Early Christmas....

This year for our family present Nana and Paw Paw bought us an air hockey table!
Shawn and I had been wanting to get one so we can use our "formal living" for a game room.This present has jump started our project!
The kids have had such a blast playing and they are really getting good at it too.
Last night our friends came over and we had fun breaking the table in.
This is a great gift that our whole family can enjoy together..Thanks Nana and Paw Paw!

Disney On Ice....

WOW! This was so awesome! I really think Mom and I had just as much fun as the kids!
Saturday we took the kids to the show and it was great.Our seats were FABULOUS! We were 5 rows back from the ice in the center rink side..So close that we were freezing from the ice!Those seats were worth every bit of the money we paid for them. Not to mention we were by the entrance so we were in and out of the convention center without one problem.
Of course we paid $60 for cheap souvenirs but the kids were so happy and so excited.
Alex was dancing and would hold up her light every time something cool happened! Gage was really mesmerized by the whole show.He would stand there and just stare in a trance.
It was an awesome thing to do and I am thankful we got to take the kids this year.Definitely worth every penny!

Thanksgiving...

We had a wonderful turkey day this year.
W started with lunch at my Dads side of the family.
This was the first holiday since Pop died and his absence was most definitely felt.It is always a strange feeling when the holidays come around and the people who are supposed to be there are suddenly no longer there.
Despite the sadness we had a very lovely lunch.My Dads sister out did herself and it was absolutely perfect.
The kids were in heaven playing with the girls and jumping on the trampoline..
For dinner we went to Papa and Grans and had a great time.
Dinner was awesome and we all really enjoyed visiting while the kids tore through the house playing.
When it was time to go they were SOOO not ready! The twins asked for a sleepover and Papa and Gran happily agreed.
Gage was not happy about them staying but he was not ready to let go of me either so he came home with us.
We had the great pleasure of having 2 delicious meals and a lot of good quality time with our families.I am thankful this year for that opportunity and the health of my family...

Oklahoma..

Friday morning we all loaded up for a weekend trip to our favorite cabins on the lake.
We had a great and very relaxing time.We got to visit with our family and the kids had a blast with Aunt Teri.
She took them on a nature hike and it was much anticipated too!They talked about doing that for a week before we left.
It was very cold all weekend with highs not getting above 45.It was the perfect weather for relaxing by the fire.
We made smores both nights and Nana made us a big pot of homemade coco ,it was a big hit.
Shawn took the kids fishing and let them tag along while he shot his bow.We had brought about 15 library books with us and we read those by the fire Saturday night.Such a wonderful time with family.
Over the years the cabins have become a special place for my family to come and spend time together.I still cry when driving through the woods on our arrival thinking of my Grandpa,I do believe he is there with us though in spirit.
Hopefully we get a chance to go back next summer and enjoy the lake when its warmer...

My Boys!

Lots of fun things with Dad..

Smores!

Nature Hike....

Coloring and reading by the fire with PawPaw...

A Little R & R....

After the team party the boys went with Nana and Alex went with Gran and Papa for sleepovers..
Shawn and I took advantage of the time and headed out to the land to do some hunting and camping.
We had a BLAST! It was so great to sit in a deer stand with my husband again.I will have to brag on myself a little....I am a lot more quiet and still than I used to be! I am fairly certain that I am much more appreciative of silence now that I have 3 kids ,that it's a breeze to sit and just chill!
I saw a really cute baby bobcat and a really ugly boar.
Shawn got a shot off but hit the cinder block in his pen instead of the boar!
This picture was him looking for blood but sadly only finding concrete chunks..
After the hunt we all came in for an awesome camp fire dinner and lots of drinking and laughing.We ended up getting to bed at 2am and for me that is just crazy! I was a little sluggish the next day but quickly jumped back into Mommy mode.
I am so thankful for that little peace and a lot of fun on Saturday.Thanks to Gran,Papa,and Nana , we needed it!

End of Soccer....

At least for 2008...
Saturday was SOOOOOOOOOO COLD.We had our first game at 9am and I can't begin to tell you how cold all of us were.Thank God for Gran who shed half her stuff to help keep us all warm.
After Alex's game Gran took Alex to her Coach's fire station to get her medal while we watched Austin's final game.
The Tiger Sharks all met up at Peter Piper Pizza for a farewell team party right after the game.
All the kids had an awesome time and Coach Jeb was once again just fantastic with them.
I am a little sad our weeks will not be filled with soccer practices and games anymore.The twins and I both are really looking forward to the spring season already.

Like Father..Like Son

Story time today was all about farm animals.
Well Shawn's influence was shinning through today in Austin!
Every time , and I do mean EVERY TIME , Mrs.Susan asked about an animal Austins response was" I get my bow and arrow and shoot it"..
Even when shown a picture of a group of cute little puppies Austin said " If they are mean I will shoot them with my bow and arrow"
Shawn of course will beam with pride!

Beauty..

While at Kevin's house (a.k.a. Mama B's house) Saturday Alex went hunting in the attic and found herself a treasure.She uncovered a very old doll that belonged to Gran and Aunt Kathy when they were just little girls.The doll was in serious need of TLC.
Alex was in love with doll but when she found out it had been Grans she was over the moon about it.So tonight I gave her a bath , washed and brushed her hair,and ran her clothes through the washer.Alex was VERY happy with the end result.She has named her Beauty and has quickly taken to be carried around everywhere.
I think its such a sweet thing for her to love this doll so much just because it was Grans.I am sure Beauty will be with us forever.

50's Day..

Thursday was dress up 50's day at the twins school.
They had a lot of fun dressing up and seeing all their friends looking funny too!
All the boys had their jeans rolled way up and the girls looked so cute in their poodle skirts.Mrs.Linda even dressed in a poodle skirt too!
Thank you to Aunt Taryn for providing the skirt.All I had to do was iron on the poodle.If it wasn't for that poor Alex would have been in jeans!

I Have Been Tagged!

Well I am so not good at this stuff but I will be a sport and give it a try...

1*I LOVE my DVR. I have no clue how I ever lived without it before!In fact watching live TV is annoying because of the commercials!

2* I am room Mom for the twins pre-school class and I am loving every minute of it!

3* Before kids Shawn and I spent every weekend at the deer lease.I miss deer camp with a passion and feel a bit jealous when he leaves on the weekends now and I'm here with the kids.

4* My biggest weakness is food.I just really love to eat!

5* I have had just as much fun as the twins doing soccer this fall.

6*I love doing things for people.

7* I actually hit my monthly budget for the first time! Shawn is SO happy!

8*Just like Erica,I'm an over-analyzer! I am horrible at over analyzing EVERYTHING.It's one of my biggest faults..

Well that was not that interesting but I did try.Now everyone else give it a shot!

Pre-School Pictures...

A First.....

Today was 2 big first for Shawn...
First time to shoot a deer on opening weekend!
First time to get a 10 point!
He is on cloud nine right now.
Special congrats go out to Steven as well.He got his FIRST EVER deer!
Good day for the boys...
** Special Note** Austin is thrilled to get another pair of antlers for his room..Although waiting for them to dry is proving to be a challenge for him!

Halloween....

I have to say that this Halloween was the best yet!
Every grandparent and extended Grandparent was at Taryn's for trick or treating.
We started the night with a great dinner of lasagna while the kiddos had cute mummy dogs,witches hands and eyeball cupcakes.Aunt Taryn did a fabulous job this year with Halloween!
The kids could not wait till sunset so they got dressed right after dinner and put on their glow necklaces and grabbed their flashlights before hitting the door.
All the Grandpas took the kids around the neighborhood while the ladies passed out candy and had a wonderful time visiting..
The kids walked the whole neighborhood and loaded up on candy.All the buckets were full!
They all enjoyed eating their candy and passing out candy to the other kids.
Our neighborhood was packed with kids this year.
My kids were whipped by the end of the night and had no problems passing out after getting home.
Thanks Taryn for a wonderful Halloween! Can't wait till next year.