Gingerbread Houses

"Gingerbread" Houses
Every year we gather lots of friends and lots of candy for a fun afternoon of creativity and sugar overload. One of these year's I'm actually going to make gingerbread instead of hot gluing grahm crackers together.

(Eliza's house tipped off her plate right after this picture was taken. Amazingly enough there was no drama and no damage to the house.)

Grandpa & Grandma Came To Visit!

My parents came for Kristen's graduation from OSU-alright Kristen!
Conveniently, it just happened to be two weeks after my ACL surgery.
Huge, Ironman leg brace+physical therapy 3 times/week+pain killers=
very few pictures.
These are the only ones I got of a very fun time together (one I even stole from my mom.)

My poor mom was recovering from oral surgery too. Eliza made sure Grandma's mouth was treated as prescribed by the dentist. She even "treated" her own.

Our little mouse.

Another neat thing about the timing of their trip was that they got to be at Madilyn and Andrew's class Christmas parties. (Sadly, I have no pictures of Madilyn's class party because Jacque and I were busy hot gluing 25 second graders' figurines for there "Snowglobes.")

Andrew's class did a special musical Christmas program before their party. So fun! Here he is with friends from school.

The night before my parents had to fly home, the girls had a beauty night. We all did each other's nails and then Madilyn and Eliza did our hair. Lovely!

We're so proud of you Kristen!

Fall Soccer

Pink Lightning

Sadly, this was Madilyn's team's last season together. Moves, changes to Academy soccer and other such reasons summed up to this last fall season.
But it was a great one. The girls have learned so much and had so much fun together.
Amelia, Ella, Emery, Madilyn and Sarah we are so proud of you!

I love this picture!
Madilyn started doing some technical training this fall and she is amazing!
If I do say so myself.

She's making her break! ...(this one didn't make it in)

but this one did! GOAL!!! :)

(Sadly, I lost the pictures of her team party from my phone,
but they were a bunch of fun, giggly girls at their pizza party.)



Striking Lightning

I've coached Andrew's team for two seasons now and I can't imagine anything quite like Under5/Under6 boys soccer. The pictures pretty much sum it up.
It's crazy, silly, rowdy, sometimes tearful, but fun.

Andrew never got his hoodie under his uniform so he is the kiddo in navy blue with red sweats-it was COLD that morning.

I love that he lifts off the ground when he kicks the ball.

He is the blur in the corner running for a goalkick. 'Cause he's so fast. :)

See, I told you it was a lot of silly.

Huge team hug after an awsome final game.

Donut and trophy party after the game.
(The only things missing from all the festivities were Coach Lori & one of our teammates, Zach.)