Blog Has Moved

Our blog has moved. It is now located at southernpotatoes.wordpress.com. We've gone to this new layout that makes it easier to showcase our families photos and videos. Several more photos have been added to previous entries.

Flashback: Hello Noah

We are getting ready to have our third child in May, and I was looking back at the videos from Noah's birth five and a half years ago on May 9, 2005, in Memphis. It's neat to look back and see how small he looked when he was born and how fast they grow up. Grandma Williams made the trip from Idaho to help out.

My favorite part of the videos is the one where Shelby meets Noah for the first time. She had just turned four when he was born, and her interaction with him is really cute.

It's funny how you remember a lot of the difficult times, but forget how adorable kids are at the different stages until you look back on it. I wish it was easy to remember that during the moment. Even now, I look at the kids as being a pain in the butt a lot of the time, but I'll look back on this moment and long to be there again. Time is always moving way too fast and it's easy to focus on the next moment in life rather than slowing down to enjoy what you have in the present.

Redbirds and Fireworks

One of the summer activities we enjoy to do is attending Memphis Redbirds games, the AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. We went with a couple of friends to a game on July 3, 2010, and ran into a bunch of other families from our ward in the game.

Even though our tickets are behind home plate, we still always go and sit on the Bluff. I can watch baseball, and Shelby and Noah can run around like mad men. The kids like to get cardboard and slide down the hill on the back of the Bluff.

After the game, we watched the fireworks, a prelude to the fourth of July. They were shot right over top of us, so we all had to shield our faces from falling ash and debris.

Atlanta Braves Game

Here are a few videos from our trip to Atlanta Memorial weekend to watch an Atlanta Braves game. We camped two nights at a KOA outside of Atlanta and went to see the Braves play the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 30, 2010, at Turner Field. It was a lot of fun for everybody.

The day was designated as one of their Family Days, so there was a lot to do with the kids. All of the interactive games around the stadium were free on this day, so Shelby and Noah got to try their skills at pitching and batting. We also had the chance to meet former pitchers Rick Camp, Zane Smith and Hall of Famer Phil Niekro before the game and get their autographs.

While Tamara and Noah waited in the autograph line, Shelby and I went into the outfield stands to watch some of batting practice. We were standing along the left field fence, and one of the Braves bullpen relievers threw Shelby a ball that she was able to use to get autographs on.

The Braves won the game in dramatic fashion with Chipper Jones knocking in a couple on a pinch hit appearance. Jason Heyward also had a good game.

After the game, the kids got to run the bases. It was a long line, but Shelby and Noah had a lot of fun and received a free t-shirt that said "I ran the bases at Turner Field," and also received a certificate.

Christmas Morning, 2010

Since we were up late on Christmas Eve, Noah and Shelby actually let us sleep in to 7:30, which was nice. Both were excited for what Santa had brought them and also for the gifts from Mom and Dad.

Santa gave Shelby the Epic Mickey game for the Wii and Sonic Colors game for her DSI. Noah got his own DSI so he doesn't have to keep taking Shelby's. Both of them also received a couple DSI games from mom and dad. They were both excited for their Pillow Pets, which I had never even heard about, but are pretty big this year.

Christmas Eve, 2010

For Christmas Eve, our family continues a Kolditz tradition of having a small program and then opening up a couple of presents. We finished watching Michael McLean's Forgotten Carols that we had started on family home evening the prior week. Then we sang carols and read Luke 2 before opening presents from the grandparents.

After opening the presents, we all played games on the Wii and before we knew it, it was 11 o'clock and way past bed time.

I apologize for my singing, which almost drowns everybody out. Watch Shelby singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing. She doesn't know the words, so she oooohs nearly the entire song. Pretty funny.

2009 Memphis Volleyball Media Guide

Open publication - Free publishing - More tigers

2009 Memphis Soccer Media Guide

Open publication - Free publishing - More tigers

2009 Memphis Football Media Guide

Open publication - Free publishing - More university

Vacation at Hot Springs, Arkansas

For the Fourth of July weekend, we took a mini vacation to Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is about a 3 and a half hour drive from our home. We left on Friday morning and went straight to Magic Springs/Crystal Falls, where we would spend the majority of our time. We weren't expecting much since we had read the reviews and all of them were bad. A lot of the big thrill rides were closed. But at the affordable season pass price, and since our kids wouldn't ride those type of rides anyways, we decided it would work out.

The kids had a lot of fun going on their rides,a nd there weren't big lines, so they were able to go right on most of them. Shelby is our daredevil and Noah is the scaredy cat, but he started to warm up at the end. We even talked him into going on the boat ride that went up and then crashed down a 50 foot slide, sending a huge wave of water to those on the bridge and those in the boat. He was nearly messing his pants, but he did it and had fun.

They had a kid rollercoaster that he liked to go on. He was scared at first, but by the third time on it, I got him to lift his hands in the air (although I was holding them up). He said he liked having his hands in the air, but he'd rather have them holding onto the bar.

Shelby wanted to go on everything, but still was a couple inches too short to go on the big rollercoasters. I took her on the Tidal Wave and we sat at one of the ends. She freaked out during it and I had to hold on to her while she was shaking and looking at the ground. But she later went on it again, this time we just sat in the middle.

Her big accomplishment was going on the Hammer, which I hate, but went on it with her. I can't believe she did it and loved it, especially since it has you starring straight down in limbo as it slowly works up enough speed to flip all the way around. I hate feeling all my weight and trusting a drop down bar. Next time her mom can go on it with her.

We camped two nights at a KOA less than a mile from the park. This was our first time camping since our bad experience on memorial day last year. It was really nice and we had a good experience this time. The first night went well and we were able to roast marshmallows on a camp fire. But the second night a huge thunderstorm passed through around 1 a.m. and let up the entire sky for about an hour with lightning and thunder. It poured pretty good and rained most of the night, but our tent held up and we were able to stay dry. The kids slept through it all, which was good.

Saturday morning we went to Hot Springs National Park, which is pretty much a small area in the center of town. There is a large hill with a natural thermal hot spring at the base of it. It was believed that the water could restore one's youth and several bath houses used to line the area allowing people to bath in the water. The water was really hot to the touch. We climbed the mountain and walked around for a while. The town is really old and was neat to drive through and look around.

On the Fourth of July, we went to a Craig David concert at Magic Springs. It was really good and Noah put on a show for everybody in the surrounding area. He was dancing for the first half before finally crashing.

With our season passes, we are looking to make a return trip once or twice before the summer is over and spend a Saturday there since it's not too far of a drive.

Follow me on Twitter

I have created a Twitter account and am giving it a try. You can follow me at http://twitter.com/BrandonKolditz.

Shelby’s Baptism

Shelby was baptized on Saturday morning. The service went really well, and Shelby was very happy. Grandpa Williams gave a talk on baptism, and Grandma Kolditz talked on receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The baptism went smoothly, and after Shelby had been immersed and we were walking into our dressing room, she gave me an enthusiastic thumbs up. After the baptism, we had a small barbecue at the house with some of Shelby’s friends.

Shelby then had her confirmation on Sunday in Sacrament meeting. A few of us had to leave right after the blessing because Noah was running a fever and needed to go home.

Hollywood Cafe

Saturday night we went down to Tunica and ate at the Hollywood Cafe. It is a local hole in the wall that has been made famous in the Walking in Memphis song by Marc Cohen. The restaurant is also prominently featured in the music video of the song. John Grisham also used to frequent the restaurant and included it in one of his books.

The Hollywood specializes in fried Southern food. We had fried green tomatoes, fried dill pickles and fried onion rings as an appetizer. My dad ordered fried frog legs with his meal and I was the only other one brave enough to try it. It actually was pretty good and tasted similar to a chicken wing. You just had to get over the fact that you were eating a frog.

Mud Island

Tamara looking at the flower of a Magnolia tree.

After going to the Pink Palace Museum, we went downtown to eat lunch at Silky O’Sullivan’s on Beale Street. From there, we headed to the Mud Island River Park on the Mississippi River. Amazingly, this was the first time we had gone there in the five years we’ve lived in Memphis. We’ve tried a couple of times, but it was always closed during the times that we went.

The park has a full scaled down replica of the Mississippi River. It’s about a half a mile long and the kids had fun wading through it as we walked down to the end. At the end of the river, they had paddleboats that the kids and I went on. Tamara poked fun of me afterwards because my side of the boat was nearly all in the water, while the kids’ side was almost completely out of the water.

Pink Palace Visit

Grandma and Grandpa Williams are here from Idaho for the weekend for Shelby’s baptism. We took them to the Pink Palace Museum in Memphis on Friday. It was our first time going as well.

The museum had a lot of interesting exhibits depicting the the history of civilization as well as the history of Memphis. The museum is in a mansion that used to be owned by the founder of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain.

I had a lot of fun scaring Noah while we were there. Noah has watched too much TV and has an imaginative mind. Plus the movie Nights at the Museum didn’t help. He was scared of the dinosaurs and all of the exhibits that had people in it. I would tease him that they needed to work on him next, which would send him running. He was happy to leave at the end.

Shelby’s a Gifted Child?

Shelby had her last day of first grade on Thursday and is excited for the summer. In this photo, she’s wearing the Hawaiian dress I got her when I was in Hawaii.

Shelby came home with a letter last week with a permission slip that needed to be signed by her parents. The letter said that she has been recommended for the gifted program at school. At first, I thought it was referring to a program for the academically challenged. We held Shelby back for another year of first grade last year to help her after she was struggling .

But we were surprised to find out that the gifted program was for smart kids. Amazingly, Shelby ranked in the 97th percentile on the OLSAT intelligence Test. The Group Intelligence Test requires a minimum of 90 percent for further assessment. She has met the preliminary qualifications for the gifted program, and the next step is a formal I.Q. test to be administered by a psychometrist from the county office, hence the need for a permission slip.

We are really proud of the improvements Shelby has made in the classroom. She went from not being able to read simple sentences last year to reading Junie B chapter books. She also went from getting D’s and F’s in everything last year to getting all A’s and B’s. She was excited to come home this week with a bunch of certificates honoring her academic achievements, including being on the Principal’s list all four semesters.

However, I still think, if she’s so gifted, how come she has a hard time learning to be obedient to her father. She’s still the same trouble maker, but at least she’s showing signs of brilliance.

Frogs and Toads

We found our first tree frog in our yard the other day. You can hear them at night chirping, but we’ve never seen one. I think they’re pretty cool and would love to give Shelby and Noah another pet, but Tamara won’t let me.

Of course, a toad had to join the picture. We have toads all over our yard. When I mow the lawn, I find about two or three every time on the side of the fence jumping away from the mower. At night when I go jogging or for a walk, there are always a few on the sidewalk collecting the heat from the concrete.

Mother’s Day

For Mother’s Day, we gave Tamara what she really wanted. A day to relax and do nothing. The kids and I cleaned up and made her dinner while she got to lay on the couch and watch Twilight for the 100th million time. Noah even took a nap, which is rare these days. The picture shows the funny way he likes to sleep with his hands behind his head. I made Tamara some stroganoff with chunks of beef that was really good. You can check out the recipe and a pic at our cooking blog – Kolditz Cooking.

Future Football Star

We got Noah a mini football for Christmas and the other day he was throwing it back and forth in the house. We thought it was pretty cute and had to get it on camera. He always tells us how his muscles are getting bigger and we got him to show them to us in the tape.

Noah’s Birthday

Noah turned four years old on Saturday, and he’s been talking about it for weeks now. He thinks he’s a pretty big boy now. We went to Incredible Pizza for his birthday for lunch and then he opened his presents from us in the afternoon. That night we had his birthday cake – chocolate chip, his favorite – and ice cream. It was a big day for him, and he really enjoyed it. Both Shelby and him are growing up so fast, and it’s fun to see how much they are changing and become more independent.

Noah’s birthday cake. I thought I had turned the camera on for the lighting of the candles and the singing, but I must not have and we didn’t get it on camera.

Me and the kids with Noah’s new Spiderman scooter. It was something he really wanted. We also got him a Sponge Bob coloring book and story.

Noah opening his presents and singing the Sponge Bob songs.