Madelyn on an airplane

 Earlier this fall Madelyn and I traveled back to Iowa to see my grandpa Ray before he passed.  It was one of the first flights when she truly understood we were going on an airplane.  She was a trooper.

Here are some of the cute photos of her hanging with mom as we traveled...

So you mean to tell me we are getting on an airplane?

Really? I can't wait!

 She now has to have her own seat and got to sit like a big girl.  Although without the 5 point harness, she didn't want to stay seated the entire 3.5 hours.  Thankfully, the flight time was around the same time as nap!

Which made it a lot easier for mom to enjoy the flight too!

And then when she woke up, we had a late lunch.

It was fun to get to spend some one-on-one time with Madelyn.  Being the youngest she does get a lot of attention but often times its divided with the other three as well.

Sure going to cherish these moments of her being small.  

Until next time,

Angie 

We have a teenager!

As of Monday (November 5), our family officially has a teenager living in our midst!  I know how scary right! :-)  

Gabriel turned 13 and I still can't believe it.  I think that's why I'm writing this now.  It just seems so surreal to me.  

See it seems to me that I should still have this little boy like this running around our house.

Yep it seems like it was yesterday when the boy with the high pitched voice, the "I'm going to be Super Man when I grow up" wishes and the sweetness that could melt anyone's heart was racing through out house.

Now we have a 5 foot 8 or 9, 125 pound, size 13 mens shoe"almost looking man" 

  

In fact, we've even taken him on his first college visit (just a few weeks ago) to ahem one of the greatest Universities. I can't believe we are even having a thought about the idea of college.  Wow its going too fast.

While Gabriel has grown and changed so much in the 8 years we've been together, there are some things that haven't changed.  Gabriel has always been wonderful with kids younger than him.  Perhaps that because he was so good about caring for his younger brother.  Gabriel is an amazing brother to Isabelle and especially Madelyn.  He is loving, helpful, considerate, patient and kind.  Madelyn adores him and when Gabriel is gone, she looks for him often. 

Gabriel also is just as passionate as he was about playing and having fun.  The kid who naturally had a knack for playing sports, especially those involving a ball, continues to be just as passionate about the fun in the play.  He seems to be a natural leader and someone others look up to as a role model.  I've seen it most recently in his play on his baseball teams.  We talked one night after going home from a game after his coach and I talked.  His coach said, I'm not sure if Gabriel realizes just how much the guys look up to him.  I'd like to see him start taking a bigger role is leading warm ups, being a team captain.  On the way home I mentioned those thoughts to Gabriel and what coach had said.  It was clear Gabriel took coaches words to heart.  The next day at another game, Gabriel stepped right up and jumped in leading warm ups. He also was more vocal with his fellow players, providing encouragement, leading the cheers and being the first out of the dugout ready to switch when the inning was over.  Coach came up to me after the game and said, "I don't know what you said to him but I loved what I saw tonight."  Since that day it has been evident how much Gabriel enjoys that role and how much respect he has earned from his team.  And as the coach said, it brought the team together and that's one of the fundamental aspects of a winning team... to which they seem to very successful.

What ever Gabriel's future entails, whether it involves playing or leading others, it is my hope that he always puts forth his best effort and believes he is capable of anything.  

This little boy believed in his heart of hearts he was going to be the next Super Man and fly around the city saving others.  It is the true belief and confidence in achieving that goal that I hope he never loses.

 

Gabriel, I know you like to go by Gabe by your friends and teammates now, but  I hope its okay if your mom still calls you by your full name.  While you've doubled in size, smell a bit different than you did when you were younger ;-), and that those crazy hormones sometimes make us see things differently, I want you to know that dad and I ALWAYS and ONLY want the best for you.  That's why we push you to be your best, we make you crazy with your constant questions about your grades and homework, and that's why we say yes or no to certain requests.  

Gabriel, Dad and I are very proud of you and see you growing from a great kid to a great young adult.  We hope you always remember to show kindness, respect, to lead with humility and heart and never give up on your goals.

We've tried to show through our example that sometimes, actually it is almost a guarantee that life won't go exactly as you have planned, but that being determined, resilient and wiling to adapt and change to the situations life give you are important.  We've seen you carry a great amount of this within you and are proud of who you are becoming.

If mom can leave you with a few tips:  (I can see the eye roll now)

• Don't sell yourself short.  Don't get distracted by things that pull you away from your goals (ahem, girls- be nice to them and kind, but don't get caught up in the drama).
• Stay focused on school... stay organized, always do your homework, study and remember what you are doing now, is going to build upon what you need for tomorrow.
• Know when dad and I make a decision that conflicts with your wants, it's not because we are trying to be mean, but it is because we are trying to teach you, we think our decision is best for you and we are helping you learn a life lesson you'll need in the future.

Finally, and most importantly, know that Dad and I are blessed to be your parents, we love you more than you will ever know and that we will do everything we can to provide for your needs, not to give you all your wants, and to support you in all you strive to be.

Wishing you the happiest 13th birthday Gabriel!  Getting picked to be each other's forever family all those years ago, was really one of the best, most magical days and greatest gifts I've been given.

We love you always and forever Gabriel.

Until next time,

Mom and Dad

Halloween

Halloween was such a fun day for our family.  The kids had activities (well at least the little ones did) at their school, and the boys were excited this year about scaring everyone they could.  Even Dad and I decided to get in on the fun and dressed up too.

It was a fun day for sure.

Here are a few photos from yesterday...

Madelyn wearing her "pretty dress" as we got ready to drop her at school.  She loved it, so much so she refused to take off the costume for the rest of the day, even after her party was over.

I surprised Madelyn and dropped by her school to watch her costume parade.  Madelyn used to dislike school ALOT but has in the last couple of weeks gotten to really enjoy it.  Here she is having just seen me come into her room.  She ran right up, gave me a hug and then said, "Bye mom, I'll see you later." realizing full well it was too early to have me pick her up and she wanted to stay for the fun.  That makes me feel so much better!

The kids went outside and sat along the wall while the other classes paraded around.  I was impressed how obedient Madelyn was when the teacher told her what to do.  Those teachers, some how they have magical powers... if I'd say the same thing, they'd look at me like I was crazy, or probably not even look at me at all and continue doing what they were before.

After stopping by Madelyn's school, I then went to Isabelle's to help with her classroom party.  Her teacher asked a few of us parents to plan some activities so I brought a few games to play with the kids.  Bozo's Grand Prize Game and Ghost Bowling... the kids loved it!

The kids were super excited!

And I felt lucky I got be there with her!

After school, the kids and I came home and got ready for the evening fun.  The boys have graduated from all of the cute and innocent costumes and have moved onto the scary ones!  Gabriel wanted to dress like the clown from it and Michael revived his werewolf costume.  After they put on the costumes they chased the girls around the house until both were in tears and Madelyn refused to let me put her down.

Mom of course had to threaten them a 100 times and to tell them to stop about 100 more.  

Scary right?

Here are a few photos I got of them trying to be together for one picture.

Madelyn is fake smiling where Isabelle is down right scared!

I'd be scared too.

We went through the neighborhood and the kids got a ton of candy!  

So much so that mom had to hike and give away most of it, and we still have so much left!

Even dad and I had fun.  

Hoping you and your trick-or-treaters had a lot of fun.  

Until next time,

Angie 

State Cross Country.

This past weekend was the culmination of the boy's cross country season and it ended with an opportunity for them to run at the state meet.  We are proud that both boys qualified and got a chance to run at this meet, given how choppy and interrupted their training was.  From going back to Iowa mid-season twice for an extended period of time, and adding in baseball 5 out of the 7 days of the week, they were exhausted.  

Okay us spectators were tired of the racing around too.

This past Saturday the boys and a few hundred of their peers raced in Surprise.  Man that's a long ways away from where we live.

Thankfully the course was set up at a park so there was something for the girls to do while we waited for the boys' races.  

Madelyn and Isabelle made friends with some other kids and played non-stop.

Finally, it was time to line up and get ready to go.

Michael was only 1 of 2 sixth graders to run.  He was so nervous but did a great job.

Here his coach is giving him some final pointers before the horn

She even brought a water sprinkler to wet them down, it's supposed to be fall here, but it still feels HOT!

We are so thankful that Nana, Papa, Uncle Nolan, Uncle Jarrett and Uncle Jeremy were able to come watch the boys.  It was nice of them to take time from their busy schedule to come cheer them on.  Madelyn loved the back rides from Uncle Nolan!

And they were off... all of them.  It was a sea of runners!

Gabriel and Michael are in there somewhere... look for the pink shirt.

There's Gabriel!

They were running so fast I could hardly get a good picture.

Hence the back of them after they ran by.

The boys finished strong and while they would have liked to have placed higher, I told them they should be proud that they qualified.  

Since I never got around to blogging about the season as it was taking place, here are a few photos of earlier races which helped them qualify for the big one.

Gabriel getting ready to pass a few of his teammates.

Perhaps it was because his mom was screaming at him to run faster. :-)  Maybe, maybe not.

And then Michael.  This was his first time in cross country and I am proud of him for sticking with it, when his brother has 8 inches on him and his strides are almost double, it can get a bit defeating when your mom tells you to go run with your brother to get the miles in.  Michael stuck with it and I think was able to meet some good friends through the sport.

 These pictures were from one of the first meets when it was almost 110 at the time they ran.  It's hard enough to run cross country I think, but with the heat... another reason I admire their stamina.  

Here's one guy glad to be done~

Hard to believe the boys are getting so big.  I look at them and think... how did we get here so quickly.  

Weren't we just here?

Proud of you boys for your performance and working so hard at this sport.  I know those early morning runs weren't all fun and games, but you stuck with it and did great.

Proud of you.  Love you boys... Mom.

Until next time,

Angie