Snow Storm

The snowstorm is moving in. 

Emmy and Scout had a great time playing in the snow!

Robb is always a big kid and is willing to bundle up and pull them behind the 4-wheeler on the sled.

Abby and Emmy played outside with the dogs. Everyone is bundled up, but Lucy thinks this weather is perfect.

Everyone snuggled up after playing in the snow.

 

Chief's Parade

Robb and the boys’ favorite team, the Chiefs, won the Super Bowl for the second time in a few years, and Caleb was beyond excited to go to the parade in downtown Kansas City. The parade is a huge deal—schools in the area even cancel classes for the day, and from the pictures, it looks like the whole town shows up.

Now, while Robb and Bob might not share the same enthusiasm for the super-crowded, sometimes rowdy parade scene, they were both willing to take Caleb, knowing how much it meant to him. Last year, both boys went, but this time Bryce couldn’t miss any more school if he wanted to attend March Madness, so he had to skip the parade.

They left early, parked in a lot, and then had to get shuttled into the parade area.

Then you spend the day packed into the streets with thousands of people, all to catch a glimpse of Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes riding on a float through the city.

The crowd is pretty impressive.

Bob and Robb got to see Caleb have an amazing time, and on the way home, they treated themselves to some delicious Kansas City barbecue.

 

Valentine's Day Box

When your mom forgets to have you make a Valentine’s Day box until the day before, we recruit Grandma, Grandpa, and the whole family to help out. And guess what? We ended up making the coolest Valentine’s Day box around! Now, the real challenge—getting it to school in one piece while riding the bus!

 

Science Fair

Emmy was really excited to participate in the school Science Fair this year. She and Olivia decided to do their project on popcorn. They bought different types of popcorn and rated them based on how well they popped and how they tasted.

They were very scientific about it. They even counted all the kernels left in each bag to see how well each popped. 

They also got to eat a lot of popcorn, and our house smelled like a movie theatre for the day.

Here is the poster that they made. They did a great job of presenting and telling everyone which popcorn they liked the best. 

 

Happy 9th Birthday Emmy

Happy 9th Birthday, Emmy!

You have brought so much spice and energy to our family! You’re outgoing, friendly, persuasive, and vibrant—everything you do is infused with your enthusiasm. Whether it’s helping Abby babysit or being the go-to helper with younger kids, you bring a lot of heart to everything you’re part of. You adore your dogs and your bunny, and let’s be honest, you don’t love being alone—because the world should be entertaining you at all times!

You’re not one for low-key days; you prefer big plans, lists, decorations, and a menu—you would make the ultimate party planner! As for your brothers… well, let’s just say getting along isn’t always in the cards. But in all fairness, they don’t exactly make it easy on you either!

You’re an amazing friend, always on FaceTime with someone, planning your next weekend adventure or deciding what outfit to wear. While I’m not a fan of the word dramatic, there’s no denying that you’re very expressive when something bothers you. You have the same scream for “he looked at me wrong” as you do for “I’ve lost a limb!” I do find myself telling you at times that you’re being “too much,” but I also remind myself that your too much is exactly what’s going to help you go far. With your big personality and “don’t mess with me” attitude, I have no doubt you’ll do amazing things!

You requested a breakfast for your meal, so we had waffles, orange juice, bacon and a fruit plate.

You got a hoverboard for your birthday, and you were so excited about it! I honestly have no idea how you didn’t break a bone the first time you stepped on it. Those things are tricky to ride, but you were zooming all over the house like a pro!

You also got this cart attachment that made it a sit on scooter. You were excited to try it out.

You were looking through some of the old blog books and came across the amazing cakes I used to make for your siblings. I have to admit, I felt a little guilty because by the time you came along, we had started buying cakes or cupcakes instead of making the big, extravagant ones. But then you asked me to make you a cake, and not only did you draw out a design, but you also had a shopping list and a full-color picture of it. How could I say no?

I’ll admit, I was a bit intimidated about making cakes again—especially now that we were doing gluten-free cakes. But you were so excited, and I was determined to make it happen, even if it killed me. I’m pretty sure I ended up spending almost as much on supplies and ingredients as I would have on a store-bought cake but seeing how thrilled you were made it all worth it!

As requested, different colored layers inside. 

Happy Birthday Emmy! I hope 9 is a great year for you!

 

Basketball and Books

Emmy has been dragged to sibling activities since day one, and for the most part, she’s been a good sport about it—especially if you’re willing to shell out a little money at the concession stand to keep her entertained. This year, though, she’s discovered a new favorite pastime during basketball games: reading. After one game, Bryce asked her, "Are you reading a book during my game?" She just chuckled and replied, "Yes."

Bryce played on the Reserve team this year. He puts in a lot of effort and is a great player, but he’s also learned how heartbreaking and brutal high school sports can be. No matter how much time and energy he devotes, it hasn’t always translated into more playing time, and it’s tough for us to see how much this upsets him. Despite that, he remains a fantastic team player, showing up to every game and practice with the same determination and hard work. We’ve been incredibly impressed by his persistence, dedication, and resilience.

Caleb is the team manager, and he takes his job very seriously! He’s at every practice, scrimmage, and game, dedicating a lot of time to keeping stats, filming, and assisting the coaches in any way he can. His commitment and hard work behind the scenes are invaluable to the team.

And here’s Emmy again, getting through basketball games one book at a time.