Happy 3rd Birthday, Kayla Elizabeth!

To My Beautiful Daughter, Kayla:

Wow, time is flying...I can not believe that you are three years old already.  It seems like just yesterday, we were snuggled together underneath a blanket on the couch, sharing kisses and nose rubs.  Oh wait...that WAS just yesterday.  I am so lucky to have a little girl who always seems to have time to snuggle with her momma (even if it is in between timeouts).  You are such an fiercely independent child, who knows EXACTLY what she wants.  While this is a bit trying for your parents at times, these characteristics will take you far in life.  I am so proud of you and the little girl you are and are becoming.  I love you forever.

Love,
Mommy

Random Photos from February

Here are some random February photos!  It's been a cold month!

NBA-very

Avery finished up his very first season of basketball this month.  I am very proud of him for sticking with this (very) difficult sport for this age group.  He and his Daddy practiced very hard.

 

 

 The team had a party at the end of the season, where Avery got a medal and trophy to add to his collection.

Because Phil was a coach, he got to participate in the coach's playoff game at the end of the season.  Highlights of the game include Phil almost dunking, Kayla randomly running out onto the court to see her Daddy in the middle of a play, Avery getting hit in the face with a basketball (apparently, this Mommy was pretty distracted watching her hubby play ball), and enjoying a very competitive game that ended with our team victorious.  It was pretty awesome.

 

 

 

I didn't get any good videos of Phil's game, as I had 2 whiny, tired kids hanging all over me (it was late on a Friday night; not our best time).  But I did happen to catch one of Phil's visits to the free throw line.

Basketball has inspired some of Avery's artwork.

 

A(nother) Trip to the Fire Museum

There aren't too many "indoor" places around here for cold weather activities.  So we hit up the Fire Museum.  Again.  This time, though, Kayla mastered the fire ladder and was brave enough to try to fire pole.  Everytime she went down the pole (with Daddy's help), she would close her eyes and say, "I'm brave! I'm very brave!".  Avery and Kayla enjoyed running around and acting out fire scenarios as well.  A good (warm) time was had by all.

 

 

 

A Princess Party

Kayla went to a princess party for one of her little girlfriends she has been with since infancy at her old school.  I was proud of Kayla for picking the least "girly" princess costume out of her collection and even more proud of her for choosing a hair bow over a tiara.  That's my girl!!!

 

A Cold February

We got our second winter storm this year during the middle of February.  Once again, our particular area was really only affected with cold temperatures and ice coating everything except the ground.  This was enough to give Phil and the kids some "snow" days, but not enough to get Mommy a day off.  Because our skinny little cypress trees down here are not used to the weight of ice TWICE one month's time, there was a lot of downed tree limbs, electrical wires, and power outages this time around.  Here are a few pictures from our back yard.  If I can't even enjoy a mild winter down here, I might as well move back north!!

 

A Rap Video

There is something about the music during the movie credits from "Despicable Me" that ignites the fire in my kids to dance.  On a whim, I slowed down part of this latest video and put a rap track to it.  Even better.

 

 

**Warning: Explicit Lyrics!!**

 

**Note: My children were not exposed to any age-inappropriate music during the filming or editing of this video.  I have no idea how Kayla knows how to dance like an 18 year old.  It must be in her genes.