Happy 4th Birthday Catherine

All About Catherine:

Height-36 inches

Weight- 28 lbs :)

Favorite Number- 4

Favorite Color- pink and purple

Favorite Song- Rudolph (what??)

Favorite Story- Pinkalicious

Favorite Activities- Playing in her room, puzzles, swinging, gymnastics/soccer, dress-up, playing with her brothers, children's worship and class

My description- Independent, Imaginative, Thoughtful, Quiet, Love Language- Gifts, asks for forgiveness rather than permission, seems to use numbers to help memorize things, persistent

How we celebrated:

We celebrated yesterday with her friends.

Catherine surrounded by her friends.

Granddaddy and Grandmommy came to visit Catherine. They took her to the restaurant of her choosing for lunch: Chick-Fil-A. Catherine also asked Grandmommy to put her down for her nap and Catherine actually fell asleep (come back every day, Grandmommy!).

Today, I took her cake to her Mother's Day Out class. It is hard to see but this is one of my favorite Catherine expressions.

Tonight, we let her choose where we ate. She chose El Tapitio (thankfully it was not McDonalds). She did not like the hat or the birthday song! Coleman was the only one who enjoyed it. Even Lincoln curled up timidly next to me.


After El Tap, we went by Gran and Papa's house. They took a time-out from yard sale prep to have a cake ready for her, and more importantly to Catherine, gifts. :)

Lincoln, Catherine, and Coleman at Papa and Gran's- their favorite destination.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!!

After many stick races down the "ditch" and wading in their boots, the kids actually sat for a moment so I could snap their picture.

Before the egg hunt at Grandmommy and Granddaddy's.

After the egg hunt (Coleman is wasting no time getting into his candy).

After the eggs were collected we stopped for a quick pic.

All dressed up!

Fun Weekend Part 1

We were so excited when we heard Lincoln was going to be out of school this past Friday and today (Monday). Knowing all of our Saturdays are about to be lost to soccer, we decided to turn this into one fun-filled weekend. On Saturday we went to Burgess Falls for a hike and picnic. Once home that evening we had supper at our fire pit. It was BEAUTIFUL outside and we loved being outdoors most of the day. They were exhausted and had no problems going to bed early. It helped all of us "Spring Forward." Here are pictures from the day.

above: Catherine singing "I like to move it, move it" and movin' it. :)

Coleman got tired of walking. The rocks are fun.

The stick train got him back with the crew.... for a few minutes.

Then up on daddy's shoulders he went.

Catherine wanted a picture of the breeze. Can you see it? :)

They are so smart.... they made a see saw!

Eating smores and climbing on their favorite jungle gym: daddy.

"Fuzzy catepillar, climbing up a tree...."

Fun Weekend Part 2

The second part of our trip was most definitely the most fun. We packed up Sunday and headed to Seiverville, TN to go to the new Wilderness Indoor Waterpark. We didn't tell the kids where we were going so when pulled up to this hotel with big Water Slides coming out of it Lincoln got very excited.

We got our keys, got our stuff and went up the "alligator" (according to Catherine). We got our stuff inside our room and within 30 minutes we were walking down the hall to this indoor pool. I wish I had counted now many times Lincoln asked "Are we ready yet?".

When we first walked in, the air warm and humid. But once in the water and then when walking around it was perfect. This place was so nice and so clean. Brad and I have not been able to think of a negative. Going on Sunday/Monday was perfect because it was not crowded. There was often no wait at the water slides (Lincoln's favorite was the big one with the big drop into the orange/white checkered dome. It was my favorite too.) It was hard getting pictures because I had to watch Catherine and Coleman. Coleman thankfully loves the water and doesn't quite understand its danger yet.

Below: Lincoln is on the Surf Rider. He really likes this. He stayed on really long one time and the crowd clapped for him we he was done. It is heart-warming to see your children beaming with excitement, pride, and a little embarassment. :)

Here are all 3 in the little kid area (Catherine and Coleman's favorite place).

Catherine and Coleman

With Brad in the Wave Pool


In-room entertainment at check-out

Needless to say, the kids were in bed at 7:30pm and 8pm tonight. We are all worn out!