Fall picture time

I love fall pictures! Today was just the most perfect fall day. I could not pass up the chance to go Eureka Lake and snap some cute picture of the kids.

Here are some of my favorite of Blake:

Here is my favorite of Hannah Bear:



My favorite of Parker:

My favorite of Payton:

Soccer

It is Parker's turn to joining in the "after school" activities. He choose to try soccer this fall and gymnastics. Gymnastics is technically during school as it is a home school class. He seems to like it. Soccer however is on Saturdays and Mondays. He LOVES it. During his last game he told me he loves to sweat. Yep he is a boy! I can not believe how much I enjoy watching him play. He is not the most talented kid on the team, but boy does he try hard. He is the go to kid on the team. The coach knows that Parker is always ready to play and can continue to play for long stretches. The first game Parker scored three goals and at the last game Seven goals.

First day of school

Payton 3rd grader
my little fashion star

Hannah

2nd grade

What makes me happy?

I have been seeing lots of blogs posting on what they are thankful for or what makes them happy. As a mom of four little ones it is easy to get lost in the day to day stuff. I can easily complain about what went wrong, who was not behaving like I want them to, what I did not accomplish, etc. Every once in a while I will say... this is why I do what I do. I need to make this a more regular habit. So I will be posting what makes me happy here in the blog for me to reflect on later in those more heated days. I am hoping that by Christmas time I have 100 happy "things" listed.

1. Seeing any of my children curl up to a good book. I love that they are becoming "readers".
2. Blakey walking on his toes doing his happy dance.
3. Parker being such a lover. He always want to cuddle and hug and kiss. He will still sit on my lap for long periods of time.
4. Parker and Blake asking to be rocked at night.
5. Hannah's toothless smile. It reminds me how little she still is!

Miss Chicagoland

Payton is doing awesome this year in baton. She has improved SO much. She is enjoying the benefits...winning. We may have created a monster. This weekend she competed in Regionals. She got some 3rd places. But got a 2ND in instate solo, 1st in Midwest Regional Basic Strut, and...

1st Novice Midwest Regional Solo
Miss Chicagoland

She was just a little excited and so was I.

That was fast...Blue Belt

Little Miss Hannah has been quite busy with her Tae Kwon Do. She has made it all the way to a blue belt. We are so proud of all her hard work.

Payton my little Ballerina

Payton started taking ballet again this winter. She was not sure if she wanted to do ballet as she found it boring at the old studio. But she loves the new academy and has found a new love for the dance. Her recital was at the end of May. I was not crazy about the costume but she was happy.