It's a miracle!

Alissa had expressed some interest in reading "Twilight" ... so what is a mom to do but pick it up during our next shopping trip. She has not finished a whole book since the 3rd grade, so when she expressed interest in this book I was hoping she would like it. So it's a week later and she has finished it! Which is not a small task seeing as it is about 600 pages. She is already reading the next one. WooHoo! I didn't want to force her to read when she was younger because then I thought she would hate it even more, so I am thrilled that she decided she was ready to read something and actually finished it!

November already?

Where does the time go? October came and went so quickly! Let me see if I can remember what we did in October.

Racheal finished up her ref job for soccer, she did not have as much fun as she did in the spring, but it was a paycheck and a great opportunity for her to learn some responsibility. She was always very professional on the field and everything ran smooth for all her games.

Racheal and Sarah's fall soccer season ended. I think our final record was 4 wins, 1 tie and 2 losses. Racheal and Sarah both scored during their last game, it is always fun to end on a good note. Sarah had a kick that went up and over the goalies head and into the far corner of the net. She is doing great playing with all the older kids. We are already looking forward to the spring season.

Racheal is also playing indoor soccer this winter at the local college. She is getting closer to high school and is very excited/nervous already about trying out for the high school team so we thought this will give her some more practice before she tries out in a year and a half. Never to early to plan ahead. LOL

Sarah played coed volleyball for her school and also wants to play basketball come January.

Alissa is still enjoying her dance classes and is doing great. I ran into one of her teachers at a craft day at our church and she couldn't say enough nice things about Alissa. I was so proud.

Halloween came and went,and as the kids get older Halloween seems to go by without much notice. The 2 older girls went with some of their friends trick or treating together and Sarah went out with Ashlee and Gerrit and their kids, so after the trunk or treat that our church had Colby and I found ourselves home all alone. So we turned off the porch lights and had a nice quiet evening. Alissa just threw on a crown and called it good, Racheal dressed up as Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Sarah was a bride.

Now that soccer is over Colby has gone fishing and camping every weekend, he occasionally takes 1 or 2 of the girls and they always have a good time. He just got back from a steelhead trip in Northern Idaho but he didn't get anything.

I am already working on girls camp for the 2009 summer and we decided on a theme and are getting names turned in for people to help us and I am also looking forward to the upcoming holidays. Timory and Tyler (Colby's sister and brother) are coming to join us for Thanksgiving so we are excited for that.

More soccer...

I am just so proud of my 2 little soccer players. They had so much fun last night at their game and they even won 2-1. Racheal scored in the first half and then Sarah had a big collision with a bigger girl from the other team, she got kicked on the inside of her right knee and body slammed all in one. So she was not doing well and trying to hop off the field, so they stopped the game and Racheal ran over to her (they were both playing forward) and checked on her and she tried to carry Sarah off the field. It was pretty cute, she was trying to carry her but Sarah was too big for Racheal to carry so Colby had to go help them. Anyway, Sarah sat out the rest of the 1st half and she was ready to go back in after half time. Racheal and Sarah had so many shots on goal the last 10 minutes, they were trying so hard to get one more goal that they needed to win. Eventually another of our players scored to make it a 2-1 win.

Sarah was so excited to play this game too, most of her friends from school play on the other team so I know she wanted to get right back into the game. They both did great!

Another year older for both of us

Colby and I both celebrated our birthdays this past week, woohoo, another year older. Colby was busy with his YM on his birthday but we still had a family dinner and his favorite cake, cherry chip with vanilla frosting and of course presents for him. Then on my birthday I was able to sneak away and have dinner with some friends, then went shopping with them. Then came home to spend some time with the kids before bedtime and had a little party.

Dinner out with Georgia, Ashlee, Sheryle and Coralyn

Soccer - off to a great start

We've had 2 soccer games so far and they were both great! Racheal and Sarah both scored in the first game, the score was 11-1. And of course I forgot my camera for that game. Sarah was pretty nervous playing her first game on the bigger field with older girls so we gave her a little pep talk before the game. Well, Racheal had already scored earlier in the game and then Sarah scored in the second half. It was a great goal with lots of power behind her kick and some nice air. So after Sarah's goal Racheal went over to her and put her arm around her while they were walking back to mid field to kick off again. It was so sweet to see Racheal tell her good job and then Sarah felt better and more confidant about playing on the big field. And I forgot my camera!!! But I will always treasure that memory.

Our second game was tied 2-2, I remembered my camera so here are some shots from warming up and then actually playing the game.

Colby assigning positions before the game














Racheal stealing the ball from Coach Tim














Racheal on a fast break away














Sarah waiting to see where that throw in will land














Sarah (far left) trying to sneak around the three defenders and the goalie

Dance Class

Alissa is taking a teen ballet class followed by a 'turns' class. She looks so cute in her outfit, the first time I saw her I almost teared up. She was actually changing in the car on our way from a soccer game to her dance class, so I didn't get to see her until she got out of the car to walk into the dance studio. So anyway...here is our little ballerina. I was teasing Alissa that I was going to look for an older picture of her when she was 5 and in ballet and post that as well, but I won't.

Surprise Party

Well, Racheal's birthday was Wednesday and she was begging us for a party. Being the kind parents that we are we said no, in the mean time we were planning a surprise party for her for after her soccer game on Friday. So we sent Colby and Racheal to get pizza for dinner after her game and all her friends were waiting at our house for them to come home. All the friends came a half hour early to decorate. Ashlee was kind enough to skip out on the soccer game and stay and help the friends decorate. So when Racheal came home all the family and friends yelled surprise and scared her pretty good at the front door. LOL So they had pizza, watched movies, ate popcorn, had root beer floats, jumped on the trampoline and then had cinnamon rolls, pancakes and eggs for breakfast. It was really a fun night and I know Racheal was very surprised. I wish I would have taken a picture of the family room floor the next morning. There were candy wrappers, popcorn, movies etc all over the place. Oh what a mess, but all the girls woke up and cleaned it right up even before I said anything, they were so helpful. The funniest birthday present was a pair of fuzzy footy pajamas from Ashlynn. And of course Ashlynn bought herself a pair as well so they could match.
Racheal with her friends right when she got home, we decorated everything with Hawaiian decorations.







Opening presents







Pajama twins













Dancing on the bed