Our New Kitten, Callie

We adopted a kitten from a local shelter and named her Callie, because she is a unique Calico. She is mostly white, but has a multicolored pattern on her head and tail, with a few spots in between.

Aleya loved this birthday bonus!

Our kids LOVE kittens. We even went multiple times to the shelter, just to play with all the kittens.

Callie also has one green eye and one blue eye.

She loves to explore . . .

. . . and is very playful.

She also loves to take cat naps.

SO SWEET!

Aleya's Princess Birthday Party

Aleya requested to have a Prince and Princess theme for her 5th birthday party. She invited both church friends and friends from her preschool class.

The kids decorated their own crowns with jewels.

We had snocones and pizza.

The kids decorated their own cupcakes.

Princess Aleya sat atop her throne ready to receive her royal gifts.

She was so glad to have all her friends there to share in the fun.

Aleya knighted those who gave her gifts.

Aleya's Pre-School Graduation

Aleya attended the Ivy League Academy Preschool.

She met her best friend, Allie (black dress) in her preschool class.

The kids sang songs, such as the Months of the Year (Macarena tune).

The kids wore felt graduation hats and received fake diplomas.

Aleya loved her wonderful teacher, Miss Heather.

Congratulations!

Memorial Day

Christian was at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, treating all the inmates' G.I. problems. I took the kids to the Jacksonville National Cemetery to honor the veterans.


It is a small and fairly new cemetery, so most of the people there had died recently.

We hope our children will remember and reverence the sacrifices made by those who have served and are still serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Endeavor Space Shuttle's Last Launch

We were lucky to win the ticket lottery for tickets to the 2nd to last shuttle launch at Kennedy Space Center. This was the last launch for the space shuttle Endeavor. After changing the launch date and time several times, it was finally slated for May 16, 2011 at around 9AM. This meant that we needed to arrive 7 hours before at 2AM. Christian was unable to attend, due to his work duties.

We watched them prep for launch on a large outdoor screen.
There was a pretty large crowd there. Skies were clear and we were all very excited.

We set up our camp chairs and after exploring the center a little and watching a few movies, the kids took a much needed nap until the launch.

We were all very tired, but very excited (as you can see).

About 1/2 hour before launch, a low cloud cover rolled in. We watched the take-off on the large screen and eagerly anticipated our view of the space shuttle as it rose above the white canopy next to the screen. Unfortunately, due to the low cloud cover, we only saw it for about 2 seconds from the treeline to the cloud cover and then it disappeared out of sight. "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyoooooooooooooooooohhhhhhh!" Very disappointing and sad after leaving Jacksonville at midnight, driving 2 hours to Kennedy, and waiting 7 hours until the launch. Well, at least we can say we saw it in person (even if for only 2 seconds)!

The crew (and wannabe crew) of the Endeavor.

We spent the next few hours enjoying the exhibits there.

Could have been so beautiful . . . could have been so right . . . Darn that cloud cover!

Spring Festival at FIP 2011

Amara is in the Mini Company at her dance studio and they danced at a local Spring Festival.

Amara loves to dance. Her favorite style so far is lyrical.

Her company danced to "Fireflies."

They also danced to "Shake Your Groove Thing."

Here is the Mini Company.

Here are the Mini, Junior, and Senior Companies at Wehner's School of the Arts. Some of the older dancers were missing from the picture.