Bring on Spring!

Wow, what a week - planting, egg hunting, and art! The weather seems to have gotten warm again...for now and we are loving it! Below is Riley working at the Ronald McDonald House with her fellow Daisy's. She has officially been slated to help with mulch next week! The girls helped create this beautiful planter - great job kiddos!!

In the early fall, we received a note home that Riley's Sock Eyed Salmon would be in the county wide Arts and Science Festival, which was held this past weekend. Below is her work:

Kyle started soccer and loves it just as much as he did last fall! And the shirts are his favorite color this year, jail-house Orange!!

Today was our 3rd annual Grace Easter Egg Hunt. We had a BEAUTIFUL day and about 70 kids. Since Kyle is now over napping, I now had Eric and the kids for set up and clean up duty! I love my bunch!! Overall, the hunt was a great success including face painting, tattoos, desserts, and family pix!

Kyle, Nate, and Izzy playing - I see trouble with these three for years to come!

Historically, Riley has NOT been a fan of face painting - however after giving it a shot last October fest with one of her buddies, now she is Down with face painting - well, painting all over!

We made the big kids hunt more challenging by hiding the eggs in the woods and making the kids find a eggs with individual letters on them spelling EASTER.

Happy Spring!

More catching up!

I was way to far behind on the last entry to fully catch up so here is more! Over all, everyone has been relatively healthy... Ri got the stomach bug and was out of school for 3 days - it almost killed her (being out of school, not the actual vomiting!) Kyle also had the stomach bug a few weeks earlier and after covering his room in vomit, he was so proud to then catch it all in the puke bowl! Kyle also had some respiratory issues recently, but is in much better shape now. We spent some time with the doc but as it turns out, it had been 10 months since his last sick appointment - I think he is finally outgrowing it!

Poor little sick Ri!

As I mentioned, Riley still loves school! She can read anything and so far, excelling in all areas! Each grading period, a child from every class is given an award. Riley received the "Responsibility" award recently and we all got to attend an assembly to watch her receive it.

waiting to be called up on stage... a little nervous!

I received an email from Ri's teacher recently - I was out of town so I instantly expected the worst. This is what it said, "Riley has had 2 marriage proposals today. Both children are fueding over who will get to marry her! So cute!"

Below is an example of her school work - love that kid!! Her teacher is wonderful and on valentines day, she gave the kids an icecream party (which was really a lesson in money! how cool!) I was able to go into class and help scoop - Kindergarten is FUN!

Kyle has had a couple parties too! His new teacher is by far the most creative person I've ever met! Our kids really have it good!!

Our Daisy troop has also been very active. We've attended World Thinking Day, renovated the garden at the Ronald McDonald house, and visited a nursing home.

There have also been a lot of fun parties - swimming, jumping, and pizza!

Riley's award said that she was being recognized for showing responsibility when, "she follows school expectations, completes work, and shows kindness to her peers each day. She also helps others whenever she gets a chance" (written by Mrs. Sullivan)

This is Riley receiving her award!

Catching up - Family update

I have plenty of excuses, including business and loss of pix due to my phone being flushed (again) but I won't bore you with the details and instead I'll do a quick update since out last post at the end of January! We have been having lots of fun and trying to enjoy the sporadic nice weather! The annual Irish fest in the neighborhood was as fun as always! Below is Kyle enjoying cake! At one point during the event, Kyle ran up to me with his knuckles all bloody and scrapped up. He was just showing me, not fussing about it. All I had to clean him up was a baby wipe, which typically hurts an open wound so every time I'd touch his boo-boo, I'd ask him if it hurt. Each time, he'd respond very simply, "no". Finally, he got fed up with my constant question, and said, "Nothin Huts Me!!" (you need to say that with a slight Arnold Schwarzenegger accent) He is so funny!! We have also enjoyed a bunch of fun birthday parties!

and fun times with our neighbors!

In late February, Kyle and Eric went to the Monster Truck Jam and Riley and I went to see a movie! Check out her little shoulder turn for the 3-D glasses pix!

Below is a pix of the kids playing together at a Grace playdate. They are so cute right now - they just love playing with each other so much and typically play exclusively together when we are out with a bunch of friends. I imagine there is a bit of a security there and it won't last for ever, but it is cute for now!

And of course, happy birthday to Daddy!! We had a bunch of celebrations for Eric, including a fun night out (not with the kiddos) to see a local band!

Riley has also been working hard to earn her fit for life miles! She and I run/walk a few miles each week and she has already finished her "marathon". Below is a bunch of kids from the neighborhood after running about 2 miles!

and it wouldn't be right for me to not mention the super sad loss of both the Steelers in the super bowl (pix below) and the VCU Rams loss in the final 4 championship! Go Team(s)!!

BURRRRR!!!

No mild winters here any more!! It has been COLD!! This morning the temp read 14 when I got up... we all wished we were still in bed... but as always, there is too much going on for sleep!

1st, Happy Birthday GRANDMA! What a fun visit we had with Grandma and Papa after their trips to Tenn, Tx, and then Cancun! We celebrated with the whole family at our house and feasted on mexican and gourmet cup cakes!



The past two weeks have also been HUGE for the Steelers, so obviously our household is pretty happy! Below is a pix of Riley on Spirit day - the friday before the Championship win! Today (monday after the win) she wore her black Steelers jersey to school! Speaking of school, in an email recently, her teacher said, "Riley has the wonderful gift of picking up on whatever's being taught. She's a great listener and retains information very well." My thoughts on that, "Yippee!!" One last thought on Riley - she is selling GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!! Let me know if you are interested in buying a box! She is a first year daisy, so we are going easy on sales, however she is enjoying the sales part a lot more than I am!! (I'll try to post a Daisy pix soon!)

My Steelers Crew!
Justin got the kids Aqua Sand for xmas and they've been LOVING it! Look at crazy eyes below! LOL

Gymnastics is over for now - Riley enjoyed it but decided to take a break for a while.

She has the pink pants on (the gym is COLD)

Kyle is still our little sweetie - however starting to get more and more... personality! The other day we were all at the store and he was acting crazy. I got down on his level and told him that he was not behaving and needed to pull it together. His response, "I don't want to behave... I punch you!" With that he gently put his fist to my arm and then looked like he was going to bust out crying. We dealt with his attitude appropriately, however only after we pulled ourselves together so that he couldn't see us laughing our butts off!

Unfortunately, K started puking this past Thursday - all evening! After covering his entire room in vomit, I got him the blue bowl - around here it is known as the puke bowl. The next few times he threw up, it landed only in the bowl and he was soooo proud of himself! The Surratt family cherish the little things:-)

Welcome to 2011!!

Happy New Year!!

2011 came in with a blast! We had some friends over to help ring in the new year and at 8pm we counted down for the kids. The plan was to let them celebrate at 8pm, then tuck them into the bonus room for movies and hopefully sleep... however as suspected, they were all up till midnight to help the adults ring in the new year!

This is the 8pm count down complete with poppers and bubble wrap to run around on!

The adults still had a great time - we went old school and played some great beer pong... however my once sharp skills have gotten super rusty!

Bev gave Jen and I matching beautiful wine bottles (they were huge and delicious!)

And 2011 is here!

On new years day, I took the kids to see Tangled - what a cute movie and that just may be Kyle's first movie theater experience.

The kids are still loving the Wii and are looking forward to Grandma and Papa's arrival in the coming days so they can get some good competition on!

Riley has one last gymnastics class this session (hopefully I'll remember to get pix) She has enjoyed it, but an hour and a half is a lot after a full day of school. In addition, I'm exhausted trying to keep Kyle entertained as we wait... below he is chilling on the gym mat playing his leapster - this lasted about 5 minutes of the 90 we were there.

Since the last 2 days of school were snowed out before the holidays, we had a make up 'winter party' in Ri's kindergarten class after the 2 week break. I'm room mom this year and am happy this party is over (however I'm pretty sure the party was a success) The kids rotated through 4 stations (finger print art on a winter/kindergarten poem, decorate cookies & make home made applesauce, make pine cone bird feeders, and make an icicle ornament) Below is Ri with the finger print poem craft. She just LOVES school, her classmates, and her teacher. She already has all her sight words mastered and is reading at a 1st grade level.... we hope this love of school continues for a long time!

Kyle on the other hand would rather play with his cars! But, he does like school and is extremely well behaved for his teachers and catches on very quickly. No matter how you look at it, he'd still rather be kicking a ball! Last week Kyle asked me the following, "Mommy, did you know that both Santa and Jesus can see me all of the time?" I just love these thoughtful 3 year old questions! My response should have been, "better believe it buster, so watch out!" but instead all I could do was smile and praise him for such a thoughtful question:-)

The only other event of the week was our first call from Nurse Amy to come get Riley from school this past Friday. The poor little thing had a 101 temp and it kept her down all weekend:-( fortunately, nothing ever came of the fever and she was fever free on Sunday and back to school on Monday!

As mentioned above, Ri just loves school so I'm going to try to remember to take pix of her art work and school work more often (especially since I'm known to pitch anything in my line of sight when I want things clean!) Below is a free writing assignment they did in school (sorry for the lousy color - the paper is white, not brown!)

White Christmas

Merry Christmas!! Wow, what a week! The kids were snowed out of school the last two days before their 2 week vacation and then we got even more snow on Christmas day! So far, these snows have not been like last years snow, but still fun!


The 2 week break has been a blast! We have had playdates everyday, sometimes 2 in a day! And today Riley joined Addie at the movies to see Yogi Bear! However, Riley tells me everyday how much she misses school but she has had a lot of fun seeing her old friends from preschool this week!

We spent Christmas eve at Darcy's house feasting on Chinese food and opening presents with Grandma and Papa! We are now proud owners of our first gaming system, the Wii, and Kyle is OBSESSED!!! Riley is a great bowler and her over all goal is to beat Papa next time he is in town!

Eric tried to get a pix of the kids first view of the tree after Santa visited, however Kyle was moving way to fast and we only got a shot of Riley!

Look at the excitement!! And this is just over ear muffs!
This is Christmas Eve at Darcy's - Kyle makes a great "baby" for the girls.

Kyle is rockin out on Christmas eve with the new guitar that Lexa gave him!

Christmas morning (our kids never got dressed!) Grandma, Riley, and Bebe

Grandma got Taz a fake mouse (that looks very real!!) and he loves it!

Buster loved his new HUGE bone, but it was too big for one sitting so he brought it out back and buried it... right before it snowed 6 inches!

Kyle LOVES his new turtle pillow pet - good job Santa!

The Groovy Girl that Riley is holding is dressed as a Girl Scout and her name is, "Responsible Rilee"!! Sooo cute!! (Thanks Becky - great call!)

Riley loves her new Horse - she named her Cherry!! Thank you Bebe!

Kyle not only loves the Wii, he also loves his leapster - thanks Santa!

Santa also brought Kerplunk and Kyle and Papa had some serious games going on!

Tracy and Eric - very full from a Great Christmas Dinner at our house!