San Antonio

Drew, Jonah, and Samuel headed to San Antonio last weekend to watch a soccer tournament.  It was a special tournament because Drew's cousin Sam was playing.  Sam plays for Messiah College and they were in the Division III National Championships.

The first game was late Friday morning so they headed out early.  Drew's Aunt Robin, Uncle Phil, and cousin Grant were there for the game as well.  According to Drew, the boys did great on the drive and were wonderful spectators.

The boys at the stadium

Saturday morning everyone went to breakfast at an amazingly decorated restaurant. 

Grant, Robin, and Philip

Samuel, Drew, and Jonah

Jonah by the crazy awesome Christmas tree

Samuel loving a yellow truck near the restaurant

Their trip concluded on Saturday after a successful soccer game in which Messiah won in overtime.  There were many fun little adventures, but Jonah told me the best part of the weekend was watching #4 play soccer...that would be Sam.  Samuel thought it was pretty special that he and Sam have the same name!  (I must add that I forgot about Drew's cousin Sam when we named our little baby boy Samuel...oops!)

Sam, Samuel, Drew, and Jonah after the big win!

Before they left to come home, something crazy happened.  Samuel, who shouldn't but does, lost his paci.  Drew had no idea where it was, but the boys did.  Samuel had dropped it through the bleachers and it landed on this...

This is the top of the stadium bathrooms and that is Grant climbing up to retrieve the paci!  Thankfully...

Grant was successful because it made Drew's drive home much more pleasant.  The boys had so many fun stories to tell me when they got home.  I am thankful they had that special time with Drew and his family.

Quiet is not my life...

The boys took off for the weekend...more about that tomorrow...so it was just me and the girls.  Drew took the camera so I could not document our fun weekend with pictures - oh, well. 

Elena and I were super productive on Friday.  It is amazing what a difference one child can make in my ability to get things accomplished.  Samuel is normally with me on Fridays. 

After school Emma's friend by the same name came over to spend the night.  We indulged in pizza and ice cream.  The girls also had some popcorn.  It was so fun to watch them be silly little girls...jumping on the trampoline, doing crafts, watching fun shows and a movie, and giggling.  The best part was them reading their books.  I sent them to bed at 10:30 and when I went in to say good night, the girls were reading their books in bed like an old married couple.  It just cracked me up.  They were too cute!

Today was filled with shopping, running, baking cookies, and painting toenails.  Again, the peace was wonderful.  I so enjoyed my special time with Emma and Elena.  I know that Emma loved the quiet as well.  She told me at bedtime, "they are really loud!"

Even though peace and quiet is great, it is not my life.  I missed Samuel, Jonah, and Drew.  I missed their silliness and their loud voices.  The house was too quiet at times.  I am used to the noise and I guess I like it.  This weekend was a little refresher for me and Emma, but we were happy to have our boys back!

Thanksgiving weekend in pictures

I know that I am late in posting about our adventures from Thanksgiving weekend.  Life and being busy got in the way of computer time.  But, better late than never...

We had a good weekend eating turkey leftovers, decorating for Christmas, watching football, and playing with Grammy and Grandpa.  It was so nice to have a free schedule for four days. 

It was sweet Elena's first Thanksgiving.  Her favorite part of dinner was the green beans...so funny!

Pre-Thanksgiving dinner picture and yes, it was hot outside.

No weekend would be complete without going to a party at Mike and Eileen's house.  Mike smoked lots and lots of meat and it was so yummy!  The kids swam in the heated pool.  It was cold outside by Saturday...finally!!  One of the highlights was roasting marshmallows using the fire pit.

We had to drag Jonah out of the pool.  He is such a water bug!

Waiting patiently to roast marshmallows.

Of course we did a little decorating as well.  Jonah discovered the Santa hats and has barely taken it off since Friday afternoon.  I mean this literally as he has slept in it a couple of times as well.  Miss Elena looks super cute too...gotta love squishy baby bellies!

Jonah barely breathed while eating dessert Friday night....pumpkin and apple pie.

So kissable she is...

And, every great weekend deserves a family picture.  I wouldn't be me if I did not torture my family by taking yet another picture...

Grammy and Grandpa...can you believe all the kids were looking at the camera...AMAZING!

So, of course, Emma and Jonah closed their eyes for our picture...oh, well!

Fun!!

This is what we do for fun at our house...sometimes!  Drew is to blame for the pure joy Emma, Jonah, and Samuel experience at having Redi-Whip squirted into their mouths.

Samuel is first....

then Jonah....

and Emma is last....

until now!!!

Elena getting her first shot of Redi-Whip!

The tradition now includes Elena and she loved it.  Her shot was much smaller than the others, but I don't think she cared one bit!