Family Reunion: Summer 2015

Dear Leah and Logan,

I almost forgot to post about our family reunion this summer at the cabin!!  The cabin is in Weidman,

Michigan, about an hour north of where Gi-Gi lives.

We got to Michigan on Friday, July 17, 2015. People who also came were Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Mike, Uncle Caleb, Gi-Gi, Aunt Karen & Uncle Jim, Rachel and her boys Isaac and Lucas, Courtney, Kathryn, Sharyn, Aunt Mary & Uncle Dev, Aunt Patti & Uncle Bruce, Matt, Patrick, Aunt Dee Dee, and a few boy friends and girlfriends of people.

The whole event started out with some excitement when we found a family of mice in the fire pit and a snake in the wood pile....then we put them in bucket and all the kids just watched them play for an hour.

We had such a great week after that too.

We went to the beach.

We made lots of camp fires.

We rode Uncle Jim's 4 wheelers.

We went fishing with Grandpa.

We went on hikes.

We made lots of S'mores.

We slept in a tent.

We played in bubbles and with bubble guns.

We threw rocks in the pond.

We caught butterflies.

We had so many stories and so many laughs, and I'm glad you got some quality time with my aunts, uncles, and cousins from Grandma's side of the family. Plus, you guys were really good on the road trip too!  When we left Michigan, we got to have a picnic lunch near a playground with Grandma. It was a perfect ending to a perfect week.

I'll include a bunch of pictures so you can always remember the week!

Thanks for an amazing family reunion!

Love,

Daddy

A Fabulous Father's Day

Dear Leah and Logan,

Going into 2015 Father's Day weekend, my only goal was to have a relaxing weekend with the family. We didn't have any plans, so it looked like a great time to just be lazy. That changed in a hurry.

First, we got an invite from the Tucker family to join them at the Nashville Sounds baseball game that Saturday night. You 2 didn't watch a lot of baseball, but the brand new stadium sure was nice. Plus, you got to eat a lot of junk food, including ice cream from helmets. And who could forget the ride on the yellow bus?

The fun didn't stop there,  though. Sunday we talked Mama into braving the elements and going to the zoo (it was 100 degrees that day). So we loaded up on gatorade and water, and we went to the Nashville Zoo.

We saw all the animals and drank 7 slushies! Mama got some great pictures and joined you two in the tunnel to see the marmets up close and she also helped you feed the parrots. My favorite part was the battling flamingos. Let's also not forget the reptile and creepy crawly house, which keeps big spiders, lots of fish, and even snakes.

A great day, even with the heat!

We were all tired when we got home, but Mama and Julia decided to go say hi to Pappy on Father's Day. So, we added another road trip to our weekend, and went to Centerville, Tn, to see Grandma and Grandpa! They were very surprised,  and Grandpa had grilled enough food for 12 people...so we ate well, too. We definitely made Grandpa's day!

Thanks for a great Father's Day... I'm very proud of both of you!

Love,

Daddy

July 2015

Laughing Logan

Dear Leah and Logan,

Summer 2015 is here! But I just wanted to share a video from 2 years ago. This is Logan laughing like crazy in the car while big brother Layne instigates. Logan's laugh is precious.

Love,
Daddy

6/15/15

Recipe for a Perfect Easter

Dear Leah & Logan,

I'm a month late, but I wanted you to remember what a great Easter 2015 we had. We went to Grandma's house in Centerville, and the fun started as soon as we got there! On Saturday, we were outdoors almost all day, and Grandpa made us a bonfire that evening. And that meant S'mores for everybody.

Then on Sunday, the kites came out!! Grandpa showed us that if you keep adding string, the kite can go into the atmosphere. The day was a

perfect combo of sunny and windy for kite flying, and I think you both walked 2 miles through the fields as you followed your kite around.


As it turned out, while you were flying kites, the Easter Bunny showed up!! The colored eggs were everywhere in Grandma's yard and garden. You two, however, used completely different strategies for getting your eggs. Leah, you used speed and 'quantity over quality.' You ran from egg to egg as quickly as you could and through them in your basket just as quickly. Logan, you spotted an egg, jogged to, set your basket down, opened your egg, then tasted its contents. All that before you proceeded to the next egg. The number of eggs in your baskets at the end of the hunt reflected your contrasting styles.



Overall, a really fun weekend that a little bit of camping with a whole lot of eating and Grandma and Grandpa time.

I love you two,
Love,

Daddy

Atlanta Trip and Junior Spartans

Dear Leah and Logan,


Spring weather means road trips :) Let that be a lesson for you...never be afraid to just get in the
car and go somewhere!

We drove to Atlanta this past weekend to see Uncle Caleb. Grandma and Grandpa rode with us, and we had great weather!!

We arrived in Atlanta Friday afternoon, and walked up the street to find a place for dinner. We found a place called Metro Cafe that Uncle Caleb had never heard of. Leah had a giant 'breakfast for
dinner', and Logan, you were just 'typical Logan in restaurant'...terrible. :)

Then it got really fun. We went down to the hotel pool, and pretty much had the whole thing to ourselves. We swam and swam until the pool closed, and by that time, everyone was so tired.

Saturday morning we all got up early and took a small road trip to Centennial Olympic Park so we could all do Spartan Race. Leah, we registered you at the last minute, and you had so much fun! You team up with a 'green team' of girls and ran the race with them. You were so proud of your medal!

Then Daddy, Uncle Mike, Uncle Caleb, and Grandpa, ran our own Spartan Race, and got even muddier than Leah did.

Everyone survived the day...even Grandma who walked 13 miles with you two.

Saturday night was pizza by the pool and more swimming. Uncle Mike joined us this time and you guys played racing games with him until we were all prunes.

Really fun weekend as you can tell by all the pictures.

Spring time is here, and I plan on being outside every nice day with you both!!!

Love,

Daddy
3/9/15

Busy Busy Winters- Whyy Naught!!??!?!

Dear Leah and Logan,

It's a been a fun and busy first few weeks of 2015!  We had a typical Tennessee snow storm...a huge2 inches one day. It was actually mostly melted by lunchtime, but that didn't stop us from putting our hats on and throwing a few snow balls at each other. You both really got the hang of it, that is, until your hands were freezing and it was time to come indoors.

Leah's 1st Day of Pre-School

Next, Leah, you started Pre-School. Such a big step for you, but you loved it from your first step in the door. Your teacher's name is Ms. Adelle, and you love the Play-doh and dress-up station.  We wake you up between 6:50am and 7:00 am every Tuesday and Thursday, and when you know it's a school day- you JUMP right out of bed. I can only project and wish that you're this excited about school FOREVER!!

Don't you worry, Logan! Mommy and I made the decision this week to start you in school this Summer. I'm excited for you- it will be a huge social step for you, so I'm anxious to see how you tackle it. By the way, you're 'Phrase of the Month' is a very emphatic 'Why noooot?' that you say in response to everything- sometimes way out of context. I love it.

You're both growing too fast for me! Sometimes I wish you both were just 10 lb babies again, so I could rock and feed you. So I guess I'll just have to live with SILLY FACES!!!

Love you both,

Daddy
2/12/15

Videos and Goofy Jumping Kids

Dear Leah and Logan,

It's been a chilly winter week in Tennessee, but you two are enjoying yourselves at Grandma and Grandpa's house this weekend. Since I don't have any updates, I thought I'd start throwing in videos from you 2 growing up.

I'll start with one of my favorites of the 2 of you together....jumping in Logan's crib.

I love you both! Your smiles and laughs make me smile and laugh!

Love,
Daddy

1/17/15

Christmas of Unicorns and Remote Control Trucks

Dear Leah and Logan,

We survived a wonderful holiday season! It was a great family Christmas...

First, the weekend before Christmas, we got together for the 'Triad Christmas' with Ian & Tiffany (and baby Cadence) and Tina & Bobby. You kids played until you dropped that night, and baby Cadence showed she was growing up fast by keeping up with you.

Next, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house after picking up Layne, and we all squeezed in as Grandpa and Uncle Justin cooked us dinner. Uncle Justin was there too, but Uncle Mike and Aunt Daniela were in Germany.

Then on Christmas Eve, all 6 of us went over to Aunt Amanda's and Uncle Shane's, but not before we did family Christmas cookies. It was a fun event for all of us, and both of you did so good frosting cookies!! Leah, you LOOOOOOVED sprinkles- I bet you ate half the bottle. And Logan, you liked getting the frosting on you so you could lick it off. Mama tried to make purple frosting and her first attempt came out brown:) She eventually got us beautiful purple frosting, though!

Christmas Eve was all about good food and lots of presents with your cousins. Your cousin Emily is growing up so fast as well. I hope Emily and Logan get to be as close and  as  goofy as Leah and William.

Then came Christmas morning. Julia, Layne, and Leah slept later than we thought, but we had to physically wake Logan up. He was not happy for a bit, but he got better after a couple presents. Your mom and I loved watching your delight as all the presents were opened. The highlights of this year included the 6 foot unicorn and the remote controlled truck and giant green bug. Leah, your Christmas included plenty of pink princess stuff as well. The rest of the day was spent playing with your new toys until Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Justin arrived. We grilled steaks for dinner and it was a great, easy-going day.

I hope you guys are able to create great family traditions and holidays one day...family should always come first.

Happy New Year 2015!

Love,

Daddy
1/7/15