Catching Up....

Why hello there!!!  I'm not sure if I have any followers left....I guess that's what happens when you take over a two year blogging break.  But, I thought I'd give a little update on our little family.

I'll start with Evan...So, he's a sophomore in high school now!  A sophomore!!!!  How did that happen?  As you can see, he plays the baritone in the marching band.  (Actually, this isn't a baritone.  It's a special horn for marching.  And if we are worried about being technically correct, Evan actually plays the Euphonium.)  He's also plays the trombone in the jazz band.  Aside from all of the fun he's having in band, he's also in debate and on the varsity academic team.

Here's Miss Payton with Natalie.  I love this picture of the two of them!  So, this was the night of Payton's first Junior High band concert.  Payton is a very talented flute player.  She also plays volleyball and just recently became a part of Winter Color Guard.  This girl is always busy!!!

Addi and Karsyn are both doing great too!  Addi is a 4th grader now!  She has a special job at her school.  She does the announcements every afternoon with her principal.  When I dropped her off last week, he told me that she's going to be a news caster some day!  Karsyn is now a second grader!  She finished up a basketball season not too long ago and was quite the little player.  She could sink some shots in.  After about a year long break from dance, she just started taking ballet class last week.  She's super excited!!!

There's been a lot of changes for Jason and myself too!  As you may remember, Jason works in retail.  He started at a new location of his store last week.  He's very excited about this change.  As for me....where should I begin?  When I last blogged, I was a preschool teacher at a church program here in town.  Last year, I decided to go back to college.  I applied to and was accepted into the nursing program.  I was so nervous about applying.  There were over 400 applicants and only 150 got acceptance letters.  It's still so very humbling to think that I was selected.  The program started this week!!!  I'm two days in and so far, it's so good!  I know it's going to get crazy and stressful, but I'm trying to enjoy the ride.  In about two years from now, if all goes well, I'll be a Registered Nurse.  I'm now working at the biggest hospital in our area as a Nurse Tech.  I love my job and the people I work with.

Our little family also expanded since we've last talked.  We now have two little boy tuxedo cats.  Meet Percy and Paris!  These kitties are very special to us!  We are pretty sure that Paris thinks he's a baby.  He loves to be carried around and snuggle!  Percy is also a sweet cat, but he likes a little more personal space than Paris. So much more has happened in the last couple of years!  I'll try to get all caught up very soon!!!!  

A Second First Day of School

About a month after school started this year, Jason and I made a choice that I never thought that we would.  After about 3 weeks of praying (both of us), crying, and stressing (I own the last two. lol), we decided to transfer Karsyn and Addi to a different school.  Our kiddos have went to the same elementary school for the last 5 years.  Our heart was/is really attached to so many teachers and staff members.  Our girls don't half way like anyone, they love wholeheartedly.  So, there were some tough moments with the change. When they realized that they wouldn't have Payton's 4th grade teacher, they both started crying.  It was hard!!!  

I'm happy to say that they have had a great first couple of weeks at their new school.  The girls both have wonderful teachers with much, much smaller class sizes.  The school services the same grades, but has hundreds of less students.  The school has different hours which have been great for our family.  It's nice to have time to play outside before our evening activities. Yay for no more rushing!  Karsyn went in having quite a few friends from dance and preschool.  That really helped!  Addi's loves that she has not one, but two, class pets. 

We are praying that this continues to be a smooth transition! 

Getting You All Caught Up {Super Deluxe Edition}

I've become such a bad blogger lately.  I'm really going to try to do a better job.  So, here's what we've been up too.  Miss Natalie came to town for a visit or two.  My little ladies love her.  You can feel it in this picture!

Early morning practices sometimes look like this.....hair in rollers, a mini van stuffed with five kids, a trombone, a baritone, a flute, and mostly smiles.

 Evan reunited with his baritone.  I really enjoy listening to him play.  He got a scholarship for private lessons,  Yay!  Payton will start private lessons at the mid point in the school year after she gets the basics down. She can't wait.

Karsyn is taking on Kindergarten by storm.  She's doing great!  I still miss her like crazy during the day, knowing she's doing so well makes me feel better.

We've went on a Chinese food date or two.

 A few Saturdays ago, the littlest ladies went to a work event with Papa and Nana.  They had a blast!

Earlier that day, Uncle Billy took Evan, Payton, Emily, and Stephen to a comic event at the library.  They got to meet Velma from Scooby Do.  Billy and I used to always call her Janet when we were kids after my aunt. lol.

The girls made lots of crafts.  Evan and Stephen both won a trivia contest. =)

They met Captain America....

 and Spiderman too.

And we can't leave out Wonder Woman.

Payton and Sarah had their first volleyball of the season and won!!!  It was so much fun to watch them play.

Addi and Karsyn went to some friends' birthday party at a cosmic bounce place.  It was so much fun.  Addi wore just the right outfit.

She had a blast!

Karsyn was so excited to see her friends from preschool.  She had to wear her Eiffel Tower shirt.  She really wants to go to Paris.

We've taken a few selfies along the way.  Love my 4!

1, me, and 3.

We went for a walk by the river and stopped for a few fun pictures at a pretty fountain.  Here's our baby bear with a baby bear.

The beautiful big sister of the family.

Adorable Addi.

 And our handsome big guy.

 It was nice to get out and enjoy the fresh air.

Dance started for the girls again.  I didn't get to get a picture of Payton's first day.  It was a busy night for her. She's taking Hip Hop and Jazz. The little ladies have classes on another day of the week.  Miss Addi is starting her 4th year of tap and ballet.

It's Karsyn's 4th year at the studio and 3rd year to be in dance. She is also taking tap and ballet.  

Lastly, we spent some time in the great outdoors with Papa and Nana this weekend.  We grilled out hot dogs and then went hiking.  Five out of six of us love it!

And that gets you all caught up with our little family.

The First Day of School {2016}

The first day of school has come and gone and we are closing in on our second full week of school.  Time is already chugging right along.  This school year brought forth a lot of changes for our little family.  First up, was Miss Payton.  She's a big 6th grader this year.  She's taking on the load of taking all Pre-AP classes.  She's in beginning band and on the 7th grade volleyball team.  She has to be up and at 'em at the gym bright and early each morning ready to play.

We pick up Sarah on the way.  Here are the only two 6th graders on the 7th grade team. =)

About a half hour later, Evan had to be at Junior High.  How can it be that he's in the 8th grade???  He too, is taking all Pre-AP classes.  He's playing the baritone in concert band.  

After we got Evan off to school, it was time to take our littlest ladies off to elementary school.  Miss Addi is now the big sister on campus.  She's in the 2nd grade.  She has the teacher that Evan had and we just love her!

And our Karsyn was off to Kindergarten.

It was so hard for this mama to let her baby girl go, but knowing that she is more than ready really helps.  I couldn't decide which picture that I liked best.  So, here's two. 

Jason and I got the kids off to school and then I had to hustle off to my preschool for open house.  It went great! I'm praying that this school year will be great one.

Wrapping Up Summer 2016

The last few weeks of summer break flew by.  Here's a look at how our summer wrapped us. Despite the circumstances of their visit, it's always great to see my sisters.

Here's me with my brother and sisters..  You can tell from looking at me, that I had a major lack of sleep, but I really love this picture.

 Payton's summer got cut short when she got picked up for the 7th grade volleyball team.  She and Sarah are the only two 6th graders on the team.  Our kiddos have played a lot of sports over the years, but this is the first time we've had a student athlete in the family.  I had no idea the work and dedication it took.  Payton had many two-a-days, sometimes in a heat index well over 100 degrees.  She never complained!  Since school has started, she has to be at the gym an hour before school starts and play all the way to second hour.  I'm so proud of how well she's doing.  She's going to start private lessons soon and plans to play all through the rest of her school career.

Back to school shopping made us super hungry.  My girls love chowing down on Chinese food.  I love this picture of Addi.

 Payton and Karsyn are super silly.

Most summers, we find ourselves praying for rain.  That hasn't been the case this summer.  It's rained almost once a week.  Any reason to wear rain jackets make my littlest ladies happy.

 Our Natalie left for college.  We couldn't send her off without one more trip to our favorite ice cream joint.  We had to have pictures with our incoming Freshmen.  Here's Nana, Nat, and Papa.

 Me and my girl.

Uncle Billy called this picture a college day miracle.  All 7 kids were not only looking, but smiling!!!!!  I love this!  Seriously, I think it must be framed.

Blue eyed girls!

We laughed. We cried.  We ate yummy ice cream.  It was a great night.

We got back to school hair cuts.  Everyone got trims, except for Addi.  She got 6 inches cut off!  

We also cashed in our free custard coupons we got through the summer reading program.

Stephen and Evan had Rookie Camp at Junior High.  Yep, these boys are going to be 8th graders.  They learned the layout of school, got their schedules, and ate pizza.  It was fun.  I guess our guys were a little thirsty. lol!

All of the teachers at our preschool got new back to school room decor, which meant one thing - lots and lots of laminating.  We spent hours cutting.  I had to call for back up.  Payton and Evan both cut things out for almost 2 hours!!!!

Later in the day, we got Payton's sports physical.  There are times when I feel like I have being a mama together.  This appointment reminded me that I don't...not even close.  I think Payton's face says it all.

 We went to Meet the Teacher Night.  There are lots of changes in staff and facilities this year at both schools for the girls.  That meant it was a very hectic night!  Even so, I think it's going to be a great year.

 To wrap up our summer fun, we went skating with church friends.  I don't have any pictures, but we had a great time!  School has started and we are back to the business of being busy at our house.  We are doing our best to stay on top of things and so far, it's working out great. =)