  He is really good at it and no one can beat him.  He will also play with his matchbox cars for hours.  He has them race and then will line them up (like a parade) in the order they finished.  Kiefer loves to tell us about each car and why he gave them the name that they have.  

Kiefer impresses us with his lock on names and faces.  He calls people by their names when he sees them... and remembers them forever.  What a cool gift he has!  Kiefer loves hearing stories about people and looking at pictures of people and talking to people.  It would be safe to say that he is a "people person".  His teachers and friends love him.  One of the teachers at his preschool said to me, "What are we going to do without Kiefer here next year?"  So sweet :)  

On Kiefer's birthday we celebrated with some presents in the morning.  Kiefer played in an upwards basketball game that day so the entire team sang him happy birthday.  We traveled down to Indy that evening for dinner and then a Monster Jam show.  It was fun!

In a couple of weeks we will be having a friend combined birthday party for Krue and Kiefer and also a family birthday party.  

It was a fun day!!