Children's checkup.

This last Thursday, Bennett had his annual Children's checkup to make sure his recovery from Kawasaki Disease continues to be smooth sailing, and he passed his tests like a champ. He even received the all clear to now have checkups every two years. Since he had no initial coronary artery damage from his illness, it's reassuring to hear that the likelihood of any issues arising is very low. The ongoing checkups are just to ensure all continues to be good and as the doc explained to us this visit, KD was first diagnosed in the late 60's, so it's not entirely known how kids with KD age and how it will affect their heart as they get older.

This kid of seriously such a trooper when it comes to going to the doctor. He's so brave and tolerant of everything he's put though. Love him.

Easter

 After first waking up at 4 a.m., the boys were SO excited to finally be able to come downstairs & follow the bunny trail around 6:30.

 let the scavenger hunt begin!

you can use your imagination on this one...

 

Our failed attempts at a family pic (these were the best of the bunch)...

Cousin egg hunt

Sweet Penny

Meet the newest Hunter.... Penny! Ian's had the puppy itch for quite some time so I promised that after Disneyland we'd revisit the idea. Well, revisiting the idea meant going to Coulee City two days after getting home and picking her out (a Golden Retriever). We picked up her up last Wednesday and she seems to be settling in really well. Suzie has (thankfully) adjusted well to Penny and is (surprisingly) really good with her. The boys love her and Emmie is still undecided... but she's slowly coming around.

Heading home with our new pup.

Penny with her half-brother, Hawk. Our good friends adopted him a couple of weeks before.

Disneyland!

At the begginning of March, we took the kids to Disneyland & California Adventure for the first time and it was AWESOME. I kept hearing about the "magical" age to take your kids and my initial thought was to wait until Emmie was old enough to get more out of it, but I'm so glad we went when we did... We all had the best time and definitely hit the "magical" age with the boys. Cal wanted to do all the rides, yet was still young enough that he loved seeing all the characters, doing the little rides with the fam, etc. Aside from traveling with three kids which is seriously business... they all did so great. We stayed at the park hotel (which I highly recommend) so I could take Emmie back during the day to nap but we never did, instead she just slept on the go in her stroller, Bennett was such a trooper walking and the kids totally blew me away with their ability to hang from starting off the day with our magical early mornings at the parks to nearly staying until closing every night. Can't wait to get back when Emmie's a bit older!

One of the trip highlights, Bennett doing the Jedi training and battling Darth Vadar.

February

The little 12's watching the Superbowl.

Annual St. Joe's auction

she's a climber

One of the church guilds knitted hats for all the kids in school and Bennett's just so happens to be his favorite hat.

Baby genius

S E V E N

A couple of weeks ago, on Feb. 11th, I blinked and Cal turned 7! The joy birthdays bring the kids is priceless, he'd been counting down to the big day for months. And we did it up, for what felt like weeks of birthday fun. On his actual birthday we did a family dinner out, cake & presents.

A couple days later for his friends' bday gathering, Cal invited his four best buddies over (and Bennett).  We took all the boys to the bowling alley for some bowling and arcade fun and then back to our house for more outside play including an epic Star Wars battle and football game (hallelujah for amazing weather). We finished the night with pizza and sundaes, and then a slumber party with his best friend. It was perfect. My favorite "party" to-date... these boys have the greatest friendship.

This boy is a true gem. He's kind, considerate, compassionate, innocent, loves-life, lives & breaths sports, Star Wars & legos, is such a great helper, is sensitive, imaginative and so much more.

7 year old birthday quiz 
Name: Callahan

Age: 7

Most exciting thing about being 7: it's fun

Favorite sport to play: football

Favorite sport to watch: football

Favorite sports team: Cougs

Favorite book: Star Wars

Favorite movie: Star Wars

Favorite song: Star Wars song

Favorite tv show: Star Wars

Favorite color: orange

What do you want to be when you grow up? A snake hunter

Best friend(s): Cormac, Uli, Henry & Emerson

Favorite toy: my king cobra

Favorite thing to do with mom: make cookies together

Favorite thing to do with dad: Help him build stuff:

Favorite thing to do with mom & dad: Play with you

Favorite place to eat: McDonalds

Favorite food: Pizza

Favorite breakfast: toast w/ honey

Favorite lunch: cheese sandwich

Favorite thing about school: Playing with my friends

What’s your favorite memory from this last year: going camping

7-year stats:
Height: 4' 4"
Weight: 62 lbs