Girls Night Out

I am trying to teach my daughter early in life that "girlfriends are great". She had a late night with a couple of friends on Friday night. So much fun! They watched tv, painted tonails, sat in the hot tub, and played. I have to admit I was a little jealous and found myself itching for a girls night out of my own.

Sunday Treat

When I was a little girl, my dad always made a Sunday treat. He is such a great baker and his desserts were divine!! I have tried to follow that tradition in my home as well. Today, Tanner decided that he wanted to make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies for our Sunday treat. Arik was the helper, and the cookies turned out great.

The Music School

The kids are all taking piano lessons at The Music School. I love to take pictures of them with their first piano teacher. Music seems to jumpstart the brain and get it working with just the right balance. We have noticed with our children that once piano is underway, then their reading skills get so much better -- everything seems to click.

Not a Care in the World

Now that I don't have kids at home all day long, I thought I would have so much time on my hands. So where does the day go??
I usually clean on Mondays, but today I am digging in washing bedding and cleaning bathrooms. It takes all day to do, then is undone the minute the little munchkins walk through the door. Don't get me wrong, they can be great helpers, at least Annika and Tanner. Arik's cleaning methods leave much to be desired. When I ask him to clean his room, he typically shoves everything under his bed, confident that I will never know. Look what I found today. Oh wait, I do know where the day goes.....

Soccer

Soccer has officially taken over our lives. Luckily the weather has been fabulous and the kids are having a great time.

Jedi Force

Tanner had such a great game. He is CRAZY competative and loves to score goals and win. We try to tell him to just have fun, but he is incapable of doing that. He is now at a soccer level where they have goalies and play positions. He love to play middle attacker because he can, "run all over the field and still score goals". Sat the Jedi Force won, 3-2. Tanner scored 2 goals -- way to go Tanner!!

Fire Balls

When Annika was three, a good friend of our nicknamed her "Mia" because was was a maniac on the field. She is still living up to that name. They are not suppose to keep track of goals, but she proudly told me that she scored 4 goals on Sat. You go girl!!!

Fire Dragons

Arik is our non-competative one. He just wants to have fun on the field. Don't get me wrong, he is obsessed with sports, but mostly football. He just likes to go out there and run and have a good time. He is such a fast runner and tries harder than anyone I know.

Sugar N Spice

Maren Sue

Oh, so sweet and just a day old. Another girl cousin for Annika -- YEA!!

Congrats Mike, Susie & kids

So I keep changing the look of my blog. It is very entertaining! I still haven't quite found the look I want, but I will keep trying. I should just learn how to design my own ...... that will have to be put on my list. Oh, by the way, I LOVE lists. I don't think I can function without one, or ten. When my husband wants to torment me, he hides my lists -- cruel, so cruel.

First Day of School

Today is the first day of school and the kids are so excited! My babies are in 1st grade and Tanner is in 3rd grade. It is such a weird feeling to have all my kids in school all day. I cry a little and then I savour the silence. Is it weird that I am so sad instead of jumping for joy? Tanner and Mr. Rogers


Arik and Annika with Mrs. Cavanaugh

Sleepy Sunday