Kaddie Surprise

For those of you who don't know the story....

When I was pregnant with Brady I asked both sets of grandparents what they wanted to be called since we were having the first grandbaby on both sides. My father was the quickest to with an IMMEDIATE answer "caddy." I looked at him confused, he stated he was going to raise his grandkids to play golf, get a scholarship to be on Duke's Golf team and then play in the WPGA, and once they were in the tour he would be their caddy. 

Well about two years after Brady was born, Caddy asked Brady what Caddy started with, she immediately stated 'K' and ever since then he has been Kaddie.

Kaddie and Reese have a special bond. They have since Reese was about 9 months old. She was sick and crying no matter what I did. Then I was going to put her to bed and my dad went to kiss her good night and she reached out for him to hold her. He states that none of his three kids ever reached out for him (when they were in their mother's arms) so he was smitten ever since and Reese has not lost the mutual feeling!

Kaddie sent Reese left handed golf clubs today and they were a hit. Reese's response was "I am going to play golf, that's so cool!"

Enjoy these pictures from the trial run...

Now to move closer to Kaddie so he can help Reese read the lie of the grass ;)

Easy Breezy Friday Afternoon

Last Friday, I brought the girls to the park on base so that Reese could try out her new (new to her that is) bike. They can ride on the sidewalks (no where close to a road) at different speeds without my having a heart attack. Reese's bike is something I have JUST recently heard about...pedalless bikes. Apparently this is the way for them to truly understanding balance in biking and therefore never have the need for training wheels. You are suppose to start them on the pedalless bike around two. They just push themselves along with their feet, slowly gaining speed, all the while learning their center of balance on a two wheeled bike. Then when they are ready you move them over to a pedalled bike (without training wheels). The moms I have talked to that did this at 2 had a kid riding a bike without training wheels by 3! AMAZING in my opinion. The first day on the bike was frustrating for Reese, but it will also be the hardest day for her, since it will get easier and easier with each use. 

 Since we were on base, Karl left work (an hour early) and meet us out there. Luckily, we had our softball gear leftover in the back of the van and the girls and Karl played a pick up game of softball. I so throughly enjoyed sitting in the dugout, feeling the breeze from the bay, and watching my family bond and have a great time together. As I sat there, I thought to myself, this is what life is all about...this is pure happiness.

LIFE IS GOOD!

Amoeba Ball

When I was growing up, my family always referred to soccer for itty bitties as 'amoeba ball' because all the kids swarm around the ball like a little amoeba, even the goalie forgetting where to stand for their position.

The day I found out we were having a third girl, my thoughts went to Reese and how to overcome the 'middle child' syndrome. I had decided one way is to encourage her to partake in extracurricular activities different than her sisters so she can shine on her own in that way. So about an hour after we found out about Elliot, Reese randomly starts talking about how much she likes playing football with daddy. Karl and I discussed already how she might enjoy soccer, so that day we decided to sign Reese up for soccer.

Today was her first practice. She is on a co-ed team at the YMCA with three and four year olds. I was a little worried about the co-ed part because she often proclaims that she doesn't like boys. Today couldn't have gone any better! She handled the ball well and she handled being the only girl VERY well. The best part was that she was smiling the whole time, and even squealed out of excitement at one time.

A little hesitant at the beginning, not into high fives quite yet!

 First drill, small kicks weaving through the cones and she was a pro.

 Brady asked "why does this have to be played outside?" We had chilly weather today.

 I introduce team 'Starfox'

 This is my favorite picture of the night! She just passed the ball to her daddy; the pride in her face makes me tear up.

 GOAL!

 In action...

 Team huddle! Aren't they so so so cute!

Tonight was a special night and I am proud to officially be a soccer mom!

Fun with Friends

The girls have had lots of fun playgroups lately so I want to share them in pictures.

Here the girls are making bracelets during a football party we had with Karl's work friends. The middle school aged girl brought all the materials for the craft, thanks Avery!

Sydney came over for a playdate and like always these three played princess and like always they wanted me to take a picture of them together.

Maddie plays YMCA soccer, so we went to watch one of her games to try and encourage my girls to play sports.

Playgroup at Maddie’s house…they all found the piano, even Loreena who is 14 months old.

Last week at ballet is was “wear your old dance costume day”. Also we carpooled Sydney to ballet so it was a super fun and exciting afternoon.

Reese wore Brady's costume from last year and then in between classes I put it on Brady.

After preschool on Friday, we were invited to have pizza with a group of five moms(only my girls are pictured due to a mom’s privacy request). The pizza place has make your own kids pizza…so fun! They request the ingredients and then they build a pizza of their liking, in whatever order they want (ie sauce can go on top). Brady added sauce, then pepperoni, then banana peppers, then cheese. She LOVED it!!!!

Reese opted out of building her own cheese only pizza (to her cheesy breadsticks) and then didn’t agree with the way I cut it, as you can tell, she was having a hard afternoon.


I love all the time we get to spend with our friends!

“Go Harvick” Tour

Since we were going to be in the western part of NC for the Taylor Swift concert, Karl very happily decided to go visit a couple of NASCAR shops. Both of the shops are associated with his favorite driver, Kevin Harvick. NASCAR teams have shops where they are working on everything from cars that will race in future races to tweaking pit strategies.

 

First stop was the shop owned by Harvick in Kennersville. This shop houses all the cars that Harvick ‘owns’. The car he races however is owned by someone else, confusing I know.

 

Here is the view of all the garages at Kevin Harvick, Inc.

Love this picture of Harvick as a little boy racind and the tiny jacket.

Observation tower: Reese was throwing one of her 2 year old type tantrums until we walked up here, she LOVED it. After we left, she asked to go back up to watch again; of course, Karl obliged.

The girls posing by one of the trophies Harvick won a couple of months ago. Yes, NASCAR does give some weird trophies.

 

Next stop, RCR museum in Welcome, NC. RCR stands for Richard Childress racing, may mean nothing to the average person, right. He is the owner of the car Harvick drives. But this is the same person that Dale Earnhardt drove for. So the museum has all the cars and trophies from his racing career.

 

Brady stood on the rail at every car, pointed at it and told us to take a picture of her.

This is the car from Kevin Harvick’s biggest win, Daytona 500! I like how there is still confetti all over it.

Here is Reese by her namesake. Yes, she was named after the sponsor of a NASCAR vehicle. This is how obsessed Karl is with NASCAR.

 

Karl really enjoyed this tour with his girls and their excitement starting to peak about the sport.

 

I like the shirt I got at the shops. it says “I wear the firesuit in this family”