An Interview with Quinn - Age 12

Here is the interview with Quinn - all her favorites from this past year.  All the answers in green stayed the same as last year, but the blue answers changed from last year. Apparently this was a year of great change!!!  Check out her answers below...!

What is your favorite color?            Blue
What is your favorite toy?              Legos
What is your favorite fruit?            Apples
What is your favorite TV show?      iCarly
What is your favorite outfit?           Shorts and Shirt
What is your favorite game?          Life
What is your favorite snack?         Chex Mix 
What is your favorite animal?        Dolphin
What is your favorite song?          Personal (by HRVY)
What is your favorite book?         Almost Home (by Joan Bauer)
Who is your best friend?               Whitney 
What is your favorite food?          Bob Evan's Mac 'n Cheese
What is your favorite thing to do outside?       Capture the Flag
What is your favorite thing to do inside?        Sketch/Doodle
What is your favorite drink?         Dr. Pepper
What is your favorite thing to take to bed?    Blankies
What is your favorite candy?         Jolly Ranchers
What is your favorite holiday?       Christmas
What is your favorite season?     Spring
What is your favorite movie?       Jumanji

What do you want to be when you grow up?    Elementary (3rd grade) Teacher
The thing I do the best is...             Play my Trumpet
The coolest person on Earth is...      Mom 
Three words that describe me...     Dramatic, Pretty, and Kind
One food I really do not like is...         Fish
One wish I have is....                      To go to London

This is how Quinn writes her name when she is 12...

Click on the following links to see Quinn's answers at:
 Age 11,  
Age 10, 
Age 9, 
Age 8, 
 Age 7.  

It is fun to see how her answers have changed over the years!

Quinn - #12

Today marked a very important day... it was a certain someone's 12th birthday!!!  

Twelve.  One year before we officially enter the teen years.  How can Quinn almost be a teen?!

The morning started with a celebratory birthday breakfast... complete with candles.  

Quinn requested donut holes and what the birthday girl requests, the birthday girl gets!!!  

We sent the birthday girl off to school, where her friends showered her with love.  She walked in to school to find that her friends had decorated her locker for her.... what great friends she has!

Her sister also showered her with love.  She created this sign all by herself for Quinn - just so Quinn would know how much she is loved!

The evening brought about dinner of Quinn's choosing.  She loves herself some pasta and bread sticks, so off to the Olive Garden we went!  

Quinn got some pretty cool gifts from everyone.  She had been wanting an Ivory Ella shirt and "slides" (sandals) for some time, so we was thrilled to see both of those when she opened presents!

Here she is modeling both the shirt and the sandals... silly girl!

Finally, we topped off the already fantastic day with cake!  Quinn requested a cookie dough ice cream cake....

This picture is priceless - she blew out the candles and extinguished all of them.  That means she doesn't have any boyfriends.  That made her dad happy too!!

Quinn had a wonderful birthday - here's hoping that year 12 is just as great as today was!  Happy Birthday, Quinner!  

*****************************

Quinn McKenna - This year, above all others, you have grown and matured into someone quite amazing.  Not only have you grown in appearance (with your shoe size nearly topping mine), but you've matured in the way you act and carry yourself.  You continue to be stead fast in your beliefs and aren't afraid to share your passion for justice and equality (especially at home).  These are qualities that will serve you well in life, my dear! Passionate, determined, strong-willed... loving, kind, and thoughtful!

You have a witty sense of humor that parallels that of your dad's.  Your wit and playful sarcasm make me smile.  

We couldn't be more proud of your accomplishments this year in the classroom and beyond.  You take pride in your work and you have made amazing friends that appreciate you for who you are! You've managed to surround yourself with some pretty great people. 

On this day we celebrate you - for all that you've done, for who you've become, and for all the great things that lie ahead.  You are destined for greatness, Quinn!  Happy 12th Birthday, Love!

Grandma Jane

This post is long overdue...blowing off the dust on the pictures.  After Easter, Grandma Jane stayed a few extra days to spend some time with us - we couldn't have been more excited to have her stay!

We played lots of games...

Sullivan got a new game that requires you to put mouthpieces in your mouth and then attempt to say phrases.  It seems easy, but it is quite the opposite. Man alive is it funny!  Really funny.

Grandma was such a great sport to play this game!!!

We also chilled a lot, did some shopping and we managed to go to the arcade and have a little fun!

The time with Grandma Jane was amazing... relaxing, fun, but ever too short!! 

The Itch is Real...

Ryan has had an itch for the past couple weeks...

and yesterday he had the opportunity to scratch that itch!!!

Ryan has been dying to get out in the yard and mow.  Keep in mind that it hasn't been especially warm. OK...It really hasn't been warm at all, but that won't stop Ryan.  The itch is far too strong!

Just to ensure that Ryan did a great job, Tessa served as the Quality Assurance Director yesterday.  She approved the quality of his work.  Looks like he gets to keep his job!

An Interview with Sullivan - Age 9

It's that time of year again.  Here is the annual birthday interview with Sullivan with all her favorites from this year!  The answers in purple stayed the same as last year.  The green answers are different!

What is your favorite color?            Purple
What is your favorite toy?              Slime
What is your favorite fruit?            Pomegranates
What is your favorite TV show?      Fuller House
What is your favorite outfit?           Dresses
What is your favorite game?          Mouthpiece Game (hilarious game!)
What is your favorite snack?         Goldfish Crackers & Fruit Snacks
What is your favorite animal?        Rabbits
What is your favorite song?          Castle on the Hill (Ed Sheeran)
What is your favorite book?         Notebook of Doom series
Who is your best friend?               Maddy M. (Tessa was her first answer!)
What is your favorite food?          Raviolis and Salt 'n Vinegar chips
What is your favorite thing to do outside?       Play with Tessa
What is your favorite thing to do inside?       Make slime
What is your favorite drink?         Sprite
What is your favorite thing to take to bed?    Little Blankies 
What is your favorite candy?         Dum Dum suckers
What is your favorite holiday?       Christmas
What is your favorite season?     Spring
What is your favorite movie?       Jumanji

What do you want to be when you grow up?    Artist
The thing I do the best is...             Help People
The coolest person on Earth is...      Mommy
Three words that describe me...     Caring, Fun, and Loving
One food I really do not like is...         Cheesy Chicken and Rice
One wish I have is....                      To make the world a better place

This is how Sullivan writes her name when she is 9...

If you want, you can check out her answers from previous years.  Just click on the link:

Age 8

 Age 7 

Age 6 

 Age 5 

 Age 4

It's fun to see how her answers have changed over the years!  

Easter 2018 - Part 2

In preparation of Easter, the kiddos all got together and dyed some Easter eggs. Fun times were had by all of them and some beautiful eggs were created.

Easter morning brought great joy and excitement as all the kids eagerly found all the eggs and baskets left by the Easter bunny.  To be young again.... the joys of being thrilled by candy and little trinkets!

The pure excitement in the house was contagious...!  I honestly wish I could bottle it up.  

All in all, a good Easter weekend for all of us.  Not only were great memories made on Easter, but throughout the whole weekend.  We count ourselves blessed to have such amazing family and their willingness to travel across the country to spend time with us!

These bunnies wish you a Happy Easter...

So does this bunny...

Sulla Grace - #9

Today our sweet Sullivan is 9 years old.  Nine.  

How did that happen?!

The morning started out with quite the celebration... Sulla was first awakened to Quinn and I singing "Happy Birthday" to her... followed very quickly by Quinn playing "Happy Birthday" on her trumpet.  It was a very sweet gesture on Quinn's part - she learned it specifically for Sullivan!

Sullivan's birthday breakfast followed shortly there after.  This year was a delicious one - not at all nutritious, but certainly delicious!!!

  No birthday breakfast would be complete without a candle and a wish!

Mother Nature was kind to Sullivan today and sent her a gift with weather in the 70s.  Glorious. Absolutely glorious.

Aside from Mother Nature, Sullivan got some pretty great gifts from everyone today!  Her reactions to her gifts were priceless.  She truly was shocked and thrilled by everything she got.

This was especially cute - she got a book by her favorite author which shouldn't really garner that great of a reaction.  The neat thing was this author was at my school this week for an author's visit so I was able to get an autographed copy for her!

After present opening, Quinn and I took Sullivan out to eat.  Sullivan chose Freddy's - which is burger and ice cream joint.  Can't go wrong with Freddy's.

After I took this selfie, I was made aware by both my girls just how awful I am at taking selfies.  So I apologize to all of you out there for having to look at such an awful looking picture!  It's all I got.

The night was capped off with the most delicious cake.  Much like breakfast, it wasn't nutritious, but dessert isn't supposed to be!!!

Sullivan made a wish and blew out her candles...

Only two boyfriends this year!!

You might be wondering why there is no Ryan in the picture or the post today... It just so happened that Ryan had to travel for work this week and wasn't around to help celebrate Sulla's birthday today.  He felt awful about having to be gone, but Sulla was understanding and knew that he'd be here if he could!  Ryan did pick out a special gift for Sullivan though...

And Sullivan could not have been anymore appreciative for Ryan's card. Sullivan instantly said, "This is my favorite card of all.  Daddy picked this out special for me today!"

Simply put...Today was an amazing day!

Sulla Grace - You blessed our lives nine years ago when you completed our family.  Your spunky, tenacious personality fills the room and brings smiles to those around you.  You continue to show a generous spirit - often putting the needs of others in front of your own.  You recently told me that your wish is to help make the world a better place.  Sulla Grace, I'm here to tell you...you do that everyday.  Your kindness and generosity is felt by all those around you!

On this day, we celebrate you.  We celebrate your awesomeness.  We celebrate your past and all that you've accomplished.  But above all, we celebrate all that is too come for you, my sweet love.  Happy 9th Birthday, Sullivan Grace!