Happy Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving.  It is hard to herd all the kids to one spot for pictures.

 Since I really don't like cooking the kids and Brian all helped too.

Jacob made the sweet potatos.

 Brian brined and smoked a turkey.  It turned out delicious for a gross, old bird.

 I made the collard greens, green beans and cranberry sauce. 

 Adam made the rolls.

 Grace the pies.

 Merry was in charge of the stuffing.

Eliza made the mashed potatoes.

Of course there was a little break to play knockout.

Eliza and Grace made cute, stamped place tags for everyone.

The pre dinner chaos.

 The only day we drink punch out of the fancy glasses.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Halloween

This year we finally talked everyone into a theme (sort of). 

Merry opted for a stone statue.

 This was to go with Eliza as Medusa.

Pretty Snaky. 

 Grace and Adam were Annabeth and Percy Jackson.

Jacob was Grover the satyr. 

Brian went as Poseidon and I went as Zeus' lightning bolt. 

A rare Sunday

Stake Conference Sunday we all get to go to church together.

How convenient, Brian coordinated with me.

 Jacob looking very dapper.

Merry looking very statuesque.

Smiley Grace.

Jolly Adam.

Sassy Eliza.

Spoiled Eliza, still acts like the baby.

Let the sporting begin

 The past two weekends have been soccer.

More soccer.

With a little bit of volleyball mixed in.

 I am still working on gym lighting.  The best pictures are after the games.  

Merry's team won one tournament and lost another.

This is what Merry does during the soccer games.

 Jacob's team had a little bit of a rough start this year.  It is mostly new team members with a new coach but they still managed a tie and a win.

Jacob has got to try some other positions as well.

 Grace's team won one tournament and then won their 1st season game.

Looks like it should be a great season.

This is what happens when you spend too much time playing soccer.

Happy first day of school

 Jacob rolled out of bed, put on an old t-shirt and barely made it out the door for pictures, that is what tenth grade does to a person.

 Merry, looking slightly happy to be going to 8th grade.

 Grace looking very happy to be going to 6th grade.

 Adam was very happy to be going to 4th grade, just not so happy to be wearing a collared shirt.

Eliza was ready for 1st grade in her unicorn apparel.

Happy 4th of July

Fourth of July we spent at the lake. Getting pictures of everyone is quite a chore. Jacob didn't want to join the picture in his awesome matching Willie Nelson shirt and by the time he showed up the sun had come back out.

While we were waiting for all the people to show up for the picture.

Adam, happy his awesome t-shirt.

Eliza laughing at Merry.

Grace  looking very pleased about something.

We took the mat out to center of the lake to swim.

Brian came along in the kayak to photograph.

The pictures were a little over exposed so I had to put them in black and white.

But these of Eliza's tricks were too awesome not to save.

Some how during the day all the kids from the neighbor's party showed up to play manhunt and light fireworks.   It worked out well because they took the kids tubing on the lake.

It was a day filled with smoked foods, swimming and fun.