One more busy week!

Max and Calli started 4 year old preschool this past week.  They are in different classes and both love their teachers!  I am excited to hear about all of the things they are going to learn and do this year!

First day of school

Calli and Boo at dance class

Max and Calli got to visit the Halloween store with Boo while we were at the rehearsal dinner.  They thought it was so cool and a little bit scary.  This is how Max greeted me the next morning~he thought he was so scary!

Craig was in a friend's wedding and Max and Calli got to go (which may have been the first actual mass that they attended).  Max thought it was "unfair" that he didn't get to go on the alter with Craig.  He also asked if "daddy was going to marry that girl" (the girl he walked down the aisle).  At the reception, Max danced his shoes off with an 11 year old that he thought was so cool.  Calli had a blast too, mostly because she caught the boquet (thanks to a friend's daughter). 

Then we went to an MS fundraiser where we won a toy basket full of stuff!  Max said we would win it and low and behold we did!  It has been a great source of entertainment since then.

We have another busy week with tball starting (2 rain outs last week) and another wedding this weekend.  More to come.....

Labor Day weekend

Max and Calli at the Aquarium

We just returned from a very fun filled weekend at Pigeon Forge.  We went with a friend Kristi and her husband Wade and two girls (Annie Lynn and Kendle).  We had a great time!  We stayed in a cabin that had an awesome view of the mountains and a few attractions for the kids (hot tub and pool table).  We visited the town for go-carts, bumper boats, putt putt, rides and of course good food. Those kids sure are full of energy!!! 

We also got to go up to Gatlinburg to go to the Aquarium.  Max was initially a little scared as he thought the sharks could "get him", but once he had confidence in the glass, he was all for it!  This was our first trip to an aquarium, so it was a cool experience for all of us!!! 

We had a small malfunction with the storm that came through (lost power for about an hour), but thankfully the power returned and we didn't have to "rough it".  It was a great weekend~love making memories with our family and friends!

Max took this picture of us at the Aquarium

 Hot tub fun!!!

 Racing go-carts

 Fun boat ride

 Who needs a ride when you have a fun daddy?

 This ball landed on the top of this hill~he thought he had skills!

WOW, what a week!

We haven't started back to school yet (their preschool starts after Labor Day), but we have had one very eventful week!!!  Calli started Dance this week at All About Kids.  It is a mix of ballet and tap.  She did awesome!!!  This is the first thing, aside from school, that she has done without Max.  She went right into the class and participated very well.  She is very excited about wearing her outfit and shoes (as is Max, but he only wears the shoes). 

We also got to go to the zoo this week.  Max insisted on wearing his new cape and mask, and I didn't feel like arguing.  We had to stop at Dillards for Craig, and everyone that saw him told him how awesome he was (like he needed the ego boost:).  Anyway, the zoo was hot and short lived, looking forward to the weather cooling down just a little so we can do some more outdoor activities.

So, another event we have coming up is Danny and Bethany's wedding.  Craig is in the wedding, so of course he will be a little more dressed up than usual, so I took it as an opportunity to get a family picture with us all dressed up.  I found this suit for Max and he initially resisted wearing it, but then when he saw how handsome he was, he starting doing all kinds of different poses~HA!  Calli has a cute dress that has a matching doll dress~which she is soooo into right now:)

And last but not least, we went to the fair today (our Hanke tradition).  It turned out to be a great day!  A little hot when we watched the dog show, but other than that pretty good.  We all ate junk and the kids had a ball.  Chloe and Calli were inseperable as well as Max and Will.  The hit of the day was a free bouncy foam ball~go figure.  I was excited to buy a template to make hairbows for Calli~I am sure Craig was thrilled too since he already thinks her hairbow collection is rediculous.  Anyway, here a few pics from our day at the fair...

catchin up

So doing a post a day is really hard, so it may be more of a weekly summary of our busy world!  We are wrapping up the summer before school starts~their school doesn't start until after Labor Day.  We went to Holiday World yesterday and had a blast!  Max was quite the thrill seeker and wanted to ride the "big and fast rides".  Calli was very excited about the water park and the kiddy roller coaster that they got to ride all by theirself. 

Their first solo roller coaster

                                                        After their first BIG roller coaster

August 9, 2011

#3
We have spent a lot of time at the pool this summer.  The initial thrill was jumping off of the diving board.  Max named a few of his own jumps like the "carrot crusher" and the "gargelin smasher".  Calli was just thrilled to jump off onto her knees or an occasional pencil.  Now the thrill has moved to swimming without their floaties.  They are both able to swim about half the width of the pool now.  Max really has found an interest in diving for toys and Calli just likes to play with her toys.  Here is a video of them learning to swim without their floaties.

August 8, 2011

#2

Max got to go to wrestling when it was at the YUM center, which he thought was "really cool".  He has since been "Randy Orton" and "takes down Cane" every day now.  Thankfully he has moved from wrestling Calli to wrestling a body pillow.  Craig has to introduce them both for a wrestling match every day; Calli is a 32 pound "lovely Calli Brooke with baby".  She has a unique move where she takes down a bad guy with her baby.  Max is "47 pounds of solid muscle" and is perfecting his "butt drop", "power slam" a "clothes line", "pirate slam" and the "gasser". 

A new year!

So a friend's post inspired me to attempt a post a day for 365 days.  Oddly enough, by last post was just a little more than one year ago today.  So here it goes....

#1 August 7, 2011
Max and Calli have attended "Music Week" at their school and tonight was their concert.  They were in the front row and sang every word to every song (and there were 9 songs).  They followed directions and acted like such well behaved little angels.  Craig and I were so proud of them!

So just to catch up on some highlights since the last post in Aug 2010.  The kids are now 4 and are so big, they think they can do anything!!!  They are preparing to start 4 year old preschool in the fall 3 days a week.  They are both swimming short distances without any floaties, which makes mommy really nervous.  Max likes to dive for toys and Calli likes to play with her princess' and dogs.  Max got his tonsils and adenoids out in May.  He had a good recovery and has been well ever since!!!  We went to Destin for Spring Break with the Hanke's and had a great time.  Max and Will (cousin) got to play t-ball on the same team~The Rays.  They both did really well at learning the game.  Looking forward to fall ball which is right around the corner.  Calli wasn't interested in tball, so she was given some choices of activities and has chosen dance.  She went to a "practice" session to make sure she really would do it.  She did awesome.  She went right into the class and did everything the teacher said.  Since she has dressed in her dance dress and shoes just about every day.  Max wants to dance too, but for now, he only gets to dance at home.  I want Calli to have her opportunity to do something that she wants to do without her big brother to be her comfort item.  Well, I'm sure I forgot something, but don't worry, there will be more to come!!!