This post is over a year overdue, but better late than never! Here are their 10th birthday questions: Name: Alexis Joy Howard Age: 10 When is birthday: June 7, 2013 Favorite color: purple, red, and black  Favorite food: rice and beans  Who is your best friend? Lily and Maggie Hall Favorite song? Bones & House of Memories by Imagine Dragons Favorite animal? Orcas, wolves, dogs (German Shepherd) What are you scared of? Spiders, snakes, rats, mice, spider crickets, bees What makes you happy? Seeing my friends, being with my family, and reading  Where is your favorite plac ..read more

Here are Graham's answers to his annual birthday questions!  Name: Graham Howard Age: 6 When is birthday: April 23 (close) Favorite color: orange and green  Favorite food: z bars, fig bars, chicken nuggets, cheese pizza, pesto pasta, candy Who is your best friend? Jack Favorite song? Luigi’s Mansion Theme song Favorite animal? Koala What are you scared of? Monsters, bees  What makes you happy? Jack Where is your favorite place to go? The Variety Store What is your favorite toy? Fox Lodge Lego, Waddle Dee stuffie, and other birthday gifts  What job do you want to have when ..read more

Twenty years ago today my parents were helping me unload a bedroom's worth of stuff from a U-Haul into an apartment I had never seen before. Micah and I had both just moved across the country as we were transferring from our separate colleges in Michigan to the University of Colorado at Boulder. He moved in with his sister in Westminster, and I moved into an apartment in Boulder with a couple of girls I had never met.  It was really scary to move across the country, especially since the only people I knew in Colorado were Micah and his sister. This was before FaceTime or so ..read more

I've been asking the kids the same questions every year since their 3rd birthday. It's fun to see how their answers evolve each year! Alexis What is your full name? Alexis Joy Howard  How old will you be on your birthday? 9 When is your birthday? June 7, 2013 [they finally know their birth year] What is your favorite color? purple Favorite food? hot dogs, ribs, and drumsticks  Favorite dessert? chocolate and vanilla twist ice cream Best friend? The Halls and the Clubbs  Favorite animal? dogs and wolves What are you scared of? Spiders ..read more

Graham turned 5 in April and I kept meaning to finish his birthday blog post, but I've been struggling to find time. Although it's cliche, the truth is that things don't get easier or less busy as kids get older, it is just different. When the kids were younger I could plan on some down time during naps, but I haven't had a child that napped since Graham turned 3! And although our kids spend more time playing independently than when they were younger, many evening are busy with sports. Plus. the kids go to bed much later now, so there isn't as much time (or energy) after they go to bed to get ..read more

Eight. This age seemed like a lifetime away when Alexis, Jack, and Faith were born, yet somehow we are here already! In the fall they will start 3rd grade. But as unbelievable as it is that they have already been in our lives for 8 years, it’s also hard to remember them as younger versions of themselves. I’m so thankful for my old blog posts and Facebook posts as, without them, I don’t think I’d remember anything! Family vacation in Hilton Head Alexis Faith Jack The 8th year of their lives was unusual. COVID had a huge impact on our daily lives as it limi ..read more

I've been asking the kids the same questions every year since their 3rd birthday. It's fun to see how their answers evolve each year! Alexis What is your full name? Alexis Joy Howard  How old will you be on your birthday? 8  When is your birthday? June 7 What Year? 1972?  How old is Mom? 38  How old is Dad? 39 What is your favorite color? purple, red, and black Favorite food? ribs  Favorite dessert? soft serve vanilla ice cream in a cone with sprinkles  Best friend? Faith, Jack, and Graham   Favorite animal? dinosaur, dog, and horse  What are you sc ..read more

Our “baby” is 4-years-old today! He has grown up so much in last year. In fact, it seems like he has grown up so much just since we moved to Virginia at the end of last summer. He definitely took his time reaching some of his milestones, but he is so much more independent now than he was just a few months ago (potty trained, dressing himself, picking out his own clothes, washing his own hands using a very tall stool, washing himself in the shower, putting on his own socks and shoes, and even opening the refrigerator and opening his own yogurt cup!). It is hard to believe that Alexis, Ja ..read more

For years Micah had mentioned the possibility of getting a temporary position in Washington DC with his employer, but he was waiting for the right opportunity to come along. At the beginning of the year there was a job posting in DC that looked interesting to him, so we decided he should apply. But then COVID hit, and we didn't hear anything, so we figured it wasn't going to happen. Towards the end of April, though, Micah was contacted about the position. He was told that he had to decide if he was really interested in making the move before going through the interview process, as they on ..read more

Another year has come and gone! This last year seemed to go so fast, and the last few months have been really strange since we have been at home due to the governor's "Stay-at-Home" order because of COVID-19. I'll be honest, I worry about a lot of things, but I never even realized that a worldwide pandemic was something to worry about! Although the situation is not ideal, I have to admit that I've enjoyed a slower pace without rushing the kids off to school and trying to keep up with other activities for the kids and ourselves. The last few months have given the kids a chance to play a ton, wh ..read more