Our Thanksgiving Journey Begins

Logan's favorite ride

Aunt Char flew into Austin on Friday night. We were able to do a little shopping and dinner by ourselves. Colby had a formal and couldn't join us. Then it was back home and finish the packing. We got up at 4am and started on the road to Aunt Chars house. Aunt Char had 9 new movies for the car trip. No, this isn't Aunt Chars house, we made a little detour. We ended up at Disney World. We were just talking about Caroline and family and Char said lets turn towards Disney. We got into Carolines house at 3am. Jordan knew where we were right away. We got about 3 hours of sleep and got everyone up. We were able to see Katie for just a minute. She has been very sick and was still in bed. At least Jordan got to see her and wish her well. We packed the car up and said we were headed to Aunt Chars but soon ended up at the Magic Kingdom. The kids thought that was so cool. Aunt Char never said anything to them until we got out of the car.

I have seen the castle decorated in many different themes but this one has to be the most beautiful. Pictures do not do it justice.

Caroline joined us with kids except for Katie.

What a good sport Caroline is to just let us drop in on her like this. We gave her about 6 hours notice.

Jordan holding Larson in lines. He is almost as big as she is.

Logan was on sensory overload. It's A Small World will do that to you.

The park was crowded but we know how to work all the rides plus Caroline was giving us her fast passes also. We were able to get everything in except the Haunted Mansion and Jungle cruise. We did not have to wait long with our passes.

Larsons favorite ride

Goofys BarnStormer

The perfect size roller coaster for him.

The only new ride for us was the Laugh Factory from Monsters Inc. It was very good. We love Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain!!!

Caroline and Buddy

Not the best pic but most people don't drive across the country, get 3 hours of sleep and straight to Disney. I was having so much fun being with Char, Caroline and watching the kids have a blast. The entire day I just could not believe that I was actually there with everyone.

Andrew and Jordan

Caroline and my first born. Cant even remember the day when we just had 2. Now the number is at 9!

These 2 are only 12 weeks apart.
Andrew Kane is one of the nicest boys you could ever meet! Love that kid!!

Logan was a maniac in lines (as to be expected with him) but loved getting on the rides.

The Blue Line People Mover. Has always been one of our favorites and has to be about the lamest ride in the park.

What an incredible day! What a huge surprise! What a great way to start Thanksgiving!

As always, thank you Aunt Char.
We planned to stay until 11pm but by 9 everyone was ready to go. It was sad to say goodbye to Caroline but was so very thankful for the few hours we got to see each other. We got in the car and headed straight to Hilton Head Island. I think we got there around 2am and Char had to get up at 4am for work at the gym!

Larsons Native American Day

Larson and Mom enjoying a Thanksgiving Feast at School

The Head Chef cooked 40 turkeys at the school and it was so good. I dont remember school lunches being like that.


This was the Kindergarten Native American Day. Unfortunately I brought one of the wild Indians with me, his name is LOGAN. I did my best to help Larson with his projects and keep Logan out of the plates of paint and glue that was everywhere.

Larson was sad that I had to leave before it was over but he came busting through the door home from school ready to show me the rest of his stuff!

We Are Not Selling Tickets Yet

Some day we will miss this noise.

and two hours later it is still going.

San Antonio Marathon

My kids posters and the medal are pretty good rewards!

This is how serious Chris was about his half marathon! Can you believe free beer on the marathon course? Maybe that is just a Texas thing.

This made me laugh anyway!

Action shots taken from their pictures.
I have no idea what mile I was at here.

I do know this was the finish line. Was pretty darn happy to see this one.

When I got home, They were holding this sign up for me to run through. (I taped back together)

I am sure that Larson got the idea from his football game.

This is Jacksons sign. He has me out running other people so I can get the penny on the road.

This is'nt my best tale to tell but here it goes:

Thought San Antonio would be cool to do since it was not far away. Lost my running partner half way through training due to her having foot surgery. Training for this one consisted between the hours of 3am and 6am. No accountability for exhaustion. The show must go on when you have a household to take care of.

Jordan ended up having Regional Choir this weekend so that caused me to drive to San Ann for packet and then back to Austin. Did not get to leave Austin until after her choir and arrived at 9:30pm night before race. No one ever sleeps well the night of a race.

Chris (he was there with me but running the half marathon) and I are ready to get to the start line and figure out that it was much further than the hotel had posted. We actually ran 2 miles to the start. (this is usually what happens when you get Chris and myself together) People were laughing at us as we were running just to get there.

Make note, I logged in 28.2 miles for the day.

We got there just in time but I was already tired and sweaty.

So I do my best to run this one with an outcome of finishing but not wanting to discuss my time. I will just say, worst ever and my kids could have gotten in about 10 Spongebobs as they calculate time.

I had fun, was hurting a little, got in the car and drove home to my family. Didnt feel so great on Sunday afternoon and was thinking "WHAT AM I DOING?"

By Monday morning I was already thinking when and where is the next one???

Me at the finish!

Regional Choir

Jordan auditioned for regional choir on Oct. 31st. She found out right before Trick or treating that she made it and was 5th chair. She was very excited. We were excited for her even though in the back of my head I knew what this would all mean for my marathon weekend. Just had to do some more juggling.

Jordan carries a pretty big load but with accomplishments like these, I just have to be proud and help her out as much as possible.

So this past Saturday she was in rehearsals from 7:30 until the 4:30 concert. We took all the boys with us in support of their sister. Can you imagine 3 boys sitting through this concert?

Young Women's Excellence Night

This is a night when all the young women and leaders in the Stake get together and show one of the projects that they have been working on.

Jordan's value was Individual Worth
Her project is the one act play that she is currently in at school.

Jordan, Maddie, Darci, and Mary

Jordan and I love our time together in young women's and working towards our Personal Progress medallions. She heard in one of the talks where a Mom and her daughter spend one hour in her room each Sunday with the doors closed and no brothers around. They take this hour and study scriptures together, talk and work on their personal progress. I could tell what Jordan was thinking when she heard this and I hope that she holds me to it.

Larson's tournament

Thanks Daddy for being my coach!

I realize this is only pre-k/Kinder league but we had two players on the field that thought this was the superbowl. Larson was one of those players. He was so focused on each play and had a smile on his face. He scored and played major defense.

Oh, Larson will never ever want to play in another football game unless he gets to run through a sign. HE LOVED THIS!!!

Tom couldn't even get all the kids on the field when needed because they just weren't into it. So finally, Tom just kept Larson and Griffin in all the time. Larson really did not play quarterback until this game. He blew us away. Whoops! maybe he should have been there more. Love the picture of him calling the play. He turned back to his Dad and asked if he could go yet?? Then he just started yelling HUT 1 HUT 2 HIKE. He had perfect hand offs.

It was so much fun watching him and he was so proud of himself.

A well deserved trophy!

Tom had just given the trophy to Larson and a bee got in his jersey and stung him. He threw his trophy and started screaming. Poor little guy.

Jackson's Tournament

Zane came to cheer the boys on. He had a soccer tournament later in the day.

I dont get as many pictures of Jackson because I always have Logan during his games.

Every boy on the team came out to win this game. They all had incredible focus and drive to get a win.

This is their incentive board. I never knew that Starbursts could go so far. There was a point system and they earned the Starburst throughout the game.

Unfortunately, they lost the 2nd game and was out of the tournament.

Well, we left the field and went straight to basketball sign ups.

Looking forward to football next year. This was Jacksons best season.

50's Day at kindergarten

A list of things that Larson had to learn before his 50's day:

Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, what a record is, sock hop, poodle skirts, how to hula hoop (he already had this one down)

He loved the Root Beer floats that they had. He tried to get two but they only had one per kid.
The day ended with a sock hop dance in the gym. He came home singing some 50's songs.

Trick or Treat 2009

No theme this year. Random costumes

Obvious bumble bee

I had nothing to do with picking this costume but he was cracking us up with it.

Sushi anyone???

Larson stays true to his pirate ways.

Bam Bam with a weapon in his hand

Getting ready to go

Jordan went with 3 of her friends off for the first year of trick or treating without us.

Logan did our street and then stayed home to pass out candy. I took the boys with the other kids on the street.

Tom and Larson did a great job on one of the pumpkins at school!