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

4 Years Old and Turkeys

Dear Leah and Logan,

Wow! We had a busy few weeks! GiGi flew in from Michigan in mid-November and we started the holidays off with a birthday party for Leah! Actually, we kind of of hand a bunch of mini parties before a big on Sunday. You were so excited, Leah, and you truly owned the day. Aunt Amanda brought William and Uncle Mike came too...along with Grandma, Grandpa, Dennis, and Nana.

It's great to watch you both grow up and start to grasp the concept of all these holidays. Logan, you want to assist everyone in blowing out their birthday candles and you do a great job. Leah, every toy commercial that has been on tv lately has joined your club of 'I want that.' I guess you figured out what a Christmas list is, huh? Every 3rd gift request is a sparkly, flying unicorn. I hope I can track one down.

GiGi stayed for 2 weeks this trip...she loves you 2 so much! And
I'm thrilled to watch you guys love your great grandmother as much as you do your grandmas. We capped the week off with Grandma getting a room at the Embassy Suites so we could use their pool. So much fun! You guys swam and kicked until you had no more energy left.



Great memories and good times with a bunch of family- that's what it is all about...don't ever forget that.

Love,
Daddy
12/9/14

Halloween 2014

Dear Leah and Logan,

We survived Halloween 2014! You both did great! The week started with Family Pizza and Pumpkin night. Papa John's delivered our favorites and we dove into both the pizza and the pumpkins right in the garage. Leah, this was your first time to use the little orange saw to do your own creative art work on a pumpkin. You weren't a fan of the orange goop inside, but you sure liked the saw. You started with a unicorn pattern, but in the end you just went with a goofy face.

Logan, you did good too! You did your best to help daddy with every step. Ultimately, you just wanted to use the pumpkin like a bowling ball and roll them around the garage and driveway. But at age 2, you got your first real pumpkin experience, and maybe next year you can start cutting!

We cut pumpkins on Tuesday, so Halloween was just 3 days away. Leah, you had picked out your pink unicorn outfit a few weeks before Halloween. In fact, by the time the Halloween got here, you had already worn your costume 10 times. Logan, we really couldn't decide on what we wanted you to be. So Mommy got you a 'Woody' costume on the morning of Halloween. It was a little big, so we might be able to use it again in the future. 

As a bonus, Grandma and Grandpa came to visit us on Halloween and walked with you the entire time. It was chilly that night, so it helped that you both ran the entire Muirwood subdivision. Leah, you already had one Trick-or-Treat session under you belt in 2013, but this was Logan's first real time. Logan, you kept up with sister all night!  Plus, you did it while you struggled with how to hold your bag of candy.

Mommy added a pink cowgirl hat to your costume at the last minute, so a lot of our neighbors kept complimenting your 'pink pony'. Trust me- you were quick and stern to point out that 'its a unicorn!

The final highlight to the evening was that Daddy once again dusted off the Bert costume and added Sesame Street to our adventure.

The whole week was a success and you all ended up with a bunch of candy...half of which you ate the night you got it! Daddy might have snuck a couple pieces for himself, too! I'll pay you back one day.

Love you both...Leah's Birthday and Thanksgiving are coming in November.

Love,

Daddy

11/9/14

Grandma's 60th Birthday

Dear Leah and Logan,

We had such a busy weekend! Gigi, Aunt Karen, and Cousin Courtney all flew down for Grandma's 60th birthday. Then Aunt DeeDee, Uncle Mike Olding, Aunt Patti, and Cousin Kathryn drove down from Cincinatti and Lansing to join us on Saturday.  You two did so good getting knowing everyone and playing with everyone. It was a real joy to see my Aunts playing with each of you in the right way- on the ground playing Ring-Around-the-Rosie and steam-roller. I grew up playing the same games with them.

We all went to Olive Garden...Uncle Mike, Uncle Justin, Uncle Caleb, and Aunt Daniela joined us too. I can't say that you 2 really liked the appetizers, but you did munch on the unlimited breadsticks, and Logan, you ate about 100 grapes. Dinner was great, but afterward, half the group went to Julia's Bakery, so we had triple the desserts to go with birthday cake. But that didn't stop you from making a complete mess of Grandma's cake.

So always remember that you have lots of family in Michigan and other places that love you to pieces. I hope I'm able to pass down the value of family...and that family should always come first...and to always make time for family events...so you can just enjoy each other's company.

Your Grandma is now 60! I hope she lives to be 100 so I can watch you play with her and Grandpa for many years to come. They both adore you so much!

You two are loved!

Love,
Daddy
10/22/14