Hey, it has only been 6 months since our last update. Hmmm, let’s see. What have we been up over this short period of time? The photography businesses kept us very busy from September to December. Sadee and Josh are losing their baby teeth. The 1st grade is far more advanced than it was 20 years ago. Michelle and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary on July 15, 2010.

On February 1, 2011 Morgan turns 4 years old. To keep up with the theme, I posted two photos from February 24, 2007. Sadee & Josh were attending a birthday party for their cousins, Jenna and Jaxson.

“The study of loft.”

“The plan of attack.”

What a fun day. All week long Sadee and Joshua were very excited about the Easter Egg Hunt being held for the Kindergarten class at their school. Morgan and I arrived early to watch a few students from 5th grade hide eggs. For the first 5 minutes, the 5th graders were careful to hide the eggs. After the initial 5 minutes, all bets were off. They found some creative ways to “hide” eggs. Two of the students decided to combine bowling with egg hiding. THAT WAS FUNNY. Other students were adamant about letting the eggs fall where they may by chucking them high in the air. About 15 minutes later, all the Kindergartners came outside and lined up along the curb. One teacher, speaking through a megaphone, laid out the rules.

• Each student is ONLY allowed to find four eggs.
• Each student MUST hop like a bunny while finding eggs.

On your marks; get set; GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I believe everybody had a smile on their face or was laughing except Morgan. She was mad because she could not hop like a bunny and find eggs. Don’t worry. She was fine a few minutes later. Sadee came over and let Morgan open two of her eggs and share the prizes inside.

It’s amazing how quick Joshua and Sadee are developing their soccer skills. They are lucky to have a great soccer coach to teach them. Thank you Coach Marcos! On this day, Sadee scored her first goal of the season and she did it in style. The ball was kicked across mid field. Sadee picked up the pass, dribbled it about 20 feet, and scored a goal. You would think she would be very excited. While everybody else was jumping, screaming, and cheering for her she just turned around and smiled. Good sport! The first photo below is her jump kick scoring the goal. Gooooooooooooo Tigers!

Joshua and Sadee played their first soccer game last Saturday. The weather was perfect, sunny with a cool breeze. The 6U teams play 3 on 3. Their fields are half size and there are two side by side. When the blue team arrived, the coaches decided to split up the kids to play two games so there was less time waiting on the sidelines. They don’t keep score at this level. (The league starts at 4U and play co-ed up to 6U.)

Mommy and Daddy are very proud of our MVPs. They were good sports through the whole game and followed Coach Marcos’ instructions. Can you believe how big they look in those uniforms? Mommy thinks they are adorable, too!

Top news of the game… Josh scored a goal! We all had a blast. Sonny’s mom, Momo to our kids, also came out to cheer them on. Go Tiger’s!!

Joshua and Sadee made ginger bread houses for a winter project at school. It was a bit messy, but a lot of fun! The twins were looking forward to this for weeks and asked every morning if it was the day I come to their school to make ginger bread houses. Daddy, little sister Morgan, and my parents, Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Earl, came to help construct a new ginger bread neighborhood. Please let us know if you are interested in viewing the listings and a walk-thru of their lovely homes.

We saw a wide range of artistic skill. The milk cartons start out glued to the plate and then the kids add the frosting and decorations. I think they are very creative. Checker pretzels make good windows, lollipops make mailboxes, and Chex cereals make fences. M&Ms were popular with most of the kids, both in architectural design and snack time! (Yes, the parents sneaked a few treats, too!)

Happy 4th Birthday, Briana!!!! You are a sweet, fun, smart, and beautiful little girl. Thank you for inviting us to your party.

Faby set the bar high. This was the first birthday party she organized for one of her daughters. Disney Princess bouncing house in the front yard, pink and purple balloons tied to everything, pizza, punch, mermaid pinata, huge Ariel cake, DJ, and face painter that also made balloon animals.

A pinata at any birthday party is a winner! Lined up by size, Morgan was one of the first. She got the hang of things within two swings. Josh had fun and did most of the damage to the mermaid’s hair. Sadee was further down the line and thankfully so. She knows what she’s doing when you hand her a big stick and say hit it hard. Two fists and over the head swings will do some damage fast.

We all got in line for some “ink” and looked at a sheet of drawings. Check out the photos below to see what we picked. Totally fun day!

It’s hard to believe that just five years ago we began here, the NICU of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands. Fast forward to today and the twins are starting a new journey, Kindergarten at Greenwood Forest Elementary. They have waited for this day for 2 years. Michelle would drive past the school while going in and out of the neighborhood and the kids talked about that being “our school someday.” As new parents, we thought we had all the time in the world. We make a great effort to spend quality time with all 3 kids and record all of the milestones and fun activities. This is not just another milestone, limited time vacation, or bump in the road. This is the beginning of a multi-decade learning experience.

We know how smart and sweet Joshua and Sadee are with our family and close friends. Now it’s time for them to go out into the world and show everyone how wonderful and important they are to each other, new friends, teachers and everyone they meet!

This is one of those times we really want everyone to leave a comment. Please tell us your favorite memory of Josh and Sadee from the past five years.

You know how you feel so very broken-hearted after arguing with your kids?  It doesn’t matter if you win the fight and your kid deserves a punishment for getting into trouble.  You still don’t feel like a winner.  Parents have to hide most of those sad feelings while trying to get their kids under control, try not to get overwhelmed in their drama, and then follow through with the punishment.  The last part is my weakness and our kids know it!  Josh is aware that kissing up literally works.  Sadee knows I love to hear them acknowledge the problem and apologize.  Morgan is just too cute to get in trouble (see photo proof in the last post.)

So, the fun part of being a parent comes when your “fight” is not going to get anyone in trouble or cause tears, except the ones from laughter.  Josh and I had a computer volume war.  He loves his online games on sites like Sprouts and Disney.  Lots of these games have loud sound effects and singing.  After days of the noise filling my ears, I beg him to mute the volume.

This morning, he was at it again.  Straight from bed, bathroom break, then on the computer.  It was Imagination Movers this time.  I asked him to turn it down.  He says, “It’s OK.”  That’s not what I meant.  He thinks I was asking his opinion on the matter.  Kids seem to make this mistake a lot.  I request that they do something in the form of a question to teach politeness, but they think I’m only asking if they want to do it.

So, no arguments from me this time.  Our desks are in the same room and I’m on the computer, too.  I found some of my favorite music online (StephanieMeyer.com, Twilight Playlist), turned up the volume, and hit play.  It didn’t take Josh more than two seconds to gripe, “That’s too loud!  I can’t hear my game!”  Really?  So sad.  He turned his volume down… I didn’t!  Mommy wins this round.

I can create custom sports posters all day long for other parents and their children. It never occurred to me that I should create one for our own kiddos…until now. I spent the better part of three days experimenting, designing, and redesigning my latest creation. My inspiration was Sadee! We always call her our little princess. Plus she loves fairy princesses. So why not combine the two elements? I did and this is what I created. As you can tell, I used a photo from her tap/dance/gym recital. I hope she likes it.

Our kids love Halloween!  Josh was, and still is, Thomas the Tank Engine.  Sadee was, and still is, a butterfly princess.  I say “still is” because they continue to put on the costumes to play trick or treat.  I bet that will last until Christmas.  And we finally chose a costume for Morgan, the traditional pumpkin.  She makes the cutest one ever harvested!  Check out the photos for yourselves.

We started the day with lunch and Sadee’s dance/gym class.  They all put on their costumes there.  Sadee forgoes the wings to make sure they are not “squooshed” when she tumbles.  Then we visit Great Grandma Virgie at Eden Brook, her retirement home.  That place is really nice.  They have a great selection of toys for visiting grandkids, all in working and clean condition, and holiday parties for the residences and their families.

Then, the highlight of the evening.  What all little kids, and big kids, can barely wait for all year… Trick or Treat?!  This is Josh and Sadee’s 2nd go round.  Morgan makes her maiden voyage of the neighborhood.  I can say with confidence that she will be back for more next year.  At first, Mommy carries her to the door with her Bubba and BeeBee.  She stares at our neighbors as they had out candy and is happy to get back in the wagon.  By the next block she is ready to walk up to the door on her own.  She sees what is going on with the other kids and catches on fast.  If you knock and say “Peeees”, then the candy will flow into your little hands.  She smiles and runs back to drop it in the wagon.  Josh and Sadee are a house ahead.  We are trying to convince Morgan that you can not go back to the same house for more.  Why not?  It worked the first time!  She gets upset again when we pass the dark houses.  We tell her they don’t have candy and she is OK to move on.

We have some of those neighbors that really get into the holiday spirit (pun intended) by adding great decorations, costumes and lights to their front yards.  I wish you could see the kids’ faces when they get close to the troll characters.  Shock and flee.  Josh is a little less intimidated, or really motivated by the sugar, so he is willing to walk back up to these houses with Mommy close by.

Of course Daddy is behind the camera all evening, so please enjoy the photos and add a comment to let us know what you did this year for Halloween.