too short of a visit...

Corey was at his grandmas for a couple of days and was able to come and visit for a few hours last week. It was TOO short! The kids LOVE him and were so excited to see him. They wouldn't leave him alone-jumping on him, sitting on him and just needing to touch him. Corey was so good about it-like always-and gave them the attention that they wanted. We are so glad that you were able to come-even for such a short visit. We love and miss you Corey!!!

Halloween

So another Halloween...The kids had so much fun carving pumpkins, making carameled apples and trick or treating. We had a very busy day on Sat. Maddie had her last soccer game-which she scored 6 goals:) After we went to her soccer party, came home and ate dinner and then went out. Jeff, Raegan, Tyler and Ava came over to join us. Thanks guys-we had so much fun!!!

YUM!

Maddie thought this was very gross so she only scooped out a little bit of guts:)

This was the first year that she really got to do her own pumpkin..a little scary for the mom

Maddie and her finished product

Jake and his pumpkin

Darth Vader, Princess Lia, and Yoda

Luke would NOT stand still so this was the best pic I got of eveyone together

Everyone having fun!

Pumpkin Patch

This year was a little sad...We weren't able to go to the pumpkin patch as a family due to the rain. We had planned the trip a couple of times but it just didn't work out. So only the boys and I went for Jakes preschool field trip. They had a great time and got a pumpkin just their size:)

Luke was so excited!

Which one should I pick?
Jake and Luke looking for the perfect pumpkin...you too can have this hugh pumpkin for $6.

Would you please look at the camera?

Jake riding the cow train

Jakes preschool class

Luke is 18 months!

I still can't believe my baby is one and a half! He is getting so big and surprises me everyday. At his 18th month appointment he was 34 inches-95% and 25 pounds-50%. He is climbing, running, trying to talk and hitting-LOVE that one! He is enthralled with his older siblings who he tries to copy, and to his dismay gets in a lot of trouble. He doesn't want to sit in a highchair anymore, doesn't want to hold a hand, and just wants to be big-SO sad! Here are a few pics...

Luke can already multi-task

He LOVES to try and play the Wii

Oh, is this not OK?

Playing in the leaves

Soccer baby!

I have been SO excited for Maddie to start soccer. As most of you know I've played since I was little and its my sport- so it has been so fun to watch Maddie start playing. She had her first game this past Sat and to our surprise she did awesome! She hustles to the ball, spreads out and calls to be passed to. She scored 2 goals-but couldn't tell us the score because her dad had a talk to her about everyone winning-funny how that doesn't apply to college or NFL football:) After the game she was telling us how much she liked it and how her favorite part was defense and scuffleing. What 7 yo uses the word scuffle? Cracked me up-anyway she is more like her dad then I thought:)

Here is Maddie and her friend Bella

Maddie getting back for defense

Maddie with a break away
And here she is scuffleing...in the middle of the group

Back to school

Jake started PRESCHOOL! Yay! Jake has been so excited to start school. He loves getting Maddie on the bus but he wants to go too. So today was his first day. His teacher is Mrs. Megan and seems very nice. He goes 3 days a week for 2 1/2 hours. What are Luke and I going to do by ourselves? I'm sure I'll think of something:)

Such a big boy!

Gotta love play dough!

Maddie started 2nd grade last week and was so excited. For about a week she couldn't stop asking when it was going to start-who does that? She is in a 2nd-3rd split and has 2 teachers-Mrs. Zuloft and Mrs. Keaton. They are both so nice and so far Maddie wakes up very excited and ready for the day.

Maddie is very into clothes now and it took her forever to decide on a first day outfit...this is what she came up with:

This was Maddies friend Rians first day at a new school...say cheese!

Maddie getting ready for the day

And another year goes by...

I can't believe it but another year has gone by and the kids are now a year older. They are so beautiful and smart and amazing! Each day they make me laugh-and cry(whether good or bad) and it makes me sad that they are growing so fast.

Maddie turned 7 this year going on 15. She has decided now that she doesn't like Barbies or princesses but that she likes Hannah Montana. She also loves art and music. She dances around and sings Taylor Swift, High School Musical and Hannah Montana. Here are a few b-day pics...

Maddie chose to have a Hawaiian party this year. They all wore hula skirts, leis, flowers in their hair, and drank from coconut cups. Super fun! I didn't get too many pics of Maddies party because I was doing games and stuff-gotta be better about that next year:)
Jake turned 4 this year. He is still as busy as ever and loves Star Wars and playing outside. He woke up on his birthday, jumped out of bed and shouted"Look everyone-look at how big I am now!" Love this kid!

Jake of course had a Star Wars party. What was I thinking asking 7 kids to come with lightsabers? And yes that is Hama in the back-AKA princess Leia.
I loved this..Josh joined in the fun and got hammered with lightsabers-way to take one for the team!
Luke is SO cute-he picks up a lightsaber and makes the noise. Here he is fighting princess Leia.

BMX here I come

Jake learned how to ride his bike without training wheels today. He is SO excited and of course he was trying to go up and down the sidewalk crashing with every try. I'm sure I'll have crash photos in my next blog.

Our vacation with Mickey

We were able to take a big vacation this year to Disneyland and San Diego. We had an amazing time and can't wait to go again. I had over 400 pics to go through so hope these are the best. Thanks Hama and Papa Tony for coming with us to help wrangle the kids-we couldn't have done it without you!!!

Here we are at the airport getting ready to leave-yeah!

The kids in front of the castle
We did a lot of this-waiting...
Our first picture-with Mickey!
Jake with his Mickey pretzel

On the bus heading to Disney with our Ears on:)

and this is what Luke thought of all the characters...not a fan

face painting-Jake chose a pirate and Maddie hearts

Maddies favorite ride was the rollarcoasters, Jakes was Buzz Lightyear and Lukes was the carousel-as you can see he LOVED it!

mom and Jake on Dumbo

This is the kids new thing...They LOVE StarWars. They were very excited when they got to participate in Jedi training.

Maddie in training

Jake in training

Maddie fighting Darth Vader. Jake was all talk until he came out on stage and then said no way!

Everyone in their Mickey shirts

After 4 days at Disney we drove to San Diego. The beaches were beautiful. It was Lukes first time at the ocean and loved the waves. Maddie and Jake also loved it. We then went to SeaWorld. It was cold and rainy that day so I didn't take too many pics. The kids loved seeing Shamu for the first time and Papa Tony got to swim with the dolphins.

Family pic on the pier

When you go to San Diego you have to go to the zoo right? This is our fam pic at the zoo.

Here are the kids in their gorilla shirts.

We have never had the kids drawn before so we did this at the zoo-they thought it was hysterical!