Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Trip to Utah



Anna and I had a great time visiting our cousins in Utah. I hiked Angel's Landing with my sisters and will never forget how much I laughed. Anna loved playing with her cousin's and visiting Zion National Park.

Sunday, February 05, 2012

Super Bowl





Friday, February 03, 2012

Superbowl 46



Well I have been contemplating buying tickets for 4 months and with 2 days to go before the SB 46 I did it, I bought Cole and I tickets in the lower section. Either crazy or a good DAD, I don't know which????

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Winterfest




Cole had a gymnastics meet in Cincinnati. It was a big meet with over 100 boys competing, but Cole did very well. In his age group he got first on the vault and sixth place all around. It was so fun to watch Cole and his team compete.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

climb time




One of our favorite places to go.

Anna's Piano Recital



Anna did a beautiful job on her piano pieces for her piano recital. She has been really good about practicing her songs every day. She is getting to be a great pianist.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas 2011





We have had such a fun Christmas season. I love having Anna, Cole, and Tessa out of school for a couple of weeks without a schedule. We have a chance to try some things that we don't normally get to do. The weather has been abnormally warm which has also made it nice to be outside.

On Christmas morning Anna was the first to rise (besides mom and dad who were working out). We made her wait until we were done. By 7:00 everyone was awake. Santa brought so many nice things and a nice note for us. He was so happy for the cookies that we left for him and the carrots for the reindeer. After opening gifts, eating breakfast, and playing with everything it was so fun to go for a long bike ride. Cole got a new bike before Christmas and he loves to go for bike rides. We got back and got ready to have John and Kathy over for dinner. They are like our family and it was so fun to share the day with them. Christmas day went much too quickly.


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Anna Gets Her Braces Off

Look at that cute smile.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Just a little love

Just to share a little something here now that the troops have left Iraq. When I was in Mosul, Iraq in 2006 my family was given two matching gorillas as a gift, a small and a large one. Anna, who was three at the time sent me the small one. I gave that gorilla to this small Iraqi child who was severely injured and came to us with a horrific bowel injury from Syrian fighters who blew up a school. She was in love with this gorilla. My youngest has loved the larger of the two now for two years. It is amazing how innocent children are. It is amazing how these two stuffed animals that came as a pair but are separated by distance both had/have provided an amazing amount of love.

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Life Rule Role Model

Anna was the life rule role model for having good manners at school. Good job, Anna.

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Cole Turns Seven





Cole's Favorites:
animal-snakes, book-Scooby Doo, cartoon-Scooby Doo, color-gold, food-chicken on a stick, sport-gymnastics, movie-Harry Potter, restaurant-Steak and Shake, place to go-Climb Time, Remember most-being bitten by Griffin, Wants to be when he grows up-a fisherman.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Jolly Days at the Children's Museum



Tessa and I had fun going to Jolly Days at the Children's Museum with a couple of friends. She loved going down the slide, riding the carousel, and playing in the science works area.

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Anna's Christmas Choir Concert


Anna sang in the school Christmas choir. They all did a beautiful job.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving in St. George




We had a fun Thanksgiving in St. George. It is amazing how my family has grown. There were 35 family members for dinner. It was so fun to catch up with what everyone is doing. Some of the highlights of Thanksgiving: playing paint ball with sling shots, getting family pictures taken (with everyone there except one nephew), and going to zero gravity (a trampoline gym). What a fun vacation that went way too fast.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Anna Turns Nine

Anna's Favorites:

animal-frog, book-secret series, color-peach, movie-Dolphin Tale, restaurant-Eddy's, sport-gymnastics, place to go-Yogi's, memory-American Girl in Chicago, wants to be when she grows up-crayon maker.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Halloween




We had a great Halloween. The weather was perfect and our neighborhood is always fun to trick or treat at. I didn't see Anna and Cole until they had gone to every house. Tessa and I went slow. Tessa tried a bite of each piece of candy she got. When we got home her bag was full of opened and partially eaten candy. We did our traditional hay ride through the neighborhood and then we were done. It was a fun evening.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Carving Pumpkins


Our before and after pumpkin pictures.