Shooting Stars

Hannah got to play her first season of basketball this winter.  She really enjoyed it!  Josh was the assistant coach of her team.  They went to practice every Friday night together.  Then every Saturday morning, the whole family went to watch her play... at 8:15... in Jamaica.  I'll be glad to have the 9:00 slot next year!

Hannah shooting the ball for the first time ever in a game; 

I need to work on my action photography shot skills.

 Hannah was great at dribbling!

 Hannah was #23.  They asked at sign-ups what number she wanted to be, and I said how about #23 for her birthday.  I wasn't even thinking of Michael Jordan at the moment.  And then she ended up being on the Bulls.  Too funny!  Josh told her that's a big number to live up to!

 We got to run the concession stand as a family one day!

 We had a big party at the end!  One of my best friends, Sandy, is in charge of the program.  I made her take a picture with the cake like it was her baby shower!

 The kids all got trophies at the end.  Hannah was super excited about this!

  She is already asking when we can sign up again.  At this point, it's safe to say she likes basketball way more than gymnastics!

Hannah.... 6 and a Half!

Oh how I love my Hannah!  She is growing and changing so much!  This year has been a little rough for her.  She does not love having to leave home and her family every day to go to kindergarten.  I do think she enjoys school once she is there, but most days, she really just does not want to leave.  We've talked and prayed a lot through this year about being brave and trusting God and having a good attitude.  She was having a particularly rough week in February when I realized that it was her 1/2 birthday.  A mothering book I had recently read suggested doing a little celebration for your child's 1/2 birthday, which I admit, I would normally have thought to be a little silly, but it was a perfect chance to brighten Hannah's week, and it really did help her!  She was pretty excited about being 6 1/2 instead of just 6.  Who knows, maybe it's a tradition we'll just keep!  I made cupcakes for her to have when she got home from school, and Grandma Teresa even made her a new apron and brought it over:

One day at Grandma's, Aunt Betsy and Hannah were dressed the same, 

so they posed for a picture (Hannah's choice of pose!):

Hannah at Cross Training, making her Ten Commandments tablets:

Hannah and her kindergarten girlfriends: Taylor, Hannah, Anna, Ella, Michelle:

Hannah had a very exciting day this spring when she randomly got a new bike!  Usually this would be a gift for something special.  But, I was beginning to think that Hannah might be outgrowing her 16" bike, and then early in the spring, she totally shredded one of the tires out (she rides it A LOT!).  So, rather than buy a new tire for a bike that was about too small, we went ahead and got her a new 20" one in her favorite colors, pink and purple!  She loved it:

Hannah's class made 100th Day Shirts at school.  I thought they were really cute!

Her teacher also made her Abe Lincoln hats and beards for Lincoln's birthday.  

Aren't she and Morgan cute?

Hannah took two 6 week sessions of gymnastics this year.  She was pretty good for just beginning, but she wasn't really enjoying it, and it was a time and money commitment, so we crossed that off our list for now.  She seems to be more interested in basketball and t-ball and has mentioned trying ballet or piano, so we will see!  One thing at a time!  I try not to clutter up our calendar but want her to be able to try things!  I love when we have the chance to try short term commitment classes!

I love watching this girl change and grow!

Valentine's Day

We had a really fun Valentine's Day weekend.  First, Hannah got to decorate a shoebox for school to put her Valentines in.  We wrapped it in pink wrapping paper and decorated it with foam stickers.  She loved it!  I was the room mom for Hannah's class this year, so I organized the parties.  Mom came and watched the little ones so I could run up to the party at the end of the day.  I always love a chance to go see her at school!

Hannah took Hello Kitty Valentines this year, and Jacob got to take Planes Valentines to BOTH of his preschools!  I didn't get any pictures of him, though, oops!

The babies dressed up in their Valentine outfits together.  Aren't they a couple of cuties?

It's becoming a family tradition to have a "Valentine's Day Feast" candlelight dinner.  We had steaks, asparagus, potatoes, mushrooms, strawberries with chocolate fondue, sparkling grape juice, etc.  The kids love it.  And we take time to tell each person why we love them.  It's a fun night!  And Papa Ed and Grandma Teresa stop by with presents too!

 Josh and I also got the kids a few small gifts.  Josh picked out two movies (Mr. Peabody and Sherman and 101 Dalmations), and I bought them each some candy and a small toy.  Josh gives the girls gifts, and I give Jacob's gift.

Josh and Hannah got to go to their first daddy daughter dance at the grade school.  We found a new dress on clearance that she loved.  It sounds like they had fun at the dance.  Josh bought her a rose, which she was SO EXCITED about!

Grandma Jody and Grandpa Bob sent the kids some Valentine jammies/clothes too!

I think Valentine's Day is more fun with kids! Maybe less romantic.... but definitely more fun!

Disney on Ice

We got to have a family fun day in Indianapolis, thanks to a Christmas gift from Josh's Uncle John and Aunt Becky.  Our first stop was a candy store we had seen on TV, Rocket Fizz.  It was fun to look around.  We let each of the kids choose one thing to take to the main event, Disney on Ice!

We had great seats for the show!  We all enjoyed it.  I will say that Aleah was quite fidgety and a little difficult to keep entertained, but she didn't cry or disturb anyone around us, so I guess I can't complain.

After the show, we had a yummy dinner at P.F. Chang's.  It's becoming a family favorite!  Then we headed back to the ice cream shop that we visited in November, Sub Zero.  It was fun and yummy!  I'm always thankful for great family days like this!

Why I Love Each Day

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.  

Something that is very different about my life this year is that almost every day looks different.  I had a lot of years where most days looked the same, and I LOVED that, but here are the things I love about each day now:

SUNDAYS:

• I love Sundays because I get to spend my morning with all the little ones at church; then I get to have a delicious lunch every week at my parents' house and we get a chance to catch up; and then we usually get to have a family night at home.  I love Sundays!

MONDAYS:

• I love Mondays because it is my day to get organized for the week.  I am usually recovering our house from the weekend and planning the week ahead.  A major highlight is that I usually get to talk to my best friend Jennifer while we both work on recovering our houses.  My week is not the same if we don't get to talk.  I love Mondays!

TUESDAYS:

• I love Tuesdays because I have moms' Bible Study, which is probably the most social thing I do all week.  I love chatting and relating to the other moms.  There are some really fun ladies in our group.  I love Tuesdays!

WEDNESDAYS:

• I love Wednesdays because of our new after school program, Cross Training.  It has grown to about 100 kids now, and I get to have small group time with 20 of the most adorable Kindergarten and 1st Grade girls.  I seriously love each and every one of them.  I love Wednesdays!  

THURSDAYS:

• I love Thursdays because it is my day to run errands.  I take Jacob to Thursday school, and my mom watches Madelyn, so I have the morning to go anywhere I need in Danville with just Aleah.  We almost always get breakfast at McDonald's and go to Meijer.  But sometimes we do fun shopping (like Maurices), and sometimes we just do important errands (like oil changes, etc.).  Whatever it is, it is easier with just one child.  I love Thursdays!

FRIDAYS:

• I love Fridays because we don't usually have to leave the house.  And I would be a happy woman if I never had to leave my house.  I mean, I love "going" to, but I really love "staying."  I'm usually tying up loose ends from the week and catching up on things around the house.  I love Fridays!

SATURDAYS:

• I love Saturdays because they are family days.  Sometimes we have plans; sometimes we do not.  But almost always, we are all five together.  And it doesn't get better than that.  I love Saturdays!

Madelyn's First Birthday

Madelyn had a great first birthday party at the Rancuret apartment.  Emily did a great job with food and decorations!

So cute!

We got Madelyn a Minnie Mouse and an outfit to match her cousins.

On her actual birthday, Emily, Madelyn, Grandma Teresa, Hannah, Jacob, Aleah, and I went to the Tuscola outlet mall and out for Mexican!  It was fun to celebrate with her and worked out perfectly that there was no school that day!  Happy First Birthday, Madelyn!