Monday, September 16, 2013

Family Home Evening

For Father's Day this year I built Caleb a fire pit, sort of.  More like a part of a fire pit, due to time and budgetary constraints we got the actual fire ring put in, but have had to slowly work on the patio area bit by bit each month, but we are getting there.  Still the pit has been functional and we have loved having little bonfires in the backyard all summer long.

One of our favorite things lately is to build a fire for family home evening on Monday nights.  We round up whatever leaves, pine needles and small sticks have dropped on the grass during the week and throw it into the fire pit.  Then we start the fire and sit around and sing songs and read a story out of the friend while the fire burns down.  Once things have calmed down and we have a nice bed of coals we all roast marshmallows and make s'mores for dessert.






The grass in our backyard is finally starting to fill in and we often end up playing soccer or Frisbee for our family activity and then head in and get the kids ready for bed, smelling like smoke.  Great times!



Or sometimes we play soccer while eating s'mores, best of both worlds, right?

Jefferson is especially grateful that we finally have a backyard of our own and can hardly contain his excitement as he sits in his car seat watching all the fun :)

Beywarriors

We have a friend that referred us to this website that lets you try out new products for free, as long as you agree to host a party at your house demonstrating the product.  They have had movie projectors, soda stream machines, home decor items... stuff I think would be cool to get for free.  We have been selected to receive none of them.  So we signed Corbin up to host a Beyblade party featuring their newest product, Beywarriors, thinking there was no way he'd get picked.  However, he seems to have better luck than us and was chosen to receive a party pack full of free toys to play with with his friends.

It actually worked out really well though because it turned out to be the perfect opportunity to invite some of his new friends from school over so I could meet them and their parents and he could expand his circle of friends.

So on Saturday we played host to 14 kids all battling in a Beywarrior tournament.  I think the boys all had fun and we enjoyed seeing Corbin playing with his little group of new and old friends.  Since the guests included kids from the old neighborhood, new school and cousins from both sides we told him he had to make sure to take turns playing with everyone and making sure no one got left out and I think he did a pretty good job of helping everyone mingle.


I even decorated for him!



Caleb ran the tournament and made sure everyone got to take turns.


Group shot: Daniel, Silas, Ethan, Seth, Colton, Brynn, Makelle, Braxton, Easton, Eric, Logan, Corbin, Wes, and Trey.




Winner's stand. 

Corbin took 3rd place, but since 1st through 3rd won prizes, we made him move down to 4th place with just a ribbon.  Since he got to keep most of the toys we had been sent, it only seemed fair.

He also said he didn't like our rules when we made him answer the door and stay by the door thanking people for coming and seeing them off.  Apparently he would have preferred to yell good-bye from the basement while playing with everyone else who was still waiting for their parents.  We'll have to have more parties in the future, so he can continue to work on his hosting skills.

Girls

Makelle idolizes her older girl cousins.  She pretty much thinks that Rachel and Brynn are the best things ever, so when Rachel was over at our house on Friday Makelle was thrilled when Rachel volunteered to do Makelle's hair for her.  I would say it turned out quite nice:


They both loved the end result :)

Friday, September 13, 2013

Tournament Time

Corbin signed up to play on a competition soccer team this year.  We didn't realize what we were getting ourselves into and it's been a little bit intense for our liking, but a good experience for him all the same.  He plays for the La Roca soccer club and they just started their fall season.

His team also played in their first ever tournament over Labor Day weekend.  He scored a goal in one of the games and his team ended up winning all their games except one that ended in a tie.  That team narrowly beat them out for the champion spot and they ended up coming in second, but I don't think Corbin really cared.  He had a ton of fun playing in a 'real tournament,' and that's really all he cared about.

Team Meeting:


Race to the ball:


#20:


Teamwork:


Group shot:


Go La Roca!


Proud participant:


Final score:

Thursday, September 12, 2013

10 Years!

I am getting old, this summer marked 10 years since I graduated high school.

Since high school graduation in 2003 I :
  • Met Caleb in 2004
  • Received my bachelor's degree in Broadcasting and PR in 2005
  • Got married to Caleb in 2005
  • Had my first baby in 2006
  • Received my master's degree in Corporate PR in 2007
  • Bought our first home in 2007
  • Started my own part time business in 2008
  • Had our little girl in 2009
  • Had another little boy in 2011
  • Bought our new house in 2012
  • Remodeled and moved into our house in 2013
  • Had our most recently baby in 2013
It has been a pretty busy and fulfilling 10 years (except for 2010, what happened to that year?)


Caleb and I attended my reunion along with the Harm and Derek and Alicia.  Turns out if you didn't know a ton of people during high school you are unlikely to know very many people from the same group 10 years later :)  


Despite not knowing too many people to reconnect with, we had a fun night getting out of the house and Jefferson spent his first night away from Mom.  And, thanks to Mr. Jefferson, I received the "Most Recent to have had a Baby" award and tied for "Most Children" award.  Back when I was leaving high school to start college, I swore I was going to move out of state and live a fast-paced single life until I was at least 30.  Instead I have now recently moved back to the same town I graduated in and have a husband of over 8 years, 4 children and no career.  All the things I never wanted have become my dream, it's funny how life changes.