Happy Easter everyone! We hope that all had a wonderful day with their friends and our Savior. We are thankful for the resurrection of Jesus and everything that he has done for us.
Here are a couple of pictures from this afternoon. Instead of baskets and candy (plenty of that with the 3 egg hunts this week) we made bunny cakes. There are more Easter pictures in the Gallery, so make sure that you check them out.
Bunny Cakes
Mary eating the bunny's face. :)
Last year we decided to try and spruce up our house with a few bushes, trees and flowers. Unfortunately the flowers didn’t make it (not enough sunlight), but it looks like our trees and bushes survived the winter. I just can’t wait until the peach tree is big enough to produce some nice fruit.
Peach Blossom
It’s hard to believe that it has already been 100 days of school. Mary’s class had a party to celebrate and the kids in her class dressed up as cowboy’s and cowgirl’s. Mary absolutely loved the idea of being able to dress up.
Cowgirl Mary
Cowgirl Mary
Tags: Mary
Hello all. It has been way too long since we updated the site. There has been so much going on since November. Let’s see if we can catch everyone up… (There are lots of pictures in the Gallery.)
We last everyone at the Pumpkin Farm with Mary and her class in November. November was a busy month for us. Along with field trips for the kids we decided to spend Thanksgiving in TN (a departure from the usual). We wanted to make a Thanksgiving meal available to any of the girls that work for Alicia at Lee a place to go if they couldn’t go home. We had a few girls come by who are from the Bahamas. We also had Jan, Bryan, Autumn, BJ, Carol and Zac come stay with us during Thanksgiving. Unfortunately we didn’t take any pictures, though. 
We had a great time with our family and friends during such a special time of year. Thanksgiving also marked two years that we have been in our house. We also went to Rock City to see the Christmas lights and listen to one of Lee’s singing groups. It just happened that the night we went was the coldest night of November.
Rock City
December proved to be just as busy as any other time of 2008. We started by putting up the Christmas tree and all the decorations.
The tree is done.
We then had Gavin’s program at school. All of the second grade classes came together and sang Christmas songs for family and friends. Gavin did a great job (were there any doubts?). Mary went on a field trip to Chattanooga to sing with her class on the local news. She stood right up front so all could see. After doing her singing obligations she and her classmates were rewarding with a showing of The Polar Express in IMAX 3-D. Watching a movie on a 7 story screen is an exprience all by itself, but add 3-D and it’s pretty amazing. Soon after that school was out for Christmas break and Alicia and the kids were off to Florida. As always, Florida is busy from start to finish. We were able to see so may people and catch up with so many friends, it was wonderful. I know the only thing I didn’t like was the fact that it was 85 degrees. Definitely a change from TN.
January started out with Christmas. Yes, I know, Christmas is over by January. Well, when you spend Christmas away from home ‘Santa’ still makes a stop where you live. So we opened Santa’s gifts when we returned home. Then straight into Mary’s birthday (is there ever a break). Mary’s birthday was a small affair this year, but we had a great time.
Mary and her Ariel cake.
Alright, Mary’s birthday was over so it was time for a little rest. Nope, we were blessed to have Jeff and Stephanie Stubenrauch and their kids stop by and spend the night on their way to north TN. It was great to see them and spend time with them. Next up…Atlanta. We planned a weekend to Atlanta to spend time with the Waterworth’s, mom and dad Klepper and the other Kleppers. We wanted to celebrate John, Mary and Luke’s birthdays together. However, there was more to it than that. Unbeknownst to Alicia, we (John, Jill, Bryan, Autumn and I) had been planning a very special evening for her for over a year. We started the evening of January 17 at Pappasito’s Cantina, eating chips, salsa, guacamole and fajita’s. At dinner we surprised Alicia with tickets to see Celine Dion. She has wanted to see her live for a very long time. We had a great time that evening. Alicia was very surprised and excited.
Mark and Alicia at the Celine concert.
Celine on stage in Atlanta.
Well, that brings us to today, MLK Day. A day off of work and no school for the kids. It’s snowing outside (first time this winter) and poor Mary is sick. Well, we hope that everyone is doing wonderful. Have a great 2009.
We have uploaded some new pictures in the Gallery. We will post information about them this week.
On October 15th, Mary’s class took a trip to Guthrie’s Pumpkin Farm up near Athens, TN. Mary’s class started in the Pumpkin Patch. Each of the kids (and their parent(s)) were able to pick whichever pumpkin they wanted from the patch. Mary and her friend had a fun time looking for their pumpkins.
Mary and her friend at the Pumpkin Patch.
After visiting all the pumpkins we went to the petting farm. There were pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, horses, donkeys, calves and ducks for all the kids to look at and touch. Each of the kids even were able feed a calf.
Mary feeding a calf.
After going to the farm, Mary’s class went to Athens Regional Park for lunch and to play. Athens Regional Park is always a fun place to go.
Mary at Athens Regional Park.
Tags: Mary
Gavin and Mary’s school went on a field trip on Friday, October 10th to Red Clay Historic Park. Red Clay is the location of the Cherokee Councils before the Native American’s were all sent out west. This is also the beginning of the Trail of Tears. There were some very interesting things for the kids at the park. There was an area where some one told stories that the Native Americans told (how the opossum lost his bushy tail, how the buzzard lost it’s feathers on it’s head). They also learned a Cherokee game.
Mary playing a Cherokee game.
They learned about the birds that are native to our area, as well as seeing how they lived. Gavin was able to see an interesting presentation about the types of weapons that the Cherokee.
Gavin is checking out the weapons of the Cherokee.
At the end of the day we walked throught the little museum they had at the park. They had some of the tools that they found in the area, along with information on games and traditions. They also had some masks that represented each of the seven tribes of the Cherokee.
Masks of the seven tribes of the Cherokee.
The kids had a great time at the park and I think they even learned a thing or two.
This is week 3 of the kids soccer. Gavin and Mary are doing a great job. Gavin’s team is undefeated and Mary’s team doesn’t keep score.
Gavin dribbling the ball.
Isaac has lots of fun on the sidelines during the games. If Gavin or Mary aren’t playing a game, Isaac is usually playing with one of them. If neither are available, he still finds something to do.
Isaac's new do.
Mary taking a corner kick.
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