Carson's Ballet Class

Okay, so I know it's been a long time since I posted, and I apologize. I promise to be better. Today was Carson's mid-year ballet class viewing. It was actually my first time to see her do it, and she was very excited. She concentrated soooo hard because she knew her daddy was watching... :)

Anyway, here are the pics from that day. Enjoy!

Curt

Outdoor fun with Dad

A while back my mother asked Will what his, "...favorite day ever..." was. Will said that it was the day that he and I washed the car outside and sprayed each other. He was about 4, so that was two years ago. Carson was too young at the time, and Brenna might now have been born. Anyway, my life seems to be so busy nowadays with work, and it really gets me down sometimes. I told Jen that this weekend, I wanted nothing more than to wash my Jeep with the kids, and have a good-ol-fashioned water fight.

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All of us had a ball. Brenna was absolutely fearless of the water...she'd come running up to me just to get sprayed, just like the big kids. We're starting to learn with her that she definitely thinks (and acts) like she is a big kid. I also learned a very important lesson: When your kids help you wash the car, make sure you have enough time to wash it (again) after they go inside....

Anyway, we're heading to Baton Rouge to visit family next week for the 4th of July. Really looking forward to that.

Curt

VBS End-of-week Celebration

The kids all finished up their week of Vacation Bible School. They did an end-of-week concert of the songs they learned during the week, something the kids have been looking forward to since they've been practicing the songs non-stop in the van when we drive around. All three of them loved it, and Jen finished her week of working VBS (so hopefully our lives will return somewhat back to their normal pace now).

Vacation Bible School

The Children's director at church called Jennifer a few weeks ago to ask her to be a teacher for VBS. Jennifer had never done this before, but gladly agreed (not knowing the monumental task she was getting into). :) She was going to be teaching 1st-graders, along with two of her best friends, Jamie and Meredith.

The theme of the week was farming ("Son Harvest"), so all of the decorations of the room had to be farm-like. After many late nights at the church, the girls pulled it off. Their room looked fantastic when it was all done, and the kids seem to love it. Note the look of delirium on Jennifer's face... Will's favorite part was the mud for the pig. He's "all boy". :)

On Friday they'll have a big show for all of the parents. I'll be sure to take pictures and post them after it's done.

Curt

Will's Night Out

During the last semester of school, Will improved his reading level all-the-way to a first grade level. In celebration, we promised him a night out on the town once I got back from China. It took a couple of weeks to find the right night, but Friday night we went out to Dave and Buster's.

Started out with dinner in the restaurant, and we told him he could order anything he wanted. He ordered a milkshake for his dinner drink, and daddy couldn't help but take a couple of sips with his own straw. Of course, something weird happened when I put that straw back into my Diet Coke... time for a new Diet Coke. :)

We played lots of games, and Will won enough tickets to pick up a couple of prizes. His favorite thing was what we used to call the "Chinese Finger-cuffs". I don't know what the p.c. term for them are nowadays, but he certainly loved them.

Anyway, fantastic night with Will. He's growing up so very fast.

Curt

Back from China

Well, after 4 long weeks away from my kids, I'm finally back from Shanghai. This was the longest trip I've ever taken out there, but this time Jennifer and mom joined me for a week, so that was awesome. I think 4 weeks is too long to be away from the kids though, and away from things I'm accustomed to (like being able to use tap water to brush my teeth). The Chinese people are extremely warm and friendly for he most part, as you can see from the above picture. I love the look on Jennifer's face here. It definitely caught us off-guard how much each and every one of them wanted to take their pictures with us. Probably took us at least 10 minutes of picture taking before we could leave to see the great wall.

Mom was a blast. She had come out to be a travel companion for Jennifer, since I had to work during the week. It was an absolute ball having both of them as travel partners to Beijing. Mom is hysterical in "her own way." She doesn't speak Chinese, but that didn't stop her from answering, "Si, Senor" to the people selling stuff... I should also point out that she doesn't speak Spanish either.

We all flew up to Beijing on Thursday when they were there (I took a day of of work...shhh). In one day we saw the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. First thing I want to do when I get a chance is put "The Last Emporer" in my Netflix queue. The Forbidden City was just amazing, and it's impossible to give any kind of description of how huge the place is.

I felt bad for these military guys at the Forbidden City. It was pretty hot that day, and they had to stand there in the heat.

Of course, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't mess with them and sneak up and have Jennifer take a picture of me.

Anyway, after a long trip, I'm so incredibly glad to be home. I missed my kids terribly, and eating out every meal for a month gets really old (and made my clothes feel smaller too...must have been the laundry). Either way, I hope I can go for a few months without leaving.

I really am going to try to keep this blog updated more.

Curt

I am Blessed

Carson did a fantastic job singing in church today. I had not problem being the proud/annoying dad with the cameras. I probably took 50 pictures of her singing (in both services), but this one really captured her great. When the kids were singing, her voice was clear as a bell. She just looked like she was having such a great time.