Joneaux

 Anna and Amadeo and Joneaux flew into our neck of the woods today.  We had a fun visit this afternoon and went to Salsas for some yummy dinner.

Then they left :( and they left sweet baby J with us for a couple of days while they work.  The cousins are super excited to have him here, as is his favorite auntie :)

This evening we played ball, a lot.

 Read some stories, laughed at him laughing.

Played a little play doh.

Danced with some maracas, played some more ball, said our prayers and tucked him into bed where Lu won the "who wants to sleep with Joneaux" contest :)

such a long time ago

I was looking through some old photos, I need to find a picture of Grandpa Tom in his uniform, Lu is marching in the Veterans Day parade on Friday and she needs to bring a picture on a stick to carry.  Anyway, got lost in the archives.  These pictures are from thanksgiving 1999.  This adorable baby is Miss Hannah Margaret.  She was 3 months old and so cute!!

 Here are my big girls, now all grown up.  We were at the airport ready to fly home and they were playing with the phone.  Dani was 12, Sierra 9 and Jenna 7. 

 Me and Jenna.  This year will be the first time we've been apart for Thanksgiving.  I sure will miss her, she is sweet and fun and the life of the party.

 My hubby, he was young and thin and hairless.  :) and proud of his baby girl.   So sweet.

Cute Sierra.  She's an artist.  This year she will be celebrating in Utah too (hate stupid Utah).  I am looking forward to spending Christmas with her, she's such a sweet calm soul.   She's been a joy to me her whole life and I am so proud of her. 

How can women not be mothers?  It is such a joy and blessing to me.  (I know some people don't get a choice, I am just grateful that I am, that I did.  That these sweet girls, and their little brother and sister too, are my children.  Who would I be without them?

New Job

Not me, Big B.

For awhile now he's had job change plans in the works.  We haven't really said a lot because who knew how or when or if it would happen but yesterday there was an all hands meeting at work and an announcement was made and now he's got a new job. 

Up until now he's been strictly technical, now he's "turned to the dark side" and is in a leadership role.  Luckily he still will be technical part time.

I am real proud of him, he's a hard worker and a smart smart guy and I am glad he's finding joy and growth in his career.  He's a good leader and the people he's been over up until now have liked him and really felt like he had their backs and valued their personal lives and time as well as the bottom line, I am sure that will extend to his new people as well.

Good job honey! your family is proud of you!!

good day

What a beautiful day today was.  I woke up feeling like I had extra sleep due to our falling back.  It was light outside when Hannah left to walk to the bus, which I know she appreciated.

The weather outside was gorgeous.  Cool and comfortable, trees ablaze with color. 

Colleen and I met for lunch.  I love our chats.  She is an awesome friend.

Got home and skyped with Tatum and Dani. 

Talked on the phone with Sierra.

Cleaned a lot of things.

Went to Marshalls and got a couple of fun things for Christmas.

Now dinner is in the oven, R is on the way home and the kids and I are watching "Sharkboy and Lavagirl"

soccer weekend

 Friday night we went to the high school to watch Hannah and Heidi play.  They won.  It was fun.  It was C.O.L.D.!!!

 Saturday morning we went to watch E play.  Their team is undefeated and seated number 1.  It's the championship weekend.  This photo was taken seconds after E scored a goal.  He landed on Blake's head but no one was hurt so it's all good.

 These boys play full contact soccer.

Go Freedom Fighters!!

Post game celebratory ice cream cones at Big Larry's comic book store, gaming center and ice cream parlour.

news

    Jenna bought her tickets for her semester abroad. She is flying from Dulles to Bucharest on Jan 16, meeting the rest of her group and together they will take the night train to Isai.  They will spend 90 days working, living in and studying in Romania. They will also do some travelling.  After that they will fly to London and spend 3 days then to Dublin for 4.  Then home where she will hopefully have a great job waiting for her for the summer.                                                                                                                                                          
In other news  the whole give your candy to the troops was not well received.  The kids did like the idea of doing service and came up with several fun ideas including earning money to buy a goat for a family in Uganda.   If you have chores to do I have kids who want to work!                

Also this week was YW in Excellence, went well and Hannah won a yearbook at school for dressing the craziest for wacky tacky day.

Also Sierra is headed for Vegas this weekend to go to Kinzie's wedding!!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

peaceful pause

There is something about the month of November that feels peaceful. The sugar rush, carnival atmosphere of October gives way to a season of gratitude, family, fall leaves and quiet as the year draws to a close. Of course the grand finale of Christmas has it's own hype and frenzy but for now we are in a breather. Sweet.

We had a fun Halloween night. We invited a couple of friends over for some spooky food. Izzy and Clay came (Liz was sick :( ) and the Marshes with their cute crew and the McCombs and John Croxson. We ate dinner in a pumpkin and slithering sandwiches and monster toes and "frank"nstiens and deviled eye balls and pumpkin muffins and pumpkin cake and swamp juice. Everything was yummy. We filled all three of our tables and the kids had a wonderful time. After dinner Johnna and Cristianna, the Martines' and Stephanie joined us for some trick or treat fun. I stayed home to hand out candy and Johnna joined me on the porch. We had a great time handing out a ton of candy! Maybe over 1000 pieces. And seeing all the cute costumes.

The kids came home with a ton of candy, over 30lbs worth.

This month and next we are starting a season of service in our family. It's a surprise for them, they don't know it yet. I have really been concerned about the holidays because the kids want things that are so expensive and I know they will be disappointed, which is an awful feeling. And actually this is a long standing concern of mine. I want my children to be grateful and appreciative instead of feeling entitled and dismissive. They rack and stack what they have to what each other has or friends have and always feel like they get the short end of the stick (some of them more than others).

Anyway, I am not at all against giving and getting gifts, love it. I just really want them to give back some how. So I have made it my goal to find 8-10 meaningful acts of service we can do together as a family in the next two months. They don't have to be huge things, but they do have to be something that's real.
I already have 3 things in mind...which only leaves me (and the big guy) to come up with 7 more fabulous ideas.

Idea number one is: a lady in our neighborhood is collecting candy for "treats for our troops". Last night the kids sorted out all the candy they don't like and put it in a bucket. Tonight we will sort the candy they do like and they will choose 1/2 to put in the bucket as well. We will then pull our little red wagon, loaded down with 15 lbs of candy and donate it to our nations heroes. Small, easy, good for our teeth and waist lines and service. Perfect.