September 2019--Organ & Merit Badges

So proud of our Kaitlyn who has recently been called as the ward organist at church.  It's not as simple as just playing the piano on the organ, see how her feet are bare, she plays the bass clef with her feet!  

Sam had a court of honor and cleaned up after scout camp--he's on his way to the rank of Eagle.  8 Merit badges:

Chess, Personal Fitness (FINALLY), Geology, Robotics, Camping, Citizenship in the Nation, Sports, and Communications

And the rank of Life Scout!

 

September 2019--Football Season, Cookies & Temple time!

A-up!  It's Allen Eagle Football Season again for our band girl and her fans!  Allen High School Football is serious business!

Loved these sweet kiddos who worked together one Sunday afternoon to make cookies!

A special Saturday excursion to the temple to do baptisms--Matthew was even a good sport to wait in the lobby so we could all be together.

 

September 2019--Boating with friends

We have reached the phase in our boating life that it's way more fun for our kids to bring a few friends to enjoy lake days!

Bella & Mikelle came with Lindsey and Logan with Sam--we had a GREAT day!

 

August 2019--other events

Stephen was called into the Elders Quorum Presidency in our ward with Warren Hess and Brian Bunker

Melissa spent a day watching Ellie and had SO MUCH FUN!

Mom & Dad made good on a birthday present promise to redecorate Katilyn's room and get rid of the pink walls for a much more mature grey.

And since the kids are back in school, Melissa goes with friends Becca and Jennie to see the Monet exhibit at the Fort Worth art museum--it was incredible!

 

Summertime Boating

Summertime is for boating, and it's always more fun when we can bring friends!  The Lofgrens rented a couple jet skis for the day and we wore al the kids out!

 

August 2019--First day of School

First Day of School for the 2019-2020 School Year

We have Kaitlyn who is a Sophomore and her first year at the BIG Allen High School main campus

Sam is an 8th grader, his final year at Curtis Middle School

Lindsey will be in her final year (6th grade) at Marion Elementary School--and has Mrs. Fields as her homeroom teacher.

Matthew will be in 4th grade and has Mrs. Winters as his homeroom teacher and will also switch with Mrs. Powers who has had his older siblings too.

We were happy to participate in the annual Back to School Parade where we met up with friends at the park and enjoyed donuts! Made signs and waited for the teachers to pass by!  Love this tradition!

And with back to school stuff comes another band season for our girl Katilyn and the pep rally at Watters Creek.

August 2019--Mary Ella Howe

We are over the moon to welcome Mary Ella Howe into our family.  The first child of Alex and Sarah.  We were do grateful to be able to blip on down to College Station for a weekend to meet her.  We are all smitten.  Melissa had a fun memory of staying overnight to help with her.  She let Sarah and Alex get a bit more sleep than they were used to.  And when Mary had a total blow-out of a diaper, Melissa showed them how to handle it easy peasy.

We then returned a few weeks later for Mary's blessing day.

A fun photo recreation.  The photo on the right is of Sarah meeting Kaitlyn in the hospital when she was first born, and on the left is Kaitlyn holding Mary at about the same age Sarah was when the first picture was taken.