Cross country and lots of it

Cross country dominated the fall.  Sam, Zach, and Maggie all participated and had a great time.  Sam and Zach ran over 100 miles and Zach was very serious about it this year.  He finished fourth at Conference and his age group from Glenwood won.  Zach will now forever be remembered with a banner in the school gym with his name on it.  Sam had fun and had lots of social time.  Maggie ran like the wind and finished 13th in the road race against girls up to eighth grade.  Such a great way to spend beautiful fall days.

Zach running hard

Lots of random outside things

 riding on the 4-wheeler

 shooting some hoops

 climbing stairs . . . in a diaper

 disappointment, or sun in eyes - it depends on who you ask

Cute Casey

Fall picutres were after Casey's B-day, so here is a photo of him that I adore.  Love ya, Case.

A few posts of fall

I was a bad blogger.  Can't promise I'll be better.  But, for journaling purposes, here are a few fun fall festivities.  (Not sure where Sam was.)

Visits to the local pumpkin patch.  Always fun for the kids.  Worries of bugs and poop for the mom.  But, we did score some fun pumpkins for our fall porch and the kids loved the corn maze. 

Happy Birthday!

Jill is four and has been counting down for 42 days.  Hooray!!  It has been a little bitter sweet for her because she proclaimed when she turned four, she wouldn't suck her thumb anymore.  Well, we will see.  We love you tons, Jill!  And, here are four reasons why . . .
1.  You spread sunshine wherever you go.
2.  You have an awesome vocabulary and say things that make everyone laugh.
3.  You have energy and spunk and can stand up for yourself.
4.  Your curls that you let go untamed and wild.

Merry Christmas!

If we sent out a card this year, this would have been lovingly included.  Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

6 cold kids, one sock on the youngest, a brother's snow boots on a shoeless sister, laughing, curls and curls, a bun, boys getting taller, fake snow, crying, then comes the cheese smiles, ode to jimmer,  tugging, coaxing, and bribing, and a rogue 21 month old

 

(gotta love Jill's leg)

And, it's a birthday

Shhh, don't tell Zach, but I don't like his birthday.  It messes with my Christmas plans.  It's a good thing he is lovely in all ways, or I may just boycot.  But, this boy deserves a birthday, so  
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZACH!!!
And, here are 11 things I love about you . . .
1.  You are one of the most tender hearted people I know and no one would ever know unless they are lucky enough to call you a friend.
2.  You like to laugh and scoot yourself on your back across the floor.
3.  You are a hard worker.  I never doubt when I give you a job that you will finish it to your best ability.
4.  You are so good to your brothers and sisters and have turned into one fantastic babysitter, even if I do forget to pay you.
5.  Your hair.  Enough said.
6.  Your sense of humor.  The other day as I picked you up from school, you proclaimed your chick magnet status with the explanation for it being #5.  (see above.)
7.  You finished the Book of Mormon and have let us know that this entitles you to "big" status in our house.
8.  You are loyal and brave and have a unique ability to show love.
9.  You run hard, play hard, jump hard, swim hard, read hard, eat hard, flip hard, and pretty everything you do is done to the most.
10.  You are willing to take the kids on rides when I need to fix dinner.  You are a lifesaver.
11.  You are a child of God and you pretty much let everyone know how happy that makes you.
Love you, Zach!!!

9.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is a little preview, or postview of a post to come after our whirlwind trip to NC for Thanksgiving.  Hope you all have a great weekend and eat lots of pie.

Santa is coming to town

love, love, love.
 jill, jill, jill.
Santa, Santa, Santa.

(fyi . . . it isn't the real Santa, but don't tell Jill.  Brother Roha needed some promo photos for the upcoming Christmas season and picked Jill and her friend to be the perfect models.  It really was magical for little Jillie.)

pumpkin carving, yuck.

I don't like carving pumpkins.  But, we did.  Why? I don't know.  This is phase 1.  Hoping to finish today.