Anna and Papa play Chinese Checkers

Recently, I (Kent) taught Anna how to play Chinese Checkers. I was amazed at how quickly she learned. After she and I had played a game or two, she decided (with a little encouragement) to challenge Papa.
It was amazing to see how quickly she learned and adapted. In the game I played with her before this video was shot, she would focus on moving one marble at a time to the other side of the board. If possible, she would jump it, but it was always moving one marble the entire way and then going back to get the next marble available. It was neat to see that she watched how I played and adapter her play style based on what she saw me do. The result was a somewhat close game between her and Papa.

Elise Turns Three

Elise turned three; I can't believe it! Elise has given us three years of pure joy. She is such a joy to have in our family, a great blessing, a little angel. She says the cutest things and even though she is the middle child she is definitely noticed and loved!

We celebrated her birthday at Nana and Papa's house of course.

I let her pick out a cake mix and frosting at the grocery store and she picked out a pink cake and pink frosting and was pretty excited about it. She also said she wanted a princess cake so Anna picked out a surprise princess to put on the top of her cake. She love it and wanted to help put the candles on.

She was spoiled and got some fun things. She also got a music box from her grandma and a little pink soccer ball.   

We love our Elise whom is growing into a beautiful and wonderful girl. We loved every minute of her two year old year; she really was the funnest two year old ever and we hope the three year old year will be just as good.

Hiking Wind Caves - Memorial Day

On Memorial Day, we decided to hike the Wind Cave trail at Usary Mtn park. We had a good hike though it was a little warm. Here is a video taken near the top.

Fun with Cousins at GG's house

We went to GG's house (LaDawn and Charles Powell) for a visit. As often happens at GG's, a lot of extended family came by as well. The girls had a blast playing with their cousins. The video below shows one of the games they played.

Snippets of little Gracie learning and growing

Our little Gracie is a beautiful little girl and it is wonderful to watch her experience the world. Here are a few videos showing some cute experiences along the way.


Tasting a popcicle, Yummmmmmm.

First official bites of food.

Learning to sit-up.

Trying (licking) corn on the cob.

Another Doll

I set Grace on a blanket in the living room while I was washing dishes. A few seconds later I looked back to see how she was doing and she was gone; nowhere to be seen. “Where is Grace?” I said in a concerned voice heading down the hall toward the sound of playing girls. There Grace was on Elise’s bed with the girls playing around her. The girls have been carrying Grace off lately when they are playing house to put her in their make-up beds or strollers, etc. They think she is another doll. Oh man, I have to be on the watch!

A Princess Tea Party: 4 years old

We decided to do a princess tea party for Anna’s 4th birthday and invite all of her little girl second cousins and a friend. I asked her what kind of cake she wanted for her birthday, expecting her to say a princess cake. She said, “a heart cake.” I tried to convince her to have a princess cake, just because I think it would lots of fun to make, and she said, “No, I want a heart cake.” I asked, “Why do you want a heart cake?” She replied, “Because I love everyone and I want to give them all a piece of my heart cake.” OK, how can I argue with that. A heart cake it was.

She was very excited for her princess tea party birthday. She would marked off each day on the calendar until her birthday. She helped me plan and pick out the menu. When the day arrived she was excited to help me make the cake, get everything ready, and she even set the table for the tea party with all her little tea party cups.

It was really cute. When each of her royal guests started arriving she decided she would greet them with a royal curtsey. It made me smile, she probably picked that idea up from watching Cinderella.

The royal princesses, ok, and 1 prince, had a fancy tea party, while using language such as “darling”. They were are very lovely.

What a cute princess she is, loving this day.

After the tea party there was dancing of course!

They all danced so lovely to all the princess music I could find.

The dancing was their favorite part. There was lots of laughing and fun.

That night she got a big girl bike that Kent found and fixed up for her. We will have to practice since she does not have any training wheels.

We love Anna, she has grown so much! I look at her and can’t believe my first baby is already four.

I asked Anna the day before her birthday, “Can I keep you three years old forever. Please”! She looked at me with a troubled look on her face. I could tell she wanted to make me happy but at the same time she really wanted to turn four. Then she said in her little three year old voice, “but mama, if I don’t turn four you can’t have any of my birthday cake.” Wishing I really could just freeze time I replied, “That is a good point Anna. I guess you better turn four. But don’t you dare think about turning five any time soon.” “I won’t.”