Wisconsin Dells

We went on a quick vacation before Christmas up to the Wisconsin Dells. They have these huge indoor waterparks. It's pretty awesome to be able to go swimming in the middle of winter. They place is set up to where they have indoor skywalks so you don't even have to go outside to get to the pools from your room. We all had a great time. Leah loved her floatie suit and would try to keep up with Abby and Brynn

Enjoying Famous Dave's Barbeque

In the wave pool

Shea thinks she's going to do some serious swimming.

Happy Halloween

Halloween was fun this year. The girls had a great time carving their pumpkins.
Lilly enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

Abby was a bunch of grapes (although she got more guesses that she was "balloon girl")

Lilly was a butterfly, Brynn was a pirate, Leah the unicorn (she loved her costume), Shea the princess.

Abby went trick or treating with her friends this year, she came back with so much candy. Trent took the middle three out they lasted about an hour. Then I had to take Brynn back out.
There is way too much candy in my house right now.

My Eternal Family

The Primary theme for 2009 is My Eternal Family. I've been focused on that topic a lot this year. We had our Primary program this past Sunday. The kids were awesome. I am so grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that we can be together forever. I am thankful for a loving Savior, for temples where we can make these eternal covenants, and for my own eternal family (which also includes my parents, siblings, etc.) I love you all.

My friend Lindsay took these pictures for us. I'll share more later.

Birthday Month

October has always been birthday month for me. Growing up, not only was my birthday in October, but my Mom and sister have their birthdays in October too! There was always plenty to celebrate! Then I met Trent and his birthday is October 1st...so the tradition continues. October is just a party month.

Happy Birthday to Trent...he usually requests a pie of some sort for his birthday treat, this year it was peach pie he wanted. There are no pictures of the strawberry shortcake I had for my birthday but it was yummy. Thanks to all of you who thought of me on my birthday. It was so nice to know how loved I am!

Trent out did himself this year, he took the day off of work to let me do what I wanted to do on my birthday and I also was given a new fridge and a treadmill. I love them!

Busy

Fall has gotten off to a busy start for us. We have Abby and Brynn playing soccer. A few weeks ago Abby scored her first goal, in fact she scored 2 goals in that game!
Leah is enjoying kindergarten. She has done very well in fact her teacher chose her for citizen of the month for September. One day last week she told me she cried at school that day. I asked her why she said that Brynn didn't walk her to her classroom. I had no idea that her sisters were walking her to her class. We are grateful for our family! (FYI Brynn thought Abby was taking Leah to her class that day.)

Abby and Brynn are also playing Iceless Hockey. This is their first season playing and they are really liking it. It's also a lot of fun to watch. Even better there are no practices...you just show up and play!

One day I was helping the older girls with homework. I heard Shea go out the garage door. This is what I saw when I went to check on her. Way to remember to put on your helmet Shea! Never mind that you don't have shoes on, you are in the middle of the street and your helmet is on backwards and it looks like no one has even tried to comb your hair (although I promise it was done sometime that day).


Lilly trying solid foods for the first time. She is now 6 months old and sits up by herself, rolls all over the floor and wants to keep up with everyone else! She is a lot of fun and I am so glad I have such great helpers.

Lilly

Lilly had a chance to meet her Great-Grandma Hart while we were in California.

Just a fun picture!

Vacation

The kids have been back in school for close to a month. We are enjoying having a routine again even as hectic as it is. Here are some of the highlights from our trip we took to California. Leah's birthday party at Grandma's house, i.e. trying to stay out of the way of wedding preparations.
Birthday breakfast at Ruby's

Bowling

Eating at some of our favorite restaurants

How many kids can you fit in that pool. Maybe we can convince grandma and grandpa it's time to upgrade their pool.

Enjoying the beach

Hitting some favorite parks.

Just for Fun

Sara's Wedding

My beautiful sister Sara got married in the Los Angeles Temple Saturday August 22, 2009 to Mike Barnett. I was so happy that I could be a part of it. My family is so important to me and I was so proud of her. Thanks Sara for setting a good example for my daughters! Waiting to see the bride and groom outside the temple

Dancing at the reception

Enjoying the chocolate fountain. I think Leah's outfit was the first causualty of the evening

Anticipating the chocolate fountain.

My five daughters.

The bride and groom

Sara and Mike with all the grandkids.

Leah's big day

We've been on vacation in California for the past few weeks. My sister got married, there will be posts of that later, however we came home just in time for the girls to start school. Leah had her birthday while we were gone. We celebrated at home with a cake the night before her first day of kindergarten. I'm not sure if it looks like she's more scared or excited!
It was pouring rain this morning, so we headed up to the bus stop in the car and I wasn't able to get a very good picture of her getting on the bus.

But it cleared up by the time school was over, here she is getting off the bus. She had a great day, no tears, just smiles and she can't wait to go back tomorrow.

Way to go Leah!

Naughtiness

Everyone loves Shea, but sometimes she is the definition of naughty.Here she is after getting into some makeup and getting some help with her hair.

Leah and Shea pulling all the fluff out of a pillow and pretending it was shampoo. The pillow did have a little hole in it I was planning on fixing, but really taking all of it out?

Shea and Leah pulling their clean blankets of the clothesline and playing with them outside.

Is it possible to get this messy after eating a chocolate chip cookie?

At our garage sale, I promise they put themselves in the box themselves.

(Funny how Leah is in most of the pictures too! I wonder why that is.)

Just in...

"Mom this is looserish, who does flashcards in the summer?" ---Abby

Champaign trip

Last weekend we went down to visit friends in Champaign. It was a quick, but fun trip. We did some... swimming
playing with friends

eating some ice cream on our way down

Lilly got in a nap

Picking yummy blueberries

and some lunch

Then we headed home. Thanks for letting us come visit. We had a great time.