NYC

Running in Central Park... A little chilly but so worth the memory.   

Happy 12th birthday Daniel

I love you more and more everyday:).   He made his traditional pancake supper with his favorite....  Sausage, homemade syrup and strawberries:). 

Christmas traditions

Jamie and I have been best friends since kindergarten!   After 20 years we live in the same town and have continued the tradition we started 30 years ago... Making Christmas cookies in my kitchen.  I love this girl and so glad to have her again in my life....  

Talented kid

This kid rememorizes all his pieces.  He doesn't want to look at the notes and plays looking at me or his teacher, Miss Ashley.  This gift comes from his grandma Sandra....  

Miracle on 34th street

Starting all kinds of Christmas family traditions....

Children's theatre... Miracle on 34th street.  All together and happy:).  

LA Lakers vs Charlotte Bobcats

Daniel and Wilson hanging out at the NBA game!   

My little man

Love this boy....  Isn't he cute.  

Christmas tree hunting

This year we decided to cut our very own Christmas tree... At Santa's Forest in Lincolnton, NC.  Just an hour away from home And near my parents... The perfect place!!! 

The kids trompled through the forest of trees looking for the PeRFEcT, most maganificant, extrodonary, tree EvER!   After lots of looking, duscussing, and changing of minds... The kids decided on one.  

Samuel was adiment that he saw down the tree but decided after pushing and pulling the saw back and forth several times... it was much more difficult than it looked.  Daniel then took over saying he could do it better and be more efficient.

Working together, they were successful!   

A great experience... And totally a Christmas tradition;). 

Late night treat

After a swim at the YMCA, stacey and I took the kiddos out for some SWeeT FRoG...  Yup, it's November and they are eating yogurt outside with wet heads!   Gotta love NC CRaZY weather;).  

A date night to see the Charlotte Bobcats lose to the NY Nicks!   Ironically Patrick Ewing coached them... Wonder if he didn't want them to win?!   

We are the ChAmPiONS

Another champion Season of soccer.  Go PANDaS!  

We are the champions

Another winning season!!!  Best flag football team ever!

Happy Halloween

My kids come up with their own ideas every year... So we scramble the night before making everything out if items we have around the house.  This year the kids used some old costumes and transformed into new ideas.  

Our neighborhood has a tradition of pizza supper to kick off Halloween night!!!   So great to see all the kiddos together and meeting new neighbors and making new friends.  

Samuel was an eyeball.  Not sure where he got that idea but was presistant that he could make it.  Using a trash bag, stuffing from an old pillow, and cards tick for the pupil.... He made it all himself.  So proud of this kid and his imagination.  

Claudia was a fashion model from Belk.  She and her BFF, Allie, came up with the idea and dressed themselves, along with makeup and straight hair.... They rocked the runway.  

Kaylea was cotton candy.  We cut cardboard from an old box for the cone, and used stuffing from an old pillow that we spray painted.  We hot glued the pink stuffing onto one of Scott's surgical caps and kept adding more and more to get the desired effect.  Such a fun idea.  

Daniel started out being Nephi with the bow that he has been working on for weeks.  Then going through old dress ups he resorted to Daniel Boone with his coon skin cap.   Love that kid.  

Scott walked with the kids while I hung out with the neighbors in the driveway handing out candy.   Such great times and making wonderful memories with friends and family.  

DC Ragnar

My friend Stacey talked me into running another Ragnar race with her.  I guess its only fair since I begged her to run the Ragnar with us in Phoenix.

Well, off to DC we went and ran during the government shutdown which affected our course.  We had a blast, laughed tons, ran hard, and slept very little.  What a great group of girls!!!  

New toy

Sweat running down his face, helmet crooked, along with no teeth, happy, happy, guy!!!   Samuel is thrilled to have a new bike just for him!!!!   

Lost teeth

Samuel was so proud that he pulled his other front tooth last night.... He has been racking up in money from the tooth fairy this summer!!!  

Morning bus hangout

Riding ripsticks

while waiting on the bus to middle school.  Great group of kids... 

Labor Day playtime.

It's never too early to play in the lake!   Good morning... Lake Norman.  

Fixin the boat

How many kids does it take to find a lost spring to fix the boat?   

Cousins

So fun playin new games with lake toys.   We love our cousins.  

First day...

Off to school we go.  Kaylea, Claudia, and Samuel get on the bus at 7:15 while Daniel doesn't get on bus until 8:36.  

Daniel gets to hang with me and workout   He is planning on teaching me to swim so I can race in triathlons with Him.  

Hanging out with Spencer, Wilson, and Barrett... At the bus stop!  

Redneck

Seriously... Who let's their kids climb up the expensive metal art windmills and play in the decorative fountain at the fancy outdoor shopping plaza in Provo, UT during a lightening storm?   Only... Wait kids who's dads are Rednecks from North Carolina!!!  (Note... Samuel had just slid down his pole?)

Great Salt Lake

Antelope island was much more than I ever thought.  Over 100 buffalo, 80 antelope, many sheep, and a gazillion different birds live on the island which is located in the great salt lake.   After a visit on the island the kids went swimming and loved floating in the salty water.   With brine shrimp swimming all around them, there we no complaints... Just tons of laughter!!!!   

Shopping?

Ceri and I caught Scott and Brooks waiting patiently for us while we were trying on clothes.   Ummmm, these are some great guys.  

My engineer at work again

Again this kid does something that doesn't make sense to me...  But totally somehow this stuff comes together in his brain.  

A remote control boat... Made from recycled material including an old remote car that stopped working years ago, wooden boards, milk jugs, styrofoam, ziplock bags, all attached together with some hot glue.   

He never ceases to amaze me!   I love ya buddy.  

Happy birthday to my handsome boy

We can't even imagine What life would be like without this energetic little boy!!!   He makes us all laugh with his crazy antics.  Never a dull moment and such a blast to have around!!!  

We all love you to pieces!!!!

A walk to the park

Sugar house park is one of my favorite parks...  Great running, amazing playgrounds, perfect duck pond, and the softest grass anywhere... A little bit for all.     

Aspen Grove

Who doesn't love a trip to a mountain cabin where the temperature is around 65 degrees, creek, beautiful views, and hiking trails.  My kids heaven.  

Welfare Square

Going to warfare square to visit the bishops storehouse, bakery, and watch the volunteers make milk and cheese was such a great learning experience for my kids.  They now have a full understanding of the purpose of fast offering... I too have strengthened my own testimony and purpose of fasting.