Snow day...

    

                           

I am going to try posting about our ordinary days again.... I miss writing about my family life but the time just slips by day to day.  We had a great Christmas with family and friends and have settled into 2014!  It has been a month of "stupidcold" as social media has nicknamed it.  For the first time in ten years of teaching, I was unable to take my class outside for recess for an entire month!  We used three "snow days" this month due to the cold temps.

          

 We spent those days playing inside, watching Teen Beach Movie, going bowling, and watching the Creekwood Red Hawks play basketball. We had our favorite person come along for the fun... Miss Aubree!!!  Drew is currently in LOVE with Teen Beach Movie.  He wears a red thirst and one of Addie's old black vest to look like the biker in the movie.  He can sing the lines and act out the parts.  It is one of the cutest things I have seen. 

Having fun watching Ross the Boss and Gabe the Babe!  The kids favorite part of the game???  When it's over they get to run on the court like crazy kids!  

We enjoyed a nice evening out with our dear friends sans big kids... Brooks still is too cute to leave at home. We laughed, ate way to much, and enjoyed each other's company without being interrupted. 

We have been obsessed with a little movie you might have heard of... Frozen!  Addie and I have watched it about six times, we watch it on you tube, and sing it everyday on the way to school.  At school my class was studying the letter e and Addie drew this on the board... Queen Elsa!  

Addie received awards for outstanding merit, Perfect Attendance, and 2nd top AR points for first grade!  She works so hard and was really proud to receive these.  

We were lucky and grateful for a sunny day one weekend and spent some time outside playing ball and collecting pine ones. 

So that is a start to what's been going on around the sanders' homestead.  We are nowgetting ready for Addie's 7th birthday and dance competition season.

Spring Break Fun...

Spring Break came and went.  It was nice to just be.  No dance, gymnastics, or soccer.  No school or work.  Just time with my favorite people.  We had a great road trip to Chattanooga and the Mountains.  We did some swimming at the hotel... the highlight of the trip and then took in the aquarium.  

 Drew's favorite part was running up and down these rocks outside the aquarium... boys will be boys!

We can always find a Nemo...

They do love each other...

 Addie is still in love with the penguins.

After visiting Chattanooga, we headed up to the Mountains to stay at a cabin for the weekend.  We went hiking, ate pizza, rode the Sky Lift for the kids, and watched some movies in the sleeping bags.  

We hiked up Laurel Falls.  The last time we hiked up this trail, Addie was almost 3 and Drew was in my belly.  Kyle and Poppa carried Addie the two miles.  This time around Drew rode in the stroller and Addie hiked up the trail.  She was not excited but liked the end result of the hike.  

After our weekend trip, we stayed close to home for some fun.  I took the kids to the zoo for the day.  We rode the train... looked at the elephants and giraffes (still our favorite)... and had a lot of fun just the 3 of us.  

January Ordinary Days...

January came and went...  I was fortunate to have 4 snow days at home with my babies.  We had fun being lazy with no where to go.  We went to play with friends, played outside ( not in the snow because there was not any) and had plenty of tea parties. 

Addie loves her new head gear for the cold winter days.

This crew is cut throat when it comes to family game night.  When we play Trouble, Kyle and Addie will send you back home in a heartbeat.... I guess I am not much better.

Addie received her first award at school for mastering all of her report card skills.  I cannot express how happy I am to see her at school and loving every minute of it.  She has began reading AR books and is working on getting her star on the wall for the 15 point club.

We enjoyed a fun day at the park.  Drew could not get enough of the swing.  He loves when you hold on to his legs and push him with all of your might.  He sings and laughs the whole time.  I just wish I could bottle up his sweetness and save it for the teenage years. 

We went on a hike.  Drew found lots of sticks and Addie found lots of rocks. 

Drew's past time these days... Our ball collection is getting large.  56 balls to be exact.

Drew's new head gear for the cold wintery days...

Aubree love... she came and spent the night with us to get away from Rylee's sleep over.  We always have fun with Aubs.  The girls tried out their skills at the FBC Basketball camp later that day.  The funniest memory of this picture... the pants Aubree is wearing are Drew's and they are a size 24 months.

November Ordinary Days....

Kindergarten Field Trip to the Renaissance Center to see

 Alexander and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. 

Kyle was the best Dad chaperone. 

Playing upstairs after dinner... cake anyone???

Practiced our civil duties...

Late night nap = wild hair

Our new toy bought with her piggy bank money.

They have been watching Toy Story in aftercare at school and Addie is in love with Jesse.

Addie loves studying about Thanksgiving.... even though it is her least favorite holiday because it is about all of the food she does not like.

Ordinary Days...

Leaf jumping is a favorite past time for this little girl. 

 She has always loved doing it.

Drew just likes to run and play...

The nice days of fall.  

Playing on the sidewalk and in the yard with each other. 

Drew is really into running and racing.  Addie really likes to race and swing on the tire swing in our neighbor's yard... Oh how I want to remember these days forever.

Ordinary Days... September Edition

We have been busy having lots of fun around here... so much fun that I have not been able (or really wanting to) sit down and write much about it all.  But I figure the 14th day of October is a good reminder that I need to do it.

Addie and Drew went to the Henderson County Fair thanks to Ninnie and Poppy.  Unlike last year, we were not the proud winners of a goldfish but some light up toys and two very tired kids on the way home.  

 

Addie rode her first ride EVER this year.  This picture was taken by Aunt Vickie and was sent to me that night.  I was totally shocked because Addie never wants to ride... she just wants Poppy to win toys.  You just HAVE to love her.

Drew on the other hand loved the rides.  So much so that Poppy about lost his mind trying to get him off the rides when his turn was over.  All I can say... he is most certainly 2!

But Kyle and I really did appreciate the night off because we got a lovely dinner with this handsome fella, his mom, and his dad.  Tripp is just too cute!

With the fall temperatures around the corner, I was able to take this cutie pie on an evening walk downtown.  We picked some zinnias from a house that plants them for passersby and watched some birds make a nest.  Just a simple reminder it is the little things.

Drew snoozing on a Sunday afternoon...

LiLi bought Addie a VOL cheerleader and Drew a VOL football player to usher in the not so good football season.  Addie of course had to draw hers.  She goes by the name of Emily just in case you are wondering.

Playing outside is one of our favorite past times around here.  

Drew was just "too" cool racing Addie around the obstacle course we made with 

our new consignment sale pink cones.  

Addie ran inside and got all of Kyle's 1/2 marathon medals to give out as prizes.

Silly hair pic from the bathtub...

We had a Kansas State Fans over to watch the Vols play the Gators.  All I can say, I am glad their team is doing great.... maybe purple is not so bad:)  At least the children had fun in the bouncy house that day.

Addie went to her first DCHS homecoming parade.

We went to the park for some friendly fellowship with our Sunday School Class.  We just are not ready to camp with Drew but maybe next year.   Drew loved throwing rocks in the creek and watching the guys make the campfire. Addie liked walking on the rocks and eating the Cheetos someone had brought.

We roasted hot dogs, ate chili, and made some s'mores.

Kyle even did some adventure cooking and eating.

Aly caught some crawdads in the creek and my husband (who has watched one too many Man vs. Wild and Surviorman shows) ate them up.

Our family also got to witness something that does not happen everyday.  My Aunt Eddie, my dad's mom's sister, turned 100 years old.  On the way to the birthday party, Kyle and I sat and pondered all of the things she has witnessed in her life.  Prohibition. The Great Depression. WWI and WWII.  The inventions of television and computers. Man walking on the Moon.  The list could go on forever.  

Drew got a little jealous of Aunt Eddie blowing out the candles 

so we had to relight them for him to have a turn.

My Dad, Joe Mack, My Aunt Rita, and My Great Aunt Eddie.

And finally, we celebrated another birthday this month... Poppa's!!

 I had the idea to make some decorations and posters.  

Addie and Drew were all about it.

 

Addie's drawing of Poppa in his dentist clothes.

She wanted to draw 63 candles on the cake but luckily 

I was able to talk her into writing the number 63.

Me and My Dad

Making a wish that the Orr-Primm genes give us at least 37 more 

years so we can celebrate another 100th birthday.