Friday, June 18, 2010

Silly kid



Colin is one...



crazy...
wacky kid!  But oh, so CUTE!


Variety Showstopper

So last year, our school started doing a variety/talent show.  I thought Lydia would freak out being on stage and so we didn't do anything.  After Lydia saw the show, she was adamant she wanted to do it this year.  I wasn't sure she would be okay on the stage by herself, although now I am sure she would have been fine. I sometimes have a hard time understanding how she feels about things only because I was SO shy and insecure when I was her age.  Thankfully she has very little of that self doubt going on and loves doing just about everything.  I can't imagine much holding her back from doing what she wants to do!
Anyway, she decided to do her Tae Kwon Do forms with a friend of ours who goes to both our school and our Tae Kwon Do school.  She got up on stage and did amazing!  No signs of nerves or anything!  If you know Tom, you know she didn't get her comfort in front of groups from him either.  Needless to say, we are both very proud of her!
 
She also ended the year with straight A's.  That she might have gotten from both her mom and dad, although she works hard at school to be her best.  Again, who wouldn't be proud of her?

End of 3 year old preschool

 
Erynn and Ms Gabby...although Erynn wouldn't talk much to her teachers all year, around March I think Erynn really started to be comfortable around Ms Gabby.  SO SO SO different than Lydia, Erynn takes her time when getting to know people.  And believe me, if she doesn't want to talk to you...she won't!  Her other teacher, Ms Shari rarely has heard her voice.  There is always next year!   

One of the last days of school was spent at the park for a family picnic.  Along with great food, there always were some games.  This is Erynn's class getting ready to play "jump across the river".  Considering my children are not the most coordinated, I was sure that Erynn would be out of it quickly.  Imagine my surprise when she did VERY well and was one of the last 5 or so!
Showing off her jumping ability...maybe she will be a track and field star! 

Monday, April 5, 2010

GO DUKE!

Can you tell where we are?
Sadly, or not so much...it was "the end of the road" for Michigan State and West Virginia University.
Tom and I headed to Indianapolis on Saturday for the Final Four!
To watch the Duke Blue Devils shoot lights out!  (Jon Scheyer here!)

And beat West Virginia to move on to the Championship game.  As Coach K says "they play as one"...and on Saturday night that was one tough team.
 Tonight we will be watching Bill Nance, Jon Scheyer, and Coach K...
GO DUKE!

Do you know who this is?!?

One clue:  He has a village named after him.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter








Erynn knew what to do...

Lydia did too...
and Colin...well he figured things out VERY quickly!

We are of course talking about hunting eggs.  The day started with an Easter "party" at Grandma and Grandpa Hartnagel's house after the girls went to church. 
 (Colin at church=totally miserable time for everyone)

Then we headed home to see if the Easter Bunny made his way to our house.  Lydia was nervous since we didn't sleep at our own house that the Easter Bunny wouldn't know to stop at our house.  Thankfully he did...phew!
AND he was very generous!
Both girls were excited with what the EB brought them! 
All in all it was a good, but VERY busy day!  *yawn*  Off to bed I go...

Colorful Fun

We dyed Easter Eggs on Friday night since we wouldn't be home on Saturday (you will find out why in another post).  We did not start until after 8:00 because I forgot to get vinegar and since I had gotten a fancy tye-dye kit I had to run into town to get it.  Anyway...the girls and I had a good time and the eggs ended up being pretty cool looking!
Aren't they pretty?  The Easter bunny hid all of them...we even had a little difficulty finding them!  Good thing we did, otherwise it would have gotten kind of stinky in the house!  Yuk!  It was a blast and the girls were very proud of their creations!

Lydia's first time reading at church

A little while ago Lydia read at church for the first time.  She has been wanting to do this since the beginning of Kindergarten.  She was excited, not the least bit scared and did a "phenomenal" job(according to her teacher Mrs. Kamp...not just this very proud momma)!

http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x39/7694donaldson/?action=view&current=March2010118.flv

Click to see her!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

My Valentines

It is wonderful to have so many Valentines.  Especially ones that I  love so much!  :) 
My first born, Lydia.
She is sweet and loving,
Smart and social.
Stubborn at times,
and so, so beautiful!

Erynn is the middle child.
She is wild and sweet and crazy,
Trouble with a capital T,
One who needs little sleep,
Talks to who she wants to and ignores others.
My blond haired, blue eyed wonder,
and generally just crazy!

(yes, his shirt does say "the ladies love me")
Colin is my baby,
Boy through and through,
But sweet and friendly to all,
Sleeps his life away,
Loves balls and trucks,
and thinks his Mom is the best!
And finally, my husband.
What can I say?
He is a self-proclaimed nerd,
who loves games, Duke basketball,
and (thankfully) Cardinal baseball...
Oh and of course, me!  :)

I hope that your Valentines are as special as mine and you have a wonderful day!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Lydia's party

Have you ever been to a party with 26 First Graders?  Well, let's just say it is more than a little chaotic.  I was the head room mom for Lydia's class this year and although it was fun, I don't think I will be doing it again anytime soon!  :)  We have now made it through all of the classroom parties and I have to say they were a lot better at this party than at the Christmas party...maybe we I learned a little bit about dealing with these kids.  Then again, maybe not. 
Playing heads up 7-UP.  It might be a Catholic school thing, but this game is SO much fun!
 T and Mrs. Kamp watching the other kids playing hot potato.

A, K, J, and P playing hot potato.  Amazingly they were so calm and well behaved!










 
And finally, my "goth" looking girl...I think the blue mouth just added to her mystique.  :)  I think she is the most adorable girl in the world and at least one other boy person agrees with me...but that is a whole other post.  Maybe.  If I ever am ready for Lydia to grow up.  Probably not.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Erynn's party

Erynn being her usual honery self!  Thanks for the skirt Lexi...she looked so stinkin' cute!  :)
Erynn washing her hands before snack time. 
Such a great groups of kiddos...they are praying before eating!  So cute!

So Erynn had her Valentine's party on Thursday since they only have school 2 times a week.  It was certainly a blast and Erynn was SO excited!  She even wrote her "name" on 19 valentines to give to all her friends.  She was so proud of herself and knows excatly what she is doing, although her writing often needs some interpretation.  On to another party today...hopefully I will get a few more pictures since my camera battery is charged today (unlike yesterday).  Ahem!


Saturday, January 2, 2010

Hartnagel Christmas

This year we celebrated Christmas at the Hartnagel homestead on the Sunday after Christmas. Usually it is up to a week before or a week after Christmas, but this year it worked out to be closer to the actual date. As is customary, a picture of the grandkids in front of the tree was taken. Considering the large number, I think it turned out really good!

Billy, Chelsea, Andy, Nikki, Zach, Erika,Colin, Lydia, Sammy, Tommy, Ryan, Erynn, and Will


Lydia opening one of her favorite gifts..."Gardening Mama"


Erynn with a new book and sitting on Erika's lap (which she did for all of her present opening)




Colin playing with his new drum/music set from his godmother, Lexi. Lexi is glutton for punishment, but since her daughter Ella is not even a year old yet...it shall be fun! :)

Oh and don't you LOVE Colin's bowtie?! My aunt Diane made it for him and I can't wait to recruit my mom to help me make some more!



Friday, January 1, 2010

Christmas Eve


Christmas Eve is always fun. Our family tradition is that we open gifts from each other that night. When I was growing up, we always went to my grandmother's house on Christmas Eve, so this wonderful tradition came from Tom's side of the family. I love it...it just feels like a perfect way to start the Christmas holiday! The kids loved their presents and are pictured with their favorite ones of the night.

Lydia with her new lamp so she can read before going to bed!

Colin and his new baseball game, although anything with a ball would have been just fine I think!



Erynn and her "penguin boots"...she wears them in rain, in snow and basically at every moment she can!


One last picture of the kids all sitting together opening their presents. They were so into what each other got and seeing that kind of interest and compasion makes me think that we may be doing something right in raising them to be loving, wonderful siblings and children!
We hope that your Christmas season had as great of a beginning as ours did!