It's been a while...

...and despite computer meltdowns and picture retrieval and reorganization, we've reemerged!

Over the holidays we had my (Colin's) family around. We found ourselves going through old family pictures/videos going back decades, and found this old footage. I can't believe I'd never seen this before. Had to share it with you all.

This is from one of the Marine Corps Balls in Vienna while my Dad was stationed there as an embassy guard. Dad is over on the right side in his dress blues dancing with some local Austrian girl I'm sure. But one of my favorite parts is seeing some of our closest family friends, Phil and Traude Smith, tearing it up on the dance floor. I love that Phil was obviously given permission to wear traditional Austrian lederhosen to the ball. And that may be the last time Traude wore a dirndl. I hope you enjoy this glimpse of my family's history.


IMG_0067 from Katie Manly on Vimeo.

First Day of Preschool for Bellsie

Our super girl Ella started her second year of preschool today. She's only 4 but looks so big here.

And get this: she pulled out her first tooth a few minutes before we left for school!

Little Bro Wyatt sending her  off.

Ella takes part in the annual first day jumping picture.

Still jumping on day 2!

First Day of School

The big boys started school with these big smiles! Liam is now in 1st grade and Jackson is in 2nd.

 Little bro Wyatt really wanted to go on the bus.

I mean, really. Brought to tears.

 Little sister Ella was happy to see them off.

 Annual jumping pictures. Karate of course.

So many events, so little time...Liam loses a tooth, Ella loses some hair...and rides on 2 wheels!

We have so many stories to tell and pictures to share! I'll try to get caught up over the next couple weeks. Here are some smaller posts to start off:

Wyatt decided to color on himself on the way back from MA. (That's a post I will have to get to soon!)

Liam's tooth is going, going...

...gone!

He actually lost this first tooth during lunch and as he chomped down on a carrot, he thought he had chewed on a seed (in a carrot?) and spit it out. He showed it to us and said, "Look at this weird seed!" 

Three boys in a bed. No more crib for Wyatt!

Happy Birthday Daddy-O!

Pig pile! 2, 4, 6, 7 yrs old

Wyatt riding on the tricycle...but not for long. Upcoming post spoiler!

Magic Treehouse books party at the library

Sammy visits and we go on a fun hike.

Ella Girl riding on two wheels! Hooray!

Ella's big haircut - 7 inches cut off! She hasn't had a real cut in over 4 years!

Cousins Visit!

We had a great visit from my brother and his family recently. So thankful that the cousins got to see each other for one extra visit this year.

They played at a playground, played dress-up, caught frogs, played ball, and climbed trees in the backyard. So fun! Oh and Wyatt took a tumble into the firepit (no fire lit, thank goodness!) in the midst of all of this.

cleaning off

Look at all of those cute toes! I had to hold up the branch just in case.

Spring Break in Virginia

We spent our kids' spring break in Virginia visiting Sammy and family friend Kathy and had a wonderful time.
With so many beautiful places to see, we began right away. First, we explored Hughlett Point (beach combing on Chesapeake Bay) and liked it so much we went back a second time.

I see the moon!

The waves are chasing me!

Liam

Wyatt

Finding treasure

Sammy, Jackson and beach treasure

The kids and Colin had a chance to play at Sammy's King Carter Golf Course.

Ella's the only one to hit a putt outside of 5 feet! Of course she celebrated!

Even the Monkey had a chance to putt. He was truly serious about it, at least as serious as a 2yr. old monkey can be!

A day trip to Jamestown Settlement.
First we saw what the natives' village looked like. Inside their homes were all kinds of cool treasures. Turtle shells...

 ...animal skins...

 ...and animal antlers.

 In an unfinished canoe.

 Next onto the English settlement where we tried on armor and saw a villager demo a musket.

 Jackson in charge.

Jackson tired of being in charge.

Listening to the musket guy. Jackson was brave enough to ask him a question about the supplies he carries.

 He boarded three replicas of the Jamestown settlers' ships.

 And met some interesting people inside.

 Wyatt wasn't so sure about the ammo this guy gave him.

 

 Liam steering the ship.

 Ice cream sits the spot after all of that walking!

 Belle Isle State Park (more beach, on the Rappahannock)

Hughlett Point (a second visit!) with Kathy

 It was warm enough this time around that the kiddos actually ended up in the ocean in their clothes at the end of the hike. Good thing Momma had a sixth sense about this and brought extra clothes. What fun adventuring on the beach!

 These tree roots sat a ways out in the water and the kids had to wade out up to their hips to get to it. They were so proud of themselves!

An Easter Egg hunt and a trip to the local YMCA to play "all ball" in a raquet ball court and to try out this new fad of Pickle Ball (so fun!) rounded out our fun trip. Thanks Sammy!

One more to find!