mothers day

As usual I was spoiled on Mother's Day. I got to sleep in then was greeted with crepes, cards, flowers and even a balloon! I got some time to blog and then weheaded out for a bike ride on the bike path. We went out for dinner which was a nice treat to end the day!

kathryn

Kathryn is growing so fast--7 weeks old yesterday! She is starting to smile although she won't smile for the camera (join the group). She is well loved by her brothers and sister and they still enjoy her very much--although the request of "out her down" is heard from Cameron and the occasional "you only pay attention to Kathryn" is heard by Heather but mostly they love her. She is so sweet, a pretty good sleeper and an excellent snuggler!! Jeff is enjoying his break from school and is spoiling us with his extra time and attention!!

spring soccer

Heather and Charlie have had a great spring playing soccer. Heather plays with the same kids from fall--such a nice group and much more competitive with the other teams. Heather has done well and seems to have a good sense of positioning (at least on offense!) She got a goal in the last game and has been in position most games to score, she needs a big kick! Charlie also loves to play and is with his best buddy on the black bats this time. since it's 3 on 3 with no goalie Charlie scores frequently. Cameron has been a trooper heading to all the sports activities and cheers for his brother and sister--mimicking the cheers of those around him--including any coaching Jeff might be offering, "heather push up"

easter

The kids had a nice easter weekend deciding which egg hunts to attend and spending time with their cousin adam. We attended the community egg hunt at the park where they were overwhelmed with eggs. We headed home for a quick lunch then off to the hokies spring game. The egg hunt there was not so great--no eegs for even the fastest hunter heather :-( but the hokies won the game and the kids had fun. The kids were up early and ready to explore their Easter baskets and hunt for eggs! Outside there was first a frenzy--then some egg finding burnout!

visits by the grandparents

Kathryn has had lots of visitors which has been so much help to the family. The kids have had a lot of fun with the extra attention and helping hands. Cameron has twisted them around his tiny fingers with please of chocolate milk and books to be read.

welcome kathryn!

So on Charlie (and Sandy)'s birthday baby Kathryn was born. It took all day--longer than the others--but a very easy delivery (thanks to modern day epidurals!!) and we had our beautiful baby girl. Kathryn Caroline weighed in at 8 lbs 7 oz--the smallest of our 4--and came out crying which was such a blessing. Everything went so smoothly and after so much worry everything was fine! Grandma and Grandpa were there to welcome her at the hospital and Jeff's mom brought the kids up the next day to see Kathryn (they even got to miss school). Since she was born at 10:59 p.m. the kids went with grandma's and grandpa to chuck e cheese instead of coming to the hospital (i don't think they minded too much). Kelly came over the following day so Kathryn had a room full of family to start off her little life. She had a full head of hair and was a nice tan (jaundice) and sooo cute!! She got to come home Friday morning but spent several days on a bili-blanket trying to de-tan herself. Otherwise very healthy she was 8-10 at her two week check up. Everyone is so happy to have her home and the kids always want to hold her, attend to her when she cries, and laugh when she does funny baby things (like poop and gurgle!).

Charlie's birthday

Charlie got to celebrate 3 times (4?) for his birthday. The first week of march he had his best buddy in Blacksburg come over for a sleepover since he was going to be out of town for Charlie's party. We took the kids bowling and they had dinner, wii and a movie after. Charlie was very excited for his first "birthday" sleepover and it was a success. The weekend before his birthday he had a few friends over for a party, similar to heathers they did crafts, played a few games, and of course a football piniata was broken (before Heather got to hit it to her dismay). He chose a sports theme so a soccer ball cake and some football cupcakes topped off the snacks. My sister, Bryan and cute baby Adam came over to witness the chaos that was the "party" and celebrate the kids birthdays. We got to go out to BW3's for dinner (Charlie choice) and watch some NCAA tournament bkball (charlie's choice) to top off the night. Charlie then celebrated once more the day before his birthday, with his grandma hughes who shares his birthday, just in case baby Kathryn decided to be born on his birthday (which she did--next post!!). We went out to dinner, he opened presents, and blew out the candles on his birthday buckeyes--I was tired of cake and he likes buckeyes better anyway. Jeff's mom had angel food cake with strawberries. Charlie is happy to be 6--he can play football in the fall now and is a very smart, kind, and sensative 6 year old.

Heather's birthday

Heather and Charlie have been anticipating their birthdays so much that they really seem to have forgotten that we will have a baby soon as well! Cameron is so excited for their birthdays because his is "next" little doe he know that September, while "next" is still quite far away!! Heather had a weekend birthday celebration starting with her first soccer game of the season. She did great and had a good time but her attention turned quickly to her party. Finally her friends came over for a party at the house--undersea was the theme and the girls all wore ocean/beach attire. They had a great time doing the crafts, playing the games, and eating cake. The hi-light of course was the dolphin piniata that Jeff made (again!). The girls headed home and one friend stayed for a sleepover. Heather woke up on her birthday with a friend already at hand to play with, crepes for breakfast and the whole day to decide what to do. Jeff took the boys to the Va Tech NIT tournament game (they lost) while Heather chose to go to lunch at subway and head to the mall to do a "paint your own" project that she had been dying to do for her birthday. She chose steak for dinner, blew out candles on her # 8 cake and went to bed a pretty happy newly 8 year old. Hard to believe 8 years have gone by so fast!