New School Year

The three younger of our kids started school this past week. Christopher is a Sophmore this year. The week before school started Christoher had an emergency appendectomy. We got it before it ruptured, but still surgery and a night stay in the hospital and he is doing great. I am very thankful that he has healed so quickly. Despite having surgery 6 days before school started he did not miss the first day! Bryan is a Freshman this year. He was excited and is has also joined the ROTC. Hannah started 2nd grade and is loving it so far. Her teacher seems very nice and I look forward to seeing how the year turns out.

Missing Pictures

I have had the following post's written for some time now, but have had trouble uploading pictures. I figured I would post what is here and add the pictures later! Check back for the pics!

Class of 2009

Well she did it! Carissa graduated! We are so very proud of her. We had 17 people here to celebrate her graduation. We got front row seats thanks to Carissa' Uncle Troy, Matt and My sister Crystal who ran when the doors opened. Carissa and her senior group sang the National Anthem and it was one of the best I have ever heard. The ceremony it self was short and sweet, the reading of the names on the other hand was a little long. After the ceremony Carissa had some friends back to the house and they stayed up all night playing games and having fun. The saturday before graduation we had a party for Carissa to celebrate. We had a good turn out and everyone enjoyed great food and fun. There was also some dancing young and old! Carissa we are so proud of you and look forward to all you will do as you head off to college and enter into a new phase in your life!

Carissa's Senior Prom

Carissa had her Senior prom and had a blast. She decided at the last minute to not go with her date and to go with friends. It was fun taking her to get her hair done and all pampered. Then it was off to get dressed and take pictures. Carissa said she had a great time, she went to dinner then to the dance and then her and her friends went bowling in there dresses....She of course looked beautiful.

1st grade over......

Hannah had a very successful 1st grade. She had a great year and is now reading at a 3rd grade level. She enjoys reading and was one of 3 kids who earned over 100 AR points and received a medal for her accomplishment. She had an end of the year party and really enjoyed herself. Her and some of her classmates showed of their talents with us. Hannah did a little hula hoop routine, it was the cutest thing. Grandma Joy got to come with us and as usual fit right in helping the teacher dish out Ice Cream to all the kids!

Ranking 25th

We are so proud of Bryan, we attended his awards ceremony at school and Bryan won a few awards. The Presidential award, an award from one of his teachers, and he received a medal for being ranked 25th in his class. We are so proud of you Bryan great job we know you will continue to do well in High School. Speaking of High School Bryan has decided to join the Navy ROTC at the High School. He participated in a summer camp the week after school got out and he won an award for Top Male Marcher. He really showed his stuff and he did a great job.

Spring Soccer

Well I guess it is about time I update my blog. Things have just been so very busy this past month or so, I have not had a chance to sit down and let everyone know what has been going on. Christopher, Bryan and Hannah all played spring soccer all on different teams. Needless to say I was at the soccer fields 4 nights a week, thank goodness they are close by. They all of course played great, Christopher played forward for his team and had a few goals along the way. Bryan played forward and goalie, he made some goals, and saved even more goals for his team. Hannah got to play on the same team as her good friend Kate. They had a blast. Hannah loves soccer and is a great defender. Her coach gave her the name "big foot" and of course Hannah thought that was the greatest thing. Everytime he would say go get it big foot or great job, she just got the best smile on her face.

Spring Break

We went to Colorado for Spring Break. The real reason we went was my nephew Austin was being baptized. It just happen to fall on our spring break so the whole family, minus Matt went. We had a great time, we enjoyed spending time with my entire family, my mom, dad and Roseanne were all there and of course my sisters family. We enjoyed a fun restaurant with cliff divers and caves, and different shows to watch. We went to an indoor pool and went up to the snow to ski and snowboard. My kids have never had the opportunity to do this before and they had a great time. The boys took to snowboarding and after a little bit of lessons they were off and running. Carissa and Hannah skied and did a awesome job. Carissa is looking forward to being able to go again when she moves to Idaho for College. The day before we left there was a blizzard and the kids had a good time watching it snow and finally going out to play in it. We did have a little bit of a hiccup on the way home and we were stranded at the Dallas airport for about 9 hours till our flight finally was able to take off due to storms back here in Florida. We are happy to be home, but look forward to another fun trip back to Colorado hopefully sooner then later.

Soccer Banquet

Christopher had his High School Soccer Banquet this past week. We enjoyed ourselves and had great food. Christopher received a few awards, including Scholar Athlete award, and the coaches award. He received a plaque, medal, and a trophy. It was a great evening, and I look forward to the next 3 years of high school soccer.

Adam's Family

My very Best Friend Amy and her family came for a visit during their spring break. I had a great time while they were here, and I can just hope they had an even better time. I have been spoiled these past 6 months getting to see Amy twice after not getting to see her for 2 years. We spent time at the beach and just hanging out. I had a great time going down to the beach with their family and taking some pictures of them. It was a lot of fun and hopefully I got some good pictures for them. I want the Adams family to know that they are not just great friends, but truly family. We love you Adam's family!

Build a Bear Party!

To celebrate Hannah's Birthday this year she hosted her friends for a Build a Bear party. She had a great time. She loves Build a Bear and was treated extra special by the staff that day. I even made a Build a Bear cake. It was the most extravagant cake I have ever attempted and it turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Hannah turned 7 today. I really cannot believe that my baby is 7. She is growing up way too fast. She amazes me everyday and has the funniest things to say. We celebrated her birthday as a family. She received a new bike, and lots of fun presents from all of her extended family. She had a great day. One of the things that made me so very proud and of course tear up a bit was when Bryan played Happy Birthday on his guitar to Hannah it was the very sweetest thing. Enjoy the pictures.

Mardi Gras!

So growing up in California, once a year I heard about Mardi Gras in New Orleans on the news and that was about it. Well living in the South we have become more familiar with Mardi Gras. This is not just a New Orleans thing it is a southern thing. Yes I am sure it originated in New Orleans, but we celebrate Mardi Gras here also. The whole weekend was filled with Mardi Gras Balls, parades and parties. We decided to head down to Navarre Beach for our local Mardi Gras parade. There was a bonus to this also because Carissa was in the parade. We had a great time. Hannah was so cute, she at the age of 6 learned how to work the system. Every time they would throw her beads she would hand them to me, because as she said "mommy, if I have beads they won't throw them at me." It was too cute, she even had people walking up to her and handing her beads, The rest of us had to catch them ourselves. It was a fun time and seeing Carissa having a great time in the parade was icing on the cake! We are looking forward to the parade again next year.

Party Fun!

We had a birthday party for Carissa with a few of her friends. It was a Mardi Gras theme party (since mardi gras is big in the south). She had a lot of fun the kids danced, played the wii,ate and were typical teenagers. I think a good time was had by all.

Happy Birthday Carissa!

Carissa turned 18! I am still trying to get used to saying that. I am truly amazed at how fast she has grown up. I swear it was just yesterday that my water broke at
3am a month early and she made her arrival 36 long hours later. She was my beautiful dark haired baby that was perfect in every way. Carissa has always been one to want to do it all, and for the most part she has. She has followed her dreams and we are so proud of her for that. So on Feb 12Th Carissa officially became an adult. We enjoyed a fun birthday with her. She of course is so busy it was a quick family dinner of homemade mac and cheese, her favorite. Then she opened her gifts. She got lost of money, and a flat screen TV with a DVD player. I know she really enjoyed all of her gifts. I also know that she was very excited about the TV. She has wanted one forever and since she is all "grown up" now and going away to college we thought she would enjoy it! Carissa we could not be prouder with all you have done in your life so far, and we know that you are going accomplish all that you set your mind too! We love you!

Air Force Armament Museum

So we have lived her 2 years and have never made it up the road to the Armament Museum, so we decided to head there and check it out. The kids especially Matt enjoyed the museum. There was lost of info on planes, and different types of weapons used throughout the different wars the US has been involved in. Here are a few pics, from the trip.

Student of the Year!

Carissa recently had a karate banquet. This banquet is a chance for everyone to dress up and enjoy dinner, and receive awards. Matt and I joined Carissa and her date for a fun evening of food and awards. Carissa also works at the karate club so she was also recognized for being a part of the staff. She received a few awards, but the one she was the most excited about was the award for Student of the Year. This award is voted on by all the participants in karate. Carissa works really hard at karate and she was recognized by her fellow students and they voted her student of the year! WAY TO GO GIRL!

Hannah and the Science Museum!

Hannah's class went on a field trip to the local Science Museum. Mind you we do not live near a "big city" so when I say local I mean a little small. But with that being said, Hannah had a great time. She enjoyed the different exhibits and got to have a fun class with a great science teacher that really made science fun. The kids got to make plastic, I really mean they made plastic that actually would bounce like a ball, it was pretty cool if I do say so myself. After the fun in the museum, the kids got to enjoy a beautiful Florida day eating lunch at a local park and getting to play for a good hour. I of course had fun as well, and feel very blessed that I get to experience Hannah's field trips with her.