Landry Wins Patience

Now this comes as no shock.  Landry, I have told you since before you were a toddler that God has given you the gift of patience.  You rarely every complain about wanting someone (especially me) to hurry up.  You never rush me through a store or during decision making.  Through this, you have taught me to slow down.  I am task oriented and love getting my list checked off.  You teach me that it is okay to go at your own pace and enjoy just the process; even if it is just climbing into a car seat and getting buckled.  You are never in a hurry unless you are competing on a soccer field or swimming pool and you teach us to be yourself and enjoy life.
Therefore, it was very fitting when you were chosen by Mrs. Kime to win the award for Patience at school.  Congratulations.  Thank you for all you teach us and for making me a better person.

Panthers vs Rams 2013

So for Daddy's 40th Birthday he wanted all four of us to go to a Panther game together.  Daddy and Brooks go at least once every year but Landry and I have never been and wanted to go.  We had the most wonderful experience; all decked out in our Panthers gear.  We got great seats the day before the game.  The drive down was totally free of traffic and we found $10 parking one block from the stadium.  Fan Zone was so much fun with combines for you guys to compete in, give aways, bouncy houses, obstacle courses, cheerleaders, Sir Purr, and much more.  The weather was gorgeous and almost hot for October.
We sat 8 rows behind the end zone and I have to say that I have never sat in such great seats.  The Panthers came out right in front of us, we had awesome views of the game and players and it was a super exciting game for sure! 
We were all cheering and going crazy the whole game and there really wasn't a dull moment.  The Panthers pulled out the win over the Rams and the crowd was electric.
To finish off the day, we had a traffic free ride home which is pretty amazing from Charlotte on game day.  I am so glad Daddy wanted to share this time with all of us.  Happy Birthday Daddy! 

Baseball Update

Braves are the Champions!  After an undefeated season at 8-0 you won the championship.  It was a single elimination tournament.  You guys had a buy the first night and played the winner of one of those games at 5:30 followed by the championship game at 7:30.  It was sooo cold but sooo fun!  Your team almost lost the first game but finally started playing like the Braves we were accustomed to in the last inning and came back.  By the final game you guys were playing like winners and had a great time.  Your team mates were a great group of boys and I am thankful you had such a good first experience with baseball.

Swing Batta, Batta

You are enjoying your first season of baseball at Proehlific as the Braves.  So far you guys are 6-0.  You usually play pitcher, 1st, short and 3rd.  You guys have to rotate positions each inning.  Your hitting continues to improve and you are having fun!  Landry loves cheering for you.

City Meet 2013

City Meet was so very exciting this Summer and such a huge event for our family that, though it occured before our blog, it was too much of a highlight to not include.  We are very fortunate at Green Valley Park to be on a great team with an even better coach in Scot Budde.
Brooks, you worked so hard this summer.  The way City Meet works is that all swimmers at eligible for Thursday events.  Top 3 swimmers in each event at each club secure at spot at Finals days on Friday and Saturday.  It is possible for a swimmer that does not hold a top 3 seed to swim on Finals days because swimmers can only do 3 individual events and so once the top swimmers make their selections, other swimmers can move up the ranks.  You help a top 3 spot in all five of your individual events the entire season.  We thought through where you were seeded, what you enjoy doing, and other factors to determine what you would swim.
Brooks, you were seeded 3rd in 25 Back.  That really put the idea in your mind that you might actually medal and anything less would have been disappointing to you.  You had worked hard with Coach Scot on an amazing finish.  Well, at your first prelim you finished 3rd by 0.01.  That night, you put it all on the table and won BRONZE at 19.98!  We were all so pumped for you and glad to have that moment to celebrate.  I was glad it was your first race to finish because I was so nervous for you.
50 Free was next.  You had been working on not breathing your first stroke and your flip turn.  You slipped at the start, breathed on your first stroke and had a terrible flip turn but finished 8th at 36.59!!!  You knew all 3 things that had gone wrong as soon as you got out of the pool.  It is great that you are able to kno what you are doing wrong and well.  You were a little disappointed but we were so proud.
You swam Back for the 100 Medley Relay.  You had a great leg and I am not sure what happened on the other times but you guys were expected to finish around 2nd and finished 7th having added over 7 seconds to your overall time.  I think you guys were shocked at first but knew that you had done really well.
25 Free was a wide open shoot out of a sprint and is always exciting.  You did everything that you had worked on and finished 7th at 15.86.
And ultra exciting was the 100 Free Relay.  Coach had you and Jacob going first and second and you guys got us a huge lead.  You guys got SILVER and had a blast on that podium.  Daddy called you and Jacob "Po Boys" the rest of the summer.
It was great having the Huitsings there during City Meet as we cheered you and Jacob on in your events.  Landry loved having Jensen there and it was great for you to have your buddy there with you as well.
You also received MVP for your age group!!!

Landry loved Coach Kathryn Anderson during Swim Team and had a blast at City Meet.  She did really well on Thursday in 25 Free and 25 Back.  Landry took off over 8 seconds in Back and over 48 seconds during the season.  Huge improvement.  Your 100 Free Relay team did so great and you really booked it as anchor leg.  It was great for you to overcome feelings of nervousness and shyness during meets and more independence as well.  You really enjoyed practicing with friends and the social aspects of the team and meets.  You are a perfectionist which makes you very coachable and a hard worker.  You are more concerned with technique than speed and I am proud of you for being self confident.
You had a big time at the parade during City Meet.  We had a Duck Dynasty theme so you got all decked out in camoflage, bandanas and eye black.  Big stuff.

6 Year Check Up for Landry

You had a great check up with Dr. Keifer.  You were just delighted to tell her all about school and everything you like to do.  You were brave with the Flu Mist of course.  Weight 54 lbs. (75%).  Height 45 3/4 inch (75%).  BMI 90%.  86/54 Blood Pressure.  Vision 20/30.  Hearing good.  A blessing!

I Could Not Ask For More

I love talking, especially to my children.  Being in each other's presence daily is such a gift.  I have been at school even more than usual lately and I just love being able to look over at Brooks' or Landry's face and see their smile and joy.
Both have developed wonderful relationships with friends.  Brooks adores Jonathan and cannot wait to be with him every day.  They are practically giddy at all times.  Jonathan has been a true answer to prayer for Brooks to have a close friend at school.  I am thankful they found each other in 2nd grade and have so many years ahead together.
Landry really enjoys Kate and Sadie.  The Lord has really had His hand in placing her with sweet, loving girls to enrich her days.  They are so cute dancing, laughing and having their own little worlds together.  Sadie gave Landry a BFF necklace.  Precious.
Tomorrow is AWANA and Brooks is prepared to rattle off 9 verses from God's Word!  Awesome.  He loves to store away these verses and AWANA has been an awesome launching pad to keep both kids motivated.  They both blow me away every week in their desire for God's word.  My prayer is that the words they learn will transform them.
Tonight Brooks wanted to talk at bedtime.  He said he wanted to talk to both of us and explained how sometimes he does not know if he is making the right decisions.  He gave small examples but it was wonderful to be able to share from God's Word how we have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us in our decisions and how we live every day in that power to please the Lord and bring Him glory.
Again, I love to talk, especially to these special people God has graciously blessed me with.

Landry's 1st Grade Blog

http://www.28cultivate.blogspot.com/

Mrs. Kime's Blog

Landry's Portrait at 5 Years Old

Portrait Innovations Photo Shoot of Landry at 5

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Landry is 6!

I feel like this one has been  a long time coming, not for me, but for Landry.  She has been so excited about this age.  Many of her friends are just a little older so the "perfect age" continues to go up.  This year we celebrated with family at Uncle Chris and Aunt Molly's new Salisbury home.  Landry and Julia have always shared a party to celebrate their 2 days apart birth.  We had so much fun that we did not even get around to all of our games we had planned.  We enjoyed a yummy cupcake bar and lots of squealing during gift opening. 

You ard Julia are so sweet together.  I wish I had access to a pic of the two of you the afternoon of your dedication as a 9 month old.  The two of you were sitting on our living room rug just face to face playing away.  This pic reminds me of that day.

Then we celebrated with Friends here at home with a God's Little Princess Themed Party.  We did a Pin the Scepter on the Princess blind fold game, read Gigi God's Little Princess, treasure hunt, color sheets and a craft.  Your gorgeous cake was a surprise to you and turned out exactly as I imagined.  We really love having these parties and all being a part.

 

You also received your American Girl doll.  You have been asking for it for over two years and had convinced yourself you weren't getting it again this year.  You take Caroline around with you everywhere and treat her like a little friend.

The Most Wonderful Birthday

I had the most wonderful birthday weekend.  It began with Robert taking off half the day Friday.  We went to P.F. Chang's for lunch.  As soon as the kids were picked up from school, I knew that we were to be prepared for an athletic outing.  The kids already knew what was planned; rock climbing at Tumblebees!  It was amazing. Both of the kids are super adventurous and climbed to the top many times.  Robert and I learned to tie the knots and belay each other and the kids.          


We headed directly to Green Valley for a delicious dinner shared with friends.  It is sort of like a covered dish; we took homemade peach ice cream.  Immediately after dinner I saw Robert and the kids scurrying off.  They came out with a delicious chocolate cake reading Happy Birthday Mom.  So sweet.  I felt so loved on.
Saturday was breakfast with Grandma and Uncle Eddie.  We then headed to Haight Orchard for some apple picking - a tradition now.  The rest of the day was enjoyed lounging around the pool and playing tennis with Uncle Eddie.



Sunday we continued to get accustomed to a new schedule in 1st Grade.  We enjoyed much needed family time reading, napping and playing games.  That evening we enjoyed a date to Bravo!, dessert from Fresh Market (Delicious was closed) and the movie The Butler.
We enjoyed a beautiful Labor Day around the pool and tennis courts.  It was a great long weekend!
Today, the actual birthday, the kids remembered immediately that it was my birthday!  We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Mythos (my favorite) and family game of Sequence.  I received many phone calls, emails, FaceBook messages and cards.  The card my family gave me is priceless.
I am the luckiest woman alive!

First Day of School!

While the exclamation point is for the kids' excitement, not my excitement to not be with them, I am thankful that they both woke up excited about today.  I LOVED school and we want them to love it too.
They both have wonderful teachers who love the Lord and whom we have prayed over for year; especially this summer.  What a blessing to have these women loving on my kids during the hours I am not with them.  They are amazing!
The first thing Landry said as I woke her this morning was "It's the first day of school!" with a huge smile on her face.  I was so happy for her.  As I went to wake up Brooks, his door opened and there he stood dressed, his bed made and wth a huge smile on his face.  That is a great way to start the year.
As Brooks lead Landry in to school, Principal Hower stopped Landry for a chat.  She had that look like, "Can you stop talking so I can start my day but, well...since you are the new principal, I'll give you a few moments."
Thank you Lord for the plans you have for their lives.  Thank you that you care about every aspect of their days and that you have all these details worked out.  Thank you for the privilege to be there every day and that Daddy is their biggest fan.  You are so good to us and we thank you for going ahead of us every day.  We love you Lord.  Please help the kids be bold in your name that they may prepare for the work ahead.  You have Big Plans!  Amen.
"There is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below.  You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion."  1 Kings 8:23

Myrtle Beach

We had a wonderful time away just the 4 of us.  Lots of bocce, Trek ball (record of 49 between Daddy and Brooks), minnow catching, lazy river and boogie boarding.  Two visits to Sea Captains House rounded out by lots of ice cream delivered a great time away.

Finally Did It...

So we have wanted to have a form of online journal to share with our kids as they grow up.  I have kept hand-written journals for both children individually since we first expected our oldest child.  However, I don't know if I can keep up the entries as the days become more full of fun things to share as well as recognizing how accessible an online format will be over the years.
Having shared those thoughts, the primary purpose of this venue will not be to keep anyone that finds us up to date, rather to document our lives as we raise our kids.  Maybe it is a way of freeze framing our daily lives so that our children can one day look back and reads word of prayer, affirmation, love and see all the fun we have had along the way.
At times I intend to write personal entries to our children and will probably find my sentimental self pouring our words from a parent's heart that aches to hold on to each of these days.  I hope you'll overlook some of my sappiness at these moments.