braden hits double digits...10 YEARS OLD!!!

Hard to believe our firstborn is a decade old! I haven't been dedicating a lot of time to this blog lately, but I do have to post something about this big milestone! :) I put together this slideshow last year for Braden's ninth birthday, so I've just revised it with some pictures taken over the past year...

Click here to view the show

I have yet to do a birthday session with Braden (or Bella's from September)...been too busy taking pictures of other families. Now I'm just waiting for a nice day to do it, but I will post them when I get that done. Here is a self-portrait that Braden did yesterday. :)



Yesterday, Ringo headed out to take Braden and his friend Tyler (and his dad) to play laser tag. On his fourth or fifth birthday, he asked if he could play laser tag on his next birthday, but we told him he'd have to be older to do that, maybe on his tenth birthday. So he's been wanting to do that on his tenth birthday for all these years. So they got there and all their games were full, so they ended up going to...ChuckECheese. Oh brother! Of course they had fun anyway, so I guess that's all that matters.

Then last night, we took the kids to bowl and we had a blast. The last time Braden bowled was on his fifth birthday, and the other two had never been. We used the bumpers "so the KIDS would have more fun." Haha! Actually Braden had the high score of 102. Ringo came in next...and I came in LAST! Yep, got beat by a 4-year-old! He only beat me by one point though. :D Anyhoo, we did have a great time. The kids loved it, and we are going to have to do that more often.

I will post more pics from Braden's birthday, but for now I've gotta go get the cake ready (actually it's pie:). See you soon!

evan singing in "big church"...braden's soccer season...krispy kreme...

Just wanted to check in here quickly. We've had a lot going on, so we've been busy. I've mentioned a couple of times before that Evan's choir was scheduled to sing in "big church" as the kids call it; but then Evan wouldn't get up there and sing. The last time he even made it right up to the step, but he wouldn't go any further. Of course this is old news now since it happened a couple of weeks ago, but here's proof that he did it and he did a great job!!! I was so excited for him. I could tell the moment he saw me...he broke out into a big smile. Whenever he would see my camera, he would give me a smile. He actually did a little singing and some of the hand motions.

So here he is...first time singing in big church. Wouldn't you know the shadow from the microphone would land right over his face. He's just to the right of the center of the picture...in an argyle sweater vest of course. :)



You can watch the video of these preschoolers singing by

clicking here

. Thanks to Jennie for posting this on her blog! :)

And here are a couple of pictures I took of Braden after his first intramural soccer game at school. I didn't get any pics at the games because I had Evan and couldn't leave him alone to take pictures, so I just took a few of him in his uniform. Our team had a so-so season, but Braden did a great job. He's a good little soccer player if I do say so myself. :)

Goofing around...


Can't believe he's getting so grown up...


And finally, here are some pics from our report-card trip to Krispy Kreme. They give out a free doughnut for every A your child gets on a report card...the kids got all A's, so we got a dozen free doughnuts! This is what being a blogger does to you...you take pictures of EVERYthing!!! :D Ringo posted these on facebook a couple of weeks ago, and I just realized I hadn't put them on the blog.

I'm trying to figure out why my four-year-old looks like Gene Simmons... :S


I actually find this kind of disgusting...


Bella awaiting more doughnuts...


Now I know where Evan learned to make crazy faces...


We are still enduring changes...I ask that you pray for us this week. "Exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think." We would appreciate your prayers! Thanks for checking in with us!