Spring Fever

The weather this past week was fantastic!! We have played outside everyday. I love spring and all the pretty flowers, and everything just seems fresh and new. I don't even mind "spring cleaning".

We went to the park the other day for a picnic lunch and to play on the playground...

Kaleb was with his friend Nathan in the woods. They were playing pretend battle. They have such a good imagination.

We also went to the science museum with Kaleb's preschool class. The museum is great, the kids love it and best of all it is FREE!! They have asked to go back several times

On Wednesday we celebrated my brother Brent's birthday!! He turned the big 3-0!!!

Brent is....

a great brother

a wonderful uncle

and just an all around fantastic guy!!!

PS: I just had to throw this picture in:)

oh, how I love my family!

Updates

I want to start this update with Blake. My little buddy is 9mo old. I have a couple of videos of all the awesome things he has learned to do, including WALKING!!! Yup, just this past week he has started to walk. He is always smiling and just so fun to be around. He really loves any type of ball and has a pretty good arm:) He enjoys his brother and sisters....most of the time. He is such a joy to have in our family!

Blake is enjoying his first Oreo, YUM!!

Stephen and I started these charts for the kids to help them be more responsible. Each week we see how they did and if they fill in there chart the earn a dollar. We would also find ways during the week they could earn extra (doing more chores, babysitting, etc.) Then for Family Home Evening we went to Target and they chose a toy that they wanted, but they needed to save their dollars to get the toy. Well, last FHE they had earned enough and we went to get their toys. They were so happy to pay the cashier and get the toy. I need to add that these toys were not a dollar or two(Karly's was $3), they were over ten dollars, and that just made Stephen and I more proud of them. They were also proud of themselves. The kids didn't spend all they earned, they wanted to save some of the money, which also made us proud. We are just so happy with them!

Wolverine claws

dolphin pool toy

Barbie and dogs

Last weekend was our Stake basketball tournament and it was a crazy weekend. I am the female assistant athletic director for the stake and Stephen refs, so we were there the whole time. We love it, but it is tiring. This year I helped run things, played with the women's team, and coached. Stephen also coached the YM team. Unfortunately, the YM lost, but played a good game and my women's team lost, but the YW team that my mom and I coach WON!!! We have such a great group of girls, so it made it even sweeter to win. The final score was 27-14!! We rocked that game. We can't wait till next season.

Yesterday Stephen received a letter from the City of Raleigh Parks and Rec. Here is what the opening said...

Raleigh Parks and Rec Department has over 6,000 volunteers who assist with programs, events, and parks each year. In recognition of your outstanding volunteer service to the City of Raleigh and our Parks and Recreation Department, you have been nominated as a "2010 Fred Fletcher Outstanding Volunteer".

Stephen was one of 40 volunteers to be nominated!!! 6,ooo volunteers and only 40 nominated! WAY TO GO STEPHEN!!!! I am so proud of him. Stephen has done a lot of refereeing and umpiring for the city, but he gets paid for that. This was for his coaching:) It just made him feel so good. He is going to be recognized at a ceremony in May. Stephen is so wonderful and I am proud to be his wife!

Fancy Dance

Last night Stephen and I went to the Fancy Dance out in Durham. Our WONDERFUL friends the Gilreaths are in a ward out there and their youth put on a dance for the adults. The provide babysitting, have a DJ, and good refreshments. Plus, you get to dress up!!! I mean really, how often as adults do you get to dress fancy and go dancing?? We really loved it!! We had a fantastic evening with FABULOUS friends!! I love our "formal" pictures and our silly pictures:)

The other AWESOME couple are the Fife's, we have so much fun with these couples!! They are so great!!!

*A big THANKS to the absolutely wonderful Afton for my dress!*

Beautiful Day!

I love having a park within walking distance, on warmer days we love heading down and having fun! Uncle Kyle even has some fun too!

Valentines Day!!

I think I had the best Valentines Day EVER!!!! My husband is so WONDERFUL!!! Not only did he write the beautiful post for me, but he had the whole weekend planned! He totally surprised me this year. He arranged for the older kids to be at friends houses for the weekend, and the younger two to be at home with uncle Kyle, so that we could go to a hotel for the whole weekend. And if that wasn't enough, he had a treatment at the spa for me, and he bought other gifts. I was just in awe! He really is that AWESOME!!! I loved every minute of my getaway, Thank you Stephen!

Sunday when we got home, we enjoyed being with the family and having a nice steak dinner with angel food cake for dessert. It was so YUMMY! Stephen and I gave the kids their cards and little treats, which they really enjoyed. It was just PERFECT!!!

To My Sweet Wife, Katie!

Wow!! I have the most amazing wife in the world!! Katie, you are the best and I am so grateful that you are my wife. You do so much for me and help me be such a better man. You are a wonderful mom to our children, who love and respect you! You give so freely of yourself and do so much for your family without any thought of return. At times you may feel that you are taken for granted but I cannot thank you enough for all that you do and the wonderful person you are.

I do not know nor will ever understand how you can take care of 4 kids, keep the house spotless, cook such wonderful meals, make lunches, change diapers, feed babies, do loads of laundry, take time to call me during the day just to hear my voice, go shopping, put away groceries, help with homework, prepare lessons, coach basketball, and then give me the sweetest kiss with the biggest smile on your face when I get home! I am so proud of you and so blessed to have you in my life. I would never want it any other way. I love you so much and love being with you. You have truly made my life worthwhile. Thank you so much!!!

love forever and always your husband,

Stephen
P.S. I love to watch you play basketball!! You are awesome!

Future All-Star

Thursday was Hailey's last basketball game and she had a great season. I really like watching her play and seeing her try her very best. She is quite funny about playing though. Some games she will be really in to it, and will block shots, get steals, and get open, but other times she is out playing with her hair, or laughing with a friend. As long as she is having fun it is great. I tried very hard to record her games, but I am awful at filming, and with the other 3 with me it just didn't work out. So, I just a got a few pictures and one video of her defense in a game and one of her making a basket during warm-up. She didn't make a basket in a game, but she never really got the ball that much, and when she did she usually passed it. Hailey did really well on defense and I loved when she would block a shot or get a rebound.