Last Game of the Season

Saturday was Courtney's last soccer game of the season. It has been really cold here (about 20 degrees below normal on some days) so we dressed for cold weather. It wasn't too bad but Bryan wished he was in shorts by the end of the game!

The girls did really well and had a fun season. You could definitely tell who had been coming to practice and who had not, but they all improved over the course of the season. Courtney had a great time and was happy to be a soccer girl again.

Here is a photo we took after their last game with their trophies. The parents wanted "coach" in the picture too. Great season girls!!

Breakfast

Our wonderful kids made us breakfast in bed this morning!!! Courtney distracted us by reading stories while Ethan cooked toast and made hot chocolate. They are so sweet and considerate! What lucky parents we are.

Growth Chart

We have been keeping track of how tall the kids have grown by marking it on the laundry room wall. The other day I started to think that it may not be a good idea to do this because we may want to paint the wall someday and I don't want to paint over the markings.

I did an internet search and found a tutorial on tip junkie for a growth ruler from Pottery Barn. Apparently this chart was really expensive and someone figured out how to make it cheaply. I looked at the instructions and it was really simple, so I made one.

It's just a 1x8x6 board (1 inch thick, 8 inches wide and 6 feet long) from Home Depot and then I stained it (I had left over stain), put the inch marks on it with a marker, cut vinyl lettering for the numbers, sprayed it with finish and hung it up. I had to transfer over the measurements from the wall but it was fun to see how much they have grown! I can't believe it.

Last of all I took a new measurement of them using the ruler growth board. Ethan is only about 6 inches shorter than I am! I think it's fun and it turned out pretty well.

The chart hung up to the correct height (I started the ruler at 6 inches so I could avoid the baseboard):
Ethan's growth:
Courtney's growth:

Dancer of the Week

On Tuesday at dance, Courtney was given the Dancer of the Week award. She was so excited and happy to show me her certificate. Last year we had the certificate on the fridge for months. We'll see how long it stays up this time but she was so happy!

Anniversary Dinner

Bryan made me a wonderful anniversary dinner on Monday including a table set with roses in a vase. We had it planned so we would put the kids to bed and then have dinner together. But the kids had other plans. They wanted to be our waiters so they helped get everything ready, including blowing up balloons to throw at us. Ethan even had an army guy hold a "Happy Anniversary" sign. It was hilarious!

When we were served, they went to bed and we ate in peace. It was a great meal and a fun evening with family. I'm happy that the kids were so excited that it was our anniversary.

The food:
The table:
Ethan (with a very serious waiter-face on):
Courtney:

Courtney's New Room

Courtney is so lucky. There is a girl in our neighborhood who loves to give her hand-me-downs to Courtney. Usually it's toys but this time it was bedroom decorations! Courtney was in heaven.

We went over to their house and she picked out what she wanted and then we came home, re-arranged all her furniture, threw away a TON of junk, organized and then decorated. I think it turned out cute and she loves the added "girly" touches. She loves her room now.

I was trying to get a picture of the cute "pink wall" but Bryan and Courtney had other plans.

Thirteen Years!!

Can you believe that we have been married for 13 years? Crazy how time flies.
Love you Bryan!!! Happy Anniversary