Year end wrap up!

Happy New Year! I can't believe that 2007 is over. It seems it went by in a flash. I have truly enjoyed every minute. I really try to find joy everyday and that isn't hard to do with my kids. They keep me laughing. Here are some highlites from our year:

Kaylee learned to read!

We made some great new friends in our homeschool group.

Kaylee turned six.

Zack played his first year of flag football and loved it.

Kaylee played her second season of soccer and did great.

Avery turned three.

Zack turned nine.

We went to Branson three times and enjoyed being at the parks all day.

Kaylee bridged up to Brownies in girl scouts.

Kaylee went to her first sleepover.

We helped clean up the nature center with our Roots and Shoots group.

Keith graduated from college!

Kaylee rode her first roller coaster and didn't like it.

Zack was baptised!

Went to our first water park.

Zack caught a bird.

The kids all rode a horse twice.

We watched a butterfly hatch from a cocoon. (Thanks to grandpa Bruce.)

Avery took gymnastics.

We watched the Blue Angels fly right over our house.

Avery got very sick and ended up in the hospital for a few days.

We visited friends in Texas.

We went on a trip to San Antonio and had a blast!

Saw the Alamo.

Fed a zebra and othe animals at the wildlife safari.

Went to Sea World.

Keith and I went to the Air Force Ball.

Said good-bye to all our friends.

Went to the balloon fest in Albuquerque.

Saw the mountains.

Traveled through six states to move to Arizona!

Lived in a hotel for almost 2 weeks.

Zack carved his own pumpkin.

Avery had her first trip to the dentist.

Cooked my first Thanksgiving turkey.

Spent our first holidays on our own.

We touched a stingray.

Saw it snow in Arizona.

Made some new friends.

Got a new van.

As you can see we have had an awesome year! I love my family and look forward to the coming year and all the blessings that the Lord has in store for us! Happy New Year!

Ashley

Making Cookies

Here are some pictures of the kids making their cookies. The girls really enjoy this every year! It is a special time that I love to share with them. Of course their favorite time is eating them!

Merry Christmas!

Well it's over! The kids could hardly sleep on Christmas Eve! We went to look at the valley of lights and then came back and made our Christmas cookies. That is Kaylee's favorite part. I think the kids were up until about 11:30 (not Avery she doesn't have a clue!) They were so excited to open their gifts. Zack got his Nintendo DS, Kayle got her my generation doll (which is like an american girl), and Avery got her play house. I think Avery was more excited that Santa ate his cookies and the reindeer ate their carrots. I love seeing the looks on my children's faces! It is such a precious sight! Zack got to put baby Jesus in the manger and then we sang happy birthday to him. Today we were so excited to have Keith's parents arrive from Missouri today. It is so nice to see some familiar faces. They brought lots of goodies for us too. They will be staying for a week and we will be busy showing them around the town. Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Busy,busy!

I can't believe it is only 5 days until Christmas! It is a good thing we have had so much to do to keep the kids busy. Here are a few of the highlights from our week so far:


We sang at a nursing home with our homeschool group before our party. The kids had a lot of fun. After we sang we went to one of our friends houses and we ate some goodies and they all exchanged gifts that they had made. Of course after that they ran around outside and climbed trees!



And here is another shot of our ballerina dancing to the nutcracker. We have watched this movie so many times this year and everytime she puts on her outfit and dances!




Here are the girls working on some of their Christmas gifts.







Here is a beautiful view we get to see of the mountains at Flagstaff after they got some snow.







Here are the girls working on their buckeye balls we like to make every year. It is such a blessing to spend time with them in the kitchen!




We also visited the Largest Gingerbread Village at the Prescott resort. Our homeschool group made a house and entered it. It is amazing to see what some of the houses looked like!


Here are the girls by the house we made with our group.



Well after tomorrow I think it will slow down a bit and we can enjoy each other. I have been reading the chronicles of narnia to the older ones every night before their bible story and they are enjoying it!
Ashley

Christmas Break

Well after much deliberation I have decided we are taking our Chrismas Break. I wanted to school through this week but there is just so much going on that it wasn't going to happen. The kids have been doing some extra each day so it will all balance out. Avery is feeling all better so I am so glad about that! After her horrible virus that landed her in the hospital and the cancer scare, I get a little nervous when she gets sick. This week will be busy with craft times and baking and our homeschool Christmas party on Wednesday. We are going to a nursing home to sing before our party. I think I am going to have the kids make something to give them. On another note Kaylee's reading has just taken off! It is just amazing to see. She reads every sign, every store, even reads the labels on her clothes! I am so proud wtching her be proud of herself. Well, I am off to bake with the girls. Here are a few pictures from last week.

A Quiet Day

Today was kind of a quiet day at home. We woked some more on our Christmas lapbooks and they finally got them done. Kaylee really enjoyed doing this. I think I am going to start doing this all the time. It makes learning a little more fun! Avery is not feeling well today and has been running a small temp. I think I might have to take her in tomorrow if she is not better. We have not been to the doctor yet since we moved. Since it will be Saturday I will just have to take her to urgent care. Also today the kids worked some more on their christmas chains. They wrote our bible verse from Luke 2:14 ; One word on each link. Well I am off now to do some shopping without a few little ones helping me. I am hoping to get done with my shopping soon!

Here are a couple pictures from the other day when Kaylee opened her animal clinic and groomer. It was so cute!

A fresh start!

Well I have switched blogs so hopefully this one will be easier to use and to upload pictures too. I will write more later!
Ashley