First Day of School!

Well the summer quickly came and went. Mack started 6th grade this year! He was excited and anxious to get back to school to be with his friends. 2 weeks before school started he attend daily soccer practices to join the middle school soccer team. We are very proud of him that he wants to be a part of team and that he is a hard worker. His coach seems very nice and stresses the importance of team work.

Laney started kindergarten and Elli is in junior kindergarten. Laney attends school everyday while Elli only goes 3 days a week. This will be a change for us all. This week has been pretty good and Laney seems to be adjusting well.

Laney loves her new teacher and her classroom of girls only! However, she did mention to me that she missed "all the boys".

We are slowly getting into a routine of school, daily practice and games. I know that it will only get worse as the kids get older. I am happy that everyone is healthy and is able to be a part of activities that they enjoy.
I added a clip of Laney practicing her Level 3 floor routine for gymnastics. She started learning the routines and will be competing this winter. She has a great start and I am so excited for her!
Jett is now 6 months old. His favorite trick is to push himself up to sitting up. He also loves to get on his hands and knees and rock back and forth. Any day he will be crawling! He is becoming such a fun little boy. I love making him giggle!

Mackinaw Island

During the first week of August my family traveled to Mackinaw Island for a big family vacation.





Here are my favorite pictures of our trip.

We all had a great time visiting with each other, bike riding and shopping!
The last time we all came to the Island Bill and I were the only ones who had kids. Needless to say this time on the Island was much different since we added 5 kids to the mix! (Baby Hudson was missing in the group shot of the kids)










My Dad, Aunt Mary, Elli, Laney, Tristen and I went on a 2 hour horse and carriage ride. The girls took turns driving. It was something that we had not done on the Island before. The kids loved it!

Each night ended with a group dinner and then drinks and games on the porch after the kids went to bed.

This was Jett's first family vacation and he did a great job! All the kids were behaved and had fun going off with other family members on bike rides and ice cream runs.

Of coarse, my Mom planned the annual Mackinaw Amazing Race. Dixie and Tony won this race.

I love being around my family and hope there are more trips in our future!

Elli"s 4th birthday party!

This weekend we celebrated Elli's 4th birthday by having a small party with her school friends and family at the gym.

Everyone had a great time even Addison got to jump around!

It is hard to believe that Elli is 4 years old. She is such a silly and smart little girl.

Summer is flying by....

Summer time is flying by! Here is a brief outline:


Jett is getting bigger!





Elli turned 4!





Laney is busy with gymnastics practice and has found a new love in swimming!





Mack turned 12 is enjoying many hours of playing games and visisting his Dad!





Bill finished the bunk beds and continues to stay busy with his boat and fishing!





I am still trying to keep everything undercontrol and finding little moments to enjoy the summer with the kids!

A few more spring pictures

A few more pictures from the recital. I could not pass up sharing them with everyone.
The ones above are Laney's group performing on stage.








Also, a picture of Jett. He is almost 4 months old. He loves his new hat!

Spring time!

I know it has been awhile since my last post....so enjoy!

These last few months have been pretty busy in a good way.

I went back to work full time and finally settled into our new "normal" life style of 4 kids. Thanks to my Mom who helps so much with the kids and keeps the house under control. Since I work late she also fixes healthy dinners for us! Retirement for her has not been too relaxing but I think she enjoys being with the kids.

Jett is sleeping through the night, usually. He is rolling over and grabbing toys! He loves to smile and giggle at his sisters. He is the happiest in the morning and when he is in his bath tub.

Jett, Mack and Delaney were baptized in April at our church. (Elli was baptized when she was a baby). It was a lovely ceremony.
We spent Easter at home with egg hunts and soccer games.




Our annual Spring Dance Recital was Mother's Day Weekend. This is year long project for me so when the day finally arrived I was so relieved. Planning this recital while pregnant and on maternity leave was challenging. But, the show goes on and everything went great!

Laney and Elli each performed 2 routines, ballet and tap. They did a great job and I was so proud of them! Here are a few pictures of Elli. I have no picture of Laney at this point but hoping to get a few from other parents of my dancers. :(

It's a full house!

Well Jett is 5 weeks old and is doing great...besides not sleeping well at night. All the kids are adjusting well and I am very anxious about returning to work next Wednesday. I am so grateful to have my parents close by to jump in and help with all the kids. Here are a few pictures of Jett and the kids.

March has been a crazy month for our family! With Bill's work burning down, the new baby and Laney's broken arm I am looking forward to warmer weather and getting back to a routine.