Sack that QUARTERBACK!

This was the first year for tackle football in our home! It was exciting and frightening all at the same time. Luckily for me - the worrying Mother - Caleb missed the first handful of games due to ear surgery so I was only forced to stress through only 1/2 of the season. However, it was exciting because Aubrie was able to be a cheerleader for her brothers team. This little team of girls did a great job learning cheers and pepping up the crowd during the games. It was a successful season with no injuries and multiple wins! Caleb surprisingly loved playing defense and played the position (I don't know what it is called) of rushing the quarterback and tackling him. He did a great job and was so fun to watch - minus all the tackling that is! On more than one occasion he would be doubled up defensively to prevent him from reaching the quarterback. 

I guess football and cheer are going to be around for a long time in my family so I will have to learn to coup and have a little faith. 

School 2012-2013

Another summer has come and gone and we are back the daily grind. 

Caleb is in 4th grade and his teacher is Mrs. Escondon. 

Aubrie is in 2nd grade and her teacher is Mrs. McDowell. 

Pink Leopard

One day Aubrie and I went shopping with some friends and she found this pink leopard hat that goes down into a scarf and mittens. She was smitten immediately and wore it throughout the whole store begging me to buy it for her. I normally don't give into my kids when they find something they really want. So I told her that if she really wanted it later she could ask for it for Christmas - but while she was walking to the car with my girlfriend I snatched it up to save for Christmas. Well, she cried and cried for hours after, telling me she would pay for it with her own money - can we please go back for it? she would ask. So I caved and gave it to her when we got home. She was sooo happy and wore it all night long even after she had fallen asleep. 

She looks pretty darn cute in it and as you can see the tags are still on it. On most Sunday evenings you can find her wearing this around the house. Maybe just maybe it will be cold enough for her to wear outside. 

McCall BABY

We went on our annual McCall trip with the Payne family this last summer. This by far was the best location we have stayed at. The amenities were amazing. This was the view from our living room / patio. Just beyond the pool is the beach and then the lake. In the corner of the photo is a boat dock which worked out perfect for storing our boat. 

We were in our suits immediately and playing in the sand.
The Mom's loved lounging  in our chairs and reading.
The Dad's loved jumping of the dock and off the cliffs.
And the kids were in the sand, then in the lake,
and then in the pool!

This guy had surgery on his ear again and was banned from
getting it wet so he spent a lot of time rafting. 

He loved giving tours on the raft. It was actually quiet relaxing
- laying there while he did all the work.

One night I thought it would be fun the color on the little girls faces but I could only reach Capri while they were fast asleep. However when she woke up she was so confused and couldn't understand why I did it. She just kept asking why! Poor thing - she didn't think it was funny.

Here they are in the pool. 

We also spent a lot of time on the boat and going tubing.
At one point we had Lyric, Sophie, Capri, Aubrie,
Caleb and I on the tube at the same time.

Everyone took turns being "Captain"

Napping in the warm sun!

It was the only trip we took this summer and it was a great one!!!

Bombs Away

For the past two years on the last day of school we get together with our neighbors and celebrate by jumping off the roof onto the trampoline. It is fun for the kids and has turned out to be a great new tradition. 

*There is parental supervision at all times!*

Hooky

My girlfriend and I decided it would be fun to check the girls out of school early towards the end of the school year and take them to lunch and to get a pedicure. They were super surprised and had a great time. In fact school has only been in session a few months and Aubrie is already asking if 

we could do it again this spring. 

Easter 2012

Easter this year was good other than the weather it was terribly windy and made it uncomfortable to be outside during all the Easter egg hunts and there were a ton of them this year. 

If you can zoom into their faces you can see how miserable they were in the huge wind storm at our neighborhood Easter egg hunt. But it makes for a funny picture.

I can remember the wind had calmed for just a few minutes in order for me to get this one shot. Don't you love spring - I love pulling out all of the fun and colorful clothing. 

Easter Sunday Pictures 

He looks so grown up here - all dapper and suave!

I love how close they are - 

they really do love each other and are so kind and loving to one another!