Levi's 11th Birthday!

 Happiest of birthdays to the most funny, caring, helpful, witty, active, and clever boy we know!  Levi is such a great young man to be raising.  He is thoughtful of others, helpful to all, compassionate, brave, and a leader. I don't know when we will stop being surprised by how helpful he is...he is the first one to jump in and ask if anyone needs help; his sisters, parents, friends, church family; and then he will continue to help until the task is complete! During the week, he is the first one to complete his assigned chore without having to be told. He is responsible and respectful and we hear from his teachers that he is such a great example to the other students in his class. But we know this....he is the same kid at home as he is in public. Levi likes to read before he goes to sleep every night and it's my favorite part of the day because when he is done, I hear the click of his light turn off and he shouts "Good night! Love you!" Every night. He gives great big hugs to everyone in his family and truly loves his sisters.  He is getting stronger and more stubborn with the girls but he knows when he needs to go by himself for a while and calm down.  He doesn't mind being alone and has shown his maturity by walking to Aunt Sarah's house by himself after school each day. This is the first year that he hasn't had an older sister to be with him and he is doing so well. His temper can get a little out of control and we have had to have some pretty serious talks about the way he gets to speak to his parents. He likes Legos, chicken, pizza, running, swimming, playing in the woods, fruit bowls, making wands and casting spells with them, getting up early, decorating for holidays, and helping in the little kids class at church.  He does not like people scaring him, when plans change, hot days, dusting, scary movies, being bossed by his sisters, or lasagna. Levi is so much fun to talk to....just not in the mornings on the way to school as he's usually pretty upset that he had to wait in the car for his sister's to be ready. But his usual cheerful conversations are so full of laughs and witty comments and clever observations.  He doesn't forget anything, which can be both good and bad, but truly tries to see the good in every situation.  We are so proud of Levi and the man he is becoming and the faithful leader he will be because of the examples he has in his life. We are proud of him every day and know that pride will continue throughout his life.  We love you Little Buddy!

1. What is your favorite color? Yellow
2. What is your favorite sport? Basketball
3. What is your favorite fruit? Honeydew
4. What is your favorite movie? Harry Potter
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Mac and cheese
7. What is your favorite subject in school? Math and history
8. What is your favorite snack? Cheez-its
9. What is your favorite animal? Dolphin
10. What is your favorite song? Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
11. What is your favorite book? Runaway Twin
12. Who is your best friend? Leah
13. What is your favorite cereal? Honey Bunches of Oats
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Explore in the woods
15. What is your favorite drink? Ginger Ale
16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween
17.What is your favorite restaurant? Claim Jumper
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Tacos
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Teacher

Happy 14th birthday

 Our firstborn baby is 14 years old today!  We could not have asked for a better first born to help us as we navigate parenting.  She is such an amazing sister, friend, student, athlete, human.  At times she leaves us speechless with her maturity and compassion and gracefulness in growing up.  At times she also leaves us speechless in frustration with her head in the clouds attitude and ability to forget what was just asked of her.  But that is Erika!  She thinks of others before herself, guides her younger brother and sister, gives wisdom to her peers, and has a strong integrity that she will not waiver from doing the right thing.  We have been hosting a young women's Bible study with other teens from her youth group at our house this year and I am so impressed with what Erika hears from God's word and how she really tries to make life applications. She is so genuine and true to everyone and in every aspect of her life. She has such a positive outlook on things, is almost always smiling, ends every phone conversation with us with "I love you", and draws people to her because of her humble attitude.  Erika is on the go from the moment she wakes up to the moment she goes to sleep.  She doesn't like being still and doesn't like having a lazy day at home.  She would much rather be outside or crafting or organizing or playing then watching a device. Erika loves embroidery, llamas, reading, soccer, helping in the nursery class at church, watching HGTV, spaghetti, swimming, doing hair, desserts, and texting.  She doesn't like scary movies, thunderstorms, sleeping without socks on, thinking about leaving home one day, loud unfamiliar noises, pizza, ruined surprises, too much melted cheese, staying home, and dusting.  Each year we can't believe just how much more love we have for Erika and are so thankful for our relationship growing and developing.  At 14, and with so much responsibility placed on her and her siblings because of the time we find ourselves in, she is truly at a level where she fits right in with adults.  We thank God that He is leading Erika in her life and that we get to witness and help her.  We love our conversations and explanations that come up as she grows and matures.  We know Erika is bound for very great things in her life and we are so pleased that we get to be part of it!  We love you so very much Baby Boo!

1. What is your favorite color? Teal

2. What is your favorite sport? Soccer

3. What is your favorite fruit? Pineapple
4. What is your favorite movie? Into the Woods
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Mac and cheese
7. What is your favorite subject in school? Humanities
8. What is your favorite snack? Strawberry Nutri-grain bars
9. What is your favorite animal? Dog
10. What is your favorite song? Graves Into Gardens by Elevation Worship
11. What is your favorite book? The Penderwicks
12. Who is your best friend? Kennedy and Emma
13. What is your favorite cereal? Fruity Pebbles
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ride the 4-wheeler
15. What is your favorite drink? Cotton candy frost
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What is your favorite restaurant? Waffle House
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Fruity Pebbles
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Spaghetti
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Interior designer or home stager

Laurel turns 12

Our precious Laurel Ann turns 12 years old today!  We couldn’t be more happy with the young woman she is growing into.  Laurel is most happy when she is with her family at home.  She enjoys being with friends, but will often choose staying home rather than running errands with me. With restrictions in place this year, Laurel has been able to be home which she loves, but has also missed out on some things she really enjoys.  She has always been very friendly with and good company to elderly friends from church or when we visit assisted living homes.  This year, however, she couldn’t pop in on some of the friends we were visiting and she expressed several times how much she missed that.  She was also pretty sad that she couldn’t start middle school in the actual building.  That surprised me so much when she said that because of all the kids, I thought she would like doing school at home the most.  Despite those setbacks, Laurel continues to be pretty steady and graceful in her life.  She has a stubborn streak that only advances with age, but luckily so does her ability to analyze her situations and reactions and apologize or respond accordingly.  We are still working on how it would feel better for her to do less apologizing because of a knee-jerk reaction and instead just realize that when things change or upset her she could just roll with it.  Laurel always has and most likely always will require a very firm reason or explanation to base her decisions.  She is possibly the most indecisive child I have ever met and would much rather ask everyone in the room’s opinion of what we she should do/choose rather than just make her own choice.  Her facial expressions leave no room for imagination….you always know how Laurel feels.  She will never be a good poker player!  Her reactions to news, whether good or bad, are 100% genuine and you know immediately what she feels.  She never wants anyone to be hurt emotionally and does her best to consider others first.  Laurel loves accessorizing, pizza pockets, anything pink, dogs, staying home with her family, chocolate, soccer, winning, and swimming.  Laurel doesn’t like chores, hosting parties, clipping her nails, chicken pot pie, being the first to leave a party, or cleaning her room.  She loves loyally, listens expertly, cares genuinely, works diligently, and laughs contagiously.  Laurel is a bright spot to whomever she sees that day and we are so very blessed to walk with her as she grows.  We love you so very much Lolo!!

1. What is your favorite color? Pink

2. What is your favorite sport? Soccer
3. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon
4. What is your favorite movie? We Can Be Heroes
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Pizza pockets
7. What is your favorite subject in school? 6th Grade Success
8. What is your favorite snack? S’mores Goldfish
9. What is your favorite animal? Flamingo
10. What is your favorite song? Sorry
11. What is your favorite book? The Human Body Book
12. Who is your best friend? Maddie
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cocoa Pebbles
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Explore
15. What is your favorite drink? Oreo milkshake 
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17.What is your favorite restaurant? Red Hills Market
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? McGriddle
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Hamburgers
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Physical therapist and animal restaurant