Pre-K

So hard to believe these little buggers will be going to kindergarten next year, or tindergarten according to Sophia!

Hoop, there it is!

We have loved having Cole and Xander on the same basketball team this year, GO PISTONS, 3-0 thus far.

Xander and Cole both showing off their wrist flip or L to S


My favorite picture of all Cole/ Colleen (before haircut) fathead on Roe's body, get yourself your own fathead to cheer your kid on at walgreens for 15.00, i think?

Little Dribblers

Finally got the urine checked on the bigger dribbler today, which of course checked out fine, he has bladder spasms which cause him to potty 14x in a row, followed by dribbling, followed by underwear changing, followed by hand washing, and I wonder why is hands are cracked and bloody.
(and Jess the onesie outfits are fine if they button/unbuttoned down the legs right?)

Bliss is...

misplacing your wedding ring for 20 hours, sleeping restlessly waking every hour to check in a different spot it could be,
letting your 4 year old play the wii all day (he did go to preschool too) so you could check every crevice of your house, calling pawn shops, garbage disposal, trash, etc and
FINDING IT!!! in your jeans pocket, that you don't remember putting it in, that went to arkansas and back, down the laundry shoot, through the washing machine and hung up to dry, thank you LORD that it stayed tucked in my pocket that I don't remember putting it in.

Fun in Fayetteville

After signing up for the Aspire meet in Arkansas, I wasn't super excited dreading the car ride with our little dudes. It turned out to be a pretty easy drive and a super fun place, thanks to our awesome coaches that give us these great opportunities for our kids.
We got to go watch the college girls compete who are ranked 3rd in the nation on Friday night, AMAZING gymnasts scoring 9.8's, these girls watched so intently.
little good luck charm
Poor Jude, what a sport traveling 10 hours in the car and sitting through 4 hours of gymnastics, think the 2 hour swimming at the hotel was worth it.
My husband wore his K State gear the ENTIRE time we were there, sensed some animosity toward the hogs and the football recruits at our hotel.Ok check out lady in RED, wish I had my zoom lens. This was the gymnastics coach for Arkansas, she wore a little red dress with 6in heels and amazing biceps, must be all that spotting and mat moving. Even her hair was died Arkansas red!

Some super tough judging, but super proud of our girl placing 3rd all around, 3rd on bars, 3rd on vault, 3rd on floor and 5th on beam competing against girls from Arkansas, Oklahoma & Missouri.
Trav had to sneak pics at the Razorback stadium.

Not your average JOE

We did a regifting with my family at Christmas and my parents stole some of Jimmys (my bro n law aka Penn state guy) treasures and pretended like he was giving them away to them.

#1 Fan

Roe has been asking for Grayson to come to a gymnastics meet since she has been competing.Grayson made her the cutest poster with #1 on it (per Roe's request)

Not sure if Monroe was more excited about the meet or Grayson coming to watch her. Poor Grayson had to be bored out of her mind, but you would never know sitting through 3 hours of warm ups, competition and awards to watch her friend, what a little gem!
Whats wrong with this picture? All are smiling expect for mine, wasn't liking the Colorado and Oklahoma girls ahead of her on the podium.
Monroe and her fellow level 5 friends, they are such a great group of girls, fun to watch.

Raising the bar

The biggest challenge for level 5 gymnasts of all events has to be bars, challenging the girls to do kips, not 1 but 2 and going from 1 to 2 bars as well, I cringe with the jump from to the 2nd bar, seems like such a stretch, guess thats what mats are for.

35

Do I love that I turned 35 on Friday the 13th….. NO

Did I love seeing this movie on a date night with my hub…. YES

Chilllin Out

I have got to spend more days at home with this guy lately and loving it, he is such an entertainer for King and loves to play games and help me cook. Some favorites lately Headbanz, connect 4 and toy story memory, this little gamer definitely fits in our family. His red head spirit shines on occasion. This past weekend he accidentally threw Xander's ipod across the room and shattered the screen. He could work on chillin out as well.

Welcome winter...

Welcome dry, chapped, bloody cracked hands that Jude will let me put NOTHING on, ouch.

on the edge of our seats...

While Trav was at the bowl game, I got to cheer on the cats with an 8 pack of kids, have to say the boys were louder than the girls, very much into the game, Cole had the hair twirling going on and as you can see Monroe was more into doing back walkovers, more entertaining than the game I must admit.

Happy Campers

Who needs stacking blocks when you can use canned goods? He gets sooo proud of himself, love this face and the handprints all over the stove.
Since we cleared a small space taking down the Christmas tree, of course we had to fill it up with a tent. It has become quite the entertainment for Kingston & Strudel & the big kids have camped in the past couple nights.

Wrappin Up

I finally got to copy something off of pinterest than didn't turn into a complete fluke, so I will share. (above are my 2010 cards, because of course I have my 2011 still out, just can't take them down yet!! love pictures-cards!) these cards use to be just scattered in a big disorganized mess in a decorative christmas box, doesn't sound like me does it? ha!
punch 2 holes evenly in your christmas cards and place a key ring in each to keep them tidy in a little book you can bring out each year.

a Manhappenin Christmas

playing one of many games
the twins Jude & James both asleep with their snuggles & thumbs
bowling in the new year
wrestling after dinner
Grampy & Grandma Susie's new ride, heading to Nelsons Landing for lunch
Cole singing in one of the many "performances"
cozied up for a movie
(Stella & Kingston sharing "canny")

After a week of eating out, playing games, sleepover after sleepover, concerts, more games & more eating out, time to go back to school & work, we miss our cousins!!

My little word(s) Soak In

New Years Resolution word for 2012
My word, soak in, here is how I picked it. I really liked "slow", but it sounds so negative, I feel like I am always in a hurry with everything in my life, I am missing out on a lot, I am always so distracted. I am going to try my best to slow down and soak in the little things and big things, including soaking in the word more. Love this verse in James too,

James 1:19
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
Wow, I got some work to do,
& would love to hear about your word as well. So far
Jess-listen
Tia-balance
JP-simplify
Grandma Susie-bling
Xander-achieve
Angie-save