Star Student!

 We are so proud of Olivia for winning the monthly elementary award for character. She was awarded the Star Student award for displaying Kindness to her classmates and teacher. She is pictures below with other star students and the school's principal.

It also happened to be "Pajama Day" at school!

Ethan Runs His First 5K!!

 Thanksgiving was a fun day for the Hoots' family! We kicked off the day with a 5K! John and Ethan ran in the Gobbler's Run in Downtown Wake Forest. John is training for a half marathon and Ethan wanted to train with him, so they both signed up for the 5K.

It was a cold morning, but all the Hoots and Hardestys came out to watch!

Before the race.

Getting excited! You should have seen all the crazy people that dressed up like turkeys, pilgrims, Indians, etc for the race. And, yes John is wearing tights under his shorts!

At the starting line!

See him coming???

About to finish.

John is right behind him. Ethan had a burst of energy right at the end!

Exhausted, but so happy to have run the race!

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Celebration

 The twins have been loving Kindergarten this year. One of the their favorite things has been the Thanksgiving performance that the entire Kindergarten class performed. Isaac was the star of the show... at least the musical performance. Each class was responsible for a song or poem the performed. Isaac was the loudest and most understandable of all 100+ students. I can not even tell you how many people commented on his stellar performance. The pictures aren't great because of where we were sitting, but I wanted something on here to record their entry into the world of performing arts!!

The story of Thanksgiving. You can't see the twins in this picture.... they are the little orange heads seated right in front of the stage.

 

The twins class. Olivia is on the second row and you can't see her face, just her pumpkin head. But, Isaac is on the front row on the very left.

 

Here is a very brief video of the class singing their song. It does not really show the volume and enthusiasm that Isaac performed with, but it is still cute! 

Happy Halloween!

Well, Halloween of 2012 was a fun and cold night of trick - or - treating and  going to a local Fall Festival for rides, cotton candy, and games. This is the first year I have let the kids dress up without matching. They chose their own costumes this year and helped me make some of the parts of each one.

Frankenstein.

Olivia the Pig.

Mad Scientist.

A little pumpkin action from the night before. They all loved getting their hands dirty!

Winner of Best Couple's Costume!

 Happy Halloween! 

We won "Best Couple's Costume" - complete with trophy and prize at the yearly Costume Party. 

Don't worry the paint came off easily!

Happy 70th Birthday, Grandaddy Bob!!

We had the privilege of hosting a 70th Birthday for John's dad recently. He has blessed our life in so many ways and we were happy to celebrate him on his 70th Birthday!

 When the kids heard we were going to have a party for their grandfather, they insisted on having a theme. Because Bob like Elvis Presley we choose a 50's Sock Hop Theme. As you'll see the kids wanted the house decorated and they dressed up for the big day!

 Bob opening his big gift from everyone. An Ipad. He was thrilled! 

 After the food we did something fun for the kids... a pinata. It is supposed to look like a record. 

 Then we took some pictures of the grand-kids with their grandparents!

 

We even took a silly one!! 

Happy Birthday! Let's do it again in 10 years!!