1st Day of School.....

I can not believe that Aaron started kindergarten this year and Karleigh is in 4th.... Here are a few pictures of the day...

Aaron loves to make silly faces and asked if he could make one more funny face before he started school! How can you say no to this face?

Karleigh, Aaron and Karleigh's friend Valerie

Aaron got his pencil box out, started his morning work, looked at me and said you can go now mommy, I am ready.... I was doing so well until this point and then I shed a few tears. Both happy and sad.... I was so proud of my little man and his confidence and excitement to start school but sad because it really made me realize he is growing up!

Congrats Michael and Kathleen

These girls are just trouble when they are together.... okay so they did not decorate the car themselves but they thought is was soooo funny, they could not wait for Mike and Kathleen to see it!

Rob's brother was married on Saturday..... here are some pictures of the day!!!

our kids and Rob's cousin Melissa's kids

Both sets of parents

Mr. & Mrs. Mike Losee

Cousins and friends... does it get any cuter than them?

Love this picture of Karleigh and Aaron!

Cake...and yes they smashed it!

My Sleeping Cuties!

Karleigh is a diva even when she is sleeping!!!

And Aaron, well he is just too cute!

How cool is it that......

My kids are able to celebrate birthdays with Great Grandparents!

Here are some recent pictures from Grandpa (or to them Great Grandpa's) birthday!!!

Soccer season is over....

Well at least in OYAA land it is, but Karleigh has decided that she really loves soccer and wants to continue and play as much as she can!

And much to my dismay, if you ask her what position she likes, she says with enthusiasm, "GOALIE"!! She is trying to give me a heart attack, I just know it! I think a fellow soccer mom had the right idea when she suggested I sign her up for the goalie class at the indoor soccer facility, where they can train during the off season. She will either love it, or it will make her realize she doesn't like it. But at least if she loves it still, then they will teach her some skills that she can use!

Anyways, here are pictures from her recent end of the season party!

Aaron is 5!!

My little man is 5! I have no idea where the time goes....

Here are some pictures of his birthday party...

Long Time no Blogging!

I have been really bad lately at updating. I did not think it had been since January but apparently it has been...

Here are some pictures from Mother's Day....the kids made me breakfast! (with little help from daddy!)

I love Facebook!!!

Okay so Rob thinks I am so childish with my love of Facebook but it has brought me close to some dear friends that for one reason or another I had fallen out of contact with!

Some of the people I am reconnecting with are friends from highschool.... crazy to think I have been out for 19 years! Some friends I have not talked to or seen in way too long so catching up through posts and photos is so much fun.

Then there is a friend I have reconnected with that I have really missed. I wish I could change the past and make different choices but everything happens for a reason and I believe our friendship will be stronger this time around. And for that I am very thankful! You know who you are! :-)

So for those 2 reasons and several more, I love facebook!!!!!

Karleigh's New Digs

So long story made short, Karleigh moved into the BIG room upstairs.. seriously though for an 8 year old it is HUGE.....it used to be a loft but has been converted into a room, and has a large walk in closet and a sink and vanity area... she thinks she has hit it big time.

So before we moved her in we let her design her room...... I think she did a great job!!!

This is the view from her door looking towards her closet and vanity area


Standing at one of the windows looking at the room

Standing in her vanity area

Looking in from her door.

Merry Christmas!!!

We had a wonderful holiday with our families... we are so blessed!!! Here are a few pictures of the celebrations!

Holiday Survey

Jana's Holiday Survey
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly wrapping paper, but gift bags can look fun in the front!
2. Real tree or Artificial? either one, this year artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? When ever Rob will let me....hoepfully this weekend!!!
4. When do you take the tree down? One week after Christmas..the stuff begins to drive me bonkers
5. Do you like eggnog? yes but never get it because no one else in my family likes it!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? one of my cabbage patch kid dolls
7. Hardest person to buy for? Rob
8. Easiest person to buy for? Karleigh and Aaron
9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes I finally found one 2 years ago that I love!!!!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? thats just rude and I refuse to answer!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf
13.. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The week after Christmas
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? what?? prove it! :-)
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? homemade Christmas Cookies
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, all white
17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night
18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? We are always home at our house for Christmas
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? "On Dasher, on dancer, on prancer, on vixen, on comet, on cupid, on donner, and blitzen...and of course rudolph! (thanks Jana, I will leave your answer)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Morning!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The rush people are in all the time!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? the ones my kiddos make for me.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We have a huge dinner at Grandma's!!!!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? a new camera!!!

Now I am tagging Amie and Liz!!!!! Have fun ladies!!!!

The Things I Have Done

Ok so I totally stole this from a friend's blog.... thanks Heather!!!

Things I've Done
I saw this on another blog I read and thought it would be fun to include here.
Makes you stop and think about what you have done and would still like to do.... Anything in bold print I have done!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (in the process now...I think that counts!!)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - but only when my kids were
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - wow I must be old since I have been there done that!
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - not proud to admit it
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt - no, but I really want to
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day.


So there you have it. As of 11/25/2008, I've done 55 of the 100. Not too shabby!!!

finally home

My nephew was finally united with his forever family this past weekend....

The cousins were a little excited waiting for Johnathan, Jeff and Grandma to come home!

The beyond blessed family of 9!!!