It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Well, OK...maybe not outside, although I hear snow is headed our way this weekend! Inside our house, however, we're buzzing with holiday cheer! The Christmas tree is coming out in the next few days, which is the big sign to the kids that Christmas is near. I've been busy buying Christmas presents the past week, which I love- if you know me at all, you know I adore any chance to shop- especially presents! I cannot wait to see the smiles on our kids faces this Christmas morning! I've also been designing Christmas cards, which has been fun, but it is now time to order!
In addition, I have been brainstorming ways we can give back this holiday season. We usually adopt a family for Christmas, but I think I want to do something a bit different this year. I thought it would be nice for our family to pick a night each week to work together preparing a nice hot meal to deliver to a family in the neighborhood of our church who could use a little love. We would cook together, deliver the meal together, and "be like Jesus" for these families who haven't been shown an abundance of kindness in their life.
I could use some more ideas, things that are unique yet fun for the kids- because it is my heart's desire to show them that #1, we have so much to be thankful for, and #2, it is our responsibility to give our two most prized things we can offer- our love and our time. Those are the things I've coveted most for myself, and I want my kids to learn a life of loving freely and giving their time freely.

I'm loving this season. May it be jolly and full of love.

Olympics, here she comes!

Ashlyn lives in the gym. :) She has taken to gymnastics like a fish to water, she's a natural! As any gymnastics Mom can tell you, a gymnast never takes a break, she is always flipping, doing handstands, every curb becomes a balance beam, any suspended bar is fair game to pullovers and kips, and she is rarely seen in normal clothes- she wears a leotard ALL.THE.TIME. (with the exception of school, I had to put my foot down on that one...although she's snuck out the door more than once with one under her clothes!)
Her talent has taken her beyond regular classes, she is now competing! It has been so much fun going to her meets and watching her shine. Her very first meet she placed FIRST all around, out of 3 teams worth of girls! We are so incredibly proud of our Ashie-bug. :)
The following photos were taken at her latest meet, where she took 5th place in 3 events and 6th place in the other. ***Please note and appreciate her $150 leotard she's wearing. It cost an arm and two legs, so I would like it to be appreciated and admired as much as possible!***

Ash with some of her teammates


with her friend "little Morgan". Due to an abundance of "Morgans" on the team, we also have a middle Morgan and a big Morgan!


Ash's split during her floor routine


Beam routine


I'll leave you on this note....Ashlyn's two favorite guys from church came out to support her at this meet- A big shout out to Stephen & Skyler! She just adores them, and they love her like a baby sister. These guys are awesome- they are recording and soon going on tour- they're Christian Rap artists, the Hall of Faith Saints. I'll be talking more about them soon, and linking you to where you can download their free mixtape!

Change is gonna come...

I've decided it's time to embrace my inner "blogger", dust off the old blog, shine it all up and make it pretty, and hit the ground running with tales of our adventures! New blog name, new photos to share... but before all that, I am running a test or two to see if these nifty new features are running smoothly. Bear with me please!

time....it's getting away from me.

Is it possibly mid-February 2010? I don't know how this is possible. We're busy busy these days. Ashlyn is still in gymnast mode- we never get a break from that. She's there 3, sometimes 4 days a week. Eric's work is NUTS these days. And I am in the beginnings of making my photography hobby more than a hobby- I am starting my own official business! I am really excited, a tad terrified, and totally ready for spring to get here so I can get shooting. It's been such an adventure.

We're also planning a vacation! No kids this time, just Eric and myself, going with Eric's sister Lori & her husband John and some friends of theirs. We're going to Gatlinburg TN for 5 nights! :) It's going to be a fun trip, and some very much needed time away from every day life for Eric and I. I am counting down the days until we leave in March. Just trying to put the last few pieces of the puzzle together for our trip- you know, small things, such as who is keeping our kids while we escape! lol!

It's been a while!

I can't believe I haven't updated since the first day of school! A lot has happened since then for sure! Christmas will be upon us before we know it. This fall was spent running between gymnastics practice for Ashlyn, football practice & games for Jake, numerous photo shoots that kept me busy, and various school activities. We have all been plagued with numerous sicknesses- this is the most unhealthy fall we have ever experienced! I was sick three times, Eric at least once maybe twice, Jake 3 times, Ashlyn was constantly sick for about 2 months, and Ellie was sick twice. I am so tired of cleaning up after sick people!!!!

The kids are doing well in school, Ellie still loves going to day care once a week, and life is good! Will update with new photos in the next day or two...

First day of school!

Today was the first day of the '09-'10 school year for Jake & Ashlyn! Jake is in 5th grade, Ashlyn in 2nd grade. Hope it was the start of a fantastic year!

some flowers and fun!