Another First Day of School! August 2011

So, I can't miss at least blogging the annual "first day of school" photos. This way I know I haven't completely given up on my blog. It is certainly hard to believe it but today the girls started another school year and I had barely gotten into having a summer. Alas, they are off to school and Kallen and I have a quiet house this morning. Next fall, Kallen will start preschool! Katherine is now a sophomore in high school!! Kora is starting 6th grade already--which means junior high for her next year!! Again, it is all so very surreal and amazing to me how time has passed so quickly.

Katherine--15 and a half! She was sure to finish driving school this summer so that all she needs to do now is continue to practice her driving so she is ready totake her test for her license on her 16th birthday in December!!

Kora--turning 11 next month! Spent most of her summer relaxing, reading, playing video games, and avoiding piano practice at all costs! Fall soccer season just started and she is thrilled!

Kallen wasn't going to miss a photo op! Kallen is 3 and a half! She made sure to change from her "sleeping pajamas" into her "daytime pajamas" before we walked Kora to the bus stop! She misses both her sisters already!!

Baby Kallen isn't so much a baby anymore...she's THREE!

Wow! I am actually now blogging about something that happened less than a month ago! Are you impressed yet, Dad? Hope these blogs have been fun for you for your birthday! Happy, happy Day!

Kallen was so happy to get another day of opening gifts just a couple weeks after Christmas!! "It's my happy day!" She had a good day and actually got to celebrate a couple times. Seth and Emi were able to come visit us the day before her birthday! Kallen loves to play with Emi.

Kallen checking out the cupcakes, eager to dive in!

This year I made pumpkin muffins for her birthday cake! Just a box of spice cake mix and a can of pumpkin! Super easy and nothing she is allergic to! I iced some of them for the real birthday look but I prefer them plain!

She was so excited! She couldn't stop smiling when we sang to her and this year, she didn't try to touch to candle flames. Hooray!

All blown out with just a little help from sisters.

New Strawberry Shortcake DVDs to drive us all mad!

Our Ohio Christmas, 2010!

Merry Christmas from Mason, Ohio! Once we had our house all decorated, I spent the remainder of the holiday season in a frantic rush in order to accomplish all that needed to be done--awww...'tis the season, right? I actually did pretty good and was able to enjoy the feeling of the season as well. We did have a nice, small, quiet Christmas. No company, just our little family. We spent the day just as it is meant to be spent--lazily snacking, playing, napping...peace to men on earth.

The tree and gifts, getting ready to arrange them all!

Katherine and Kora trying out some new Wii games.

Kallen loving her new baby from Grandma Barbara!

Katherine sporting her new bathrobe, new boots, and trying her aim with Kora's Nerf gun! She's gonna LOVE that I posted this photo!

Kora trying out her new camera. She's become our newest family photographer.

Eric and Kallen--she was so very into Christmas morning this year. So much fun to watch! She did some serious present opening, not even caring who the present was for!!

When your fifteen...unbelievable!

I guess I never imagined that these children would ever get as old as they are already getting. Katherine is now counting down to getting her temporary driver's license this summer! Really?! I asked her what she was wanting for her 15th birthay. She wanted to stay home, in her PJs, doing absolutely nothing ALL DAY LONG!! So, she did just that. It was a good day for her.

The cake production was still allowed to happen!

The present opening...

Two of her favorite things--The Beatles and Monopoly!

Another Piano Recital--Winter 2010!

Much to my delight and much to Kora's discontent, Kora is still taking piano lessons. I used to think I would never be the Mom who forced this kind of thing on her child...hah! I keep telling her that one day she will be pleased that I insisted, she keeps telling me that won't happen. We shall see...

Kora is really quite talented at the piano, especially when you consider just how little she actually practices. I love to hear her play and she might admit that there are occasions when she does really enjoy it. She's currently working on learning the Star Wars theme and is rather liking that!

Introducing herself and her pieces...

She got to play on a beautiful Steinway! Really pretty cool.

Thanksgiving Thanks!! 2010

It was indeed a happy, thankful thanksgiving day! We were lucky enough to have my sister's come to spend the weekend with us, even though Seth and Carrol bailed on us at the last minute due to illnesses, or so they say... ( ; Anyway, we had a great time with my sisters. All the girls love the extra attention they get from Aunts Marlo and Melanie!! I was most thankful for the help they provided in turning our home into a Christmas haven that weekend. We got our tree from our favorite tree farm and spent much time bringing in the Christmas season.

Time spent prepping: countless hours. Time spent eating: about 10 minutes!!

Kallen's second helping of turkey!

Melanie, Kora, and Marlo--riding out to the trees to find the perfect one!

Who Dey in Real Life!

Well, Eric and I have now finally been to a live NFL game! Yes, after living here in Cincinnati for nearly fifteen years, we finally got ourselves downtown to see a game. We were lucky enough to get tickets for a suite, so we now can not even fathom going and sitting in the regular seats. While we didn't expect that the Bengals would win, we still had fun! I was pretty in awe of the size of it all. And the bonus--we got to see the Steelers play too!! So, if the Bengals can't make it to the Superbowl, we'll gladly route for the Steelers this Sunday!!

Halloween! 2010

To prepare for this past Halloween, we made a special trip to the thrift store hoping to find some treasures to assist with the girls' costumes. We found nearly everything we needed! Kallen found her pink hat to complete her Strawberry Shortcake outfit. Kora found her shirt, shorts, socks, and tie to got along with some old shoes that we spray-painted shiny black in order to pull off a fun Spongebob! And Katherine found a sweater-vest, shoes, and slacks that would work for her Ferris Bueller look. We probably had more fun shopping for the costumes than the actual Halloween event. However, we did have tons of fun on Halloween night as well. Seth, Carrol, Emi, and Evelyn came down from Columbus and spent the evening with us. The girls all got way too much candy--Katherine and Kora spent a good deal of time dividing up all of Kallen's candy that she can't eat in exchange for the suckers, and smarties that Kallen CAN have. They have now discovered a love of Kallen's food allergy!!

Kora is TEN--double digits at last!

Last fall, Kora chose to have her birthday party at a local laser tag facility. This was so much fun! Eric and I both ended up playing and having much more fun than we had thought we might. Kora is now finally 10 while most of her classmates are either already 11 or just about to be. Kora claims she doesn't like being the youngest and the smallest in her class, but I sometimes think she quite enjoys the attention. Regardless, a pretty fun day. These children just insist on growing up so dang fast...

For Kora...the Bengal theme was a must! Yes, we all know dem Bengals are pretty sad...Kora's loyalty is unshaken...so far...

The whole party gang!

Thank Goodness for my Dad's Birthday!

So...it's my Dad's birthday again and I am finally motivated to sit down and play some blogging catch-up--some SERIOUS catch-up! We have had some "happenings" since school began last fall. So, to start, here are a couple fun photos of the girls!

Kallen

Kora

Katherine and Kallen

Katherine, Kora, and Kallen--great sunset shot!