Updated ... almost!

I think that I have almost caught up now. As you will see if you scroll down that I have posted 8 new posts of things that we have been doing. I hope to have our Christmas post up soon. I hope that you enjoy our adventures as much as we did as they were happening!!

Gingerbread houses

One of my favorite traditions at Christmas time is making gingerbread houses. I love keeping this family tradition alive. It is a LOT of baking but when everyone is together and laughing and having such a great time I can't help but feel blessed to have the ability to keep it going!

Sometimes they work beautifully and sometimes they have technical difficulties but they are always so much fun.
Everyone has input and the kids love all the candy and I think that they eat almost as much as they put onto the houses.
All of us have a great time and I will always cherish the memories that we are able to make!!!

Ballet recital

Abby at her ballet recital. She and her friends had such good time. She is such a cute girl. This is her third year in ballet and her teacher said that this year she is very serious during class and she concentrates and won't talk to her friends! (Anyone that knows Abby knows that this is a very big deal, she loves to talk!!)

They even got flowers for all their hard work. We love our little dancers!!

Christmas party

Our ward's Christmas party is "Breakfast with Santa"

Caroline

Hunter
Abby

Sugar cookies!

This is what happens at our house when our cute neighbor kids come over to make sugar cookies... Let the flour fly!!!

Carson was the smart one to stay clear!

Orchestra Concert

Caroline's fan club on the way to her orchestra concert!!

This is Caroline's second year playing the violin. I am so proud of her dedication even when it is frustrating to get started. She is a talented young lady and it was fun to sit and listen to her.

Christmas tree angel

Caroline got the honor of putting the angel on the top of the tree this year!

It is always a big deal for them to be able to help Daddy put her on the tree.

Thanksgiving!

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! It was my family's year and we hosted at our house. It was so nice to have a house full of family. The kids loved being together and we had a nice time hanging out and watching Christmas movies after dinner. I am so grateful for the blessings in my life and I love my family!

Soccer Season Recap

Our Soccer Season

Caroline had a great season this year! They were a fun team to watch. They didn't win all the time (2 wins, 1 tie) but they were by far the most improved. They really learned the meaning of team work and made friends for a lifetime.

(Tracy was her assistant coach)

Hunter as always has a great time playing. He is a great team player and always is encouraging his teammates whether he is on the field or sitting a quarter out. He loves soccer and is determined to be the best he can be.

Abby is our most aggressive player. She loves to get out there and really get into the game. She was able to get several goals this year and was a great sport win or loose! She can't wait for next season.

In our family it is not only the kids that get into soccer. Tracy and I love it too. I always seem to be the team mom for at least one team. Tracy on the other hand is not only Caroline's Assistant Coach, but he has refereed for the last 5 years. He really loves to get out there with the kids and is really great at teaching as well as reffing. I love having something that the whole family gets involved in. We seem to be really busy during the season but I wouldn't trade the time with our kids for anything!!

Caroline's Birthday!

We have had another birthday at our house! Caroline just turned 11 and I can hardly believe it.

She has always been our sweetly content child. I have so many memories of her just hanging out with Tracy and I.

She is so much fun and she has a great sense of humor.
I think that her favorite person in the whole world is her Uncle Andrew. She loves to go visit him in Washington DC. I'm not sure she is ever really ready to come home!

She has such a love for life, school, and her friends. She is such a sweet young lady and we have been truly blessed with her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLINE, WE LOVE YOU!

Busy weekend!

Wow! what a weekend ... this past weekend was fun but busy. Some good friends of ours went out of town for four days and asked Tracy and I to watch their cute kids. We went to their house Thursday after school and came home Monday night. Friday afternoon Abby and Courtney had a birthday party to go to and Friday night it was Caroline who was off to party. So the boys got a night of almost girl-free video games with Tracy and Marissa (they were sweet to give her a remote too)!!

Saturday we went out to Joe and Sarah's for George and Jacob's birthday party. More fun and more food and cake! Jacob got a remote control boat so we all went to the park and watched it zoom around the lake. I think that was the kids favorite part (or maybe it was more time on the Wii)

By Saturday evening everyone was ready to sit and chill with a movie.


We had such a fun time and the kids loved being with their friends!

My future....

This is just the beginning...this is Abby talking on the phone to her best friend. They are trying to work out a play date on their own. She was frustrated because my plans for grocery shopping were getting in the way!!