Almost a Teenager!!

Andrew turned 12 last week ... he got the usual Kane Kids Birthday Name letters. The kids really do count on those now .... Katie and Julia made him a birthday cake with the Miami logo and green and orange frosting. We did his taco birthday dinner as always ... Matthew spent the night with Zachary and Willie B was fast asleep. Andrew got a new bat, video game, a big box of candy and a few new shirts. He took brownies into school for the whoel 7th grade. He is growing up quickly ... he is a very nice boy and such a sweetie!!!

WPS Baseball Win

We played Mt. Dora on Friday and had a big win. Andrew had 2 plate appearances .. one walk and crushed a ball (right to a guy!) in left field. He stole 2nd, went to 3rd on a passed ball and was hit in ... It was a fun night, a really nice stadium and a great win for the team's confidence!!

Green Meadows Farm

Last Friday we went to a birthday party at Green Meadows Farm & Petting Zoo ... It is probably one of my most favorite days I have spent with William. He is in that amazing age where they finally discover animals (and call them all doggies). He was beside himself ... he loved every minute of it ... from the peacocks to the llamas, petting goats, chasing and catching ducks, the pony ride and the train ride. We had to leave a bit early to get to Andrew's baseball game, but the weather was perfect (nice with a cool breeze) and it was nice to just focus on Jules and Will!!! Enjoy the photos ... truly a priceless day!!

First Pitching at WPS

Andrew is playing on a junior varsity team at WPS this year ... we are very blessed to have such a talented coach in Gil Morales. The kids are learning so much and for a group of young kids ... they can hold their own!! Last week against Foundation, Andrew started a varsity game at pitcher. He did a great job and we were only losing 3 - 0 when he came out of the game. The kids he was facing were huge .. his comment was many of them had beards!! Too funny ... He was very calm and composed and trusted his good mechanics and lots of practice. Sean and I were really nervous ... but very proud of our 11 year old pitching.

Baby Pete has Arrived

We have a new baby in our extended family ...My sister Meredith had her second baby tonight!!! Baby Pete arrived around 9:15 EST. 8 pounds, 12 ounces ... John is now a big brother ... Jeff will be updating their blog with a picture soon. We are so thrilled!!

Random Picture

My friend Terri sent me this picture yesterday .... it is MATTHEW in the lion costume. That looks like William to me. I always see Andrew is William, but this i the first time I see Matthew. Boy ... Look at how short my hair is .... kind of cute. It is amazing that this is over 5 years ago ....

Softball Time

This past Sunday, Katie's travel team started up again for the Spring Season. We played two games in Ocoee (we went 1 - 1). Katie's bat came alive and she tattooed a couple of balls. She pitched in the second game and did well. She is definitely throwing harder ....we once again have a young team so we have alot to learn. Katie has great friends from her team .... we play again next Sunday!! Katie is gaining confidence on the field. And ... some more good news .. they broke ground on the softball field at school. Yeah!!!

Our Sweet Valentine

Hope to get some pictures of all my little loves tomorrow ... but I took this picture of Jules going into school today for her Valentine's party ... what a sweet Valentine!!

Science Fair .. Winner

Way to go Andrew ... he won the 7th grade science fair at school. He did a really interesting experiment about the Stroop Effect. It basically tested how color and font size affects the reading speed of words. He had a sample of 30 participants and then compiled the data, made graphs and charts and wrote up his report. He did a great job and his presentation to the judges went very well. We are so very proud of all of Andrew's academic achievements, but even prouder of the fine young man he is!!!

WPS Rock On

We had a fabulous time last Saturday at the WPS Gala ... it was a fantastic event. It obviously was a rock theme ... I teased my hair big like the 80s and Sean had a fauxhawk ... I actually wore these really cool jeans with skulls and guitars all over them!! We danced all night and the band was INCREDIBLE!!! The food was yummy and there were a lot of great auction items!! We got outbid on the one we wanted ... oh well!! We had so much fun and we needed a night out together!!!

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Girl's Night Out

We celebrated Terri's birthday last Friday at a neat Irish pub called the Stage Door. It was so nice to hang out with girlfriends, listen to music and enjoy some yummy fish and chips!!!

What a hairdo!!!

The other day at lunch, I discovered that William used his yogurt as hair gel ... oh well ... so we turned his hair into a mohawk. He thought it was pretty funny when we looked in the mirror. Needless to say, we had to take an immediate shower ... yogurt hair gel only smells good for so long!

Middle School Dance

Andrew went to his first formal dance this past Friday night. He had a late baseball practice, so we went to his friend, Ethan's house, to quickly get ready. He looked all dapper in a blue suit (thanks Oma for helping us find it!!!). The dance was in the ballroom of the Grand Cypress ... the teachers chaperoned and the decorations looked fabulous.

Allen, Andrew, Kayla and Emily

Ethan .. the constant comedian!!!

Emily and Andrew

What a handsome young man!!!

Silly Faces

Lauren and Julia have so much fun together. They were playing at our house on Thursday and decided to make funny faces for the camera ... sad, silly, perplexed, mad .... They are so amazingly cute together ... they have known each other since they were born .. best friends. Ashley and I are so lucky that they are such good girls and sweet friends.

Hat Parade

It was a cold afternoon for the 100th day of school hat parade. Matthew's hat was a hit ... 100 hats on a hat. He loved his hat and so did his teacher, Mrs. Fagan. Mom, Jules and Will got to spend the afternoon in the classroom ... I love to be in Mrs. Fagan's room ... it is so warm, inviting and loving!!!

Face Book is Killing My Blogging

So I will admit it ... I have become a Facebook junkie ... especially now that I have my I-Phone. My time I used to set aside to blog, has been filled with my FB addiction. I have connected with high school friends and have been able to keep up with all my friends here is Celebration that I don't get to talk to often enough. I am making a public commitment to return to blogging .... in fact, maybe that should be my next FB Post ..... "Caroline is FINALLY BLOGGING!!"

Keep Cheering

Like this picture of Katie, Claudie and Carly the other day at the girl's basketball game. There was only three of them for the first game ... they did a great job!!!

100 Hats

Matthew had to create a hat for the 100th day of school. He is a creative little guy and decided to do a hat of helmets and caps. Luckily Oma and Pawpie brought this hat back from Vietnam ... it had enough surface area to hold all the small hats. The hat parade is at school on Wednesday ... it will be interesting to see what the other kids did. I highly doubt that any other child is wearing a Vietnamese conical straw hat. Matthew is always so enthusiastic and proud of the projects he does for school. An artistic Kane ... could it be???

Basketball Beast

So Matthew has really come into his own so far this season of Upward Basketball. His first game two Saturdays ago and he was a maniac on defense, hustling and sometimes wrestling. Luckily no fouls are called in the 1st and 2nd grade division. This past Saturday he was an offensive machine. He scored 4 buckets ... had 2 great layups and actually used his left hand to dribble around the defender. It is really nice to watch Matthew having such a great time on the court. He is shooting hoops every night in the alley and is very focused in the games!! Can't wait to see what this week brings!!