water play

When the weather gets hot, the Allison's make good use of their sprinklers! Photos courtesy of Ashley (while I was at work).

Not happy about something...

Really, REALLY not happy about something!

Spring is in the air

Ok, so yes, we're nearing the end of summer. A fact I am aware of every time I take a look at the calendar, see the back-to-school shopping commercials, and receive emails from my boss regarding my impending return to work. And now you know how far behind I am on my picture editing/posting/filing, but these pictures were just too cute not to post.

Tallahassee puts on an annual Springtime parade/festival downtown. This is truly a highlighted event, and I think it might be a crime to live here and NOT attend this festival. Vendors and businesses spend months putting their floats together and the city actually pays some lucky people full-time salaries year-round to sit in their office and organize this event.

This year, we met up with Logan's BFF, Jonathan, and watched the parade across the street from his father's fire station. It was far less crowded and we had actually had restrooms (at the fire station) that we could use without too much of hassle. Additionally, we were at the START of the parade rather than the end of it, which came in handy in the afternoon when the parade had ended for us (but not for everyone down the street) and we were able to beat the crowds leaving early and making it home in time for naps.

I started off the morning with a rather hilly 10K; my first post-Keegan delivery race. The kids surprised me (shown below) by showing up fully dressed and fed, and bearing gifts of flowers and Gatorade. This was a nice, heartwarming surprised, followed up with another welcome surprise: free beer and Publix coupons at the finish time! Someone sure knows how to make me a happy woman!

practice makes perfect

I have to beg them to take their karate clothes off (in 100 degree heat) just so I can wash them!

something sure is funny

just like everyone else

Don't your kids stand on the coffee table and give Bible School performances?

it's the thought that counts

As we watched the city workers with their construction trucks clean out the ditches in our neighborhood (temperature outside this afternoon is 100 degrees)....

GAVIN: It's so hot. They must be really thirsty.

LOGAN: Yeah, we should give them a drink of water.

GAVIN: Yeah, or we should give them one of my Capri Suns.

LOGAN: That's what God wants us to do.

GAVIN: Yeah, can we do that, Mom?

LOGAN: But God doesn't want us to let them inside our house even though it's so hot. Cause their shoes are dirty and it will get all inside our house and stuff.

The Squint Smile

At least he's willing to have his picture taken now, but this is what I get every time I ask him to smile for the camera.

So every picture looks exactly like these....

earning their keep

Well, at least they know how to make their own PB&J's!

always a scapegoat

Last night, I made my nightly bedtime rounds -- checking on each child, pulling up their covers, and kissing their sleeping foreheads. Logan's a light sleeper (like his mom) and sometimes wakes up when he hears me in his room. Last night he sat up in bed and incoherently stated, "NO! Gavin did it!" Poor Gavin, getting blamed for things he didn't do even while he's sleeping!

yellow tip in the house!

It's belt-testing time at The Dragon's Den next week, so imagine my surprise when Gavin came home with his yellow tip almost two weeks early! He started taking TaeKwonDo in March with Logan and Jay, and this makes him the youngest yellow tip in class! Go Gray!

Here he is on his first day of karate in March. Ready for what's coming.

And now we have a yellow tip in the house!

While I was on my blogging break...

In no particular order....and you'll have to wait for me to get caught up to see the pictures. We are busy having too much summer fun!


1. We went to Disney World.

2. Logan turned 6.

3. We had an early birthday party for Gavin with all his friends from school (summer birthday's are the worst when you're a kid!).


4. We had two whole weekends to ourselves while the kids were at Disney with Nana and Papa.

5. Nana turned 60.

6. In karate, Logan got a "Rising Star" patch (the only one in his school to have one).

7. Gavin got his yellow tip.

8. Gavin fell in love and graduated from pre-k.

9. Logan finished his first year of school with straight "E"s.

10. Ashley graduated and left us for a "real job" :(

11. Jay started a garden and it's going crazy!

12. The Allison's went organic

13. SUMMER IS HERE!

buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks

This year, for the baseball opening day ceremony, I lost my mind momentarily. I agreed to take Logan's BFF, Jonathon, along with us -- leaving me the lone woman amongst 5 crazy males! The highlight for the boys had to be the rock climbing and bounce houses, while the highlight for me was hands down the half price Red Elephant pizzas at the end of the day. We took home three! Play ball!

size doesn't matter

He might be small, but it's all about the technique and confidence. And this little guy is great to have around for protection (even if he does talk back and eat all the food in the house)!

Dragon System Belt Testing 6/26/2010

today is the big day

They've practiced, and practiced, and practiced some more. June 26th is finally here and Logan has been counting down the days for weeks. This morning we head to the Dragon's Den for belt testing and awards. Gavin earned his yellow tip last week, and Logan and Jay are up for their green tip. Logan wants to be a green belt so badly because that's when you get to start training with WEAPONS! Of course, he has to break a board with his front kick, which looks awfully painful. But I know he can do it! Go Logan!!!!!

Karate Kid

I'm so proud of this kid! We average 4 nights a week of this and he never gets tired of it.

He's gonna be great!

What are YOU lookin' at?!?!

March Madness

In March we....

celebrated Papa's birthday

and he dined on a hamburger cake courtesy of Liz

we danced the night away at the Gilchrist auction

and I won a bid for Gavin's birthday party!!!!

we wrestled some grizzly bears

and read

and read

and read.

"My TWO"

Keegan

Age: 2 years, 1 month

Likes: "boot" (popcorn), "nack" (snack), picking veggies from Daddy's garden, playing with his brothers, "MoMo" (Elmo), "ChooChee" (trains), "yinner" (dinner), O.S. (his Build-A-Bear from our other nanny, Allie), "yake yella ducks" (going to Lake Ella to see the ducks), "gogo" going anywhere, dancing, "yewyo, pink, blue and white" (his pacifiers of aforementioned colors) singing, "ice" (ice water), laughing and tantruming as appropriate.

Accomplishments: learned his colors, is able to recognize a few letters, counts to 3, speaks in complete sentences.

When I grow up I want to be: (he hasn't told us yet, so I'll decide for him) a doctor

The Lovely Logan

Logan

Age: 6 years, 2 months

School: Kindergarten at Gilchrist (soon to be first grader)

Likes: ramen noodles, the weather, Wii, sword fighting, salads with ranch dressing, karate, swimming, reading

Accomplishments: yellow belt (and about to test for a green tip), learned to read, completed kindergarten with 180 days on green!

When I grow up I want to be: a psychologist or meteorologist

Growing with Gavin

Gavin

Age: 4 years, 10 months

School: Pre-K4 at Betton Hills Prep (soon to be Kindergarten at Gilchrist)

Likes: macaroni and cheese, dancing, karate, Baby Keegan, drawing

First Love: Jada

Accomplishments: Yellow Tip, knows all his letters and sounds, swims like a fish, first t-ball season under his belt

When I grow up I want to be: The President