T-ball...

John started playing T-ball a few weeks ago. His team is the Orioles or the "Orange Team" as the kids call it! Donnie is coaching until he leave for his summer training course at the beginning of May. John loves it and is learning quite a bit too! Katie has been begging to play ever since she had to sit through the first practice. Thankfully, she is in the right age group, so they let us add her to the team! Yippee! John is #7 and Katie doesn't have a # yet, but she should get her shirt next week! They had their 1st game tonight! Here is John all set to go! I love how his hat pushes his ears out because it is way too big! So cute!

Katie & John in the field.

My favorite picture of them on the bench! It doesn't get any sweeter than this!

Happy Birthday Luke!

The baby of the family is 2! I love this baby picture! My little "Luke Bear" was just 2 weeks old in this picture. Luke has turned into a very sweet "Big Boy"!

Here is Luke with his Uncle Justin. I want him to be able to look back at this blog one day and see this precious picture of the two of them.

We celebrated Luke's 2nd Birthday at home with some of our sweet neighbors. We cooked out on the grill and the kids played inside since it was a pretty chilly day. Luke started out his birthday by opening up his Sit-n-Spin from Aunt Kimberly. I made him wait to open his other presents; I figured the Sit-n-Spin would keep him busy for a while and it did!

John and Luke testing it out!

The Wilkison, The James, The Douglas, & The LaGrange Kiddos! (It was almost impossible to get all the kids together for a picture, in fact we are still missing one.)

Luke starting to open his presents!

I LOVE this face!

Keeping with my tradition of making the kids cakes this year, I made Monkey Cupcakes for Luke's Birthday!

Luke getting ready to blow out his candles!

He was so proud of himself!

Happy 2nd Birthday Luke!

The GatheRING!

Every year Donnie's Department, Behavioral Sciences and Leadership host The GatherRING. Return, Innovate, Network, & Grow. It is a nice to chance to "Gather" with his co-workers and their spouses and both incoming and former faculty over a great dinner! A dinner without the kids and adult conversation is always a good time!

Our favorite friends, Bart & Brooke. I really don't know what I would do without this girl!

Beth, Me, & Brooke hanging out before dinner.

COL Kolditz honored me with a BS&L coin at the dinner for being elected 1st Vice President of the West Point Women's Club. I was totally shocked and very humbled to receive it!

Happy Easter!

He is Risen!

Wishing you every blessing
of this Easter season...

all the joy and promise

of His love.

The kids on Easter morning at church!

The kids woke up on Easter morning to find out what the Easter Bunny left!

Luke was VERY excited to start his morning off with some candy!

John holding up his basket full of eggs he found hidden around the house.

Katie finding some eggs too!

And Luke...

John excited to see what was inside the egg!

The weather was perfect on Easter so we spent the afternoon outside playing in the sandbox, hiding eggs outside, and grilling! What a wonderful day!

Dying Eggs

We went over to our sweet friends, The Wilkison's to dye Easter eggs! Here is one of the eggs that John colored! The boys didn't last too long before they were off to play!

Katie coloring some eggs!

Katie showing off her hands after painting the eggs. You can see some of the finished ones on the table! I think they turned out pretty good! Dying eggs is always so much more messy than I remember!

Dr. Ruth's Visit to West Point

Donnie arranged for Dr. Ruth Westheimer to come and speak to the plebe (freshman) cadets taking PL100 and PL150 (General Psychology) about human sexuality. She followed her lecture to the cadets with a book signing of her book, "Sex for Dummies". Then she spent her afternoon speaking to the West Point Women's Club about talking with your teens about sex. She was an amazing woman and I feel so lucky to have met her! At 81 years old she is still a VERY spunky lady full of wisdom and humor! I had a wonderful afternoon with her! Donnie was lucky enough to spend the whole day with her as her personal escort. She told me that, "You have a wonderful husband, but of course I already know that." And she was "very thankful to borrow him for the day!" She was just so sweet! This is a day that I know we will never forget!

No April Foolin'

...we got an Ant Farm! Thanks Uncle Dan!!! The kids LOVE it!