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!

PreSchool!

Getting Ready for Mrs. Jenson's class

Trying to get a nice pic is impossible...especially when dad is the photographer!

Brady is all ready for 3/4 year old preschool at Westshore

Colton is goofy, as usual!

Good Luck Mrs. Jenson:-)

Well the first day the report was "They did well, Brady cried at first and they really like to be by eachother". The second day was "Brady likes to be stuck to Colton's side, Colton wonders off without Brady only for moments before Brady runs to him" The third day "Colton has a bump on his head because Brady pushed him into the table, I seperated them at story time and it went much better!" Oh 14 more years of schooling for these boys could bring on many grey hairs...!!!!

Much better pics to come when mom has the camera!

FIRST SOCCER GAME

Water Breaks were a big hit!

Colton, Bailey, McKenna, Ashlynn....who looks tired??

Brady, Colton and Chase scrambling to come close to the ball!!! Having fun.

WE made it through to snack time!!! Look who has all the snacks:-)

Brady - "Look mom I am running really fast, I have no idea where the ball is but I am just running and running and running"!

All in all the first game was full of laughs. Colton doing 6 summer salts was probably the biggest laugh of the morning. They are playing with our high school friends kids. Jaxson Whitaker, McKenna Plummer, Ashlynn Anderson, Braylen Bennett, Chase Smith and Bailey. We lost about 25-2 or so...who could keep score? The kids did not have any idea about a score, which was great. Brady literally ran up and down the field never stopping as fast as he could and once in a while the ball would get in his way and he would kick it. Colton had a few good kicks in between his front flips!!

Final Summer Camping Adventure!

We went camping last weekend with the Brainards at the KOA in Traverse City. What a fun filled time for all. Campfires, mini golf, bowling, t-shirt making, bike riding, awesome playground, hobo pie making, smores and the list goes on...what more could we ask for!!! The kids all played so well together and our little cabins were so cute and clean, we will for sure head back to this spot next year. This Labor Day weekend we went to Michigans adventure with the Hellmann's, Jarred did the rip cord with Jeff and Jamie....they all had such a good time. Had brunch at the marina, Leah and had went on a beautiful run around the arms of Lake Michigan, visited Papa Felt and played at the farm, had friends over for a cookout on Monday and the boys are still playing hard as I post. Colton and Brady ran their first race this morning with the Hellmann and Eckerman kids. WOW, they never cease to amaze us, Colton ran the entire route and Brady made it all but the last 2 hundred was a walk/run for him...they did great. The weather could not have been better and I think we are all partied out and ready for school in the morning! Feeling absolutely blessed to have had such a fun filled summer with our family and friends, couldnt ask for more. Now hoping for as good of a fall filled with soccer, football, hockey and school and one more fall camping trip with 17 other families...Can't Wait:-)