Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!! We had a great Thanksgiving weekend! My Sister arrived late Tuesday night to help us celebrate our last Washington Thanksgiving....it seems so weird to be talking about our "last" anything..we have almost 8 months left...but it's all I think about when we are out doing stuff anymore!! Anywho...we had an awesome feast on Thursday..ham, noodles, rolls, jell-o jigglers, asparugas, greenbeans, maple sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, apple-blackberry cake and of course pumpkin pie!!! It was sooo delicious! We ate, watched some football, napped and ate some more...it was a fabulous Thanksgiving!

On Friday morning, Greta and I woke up at 2:30 to hit the "Black Friday" sales!!! We met up with Shawn and the boys for breakfast and then went in search of the perfect Christmas tree!!!

Grady chilling out with Santa at the Christmas Tree Farm!!

Gabe taking a little rest after the big hunt for the tree!

After a little rest, we headed down to the beach to soak up the wonderful, but rarely seen November sunshine.....Shawn found a large hammer!!! What a goofball....that's why I love him!!

The boys loved having Aunt Greta here.....I'm sure she is enjoying her quiet house now, though!!!

FLORIDA!!

This past weekend our family took a quick trip to Florida!! The last few weeks up here the weather has been less than stellar, so being the jetsetters we are we just headed out...NOT!! We actually had the honor of attending one of Shawn's cousin's weddings..and lucky us...it was in Florida! We left Friday morning and were back Sunday evening...but even with the length of the trip..we still found time to rest and relax!!! On Friday evening after we landed in Tampa, we dined on some fantastic seafood, we are such foodies...I think every trip we take somehow becomes centered around food..go figure! After a wonderfully restful and much needed sleep, we started out early on Saturday with a breakfast at Steve and Johnna's beautiful home!! The food was excellent and the entertainment wasn't bad either! The kids got to spend the morning swimming and playing with their 2nd or 3rd cousins--I'm not very good at the whole family tree thing!!--Gabe even went jet skiiing in the Bay!! Before we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding we headed over to a power plant that manatees like to hang out at! Even on a quick trip we somehow manage to do something touristy!! We spent the evening watching a young couple commit themselves to each other...I can't think of a better way to spend an evening!! Karlie and Loren have been together longer than most married couples stay married...they have been together for nearly 7 years!!! We are so happy for them...and thankful they got married in Florida....a wonderful way to spend a weekend!!!

Bluehawks Final Game!!

Okay first off...I am very sorry I have been slacking lately, but in my defense we have been crazy busy...and honestly the blog is not on the top of my list...laundry and food come first!! Anywho...the 14th of November was Gabe's last soccer game of the season...he had a great game!! Unfortunately, by my writing this a couple of weeks later...I can not for the life of me remember the score, but I do know the BlueHawks ended their season with a win! Gabe played all positions--with this being the last game, everyone played everywhere!! It was so funny, towards the end of the game, Gabe started begging his Coaches to put him in at keeper!! That is the LAST place I would be begging to play, but I guess Gabe loves a challenge! Gabe made a couple of good stops---he has definitely improved!! After the game, we headed over to Spiro's for the End-Of-The-Season party! We had some yummy pizza, cake and the kids received their trophies!! This is definitely the best part of the season for the boys! We are so proud of Gabe's soccer season...he worked so hard...and the work, effort and dedication were evident!!! WAY TO GO GABE!!!!!

Happy 11th Anniversary to Us!

Last night we celebrated our 11th anniversary!! I cannot believe it has been 11 years....I have officially spent a third of my life married to my best friend...what a lucky gal! The day is rapidly approaching that I will have spent half of my life with Shawn....that is truly amazing...I really didn't think anyone could stand my quirky ways that long, except maybe my family...but they have to...it's their job! We have had an amazing time as husband and wife and I am so happy to say, I continue to learn something new about Shawn everyday..just when I think I couldn't possibly be surprised by one of his talents or stories..I am! Just last week, I learned what a talented artist he is....I had seen him draw on the tables at restaurants, but usually flowers or trees and they were good, but this week I was totally in awe! I love that each day is a surprise, a new adventure....it's never dull...I love our life and I love the fact that God put us in each other's lives! We are so blessed, I am so excited to see what is in store for us next! I Love You, Honey!

Sorry, No BlueHawks This Week!

Due to some crazy amounts of rain....Gabe's soccer game was cancelled this week! We received a call about 45 minutes before game time to let us know that the field was flooded....crazy! So, sorry BlueHawk fans you'll have to wait until next week!

Gabe's First Fusion Performance!

Sunday was Gabe's big debut!!! He had his first Fusion Performance...as I stated in earlier blogs, Fusion is a monthly show, put on at our church, to teach the core values set forth in the Bible! It is a great way to get the whole church energized for the month..the kids and adults all come together for a wild service....loud music, dancing, videos, lights...it's more like going to a concert than Church on that one Sunday a month---I always look forward to going to our church...but on the First Sunday of each month, I jump out of bed with a little more pep in my step!! So we were extremely excited when Gabe was chosen to become one of the dancers for Fusion!! There are a ton of rules and restrictions...you have to be extremely dedicated--as we found out last week--to being a Fusion dancer! The dances are not just clapping and swaying...it is like a dance routine...to 5 different songs!!! Gabe did awesome....him and I worked non-stop getting these dances down....and the work paid off!! Shawn and I had a ton of people come up to us after both performances telling us what a joy it was to watch Gabe!!! We were so proud!! I think the best part of watching Gabe do this is that he is usually so reserved and serious...so to see him rocking out to a rap song is hilarious and it makes my heart so happy!!! I am sooooo happy we found Silver Creek Family Church----it has brought us all closer to God......now if we could figure out a way to pack the church in the moving van...hmmmm??!!

Trick or Treat!!

This year we went Trick-or-Treating in a huge group!!! Usually Shawn takes the boys and I stay home giving out candy...I don't think I have taken the boys but maybe once through the neighborhood trick-or-treating! I honestly do not enjoy the whole going from door to door....Shawn seems to get a little more charge from it...so it has been a perfect system! But, this year we were invited to some friends house for chili and trick-or-treating...so we gave it a whirl! I have to admit I was a little sad to think my 10 trick-or-treaters would be without candy from my door this year...but getting together with a great group of people did seem inviting! There were around 14 kids and their parents...some dressed up, some not....that went parading through the Triplett Family's neighborhood...it was so much fun! The kids got a load of candy--at one point I had to take off my witch hat to unload the buckets!! Their neighborhood really goes all out...there was even a "haunted yard" for the kids to walk through....Both of ours made it through without so much as a wimper...I can not say so much for some of the older kiddos!!! It may help that since birth Shawn has been hiding in dark corners and behind doors to scare our children...so this seemed like child's play!! We were out trick-or-treating for about 2 hours....we had a great time!!! So glad we didn't stay home!!!
Our little monsters.....A 3-Star General and Batman!!

I didn't realize Shawn was going all out with his costume...I looked a little lame next to Tex!

Bluehawks vs. Chargers!

On Saturday the clouds parted for about an hour....just long enough for the Bluehawks to get another win!!! Gabe had an absolutely AWESOME game!!! It was probably the best game I have ever seen him play---he scored TWO GOALS!! Anytime he had the ball he had complete control...would dribble, dribble and shoot....he did fantastic!! When he got his first goal, he was so cute...he was trying so hard to not bust out in a huge smile---what a modest little fella!! Gabe was not the only one with a good game...the whole team was on..the final score was 7-1! Gabe only played keeper for a little bit of the first half, and I don't think the ball was anywhere near him the whole time! The other team was a good team....there was just no stopping the Bluehawks on Saturday....GO BLUEHAWKS!!!

This photo was taken just before his first goal.....I could tell it was going in, but I couldn't get my finger to take the picture fast enough....plus, I was pretty excited, I probably would have only gotten the clouds or the ground!!