TRIMMING THE TREE

Every year it is our tradition to decorate the tree the day after Thanksgiving. The boys all look forward to getting all the ornaments out and I'm always amazed how many we have. Because of the weight of all the ornaments we have to tie the tree with a rope to the wall and we never manage to fit all the ornaments on . Gracie had a great time looking at all the ornaments and she loved hanging them on the tree. We can't believe that at this time last year we only had a picture of Grace and it was so hard knowing that she wouldn't be with us for Christmas. Now it is strange to think about her not being here with us. She brings great joy to all of us. She loves to sing. Right now her favorite songs are Amazing Grace, Holy,Holy,Holy and Jesus loves me. She usually enjoys singing these after she is in her crib for the night and the volume is always loud. The boys are telling stories of what they remember about each Chtristmas,this is fairly amazing since we have moved 9 times in the past 12 years. Ahh to be young with a great memory. This is all our favorite season. As we celebrate the birth of our glourious Savior we are amazed at his goodness and mercy to us. We are all so undeserving!!!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Every year for Thanksgiving our church meets and celebrates the goodness of God and how He graciously cares for His people. We always have an abundance of great food and the kids bring games to play together. After a scrumptious meal the dancing begins, yes dancing at a church function. Our boys all danced and Grace loved to be swung around by her daddy. It is a blast and even the youngest ones get involved. This lasts for several hours and then the children begin dropping like flies. Around the room are many strollers filled with sleeping little ones. The fellowship is sweet and after all stuffing ourselves, in a non glutinous way of course, we load up the vans and head for home.

Kids night at our house !!

Curran and Rylan had some friends over for a night of Xbox Halo entertainment on the big screen. It's fun to watch kids interact at this age. I have to laugh and wonder were we actually that goofy. They really are great kids and it is a joy to have a bunch of young adults come over who are so polite and respectful. The best part is when the dads showed up and were totally killed in every game of Halo. There were definitely some competitive spirits in the room and it wasn't the kids. It is rough getting old.

Veteran's Day 2007

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Burg Eltz Castle

Curran just bought a new schwanky camera and wanted to
start taking pctures right away. He decided he would
take some pictures of Grace and she was more than happy
to help him out.

Can you say cute!!!

Gracie dresses for Reformation Night

O.K. I know this doesn't look like a reformation costume,but it was too cute not to dress her in it. We celebrated at our church and everyone dressed in costume and diffrent people stood and talked about there part in the reformation. The kids were all in costume

and there were games and lots of candy. With 5 kids that is way to much candy to have in the house!! Grace had a great time and was wired from too much sugar.

Gracie

Happy 40th Birthday Mike!!!

Mike turned 40!!! I am so happy, because I turned 40 last year and he is finally catching up to me. We are all so blessed to have such a great man to lead us and love us all so much. We really enjoy it when he is home spending time with us and he always gets us laughing. He is truly my best friend. We had a fun party at home and the boys put up funny banners . The candles on the cake almost set off the fire alarm. Grace loved all the smoke, she is reaching up trying to grab it in the picture.

Oct 2007

It is getting colder here and we are all enjoying the fall colors. Grace has been sick with some kind of flu bug,so the day we went for pumpkins she just wanted me to carry her around and was not so thrilled about picking out a pumpkin. Everytime we would put her down for a picture she would scream,poor thing, so the only picture we got of her is on Mike's shoulders. She is usually always happy so today is a bummer!! The boys all got pumpkins and Rylan got a light one to make me some pies. He enjoys cooking and baking and has been known to make a scrumptious chocolate cake. All the boys are busy with school and after traveling all summer it is nice to just have time at home.

PUMPKINS

Swimming

The weather gets pretty gray all winter long in Germany, so most towns have nice indoor pools with slides and play areas for the kids. There's a great snack bar for food and coffees. We always get french fries and my kids like them the German way with mayo {YUK!!} It's a great place to come in the afternoons when school is done. The boys always finish school faster when they know we are going to swim. This day a bunch of mom's met with a bunch of kids. I thought this was a great picture! One thing that is different in Germany is there are no rules. There may be a few, but they are never enforced. Therefore if you kill yourself it's your own fault. I have to remind my boys that 15 people on the slide at once probably isn't a good idea.

Curran WinsThe Photo Contest

Curran saved his money and was able to purchase a pretty shwanky camera. You usually don't see Curran now without a camera around his neck. He has been taking a photography class and has been taking family pictures for people in our church. He really enjoys it. Curran entered a photo contest and won a 1st and a 3rd place. The first place was a picture through a wine glass called Glass View.The 3rd place was in the nature category and was a black and white picture of a dock at the lake where my sister lives. It was called Summers End. The pictures will go on to another base wide level for competition. We Hope he wins!!!

Oktoberfest

Curran Opening Gifts

CURRAN TURNS 13

Curran is now officially a teenager. I have heard all kinds of horror stories of what happens to nice children at this age. Hormones raging and all kinds of attitudes. I have to say by God's grace alone I am totally enjoying life with my older boys. There is always something totally funny happening between my two oldest boys and of course we all have to get involved in whatever it is. We have been doing a lot of laughing lately,the two of them are quite comical and they know it. Curran is planning to have a sleep over for his birthday also. It isn't the same kind of party as my younger boys. This party has beverages served like mountain dew and cappucinos with a lot of blog checking and you-tube videos. Then they stay up, eat a lot of junk food,watch movies and in the morning they actually sleep in. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful boys. WE LOVE YOU CURRAN!!!!

Hadyn Opening Presents