Soccer & Parade

It was a busy morning. First we had soccer games and then the Laveen Parade. It was the 4th year that Adam and I have participated in the parade with the MOMS Club. It will likely be our last so it meant a lot to me to be there. (Morgan has had b-day parties on parade days the last 2 years.) Jeremy & Morgan walked with EAGLE College Prep. Morgan scooted the whole mile and Adam rode in his wagon. Both kids had a great time!

Soccer beauty

Adam hanging on the sidelines w/ baby JuJu

EAGLE Scholars Shaina, Morgan, Vanessa and Sedona

Sharing a laugh with Daddy... Fortunately, EAGLE was in line just behind us.

Watching for the Army planes that kicked off the parade.

Waiting patiently with Lexi & Emily

EAGLE Scholars approaching the parade finish

The quail trophy the MOMS Club received for our participation

Groundbreaking

Yesterday was an exciting day for our family (and for the Hoody family) as we finally broke ground on our preschool! According to the franchise rules, I can't post the name of the school, but if you are reading this you know anyhow. :) Unfortunately, Morgan had to miss because she had school, but Adam was there as were Grammy, Grampy T (aka my mom and Tom), Mike, Aunt Marilyn and about 30 of our other friends. It was an amazing turn-out. We felt SOOOOO blessed. Here are a handful of pictures from the event.

The kids enjoying the dirt before the ceremony began. Adam is in the blue shirt.

Crowd shot.

Ginny & Tom (good friends and neighbors of my Mom & Tom) and Nancy
Love the hats! Tom, Nancy, Mike, Jeremy, JoEllen, Steve & Kimberly

The business partners!

Soccer Games

This morning my mom and I went to cheer on Morgan and Adam at their soccer games. Jeremy was out of town (home now - hooray!) and the kids thought having Grammy there was a real treat. Morgan's team is called the 'Superstars' and Adam is on the 'Thunder'. Both of their teams are 0-2 so far this season, but they are enjoying it and getting some good exercise.

Watching Morgan's game with Grammy.

Playing defense.

A hug off the field.

Go Thunder!

Catching up, yet again

Time flies and I have been horrible once again about posting. Here are a few pics from recent adventures... I can't make promises, but I'll try to be better...

Grandpa Lee & Grandpa Kathie came to visit over MLK weekend. It was a lot of fun! The kids enjoyed taking them to their first soccer games (of course, my camera was dead - sigh), we went to see "Busy Town" at the Tempe Center for the Arts and just having them around to play with was the best part of all.

Four square with Daddy & Grandpa Lee

Huckle Cat Morgan

Huckle Cat Adam

Grapefruit & orange geography & time zone lesson with Grandpa & Grandma

Yesterday, Adam and I went on a cool tour at the Home Depot with the MOMS Club. I had no idea that it would be as interactive and fun as it was. The tour guides were great! They let the kids feel sand and dry cement (with gloves), play with rope and chains, climb in bathtubs, smell flowers, touch doorknobs, climb through sample doors, and so much more. After all the exploring they gave the kids cookies and juice and a prize to take home. Needless to say, Adam has a fantastic time.

Waiting for the tour to start with Paige & Lexi

Gloving up to touch the cement powder

Whirling...


Tubby time

Yum - treats!

Polar Express 2008

Last weekend marked our third trip on the Polar Express. The train leaves from the Grand Canyon Depot in Williams, AZ. Aboard we sign carols, eat cookies, drink hot cocoa and listen to the story of the Polar Express. We also get a visit from Santa! He brings each child a Christmas bell. It is a lot of fun. The kids wear their jammies and look so sweet.

The best part of the trip to Williams for the kids, however, seems to be not the actual train ride, but the SNOW!! I am sure friends and family in the Midwest are sick of it by now, but for our kids it is such a novelty - they love it. As soon as we checked in the hotel, the kids wanted to get out and play. Thank goodness my friend Mary let us borrow winter clothes. Otherwise we would have froze.

Morgan in Anthony's Red Wings Jacket.

Morgan and Grammy between snowball throwing.

Such a cutie!

It is cold, but Adam is loving it!

We were supposed to go with Mike, Lisa and Sydney on the Polar Express this year... then Mike couldn't go so Grammy was going to come in his place.... then at the last minute Sydney came down with a horrible ear infection and the altitude and cold would not have been good for her.... so, we called our friend Paige and invited her along (she brought her mom Laura, Granny Helen and baby brother Myles along on the trip too).

Hot - Hot - Hot Cocoa!

Paige & Morgan - Feel the Love

Three Great Friends

Best Santa Picture ever!

The day after the train (Sunday), we went tubing at Elk Ridge Ski Slope. I should say Jeremy & the kids did.... the rest of us watched. They had such fun!

Adam & Jeremy preparing to launch.

Waiting in line.

Paige was skeptical of tubing at first, but after she tried it she wanted to go again and again.

Pajama Party for Morgan's 6th Birthday!

Last Saturday we celebrated Morgan's birthday with a Pajama Breakfast at our house. It was a 'kids-only' party so parents dropped their pj'd kids off at 9 and picked them up about 11:15. I think we ended up with 19 kids.... but no fears! Jeremy, my mom, Gina & I were able to handle the chaos. My house was a wreck after, but it was worth it. Morgan had fun and I am fairly certain the rest of the kids did too. There was plenty to do - the kids played on the playset and the boys started a game of soccer in the backyard. Then we played hot potato and had an egg toss (don't worry, they were hard boiled!). Finally, the kids all made rice/bean/noodle shakers and we made music while singing Happy Birthday to my favorite 6 year old.

Posing with her cake before the party. Mommy's first attempt at decorating a cake! (Morgan liked it.)

Making shakers with Karen and Isabella.

Gina, Madeline & Morgan making shakers.

Lexi & Paige enjoying the nice weather on the swingset.

Future soccer stars.

The girls circle for Hot Potato. Sedona won. Anthony won for the boys.

Strong Sedona! She is smaller than Morgan, but can pick her up. :)

The egg toss. Grace & Lily were the last team standing.

Getting ready to shake and sing.

This picture was taken before the present opening madness began. We ended up having to put Morgan on a chair since she was being swallowed by the crowd.

Our Busy Weekend

Yes, I have fallen behind again in posting. Adam and Dylan are playing Wii so I am stealing a few minutes to do some catch-up.

On Friday, Kimberly & I took the boys to Enchanted Island with the MOMS Club. (MO was at school.) Dylan, Connor & Adam had fun on the train, carousel, cars, boats, etc.

Horseback riding on the carousel with Connor. Both boys preferred the animals that stood still.

It was too sunny for a good shot of the boys, but what a cool car!

Adam is scared of heights and has never wanted to go on the helicopters before. I was proud of him for trying. He enjoyed it for a minute or two then started to get scared. Fortunately, he was the only kid on the ride at the time so the operator brought him right down.

He had a great time on the bumper boats... until he got caught in a water fall! Still, he was a great sport about it and had fun on other rides while he dried off. Luckily it wasn't a cold day!

After we got home from the park, Adam and I played his favorite board game - Sequence for Kids. He was so funny putting the chips over his eyes I had to share a picture.

On Saturday, the kids and I met Gina, Mason & Madeline at Chandler Mall (where else?!) for a b-day celebration for Mason & Madeline. They opted to go to Disneyland instead of having a party (smart kids!) so we met for some play, shopping and a birthday lunch at California Pizza Kitchen.

Pizza!!

Since we went to CPK in part for the 3 free kids meals that Mason, Madeline & Morgan received for having November b-days. As part of their meal, they each got an ice cream sundae. We ordered an extra one as not to have our March boy feel left out.

I scream, you scream, Mason screams for ice cream!

Saturday morning morning before we left for the mall, the kids put on a show using the props they had won at Marin's Chuck E. Cheese b-day party on Thursday night (Morgan's ear piece) and at a carnival on Friday night (Adam's glasses).

ROCK STARS!!

On Sunday, Jeremy & I took the kids to see "The Velveteen Rabbit" presented by Childsplay at the Tempe Center for the Arts. The kids both enjoyed it - it was an hour long and kept their attention the entire time. After we went for dinner at Z'Tejes. It was a fun family outing!

Waiting in line with Tigree. Kids were invited to bring a stuffed animal to hold during the show.

Adam fell asleep 5 minutes before we arrived at the theatre and slept until the show literally was about to begin.

We attended the Target preview of the play and Target volunteers passed out free copies of Richard Scarry's "Day at the Firestation." The next play is going to be Richard Scarry's "Busytown" --- the kids and I are going with Grammy in January.

The set.

Just to give you an even better idea of how busy this past weekend was... on Friday night, Jeremy & I took the kids to a fall carnival at a local school and on Saturday we attended cousin Kaia's second birthday party after the mall. I just forgot to bring out the camera at those events. Is it any wonder I am always exhausted?!! This week... Paige and Morgan's b-day parties.