some of my long lost cousins...haven't seen them in over a century

Baby cousins...not so baby anymore!!!!

dinner with moms family

My sister Pita and my cousin Benito. My Sister Nina and Benito's son

My sweet Tio Lalo's (whose life we gathered together to celebrate) son Lalo Jr.

this was our last sunday of 2010, i was washing the dishes gazing out my the kitchen window, contemplating how beautiful the lighting is on overcast days like this...perfect for pictures!!!! even though the kids were not completely ready for church we couldn't pass up the perfect moment...once again these crazy kids were in the mood for pics and posed themselves. they are so fun when they WANT to take pics.

praying your year went out with a bang and brought great memories - for life is what we make it so lets make it great.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Helen Keller

We celebrated Christmas this year with our family and friends and felt the blessings of the True Spirit of Christ and the real reason for this glorious season. The children were so excited to give and share and see what others thought of their gifts, they were genuinely grateful for things that they received and I couldn't help but think that our Heavenly Father feels the same joy I did this season when he sees us reaching out to his children in love, care, understanding, and faith. Lifting another and bringing them closer to Christ, what a glorious glorious experience this is. And to think that it can last all year long...this love and empathy and serviceable attitude.
I am truly grateful for the great example Christ set for me to follow, how I follow and how I serve others...will determine my true gratitude and my true testimony of My Savior. Epiphany moment...(for myself that is)
I pray each of you had a wonderful Christmas and that each of you feel our love, we miss you and think of you way more often than we post :)
Merry Christmas~

so here are some pics of our newest adventure... 5 children in soccer. Maybe I should write a book and become famous!! hahaha!
Well these are only a few I Chose these because of their expressions, the one with Vigo clasping his hands was after he made a goal, ran straight to change their points, So cute!!!!
Then there is the ever serious about competition Drake and his intensity comes out so prevalent in all the pics I have of him.
Alia the princess who would rather be dancing ballet then being smashed between all those sweaty boys! before she kicks in the ball she does a little show - so so so cute!!!

 

This girl cannot get enough when it comes to books, and you can usually find her tucked in a corner reading a book IF she is not attached to my hip.

 

Song for a Fifth Child

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

 

Cowboy Breakfast

So the kids school hosts an annual Cowboy breakfast. This year they had a contest for best dressed and most talented....of course not all four Bolander children could have been chosen (they would start thinking I'd paid the judges!!) but they are all winners.
Maya and Addison both won - most talented -Maya for singing Ingrid Mickelson's song "the way i am" and Best dressed to Addison. The boys danced The Cotton Eyed Joe (which they learned the dance steps off you tube!!) fun stuff here down yonder in Texas~~~

 

Okay so trying to play catch up, missed out on most of the summer pics, maybe for my own sake I will come back for those.
These are a few pics from Drake's 8th birthday party. Yahoo!! When did these kids grow up?

 

Yumyum

Alia