Let the games begin!

Fall always brings so many activities to our home and while we always try and limit what the kids do, it is always such a busy time.

This year we have made a rule in our house that the kids are only allowed to be in one activity at a time...partially due to last year's mistake with shuffling Jordan back and forth from soccer to football. This year, Jordan decided to continue with football. Coach Dad and Jordan go three nights a week for some pretty intense practices with games on Saturday. He has been experimenting with a couple of positions, mainly Left Tackle on Offense (can you believe he's a LT!!?) and a defensive linebacker. He's really been giving it his all lately!

Colin is playing soccer through our church league again this year. He's really enjoying it and doing well. He has a great way of maneuvering the ball! Colin practices on Tuesday with games on Saturdays. It's a long season, he's already been going for almost a month, but he enjoys it! The girls especially love the popcorn come game days.

Which leaves us with Jocie. Jocie was asked if she wanted to do soccer or gymnastics. Even after a bribe of popcorn every week by her potential coach, she opted for gymnastics, which was quite fine with us since last year she spent the majority of her time on the field in a headstand position or doing cartwheels. So Thursday nights are now gymnastic nights in our house.

Poor Katie. When one of the kid's school teachers came to our house for a home visit this summer, Katie said, "Jordan does football, Colin does soccer, Jocie does gymnastics..." PAUSE, "Hey mom, what do I do!?" She finally caught on. :) Well this week when we signed Jocie up, we tried to put her in the preschool gymnastics that was going on at the same time, but she would not participate. Maybe next time.

Add to all of that, Cub Scouts and piano and you can see why we're broke, I mean, busy. :) Enjoy the pics!

Back to School!

Wow, how time flies when you're having fun! Or vacationing that is! We have been soooo busy this summer with our trip to Iowa, camping, new job, new school, etc. that we haven't had time to update. So here we go...attempt #2 in keeping you all updated on the goings. I do think I mentioned in my first blog, that I would do one and only one attempt at this whole blogging thing...as you'll see I'm about as consistent with this as I am with parenting Katie. :)

The kids started back to school on Wednesday. It has truly been two great days days of school. Watching the kids adjust so easily to the new school and new friends has been awesome! Jordan was so excited that he got to pray 2 times in school on the first day. Colin was happy to be with some old friends from preschool. Jocie is still mesmerized by her kindergarten teacher. :) (So is mom by the way!)

Today, Katie started preschool ~ where does the time go!? Still not potty trained and going against what we've said all summer - "You can't go to preschool if you're not going potty in the toilet" is yet another example of our bad parenting where we say she can't and she does anyway. And we wonder why she is who she is. Hmmmm....

That all said, how could I not send her? Preschool is amazing, as always, and the teachers do such a fabulous job with these kids. She did amazingly well. Walked right in, hung up her jacket, took out the things from her backpack, hung that right up, and walked over to start playing with the kitchen. "No big deal mom, doing just fine, don't let the door hit you on your way out..." :) Pictures from the first couple days are attached! Enjoy!

The first day of school for the oldest three.

Big Sis and Lil' Sis getting out of school together! Have I said how nice it is to finally have them all at the same school!?

Mom hurry and take the picture, I can't wait to get inside!

First few moments in preschool on KK's first day. What's that in your hand KK? A baby bottle!?

Swimming in MAY!

It has been a beautiful weekend and even better Monday! Sunday, we had the chance to go swimming over at Nanny and Poppy's. The water was 84 degrees and it was fun! The boys still remembered how to swim from last season (phew...only 2 more left to teach). As much as Jocie wanted to swim without arm floats, she decided it was much easier to swim with. Little Katie was a little apprehensive at first, but by the end of the day, she was saying, "Mommy let go" and "1, 2, 3 jump". Mommy let go...wow - we're growing up!


Jordan, Colin, and Jocie - first swim of the season.


Look at Goggle Girl - sooo cute!


Today, was very warm with a nice breeze. I had to take a shot of my beautiful African Violets. They are blooming so beautifully!


After preschool today we enjoyed the weather at the neighborhood park. The girls loved the tire swing!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

And the golf season begins...

Saturday began with Jordan participating in a Drive, Chip, Putt Competition. Jordan was in the youngest age category and did pretty good considering he's only had one lesson and it was only on driving. That said, he learned that the weekly topic of PATIENCE, is especially important when it comes to putting. Jordan had very little patience when it came to putting so needless to say that showed up when he missed all 5 putts. They got 2 swings per hole. :) Today while watching him, I learned that Jordan golfs a lot like me...tee up the ball and swing - no practice swings, just get up there and do your thing. That's probably why we both have LOTS of room for improvement. :)

Nanny and Poppy took the youngest 3 out to breakfast at IHOP and Jordan and I joined after his competition was over. Jordan had definitely worked up an appetitie, but then again the pancakes were yummy! After breakfast we headed over to Nanny's for a short visit and then headed home. I had hoped to work outside in the yard today, but it was windy and rainy most of the day.

Dad went to an all day Men's conference and really enjoyed it. We're glad he had the opportunity to get away for a Saturday and grow spiritually. What a good dad!

Sorry no pictures today. I'm hoping to get some pictures of the kids from this past winter up in the next couple of days.

Love to all of you!

Beautiful Weather

Yesterday we had a beautiful morning and Katie had the opportunity to spend some time outside jumping on the trampoline. I really have to watch her because she likes to go outside without asking. I heard the patio door sliding open and next thing I knew she was already outside on the trampoline. The good thing was I didn't have to search too far because she was blowing a tune on her Hello Kitty whistle. Isn't it funny how a mom can say it's a tune...I'm sure our neighbors felt otherwise.



Later in the day, Jordan and I were off to his first of six golf lessons. LifeLinks Golf (similar to Upward Sports) provides golf instruction from a golf pro to a group of kids similar in age. It also incorporates life lessons and biblical teaching at the end of each lesson. Yesterday's lesson was on PATIENCE.

"A patient man has great understanding; but a quick tempered man displays folly." -Proverbs 14:29.

They taught this lesson because they wanted the kids to learn that golf (and life) requires patience. You're not going to become Tiger Woods overnight. Although little Jordan sometimes reminds me of him. :)

While we were at the golf lesson, we saw a gorgeous rainbow that was later followed by a double rainbow. These pictures do not do the rainbow justice.

Cub Scout Arbor Day Service Project

Our 2008 Cub Scout Service Project was to plant trees near our public pool. The Scouts dug the hole, placed the trees, backfilled, and watered the trees. The City prepared the site, and the PUD provided the trees. An arborist was also on hand to help provide some planting direction and education.

The boys (including dad) all were on the news last night!


Cub Scout Service Project

We're off!

Ok, I'm bad at returning calls. I'm a horrible emailer. I'm even worse at writing...so here's my one and only attempt at keeping you all updated on our family. I can't guarantee that this will be kept up-to-date. As I'm sure you can imagine, life with 4 can often times be a little overwhelming, if not a lot like drowning. :)

My hope is to be able to share our family's precious moments with you. Seems like just yesterday when we were buying our house and trying to figure out how we were going to fill all the rooms. Now, in what seems like a blink of an eye, we're at max capacity with 4 beautiful children. Jordan, our oldest is 8 - wow that makes me feel old! And our third, Jocie just celebrated 5. Below are pictures from The Princess's tea-party.


Our friends that used to make all of our cakes have sadly retired from their business, but they were so generous to have taught me a few of their tricks. I enjoyed decorating the cupcakes, but you will not find me opening a cake decorating business anytime soon!


Ladybug Cupcake Up Close!


The royal "tea room."