Carter's new sport

We gave Carter the option to play flag football again this spring or to play baseball or soccer.  He decided that he wanted to give soccer a try.  Can not tell you how proud of him we are.  Takes courage to sign up to play a sport you've never played without anyone you know on the team.  Matt took him to his first practice.  He started off a little shy but he warmed up much faster than expected.  He had a great time and told Matt on the ride home that he liked soccer better than flag football.  He had his first game this weekend.  Unfortunately, I was working Saturday and missed seeing him play.  However, Matt took these great pics below and I can't wait to go join the other soccer moms cheering on the sidelines soon.

Warming up with big Sister as the Goalie.  Even though they don't play with goal keepers yet. 

Hustling for the ball

Carter about  to kick off



 

Spring break 2015

Since I started a new job in February, taking a family trip for Spring break was out.  Luckily, my parents are retired and asked if they could take the kids for the week.  My parents live out in the country and the kids had a great week living the country life.  They could go outside and play to their hearts content without worry of strangers or cars.  Ella Catherine has finally gotten the hang of riding a bike and she rode and rode all week.  She is training for a run April 25th and her, Carter and my parents dog Sadie would run on the country road while my parents followed in the golf cart.  They played soccer, had picnics and went for rides in the golf cart.  They got their fill of wildlife by fishing and going Turkey calling with my dad.  They had arts and crafts time, dyed Easter eggs and made Easter cookies.  They even managed to fit in a surprise visit to my grandmother. Who needs Spring Break Camp?

Enjoying some lunch with Mother Nature

A run on a country road

Getting in some dribbling practice

Ella Catherine helping Carter practice

Soccer anyone

Arts and Craft time.  Ella Catherine threading her needle to make her button clock

Carter drawing

Finished product!  She did a fantastic job sewing the buttons for this clock.  Clock is now hanging in her room.

Fishing

Dying Easter Eggs

Love that sweet face!

Beautiful teal Egg and Beautiful Girl

Could NOT love this pic more.  Carter smiling showing off their eggs and Ella Catherine looking at him like "what are you doing"  Sums up our daily life right now. :)

Making Easter cookies

Making Easter cookies

Final product

Ella Catherine, Pop and Carter all dressed with Turkey calls in hand

Ella Catherine's Slumber Party

Well, it was bound to happen.  Ella Catherine decided she wanted to have a slumber party this year to celebrate her birthday.  We limited the invitation list to 4 girls.  I thought a very respectable number for a party and very doable first sleepover for mommy.  We were a little anxious as to if the party would be a go or not as mother nature decided to dump snow on us the day before, March 5(her actual birthday).  Luckily, the snow had melted on the roads and all the girls were able to make it to our house.  We started the night off with Pizza followed by cake and ice cream.  Then the girls played a bit while I got the first activity set up.  I had pillow cases and fabric paint for the girls to each make their own pillow case.  The girls had so much fun making the cases.  What I didn't think about was that we were using fabric paint, paint specifically made to NOT come out of clothing. (Eeek!)  Super close call with a few of the girls clothes but thanks to shout and some elbow grease we got everything out before it had time to set. WHEW!  The next activity was fairly harmless in comparison.  Ella Catherine picked out 6 nail polish colors and we numbered them 1-6.  Then they took turns rolling the dice.  As the dice landed on a number, I proceeded to paint the girls nails the color she rolled.  We did this until all the girls fingers were painted.  It was fun to see all the different combinations of the 6 colors that the girls ended up with.  Next a good old fashion pillow fight broke out. :)

Then it was popcorn and a movie.  We pre-ordered "Tinkerbell and the Neverbeast" and it was released March 4th.  Just in time for her birthday.  I was a little afraid that the weather might delay its arrival but it came in time. YAY!  I think the girls really liked the movie.  After the movie, I made every attempt to get the girls to settle down and go to sleep. Several girls had gymnastics, soccer etc the next morning so staying up all night was not an option.  I think they all finally fell asleep about 11:45pm.  We ended the fun with a yogurt bar and cinnamon bread.  I think everyone had fun but most importantly I think Ella Catherine had a great party celebrating 8 years.

 

PIzza and girl talk

Waiting for cake

Here comes the cake

Singing happy birthday

Up close look at the cake.  Girls in their sleeping bags

Ella Catherine's pillow case she made

The beginning of the pillow fight

PILLOW FIGHT!!!

Yummy popcorn with candy surprise at the bottom

Digging for the candy at the bottom

Playing Bounce off

More girl talk over breakfast

Ella Catherine turns 8

Our sweet Ella Catherine turned 8 today.  Just so happens that we woke up to about an inch of snow on the ground and it was snowing like I've never seen it snow here in Nashville.  Therefore, she got a snow day from school and a white birthday.  As is tradition in the Lynch house, she got to decide what was on the menu for breakfast this morning.  Her choice: bacon, sausage and biscuits.  Definitely not her mom's influence for that menu, but I must admit it was delicious.  We opened gifts and then decided to let breakfast settle watching a movie before we headed out in the snow.  Although this wasn't our first round of the white stuff this year in Nashville, it was the first time it was just snow (not ice).  So, we had a snowman to build.  Originally, it was just us girls out there shoveling snow and packing it into a pile.  However, Carter couldn't stay away long (well after the TV was off :) ).  Although Matt swore off the white stuff this go around, I think he just couldn't stay inside and watch as I was completely inept at snowman building.  I'm a Georgia girl, we know a lot but we don't know snow.  The snowman did get built.  Cassidy was so excited about the carrot nose that she had about 5 meltdowns while waiting for the head to be built.  To make up for it Matt let her name the snowman.  Bet you can't guess what she named it...  Olaf.  I'd have been shocked had it been anything else. After snowman building came some homemade hot chocolate followed by the premiere viewing of the new Tinker bell movie. Following the movie and lunch we played some family games. 

 

Ella Catherine is such a caring and compassionate child.  She honestly doesn't ask for anything and is appreciative for what she is given.  She has a passion for learning and a love of math.  Her current interests are learning the piano, girl scouts and all that is art.  I say this every year I know but it still holds true, Matt and I are so very blessed and happy that God chose us to be her parents.  8 years has gone by in the blink of an eye.  Ours lives were forever changed on 3/5/07 for the better.  I only wish that she is as proud to call us mom and dad as we are to call her our daughter.  LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK Ella Catherine.

 

Cassidy helping Ella Catherine open gifts

Showing little sis her new movie

Opening gifts

A new leap pad game

Building a snowman

Olaf

Traditional Daddy/daughter bday picture

EIGHT

Birthday cake pop flower

Make a Wish!

0-2 in Bowl Games

Matt and I get a little sad as College football comes to a close. This year however we were happy that both of our favorite college teams got to play in the post season. First, Mississippi State played on New Years Eve night against Georgia Tech in the Orange bowl. Our good friends the Newtons asked us to join them for a New Year's eve party and to watch the game. Greg Newton is a GT alumnus, so the game was interesting as he and Matt were talking trash to each other all night. Unfortunately State could not stop the GT offense and lost the game.  The rest of the night was fun despite the loss as we met new people, played games and watched the kids play awesome team games. A special thanks to ?????  and they had a series of games for the kids to play that kept them entertained all night.  The next morning we got up early to drive to Pickwick Lake to have Christmas with Grandpa, Grams, Uncle Michael and Uncle Christopher.  We left early on New Years morning so we could get there in time to watch Baylor play Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl. The game was exciting at first but in the end Michigan State escaped with a one-point win.  For the rest of the day we enjoyed playing games with Uncle Michael, Grams and Grandpa.  Uncle Christopher and Miss Crystal stopped by and played the classic board game Operation with us.  We enjoyed spending time with them and their  new cabin. 

Naughty or Good List?

On Christmas Eve, Matt and the kids have a tradition where they open the emails from Santa to see if they are on Santa’s good or bad list. This year was a real nail bitter for each of the kids, so when the email arrived and they watched the video of Santa letting them know they made the good list, all were pleased.  Unfortunately for Matt, he did not make the good list and the children were a little upset about that. The good news however was that Santa did let him know he still had time to make the good list before Christmas. 

The next morning Santa came and left lots of gifts for everyone including Matt.  We had breakfast the kids opened up the presents from family and played with the books and toys the rest of the day. All in all it was a great day!   We hope you all had a great Christmas also.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!!! 

Home for the Holidays

We are getting ready for the holidays again. This time of year is always exciting for the kids and for the parents.  The kids knew Christmas was getting close because our special Elf on the Shelf “Jess” came to start his daily reporting to Santa.  Carter had his first school concert where he sang Rudolph the Red nose reindeer, Rudolph had a cold in his nose and the Twelve Days of Christmas. Although we though he would just stand there and be quiet when he saw so many unfamiliar faces we were pleasantly surprised that we were wrong. He belted out most of the words and was having a great time singing.  Ella Catherine's Christmas concert was also the same night. Her class sang    and they joined Carter's class signing the Twelve days of Christmas.   Being a veteran of the school plays she was ready to go the minute the music started.   Cassidy is ready for Santa and has really enjoyed making Christmas projects at school with her other friends. Amy is still going strong with running and making great friends in the Nolensville Running Club. She is getting ready to go to Huntsville this upcoming weekend and cheer on some friends as they run in Huntsville Rocket City Marathon.