The Green Machines

Abby's soccer team went 11-0 in the season and ended winning every game in their tournament at the end for a record total of 14 wins.  She had so much fun because, well, winning is fun.  She grew as a soccer player and enjoyed the girls on her team.  Abby has so much energy and would just fly across the soccer field.  We enjoyed her success this year.  Win or lose though, soccer season is always something we get excited about.

Good Grades and New Glasses

Sammie had been noticing that she couldn't quite see things as well as she could.  After a trip to the optometrist, she found out she needs glasses to help her see things far away.  She picked these out herself and loves wearing them.  For the first quarter of the school, Sammie received Principal's list and and special award for Academics from her teacher. She works so hard at all that she does and looks pretty cute in her new glasses too.

Halloween 2017

My girls love dressing up!  Olivia was Wendy Darling, Sammie was a pirate, and Abby a nerd.  When Abby dressed in her costume she said, "This isn't even a costume. This is my true self."  That kid.  She loooooved being a nerd.  Their costumes were perfect for each of them.  We of course made our favorite cookies that we make each year.

Sometimes I like to Show up

Sometimes I like to show up on here.  Just me, and some cinnamon rolls.  The cinnamon rolls were for General Conference weekend.  I was so touched by General Conference and it is still on my heart and mind.  There were so many messages that I was ready to hear and I'm grateful for the preparation that I made to listen.  I feel hopeful in this life with its ups and downs.  I'm grateful for my family, the gospel, home, friends, and the simple things.  Everything.  I'm thankful for all of it.

14

Olivia turned 14.  We love this girl.  We love her sense of humor, her smarts, her way of thinking, how she loves to listen to Hamilton and musicals 24 hours a day.  We love that she is quiet, but snarky, and sweet but bold.  She is excited to see Hamilton this weekend with Joey.  It's both of their birthday presents this year.  She had a party back in September on her actual birthday and they played games and watched "The Princess Bride" in the backyard from our projector.  I love have this teenager.

School Days

The first day of school 2017.  It was a great day to get back into the swing of routines after a pretty low key summer.  Abby started third grade, Sammie 6th, and Olivia 9th.  It's been a different dynamic with a high schooler.  I feel like I have a giant child now.  My house is somehow messier the older my kids have gotten.  They leave their stuff everywhere and I don't know what to do with it. When they were small, I just would quickly pick things up.  But now, they have "stuff."  And it's their "stuff." If I move it, it might be important.  They have spaces where they leave things.  I don't know if I can explain that very well, but there is stuff that is theirs and they are responsible and so I just leave it there.  So, messier house.  I love the stage we are in.  I love every stage we have been in, but this one is great.  It's harder to write about the things we are doing but I felt urged to keep it up.
Much of our lives revolves around the high school with Joey and Olivia both there.  We went to football games, pop in to see dad, and Joey and Olivia spend a lot of time together.  I love it.  I love this time in our lives right now.

For a Crepe

There is this little place in Paso Robles that makes the most amazing crepes.  We drove 100 miles just for a crepe...and played at the water park too.  But really, it was all about the crepe.  Next time, we might skip the water park and just get the crepe even if we drove 100 miles.

Cousins and Summer

We loved seeing our cousins this summer and we loved seeing them in Bakersfield!  We stayed home and the cousins came to us this year.  Tyler brought Brielle and Brennan with him for a couple of days when he had a job to do down here.  We loved it.  The girls have been wanting to watch a Barbie movie with Brielle.  It was really an excuse for them to pull out their stash of movies and feel like a "littler" girl again.  We went out to ice cream and just hung out together. 

 Then just a few weeks later, my mom came down on the train and brought these cute little boy cousins with her.  Noah and Brennan had so much fun with us.  They got to see Sammie win a couple of races at her swim meet, played at an indoor play place, went swimming, saw a movie, and had a cousin sleepover.  It was so hot when they were here, so we spent lots of time playing inside. I feel like we crawl into our homes on those hot summer days and rarely go out!  It was fun to bond with these guys and have some summer cousin fun.