The Finish To A Great Year

Well we pulled it off!  This time last December we decided to make 2010 the year of adventures, planning something new each month and we did it!  We have had a wonderful time trying new things and spending time with some amazing people!  Be sure to visit Inquiring Minds Wanna Go (click on the link on the right) to see what we have planned for 2011!

Thanksgiving 2010

My camera is out of commission so there aren't any pictures to go with this year's Thanksgiving post.  However, there is just so much to be thankful for I didn't want to pass on the chance to give thanks...here are just a few things that came to mind!

My dad is here (top of my list)

I have a job

I have a husband who is supportive, helpful and involved

Our friend, Charles, was miraculously (and quickly) healed after becoming very sick

I have been entrusted with 4 amazing kids to parent

We have a roof over our heads and food in the pantry

For genuine friendships

The saving grace of Jesus

...and the list could go on and on, but these are the ones on my heart this week!

First Soccer Season....Complete!

Luke finished up his first soccer season and celebrated this weekend at Chuckie E. Cheese with a team pizza party.  He even received a super cute trophy!  Here's the funny part, at the beginning of the year the coach asked the kids if they had any nicknames that they preferred to be called.  Luke mentioned that he would like to be called Lukas (don't ask me why...he just always has).  So through out the season the coach and his teammates continually called him by his "nickname".  Mario and I both explained to them at different times through out the year that his name was Luke....just Luke.  So you can imagine our surprise when the banner read "Lukas".  We again reminded them that his name was Luke.  They all continued to call him Lukas and we laughed it off.  So it was no surprise that when we received his trophy it said, yep...you guessed it, "Lukas".  I love that we will have this funny memory to remind us of his very first soccer season!

Guess Who's 13?

I don't how it happened but Jacob turned 13 this month!  Aaahhhh!  We can't wait to see what God has planned for him.  Keep us in your prayers as we now officially have two, yes two, teenagers at our house!

Halloween

This year we had a Mexican (complete with oranges for sale), a Batman, an Alice and Mummy at our house for Halloween!  We spent the evening with friends at a party and then finished up with a little trick or treating!  Dylan went to an excursion with friends and won second in the costume contest!

Pumpkin Patch

We headed to the pumpkin patch and picked our pumpkins for carving this Halloween!

Here's my cutie and our wheelbarrow full of pumpkins.

Lil' buddy picked out two! LOL

This is how they turned out!  Mariah's is above and the older boys decided to get the really big one pictured below.  Luke's is the tiny one below!

Justin Bieber Concert

Mariah celebrated her 11th birthday early this year and attended a Justin Bieber concert with her cousin at the Citizen's Business Bank Arena! These girls had a blast.  The concert was really fun...and VERY LOUD.  I could still her ringing in my ears the next morning.  Does that mean I'm getting old?

I love the excitement on their faces while we waited in line.

These are definitely going the scrapbook.

We can't wait for the concert to start.

Because we already had our tickets, we by passed the long line and got to go in pretty quickly!

Just 5 minutes before the Bieb takes the stage.

 They had their glow sticks and were ready to rock!  This was a very fun and memorable night for the girls (not to shabby for the moms either)!  Good times!

LA Zoo

Grandpa and Grandma Cash sent Luke to the zoo for one of his birthday gifts and boy did he love it!  We ended up getting annual passes and he can't wait to get back there...

Happy Birthday Luke

Happy 6th birthday to the cutest, smartest, funniest, greatest smile in the world boy we could have ever been blessed with!

Saturday Soccer Pics

Luke spent his birthday morning playing a soccer game.  He was really trying hard to make a birthday goal.  I wish you could see the determined look on his little face!

Holy Cupcakes, Batman! That was a fun birthday party!

Friday afternoon we had a Batman themed party at the park for Luke.  His friends joined us to celebrate, even Batman himself showed up!  We played games, ate snacks and even got rained on!  Happy 6th birthday my little Batman!

Loving This Verse Today

Isaiah 41:13

I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go.  I'm telling you, "Don't panic. I'm right here to help you."

I hope you find encouragement in it too!  What an awesome reminder...the creator of the universe cares about what's going on in our lives today!  Crazy when you try to wrap your head around that one...and yet I know its soooo true!

On The Mend...

Mariah broke both bones in her arm last week while using her Heeley's at the park!  The fun part...she now has an awesome (full length) arm cast for friends to sign.  The not-so-fun part...she is out of soccer this season. :(  However, surprisingly she has managed to find a way to still play her trumpet for the school band!  She will be back to her old self again in no time...well actually 7 more weeks time! ;)

SWAGGER WAGON

This is for all my mini-van moms!  Hope it makes you smile!

5th Grade Band

Mariah has decided to join the 5th grade band!  She chose to play the trumpet and can't wait for practices to begin in a few short weeks!

Soccer Season is Here!

Luke is going to try soccer for the first time this season!  We are really looking forward to the upcoming games that start in just a few weeks.  You can be sure I'll post pictures of his very first game!

The Griffith Observatory

On Friday we spent the day at the Griffith Observatory.  I had never been there and really wanted to take the kids.  It was great!  There was a lot to see and learn and the views were beautiful (even though it was a little smoggy).  I forgot my camera so my camera phone pics will have to do this time (such a bummer)!

There were several shows and exhibits to see while we were there.

My personal favorite was the scale that told you how much you weigh on the moon!  I've decided to go with my "moon weight" from now on...I'm only 22 lbs. there!  Our whole family got on the scale and together the six of us weighed just over 100 lbs!

We did a little shopping in the gift store too...