March and April 2017

Spring is off to a strong and busy start!!

March was full of soccer, dress-up days at school, snow, spring break in Atlanta and much more.  

Dr. Seuss Character Day - Sally from Cat and the Hat

The Blue Hearts (our soccer team) are off to a great start once again.  The girls are really playing well and having so much fun with our team.  It's fun when you can roll from fall soccer, to basketball back to spring soccer with the same team!  

Nashville got one more snow in March which was crazy but very fun.  We built some snowmen and did some serious sledding until it all melted away by about 3:00pm.

This guy was big into snowball fighting

We enjoyed a long weekend over Spring Break in Atlanta where we got to see MamMam and of course hang out with our cousins, which is always fun!  We found time to squeeze in 2 baseball games and a lacrosse game and a few fun dinners out!

Sullivan had a big March also - she is officially signed up for Kindergarten in the fall!  She is so excited and probably wished she could have gone this year with Hudson!  So the countdown is on and she can't wait!

All Signed Up

 April was full of even more soccer, Tom's Birthday, Easter, quick trip to Bowling Green, lots of rain and some hot, hot weather.

We had a nice trip to Bowling Green for the day to Celebrate Tom's Birthday.  The girls were dying to go fishing and Thomas finally got to join in.  He loved it.  Although mostly he wanted to go in the water not sit next to it,

He loves to "fish"

 Hudson won our March Madness bracket and go to choose dinner (a few weeks later) and this of course was her selection.  She and Sullivan can put away an All-Star Slam breakfast with ease!  This guy was just in it for the chocolate chip waffle and hat!

We love the Waffle House

 We had a wonderful Easter this year.  The kids did 2 or 3 Easter Egg Hunts each and the bunny found them om Easter morning which was very exciting.  Our neighborhood had our first ever Egg Hunt and it was so much fun.  The girls were excited to get a picture with the bunny!

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

 Sullivan had an Easter Bonnet parade at school this year and she was so proud of her hat.  She designed it all by herself!

East Bonnet Parade at School

 We had a good time dying Easter eggs this year.  Thomas really had fun.  Although "gently drop it in" was very lost on him...it was more like a slam dunk as hard as possible.  But we got them all done he was very proud of his eggs.

Finished product

 These 2 did some serious puddle jumping during a weekend full of rain!

Doing some puddle jumping

 Hudson had a great April as well.  She lost her very first tooth which was very exciting and she also officially turned 6 1/2!!  She is still our tall girl as you can see and is getting so grown up!

Officially 6 and a half

We wrapped up April with a tough win on the soccer field, the Spring Festival at Hudson's school and a fun birthday bowling party for one our buddies.  And to top it off, our pool is now open which is all the kids can even think about!  Thank goodness it is 90 degrees this weekend but the water is going to be freezing!

That is about all for now!  May is always a crazy busy time so I know this year will be no different.

Here are the rest of our March and April adventures:

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February 2017

February was full of Basketball, dress-up days at school and fun with friends!

We wrapped up our first ever WNSL Basketball season and it was amazing.  The Green Frogs were so much fun to coach and watch play!  We finished the season 8-0, and won the "Love of the Game" Trophy awarded to one team in each age group.  This team sure did deserve it.  Not b/c of their record but b/c of the way they played their hearts out every single game!  We had a few players who had never played before, 3 players playing up an age group and a whole lot of heart! Each one of them improved every week and it was so much fun to work with them!

Seeing their trophy for the first time

Green Frogs!

My Girls!

 We also got to celebrate one of our best friends and her baby-on-the-way, Iffy.  The girls were so excited to host a baby shower....until they got about 30 minutes into it and decided baby showers are "boring".  But they wouldn't have missed it for anything.  We can't wait to meet Baby Bridger any day now and the girls are so excited to "baby-sit"....lord help that baby!  Haha!

I told her to put on something Fancy for the shower.....

 February also means celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday for an entire week.  Which really just means dress-up days every day!  Fun for the kids...exhausting for the parents.  Nevertheless, we made it through hat day, hair day, sock day, wacky Wednesday, Cat in the Hat day and character day and the girls had a blast.

Her Wacky Wednesday outfit....basically it's just what she wears everyday

Thomas had to have a picture with Sally from Cat in the Hat

We wrapped up gymnastics and I think all the kids are sad but especially Thomas.  He loved his class!  He is now obsessed with our trampoline in the backyard and spends most of his time out there!

Thomas also had his 20 month check-up and everything looks great.  He hit a major growth spurt, and although he is still the "runt" of our family, he is catching up!  He is 34.4 inches tall (90%) and 28 lbs and 8 oz big (80%).  He is starting to talk a little bit more each day and loves telling people that he is going to turn "doo" as he calls it...and then holds up 4 fingers....it's work in progress!

We have a few weeks off and then Soccer season starts back up again!  The girls are dying to play and can't wait to be back out on the field with most of their basketball teammates and the rest of their soccer buddies!  Should be another fun season!

Here are the rest of the pictures from February:

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January 2017

January has been full of gymnastics, basketball, some snow, swimming and friends!

We started our second basketball season in a new league this month and so far the Green Frogs are on fire.  We kept our team together and added a few friends and it is awesome.  The whole team is very competitive and eager to learn which makes it a lot of fun.  We are 4-0 so far with 4 tough games left!

WNSL Green Frogs

 Thomas is getting so big.  We go for a check-up this week but he is such a big kid now.  He still sleeps like a champ and loves to eat.  He is starting to say some words but understands and follows directions pretty well.  His favorite thing to do lately is put his dirty clothes in his hamper.  It is pretty funny.  He REALLY wants to be a big kid like his sisters which is so sweet.  He loves football, basketball and anything outdoors.

Wishing He was a Big Kid

 Hudson is halfway through Kindergarten and is still loving it.  She is reading well and starting to get much better at math.  She is doing well at basketball and loves her gymnastics class.  She even faced a big fear of hers and passed the swim test at the YMCA which was a big deal.  We were very proud of her and she was proud of herself which was fun to see.  She also can't get enough of roller skating.  She and her neighborhood friends do a lot of skating and we even had a Sunday full of the Brentwood Skate Center with friends not too long ago!

Passed the YMCA Swim Test

Sullivan is halfway through what could be her last PreK year (still deciding if she is headed off to Kindergarten next year or not..).  She loves her school and her teacher and does really well there.  She also has really taken to Basketball.  To be the youngest on our team, she is very focused and serious about playing defense...haha!  She even scored 12 points in one of our games.  She also had a very big day not too long ago, when she learned to ride her bike without training wheels in about 3 tries!  She is a speed demon now and wants to ride every day - rain or shine!

That is about all for now.  February will be full of more basketball and playing with friends I'm sure!

Here are the rest of the pictures from January:

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December 2016

Happy 2017 to everyone!  Hard to believe another year has come and gone already!

December was a jam packed, super fun month!

We started the month with more basketball and Gymnastics.  The girls wrapped up their basketball season with a 5-2 record.  They loved playing and had so much fun.  We start a second season next weekend and they are already counting down to their first game.  Gymnastics is, as always, a hit and Thomas even gets to join the fun.  He is all about jumping on the trampolines!

After getting out tree, decorating it and the house, we headed out for our annual Christmas outing.  We had a successful trip to see Santa with no tears and all smiles from everyone.  We even mailed our lists to the North Pole.  After seeing Santa, we headed out to see the Dancing Lights of Jellystone park and it did not disappoint!  The kids loved it!

After seeing the big guy

All Smiles

Hudson had a fun spirit week the last week of school that included Christmas sock day, crazy hat day, Reindeer Day, Pajama Day and Tacky Sweater day.  It was such a fun way to wrap up the year!

Reindeer day

 Once school was out and we finished our last basketball game, we packed up and headed to Atlanta to celebrate Christmas with the Halters.  As always it was full of lots of cousin time and fun outings!

Gingerbread houses with SueSue

Finished product

So cute

Fun at Catch Air

Making Dog treats with SueSue

Seeing Santa again...just in case

Fun at the Mall

Annual trip to the Blow Up House

After celebrating Christmas and having a great trip, we headed home just in time to get ready for Christmas day!

Christmas Eve we went to church and hurried home to make pizzas (our tradition) and cookies for Santa.  We even spread some reindeer food in the front yard and then got in bed early!

Christmas morning was met with pure excitement, joy and...the stomach bug!  It hit Tom first, but he was a trooper and powered through opening presents.  Later in the day, it hit Thomas and then Sully!  It was a rough day all around but we made it through and somehow Hudson and I avoided it!  Despite the bug, we all had a great day full of presents, fun, and playing with friends!

Fun on Christmas day

Karaoke Machine from Santa

I love this crew!

The rest of our break has been filled with playing with friends, Winter camp, football watching and fun!  We hope everyone had as great a 2016 as we did and here's to an amazing 2017!

As always, here are the rest of the pictures from our December:

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November 2016

November was another great month!  We didn't have a lot going on but it still seems like we were always on the go.  I guess that is life with 3 kiddos!!

Most of November was spent just doing life - school, basketball, gymnastics, etc.  All the kids are loving school and doing really well.  The girls have had 4 basketball games and still love it!  So much so, that our team just signed up to play another season in a different league.  It is so fun to watch them compete and have fun!  

The girls are back into their Trampoline class at gymnastics and are having a blast.  And as luck would have it, they started a toddler class at the same time as the girls so, Thomas gets to have his turn starting next week!

Of course November is always topped off with our Thanksgiving celebration.  Our family alternates years between the Frericks and Halters and this year was a Halter year.  So we packed up and headed to Atlanta.  It is always so fun to have all the cousins together.  The big boys are so sweet to the girls and Thomas and Thomas just loves getting to be one of the "big boys".  We spent a lot of time at The Halter's new house which is awesome but also had some fun at the playground too!

My crew....and I didn't even have to bribe them

 You know Thomas wants to be a big kid so bad when he is willing to do whatever PJ does or tells him to do...like going down the 2 story slide head first!

 Since we are already in Atlanta, we also get to celebrate Reed's birthday a little early.  This year we spent the day playing and ended the night with a cook-out and some presents.

This is Thomas' party hair....

You know you are the youngest of six when they spin you around and around on this thing...

and then watch you try to walk and laugh at you....

He wanted to keep doing it so it was great entertainment for all!

After our trip to Atlanta, it was back to our normal schedule (at least for the next 3 weeks).  This guy did turn 18 months old this week and still loves his thumb, his lovey, the football and dancing!

That is about all for now.  We are in full Christmas prep mode now and the countdown has already started for when school will be out again!!

Here are the rest of the pictures from November:

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October 2016

How in the world is it already November?  October was a total blur but full of so many fun things!

Most of October was full of soccer and school.  We had a long fall break that included a Third (and hopefully final) surgery for Thomas and a long visit from SueSue and BooBoo.  When BooBoo is in town that usually means a visit to Las Paletas!  It was Thomas' first time and I would say he really enjoyed it!

We finished yet another soccer season and the Blue Hearts did awesome!  Even though half of our team was playing up an age group (including our youngest player, Sullivan), all of the girls played hard, scored lost of goals and learned a lot.  By the end of the season, we were starting to play some "real" soccer - passing, defending, etc.  It was so fun to watch.  We didn't do trophies this year as we are trying to get away from the participation trophy thing - but the girls did get a little something.  A new soccer backpack and soccer ball patches based on how many juggles they could do in a row.  These 4 and 5 years olds started the season having never juggled before and by the end, they were all doing 4 or 5 in a row.  That is so amazing and they were all so proud of themselves!

With soccer over, were were able to sneak in a visit to Bowling Green to see Grandma and Grandpa. We had a lot of fun visiting Jackson's Orchard for a little apple orchard fun.

The end of soccer means the beginning of basketball.  For the first time ever, the girls are playing basketball.  Luckily, our super fun soccer team all decided to play basketball together (plus a few awesome additions) and now the Blue Hearts are the Green Frogs!  We have had a few practices and our first game which was so much fun.  The girls played great and even got their very first win!

October also means Hudson's Birthday!  Her party was going to be a week or so after the real day so for her birthday day, we spent several hours at Shuckles Corn Maze.  Our fun friends the Germains joined us for the day and I think everyone had a great time doing the hay ride, the corn maze, zip-lines, the jumping bubble, games, slides,f ace painting and pumpkin picking.  

The next weekend it was finally time for Hudson's party.  This year she chose the Brentwood Skate Center.  It was basically like stepping back into the 80s but so much fun!  We spent several hours skating and having pizza and cake with so many great friends.  For only having been there once before, Hudson got the hang of it very quickly.  Sullivan even won a prize for the limbo!

Of course we wrapped up the month with Halloween!  This year we went with an Army theme based on the costume the girls chose.  It turned out pretty cute and even though Halloween was on a school night, we had a great time.  Our neighborhood goes all out for Halloween.  Starting with the pumpkin carving contest and ending with the Costume parade and hours of trick-or-treating, it was a long but fun night!  The girls got First (Sobes' Elephant) and Third (Hudson's Cookie Monster) in their age groups in the pumpkin contest and got plenty of candy!

 

That is about all for now.  November will bring more basketball and a trip to Atlanta for Thanksgiving with the Halters!

Here is a little clip of Thomas' new favorite activity....all day, every day...dancing and singing!

Here are the rest of our pictures from October!

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September 2016

Well it's finally fall!  It took a while but Nashville finally had our first few days of less than 90 degree temperatures!  

September was full of one last lake trip, school, soccer and fall festivals!  

Hudson is still loving kindergarten!  She has so many sweet friends and seems to love going everyday.  I can already tell how much she is learning  - her reading has advanced so much as well as her math! She likes having PE but I think her favorites may be art and music class!  She had her first field trip to Walden Pumpkin Patch and while she loved it, I think her favorite part was getting to ride on a real school bus!

Sweet girl

Sullivan is also doing really well at school.  She loves her teacher and has made so many new friends.  Her teacher rewards the kids with frog stickers on a piece of paper with lily pads.  You get a sticker every time you do something above and beyond and she has already filled TWO cards!  So while she still thinks she should be in kindergarten, she is loving Judson PreK in the meantime!

My little mermaid

Thomas is also doing well.  He has finally adjusted to his new schools and last week insisted on walking in while carrying his lunch box.  It was super cute, especially since it looks just about as big as he is!  He had his 15 month check-up and all looked well!  He is still the "runt" of the family but I have a feeling he will catch up!  He weighs 23 lbs, 8 oz (75%) and is 30 5/8 inches tall (76%).  He has his third and (fingers crossed) final kidney surgery next week.  Luckily, this one is very short and outpatient, so no overnights in the hospital thank goodness!

Little man...big shoes

 Soccer is going well for the Blue Hearts!  The girls are really into it and are playing well.  They are both scoring goals, playing some tough Defense and learning a lot.  It's exciting to see the whole team every weekend because they all seem to be "getting it" a little bit more and more every week!  They are starting to look like a real team!

My crew

That is about all for now.  October brings a big birthday for Hudson, the end of soccer season and the start of basketball season!  Yes, the girls are giving it a try and Tom is going to be the coach...so I'll be sure to update on how that is going when the season gets started!

As always, here are a few more pictures of our September:

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