Spring is here!

I thought I better do an update since it's been so long.  Spring is in full swing in the Marion house.  Kenedy is in the middle of Dance compitions and Blake is playing baseball and loving it.  This week he took a ball to the shin, it left a terrible bruise.  A few minutes later he took one to the eye.  (he now has a black eye) Ryan said (it was at practice and I was at dance with Kenedy) that he cried but when Ryan went over to him and asked him if he was ok Blake shook his head no.  Ryan said well then are you done playing we can go over here and stand.  Blake looked at him, sucked up his tears and said no I'm not done.  The very next play he caught the ball and got the kid out at first.  Tough kid!  I can not believe that in 3 more days he will be 5.  He also has a loose tooth.  Why do they have to grow up so fast.  Here is a picture of him with one of his best buds Avery.  They were playing in Blake's room. 

Avery will be moving soon and Blake if very sad about it.  When we told him the look on Blake's face made me start to cry.  They have been good friends the 4 years that we have lived here.  Here is another picture of Blake and his other best bud Charlie.

Ryan and I took the kids to the zoo.  The Tyler zoo added Black bears and I think Ryan and I were just as excited to see them as the kids were.  Dont laugh when you look at the picture.  I'm aware that it's a white tiger and not a bear.  The bear cub was not really interested in having his picture taken and kept moving everytime I tried.  I love this picture because it looks like the tiger is about to bite Blakes head and his face looks like he is scared, Kenedy's face is ok go ahead.  Dont worry there was a glass window between them

Blake's school does breakfast with a buddy every year. I remember going with Kenedy.  Here we are eating breakfast together.

 Kenedy as always is doing many activities and excelling at all of them.  She is a part of her school choir.  They have been traveling different places around town and singing.  This is her and I after one of her performances.

This year instead of a solo Kenedy and one of her best friends Constance, decided to do a duet together.  Their song is friendship and they are TOO cute doing it.  Here they are with their ballet/company/duet teacher.

 Kenedy and Constance before taking the stage.

 And after with their trophy.

 This is Kenedy before her group ballet number.  How she remembers all those dances is amazing.  There is no way possible I could do that.  She has an interest in competitive cheerleading.  She is considering not taking ballet or Dance team next year and trying out a cheerleading team.  She says she will still do jazz and clog.  We will see what the final decision ends up being:)

 Over spring break we spent 2 days at Gmom's.  I can not believe how big baby Troy is getting. 

 Uncle T and Troy plaing baseball, apparently there was not bat available.  You cant see but Blake is the pitcher.

 Here Blake is playing outside at Gmom's

 Kenedy and Jacob out side at Gmom's

 Kenedy got some bead necklaces from a friend.  She and Blake decided that it would be a great idea to not only wear the beads themselves but also to put them on Gizmo and Chewy.  Poor dogs they suffered though it like champs and even posed for some pictures.

 Kenedy's Girl Scout Troop visited our local radio station.  They each got to say thier names and then the whole troop stated what troop they were from and that they loved K G A S (the station's name)  The DJ even let Blake and Charlie say "and we are the brother's"  The girls (and boys) did an awesome job and they played it over the radio that evening.  I recorded it on my phone and I think Kenedy and Blake had me play it back a million times.

 Tonight I sent the kids to bed and about 15 minutes later I went to check to see if they were asleep.  Kenedy who had been up late the night before was snuggled in her bed and sleeping soundly.  Then I went to Blakes room.  As I walked in I saw his football tent on top of his bed.  But did not see him.

I go to look inside the tent and found a sleeping Blake.

Blake has decided to not have a party with friends this year but to go back to Medevil Times for his Birthday.  So we are headed there on Saturday.  I will post more pictures after that.  Oh and Kenedy Made straight A's again on her report card! 

Today Kenedy said to me Mom do you know what the song I Can Only Imagine is about.  I said "what" and she proceeded to tell me" it's about going to Heaven and meeting Jesus".  I giggled "yes it is"  She then says I never knew that.  We were not listening to the song but it had been on earlier in the car guess she had been thinking about it.  I love that Blake is just as aware of God's presence in our life and is always the first one at the table to say I want to say the blessing.  Of all the things that they do each day I am most excited about how much they show their love for the Lord. 

Next Update soon!

Kenedy's 9th Birthday and Christmas

I can hardly believe that I had to write Kenedy's 9th in the title.  I mean can she really be 9?  It just does not seem possible!  This year she decided to have the Creature Teacher come to her and bring some of her animals.  Kenedy got to pick 8 animals for her to bring.  She would tell about each one, Kenedy got to hold each one and everyone else could pet with 2 fingers if they wanted to.  At the end you could take your picture with one animal..  The favorite of everyone was the Chin Chilla (not sure if thats how you spell it)  It was incredible soft.  Here are a few pictures of Kenedy, Blake and cousins Madeline, Harrison, and Jacob all holding him.

They all had a great time.  Christmas was wonderful this year.  I love when we get to spend time with everyone.  Santa was generous this year and brough Kenedy a lap top and Blake a DS.  I can honestly say that they are both enjoying the gifts and use them quite frequently. 

here they are Christmas morning

Aunt Re was also in town for Christmas, we especially like it when she gets to be here with us.

We headed to Ryan's Parents Christmas day and of course the kids had a blast playing with all their cousins there.  I'm not even sure we saw very much of them because they entertained each other the entire time.  Here are the 3 girls together opening their towels from Aunt Doris.  I'm sure the boys were outside in the cold playing football during this picture.

We did manage to round up everyone for a family photo.

Love that! 

Well now that Christmas break is over we are all in full swing again.  Kenedy has started learning her dance compitition routine's.  Her 1st compitition is in March.  She decided this year to not do her Solo but instead do a duet with her friend Constance.  They have not learned the whole thing yet but what they have learned is precious.  Her team will be competing in 2 Jazz dances, Ballet, and Clogging.  Then she will also be her duet.  I have no idea how she keeps all of those steps straight in her head.  She is also apart of her school's UIL team.  She is on the Music Memory team and took 2nd place at their first meet.  I realize that she is mine but honestly she truely amazes me. 

Blake is all signed up for baseball.  He is very excited and can not wait to find out what team he is on and what his mascot is.  This boy blows me away with his knowledge of mascots. He can tell you what the mascot is of every team we played in football this year.  He also knows the only two teams we lost too (I still have to ask Ryan who we lost to)  Today we were eating at a local pizza place after church.  One of the football players walked in and Blake goes look dad it's a football player he is number 11 right.  How does he remember that stuff?  This past week Carthage had it's Championship celebration (Congrats to my husband and all the Bulldogs for their 3rd state win in a row)  Blake and Ryan went together (Kenedy and I were at dance) Blake was ecstatic to get football player's autographs and their player cards.  He was on cloud 9 when he got home!  I love how sweet he can be too, he was watching Kenedy dance the other day and when we got in the car he told her that she did a great job.  Melted my heart!

Ryan has on 3 weeks left of his Master's work and then he is finished.  YAY!  Will let everyone know about upcoming dance and baseball events.