Happy Birthday Jen-nay!!

I just wanted to wish my sister Jennie a Happy B-day today! I wish I could post on everyone's b-day but we had to do a special shout-out for the one who got us all blogging! We rolled our eyes for a year wondering "how she had time" to keep up on a blog and then once our family all started, we wonder how we ever got along without blogging:). We have all been able to keep in better touch with each other and feel like we are not missing out on each others' lives when we don't talk on the phone or see each other in person for a several weeks etc.

She is like the iphone or Blackberry in our family where I am still the brick cell phone some days:). She keeps us all hoppin in a good way and we appreciate her energy and leadership. When her kids are all grown, I can see her leading a company or having a major church leadership position (General YW President etc.) as she is just the bomb that way!

She showed us the trick of scheduling your posts for different days--so we posted everyday this week-- all in her honor!

She (and Julie) have got our family on the right track trying to eat better and making healthier choices for food at family gatherings (where we all lose control with portions and treats:). She & Ryan have shown us what it is like to set healthy goals and accomplish them. I love her drive and determination in all she does! Whether it is with her kids and family or with siblings and friends, she is always right on top of every detail and looks out for every person!

We love ya Jennie!!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful Sister!!

2020 Olympic Champion!

It is so fun to watch Kennedy at gymnastics. She just started this fall and is having such a great time. She loves the beam (on the floor), the bars and the pit. She is the most well-behaved in her class which her teacher says she appreciates!
Flexin the glutes:)
Off to another week at the gym!

Love ya Kenz!

Pop Rocks!

It was so much fun to have Pop home for a couple of days during UEA. He is able to get so much done around the house and yard! One of his projects was fixing our red bathroom door that sticks. It is so nice not having our guests getting stuck in there now! He is so handy with tools, saws, hedge-cutters, etc. We miss him when he is at work! Looking GOOD Pop! :)
One thing we love about Pop is that no matter what he does, he can totally "bring it home." I could practice weeks on something I wanted to present but then get nervous at "show time." Whether Steve is singing, doing a project, or even just helping with the house, he does a great job--especially right at the end when it counts the most!
One more example is this past weekend when I signed us up for bringing the soup to be judged at the ward Halloween party. I set him up with the idea, recipe and ingredients and he just adds the final touches of cheese, sour cream and green chilis and wins the Chili cook-off!!! Seriously...
I remember a teacher telling us in school that the difference between an "A" and a "B" student is basically 10 minutes (10 more mins of studying, final touches on projects, grammar checks etc). Steve is the bomb at the final presentation of things and that is one reason we love him so much! Thanks for being so great at everything you do (especially being our Pop)!

Cedar Hills Flag Football

Christian chose flag football as his sport to try this year. He is in heaven! This last game was over UEA and 4 boys were out of town! This was fine with Christian since he was able to play the whole game!
He has been waiting the whole year for this! It only runs for about 5 weeks.

He is going to miss it when it is over.

He is great on offense and defense! He made an interception and a touchdown!
The coach rotates everyone through all the positions so they can gain experience and get a feel for what they like and what they are good at.
His really likes being quarterback and also a receiver!

You are definitely our MVP Christian!

These Boots are Made For Walkin'

Kennedy loves to get our shoes on and clomp around. She looked so funny in these boots, I had to take a picture!
"One of these days these boots are gonna walk all ova you" (if she doesn't break an ankle first:)

Spook-tacular Saturday for us Gouls and Guys!

We were finally able to sneak up to Frightmares at Lagoon (included in our season passes). It was such a great afternoon and evening. The only thing that would have made it better is if the other 21,000 people would have forgotten to come:)
The decorations were "to die for":)
The family picture spot when you walk in.
We loved all of the tombstones and their funny sayings. There were hundreds of pumpkins, hay bales and cornstalks. The decor really made the night!
Lagoon's instant costumes...
The spooky walk-through "junkyard" was so well-done:)
Tons-o-pumpkins
Spook-alley continued

"Jack" and other scary characters made the rounds
while everyone waited in line for rides and spook alleys.

I loved the blood drive announcement:)
Da Boyz...
Waiting in line for Hall-O-Ween High spook alley. These gals were entertaining people in line.
We have to copy her hair for crazy hair day at school! It was totally wicked:)
While Pop & the older kids caught a few rides,

Ken-D and Mom hit the carousel and trick-or-treating!

We loved the "photobooth" type pictures. They were so funny and reminded us of when Mikelle and her friend Emily did a few crazy shots like these of their own!
Nothing like a 8 year-old taking our picture:) I should have showed her the ZOOM IN button. At least we got the full effect though right:)
Kennedy trick-or-treating at the pirate room.
The Space station..
We all had such a great time and hope we can hit it one more time next week!!

Happy 8th Birthday x 2

We can't believe our "babies" turned 8! They are growing up so fast!
We celebrated on Friday with this cute hamburger cake!
Mikelle and her friend Madison did a cute treasure hunt for the boys. They ended up in the loft where they had a party for them.
Forgot to turn the pics I guess?
Happy B-day!!
Searching for the clues...
Where to go next...
Mikelle had them running full speed all over the house and yard.
She wrote them cute letters with treats attached!
They played "balloon volleyball" with the music cranked up and had a great time!

We took them to Chuck-A-Rama the night before their b-day.
They love the scones, mac-n-cheese, their drinks etc!! They were laying down on the booth benches afterward so they didn't lose their dinner.
Fun time!
Out of order-but more clues...
Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

Your birthday was great

but now there's laundry to do! j/k:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS! WE LOVE YOU!