Last Game

Yesterday was Hunter's last flag football game. They got to play at CHS's field with the turf, no getting muddy. The weather was better than last year, no rain. It was pretty cold. When I got in the car after the game it was 45 degrees. The fog was still hanging around even at 2pm. I couldn't keep the kids sitting still they wanted to be walking up and down the bleachers. I wanted to join them to get blood pumping through my body and warm up.Hunter handing off the ball to Zach.

Hunter handing off again. I think this was one of their plays that Hunter hands off to Zach. Then Zach hands off to Tanner and the usually getting a bunch of yards.


Another hand off.

Hunter and Tanner doing the fake. Hunter ran it in for a touchdown.

Handing off again.

Lincoln(Hunter's team) was up by one touchdown. Garfield scored. Tied, with 3 minutes to go!Lincoln moved the ball very well. Hunter ran the ball for a then ran the ball for the winning touchdown. His coach ran out to him on the field and picked him up. He was so excited. They didn't get the extra point. The team improved so much from the beginning of the season. It was so fun to see them not knowing how to play football to running plays, blocking for the guys with the ball and catching passes.

Hunter getting awards from his coaches. They were such great coaches. The coaches said they wanted to see the boys playing next year. The ones that are eligible. Hunter is the only 5 grader on the team so he is not able to play next year. since it is for 3-5 graders. He has been trying to talk me into letting him play tackle. The idea is warming on me. Hunter really loves football and is pretty good at it.

My Boys and Ella

Graham just can't get enough of Baby Ella. Thank goodness she's so patient with him pushing on her tummy. We get to watch Ella, and her brother Aaron and Sister Nikki while their mom, Tiffany helps out in her daughters classroom for an hour or so. We had so much fun.
I was changing Graham's diaper and Harrison said he would watch Ella for me. Always a good helper. He is so sweet with her.

Isn't this so adorable. All of my kids love Ella. It's been awhile since we have had a baby girl around. So fun to have pink frilly things around.

Graham's Haircut

This is Graham before I kept procrastinating cutting his hair. I think I put it off because it makes the kids look so much older in a matter of minutes. This is not his first haircut more like 5 or so. It still is hard to cut it and see him grow up right before my eyes.

The after.

Football Saturday!

Hunter had another game today. The weather was beautiful. The camera wasn't working today. I'm not quite sure what is wrong. I thought I got a picture of Hunter running in for a touchdown. He had two more after that. His friend Tanner Had two touchdowns. They won!! It was a great game. They are such a young team and all of their hard work is paying off. His last game is on Saturday at the high school on the astro turf. Pretty exciting!

We headed to the church for our primary practice. We weren't there more than an hour until we needed to head to Salem for Nicholas Dan's birthday celebration. We watched the Beavers beat Cal. It was such a great time with family and even better that the Beavs won.

Gavin's Lunch Creation

Tuesday the kids didn't have school. I gave Gavin two mini bagel halves with cream cheese. Then I gave him some Pringles. This is what I saw when I came over to him with his milk. His creativity never stops. Gavin's kindergarten teacher is always talking about the fun pictures he is drawing all of the time. He has also started to read. He has read The Foot Book with very little help and is trying to read anything he can get his eyes on. It is so fun to see him so excited to learn. I thought he might dig his heels in when it came to read and such. Thank goodness my fears have been put to rest.

Some Fun Outside

Shannen and Hunter playing catch-Graham trying to figure out what he is going to do next.
He decided on the soccer ball.

Hunter running after the ball, Gretchen riding her bike and Harrison riding Graham's fire truck.

Gavin come back with treasures he is finding in the cul-de-sac. Some legos the kids were using as part of a treasure hunt the other day.

Graham is being so funny lately. He is talking in sentences. He loves music which is great in our family since there is music being played somewhere in our house most of the time.

I have failed to mention some sweet and very thoughtful friends of ours sent us a camera. They received a new one the summer and this one was just lying around. We are so thankful for them and being able to document the past couple of months because of them.

A Splash of Color

When we moved into our house over 2 1/2 years ago, I was so excited not to have to paint as soon as we got in. In our other house the walls were white and I was so tired of that from renting. I've painted the kids rooms and now am moving on to the rest of the house. Someday I'll get to our bedroom, for now it is the living room. I like the color that we picked for the whole interior of the house to be painted. One problem is that it is flat paint. It doesn't do well with fingerprints or anything else for that matter.So a week ago Tuesday I painted the living room.

Some of the before

More of the before and during(the furniture and curtains are all over)

Another before-It's not to easy to move that piano

Harrison's work-He really wanted to help

The result

The color adds a little more drama

I love the result. It makes the living room feel so much warmer. Next month I'm doing the hallway, entry, stairway and upstairs hallway or the family room. I don't know which to choose.

FHE

About 3 weeks ago Aaron was in charge of the lesson for Family Home Evening. He had been reading in the Ensign and article about strengthening our family. One part of the article jumped out to him, having family prayer and scripture study. The kids and I do this every morning, okay maybe not every Saturday and some Sundays. We haven't been able to do it with Aaron because he leaves so early to workout and head to work. I don't think the kids would be thrilled with getting up at 4:30am to read scriptures.

Last school year I couldn't call Aaron's cell phone while he was in Falls City because there was no coverage. His first day of work in August this summer amazingly there is now coverage. Aaron's plan to have family prayer and scripture study is we call him and do it over the cell phone. It doesn't cost a thing because we have Verizon. As a family we decided that if we could do it for 2 weeks straight we would go bowling.

Last Tuesday was 2 weeks and we were successful. There hasn't been a dramatic change in the family. No my kids are not angel all of the time, but it sure seems that I'm more patient and able to have more fun with them.

Since Aaron and the kids didn't have school on Monday we head to the MU to bowl. It's always so fun going there because Aaron worked there when we were dating and I think a little after we were married. Good memories.

Gavin on his second time up

Gretchen's first ball

She doesn't really like to watch what happens after the release.

Hunter after his first ball. It's a little different then the Wii.

Graham and Aaron waiting for their turn. When we first got there Graham headed straight down the alley. I'm sure that he wanted to just knock down those perfectly set pins.

Still waiting!

Finally, they're up

Graham really tried several time to chase the ball down the alley.Luckily Aaron's pretty quick and got him before he ran to far.

Everyone watching.

We had such a great time and headed to Dairy Queen afterwards. After I downloaded the pictures I realized I didn't get any pictures of Harrison. He had a great time and is still talking about it.

Saturday Fun!

We started our Saturday with Hunter's flag football game. His team played Ian's team. Hunter was quarterback most of the game. Ian got Hunter's flag once. Hunter had some great pass and plays. It was a pretty fun game. The rain was coming down pretty good at times so I only got one picture.

Ian's team ended up winning by 4 touchdowns. As you can see the are still buds. After the game we ran to Kmart to get a present for one of Gretchen's friends birthday party. Hunter then went over to Ian to play for a while. He then went to his friend Chance's Pop Warner football game. Before that game was done I took Hunter back to the Cole's so he could go the Blazer game with Ian and Darin. He had such a great time. They got to sit in a box and watch the game. Hunter thought it was the coolest thing. Busy, busy Saturday. I thought I spent the majority of the day in the car running kids to their different things and getting some grocery shopping in to. I guess this is a glimpse into my near future of run kids to all of their events.

Living By the River

After Stake Conference two weeks ago, I was sitting in the living room and noticed a shadow go over the window. Looking out I saw this beautiful bird soaring in the sunshine. Of course I thought it was an osprey. We see them all of the time living close to the river. But upon closer inspection it was a bald eagle.

As I was trying to get some pictures with out the sun right in my face, two osprey joined in the soaring. It was a gorgeous day.We love all of the wildlife and nature we have around us. The path we have along the river is so great to meander on.

Halloween

Mr. Harrison waiting for the other kids.

The boys, clone troopers, a monkey and a horse.

The boys and Sharpay Evans (HSM 3)

Could they be any cuter?

Time to head down town for some trick or treating.

Joe showing Harrison his loot.

Gavin was tired of wearing his mask. So he asked me to hold it.

Dairy Queen is one of the best thing about trick or treating downtown.

So fun and yummy.

He ate the whole thing. I barely had to help him. Rats!

After dinner we headed out to the trick or treat around the neighborhood. We went with our friends the Jones and Dezzanis. We have such a great time with them. The kids did surprisingly well and the rain held off until we were done.

Last Saturday, Beautiful!

Aaron and the kids playing while we waiting for Hunter's team to get their team pictures.

That is Gretchen behind all of that hair.

Can you believe how beautiful the day was? One of the reasons I love Oregon.

Graham enjoying the game from the sidelines with a granola bar.

Enjoying the granola bar.

The kids didn't stop playing just because Hunter was playing.

Love those trees in the back.

Hunter handing off the ball. You can see his head in the back.

Hunter follow the hand off he made and it was run in for a touchdown!

Halftime huddle

Time out.

Hunter throwing the ball to Tanner who ran it almost for a touchdown. The next play Hunter ran it in for a touchdown. They didn't win but was such a great improvement from the first game.