Life lately

Well- Life is so full lately.  Life feels like it is flying by.  We are so busy but I'm trying to cherish the moments because I know they aren't going to last forever.  It's hard to believe that most likely Emily will be off on her own it less than a year.  I'm really excited for her to start her next adventure but my heart hurts a little knowing I won't see her everyday.  We don't always getting along the best but I love her so much.  In October, I took her out to Utah to visit Southern Utah University and to stay with cousins in Provo.  She had a blast and I think she can envision herself living out there now.

The biggest reason we went out to Utah was to give Austin a tour of some schools.  We visited SUU, SVU, Utah State, BYU-I and BYU.  He thinks it's a little early to start looking at schools but I just want him to know what's out there.  Plus, I our fall break lined up with BYU's homecoming weekend so it was the perfect time for him to experience the marching band.

Here he is eating Aggie Ice Cream compliments of Utah State.

Austin also just finished up his high school marching band competition season.  He got the opportunity to go to Grand Nationals for band in Indianapolis.  They got to play their show on the Colts field.  He said it was an awesome experience.  Hopefully, he can get a scholarship and play the tuba in college.

While we were gone in Utah, Casey took Owen and Aaron to Dollywood.  Seriously, it is one of the best family friendly theme parks ever!  They had a good time seeing all the fall decorations and all the pumpkins lit up at night.

The tradition continues... We finally got our pumpkins carved the night before Halloween.  Aaron picked the biggest pumpkin out of everyone!  This year he even cleaned it out and carved it all by himself.  I was really proud of him.  He is growing up way to fast.

Owen opted for a green pumpkin this year.  He was super excited about his selection.  He also wanted to carve a small pumpkin because we had an extra.  This year he dressed up as Indiana Jones for Halloween.  He went off with his friend Z and I didn't even get a picture of him.

  

Hello Friends!  It's been so long!  Life has been full of good and bad and I'm thankful for it.  Here's a snap shot it to our life right now!

Emily started her senior year at Hardin Valley Academy!  She is loving it.  She also got a job at Wendy's.  I'm proud of her for going out and interviewing.  She was really nervous but she did it!

This is the only picture I could be of her in her uniform.  She looks really cute but she didn't want me to take a picture.

Here she is all ready for a football game.  

Austin is really busy- as always!  He is enjoying marching band and there are in full competition season.  Last week I think he spent an additional 20+ hours at school outside of classes.  It's crazy.  I just feel fortunate that he has a good group of friends and something constructive to do.  He really is a great kid.

He also did his eagle project this fall.  We had to squeeze it in very quickly.  From the time the project idea was presented to the time to he gave the tables to the museum was about 10 days.  It was a quick whirlwind.  In this picture he is with the Mayor at the open house for the new exhibits. 

Here he is lined up for band.  He's the first person behind the drum major.  He is also the section leader this year.  We are proud of him for his hard work and dedication!

Owen is next!  This year he got to start school at a brand new middle school.  He was somewhat excited about that.  I love it because it is next door to the high school and elementary school.  He is working hard a school and getting good grades.  He is always working hard to finish boy scouts before the end of next year.

Here he is when visited the middle school for the first time.  He loves being there and he lots of friends.

Over the summer we had 7 puppies to care for.  Owen was always the one I could count on.  He did such a good job.  This one is the "brute" aka Titan.  Owen loved to take the dogs outside and play with them.  He would run with them and play tricks with them.  He loved the puppies so much.  It was a little hard for him to say goodbye to them

Aaron a busy guy.  He is always talking to someone and making up games.  He started 4th grade this fall.  He has a fantastic teacher that challenges him.  He is doing cubscouts and won the good sportsman award for the rainboat regatta this year!  Last week I got to go on a field trip with him.  It was really fun to see him interact with his friends.

Here's Aaron and I at his field trip

Here's  award from the Rain Boat Regatta.  He was cheering everyone on and congratulating everyone.  It was really cute and endearing to watch.  Love this kid!

Just a few pics!

Emily at her soccer party! This was her first season playing soccer and she did great.

Austin at the Pinewood Derby.

Owen's Preschool Promotion

We went camping over Memorial Day. We had a blast! This is Aaron posing on a stump.

Emily's 10!

Emily's 10! She is trying to decide wether to call herself "ten" or a "Ten-ager". It's been quite a hot debate in our house.

Emily's favorite shirt and her blowing out the candles.

Emily is sugar and spice and everything nice. She is loving and helpful but also very spice-y. I guess that's necessary to hold her own with all her brothers. She is very smart and is doing very well in school. She loves to play outside, play with friends, ride her bike and scooter, play in the rain, hold babies, read and have her nails painted. She loves to play games and is really good at five crowns. She also loves animals and hopes to be a veterinarian some day. We love her so mush and are so glad she came to our family.

Weekend fun

This weekend was a little slower! We didn't have anywhere we had to be so we caught up on some projects around the house and watched college football!

Emily had to do a project for school over the weekend. She had to paint her pumpkin to look like the main character from a book. This is Judy Moody.

Here is Casey, jumping for joy after Auburn won! He was also thrilled that they are #1 in the BCS.

Aaron was pretty excited too!

Austin was thrilled also!

It was so nice to have an "at home" weekend. We just wish it was longer!

Tyler's football game and our little rock star!

Owen, Claire and Emily put on a "rock concert" for our benefit. It was hilarious. They sang, "Twinkle, twinkle Little Star" and "ABC...". Owen was hilarious. I didn't get a video but I will work on getting it from those who did. It was so adorable. They are all Rock Stars!









This weekend we went to Alabama to watch our nephew, Tyler, play in a football game. We all had a great time cheering him on. Uncle Craig gave Emily a sweatshirt for the Wetumpka Indians and she was thrilled! I think she has worn it every day since she got it!

Here's Emily and I before the game.

After the game the kids went out on the field. They were really excited to see Tyler in his uniform and wear his helmet. They also saw him score a touchdown! Go Tyler!

Here's Aaron. He didn't watch the game so much. He played and played and played. He tried to sneak his way over the section of cheering middle school kids. He made it once. He thought he was just a big as all of them. In this picture he was supposed to be using a shaker but the shaker is out of the picture. It ends up that he kind of likes to lick the shakers. He didn't have them for too long...

He was fun.

We are so glad we got to go to Tyler's game, he is a senior so this is probably the last time we will get to see him play. He did awesome!

Baseball and Horses!

As promised here are some more pictures. The first; Austin batting. He is doing really well in baseball this fall. He usually plays first base. Last night he got all of the out's in one inning! Go Austin!






















Next is Owen running the bases. He loves playing baseball and is doing well. This age of kids is really funny to watch as they play in the dirt most of the game.

Next, we went to our wards "Octoberfest". Why they call it that, I don't know but we had a lot of fun. It's always at the Hartz Farm (or as Casey says it, the Fartz Harm) and the kids love this activity. We eat food, ride horses, have a hay ride, bon fire, music and lots of friends around. We had a blast this year, Thanks to all of those in charge!