catching up!

 I cannot believe it has been three years since I last blogged! So much has happened in our lives.Short version ... Stephanie is now a junior in college...very active in campus life with Ultimate Frisbee, photography, classes, friends and volleyball and so much more. Still waiting for her Prince Charming. kayla has graduated from high school June 2012, got accepted to BYUI...worked all summer and fall, took online classes to keep smart, left in January for her winter /spring track. She is an Elem. Ed. Major and loves it. She has some good roomies, has met a lot of guys..dated a few, went dancing, had movie nights, spent some time with big sis, and participated in the winter guard there. now she has a boyfriend. Gretchen is busy...busy...busy. We cannot keep up with her! She is a junior n high school, taking a lot of ap classes and whipping her brain. She continues to be involved in percussion and tolerates many personalities. She is in student council, deca, Spanish club, environmental club, green cord, and is currently going for class secretary for her senior year.
She is preparing for her third act test and really wants a good thirty something...hopefully that will happen. She is very busy with her service in the community and when she is not busy she is reading r going to the movies. her hopes are to go to Purdue University or another college with great Pharmacy programs. So we are all just holding our breath to see.  Mike has received a few promotions and the latest is RegionL Director over Oils. which means he travels a lot and is Calif., New Jersey, Missouri, Texas, and wherever else needed and some Mexico. hey are hoping to prep him for ire for down the road.  Our fun is complicated...just doing house projects for now to hopefully move to Midwest to be closer to our parents. Other fun is bbq Saturdays with a few friends and going to baseball games. Wr are well......What do I do? A little bit of everything....and try to work outside of home. I love my calling in church as Yw sec., and love being involved with many different activities that go on.
That is the real short of three years.

Our Freshman-Gretchen 2010

Our girl just hanging around....

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We had a lot of fun doing these pictures. She was feeling good, looking good, and the day was just right sun wise. Notice the heels? She loves "high" shoes...all to give her height.

Random Junior Year Photos of Kayla

We finally got smart after all these years and didn't get pics from school. We are creating our own. Check Kayla out...these are a few of 50 I took.

Gretchen and her band days so far

Something needs to be said about my 3rd daughter....toooooo busyyyy. I cannot keep up with her schedule...everyday I have to ask where , what, and how.... her day begins at 5:20 am..getting up and ready for seminary at 6 am.. Then off to high school for freshman softball or basketball conditioning and tryouts from 7:30 am - 9:00 am.. Then classes begin. She is out at 2:30 and then the fun with band begins till 7 or 8. If she is lucky .... Add in there homework, youth activities, green cord service...(100 hours for year), student counsel (homecoming preps.) and whatever else she SQUEZZEs in her day. Wowser---I am beat just talking about it. Anyway she is thriving.....so I hear.

Our trip to Utah and Idaho

The view from where we ate breakfast....amazing!

The food Susan tried to eat...banana bread french toast ...ugh so full.

The opening of the door to our amazing treat. Below the inner of the diner. What a quaint place to eat...very busy all the time...we highly recommend to eat there if you have the chance.

Here is the view Stephanie gets to see when she tries to run in the late afternoon.....what a perfect view of peacefulness.

We went to visit some old friends from back 10 years ago in Indiana...we saw Jackie Runyan (no pic though) in Smithfield, Utah. We visited for a bit and had to leave to catch some more friends. She still has a great laugh and wonderful personality like we never left. Onward to the Foote home in Layton, Utah. Saw all the kiddos ...boy have they all grown up...and talkative. We didn't get to see Nathan but know he was there in spirit. Thanks Tammy...her pic is on my cellphone. Really nice area....reminded me of our area in Texas. From there I think we went back to Mike's sister in Highland, Utah. Hung out and enjoyed their company. Mike and his nephew Cooper shot basketball as long as they could. Probably could of gone on for a very long time. We traveled Utah in the Salt lake City area...just amazed at the architecture and consistent building improvements. All in all...we were ready to come home to Texas minus one.

Off She Goes!

I have to tell you, having Stephanie in college is cool. It is very quiet...no more big feet on my ceiling when I am sleeping...no more 22-24 ppl. in our game room for a party...no more arguments over the bathroom between Gretchen and her....no more silently cleaning up someone's mess without being asked.....no more getting dad hyper even though he loves it and misses it....no more Stephanie stuff. I think she is missed...shhhh don't tell her. But if you are lucky to be on her friend list , you will see college life in Idaho is totally agreeing with her. In this picture is part of her room still getting organized, Notice the bare walls? Working on it.

Stephanie's Prom - May 2010

I don't remember being so undecided about going to the prom...do you? Yes...no...yes...no...maybe.
Well...she went. Two dudes (that is their name)
from drumline. Aren't the girls so pretty? It was an eventful night. Glad it went with no more weirdness than necessary.

Colorguard Banquet May 2010

Being goofy with major action and drama.

Look at all the trophies our team has won!

Fav. winterguard friend MAKAYLA.

How lame am I ? Well it has been months since I have blogged. Too busy and too much information to write down. I will catch up fast. We came in second in the state of Texas for Winterguard. Now we need to keep it there---for awhile.

Mormon Prom April 2010

Another great event for us in April...LDS Prom 2010. Kayla invited her friend from Colorguard to attend with her for some great entertainment. There day started with getting Kayla's dress and jewelry then hoping over friends house for pics and then to dinner at Chipotle and finally---the prom.

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Catch up time

The events----

It has been an awful long time since I last blogged. I will hopefully do our family life justice by writing and thinking up the last few months and thensome. We had some really fun snow---freaked out the locals...the NORTHERNERS loved it.

January and February

Middle School basketball- came in fourth in district

Church basketball- came in first in stake area

Winterguard Competitions

College applications and financial questions

Big Time Rodeo

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Welcome to the 8th grade Wnba!

Whew! What an exciting and taunting weekend for 8th grade girls basketball. Friday night---we battled against Grapevine...lost by one point. The refs were extremely stinky and were worse the last minute and ten seconds. That is how our team lost. There were some big...big girls on this team too. A big girl was one of the best that Gretchen keept the ball from. The BIG girls' dad was sitting next to me and said...look at that small girl...is she even a 8th grader? SURPRISE!!!! Gretchen stole the ball from her 2 times. Oh ,the dad said she IS GOOD. Oh I said...that is my daughter ---the small one. If looks could ---well you know. The battle went on for awhile...lucky for them there was no OT. G's team came away with scratches and bruises but nothing extreme. The next day, Saturday, we played twice in the tournament. First, against Richland Hills, which was an okay game except Gretchen got pounded. One of the girls slammed her on the floor head first...she laid there a couple of seconds---not good--since she recently had ear surgery--then she got up gave the thumbs up to coach and she went on to score 6 points. She came away from that game with a few more scratches and 3 fouls. Go girl. Second team we played was really out for blood. They were Timbercreek. Hard core cores and very annoying with their ball chant. Which---Gretchen fixed one girl accidentally by bopping her in the throat acccidentally ---- We won this game in OT because their girls fouled out so much they only had 3 left to play the rest of the game. Both teams were very foul tending. We brought this game with everything we had too--of course. The only bad thing was Gretchen got punched in the nose and bled ---then her teeth were bleeding. So yes---these girls were out to WIN...and our team did...3rd place in tournament. Whew!!!

Random--

Random thoughts as my third Christmas season in Texas arrives--

I have come to appreciate the Texas spirit of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Fourth of July, Veterans Day, Labor Day and football season... whether the area in the city is decorated in flags, lights, spirit or whatever...there is a certain respect here that I haven't noticed anywhere else I have lived. I look forward to seeing the flags out in the islands for miles and miles....I look forward to the goofy Halloween decorations that are displayed by my neighbors and around....I really look forward to alllllll of the lights and decorations that are displayed for fun and competition during the holiday season - many have the mangers displayed out too. Football is a whole different season here and it is one you won't forget and really get into...a lot. I liked football before but I really have become a junky ...I still display my Michigan flag and wear my shirts...I get looks cause obviously the Longnorns, Texas a&m, the frogs etc... are very popular and over powering here.
I get a kick out of how cold the texans get when it dips into the 50's---oh they really freeze anything below that. My neighbors know I am a northerner because I relish the fun and idea of putting my festive lights out when it gets chilly and possibly cold here. Oh Susan---you are such the northerner...what can I say...thank you!!!! All of the Texans have their heat on 70 or so ---me, I keep my heat at 67-68 or if it is windy out and the breeze comes in the house maybe 69. Friends have learned to layer up in my house because comfort is the thing you know----love it.
One really lucky thing for our family is that we got great neighbora again. We talk and share--always wave hello stop and chat--even the men do. we had that somewhat in Indiana as far as the men but more here. In the area where I live people let you know when your brake lights are out---not in Ind..... or Jersey ---or Ohio. In fact---a motocyclist followed me to let me know one of my lights were out...creepy but southern kindness. Dogs rule here in the neighborhood and all over as far as I can tell. Everyone seems to be walking or running with a dog. You will find in Lowe's or Home Depot owners with their dogs small medium and LARGE ones. It cracks us up. We thought about bringing our cats but ---nahhhh. Although I have taken them in the car 3 times since being here to pickup or drop off Gretchen to/from school. Funny! So, if you are smart dog sitting is very popular here---
I think that is all for now--- I now there is more to share but I have stuff to do.

Homecoming and Texas Mums

here is the mum and kayla the other picture is her showing Taylor's name on it from EFY in Texas. They still talk and talk.

It is a huge deal here and maybe somewhere else---mums on your neck from your guy or from yourself. They can be gaudy or just right. This is Kayla's second year in having one designed for her---by mom. We just added some stuff to last years and she was happy! Wait till next year--maybe a guy will make her one.......