Freedom Walk

"Freedom Walks were started in 2005 by Pentagon employees wishing to commemorate the attacks on the Pentagon and the towers and honor the lives of those lost on September 11th, 2001. They now have become a way to renew our commitment to freedom and to honor all who help us maintain our freedom especially our veterans, past and present."

Kate along with her class, the school and all 4 schools on Fort Leavenworth participated in a Freedom Walk today. They walked from their school to a central location for a short ceremony. They recited the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the National Anthem and other patriotic songs then walked back to school.

Walking with the school.

Waiting for everyone to get in their place

Singing...I think she is moving her arms like a bird.

My patriotic girl.

I think they all had a great time. I am so glad I was able to join Kate and her class and participate in the walk.

Kate goes to Kindergarten

Well my baby is really growing up! Today is her first day of Kindergarten! She was so excited and could not wait to walk out the door! Cole was not happy at all that Kate was going to school. Kate followed her teacher into the school and didn't look back. I then proceeded to cry a little bit...

Cole starts his school next Wednesday, I'm not sure I will we teary for that one. It is only for 6 hours a week though...

It's almost time to pick up Kate, I can't wait to hear about her first day!

T-rex

We went to the "coolest restaurant ever" (according to Kate) in Kansas City the other day. It was called T-Rex and was full of dinosaurs and sea creatures. The kids loved posing with the dino's , so I figured I would post a few...

Kate pretending to be scared. She really wanted to touch the teeth.

There really are so many neat things to do around the Leavenworth area. I hope to have lots of great things to share with you all.

It would be great if we had lots of visitors while we are here. Hint Hint.

Miss you all and hope to hear from you!

Good-bye Texas!

Well, we had to say good-bye to our house, friends, school and life as we know it in Texas.

and Hello to our new house and life in Kansas...

Here are the kids in the back yard. Kate's new school is in the background.

Now that we are here and getting settled I hope to keep up with the blog a little better. There are some GREAT photos from the past month or so that I never posted and hope to get to.

Let me know if anyone needs our new address or phone number. Our cell phones have stayed the same. Miss you all and would love to hear from you!

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. Aside from missing Oliver immensely we had a wonderful time.

Visiting the Easter bunny. Kate LOVED him! This is as close as Cole would get to him!

Coloring the Easter eggsKate drew a picture for the Easter bunny and prepared him a little snack of carrots and lettuce. Chocolate bunnies! Surrounded by the Easter loot! Kate and Cole in their Easter outfits. Getting ready to head to a wonderful church service!Mommy and KateMy little man! Looks like his Daddy! Kate with the daffodils from our flower bed. Getting ready to "flower the cross." Kate and Cole putting flowers on the cross. I am so thankful for a wonderful church family and for great friends. They have made Oliver being away bearable. That being said, I REALLY can't wait for him to come home in less than 2 weeks!

Wish you had been here for all the Easter festivities. Love and miss you very much! Drive safe!

Kate is 5!

Kate had an eventful "Birthday Week." Tuesday her Grandpa Randy came for a visit (he hasn't missed one of her birthday's yet!) Wednesday was her actual birthday, Kate woke up in the morning, came into my room and said "I can't believe I am 5, I feel smarter already!"

She was so excited to go to school to be sung to, share cookies with her class, and get a crown and sticker to wear all day. Unfortunately when we got there I noticed she wasn't acting right--turns out she wasn't feeling well so we got back in the car and headed home. I called the doctor and got her an appointment that day. It was strep! For the 3rd time this winter! Fun! Well, she started her antibiotics, rested the rest of the day and insisted she still wanted to go out for her birthday dinner. We went out to the Texas Roadhouse so she could "ride the saddle" like she had done last year.

Kate not feeling well. I let her open a present when we got home from NOT going to school so she could go lay in bed and rest and play with it...Dinner with Grandpa Randy, Barbara, the Perry Family and usKate on the saddle. She had waited a year to do this again...

(you can tell she is not feeling 100%--poor sweet girl)We went home and finished opening presents.

She LOVED her new jewelry box with dancing ballerinas from Grandmom.and was VERY proud of her pearl necklace from India.A new American Girl Doll. She Named her Chelsea.Our American...boy!And her sky cake.Check out the rainbow on the inside! (This took me a while, so I had to include a picture! :)

On Saturday before her party Daddy and I gave her a "special" gift because she was turning 5. A pretty charm bracelet with 2 charms to start her out. A tiara and an I love you.

On Saturday Kate had her birthday party at a gymnastics facility called Texas Tumblers.

Here she is in the foam pit.She had a great time with all of her friends.Here she is on her way out. You can tell by her hair that she had a good time... Grandpa Randy was here until Friday then Daddy came into town that night. He was only in town until Sunday afternoon, but it was really nice for Oliver to be at Kate's party since he missed her birthday last year. And...only TWO more weeks until the class is over and he gets to come home! YAY!!

Kate is so proud to be 5. My little girl is really growing up!

Visiting First Cavalry Division's Horse's

This morning we visited the First Cavalry Division's Horse Cavalry Detachment. It was a lot of fun and the kiddo's had a GREAT time! A life size "pretend" horse. Cole kept asking to ride it, but then kicked and screamed when I tried to put him on it...Kate LOVES the horses.It was the first time Cole had seen a horse up close.and the mules...sitting in the cart. Cole feeding the horse named CoalPretty Kate Cole just chillin'
There is so much history behind the First Cav. and their horses. This is something I have been wanting to do since moving here, so I am so glad we had the chance before leaving.