White Sands...again

We made another little day trip out to Whites Sands, NM with the Johnstuns.

The old men trying to show the little boys what is up.

Moab

The end of June we went to Moab for a Schroeder family reunion. The kids have so much fun with all the cousins. This day the boys were river rafting and Presley and I were just hanging out at the lodge.

2010

Wow! We had a lot of changes in 2010. The biggest change was our move to Texas. We were so sad to leave, but have LOVED living here. The schools are great, the people are nice and you can't beat the weather.

Gage started 3rd grade this year and is our little smarty pants. He LOVES to read and once he starts a good book he can't put it down. He is obsessed with "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and has read the series about a million times. He got baptized, wrestled, played soccer, swam, played flag football and started scouts this year.

Talon started all day kindergarten this year. He is doing really well and is becoming a great little reader. Talon learned to swim this year and loves swimming at all of his friends houses in the summer. Talon also is a great runner. He can run forever. When he gets a little older he is going to be my running buddy. Talon wrestled, played soccer, swam and did gymnastics.

Presley is our little diva. She is so much fun and really completes our little fam. She is all girl and loves me to do her hair, paint her finger and toenails, put on lip gloss and play in her little kitchen. She loves her daddy and can not get enough of him. Presley got potty trained this year, which is more an accomplishment for me than her!

Adam started a new job with Boston Scientific as a Territory Manager in the Endoscopy Division. He has learned so much and loves his job and the company. There is a ton of opportunity in his company and we are hoping to go foreign in the next few years. Adam is also the early morning (5:45am) seminary teacher. Adam really enjoys it...and well I am the sometimes-supportive-always-has-a-tired-husband wife.

I have been busy with the kids of course. I have also been busy trying to get my photography business up and going in a new state. I have met some great people while doing it. I still run a few days a week and love the weather at 5am in the morning in Texas. I just recently got called to the Young Women's and am super excited about that. I have met some great new friends and LOVE were we are living.

We have been so blessed in 2010. A lot of really good things have happened to our family this year. We are so excited for 2011 and what it has in store for us!

Disneyland

Our "vacation friends" that is what we call them. We always vacation with the Williams. We LOVE them! We decided this year to mix it up and let the kids come.

The first day we went to Venice Beach to people watch. The kids begged to go to the Freak Show and we caved. We intended to spend a few hours there, but ended up spending most of the day walking up and down the board walk at Venice Beach.

The second day we went to Disneyland. We had such a great time. It is so magical at Christmastime.

cute Ava and Karinne

Presley loved Ava

It snowed (not really but it was still amazing).

The last day we hung out on the beach. It was 86 degrees and perfect. We spent most of the day at the beach and then headed to the pier for dinner.

We had such a great time and the kids couldn't get enough of each other!

White Sands, NM

Over the Thanksgiving break we headed to White Sands, NM. In the pictures the sand looks gray, but it's completely white. When we were driving in it felt like we were driving in snow. Of course the little kids (and big kid) had a blast!

I have a confession

I have been a major blog slacker this month. I have been taking lots of pictures....of Presley. My confession is, "I feel guilty when I put a ga-million pictures of P on my blog and none of the boys." But let me explain why

REASON #1

REASON #2

Yup! They are not a a friend of the camera.

Beautiful Day

Cute little Brooklen

The boys have been on Spring Break all week.  Today was such a beautiful day that we decided to go downtown with some friends and look around all the little shops.  We ended the day with a stop at the Ice Cream Parlor, where I tried really, really hard to talk the boys out of getting Superman Ice Cream (the red, white and blue ice cream that stains everything).  No luck!

Merry Christmas!!!

We had a very eventful year with many blessing! 

*Adam got a great new job at a company called Covidien.  He is selling MRI/CT Scan and other surgical supplies.  He is loving his new job and is learning a ton.  He works from home part of the time and I am loving that!  He is playing indoor soccer all year round and we love to watch him play (when he isn't get hurt).

*Gage started first grade and loves it.  He is such a nice boy and is friends with everyone.  He played spring and fall soccer and is getting ready to play indoor soccer next month.  He is also wrestling and is going to wrestle in a tournament this year.  We logged lots of hours at the pool this summer and he is on his way to become an excellent little swimmer.

*Talon is in preschool and loves it.  Talon started soccer this year and is looking forward to playing again in the spring.  Talon started wrestling this year and decided it wasn't for him.  He is starting gymnastics at the first of the year.  Talon also became a big brother this year, which he is very proud of.

*Presley joined our family.  She is such a blessing to our family and we are so grateful to what she brings to our home.  She is a good baby and loves it when I play dress up with her.

*I have been busy this year with growing a baby (it pretty much consumed the whole year).  I have been taking lots of pictures and having tons of fun learning about photography.  I have started running again and although I don't plan on doing another marathon I would like to do a half marathon or triathlon.  I have been domestic these days with making bows and other girlie things.  I even bought a sewing machine and plan on sewing something.  

We couldn't be happier and are so grateful for everything we have.  We have so many great friends and family and feel so blessed daily.  Thank you for being a part of our lives!

Hey Jude!

My mom came out for Thanksgiving.  She came baring gifts.  She brought the boys, Adam included, a Wii and Presley a plethora of bows and hair accessories.  She went a little crazy.  We had tons of fun and the boys couldn't get enough of grandma Judy!

Pumpkin Patch

For family night we went to the pumpkin patch with some friends and let the boys pick out pumpkins.

Grand Haven

Rob, Brooklen, Adrienne

We had an awesome weekend!  We went with our good friends, the Gillis family, to Grand Haven for the weekend.  We stayed in a cottage right in town.  We visited the shops, spent time on the beach, watched the world's largest music fountain, rode bikes, visited the lighthouse, walked the boardwalk...GOOD TIMES!

Little Sis

This past weekend Jamie came to visit. She came out to help me decorate my nursery. I have never met anyone who can shop like her (in heels might I add). We always have so much fun when we get together. We had an awesome workout at the gym, went to dinner with some girlfriends, had a photo shoot, hit Nordstroms and shopped till we dropped. While Jamie was out here she had her "three-years-of-being-cancer-free-birthday". I am so glad you are my sister! I love you!

Pink

Looks like there is going to be a little more PINK around our house!

We are having a GIRL!

Music in the Park

Every Tuesday our township has music in the park. Bands and/or musicians come and rock out with the kids. We met a bunch of our friends there and had a picnic. Good Times!

Higgins Lake

For the 4th of July this year we went up north camping with some friends. We met some of our good friends Dave and Sara up at Higgins Lake. We played in the lake all day and then the night owls did illegal fireworks all night. There is just something about boys/men and fireworks. We had such a great time!

Parade

Our township has a big festival on Flag Day. Parade, carnival, fireworks the works! The boys got more candy than they did on Halloween. Talon was eating it faster than he was getting it. I seriously don't know why the kid has had 6 cavities!

Annual Father-Son Campout

The boys had a blast at this years Father-Son Campout. I had a blast cleaning dirt out of everything for a week. There is just something about boys and Dirt. They love it!