Top Golf....

 

Mary and Brad's gift to our kids was a cousin outing to Top Golf. Mary was at home sick, so Brad, Mom, Mike and I took the kids. Tempers flared some but overall we had fun! 

Injectable donuts were the big hit!! 

 

 

 

Jake was there too!! I promise! He was the happiest golfer so he spent most of his time focused on making good shots!

Happy Birthday Jesus!!

We had Christmas Eve at Shirley's. I was able to get one picture before the kids changed out of church clothes!!

   

What a cute bunch of cousins!!

 

Christmas morning brought early excitement! Dana brought Amazon Dots for all 3. Football gloves for Joshua. A PS4 game for Jake. And a set of books for

Sophia. 

 

 

 

 

 

A flurry of unwrapping and this is what's leftover!!

 

 

Mary and Brad drove down and got to Mom's around lunch time. We spent the rest of the day with them...opening presents and eating a delicious Christmas dinner. 

December Highlights....

Joshua sang in the PTA program....
 

Sophia had fun making reindeer cakes for holiday events. 

 

The kids were amazing in the church Christmas program. Jake was the narrator. Sophia was Mary and had a speaking role. Joshua was Joseph and had speaking parts and a solo. I was soooo proud. They all did so well!!!

 

 

Joshua and Sophia had lots of fun at their school parties. 

 

 And before we knew it, Christmas was here!

December Highlights....

Joshua sang in the PTA program....
 

Sophia had fun making reindeer cakes for holiday events. 

 

The kids were amazing in the church Christmas program. Jake was the narrator. Sophia was Mary and had a speaking role. Joshua was Joseph and had speaking parts and a solo. I was soooo proud. They all did so well!!!

 

 

Joshua and Sophia had lots of fun at their school parties. 

 

 And before we knew it, Christmas was here! 🎄

7th Grade Basketball....

  

Basketball season is in full swing. It means early morning practices...they have to be in the gym by 6:00am 😳😳. But they love it! Jake played his first game last week and was awesome. So much more aggressive and engaged than last year when he played the YMCA league. So proud of how hard he tries!!!

Thanksgiving....

 

So many days of Thanksgiving celebrations and I get 2 pictures. Two??! 😜

Sophia made a French silk pie for the dinner at Shirley's house. 

And we spend 6 days at the ranch and had such a good time. I got one lonely picture and this is it. Clearly I need to do better next year!! 

  

Colonial America Day...

Fifth grade has an annual event when they study the Revolutionary War. And costumes is a must! Sophia loved putting this outfit together. 

 

Youth Group....

 

I'm so thankful Jake is participating in Youth Group. Though it's a small group, they do a lot of neat things. So good for him to be a part of it!!

Literary Pumpkin Contest

Every year they have a Literary Pumpkin Contest at school. Sophia has won a few times and this year Joshua wanted to do one too. 

 

 

This year we had 2 winners!!! Joshua did 'The Scarcrows Hat'. He won 2nd place in 3rd grade. Sophia did 'Diary of a Worm'. She won 'Best Use of a Pumpkin that is not a Pumpkin'. Yes it's a category! She used a gourd instead of a pumpkin. But isn't a gourd a kind of pumpkin?!? Regardless, we had 2 happy kids!!

Happy Halloween!

       

This year we had a football player, a Pink Lady (from Grease) and Kyloren (who knows how to spell that!?!) from Star Wars.

Sunday night we did Trunk or Treat at church. We did a trunk this year (football themed) and won (in a 3 way tie) for Best Execution of Theme. 🎉🎉

Monday night we split up for trick or treating. Sophia went with her friends. The boys headed to Shirley's to be with the cousins. 

Third and Fifth....

   

This is the last year we will have 2 kids at Northwood! Where has the time gone!! I remember both their first days of Kinder so well!!

Football...

  

We are so proud of Jake this year for trying football! It was a big step for him and he has rocked it. Practices everyday afterschool (some very hot!!) and has played every game. And gained almost 10lbs!! 

Fairytale Battle.....

 
 

Joshua earned a spot in the annual Fairytail Battle this year. The 3rd graders spend a few weeks studying fairytales. Then each class takes a test and the top 3 from each class represent their class in the battle. It's a serious completion!! Joshua's class did not win but they did get all their questions right!! 🎉

Joshua and Emmy...

 

Watching big brothers play football is better with a friend. Joshua and Emmy sitting at a game. She is such a bundle of happiness!!!