Alexis Gymnastics Pictures

Today was a big day for Alexis... She received her report card, took pictures in gymnastics and moved up to Team 3 in gymnastics too. This means that she now goes to Gymnastics 3 times a week (instead of 2) and gets to actually work on floor routines, etc. She is really excited about this because she wants very badly to make "Team" meaning that she will compete and now being on Team 3 ~ she will work on the rest of the skills needed to move to the "Competitive Team". In addition, when it is time to pick girls to move to the competitive team group they pick from the girls in Team 3. I thought I would give you a peek of her cute pictures from today too!

Report Cards

All 3 kids received their report cards today ~ I am proud to say that they are all three

extremely smart (as you already knew....) and they did a great job on their 2nd quarter grades!

2009 Pinewood Derby

2009 Pinewood Derby


This was Joe's last year to be in the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby. If he decides
to stay in scouts he will be a Boy Scout next year and I don't think they have a pinewood derby at that age.
This year Clint and Joe made 2 cars. The yellow one with the blue stripe down the side is Joe's the bright orange one is the family car.
The family car didn't place this year but Joe ended up winning 3rd place with his car. He even received a trophy!
(Click on the grid above to get a closer view)

Alexis First Book Report - By Herself

Every year Jessup Elementary has a reading program where each kid has to read so many minutes a week for about 6 weeks and each child also has to complete a book report. The last two years I had to help her quite a bit - This year she created it by herself.

Here is a picture of her working on it.

Happy New Year

Below is a display of our New Year's Eve Celebration
Image 1&2 : Clint and Joe peeling shrimp for dinner
Image 3: Dorothy, Mel, Joe and Alexis playing Yahtzee
Image 4: Joe and Alexis helping themselves to Apple Cider
Image 5: New Year's Eve Dinner Toast
Image 6: Dorothy sporting Hats and Horns with the kids (Approx. 8pm)
Image 7&8: D.O.G. and China had to celebrate too!
Image 9, 10 & 11: Getting Ready for Midnight
Image 12: Squatting down seconds before Midnight to "Jump into the New Year"
Image: 13 - 17: Happy New Year with Horns, Hats and Poppers

(Click on the collage to get a closer view)

New Years Eve Eve Post

Tomorrow is New Years Eve - it is hard to believe that it is almost 2009.

Clint and I both have this week off of work to spend time at home with the kids since they are out on vacation from school. So far we have had some fun family time.

Celina (My Goddaughter) came over Monday and she is staying with us for two days.
We have had lots of fun so far. Yesterday we played....Yes, you guessed it....Rock Band. But we also played the Wii - tennis, bowling, boxing and golf. After the long day of brainless activities I made the kids do their 30 minutes of evening reading and then we ate dinner and watched a movie.

Unfortunately for me I was up all evening with muscle spasms in my back so I did not rest well so today I have practically lounged around all day. I did manage to get the kids bathed and Joe and Celina are about to have yet another "Concert"! Poor Alexis is laying in our bed - for some reason she has been sick to her stomach this afternoon. I think maybe she has picked up a flu bug.

Tomorrow evening Clint, Joe, Alexis (and maybe my Grandmother ) and I will eat a nice dinner at home and wait for the ball to drop. Years past we would let the kids celebrate when the ball dropped on the East coast. They thought it was Midnight (although it was only 10 here) so they celebrated and went to bed a little earlier than it would have been which makes for a much easier New Years day. Unfortunately, they all know how to tell time so we can no longer get them celebrating two hours early ~ So, we will stay up until midnight - give hugs and kisses and hit the sack.

Hailey will be coming over on New Years Day and I am sure it will be a long and exhausting day for Clint and I. When the kids are exhausted from a long night they are cranky and argue and whine all day! So, Clint and I will ring in the New Year as most parents do - putting out fires!

We would not trade it for anything though and we both are truly blessed for the family and friends we do have. We are thankful for all of our blessings in 2008 and look forward to an even better 2009!

One last very important note:

Happy 45th Anniversary (Omi and Opasan) John & Liv Hanes

on Dec. 29th ~ Yesterday

Happy 12th Birthday today Ayanna - December 30th

Please be safe and enjoy ringing in the New Year!

Happy 2009!

Thank You Santa!

Wow -I never would have thought that I would enjoy the XBox 360 - But Santa brought us "Rock Band" for Christmas and our family has done nothing but "rock on" for 2 days. If you haven't had a chance to play Rock Band yet you MUST do it! All of us play - we already had a guitar from Guitar Hero (Joe got it for his birthday) so we now have 2 guitars, drums and a microphone. Alexis likes to sing the best - the drums and guitars take a little more practice. Joe on the other hand is the next Jimmy Hendrix. :0) But truly, I am impressed at his skills.

If you ever get bored please come by and join our band. You never know, the next time you see us we may have Mohawks and dreadlocks!

This picture is of Clint, Joe and Alexis rocking last night!