Shoreline Hockey

Like Brother...Like Brother! Here we go again....!!! Brady started playing shoreline instructional hockey this winter, he LOVES being out on the ice, just LOVES it. I think its just too cute, two of his buddies Kayden and Brayton play as well, you can always pick out Brady he is the shorty!

Christmas Day

Following along our traditions, we spent the morning with Grandpa Terry and Lori opening gifts, eating monkey bread and playing with the new toys until around noon when we head for Papa Felt's for dinner with Gram and Gramp Felt....it was very cold and rainy on this day so much so our van could not make it up his road! We had to walk about .7 miles to Grandpa's house in the cold wet rain, but that did not damper our spirits!! On the way out Jarred and JR had to get out and push! We completed our day at the Swanson extended family gathering. Feeling so blessed this holiday season, my favorite of all was the Eve service, Brady danced to the songs, we lite candles and worshiped the birth of Jesus. These past two days have been so wonderful, I love this time of the year.

Christmas Morning

Santa ate his cookies and milk, all the boys sleep well in their new Christmas PJ's, the stockings and tree were packed by Santa and at 7:30a.m. the boys awoke! Colton jumped in our bed and said "I dont know if Santa came, I am a little nervous to look, its okay if he did not!"...Once they came down stairs and discovered Santa arrived their was lots of jumping up and down and screaming with excitement!

Christmas Eve 09

As our usual tradition we went Christmas Eve Service at the Journey which was so awesome and packed! After church we went to the Swanson's for our annual Christmas dinner and gift giving. It was a very nice night. The boys got what is one of their favorite gifts, lightening McQueen shake and go cars! Jarred got lots of new clothes and cash. We got a new camera and a new silverware set along with gift cards and cash, the Swanson's are always over generous on the gift giving. Uncle Mark joined us as well.

A LITTLE Hockey!

Brady flying around the rink

Colton skating on his own

Brady giving it his best shot, he pretty much speeds around the rink doing his own thing...

Colton waiting in line for the instructions.

Brady and Colton learned to skate this winter, well started last winter but really took off this winter! Brady loved learn to skate so much he has moved up to his very own hockey team, orange #36! His schedule is Monday's 6:00-7:00 and Saturday's 9:00-10:00, practice, practice, game...I can't even believe they are big enough for this=)

Laughin' in the Leaves..

Good Old Fashion Fun

The boys had a blast playing in the leaves this fal, I love these pics as they show such pure joy...thanks Anne for coming over and capturing these cute shots of the kids!

Old Friends

This picture is a cute picture of 5 cute little kiddos cuddled up watching a movie...right? Well when I looked at this picture I got a little teary eyed because it makes me think how blessed we are to have awesome friends, friends who literally over generations and generations have been together. It reminds me of all the FUN FAMILY times my grandparents had with Stacey's grandparents and how many FUN FUN times my Aunts and mom have had with her Aunts and how even now many special memories are being made with Stacey's kids and mine. Brooks is Stacey Carmean Johnson's oldest, he is the one on the left next to Brady, Danika is the youngest on the right next to Corinn Hower's daughter, Ava (we are missing Corinn's youngest, Nola and of course Jarred is a bit big for this pose=) It warms my heart to think we are passing on another generation of "good old friendships". The type of friendship where you can go months without seeing each other and then pick up one night and solve world hunger while catching up with each other all in the time it takes for one Ohio State or Norte Dame football game to be played. Gosh I just can not say enough about how special these friendships are to me. My grandparents found a real treasure when they made friends with the Carmeans and I am oh so grateful to carry on the tradition and when you see our kiddos play together you know they will be talking about these friendships for years to come, they just don't get any better! Its funny because I look up to my grandparents for so many things but I never thought about adding to the list; they gave me a solid foundation for how to have good FAMILY FUN...what a blessing. Strange how one little picture, one hour laying in Danika's bed with Stacey and Corinn just chatting about life (that in itself might sound strange!), one football game for the guys can bring about so many thoughts about counting our blessings.

Happy Halloween 09!

Harvest Time of the year is so much fun! This year was no exception=)

Fall Family Pics

I found a photographer I love! I think she did an awesome job on our family pics this year. You wouldnt know it but it was freezing out the day we got these! I had to put my coat on at one point and you never do get to see Colton's cute sweater because the boys kept the vests on the whole time! Jarred is seriously so old, the ones of him are especially enjoyable to me, we are at a really fun stage in the lives of our boys. You can see the personalities of each are captured just perfect!

SPORTS - JARRED

Here is Jarred's Hockey team this season, the Grand Rapids Griffins after their first tournament of the year in Chicago - Champions.

It was four days later that Jarred came home from a football game with a concussion and will now sit out the next week and probably beyond in football. He is a tough kid but the brain isnt something I want to take for granted! The football season is only three more weeks and hockey will keep us busy into APRIL=) Colton and Brady are busy with their own soccer and learn to skate teams, everyone is busy and happy, well we will be when Jarred's brain is all better!