2007 Thanksgiving

We spent thanksgiving in the mountains this year.  It such a great way to kick off the Christmas Season.  Every year I vow to be ready for Christmas by the time we give thanks and this year was no exception.  Every year I think I'm ready and then find out I'm not...  This year we tried to keep it simple, I feel like we send such mixed messages to the kids by saying remember it's all about Christ all the while getting so busy with the "season" that it can make it hard to remember Christ at all.  We are trying to find the balance between the magic of Christmas and childhood and the true meaning of Christ's birth.

Roughin' it

One thing I love about my family is no one gets worked up about things that aren't a big deal.  Maybe it's the big family mentality, regardless I love it.  So our furnace went out at the house will all 20 some odd people there.  Instead of people getting worked up and going home, we all went to the rec. center worked out, showered and bought ourselves a couple more days together with no hot water and no heat in temperatures in the teens and below.  The house actually did stay pretty warm, but love my family....

Hula Hoop Contest

So, you may feel like you've got some moves until actually pick up the hoop and go at it.  Turns out Easton is the champion.  We couldn't be prouder

Cuddles

Gingers

The Table

One More Year

Today as I trapsed through the middle school looking for my oldest daughter at her first "dance/social", all of a sudden I had this horrifying thought that maybe Paris would be humiliated that I was there walking through the dance floor with her four year old sister in tow.

I asked several friends if they had seen her, but to no avail.  After a few minutes accidental jabs to my head from would be "dancers", she surfaced.  She saw me and ran right over and gave me a big hug, and knelt down to meet Madeline's eyes and gave her a big hug.  She introduced me to her friends and we were off to piano.  I felt like I had won the lottery!

Just a beautiful evening captured

This is taken from my balcony...

How did this happen

I fondly remember the days when I could at least guide my kids in what they would all be for Halloween and as a group we could be something...  Not so, this year!

A Skeleton pirate a witch and a troll

Halloween

The kids got to dress up several times this year, all the better.  We love Halloween

My big sister

So Madeleine was all geared up to be a fairy witch until Paris decided to be a "spunky ballerina" for our church party.  Madeleine couldn't change costumes fast enough.  She loves and admires Paris so much.  We are always grateful for their sweet relationship and Paris' fine example.

Outside movie theatre

We watched Evan Almighty

Paris' 12th Birthday

One thing I adore and appreciate about Paris is she is always willing to share her friends with her siblings.  Every party, every event she always seems happy to have her little brother and sisters around, and always seems proud of them.  Her Birthday was no exception.  

She planned the whole party, all I did was help with the execution.  She had whip cream contests, toilet paper contest, and they watched a movie outside on a projector.  It was a great night, with great friends and family.

My Baby Turns 12

Pumpkin Carving

It was really nice of my sister to invite us to her house for this super messy yucky, not sure why we do this tradition... 

Advantages to being the only boy!

Easton sometimes gets the raw end of the deal being the only man in the group. But, sometimes it couldn't be any better, like this day when he had is own cheering section at his soccer game. The girls take great delight in suiting up for his games. No one yells louder than us and he loves it!

Easton and Darin prepped for the trip

One Long Night

Darin just headed off to help his brother on a housing project in Texas.   He decided to take Easton with him, so they could spend some time together.  Easton was elated.  He was packed and ready to go the night before, all without anyone asking.  He came in every hour on the hour to see if it was time to go yet.  This started at 1:00 a.m.  It was a long night for us, but we couldn't be happier about the decision to take him.  The trip turned out to be everything they both expected and started a stream of one on one trips with either Darin or myself.  It's so different when you get them alone.  This picture was taken at one of our favorite restaurants "Rudy's."