Wii

Sydney and Brady saw Santa today. Sydney asked for a Wii and Brady asked for a big Lightning McQueen.

Turkey Day Tease

Brady, as many may know, is not interested in being potty trained at three years and four months.  I have tried almost everything and am hoping he will decide very very soon that he would like to be a big boy.  He is pretty good about the peeing... it is just the pooping that is the main problem.  He would like nothing more than to find a nice quiet spot to hide and do his business.  Lately, I have been trying to reason with him.  Telling him, "If you can take the time to go and find a nice hiding spot, then that gives you more than enough time to go find the bathroom and get on the potty."  So on Thanksgiving Day I found him doing his business in the privacy of the downstairs bathroom, with the door closed, but NOT on the potty.  

Other than that, Thanksgiving was terrific.  We had almost the whole immediate family over except for Uncle Jay and Tricia.  Grammy, Mark, Nana, Phyllis, Barbi, Kathy, Dana, Larry, Tanner, Papa, Kim, Cheryl, Sylvia, Ray, Jodi, Morgan and Raymond came to dinner at the Hewitt's.  Mark successfully fried the 24 pound turkey in the backyard and for the third year in a row, did not burn my house down.  It was the yummiest yet.  Thanks everyone for celebrating with us.  It was a wonderfully joyous and warm day with so much laughing that my belly still hurts... or maybe that is due to the extra plate of turkey I ate.  AND... I need to reiterate that I DID NOT KISS CRAIG FIRST!  

Thankful

I am thankful that I have a daughter who is thankful for so much and for the important things. When asked to write about what she was thankful for at school she listed so many things that she ran out of room on her paper. She was thankful for her mom and dad, for her brother, for her teacher, for having food everyday, for the sky, for the trees, for the sun, for her friend Morgan and for her dog Bailey. I am truly blessed by God for having such a positive daughter who appreciates people more than things... and necessities more than her toys. Thank you!

More Soccer

Gold Super Stars

Another season of soccer is almost over.  Here are some shots of Sydney, Coach Craig and Brady dreaming of being on the team next year.  

Halloween Party 2008

Unfortunately, I was sick with the flu, but the rest of the family went to the Hayden's Halloween party. Yes... that is my husband... and he is all mine! Please...do not be jealous... of the mullet and beer belly. Thank goodness you were there Jodi to keep the ladies off my man. How do you explain what he is to the kids?

Brady was a pirate this year and Sydney was an 80's diva.

Puggles Please

We had a blast camping at Lake Casitas last weekend with, Ryan, Pam, Megan, McKenna, and the newest addition to their family Diesel. Pam, I would love to take him off your hands next year, as soon as he is finished with the chewing stage. Just let me know. :)
This picture does not do him justice. He is adorable. If I ever get another dog, this is what I want...when he or she turns two.
Can I handle the puppy stage again? Actually I could handle it, but do I want to, is the appropriate question. I do not think the kids would be happy with all the eaten toys, but maybe then they would put them away. Hmm, I need to think about this...
I also remembered this weekend that I am horrible at horseshoes and I apologize to both Pam and Craig for my terrible performance.

Idaho 2008

We had a great time on our trip to Idaho. It was nice to be there and actually take a vacation, since I normally work when we go.

I have to say that I think our dog, Bailey, might have had the best time of all of us, since this was officially her first vacation. She enjoyed swimming and boating and running around the neighborhood and chasing ducks and laying on the dock sunning herself.

We did all the usual things, but it was great to share it all with our friends that came up with us, the Douglas Family.

My favorite part of the trip was the biking, since it was the first time we went on the Trail of Couer D Alene. The trail is a 73 mile bike path that runs through the pan handle of Idaho, basically from Washington to Montana. It was beautiful... running along streams and fields and lakes. We even saw a moose.  Brady and Raymond racked out after the long ride on the back of the bike, after a good fist fight first.   Aren't they cute?  I know you are all wondering if I road my bike

 for all 73 miles and if you know me... then you know the answer to that question.