Small Update....

So, I haven't been the best blogger. Sorry. For some reason, if I don't have a picture that goes with the topic of the day, I don't blog. Weird. So, today, no picture, just little update on everyone. I'll go in order. ;)

Madeline: All her stuff is in and ready to go for Running Start. She will only have one class at Prairie next fall. One. Man, I wish they had RS when I was in school. She's still on the lookout for a job. Thankfully her car is not a gas guzzler so she gets by working one day a week, basically for gas money. Poor kid. Her grades are great, and she's just generally a very good kid. ;)

Joseph: High school soccer is over and he's playing for Chinook Alliance again this year. He really seems to like the more relaxed play of Select vs. Premier. I'm not sure if it was Stew's death that changed it for him, made him realize that soccer is to enjoy, not work yourself to oblivion over, or what is was, I'm just glad hes happy playing again. He's been playing soccer daily for 11 years now. Wow. That's a long time. He's loving high school. Doing great with his grades, and VERY anxious to start driving. Papa Gary has been super nice and has been taking him to practice driving on Sundays. He loves it.

Noah: Playing for Chinook Alliance this year also. Thankfully, soccer tryouts swayed him away for the football he's been talking about non stop for the past 3 months. I do NOT like football. Hes taken a huge interest in war. All things war. He reads about war, plays war video games, and talk of going into the service. I don't know where this comes from but he's very intense about it. School is going awesome for Noah. He loves his teacher, is making great grades and really seems to enjoy it.

Juliette: Also playing for Chinook Alliance this year. Um yeah, We are gonna be BUSY. Shes still wrapping up the softball season, while practicing for soccer. She played softball for Team Faith this year and enjoyed it alot. She's just like Joseph, loves to be active CONSTANTLY. I'm just glad that soccer seems to be all the kids first loves, as watching softball is kinda boring. Shhhh...I didn't just say that. ;) Juliette is also doing fabulous in school. She got an amazing teacher this year who is just the right combo on nice and strict. Just what Juliette needs. She tends to talk alot. Go figure. ;)

Annabel: Well, not alot going on but play play play. Shes done with preschool for the year. She did love it. She recognizes her name, knows all her colors and can sing the alphabet. She loves to sing. All kinds of songs. She got a new scooter after Aaron ran over her new trike with the car and we can't seem to keep her off of it. She loves to ride it around. She enjoys art and playing with the older kids. Sweet sweet girl. ;)

Delilah: 16 months old. Already. She's turning into a pretty good girl. We were worried there for awhile. lol. Shes intense. Very intense but shes learning to channel it better. She loves to do anything that Annie does and mimics her every move. Shes turned into quite the Daddy's girl, especially if Aaron is leaving. She's happiest when we are out and about. She is definitely a go- go-go girl.

Me and Aaron? All you gotta do is read the above. ;) I'm home cleaning, making dinner and knitting, (or stitching as Aaron calls it .lol) while Aaron is at work. Evenings turn into a giant carpool for us. I can't believe we manage to do it all and still have time to talk at the end of the night. But we do. And we are loving every minute of it. Our kids are all amazing and I don't think we could ask for anything better. Life is good. ;)

Flower Child

I took the little girls to the park to pick up Noah from his soccer tryouts. Unfortunately, the equipment was so hot that we couldn't play on it. We picked daisies and made Annabel into a perfect little hippy child instead. She loved it. With her fairy wings dress and flowers on her head, she was absolutely beautiful. She totally missed the 60's by a few decades. That's ok, here's to hoping that she can bring it back. ;)

Happy Birthday Madeline! (Belated)

So I could have sworn this blog already got posted as I typed it up and hit submit, but for some reason, It not here. So this is Madelines HAPPY BIRTHDAY post but late. Im sorry sweetie. I KNOW I already did it. Sheesh.


Anyhoos...Madeline just turned 17. Yup, Thats what I said, SEVENTEEN. I thought having a 15yo was hard, 17, is way harder. She is only one year away from being an official adult. Scary. To top that off, shes oficially older than I was when Aaron and I started dating. Now THAT is freaky.

She's pretty darn close to being the perfect teenager too. After my teen years, Im not sure what I did to deserve such an awesome kid, but I thank God every day for her. She kind, happy, considerate, empathetic, pretty much everything you could ask for in a person, yet more.



So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Beautiful Madeline. You are the light in my life. I love you so much.

Happy Birthday Joseph!

I cannot believe my sweet little boy is FIFTEEN YEARS OLD! Ok, so it's not about him being 15, its about me being 36. UGH. He's going to drive soon. A year. Wow. Time goes so fast. He has taught me so much. Hello, I learned to be a VERY PATIENT parent thanks to Joey. He was the most tenacious toddler. And I'm being nice. ;) But now, he is the best. Joey is considerate, sweet, happy and kind. He is the best big brother ever. His baby sisters adore him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSEPH ALEXANDER!

Summer's A-Comin'.....

And boy is Delilah ever ready! Have you ever seen a baby so young, actually enjoy being doused with ice cold hose water? Not only did she enjoy it, she threw a HUGE fit when we turned it off. And yes, she is actually lapping the water up off the ground. I never said she wasn't weird.

The good news? It seems I have finally found something that keeps her entertained for more than 38 seconds. Yay!

Family Pictures...

On Saturday, we had the most amazing photo session with Rebecca Davis. Her business is www.catchlightsnw.com. AWESOME photographer! Just amazing.

We havent done family pictures in 12 years. TWELVE YEARS. That means that Joey was like 2 in the last set! Aaron hates them. I had to beg him for these and let me tell you, it was SO worth it! I am thrilled with how they turned out. I dont have them all back yet, so I shouldnt say thrilled yet, but you can go to Rebeccas blog (link to your left) to see the 5 that she posted. I love them all (except for the last one, I just look weird) but I really love this one....

Whew......

Home. Its is so nice to go on vacation, but it is even nicer to have such an amazing home to return to. I feel so grateful to have this home with such an amazing family. We are truly blessed.

Vacation was awesome. The house that we rented was great. The kids love it when we get a ranch style house, I think its because its different than what we live in now. Annabel got to sleep like a big girl with Madeline and Juliette. She loved that, although she still ended up in our bed halfway through the night. ;)

On Tuesday, Aaron and all the older kids went on a really really long bike ride around Sunriver. They figure that they biked around 8 miles! They were very hungry when they got home. lol.

Aaron, Joseph, Noah and Juliette went boarding at Bachelor on Wednesday. They had alot of fun. The weather was nice and of course, what more could you ask for? SNOW! Madeline, Annabel, Delilah and I just stayed around the house and took a walk to the park. It was really cold that morning (37') so we didn't stay long, but long enough to get the girls some fresh air.

All in all, the vacation was great, as usual. This was our 3rd year renting a house and just hanging out and relaxing. We intend to make this become a family tradition. The kids seem to love it and its so nice to get away, even if only for 4 days.