Soccer Time

We met Kevin's siblings and their families at Jerry and Ruth's on Sunday to have dinner and the like to celebrate Emorie's short visit from California.  It was such a nice day, that we all went to the park.  Some attempted a soccer game while others launched model rockets.  Quite the day at the park.

 Love this picture of Kevin kicking the ball. In the back groun, on the left, you can see Kevin's brother, Ryan (crouched down) and Kevin's nephew, Seth, (standing) working on getting the rocket launcher ready.

 Hendrix boy was so excited to be outside!

 Ryan's wife Trina is huge into soccer!

 Oh my heavens! I seriously cannot NOT laugh at this picture of Marley every time I see it!!!

 Grace has been doing some soccer training on Wednesday and she has gotten good at dribbling the ball!

 Sweet lovely Grandma Ruth!

 Luke, Aaron, Grace

 Kevin's sister Kristen, and Kristen's daughter Alyssa

 Kristen's son Ethan

 Jerry sitting with Kevin's niece, Emorie

 Hendrix chasing his doppelganger! This little boy was so darn similar to Hendrix!

Good ol' Jerry

Reading with Dad

I love that Hendrix enjoys books and being read to.  What's more, I love, love, LOVE that Hendrix wants Kevin to read to him!!

Clean Up, Clean Up...

When my dad was alive, my parents 3-car garage was a dumping ground for everything.  My dad was pretty close to being a hoarder.  He kept everything and had every excuse in the book for why it was important to keep a particular item, junk or not. My siblings and I got together one Saturday (after Alece had ordered some large garbage bins) and attempted to clean out the garage.  I sometimes wonder if my mom has taken on my dad's tendencies as well. According to Jono, when Jono was attempting to throw away a blanket covered in mouse feces, my mom suggested that maybe they better keep it...hmmm, probably not!!  After that, we tried to keep mom out of the garage and watching Hendrix.  As we started to go through things, I couldn't believe what my dad kept.  Old floppy disks of word perfect and dos start ups, HUNDREDS of nails and screws, old computers, monitor screen, VCRs, out-dated magazines, expired cleaning supplies, a portable toilet (because apparently my dad thought when times were hard and electricity and plumbing were out, he would use that portable toilet...) and the list goes on.  We worked for hours and really only made small progress.  If you looked at the garage after we worked on it (not knowing we worked on it) you would think, that garage really needs to be cleaned out.  The amount of stuff and useless junk was incredible!  I did however find some  little gems.

 Like this felt calendar with our family faces screen-printed on it...yes, what a happy, dapper looking clan.

 Seth wielding a wooden knife he carved when he was younger...

 Using that wooden dagger against Alece...

 Seth harnessing dagger power...

 Then these sack puzzles Seth made when he was little.  I could not stop laughing! Even now, looking at them, makes me laugh because A) Seth was creative enough to come up with this craft and B) that my mom still had them!!!

Miss Monkey

My brother and sister-in-law dressed-up my adorable niece as a little monkey. She is such a gem treasure!!!

Let's Jog

I took this picture because this guy's jogging gait and garb made me laugh!

Quite the Wig

I had a rare chance to take Grace, by herself, to the store.  As we passed by the holiday area, they had lots of things out for Halloween.  They had these awesome wigs for sale. They had several different kinds! I wish I would have bought some!!

Student of the Month

Marley got to be the first "Student of the Month" out of her kindergarten class, for the year!  I'm so proud of her!!!!

Girls and their PJs

Matching PJs. I don't know why we always give the girls matching PJs...probably as to deter fighting!

Skating Around

Hendrix loves to try to put on Marley's roller skates and attempt to skate in them.  Even though it's hard for him, he still tries!!

On Top of the Table

Hendrix is so darn busy.  It seems as though he is always trying to get into or climb something!  He is a bit fearless!

Jerry Going on an Elk Hunt

Jerry has been putting in points for being able to go on a serious elk hunt for a long time.  Apparently it payed off because he bagged a big one (with the help of a hunting scout, of course)!! All I have is a picture of a picture, but you can see how big the animal is.

Stroller Baby Trap

Hendrix has been using the toy stroller to climb up on things, and this time he managed to get his feet trapped in the stroller.

Looks Just Like Him

This post is about my brother, Seth. See screen shot below...

Tissue Shoe Box

Hendrix kept putting this empty tissue box on his foot, trying to walk around with it on.

He Love to Use the Stool

Now that Hendrix realizes what the kid stools we have are for, he is constantly use them to his advantage.

Grace's First Day of Preschool

After seeing how Grace lives her precious little life, I felt that Montessori preschool was the perfect fit for Grace.  This is her first day of preschool! She is such a gem!

Boots and Tears

Holly sent me this picture of her adorable little boy...I LOVE it!!

Fruit Bowl

My neighbor Holly made this awesome fruit bowl out of a watermelon for her daughter's birthday.  And I was just so impressed that I had to post it.