Gymnastics Galore!

Gymnastics……it has all come full circle. I competed when I was young, and I was pretty good. I have lots of medals, trophies, uniforms, and pictures as evidence to show my competitive childhood. And now my 2 girls have taken on the sport. Halle truly loves it. She will show off her splits, or back handsprings and I’ll joke and say “I paid a lot of money for this split.” It is a joke, but it is true….I DO pay a lot of money for this extra-curricular activity. She spends hours making up routines and then poor Gracie has to perform. Ha! Usually Halle creates the routine as a duo routine and they perform them together. It is so fun to watch. And although I didn’t have a sister to do this with, I would use my neighborhood friends as my guinea pigs. Gracie has no fear and has come a long way just this year. But it’s funny how different they are. Halle is more flexible and dancer-like in her moves and gracie is more powerful and not really that flexible. I’m not sure if we’ll get into competing or not. I haven’t encouraged it yet b/c I think they are still so young and there are too many other fun things to enjoy right now. But, I would never keep them from enjoying their passion if that’s what they choose. So I guess time will tell.

Halle and her sweet friend Catherine!

This weekend they competed against kids in their age group and they both did great! Gracie won 1st place in the all around category and Halle won 2nd. Then they each won first place in different events...Halle 1st on floor and bars, and 2nd on beam. Then Gracie won't 1st on each event...she rocked! I was really so proud of both of them for different reasons. Halle's age group was much more competitive and the way she really focused and came through was really fun to watch. Gracie had never done anything like this before so I was really proud of her for just going out there and performing by herself and doing such a great job!

This weekend Halle will run another 5k for the Girls on the Run program and then May 8 she'll do another kids triathlon. She said the other day, "Mom, I just want to be athletic." She's so funny!

Pet Apollo

The most angelic face ever! This is Apollo. My first baby. Eleven years ago over spring break....pre-parenthood I went to a rescue shelter and brought home 2 litter mates, Rocky and Apollo. They were my twins if you will! Sadly, Rocky died a few months later while being neutered at the vet (don't get me started), but Apollo made it through the beating they called a surgery and he is still with us. He has been the best dog ever and is so laid back and easy going. He has been stepped on, pulled, screamed at, etc. and has never once snapped at any of the kids. What a trooper! Now that the kids are past terrorizing him, they just love him. They remind me of myself as a young child. Always hating to leave him for the day, the weekend, or whatever, because he would be lonely. Especially Gracie.....she's definitely been the most afraid of dogs, yet her heart and spirit are always the one so sad or happy for the family pet. It is so cute. I took Apollo to get his hair cut over spring break so take a look at a before and after picture. The poor dog has TONS of hair so I know he feels so much better and ready for the summer heat. The day I left him for his haircut the kids weren't with me and poor me got all choked up leaving him alone. He didn't want to go into his kennel and it about broke my heart.

Who can resist this face that truly does no wrong!

After the haircut....all handsome and ready for the summer heat!

He may be a dog.....but he is such a special part of our family!

T-ball and 5K kickoff

Halle ran her first 5K this past Saturday and RUN she did. She ran the entire race without stopping and I am so proud of her. She finished in 35 minutes. Three miles is no easy run, especially when you're 8. She's been practicing for the Girls on the Run 5k in May and this was a great practice run. No doubt she'll be ready for the May race.....although I hear it's a little hilly. That's ok. It's all about having fun and just enjoying it. This is her dear friend Lydia that she rode w/ to the race.

A little good luck lovin' from our pet bunny Bugzy! And good luck he was!And to add to the excitement of the day, she won the frog jumping contest at Come See Me. Her frog Rusty was in rare form that morning and she won this HUGE trophy and a gift card to Target. WOW!


I missed all the Come See Me action because Gracie and Cade had their first t-ball game so I was on the baseball field with them. They had a blast and did a great job. They are the Mets and these hats are just too cute on them. Cade wanted to wear his to school this morning but we forgot it. SO, tomorrow he will be sporting his baseball hat to School Days!

Double Trouble!

No pool....be creative!

Here are the Wilson bathing beauties pre-summer glow! It will be no time before Halle looks like a copper tone baby and Gracie....won't. Her poor skin just gets dry and itchy. But Halle could stay in it all day and never burn.
Our spring break felt more like summer and it was just HOT. So, we pulled out the sprinkler and I put down a tarp, lathered it w/ soap and water and we made our own slip and slide. It wasn't quite the same, but the kids enjoyed it and they certainly got cool quick.

We are all officially back to work and school and the fun days of spring break and come and gone. But we sure had lots of fun just playing and enjoying the beautiful weather. Next year, we're going to try and take a trip somewhere beachy!

Easter and Spring Break

Easter has come and gone and we had a great day and week to spend together! We didn't go anywhere, but the weather was gorgeous here in Rock Hill so we cannot complain. Halle begged to go to the beach b/c we had lots of friends that got to go over the break, so I may try and work on that for next year!

Gracie, Grannie Kat, and Halle.....this is their great-grandmother on Chase's side of the family that loves them to pieces! And we love her too!

T-Paw putting a fake snake back in the peanut can. Finally I had to take this toy away from everyone. You can only open a can of 'peanuts' so many times!

After a great picnic at the lake we played a little baseball.

Chase and his two look-alikes. Gracie has his eyes and Cade has his personality for sure! Most think both of them look like Chase. I'm still undecided!

Cade with his turn at bat!

All dressed up w/ momma!

Gracie and Cade's turn.

A crazy picture for the camera.

The girls actually wore these dresses last September when I had their portraits done. We recycled them for Easter so we'd get our money's worth. They didn't seem to mind too much...although Halle said the dress was itchy. They are just like me when it comes to clothes. I'm all about my comfy t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops or tennis shoes.

Sweet! Don't get me wrong, they fight, but are the best of friends at the same time. I know they will grow up making so many fun memories. They each have their own ring tone on their fake cell phones. It's hysterical. When Halle sings "All the Single Ladies" Gracie answers. When Gracie sings "Boom Boom Pow" Halle answers. Cade has a 'tune' not lyrics. I can't remember what it is, but it's hilarious to hear these conversations at work in the house or car.

Easter Egg Hunt

The day before Easter we headed to Ebenezer Boat Landing for an Easter Egg Hunt. It was great! The kids had a blast and Gracie even found the Golden Egg!

Cade was quite the sack racer!
As usual....the center of attention! And lovin' it of course.

The troops! Mission: Easter Eggs

Halle....looking like she's telling someone what to do...and she probably is!

Gracie w/ the Golden Egg = $3.00

Cade and the love of his life...Raelyn. They've been in daycare together since they were little tots and next year they will embark on a new destination----kindergarten!

A sweet group!

Pre-Spring Break

Just before spring break Halle went to an American Girl Birthday Party. They each brought their dolls and learned all about each of the American Girls. She had a blast and I don't think I've ever heard her talk about a birthday as much. What was really special about this birthday is that each girl was supposed to bring a gently used doll or a new one to donate to the Children's Attention Home. What an amazing thing to do and it truly was a great lesson. I'm working on Halle to do that for her birthday next year, but she is not quite sure about that. We'll see! And speaking of birthdays she is already planning her 9th birthday. Never mind her birthday was 3 months ago! Ahhh. She wants to have a summer party so that she can swim and play outside. I can't say I blame her, the winter party planning is very limited. So she already has an itinerary and has created a birthday acrostic (poem) and it is cute.....but I can only listen to the itinerary so many times! So, I guess we'll see if she changes her mind! Next on the pre-spring break list was to dye eggs. We never got around to this last weekend, so one gorgeous day after school we set up shot under the carport and got the job done. They had a blast!

Spring Break is now here and we are SOOOO excited! No major plans but sure to make lots of memories. The kids are getting so big, each with their own unique personality, yet they travel in their club of 3. So thankful for each day with them!