Piano Recital

"From Beethoven to Lanz..." Ethan, Matthew, Rachel and Lauren have been working hard for this day. Or maybe it is was me that was working so hard.... Either way they all did a great job and we are so proud of them. They all got a little anxious as it got closer but Lauren surprised us the most as she watched her name get closer and closer to being called next. She jumped right up and had no problem performing. To be honest I wasn't 100% sure if she would actually follow through with it. It was a great evening. Our piano teacher is amazing. She has 21 students that performed in this recital. She goes to each of their homes to teach lessons and we just love her. 
These pictures are what you get when one parent is trying to video tape the recital and the other parent is trying to manage a 16 month old.  A little blurry but you can see how proud of themselves they are.

Lauren played Once Upon a Princess by Nancy Faber

Rachel played It's Spring by Jon George

Matthew played Sword Dance by Nancy Faber

Ethan played Fast Track Boogie by Melody Bober

Can You Guess Whose Eye is Whose?

Lauren, Matthew then Rachel - BEAUTIFUL!!!

A Rainy Day In Bakersfield

True Love

Just had to catch this moment on camera.  Ok, so maybe it was a little forced, but it is super sweet. 

I can't remember what they did, but this was their consequence.

Love it! & I think they loved it too!

Backyard Camping

I can't remember why the tent was put up to begin with, but it stayed up for a very long time and accomodated a few sleepovers and late night movies. I think Lauren could have moved in and forgotten all about her bed in her bedroom. She likes to find her own secluded spots to hide and be left alone. Matthew spent his sleepovers on the trampoline. There is nothing like being able to sleep out on a trampoline on a Bakersfield summer night.

The Ravine

These are the only two pictures I have of this great adventure. We were invited to the Ravine Water Park in Paso Robles for our little friend Charlie Waite. He is Lauren's age but has siblings the same age as EM&R. So a few families were able enjoy the day together. It was about a 2 hour drive, which was fine because we had never been out there before. However, we weren't expecting all the wind. And wind and a waterpark do not mix very well. I pretty much stayed hidden under a few towels with baby Jacob, while the rest of the kids endured the crazy weather. I did get to hang out with some cool moms and a few of us attempted the Toilet Bowl. It gave me butterfies. Wow!!! I was also able to take Lauren down a few slides and the lazy river. When you are will good company any kind of weather will do. It was a happy day.

First Day of School 2010

The time has finally arrived, whether with excitement or not. School started for us August 23. I have all my elementary kids in the same school this year. And Ethan has moved on to middle school.


We had our special family night before school started and enjoyed listening to what the kids were excited for or nervous about. What stands out the most was when Ethan said he wanted help with not be tempted and with being organized.



Ethan 7th grade-4 feet 10 1/2 inches

Matthew 4th grade-4 feet 10 inches

Rachel 4th grade-4 feet 11 1/2 inches

Lauren 1st grade-3 feet 10 inches

Here they all are. It is always interesting to me to see what they pick out to wear the first day of school. You can't see very well in this picture, but there were lots of puffy eyes this morning.

I just loved to see this excitement. It wasn't there her first day of Kindergarten.

With this school being a 1/3 the size of their school in Texas, we didn't have to park too far away on the first day of school to take our kids to their new classes.

Rachel's new teacher Mrs. Tindell
Lauren in her new class with Mrs. Given. We missed our photo opportunity with Matthew and his new teacher Mrs. McFee.

For some reason elementary school starts earlier this year, like at 7:55. Which also means that if they want to ride the bus they have to be at the bus stop at 7:14. Way to early for this family. However, Ethan doesn't have to be at school until 8:25. So after we took the others to school we came home to say good-bye to Ethan. He didn't need us to take him to school and always loves to ride his bike.

Have a Great Day Ethan in Middle School!!

Oh Middle school please be good to my little boy.

More Summer Fun

Just some fun with friends one last time before school starts.

Lauren & Jacee

Maddie, Jessica & Rachel
Kandrea, Hailey & Lauren
Maddie & Rachel Reed, Matthew, Zane & Ethan

Just a few Randoms...

Rachel was helping make a truck load of Chocolate Flax Seed Muffins, a family favorite.  We don't make them very often because it is so messing-grating carrots and apples is an extra step in muffin making that makes it not so much fun.  This time I borrowed my neighbors Vitamix to help and well.....it was fun while it lasted.  My sweet little helper was pushing all the good stuff to the bottom of the blender when all of a sudden it went shooting up to the ceiling and everywhere else. 

Matthew on a lazy summer day.  He is our video game Master!

Rachel working out  barefoot.  You can tell she is really working up a sweat.

Caught Lauren reading an old hymnal.  Go figure!  But it was a cute picture.

Soccor Goal Project

We were looking for a summer project, because apparently it is extremely boring around here. So with Soccer season approaching, Ethan and I looked online for some soccer goal plans, printed them out, did a little Home Depot shopping, came home and within 30 minutes he had it all cut and ready for some help putting it together. He did a great job.

But this project did not entertain quite as long as I had hoped for. Hopefully it will entertain all with lots of practice.

Recyclers

Just thought I would catch this moment of our family trying to do our part. Matthew took the iniative to start saving all our bottles and cans. Luckily, we have a recycling center right around the corner from us that he can take them to and earn a little bit of money at the same time. All the kids are helping him here as he deposits his loot.