FALL LEAVES ARE FALLING

FALL LEAVES ARE FALLING IN MICHIGAN ONCE AGAIN..................The trees all around us are beautiful colors of red, yellow and orange. Its lots of fun to see all the changes. One bad thing with the changes it means the cold winter is just around the corner. My kids once again went over to Grandma Diana's house and played in her leaves from her huge maple tree. I am going to try to make this a every year tradition. We didn't have much time this year to take pictures my mom's neighbor was using his leave blower to blow all the leaves in a huge pile to pick-up for my mom. I hope everyone enjoys the pictures.




Matthew and Blake do enjoy playing in these leaves.

FAMILY UPDATES

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL!!!!!!
I don't know about anyone else but, Halloween is getting stressful trying to figure out the perfect costume for the boys this year. I thought I was going to be clever and get on familyfun.com and pick our homemade costumes that way; I didn't count on Matthew picking the hardest one online to make. That costume took several days and two Alien heads later we finally sort of got it right. We couldn't get the hardness to work right but, he had fun anyway. Blake's costume was so much easier to make and he loved having a green face. In fact he loved it so much he got really sad when I had to wash his face. I told Matthew he must pick a easier costume next year.

DOESN'T BLAKE MAKE A SCARY DR. FRANKENSTEINS MONSTER?

This is Matthew in 4th grade on his field trip to Apple Charlies, the boy sitting next to him is Matthew too and they are on the same soccer team this year. Matthew is 8 1/2 in this picture not quite 9 yet.

This is Matthew being goofy with his cousins...Brayton, Jeramiah, and Ashlyn. He is 8 here.

this is Matthew Two years ago in 2006 he was 8 years old in this picture with his little sister Isabella we had for 6 weeks. He loved her dearly. We were vacationing with Scotts family in Texas that summer.

Matthew's School picture this year for 6th grade. I think this is a very good picture of my handsome boy.You can see from the pictures how much they change in just two years. Same handsome face just more grown up.

This is a picture of Blake and Matthew now Fall of 2008 Blake is 5 1/2 and Matthew is 10 1/2

look how much they have changed from almost 2 years ago

This is a picture of Blake when he was 4, Matthew 9, His friend Danny 9 and Devon 13.

This is a picture of Blake two years ago when he was just 4 years old, Matthew was 9, and Devon 13.

So these pictures were so you could really see how much our children can change is just two short years. I just can't believe how much more grown up they look now. I guess that's why I like the advice given in conference to cherish the little moments. Pictures always help me to cherish those moments.

FAMILY UPDATES.....

Well this was a good conference weekend. We had lots of good talks and advice given; I really liked what they said about making the best of the little moments with our kids because they grow up so fast and we don't want to have any reqrets looking back with our kids. I had to remind myself this when Matthew and Blake were sitting on our Family room floor pretending to be listening to General Conference but, far more into their game of Sponge Bob ants in the pants. I couldn't help but smile seeing both boys getting along so well and playing together nice. Also Blake for once was beating his brother at a game and his whole face lit up with pleasure, he was feeling like a big winner and Matthew was taking his losses very well. I was very proud of him for that. Then Matthew decided to have a ants in the pants tournament that we all had to play. Well they were making it look so easy to get those ants in the pants but, I was having a really hard time and my ants kept going straight up in the air instead of forward, it was kind of funny to watch; Blake kept saying to me, "Mom you do it this way, not like that." I finally got the hang of it but, did not win the tournament, of course Scott had to play and beat everyone proving he is the big winner. Sometimes I do beat him at games though and its great to watch his reaction. So anyway in the spirit of what was said at conference and cherishing the little moments I decided to cherish this little moment and share some pictures of just how much our kids change in just two years time.......

FAMILY UPDATES.....

Well This past Saturday was more of the same, soccer, soccer, soccer.....Scott took the boys because I had a Adoption conference to attend. We are approved to adopt another child and am hoping to add a baby girl if we can. The boys are getting settled in school. Blake is having a hard time behaving all day long in school but, manage to bring home two days this pass week his hand stamped. (which means with his teacher he was good all day) Were hoping he will be more motivated to get all 5 a week but, will see. Matthew's homework level is starting to rise and so the fun begins. Does anybody have tips to get your child to do homework quickly and efficently? Matthew becomes a huge dottler when it comes to homework.

I was working hard yesterday at my friends house cutting down our broom corn, strawberry corn and indian corn we planted this spring, (its all decorative corn) because we are starting a little business to sell wreaths all made with natural plants dried. They last a really long time and look cool. We went back in her woods to look at our willow, dogwood and other wood that looks good in these wreaths. I was riding on the back of this tracker as we were trucking through the wilderness it was fun. My arms are sore from hanging on and I have a few cuts from thorn bushes wanting to hook me but, were really excited about doing these wreaths. If anybody has a good idea for a name for our business it would be much appreciated. I am drawing a blank right now on a cute catchy name.

Scott is just busy working; when he comes home he just brushed up on his languages he has learned my husband now knows how to speak Spanish, French and German (along with English of course). I really think its one of the gifts he has been blessed with from Heavenly Father. He learns languages really easy. He wants me to learn French so he can take me to France but, he doesn't understand that me learning a language is like hearing the Charlie Brown adults speak on their shows it all sound like blah, blah, blah to me. Its much more diffcult for me to learn the language.

WEEKLY FAMILY UPDATES.......
Well today we spent most of the day in the rain, and I mean lots and lots of rain. Both boys had soccer games today and soccer games are not cancelled unless its lighting out which it was not; just lots and lots of rain. Blake's game was first his team was beating the other team so bad (the other team never made a goal) that they got to the point that they were having Blake's team the Roadrunners play one guy against 4 on the other team. Blake seem to really like playing it this way and when it was his turn to play 1 on 4 did really well. Needless to say so far Blake's team is undefeated, "OK so they have only played 2 games of the season but, the are undefeated."
Matthew's team played in the afternoon we thought maybe the rain would let up but, no It did not. Matthew's team also won 8-1. Matthew and his teammates seem to play even better in the mud and the rain; it was a thrill to watch.
Despite having to change several times today to try to keep dry and warm the day was a fun filled day of soccer. I will have to post pictures next time. Due to the rain it was to risky on my camera to take pictures today.

Back to school

Matthew's first day of school.

Blake's first day of school

Well the day finally arrived and my kids went back to school. Matthew was excited to start because he started 6th grade this year. With this came a sense of being more grown up, with his own locker, and 7 different classes and teachers to enjoy this year. I think really I was more nervous than him about this transition from Elementary school to Middle School. Blake started his new journey of the great world of all day Kindergarten, he also was a pro at it and got on the bus to go to school without any problems. Now I am home with lots of time on my hands and lots of projects that need to be done.
One of my project is getting my two children's books I wrote this summer published. Yes I have tried my hand in writting its actually been a fun time for me, very relaxing. I have lots of house projects to do also and of course starting my own family blog, because my best friend Charlene has been requesting this of me for some time. This first additions is for you char.
This summer flew by for me with swimming lessons for the boys and trying to keep them entertained all summer. We biked, we swam and we played hard. Both my boys seem to have really taken to swimming and are good at it. Blake especially just loves the water and would stay in the pool all day if I let him. Both boys have started soccer this fall and have had their first games last Saturday. Matthew's team lost 4-0 and Blake's team won 5-4. Blake's team really are young and inexperienced and alot of goals were just mistakes their own team made. Matthew's team really know how to play they just need to pratice together more as a team. All in all it would be a fun fall.
Scott and I would like to see Matthew get onto the swimming team at his middle school to know what its like to be on a swim team, I could really see Blake doing that when he is old enough.