Hello!!!!!! I Am Alive!

Yes. Rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated! I have not changed my blog in over a year. Life is pretty much the same-school, car pool, seminary, laundry, church, fighting (the kids), crying (me), cooking, cleaning, birthdays, etc.... We did a neat photo session with one of my dearest friends, Erin. She took us out and we came up with a nice Christmas card picture, here:

However, some of my favorite ones were nontraditional poses. I'm thinking of blowing this one up really big (except that might bad news for my bum). What do you think? Isn't it adorable how Jackson is staring up at his dad?

Sawyer turned eleven in May and had both a friend and a family party. He picked a couple of buddies and his dad and I took them all out to dinner at the Olive Garden and then to do laser tag. They also played tons of arcade games and were so hyper!! We came home for cake and presents--just in time for the parents to arrive. He had a blast. He is such a super guy! We love him so much!!

Fabulously Fun Field Trip #1

Before the end of school in May, I was lucky enough to go with Sarah and the entire 7th grade on her end-of-the-year-over-night field trip. We left at 5 am on a Thursday and didn't return until midnight on Friday. Phew! We took a big bus up to the COSI Museum in Columbus, Ohio. Then we returned to Cincinnati for a dinner cruise on the river. We spent the night at the hotel at Kings Island, where we were for the entire day Friday. I was with Sarah and two of her friends the whole time. Sarah had never ridden a roller coaster before, so that was very exciting. She often screamed, "I'm gonna die!!" While I really felt that I was too old for roller coasters, I ended up riding ALL of them because one of the girls was very adventuresome and no one else would ride with her! Needless to say, I did have a headache on the ride back. But, these girls were so good and so sweet! I felt like I was the rebel and that they were making sure I obeyed all the rules! What a fun adventure. Luckily Matt will get to go with the boys on their 7th grade trips! With some friends at COSI Our favorite places in COSI were different towns from different historical eras. Here is Sarah in the 1950's diner.

On the bus. We watched movies, ate snacks, and listened to teenage chatter!!!
On the way up on the Beast ride--wheeeeee!
Sarah didn't want to ride this ride, I guess.
After a water ride. I chose not to ride this one. My Momma didn't raise a dummy.
Waiting in another line.

We all wore red t-shirts. What a cute group of girls.

Enjoying some lunch--with a smile!

Piano Recital

Aren't they so cute?

Sarah and Drew had their Spring recital in May. (Sawyer plays too, but he was gone on a Scout Camp Out). This was Drew's first year of piano, but he progressed like crazy. He just might pass the other two up this year! (Just kidding--they all play nicely).

Doesn't he look like a crazy concert pianist?

We are lucky that lots of our friends take piano from the same teacher. Our recitals are like a family affair.

Field Trip Fun With Drew

Drew and Collin
The Greatest Teacher EVER!!

I won the drawing for Drew's class and was able to accompany his class on a field trip to a local nature preserve and park. We had so much fun, with neat classes on wetlands, fossils, erosion, and Native Americans. We went on a hike and even got to dig for our own fossils. I found a great shell one and Drew got one as well. We learned that there were never any dinosaurs in Kentucky, so anything you find that you believe is a dino fossil, is not. We also had lunch outside with my group, including some of Drew's buds. What a fun day, and the best part--I didn't have to ride the bus with all those kids!

The Birthdays Begin--2009

The Birthday Boy--Eleven

May begins the Birthday Season at our house. All four of our kids' birthdays are about 2-3 weeks apart. Phew! Sawyer starts it all on May 4. Actually, his celebrations lasted about a week, from a friend party, family party, birthday dinner, lunch at school, etc... He did have a great birthday this year and commented that he "loved every one of his presents!" Thank goodness! Of course, he did ask for a foam pillow and a heating pad! What a goofball. He also got tons of sporting equipment: basketball, tennis racket, yoga ball, cologne, "cool" clothes. We are so lucky to have Sawyer in our family. He is a wonderful young man and I love watching him become a fabulous person. We love our Saw-saw so much!

Family fun with the cousins

An ice cream cake with some of his Buds!

A bunch of crazy boys

He loves his Mom!

My Best Buddy is Having a Baby!!

Here is a photo of some of my BFF's (aren't I hip?). Jennifer (on the left) and I have been best friends for almost thirty years! Note: we met inutero. Jill, in the middle, even went to kindergarten with Matt! Every year we get together with our families for a Christmas celebration. This photo was taken at Jen's house this year. Jen has one son, Charlie, who just turned eight. Well, we just found out that she is going to have another baby!! A second miracle! I am just so excited and am hoping for a little girl (but a boy would be great too!) Since she has already posted her pregnancy on FB, I thought I could share the news with all my faithful readers (all three of you!) Yeah Jen, Jeff, and Charlie!

Snowed in with Friends (Poor them!)

The Hostess with the Mostest! Lots of reading

Tortilla snowflakes (I'm just watching!)

Kate and Sweet Lexi

Super excited Sarah!

We all kinda felt this way!!

Wii-eeeeeeeee!

Best Buddies!

We were hit hard by the ice storm and lost our power for 5 days. The first day, we started a fire, snuggled in the living room and read a book aloud. That was fun for a few hours, but as the house grew colder our nearby friends' home started to look better and better. We loaded up the van and drove to the next neighborhood to stay with Heather and Reed for the night (or so we all thought!) One day turned into two, into three, into four! By Saturday night we were all a little stir crazy! Kate and Lexi stayed with us the first night and it felt like a big slumber party! Then Voni and Todd and kids moved in the second day. We tried to get out each day to spare our friends and give them a little peace. By Saturday we had worked out a fine tuned routine: Heather (a FABULOUS cook) was in charge of the food, I was the cleaner/laundry girl, and Voni was in charge of the kids! (Poor her!) Reed was traveling until Friday, so he was spared most of the joy. We did play lots of games, Wii, game cube, and baked. Jackson said we were living in "The Sugar House" because Heather kept making cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and banana splits! We were so blessed to have such wonderful friends who were so generous and kind to us! I kept saying we could go stay at my mom's, but Matt didn't know about work and was worried about leaving our house (pipes, sump-pump, etc...) When we finally returned home on Sunday morning, Matt summed it all up when he said, "I had a lot of fun, in a sick kinda way." Me too!

Joyfully leaving-who's happier?

Twilight at Twilight

We met at Starbucks for a Steamer then journeyed over to Tinsletown for our 12:01 am showing. We all dressed warmly because we thought we would have to stand in line for 2 hours, but alas they opened six theaters for Twilight (how many crazy teenagers/looney moms are there?) and we walked right to our seats. Since we had two hours until the movie started, we had plenty of time to visit and sweat due to our various layers of warm clothing. The movie was good, especially if you have read the books (and why would you be there at 12:01 am if you hadn't?), but it will not win any Oscars. The beginning was really slow, but the second half picked up. My favorite part was when all the girls would scream or yell when Edward came on, when Edward touched his hair, when Edward stood up, when Edward blah, blah, blah...and my friend Dani, who was sitting next to me, got so disgusted she would yell out, "Oh, come on!" She was funnier than the movie. Look how cute all my friends are! I love these girls!!

Twilight Tonight!

12:01 am. Tonight is the night. I am not one to go to the first showing of some teeny-bopper movie opening, but my fanatical buddies are determined. I mean I loved the books, but 12:01 am! Peer pressure is so strong, even when you get old like me! I'll tell you all the fabulous details of our adventures tomorrow. If I can stay awake! Did I mention I was too old, and too momish, to be doing this!?

School Halloween Bash

Jackson insisted that all cowboys pose like this!

The kids enjoyed dressing up for their school's Halloween Bash. Drew designed his costume all by himself using things he already had around the house. Apparently he was a Spy/Secret Agent. Our neighbor is a real FBI Agent and he did comment that he dresses exactly like Drew when he goes to work. Drew also dressed Jackson up for us as well using stuff from our dress-up box. This is only one of the three costumes Jackson wore--none of which was the Ninja Turtle costume I actually purchased for him!

Sawyer and his "posse" are too cool to go to school in their costumes. They had lots of fun, in fact they had almost too much fun at the Bash. (We thought we might have to bail them out of jail by the end of the night). Just the type of situation that calls for some more candy, right?!