Olivia and Evelyn

Uncle Tom and Aunt Megan left last Tuesday for Cancun! On our way home from visiting Grandpa and Grandma Great, we picked up Olivia and Evelyn from day care and they came home with us. The kids were so excited because they spent the night with us!!! Whittney and Olivia LOVED playing together. They play well and have a lot of fun! Evelyn and Aleigha enjoyed each other too.

Grandpa Great and Grandma Great

I just wanted to post an update on Grandpa Great and Grandma Great. About a week and a half ago, Grandma Great had a procedure where they were going to investigate the trouble she was having in her back...causing her to have trouble walking. The doctors located a tumor in her back...they sent it off for testing and she remains in the hospital. She moved last week to the rehabilitation floor where she has six different thirty minute therapy sessions EVERY day! She is doing very well!

Tuesday, Grandpa Great went to a different hospital in the same town as Grandma Great to have his fistula (not sure on spelling) put back in...for his dialysis. It was to be an outpatient procedure, but the doctors kept him over night. He finally came home yesterday.

Because our schools were closed on Thursday due to fog (surprise Monica...I didn't text you to let you know!), we headed to visit them just before lunch...We surprised daddy with lunch at work, picked up McDonald's for ourselves, and headed to visit Grandma Great...then Grandpa Great.

Uncle Jared

Aunt Janalle's due date is quickly approaching and Uncle Jared is officially on his way home from Iraq...for his two week leave. He will be leaving Kuwait on Sunday and Aunt Janalle hopes he makes it home for her next doctor's appointment on Thursday! Everyone is anxious for Baby Kara to arrive...but not too soon!

Whittney's Preschool Celebration

Tonight, Gavin played his last basketball game during the half time of the Junior Varsity game. Whittney's preschool class performed at half time of the Varsity game...Miss Jenny made shirts for each of the students to wear! She was SO excited!

The preschool class are on the stage...ready to sing the Chicken Song. Whittney is standing next to Tandree...her best friend!!

Landon, Alex, Whittney, Tandree, Caleb, and Chase...enjoying their song! All 13 of Whittney's classmates were there! We are so happy with the wonderful job Miss Jenny and Miss Kassy are doing. It won't be long and Whittney will be in kindergarten!!!

Baby Shower for Aunt Janalle

Aunt Beth and Cousin Audrey had a baby shower for Aunt Janalle today. The punch was a little tricky...

Here is a picture of the cake. Aunt Janalle is having a girl...which she is planning to name Kara. Because the battery in my camera went dead after this picture, I do not have any pictures of the 34 guests at the shower, the games that were played, or all of the fantastic gifts she opened. You can hopefully check those out soon!

Mommy and Whittney Time

Today Grandma, Aunt Janalle, Whittney, and Mommy headed to the big city to do some shopping. Aunt Janalle wanted to get a crib mattress, as well as some pajamas for the hospital. It was a great time for Whittney to have some time to herself with Grandma, Aunt Janalle, and Mommy. Here, Whittney is riding on the Carousel.

The Butcher Room

Today, Daddy, Uncle Jasen, Grandpa Pat, Grandpa, Chase, Gavin, and Mommy headed over the "butcher room" to butcher and package three pigs.

Although Chase and Gavin came to help, they spent the beginning part of the morning playing Chase's DS. Gavin likes watching him play.

Although Grandpa Pat has been away from the family meat market for many years, he is still able to use his expertise here. It goes so smoothly and a lot quicker since he is there!!

Daddy, Uncle Jasen, and Grandpa cutting up a pig. This butcher room is quite a place. It has a cutting block, saw, slicer, grinder, stuffer, mixer, and running water for the clean up. Although they are not professionals, they do enjoy getting together and saving money while processing their own meat! It took about 6 hours to cut and package three pigs...and clean up the butcher room.

Friends Over for Supper

Tonight we had Jake, Haddi, Zeke, and Isaac over for supper and games. The last time we got together with them, we met them at the lake for a Sunday afternoon this past summer. Haddi enjoyed playing games with Whittney...she doesn't have a little girl at her house.

Aleigha warmed up to Jake fairly quickly. In this picture, she was going to put a hair tie in his hair...the only trouble was that he doesn't have any hair! She tried anyway...

Smiles everywhere from Gavin and Zeke! What two handsome boys they are...

Isaac stopped while he was playing to get his picture taken...What a photogenic guy!

Aleigha saw Whittney styling Haddi's hair so she wanted to comb Jake's hair...and she did!

Whittney did her own hair before our company arrived. Later, she asked mommy if she could do her hair. Haddi asked Whittney to style her hair...Whittney didn't resist! The two girls hair look alike.

Smiling together...two happy girls!

Zeke, Gavin, and Isaac are having a good time playing the Wii! We made sure to ask them to bring their remotes...WHAT A FUN NIGHT WE HAD!

Whittney's Work

Each week, Whittney's class focuses on learning one letter of the alphabet. The students practice writing the letter, they do activities, and talk about items that begin with that letter. Whittney just finished letter "R." They made a rooster!

Here is a snowflake (for letter S) and the letter R with rice glued on to it.

She also made a snowman for the letter S. It was made with coffee filters...

We are so happy with Whittney's preschool teachers. They do an outstanding job teaching the students a variety of things every day. It is the same preschool that Gavin attended, but Whittney's teachers are Miss Jenny and Miss Kassy.

Teeth Brushing

Although this picture looks as though it were set up, the kids did this on their own. Gavin came out of the bathroom and was looking in the mirror. Whittney saw him doing it and had to join too. Then of course, Aleigha was not missing out and she was soon in on the fun! Brush, brush, brush...

Aleigha seemed to be having some trouble getting the brush to stay in her mouth!

Game Time...

After being out in the snow, we decided on baths and pajamas. As you can see, the kids are enjoying a game of Mouse Trap. Even Aleigha likes to play...or try to play! We also played Candy Land.

Playing in the Snow

Daddy and Gavin had a snowball fight...although Gavin did not like being hit by snowballs, he had fun. We even caught Daddy laughing while throwing some snowballs...Whittney, Aleigha and Mommy even joined in on the fun!

Aleigha was glad to be back in her swing again!

Aleigha was experiencing the snow up close...she was making her own snowballs. Boy was she excited about it!

Although there was not much snow, we made three snow people...The kids each added a little something to their snowman.

Aleigha saw Whittney love on her snowman, so she thought she needed to do the same.

Whittney added hair, eyes, a nose, and arms. She was very proud of her creation!!

What a fabulous time we had outside in the snow today! It was fairly warm, but we still had some snow to play in!

Youth Basketball

Gavin has been having basketball practice on Saturdays since December. Today, he had his first game...it was with all of the first and second grade girls and boys on the team. He really had a fun time and we enjoyed watching him. Grandpa and Grandma came to watch with Aunt Janalle. We have next week off and then have another game on Saturday, February 21.

A Baby on the Way!

Uncle Andy called on Saturday and wanted to talk to Gavin. Gavin listened and only commented a few times with, "that would be fun...," "yeah!" He said good bye and hung up the phone. When he returned to the table to finish his lunch, I asked Gavin, "Did Uncle Andy want to talk me to?" Nope...Then Gavin said, "Whittney you are going to love this. Well Aleigha will too. Whittney and Aleigha, you are going to love what Uncle Andy just told me!" We all are waiting anxiously to see what he had to say..."Uncle Andy and Aunt Holly are going to have a baby!!!" "NO WAY!!!" was our reply. By the time I had called Andy back, he was questioning how long I was going to wait to call him back!

We are so excited to share that they are expecting their first child August 20!! CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK ON THE PREGNANCY!! (of course, Whittney wants a girl and Gavin hopes for a boy!)

Grapefruit Anyone?

This morning for breakfast, the girls wanted grapefruit. Aleigha has seen Gavin and Whittney pour the juice out of the grapefruit into the bowl and drink it. She was trying that herself!!

Super Bowl

We went over the Grandpa and Grandma's house for supper tonight. The girls were happy to see Brendan and Dalen. Gavin was excited to be able to play with Chase and Alex. We started watching the Super Bowl, but before half time, it was time to get baths and get ready for bed. The kids were snuggled in with popcorn and their glasses on to watch the half time show. As you can see, Aleigha was much more interesed in her popcorn...as usual...food comes first!

The Big Catch

After sledding, daddy grabbed a sandwich and headed to the lake for fishing...Grandpa joined him. Daddy was quite proud of his 9 inch bluegill...WHAT A CATCH!

The kids ate lunch together and played for a little bit...before Serena took Corbin, Hayden, and Cadence home.

Sledding with Friends

Mommy made plans to have Hayden and Cadence over Sunday after church to sled. The boys are both in first grade and the girls are in preschool together. All of the kids had a blast...daddy and mommy did too!

The girls screamed and laughed on the way down, but were not as happy on the way back up...It sure was a long trip with such short legs!

Although she doesn't look extremely thrilled, Aleigha did have fun sledding. She watched the boys go down...then the girls...then she got her own turn with the girls...then with mommy!!

Daddy pushed the kids down...here, the girls are trying out the new sled from Grandpa and Grandma. It went fast!

Gavin decided he would push him and Hayden down...

Cadence on her way down...

The boys were playing with the cattails by the pond...Mommy and Aleigha just made it down...yes, backwards...the sled turned around part way down.