Catch and Release

It's the beginning of last summer...

We had a turtle show up at our doorstep.  John Reagan and Evie wanted to keep the turtle and put it in the kiddie swimming pool.  So they fixed the turtle up.  The only problem was this was not an aquatic turtle.  When Daddy noticed the turtle swelling, he positioned a log "just so" for the turtle to escape.  Evie was devastated!  She went on and on and on and on (get my drift?) about this turtle telling everyone who would listen. 

Then came birthday time...

Uncle Anthony decided it would be a good idea for him and Aunt Paula to give Evie a turtle for her birthday, tank and all.  How sweet of them!

 A year later...

Mommy is tired of taking care of this turtle.  Do you know how nasty turtles like their tanks?  Too nasty for Mommy!  I moved the tank outside.  At this point, we had been working for months on convincing the kiddos to release the turtle into the lake.  We had been telling them how he needs to go "find a family."  Finally just before Evie's 4th birthday they decide the turtle would be better off in the wild.

Off we go as quickly as possible...

 Turtle took off like a bolt of lightening!

 We had to take what turtle food was left and dump it for turtle.  They wanted to make sure he was well taken care of.  Here they are taking turns dumping the food.

Since Averi somehow missed all the picture taking, I figured I would add one in for good measure.

As you can see she could have cared less about the festivities of the day!

We are happy to report there has been no sadness about turtle's release and very little talk about turtle.  For anyone who knows Evie, you know this is a BIG deal!  She still talks about the cat who ran away almost 2 years ago, and we STILL have to pray for the cat's return.

Baseball Fun

John Reagan played his third year of t-ball in the spring.  His birthday falls exactly 1 month after the cut off day for moving up.  They are pretty lenient in this area, but we chose to let him stay in t-ball and move up at the appropriate age.  We figured it couldn't hurt.  He had his best year as a result and as usual loved every minute of it.

I have no idea what that look is about.  Apparently we caught him in action.

I don't know if you know this, but t-ball takes a great deal of thought and concentration.  T-Ball ended in June.  Since August we have heard the question, "When does baseball start?" on a regular basis.  The boy loves it!  Daddy loves that John Reagan loves it.

Evie was still too young for t-ball this year...not that it mattered.  She informed us she did not want to play.  Oh my!  Even if she would have, we would have said no.  One practice would be all that it lasted.  We will see how she responds this next go round, but I am pretty sure the answer will be a firm "NO!"

Kindergarten Graduation

How is it that I have a child old enough to have Kindergarten Graduation this past school year?  I don't know.  Greg and I were talking last night about when we first brought John Reagan home and how it doesn't seem like he should be this big.

For graduation, each child had to do some sort of announcement. John Reagan did the "Welcome."  Then everyone had their own separate speaking part.  The whole class also had to recite 26 memory verses they learned throughout the year...one for each letter of the alphabet.  They all did great!

The big guy was ready to get started.  He was so excited!

 Of course they sang several songs as well.

 Evie girl always takes a nap at the wrong time, and she is not a morning person.  So you can imagine how she is when she wakes up.  This is what is taking place here.  She could have cared less about brother's graduation.

 Averi is always a good sport.  I am pretty sure by the look on her face she is getting her way here.  She had fun!

Looking at these pictures makes me realize how much John Reagan has grown over the summer.  Wow!  And to think in May we will be doing Pre-K graduation with Evie.

Life is definitely happening around here.  QUICKLY!!



John Reagan's 6th Birthday!

I can't believe our baby boy turned 6 this year.  Where has the time gone?  We had his party at The Zone in Ruston, which is an indoor sports complex.  It was burning up, even by the middle of May.  Note to self...good idea in the winter, bad idea as early as May.  But the kids did not seem to care.  They had a blast! 

Mario Kart was what the birthday boy requested.  I always swore I would NEVER make birthday cakes.  I HATE it!  God did not fashion me to be a baker/decorator.  The things you do for your kids.  I have officially made half of John Reagan's cakes over the years.

 We really didn't need the pizza.  Everyone filled up on juice and water staying hydrated.  We had at least a whole pizza left even after the adults dove in.  Another note to self...hot location, food not necessary.

 Evie had fun on the bouncies, but boy was she mad when we made her come eat a bite.

 And Averi, well she is happy the majority of the time.

All in all, John Reagan had a great birthday!  We usually do his party early so it will be close to the end of school.  As a result, he practically gets to celebrate the whole month of May.  What kid wouldn't love that?

On a completely different note, I absolutely dislike this new blogger format.  Arggg!  It makes me want to scream.  It is not my friend!  At least the final product looks right because it certainly doesn't in the "creating" process.