7.19.2011

Manners...

We have reminded our children daily about using their manners, and that "magic words" will be a part of their lives forever. People will always appreciate the fact that they are polite and using your manners will never get old.  I taught them as babies to sign the most important words to communicate with us, and using please & thank you were two of the first words they learned. 

Now this is a far cry from what Jared and I thought would ever happen, 2 years ago we never thought we could go to dinner again as a family, (until they were older) and I can honestly say, I really do love going out to dinner with my kids.  They like going out, something new, different people and overall, it is fun.  And one thing that has made me beam with happiness & be very proud is that on several occasions we have been telephoned or told face-2-face about the fact that our children were so well mannered and well behaved. 

I just remember waiting on families in the restaurant and saying those exact words to Parents, "Come back any time and see me, your children were so well mannered and behaved."  I think most parents would agree, you don't always think your doing the best job with your children, but when you hear a compliment like that, you just have to smile.

Thank you for noticing and thank you for acknowledging.

7.08.2011

4th of July @ Sunnybrook with the Berta-Williams

Look at Griffin's face in the background!!! Can you say having a blast?
And she's off!
Counting it down... 3, 2, 1
(I think I am gonna start calling Charlie  *Cheeks* look at that lil booty!!)
Not so much, Griffin went in on 1, Grayson, started on 2, then Charlotte on 3.
This is the final product of another countdown by me in the water facing the kids.. Griffin is already in, and you can see the progression.  All in all everyone got along great, played & played till it was time to go..  I love the happiness on all of their faces.  Just can't get enough of it.  I think times like these really make my heart want to live somewhere south where the weather is warm most of the year..

The Knox Family goes camping...

 
 The start of our adventure, the Twinks first time back in the water since last year.  Grayson wasn't ready to go in with out his vest just yet, but has since left the life vest at home.  The kids swam & swam & swam, jumping into the deep end & swimming from one end to the other, or side to side.  Jared says Charlotte looks like a syncronized swimmer.. She is so graceful!
 Sam & Charlie
 Tammy Cakes & Charlie
 Love this picture
 Donovan Lake before breakfast
 
 
She loves her Daddy.. Cutest picture..

So we went camping with the King Family for the 4th of July.  First time I have camped with Jared & the Twinks first time camping.  Overall I think everyone had a great time, the weather was perfect, the company was awesome & the food was fantastic.  I haven't camped in way too long so this was really nice for me, made me realize how much I miss camping.  Hopefully we can take many more trips!! Hope you all had a great Independence Day & weekend.

~XXOO~
The Knox Crew

7.05.2011

Spiderman....

Harborfest 2011,  the family all got ballooned.. Jared wore that hat the whole time.  Good job Dad! Charlotte got Mickey Mouse ears and was not excited to be wearing them in 2 whole minutes and Grayson got a balloon belt with a sword which all popped rather quickly.  
 
 
 Harborfest 2011 
 He saw the Spiderman Mask and the rest is history.
 

She refuses to get face painted! Won't do it.

6.29.2011

Miss them...

 
Cole-Charlotte-Grayson

So my dear friend Danielle lives in, well I guess I can say too far away... I hate it and I don't hate a lot of things.  I have not been there to watch her son grow up into the smart, sweet, & soccer playing lil man that he is, I wasn't there for his birth, I have missed every birthday party and I hate it.  I feel like a bad friend bc I have missed so much.  I don't get to call her after work and tell her to meet me somewhere for some "us" time, or have her and the family over for dinner.  Our kids are strangers every time they meet again.  I just wish sometimes the best things weren't so far out of reach.  I will say that I have been fortunate this year and have been able to see her more than most of the years combined that she has been gone.  A few trips to the Glove State for Grad Party, Funeral, Wedding stuff, and we did take a trip to see their new house, which was amazing, we did nothing but veg, the kids played, and played and played.. I just wish they could grow up and play every week together.  I miss you guys so much.. 

OOXXOOXX~
BK




I should have been a Storm Chaser....

June 21st, 2011, yet another day that tornado's were all around us.  Mother Nature is getting more and more angry in her old age...  I am unsure of why are weather gets more extreme each year, but I think it is getting a little creepy.  I am very thankful we live off the lake, all the tornado's hit the bluffs and bounce right over lake front communities and hit inland.   This storm produced about 4-5 inches of water an hour, kids were playing in the streets in knee-waist deep waters depending on where you lived. 
I am fascinated with storms, Jared calls me his Storm Chaser.  I remember once when I was pregnant I was on top of my Jeep out at Hawkshead photographing this gigantic rolling cloud that turned into a fierce storm, right there above me..  He was a little upset that I was pregnant and top of a vehicle & that the sky was opening up right above me..
 I think I am going to look into a photography class.
 
 This was super creepy, we were driving the kids to my parents, and right above that car looked for sure like a funnel was ready to start.
 
And this was the next morning driving in to work at 6 am, ended up to be a gorgeous day.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a.....

They just make me smile! I can't tell you what really was in the sky, but I can tell you, they spy'd it and were all over what ever it was.

6.08.2011

Alexis Menzor GRADUATES!! Class of 2011

Charlie & Nanni b4 the Ceremony
 
Uncle John & Kendra
 sure we have time 4 a story!!
 Grandpa & Grandma Menzor
 Here come the graduates!!
 Poppa & one tired punkin!
Alexis is the girl in the white gown with her hand holding her cap on. 
Old Glory 
 
 The flags were going crazy blowing in the wind, then when the ceremony started the wind just stopped.
 He is everywhere we go (Superman)
 This is what happens when u don't take a nap Sissy. 
I try to tell u, u just won't listen to your Mommy! 
And this is what u look like when u do nap! Crazy hair! 
 Alex & I... I remember the day u were born. I was in 4th hour Spanish class with Senora Walsh (who was also ur Mom & ur Aunt Melanie's teacher) Now I will always remember the day you graduated.  Your an amazing young lady Alexis, I hope you continue on your path of individuality, music & artwork.  You can do anything you put your mind to.
 Throwing bags
 
 Some of her Artwork 
Anderson family, from left to right of table. Debbie, Christopher, Aunt Tammy, Uncle Tom, Kenny, Melissa, Melanie (taking a pic of me) Grandma Irma, & Billy.   
 Breana gave golf cart rides to and fro, i bet she drove that thing 100 times?
 I think he was gonna get me
 Uncle Phil, Jared, John Boy, Michelle
 Barb & Gabby
 Christine, Jerome, Paul, Eric
Jared & Dad 
Love this picture!!!  Lonna & John Menzor 
 Grandma Irma
Michelle, Aunt Shirley, Aunt Polly, Tammy 
Sara (I think) Kelsey, Kendra's Mom
 Aunt Tammy & Uncle Tom
 Bill, Debbie, & Christopher
 Kenny & the Twins-Melissa & Melanie
 Mel & Grandma Irma
 Gray, Charlie, & Kylie
Michelle, Tammy, Mom, Aunt Polly 
Helium Sucker!
 
 Such a great smile!
 Keeping hydrated, it was a hot one
Where's Charlotte? 
 Uncle Howard
 
Me-Here Grayson, drink some H20, u gotta stay hydrated.
G-drinking the H20 then spitting it all over like a true boy.   
 Trouble
 Poppa & Breana
 
I love this picture, she gave me the same look evey time, I think it was a "get that camera out of my face look"?  
 My sisters 2 Dad's
 Cutest lil punkins ever.
She was like a pink cupcake, just want to eat her up.   
 Sisters
 My beautiful Nieces
 Aunt Mel, Alex, Mis, Bre
 
 Sis, Uncle John, & Gray
She didn't want to go home, very mad at her Momma.
yup still mad, Gray's got his superhero face on. 

The day was awesome, everyone had a great time, it was hotter than blazes with a great breeze.  So nice being around family and friends.  And to all be celebrating such a great accomplishment, can't ask for anything better.  
Congrats again Alex, I love you so much.