PROJECT 365 - hillary family 2009

Day 365 - Thursday, December 31, 2009

2010-01-01T21:02:00.004-05:00

Day 365 - Thursday, December 31, 2009 – We rang in the new decade at the Parsons' along with the Hummels and the Scepkas. It was a fun, late night and 2010 is sure to be filled with many more similar gatherings. As a matter of fact, the next two have already been planned!

Day 364 - Wednesday, December 30, 2009

2010-01-01T20:58:00.004-05:00

Day 364 - Wednesday, December 30, 2009 – The last few days have been filled with getting the nursery ready. Kevin has been busy painting and installing the closet system while I have been busy purchasing window treatments and decorating & organizing the space. I now sit in this room and imagine what it will be like in April when the baby arrives.

Day 363 - Tuesday, December 29, 2009

2010-01-01T20:52:00.004-05:00

Day 363 - Tuesday, December 29, 2009 – One perk of pregnancy is expectant mothers' front row parking space at Great Lakes Crossing Mall especially during the cold and busy after-holiday shopping season. I'll take all the perks I can get!

Day 362 - Monday, December 28, 2009

2010-01-01T20:49:00.002-05:00

Day 362 - Monday, December 28, 2009 – The belt buckle arrived in the mail today. Kevin has been anxiously awaiting its arrival since Santa left him a note about it in his stocking on Christmas morning.

Day 361 - Sunday, December 27, 2009

2010-01-01T20:46:00.001-05:00

Day 361 - Sunday, December 27, 2009 – Liam hamming it up at The Ox.

Day 360 - Saturday, December 26, 2009

2010-01-01T20:39:00.004-05:00

Day 360 - Saturday, December 26, 2009 – Liam and Owen enjoyed a sleepover in Grandma and Grandpa Hillary's living room with cousins Mitchell and Aidan. They were tucked into their sleeping bags with their Nintendo DSi's and Apple iTouch headphones and lots of love.

Day 359 - Friday, December 25, 2009

2009-12-30T22:55:00.003-05:00

Day 359 - Friday, December 25, 2009 – Owen burst into our bedroom Christmas morning (after spying all of the stuffed stockings), and excitedly exclaimed "Mom! No one was on the NAUGHTY list!!!" The boys' big gift was a new DSi for each of them and Jordyn was thrilled with her purple Northface coat. After presents from Santa, a big breakfast, and a quick nap we went to Grand Rapids to celebrate with the Hillary side of the family.

Day 358 - Thursday, December 24, 2009

2009-12-30T22:51:00.004-05:00

Day 358 - Thursday, December 24, 2009 – We celebrated Christmas Eve at our house with the Sprys, Gramma & Poppa, and Jeremy & Lillian. Peace on Earth, good will towards men.

Day 357 - Wednesday, December 23, 2009

2009-12-30T22:49:00.003-05:00

Day 357 - Wednesday, December 23, 2009 – Tonight we had my parents (and Bailey) over for dinner and to watch one of my Dad's favorite movies, It's a Wonderful Life. It really is.

Day 356 - Tuesday, December 22, 2009

2009-12-30T22:46:00.003-05:00

Day 356 - Tuesday, December 22, 2009 – Tonight was my last theater night of the 2008-2009 Fisher Theater season. We saw Jersey Boys (which was FABULOUS) and I captured a shot of this angel towards the ceiling of the Fisher Building.

Day 355 - Monday, December 21, 2009

2009-12-30T22:43:00.002-05:00

Day 355 - Monday, December 21, 2009 – Owen sleeps just like his momma, with his mouth wide open and with one of his eyes slightly open. (However, I don't usually wear my pajamas backwards!)

Day 354 - Sunday, December 20, 2009

2009-12-30T22:40:00.003-05:00

Day 354 - Sunday, December 20, 2009 – My baby girl turned 14 today. We celebrated with a shopping trip to the Rochester Village Mall and lunch at Bravo Italian Restaurant. Happy Birthday, Jordyn!

Day 353 - Saturday, December 19, 2009

2009-12-30T22:37:00.002-05:00

Day 353 - Saturday, December 19, 2009 – Kevin and I popped by the Amy & Joel's family Christmas party on our way to a party at the Parsons'. I'm so glad their family doesn't mind us crashing their Christmas party every year!!

Day 352 - Friday, December 18, 2009

2009-12-30T22:34:00.004-05:00

Day 352 - Friday, December 18, 2009 – I picked Jordyn up from school a little early today so that we could go to Liam's holiday sing along. Much to my surprise, this was also the day that the school had Mrs. Robinson's clay mural installed in the office. Jordyn is the student on the far left of the mural. She is now forever immortalized at OMS.

Day 351 - Thursday, December 17, 2009

2009-12-30T22:31:00.003-05:00

Day 351 - Thursday, December 17, 2009 – Today was Owen's Gingerbread party at school. He asked me to come, but I didn't think I was going to be able to make it. Then a meeting got cancelled at the last minute and I was able to pop into the school for about an hour, much to his delight...and mine.

Day 350 - Wednesday, December 16, 2009

2009-12-28T22:08:00.002-05:00

Day 350 - Wednesday, December 16, 2009 – Tonight I took the kids out to dinner at Sagebrush Cantina in downtown Lake Orion. While we were waiting for our table, we ran over to Little Monsters where I let the kids pick out a pre-Christmas present. Such a fun store!!

Day 349 - Tuesday, December 15, 2009

2009-12-28T21:43:00.002-05:00

Day 349 - Tuesday, December 15, 2009 – Kevin was able to attend Liam's practice with the Oxford Youth Wrestling Club for the first time tonight. He signed Liam up for a wrestling tournament and the club let Liam borrow this singlet. Liam shows me the neutral position. Doesn't he look fierce?! :)

Day 348 - Monday, December 14, 2009

2009-12-28T21:23:00.004-05:00

Day 348 - Monday, December 14, 2009 – Today was Owen's turn to pick a family fun activity and he chose to make paper snowflakes which we hung on the windows by the front door. Very festive!

Day 347 - Sunday, December 13, 2009

2009-12-28T21:07:00.004-05:00

Day 347 - Sunday, December 13, 2009 – Playing Left Right Center with Kev and the kids...genuine family fun, no better birthday present on earth.

Day 346 - Saturday, December 12, 2009 –

2009-12-28T21:04:00.002-05:00

Day 346 - Saturday, December 12, 2009 – Look at that belly!!

Day 345 - Friday, December 11, 2009

2009-12-28T21:00:00.004-05:00

Day 345 - Friday, December 11, 2009 – Tonight was Jordyn's Christmas concert. The eighth graders are in blue and the seventh graders are in yellow. We went to eat at Casa Real before heading to the high school for the performance. They did a wonderful job! (I wish I could say the same for Owen's behavior!! Good thing we were in the sparsely populated balcony.)

Day 344 - Thursday, December 10, 2009

2009-12-28T20:57:00.003-05:00

Day 344 - Thursday, December 10, 2009 – Today's Christmas family fun activity was to drink hot chocolate, which the kids and I enjoyed while Kevin (who had just driven home from Indiana) enjoyed a PBR.

Day 343 - Wednesday, December 9, 2009

2009-12-28T20:53:00.004-05:00

Day 343 - Wednesday, December 9, 2009 – Tonight it was Jordyn's pick to do something fun. She wanted to go to Canterbury Village, but with the high winds and the possibility of bad roads, I didn't want to make the trip. So, she chose take-out Chinese dinners to be eaten IN the living room while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas (with Jim Carrey).

Day 342 - Tuesday, December 8, 2009

2009-12-28T20:44:00.003-05:00

Day 342 - Tuesday, December 8, 2009 – It was Owen's turn to pick a Christmas movie and as coincidence would have it, A Charlie Brown Christmas was on TV tonight! PERFECT! I DVRed it so that we could fast forward through commercials and watch it again & again. Jordyn initially made fun of the "state of the art graphics" (HELLO, they're from 1965!!!...), but then she & the boys laughed out loud at several moments. The sock monkey just smiled the whole time.

Day 341 - Monday, December 7, 2009

2009-12-14T23:19:00.004-05:00

Day 341 - Monday, December 7, 2009 – This is the mini tree upon which we hang our daily Advent calendar mini Nativity Story book ornaments.

Day 340 - Sunday, December 6, 2009

2009-12-14T23:14:00.005-05:00

Day 340 - Sunday, December 6, 2009 – Today's special Christmas event was an ornament exchange at our house with some of Jordyn's friends and their moms (who are also MY friends). It was a delightful evening. I LOVE Christmas ornaments and I love it that these girls love Christmas ornaments, too!

back r0w (l to r) - Alicia, Jordyn, Bailey; middle row (l to r) - Chelsea, Shelby, Kayla; front row (l to r) Kristi, Mary

Day 339 - Saturday, December 5, 2009

2009-12-14T23:10:00.004-05:00

Day 339 - Saturday, December 5, 2009 – Today was the fifth day of our countdown to Christmas calendar events. Today's event was to go to the Santa Breakfast at DA, something we have done for nine years, now. Owen told Santa that he wanted trains and Liam told Santa that he wanted a Fathead. Jordyn didn't sit on Santa's lap this year because she was busy helping the little kids in the Santa Shop.

Day 338 - Friday, December 4, 2009

2009-12-14T23:06:00.003-05:00

Day 338 - Friday, December 4, 2009 – Today was the fourth day of our countdown to Christmas calendar events. Today's event was Liam's Pick. He really wants a dog for Christmas, so he chose for us to visit the K-9 Rescue League....just to LOOK.

Day 337 - Thursday, December 3, 2009

2009-12-14T23:00:00.004-05:00

Day 337 - Thursday, December 3, 2009 – Today was the third day of our countdown to Christmas calendar events. Today's event was to listen to Christmas Carols, which we, of course had to do whilst eating sugar cookies and drinking milk. We also opened Christmas cards and read the daily advent ornament book about the Nativity story.

Day 336 - Wednesday, December 2, 2009

2009-12-14T22:56:00.003-05:00

Day 336 - Wednesday, December 2, 2009 – Today was the second day of our countdown to Christmas calendar events. Today's event was for Jordyn to select a Christmas movie to watch. She chose The Nativity Story. Such a fabulous movie about the true meaning of Christmas.

Day 335 - Tuesday, December 1, 2009

2009-12-14T22:52:00.004-05:00

Day 335 - Tuesday, December 1, 2009 – Today was the first day of our countdown to Christmas calendar events. Today's event was for Owen to select a Christmas book to read. He chose Beauty and the Beast Christmas and he also chose Elmo Saves Christmas (yes, I let him pick two books...he's the baby, what can I say?)

Day 334 - Monday, November 30, 2009

2009-12-14T22:45:00.004-05:00

Day 334 - Monday, November 30, 2009 – I was a natural blond when I was a tot, but now I'm a blond a la Di (see her reflection in the mirror??) I know, I'm so glamorous I can hardly stand it.

Day 333 - Sunday, November 29, 2009

2009-12-14T22:41:00.004-05:00

Day 333 - Sunday, November 29, 2009 – Today we celebrated Thanksgiving with my side of the family at the Spry's house. Shawn and I are definitely carnivores as we each dig into a drumstick! (not really, but it made for a fun photo op!) We missed my parents, though, as they were down at their home in Florida.

Day 332 - Saturday, November 28, 2009

2009-12-14T22:32:00.003-05:00

Day 332 - Saturday, November 28, 2009 – Third generation of Hillary's in the US (including family members 451-Jordyn, 452-Liam, and 453-Owen) at a family reunion at Diamond Hall in Grand Rapids. This isn't even a fraction of the extended Hillary family cousins.

Day 331 - Friday, November 27, 2009

2009-12-11T22:15:00.005-05:00

Day 331 - Friday, November 27, 2009 – One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is going shopping with Jordyn on black Friday. This year, we got up at 2:45 am and we were back home by 7:30 am. We got 80% of the Christmas shopping done in a few hours with huge discounts. Gotta love that!

Day 330 - Thursday, November 26, 2009

2009-12-11T22:10:00.003-05:00

Day 330 - Thursday, November 26, 2009 – Thanksgiving at Carol & Don's in Grand Rapids. It's always fun to hang out on the west side with the Hillary family, especially on Thanksgiving when the house is full of family, food, football, and black Friday sale ads.

Day 329 - Wednesday, November 25, 2009

2009-12-11T22:06:00.004-05:00

Day 329 - Wednesday, November 25, 2009 – Thanksgiving Eve, a.k.a. the biggest bar night of the year. Kev with his buddies from high school, Joe & Jason. Now that we're older, it's turned into more of a dinner night of the year than a bar night of the year. We went to Olives in East Grand Rapids (hence the Olive artwork on the wall behind the fellas). Kevin is really digging having me as a designated driver.

Day 328 - Tuesday, November 24, 2009

2009-12-11T22:02:00.003-05:00

Day 328 - Tuesday, November 24, 2009 – Jordyn after the 7th & 8th grade dance at the Middle School. Also, a rare photo of Jordyn in a skirt (outfit that she purchased specifically for this occasion).

Day 327 - Monday, November 23, 2009

2009-12-10T17:10:00.003-05:00

Day 327 - Monday, November 23, 2009 – One of the reasons for getting the house decorated early in the season is so I can get the family Christmas photo taken in time to get the Christmas cards in the mail on the day after Thanksgiving. The funny thing about this photo shoot was the "discussion" about who would get to hold the baby in next year's Christmas photo. Owen had the argument that he, having always been the baby of the family, has never had the chance to hold the baby and therefore next year should be his turn. Good point.

Day 326 - Sunday, November 22, 2009

2009-12-10T17:07:00.003-05:00

Day 326 - Sunday, November 22, 2009 – It took a solid 12 hours, but I was able to get the house, including the tree, decorated for the holidays...with a little bit of "help" from Kev and the kids.

Day 325 - Saturday, November 21, 2009

2009-12-10T16:57:00.003-05:00

Day 325 - Saturday, November 21, 2009 – Owen enthralled by Heidi's slot machine. He and Andrea's son Andrew were occupied for hours. Owen kept opening it and examining the mechanics of the machine. High Roller.

Day 324 - Friday, November 20, 2009

2009-12-10T16:53:00.004-05:00

Day 324 - Friday, November 20, 2009 – Jordyn with her birthday cupcake filled cupcake stand. Eighteen cupcakes, fourteen candles. Fourteen. We celebrated her birthday one month early to avoid the holiday conflict/rush. Twelve girls spent the night at our house for her party and it was a lot less crazy than you might expect.

Day 323 - Thursday, November 19, 2009

2009-12-10T16:28:00.003-05:00

Day 323 - Thursday, November 19, 2009 – Jordyn with her pre-purchased New Moon ticket to the midnight premier showing at the Oxford 7. She's ready to go, complete with her Jacob Black, New Moon dog tags. The theater was packed with adoring fans, just like last year's midnight premier of Twilight.

Day 322 - Wednesday, November 18, 2009

2009-12-10T16:25:00.003-05:00

Day 322 - Wednesday, November 18, 2009 – After sending out what seemed like a million emails to friends to see if anyone had a cupcake tree stand that I could borrow for Jordyn's birthday party, I was beyond excited when Mindy said she had one that I could use. Amazing how thrilled this little object can make a person!

Day 321 - Tuesday, November 17, 2009

2009-12-10T16:21:00.003-05:00

Day 321 - Tuesday, November 17, 2009 – Liam's first night of Wrestling Club. He loved it, and I have a feeling this is going to be something that he'll be really good at. I wouldn't know for sure, though, because A. I know nothing about wrestling and B. I can't stand the smell of that room to stay inside long enough to watch.

Day 320 - Monday, November 16, 2009

2009-12-10T15:46:00.002-05:00

Day 320 - Monday, November 16, 2009 – Ultrasound Day! I took Jordyn out of school today to attend my ultrasound, since Kevin had to go out of town on business and had to miss it. When the boys got home from school we gave them these blue suckers as our way of telling them what we were having. It took them a minute to get that it meant we were having a boy. Another boy.

Day 319 - Sunday, November 15, 2009

2009-12-10T15:41:00.004-05:00

Day 319 - Sunday, November 15, 2009 – Shopping. Not my favorite thing to do. Did I love it when I was Jordyn's age? She and Molly love it. Too bad I'm not an experienced enough shopper to know that the mall closes at 6:00 on Sundays and the girls only got about 45 minutes of shopping in. Really, I didn't know!

Day 318 - Saturday, November 14, 2009

2009-12-09T23:39:00.002-05:00

Day 318 - Saturday, November 14, 2009 – Today I was up before anyone else in the house (a rare occurrence) to exercise before kicking off the full day's events that we had planned. The house was so peaceful and the sunrise was just gorgeous. A wonderful way to spend a morning.

Day 317 - Friday, November 13, 2009

2009-12-09T23:35:00.003-05:00

Day 317 - Friday, November 13, 2009 – Liam asked Kevin if it was OK if he tried to win the ball from the claw machine at BW3's even though it was a Lions' ball. Kevin said "Sure, go ahead." And Liam proceeded to win the ball on his first try.

Day 316 - Thursday, November 12, 2009

2009-12-09T23:33:00.003-05:00

Day 316 - Thursday, November 12, 2009 – One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is decorating the door to the deck in the kitchen with the kids' past and present Thanksgiving projects.

Day 315 - Wednesday, November 11, 2009

2009-12-09T23:29:00.003-05:00

Day 315 - Wednesday, November 11, 2009 – Owen and the arts & crafts cabinet in the kitchen. He's my crafty kid, that's for sure. Always coloring, cutting, drawing, and creating.

Day 314 - Tuesday, November 10, 2009

2009-12-09T23:24:00.003-05:00

Day 314 - Tuesday, November 10, 2009 – Tonight was Jordyn's middle school choir's concert in honor of Veteran's day. It was a privilege to witness all the vets saluting the flag, some with hands shaking from old age or crippled from arthritis, but all with honor.

Day 313 - Monday, November 9, 2009

2009-12-09T23:18:00.003-05:00

Day 313 - Monday, November 9, 2009 – Owen and Liam spent the evening sharing a rocking chair and an optical illusions book. Who knew they could sit that close for that long with out punching/elbowing/bugging each other? Maybe it was just an illusion.

Day 312 - Sunday, November 8, 2009

2009-12-09T23:11:00.002-05:00

Day 312 - Sunday, November 8, 2009 – Liam's fall soccer team's end of season party at Coach Derek's house. Liam scored at least once (usually more than once) during every single game this season and his team was undefeated!!

Day 311 - Saturday, November 7, 2009

2009-11-08T13:02:00.004-05:00

Day 311 - Saturday, November 7, 2009 – What a gorgeous day for some college football! Kevin and I took the kids to the MSU vs. WMU football game in East Lansing. We tailgated beforehand with Brian & Chase, Scott & Nancy Hillary and their boys Mark & Jack, and Kev’s friend, Joe. We all had a spectacular time. (Yes, boys, it's sunny outside. Imagine that!)

Day 310 - Friday, November 6, 2009

2009-11-08T13:01:00.000-05:00

Day 310 - Friday, November 6, 2009 – Kevin and Liam celebrate the phone call telling Kevin that he has a contract…yes, a J-O-B, starting 11/16 (pending paperwork and drug test, of course). Very welcome news after being unemployed since January 15th, that’s for sure. We went to Kruse & Muer for dinner to celebrate. MMMmmm.

Day 309 - Thursday, November 5, 2009

2009-11-08T12:55:00.000-05:00

Day 309 - Thursday, November 5, 2009 – Liam wanted to make a “simple machine”, which he learned about last year in second grade science. So, he connected some of Owen’s train tracks together in the shape of a circle and put the tracks around the foosball handles. When he turned the train track steering wheel back and forth, it turned the foosball handles. Einstein.

Day 308 - Wednesday, November 4, 2009

2009-11-08T12:53:00.003-05:00

Day 308 - Wednesday, November 4, 2009 – Liam shows me his rocks that he purchased today during his field trip to Seven Ponds Nature Center. He claims that they are arrowhead, crystal, copper, 2 pearls, and salt crystal. I asked him to lick the salt crystal to see if it tasted salty. Of course he licked it!! And, no, it didn’t taste like salt.

Day 307 - Tuesday, November 3, 2009

2009-11-08T12:51:00.000-05:00

Day 307 - Tuesday, November 3, 2009 – I thoroughly embarrassed Jordyn by taking her picture when we picked her up from the school upon her return from Camp Copneconic. She wouldn’t even look at the camera, (but her friend Chelsea didn’t mind)!! She had a great time at camp! MUCH better than spending two days in SCHOOL.

Day 306 - Monday, November 2, 2009

2009-11-08T12:50:00.000-05:00

Day 306 - Monday, November 2, 2009 – Pajama-ed brothers in front of the fire place.

Day 305 - Sunday, November 1, 2009

2009-11-08T12:48:00.000-05:00

Day 305 - Sunday, November 1, 2009 – Jordyn packing and straightening her hair in preparation for the two day, one night 8th grade camping trip at Camp Copneconic starting tomorrow.

Day 304 - Saturday, October 31, 2009

2009-11-01T20:03:00.003-05:00

Day 304 - Saturday, October 31, 2009 – My Halloween cuties...Jordyn as a sailor girl, (no, she's not Popeye's girlfriend...that's Olive Oyle), Owen as Bumble Bee (again, but more mechanical than last year), and Liam as King Leonidas (the Spartan Warrior from the movie 300).

Day 303 - Friday, October 30, 2009

2009-11-01T19:58:00.004-05:00

Day 303 - Friday, October 30, 2009 – Tonight was filled with family fun. Kevin made homemade chicken pot pie for dinner. The kids carved their pumpkins and I judged them (O's was most abstract, J's was most classic, and L's was most scary). And then we watched Beetlejuice. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Day 302 - Thursday, October 29, 2009

2009-11-01T19:54:00.004-05:00

Day 302 - Thursday, October 29, 2009 – Owen was so excited to go to Spooky Math night at his school where they had different math games set up in the classrooms and the lights turned off in the hallways. Math, very spooky indeed.

Day 301 - Wednesday, October 28, 2009

2009-11-01T19:51:00.004-05:00

Day 301 - Wednesday, October 28, 2009 – The kids were thrilled when we were ghosted. They all opened the treat bag together and divided up the goodies.

Day 300 - Tuesday, October 27, 2009

2009-11-01T19:49:00.003-05:00

Day 300 - Tuesday, October 27, 2009 – Liam has trash duty.

Day 299 - Monday, October 26, 2009

2009-11-01T19:46:00.004-05:00

Day 299 - Monday, October 26, 2009 – Owen made this little bead Pokemon ball all by himself and Liam was very proud.

Day 298 - Sunday, October 25, 2009

2009-11-01T19:41:00.004-05:00

Day 298 - Sunday, October 25, 2009 – One of the kids' favorite Halloween traditions, going out ghosting. We left treats for the Parsons, the Kolps, and the Dietzes, ding-dong-ditch style. The kids have so much fun doing this that they've decided they want to do some sort of version of this for EVERY holiday!

Day 297 - Saturday, October 24, 2009

2009-11-01T19:38:00.003-05:00

Day 297 - Saturday, October 24, 2009 – Another fun night hanging with the Parsons and the Scepkas. The kids love it, the parents love it. Good times.

Day 296 - Friday, October 23, 2009

2009-11-01T19:32:00.003-05:00

Day 296 - Friday, October 23, 2009 – Sometime McDonald's take out is on the dinner docket.

Day 295 - Thursday, October 22, 2009

2009-11-01T19:23:00.005-05:00

Day 295 - Thursday, October 22, 2009 – Owen's homework assignment was to make something out of recycled materials. He came up with this design all on his own. Jordyn helped him assemble it. It's a Boat Rocket. A boat (that really floats) that turns into a rocket (that, thankfully, doesn't really blast off).

Day 294 - Wednesday, October 21, 2009

2009-11-01T19:14:00.005-05:00

Day 294 - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 – To celebrate nine years of wedded bliss, Kevin made a delicious family meal of grilled steak with melted bleu cheese, grilled asparagus, and garlic mashed potatoes. Here's to many more anniversaries and years of family celebrations.

Day 293 - Tuesday, October 20, 2009

2009-11-01T19:05:00.005-05:00

Day 293 - Tuesday, October 20, 2009 – Most restaurants give kids crayons and an activity/coloring sheet. The kids were thrilled when we went to Italia Gardens and they gave them these Wikki Stix to play with. And I was thrilled that this a made in the USA product!

Day 292 - Monday, October 19, 2009

2009-11-01T18:55:00.004-05:00

Day 292 - Monday, October 19, 2009 – Owen doesn't like to accept no for an answer. We're trying to break him of the begging habit, but here is photographic proof that our attempts aren't working. At least not yet. Pleeeeeeease???

Day 291 - Sunday, October 18, 2009

2009-10-18T18:46:00.002-04:00

Day 291 - Sunday, October 18, 2009 –
An impromptu trip to Westview Orchards on what turned out to be a GAH-orgeous fall day.

Day 290 - Saturday, October 17, 2009

2009-10-18T18:39:00.003-04:00

Day 290 - Saturday, October 17, 2009 –

Isn't she the cutest sailor you have ever seen? On her way to a friend's Halloween party.

Day 289 - Friday, October 16, 2009 –

2009-10-18T18:35:00.003-04:00

Day 289 - Friday, October 16, 2009 –
"Mom, come tuck me in." I wonder how much longer he's going to want me to do this?

Day 288 - Thursday, October 15, 2009

2009-10-18T18:32:00.002-04:00

Day 288 - Thursday, October 15, 2009 –

Face wash, a 13 year old girl's nighttime ritual.

Day 287 - Wednesday, October 14, 2009

2009-10-18T18:25:00.003-04:00

Day 287 - Wednesday, October 14, 2009 –
After dinner, we spent the evening in the basement game area where Jordyn read one of her favorite Halloween books to Owen and Liam from when she was their age (Halloween Day by Anne Rockwell). It was fun to watch her share one of her childhood memories with her brothers.

Day 286 - Tuesday, October 13, 2009

2009-10-14T15:13:00.004-04:00

Day 286 - Tuesday, October 13, 2009 –

Teenagers can be, well, teenagers. Imagine my delight when Jordyn chose to accompany the family on this c-c-c-cold evening to watch Owen's soccer game.

Day 285 - Monday, October 12, 2009

2009-10-14T14:59:00.003-04:00

Day 285 - Monday, October 12, 2009 –
Enjoying our ghetto basement. Liam loves for Kevin to toss him the pigskin, and in the basement, I can relax and let them have their football fun.

Day 284 - Sunday, October 11, 2009

2009-10-14T14:53:00.005-04:00

Day 284 - Sunday, October 11, 2009 –

Dessert today was hot caramel apple cider with whipped cream and warm cinnamon donuts. Aaahhh, fall.

Day 283 - Saturday, October 10, 2009

2009-10-14T14:51:00.004-04:00

Day 283 - Saturday, October 10, 2009 –
Kevin is Liam's soccer team's assistant coach this season. He enjoys it, but he has to temper his outbursts more so than when he was merely a spectator.

Day 282 - Friday, October 9, 2009

2009-10-14T14:47:00.004-04:00

Day 282 - Friday, October 9, 2009 –

Today was the FunD Run at the boys' schools. I convinced Kevin to go and volunteer and take pictures. Kindergarteners were asked to wear hats, so, of course Owen picked out his Thomas the Train engineer's hat. Usually the FunD Run is outside, but they held it in the gym today due to the rain.

Day 281 - Thursday, October 8, 2009

2009-10-14T14:42:00.003-04:00

Day 281 - Thursday, October 8, 2009 –
Kevin overhauled the basement this week to create a kicking game room. He even moved the Foosball table from the garage down to the basement. But someone had to help him carry it down the flight of stairs. At that someone was Hercules. a.k.a. Liam. (Not sure how/why Owen looks like an apparition in the background of this photo. Creepy.)

Day 280 - Wednesday, October 7, 2009

2009-10-14T14:38:00.003-04:00

Day 280 - Wednesday, October 7, 2009 –

Jordyn recently replaced her old cell phone with this one, using her own babysitting money to pay for the early upgrade. Blue phone. Blue nail polish. Blue tank. Blue hoodie. She likes blue.

Day 279 - Tuesday, October 6, 2009

2009-10-14T14:29:00.004-04:00

Day 279 - Tuesday, October 6, 2009 –
It should have never come to this, but the Tigers battled the Twins for the AL Central Division title in a one game playoff. We let the kids stay up late on a school night to watch. Pint of beer? Check. Big screen HDTV? Check. The Tigers losing the ultimate tie breaker in the 12th inning? Heartbreaking.

Day 278 - Monday, October 5, 2009

2009-10-14T14:27:00.003-04:00

Day 278 - Monday, October 5, 2009 –

Jordyn's artwork.

Day 277 - Sunday, October 4, 2009

2009-10-14T14:24:00.004-04:00

Day 277 - Sunday, October 4, 2009 –
Liam (and his lashes) working diligently on Everyday Math homework.

Day 276 - Saturday, October 3, 2009

2009-10-07T16:15:00.002-04:00

Day 276 - Saturday, October 3, 2009 –

The kids and I went to my sister's house today. One of Owen's fall "goals" this year was to make homemade applesauce and I knew that Shawn would be the perfect person to help him meet that goal. This is one of the many apples that we put through the core-er, slicer, skinner contraption. It was a fun process and the end result was scrumptious!

Day 275 - Friday, October 2, 2009

2009-10-07T16:05:00.003-04:00

Day 275 - Friday, October 2, 2009 –
Homecoming is always an exciting time around here. Unfortunately, the wet weather kept the boys and I away from the festivities. But, Jordyn went to the game with Alicia. I did get a "nice" photo of the girls but thought it would be interesting to show what Jordyn considers to be the "cool" picture of them. Cool? Really? I must have missed that memo.

Day 274 - Thursday, October 1, 2009

2009-10-07T16:03:00.004-04:00

Day 274 - Thursday, October 1, 2009 –
Owen likes to line things up like they're a train. Turtles on parade in the kitchen.

Day 273 - Wednesday, September 30, 2009

2009-10-07T15:59:00.005-04:00

Day 273 - Wednesday, September 30, 2009 –
Liam relaxing in the glider in my office before bed.

Day 272 - Tuesday, September 29, 2009

2009-10-07T15:56:00.002-04:00

Day 272 - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 –

Owen decided to display his artwork that he framed with one of my chipboard frames.

Day 271 - Monday, September 28, 2009

2009-10-07T15:52:00.004-04:00

Day 271 - Monday, September 28, 2009 –
I helped Jordyn alter her Oxford t-shirt so that it is now tied up and down both sides. Good thing I helped her because she would have ruined the shirt had she done it herself. Project Runway is not in her future, and that's OK.

Day 270 - Sunday, September 27, 2009

2009-10-07T15:50:00.004-04:00

Day 270 - Sunday, September 27, 2009 –
It's here. The bump. Twelve weeks today. Number four is on its way.

Day 269 - Saturday, September 26, 2009

2009-10-07T15:47:00.002-04:00

Day 269 - Saturday, September 26, 2009 –
Today we went over to the Scepka's house after soccer to party with them and the Parsons. Kevin and the two Aarons review the 3rd grade flag football play book. Definitely a discussion requiring an enormous amount of beer consumption.

Day 268 - Friday, September 25, 2009

2009-10-07T15:44:00.003-04:00

Day 268 - Friday, September 25, 2009 –

Owen thought it would be fun to build a tower out of pasta boxes and Liam couldn't resist getting in on the action!

Day 267 - Thursday, September 24, 2009

2009-10-07T15:43:00.003-04:00

Day 267 - Thursday, September 24, 2009 –
My friend turned me on to these fabulous Caramel Apple suckers. Nothing says Fall quite like Caramel apples!

Day 266 - Wednesday, September 23, 2009

2009-10-07T15:39:00.003-04:00

Day 266 - Wednesday, September 23, 2009 –

Kev took us all out to Applebee's for dessert tonight. The boys got a couple of dessert shooters, Kev got a beer (that's his dessert!) and Jordyn shared this enormous Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae with us. It was DELISH!