basketball

Basketball season is upon us. Luke is playing for the first time. We have a policy of waiting until our children are "full day friends" before we let them play an organized sport. Our theory is: there are MANY years to be part of the "race" and MJ status does not come faster if you play when you are 5. So, this is Luke's first go at it.

When we asked him which sport he wanted to play this year (because we only let them pick 1) he immediately chose basketball. He LOVES basketball. His dad was a basketball player too (as are his Beachy cousins). It's in his blood.

Luke played well. We are so proud of him!





My only beef is that they do not keep score. I realize that they are first graders but come on! What the point if you don't know who wins?!

cupcake heaven

I stumbled across this really amazing site today: Layer Cake Shop. They have the cutest cupcake/cake accessories, sprinkles, twine, baking cups and more. You name it, they have it! If you love to bake you must take a look....

birthday treat

Today we celebrated Ms. B's birthday (Carsyn's teacher). One of her favorite restaurants is California Pizza Kitchen so we made a pizza cupcake cake and put it in a CPK box. We also got a CPK gift card to give her from the class. Carsyn was super excited all day. She wrote a really sweet card (I wish I had a photo of it).

1.1.11

Oh how happy I am that a new year has begun. I have no complaints... 2010 was a great year:

Carsyn, Luke and Reagan had a successful finish to 2nd, kindergarten and junior kindergarten.

We traveled extensively over the summer on our first of many journeys in our new rig (which, I might add, is paid for) :) We went to Atlanta and visited friends. We went to the Georgia Aquarium too. We then headed to Florida to camp on the beach. There we spent 2 full days at the Kennedy Space Center. The kids LOVED every minute of that adventure. Next we headed to Sarasota for a little r&r in "our" house (where I did tons of laundry). Then we were off to Sanibel Island. SO FUN (we WILL be returning)! We went back to Sarasota before heading to a tiny boating town called Cedar Key- Dale would move there in a heart-beat! On our way back home we stopped for a taste of NOLA. We stayed 4 days. Our favorite stop on the trip was the WWII Museum. It's a must see!!

We finished off summer in the Lou with swim camp and relaxing.

We celebrated Dale's grandma's 90th birthday!

Dale started his 10th year at Westminster.

Carsyn and Luke started 3rd and 1st grade at CCS.

I began my homeschool journey with my eager kindergartner. 2 months later she enrolled at CCS and our journey ended. It was the most difficult time for me as a mom and a teacher. I felt like I failed and yet I knew that I didn't. Too difficult to explain...

Fall and the start of winter has been great too (although I wish I lived in Florida!)

I think the highlight of our year was that Dale has finally reached a point (this fall) where he is pain free. Man have we been through the ringer! Since April 2007 Dale has had severe hip pain. We have been through 2 extensive surgeries and lots of rehab. And FINALLY he can say that he is pain free!! About every week or so we just shake our heads and thank God because we never thought this day would come.

So as you can see, 2010 was a good year.

I am looking forward to 2011...

On my list:
reading more
taking a class (or 2)
getting a conceal-carry license :)
visiting the North West: Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone

and that's it for now.


I hope your 2011 is all that you want it to be....

the birthday gift

For several years now one of the gifts we give our kids at each birthday is a photo shoot with our favorite photographer Jodie. It is such a great way to commemorate the year. And as usual, Jodie does an amazing job capturing our children...

take a peek at Reagan's shoot here...

For Luke's last birthday I decided to try taking his pictures. He said, "Mom, can you p l e a s e just have Ms. Jodie take my pictures next year." :)

warning: young children should not read this!

Sunday after church we went with Grandpa and Grandma to the Country Club for lunch. We were eating and having a great time. The waitress came over and had a mini conversation with our sweet Reagan-girl:

Waitress: Did Santa bring you lots of presents?
Reagan (using an extremely serious/matter-of-fact voice): Santa is dead.
Waitress: (confused) What?!
Reagan (again, very serious): Santa is not real. There is no magical person who leaves presents. My mom said so.


I think she went on and on but I was laughing so hard I couldn't hear her!

Note: I realize it was way funnier to those who attended lunch. I merely posted so I would remember this in 25 years....

snow fun

There was plenty of snow to play in today! I love being here when it snows. Mostly because I can watch from the window...

all the grandkids~



snowboarding...