10!!!!

October 6, 2001:  The day that seemed like it would never come.

October 6, 2011:  The day we cannot believe came so quickly.

Happy Birthday Elijah!!!  The BIG 10- double digits baby!!!

You love:  Legos, soccer, basketball, football, music, bike riding, skiing, zip-lining, building forts, camping, shooting your bb gun, archery, rootbeer floats, ramen noodles, oatmeal with syrup for breakfast, swimming, science, exploring, movies, school 

You sort of dislike:  chores & the chickens  (otherwise you are pretty darn agreeable)

Your buddies:  Porter, Cole, Brandon, Matilda and of course Liam & Finley most of the time

Love you more than ever!  

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?

This weekend was Meeker's Homecoming, complete with Parade, BBQ, Kings and Queens, and Football.  Finley and the MHS class of 2025 made their float entry.  He did say afterward though, "Mom, we never did make it to the water."  Maybe we'll start calling them parade trailers instead of parade floats.                                                                (Thanks Mandi for all the pictures below)

Liam and Elijah participated in the Punt, Pass and Kick contest too, and Liam got second place.  His good buddy John Hampton got first- and they did a great belly bump when they got called up to the front of the pep assembly  (no shy boys here).

They made mention of Coach Obie too, although he was a little more reluctant to go to the front of the crowd-- used Finley as his human shield. 

      We were so excited for the night's game, the team's first league game, and first home game of the season.  And yes, they lost- a bummer for fans, coaches and players alike.  And aside from the phone call from a community member at 8:00am the following morning with some tips on fumble control- everyone took it in stride.  Elijah is the team's helper on the sidelines- here he is during a break from duty  (so he was still in good spirits and in full Meeker regalia) and Liam had a great time with his buddies- didn't watch any of the game but he did bother to ask me who won the game (3 days later)

Family Circus

     So the routine is slowly but surely coming together as we organize 3 sleepy boys and a sleepy mama to get out the door in the morning to school.  Today Finley was especially excited to wake up and don his fav bow tie, and a little extra random layers in honor of "clown" day at preschool.  (It's the letter C's week in the spotlight...)

       Finley has told everyone that he has changed his name to Sam, (I'm pretty sure in honor of his BFF, below) and not to be confused with "my best friend, Sam", Little Sam, and Soccer Sam.  Guess he felt the need for a 'just plain Sam' in town.  Luckily (although the name Sam is great!) he has allowed me to call him by his second name, Finley.  The privileges of mama-hood.

Sam (AKA Best Friend Sam) 

Charlie (AKA Cole's sister, and Montey's bestie)

Montey (AKA, the only Montey we know....)

School Daze

     School has begun and it cracks me up to see how lovely the boys look on their first day every year.  I always tell them the first day is for mama, and the rest are for them.  So, consequently, day 2 was much less formal (formal= a clean shirt in our house...) 


    Although, Elijah did inform me that 4th grade requires a few more "fancy" shirts then 3rd grade did...)  They are growing like crazy, Elijah just looks like a young man to me, and Liam is finally the same height as most of his peers.  And little crazy Finley, LOVES preschool but he is definitely his own little person, and a supermodel it turns out.

4th Grade- Mrs. Foreback

2nd grade- Mrs. Hughes

Preschool- Miss Molly & Miss Amber

     Still looking for last year's pictures- as the 'green door traditional photo shoot' continues.  Would be fun to see the difference between years.  I'll keep looking...

Joy

The weather is starting to get a little chilly and school is just around the corner, and while it makes me wish that summer could last forever it also reminds me of how lucky I am to be where I am and with who I am. 

One simple thing that brings me immense joy is my backyard and the abundance it produces.  My plants are going crazy, much like my flowers did earlier in the season.




pumpkins and zucchini



Thank you Obie for creating such a magical place!

a great daddy, and mighty handy with a shovel and some rocks!

And a couple more images that just make me smile.

Thank you White River for all the FREE adventure and refreshment you provide!!

And one last parting shot of JOY--

Ahhhh,  feeling easy breezy...

O-Lo

Summer has been fast, furious, and FUN!  There have been very few free evenings (hence the lack o' activity on this little project...) but a couple of pics (okay, a lot) might just explain why. 

Camping with our good buddy Chad (who happens to look quite a lot like Obie here)