Halloween

What a crazy bunch!!

oh my gosh!?

What has happened to me?

Have I really not posted for almost 2 months??

That's pathetic, and I'm feeling really bad about it!

Emily had her first day of preschool (back in September!).

She absolutely loves it, as I had no doubt that she would.

When we went to sign up in the spring, she cried when we left that she couldn't stay!

So, needless to say, she was ready.

Baby of the family with 4 siblings? Yep, totally ready.

She has blossomed since then too.

She loves going.

She has her first best friend, another Emily.

They are also in dance together, and hold hands most of that class.

She loves preschool, like, looooves preschool!

fall sports 2011

This has already been such a fun season of fall sports around here. Ben is playing his second year of tackle football. It's 5th/6th graders. It has been so amazing and fun to see him as a leader on the team...all his buddies as the 6th graders this year have really stepped up their games and it's been quite impressive! He has the good fortune of playing on a team with several of his closest friends, which makes it that much sweeter for him.

He's playing wide receiver, running back, and defensive linebacker. Just this past weekend he had his best runs yet, and had a great 15-20 yard run (nevermind that it got called back for a holding penalty), and a few plays later, a 20-yard catch as a receiver.

It's been fun for him to have some success this year as last year he was much more timid, and at wide receiver, had only one pass thrown to him all.season.!!

Matthew is playing his first year of competitive soccer. He joined a year-round team that plays league games and also some tournaments, and indoor over the winter. He's having a great time with it and his skills are improving all the time. Jason and I know virtually nothing about soccer though, so it's funny how quiet we are at games!

fresh faces

I took the kids out the other day to get some updated pictures of them. I'm dreaming big and hoping it will end with a blog makeover and these could be a part of that...

but in the meantime, here's a fresh look at everyone over here. :)

first day of school

Here we go again....

back to school 2011,

with a sixth grader (totally breaking my heart),

a fourth grader,

a second grader,

and two preschoolers (but Emily doesn't start til after labor day)....

Oh, and a college student! I've started back to school also....though very part-time. I'm excited about having something for myself and seeing if what's left of my brain can be salvaged after so many years in mommy mode!!