Fun Filled Weekend!

What a fun filled weekend. We had a house full of family and had a wonderful time celebrating birthday's! (Molly's 4th was Sat. and Grandma's was Sunday but we did it Sat. too) Grandma & Grandpa made Molly the princess crown cake that she wanted....so cute! Then we had our Hanlon Family Christmas yesterday, topping it off with Sunday night mass as an entire family! Very moving music..we all took up the whole pew....it was awesome being all together!

Molly loved all her princess and barbie things....
she had so much fun!

We got her a new house for all her barbies!

Here's Grandma opening up a gift and enjoying all her Grandkids packed in around her!!! We got a little snow but didn't get a chance to go build a snowman although we are enjoying a couple that our neighbors built! So hopefully sometime while they are on break we will get enough that we can do that then. So glad the kids are on break! We are going to enjoy every minute of these next 2 weeks. Happy Holidays!!!

Happy Birthday Molly!!!

4 years ago today....this precious little angel was born!

And today she is still a precious little angel who played one of the wise men in her preschool play on Thursday. Today we are celebrating with Trevor's family and she woke up an excited little girl. First thing she asked was, "Am I four now?" We have been looking through pictures of her first few weeks of life and Ben & Rachel have been going crazy over her! We are so truly blessed! Happy Birthday Molly!!! You are so loved!!!

November Vacation

Trevor and I just returned from a 7 night Eastern Caribbean Cruise...thanks to Grandpa, Grandma (the whole week) and Aunt Maureen(the first 2 nights) came and stayed with the kids.
Trevor celebrated his birthday in style! We had a great time. Loved Turks & Caicos, enjoyed our day in San Juan, LOVED the snorkeling and the catamaran to St. John but would have stayed in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (private island, above)...I mean, if we could have had the kids brought to us....we would stay there for the winter! Coming back to Ohio and not seeing the sun for 2 days...makes you really wish we were still there. The water and sand were incredible!
While we were gone Ben's soccer team won both of their games the first weekend and advanced to the sweet 16 of the state soccer tournament. They did awesome but ended the season with a close one. Tied 2 -2 at the end of play and it went into 2 overtimes to loss 3 -2. Congrats to Ben and all the Cobras for a super season!

Happy Halloween

Ben (Grave Reaper....his mask lasted about 5 minutes), Rachel (Prairie Girl, Laura Ingalls) and Princess Molly!

2nd Place.... District Runner-up

He was so cute....and soccer continues....they go on to the State Tournament that starts on the 14th....and Trevor & I leave on the 13th for our 8 night away...7 night cruise....Thank Goodness for Grandpa & Grandma...who will take him to the game...or games if they keep winning.

Where have I been???

To Rachel's soccer games......
To Ben's soccer games....(he's on the front left, Trevor on the back Right)
Molly loves the soccer games too...but of course this picture was taken back before it turned cool. And we have now had to break out the gloves, hats, and coats for soccer. This is playoff weekend (both of their teams made it to the tournament) and with more rain in the forecast for tonight and in the morning... there will be more muddy clean ups for me! But after 2 plus months of soccer games (at least 2 per week of games and 2 to 3 practices a week & there was a spell when we were at 7 games in 10 days between the 2 of them) it will come to an end after this weekend. It will be nice to have Daddy and both kids home for dinner at the same time!
Go Gators, Go Cobras, Go Coach Trevor....Good luck this weekend!
And little princess started ballet like her big sister. She loves it! Of course it is like a chain reaction when those little girls need to leave class for a potty break....and it's a little annoying when you get her all undressed to go and she says, "never mind, just kidding!"
Now off to fall parties at school.....I love my job! It really is the best one in the world!

Molly goes to preschool!

First day of preschool....she was Miss Confident, walking in so big with her backpack. Then she was like, bye-bye Mommy....and ready for me to leave! :(

With her teachers, Ms. Karen & Ms. Kathy. She was sooo excited and had a great day!

My 3rd Graders!!!

Rachel & Ben with their 3rd Grade teacher, Mrs. Sattler. We are excited about our teacher this year!!! Today was back to school....and there was a little 3 year old in the house who did not want them to leave! After we dropped them off she says, "Now Mommy, take me to preschool!" She told me during our lunch date with Daddy today that she misses her Ben and Ray Ray! Taking them to school and then eating lunch must have been hard on her because she came home and went right to sleep. I hope they are having a great day and then we can hit the pool after school!

Help Fight Cystic Fibrosis!

Here is Molly with Mackenzie who has Cystic Fibrosis. Every day while we stayed with them when we were in Bentonville, Molly would sit by her while she did her treatments and then would want to take a turn wearing her vibrating vest. Mackenzie has to wear the vest 2 to 3 times a day to help break up all the extra mucus in her lungs from the disease. Below are more pictures from our trip. Please visit her fundraiser website to help us find a cure!!! We love this girl!
http://www.cff.org/great_strides/dsp_donationPage.cfm?registeringwalkid=6164&idUser=258572&source=SNOT

Summer Fun in Arkansas!

We have been gone for a while so there have been no updates...but after 24 days, 2510 miles in the van, 7 states, 8 different moves, 3 doctors visits (Rachel, myself and then Molly), seeing family and lots of dear friends. We spent time in St. Louis, Missouri, Arkansas (Bentonville & Harrison), back to Missouri (Lees Summit) to see my Aunt Betty and then to Omaha, NE (no posts from that yet but I will get to it soon) for Uncle Tony & Aunt Marcia's 40th Wedding Anniversary (Trevor's side of the family & reunion) back through IL and then home. Hotel life wouldn't have been so fun for that long so thanks to good friends who let us stay with them along the way! (Jobe Family in Bentonville, The Martin & The Still Families in Harrison) and for all the delicious meals that we had as we visited family and friends! Below are a few pics from the trip to Arkansas. And.....oh it is good to be HOME!!

My Favorite picture from the weeks...yes weeks that we were gone! The kids walking with the Jobe girls to get their mail....so precious!!!

The Jobes were kind enough to let us stay with them while we were in Bentonville. Most of you probably know them, here Ben is cheesing it up with Peyton & Mackenzie!

Molly & Pey Pey (as she calls her) in their matching outfits! And to think these used to be Rachel and Mackenzie's shirts! So cute!

And the kids had so much fun in the Jobes new house and pool! Both were Awesome!

This picture was taken for Mrs. Rebecca! She now lives in Nashville and we missed seeing her while we were there but she had these 4 friends in preschool....I think they will always be her little "Rainbows!" (Peyton, Rachel, Ella Cook & Ben)

A fun night out to eat with the Connolly and Moss Families. Rachel has said for years that she is going to marry Nate. They were so cute together!

Fun with cousins Grace & Paul in Harrison.

Rachel & Grace had so much fun together. They are both nature lovers and took in all the scenery and peacefulness while we spent some time at the Still's Farm.

Grandpa in "The Music Man"

Last night we went up to see Grandpa's performance in "The Music Man" at the Summer Arts Festival in Springfield. He has been practicing for the last 2 months, so between building houses for Habitat and this, I am sure that he will need a little rest and Grandma will be glad to see him again! Above: Rachel & Grandpa after the show! (This picture was taken at 10:45 pm, which is a record for her staying up so late, but she did great...really into the show and watched the whole thing! Very exciting for her!! Ben and Molly stayed home with Grandma, Will & Calla while the rest of us went to watch. This was the 2nd night so Grandma did get to see him opening night and it runs through Sunday night. And I even added a video below! Enjoy!

Babysitters Beware!!!

Tonight when Trevor was emptying the trash in the office he came across this note that Ben had written after our sitter Hillary had been here with the kids a few weeks ago. SOOOO Funny!!!!!

Imaginations!

Monday I was trying to get some laundry caught up and we were just hanging out at the house. This is for those of you Night at the Museum fans....they come through looking like this and tell me that they are Larry Daley, Sacagawea and Amelia Earhart. I had to take the picture...they were so cute and playing so good together.

Happy Father's Day!

Yes, he got breakfast in bed! The kids can't wait for these days and reminded me that it had to be done. I had been gone to NY on a girls trip and just got back the night before so I was still half asleep, but it was the tradition so I got up and made him blueberry muffins, fruit and a cappuccino! They also suggested a "kids day" so they could have breakfast in bed sometime soon!

Spring Soccer Champs!!!

Yesterday was Ben's last soccer game of the spring season. Going into the game we were tied for 1st place. If we could win we would be in 1st place alone, if we tied or lost we would end up tied for 1st. First quarter we were down 1 - 0. Came back and scored 2 goals (Way to go Jake) and won the game 2 - 1. It was stressful...mostly for me and Grandpa....but oh yea...and Coach Trevor! We are proud of you too!!!! Trophies are ordered and a celebration is to follow! Way to go Red Dragons! 6 Wins, no losses, 2 ties and First Place Champs!!!!!!!!!

First Communion Day

Before Mass started...they were so cute and so excited!

After Mass....Daddy & his girl...love this picture! Getting it framed!

With Grandma & Grandpa after church.

We had a great feast.. brisket, smashed potatoes, fresh green beans & new potatoes, cheeses, Aunt Tammy's hot rolls,Aunt Maureen's deviled eggs, Grandma & Grandpa brought a relish tray and yummy stuffed mushrooms that never made it to the table! Then we had this cake that Grandma had made by someone in Springfield. The kids loved the white chocolate hosts! lol

The whole gang. Rachel, Ben, Molly, Cousins...Michael, Will, & Calla. Aunt Tammy, Grandma, Trevor, me, Vic, Maureen, Grandpa, Cosima & Aunt Susan.
We missed Uncle Sean, he had to work! :(

2nd Grade Projects

Ben did a power point presentation on the state of Alabama and this is his float that he made to go along with it. Aunt Tammy, who lives in Montgomery sent him some things to use for his project.

Rachel's state was Indiana (Uncle Sean & Aunt Cosima sent her the things she needed) and I helped her make her flag.

Later they made landforms out of salt dough and I have to say.... after making it to send to school...."Hallelujah for Play Dough!!!"

Then a couple of weeks ago they did power point presentation biographies on Florence Nightingale and Alexander Graham Bell. We got to go watch them present in front of their class and the principle. They did awesome and dressed to the part. Grandma even got in the attic and let Rachel wear her nursing stuff, Rachel was thrilled. It was so cute!!

Now I know this last picture isn't of my little ending 2nd graders (oh...are they really going to be in the 3rd grade!!!) but it was too cute that I had to add it. Besides, I have been a bad blogger lately with being gone on the cruise, the end of year craziness and Molly's swim lessons everyday so what can I say except the girl loves all things chocolate...especially her pudding!

Sneak Peak.......

Although we are not scheduled to do First Communion until May 24th, we had pictures at church tonight! They looked so darn cute that I had to post it! Ben told us he was wearing a tux and was so proud...so we didn't tell him any different!

Happy Easter!

We got home from vacation on Saturday night, colored eggs and then got up on Sunday and went up to Trevor's parents for Easter. Above is a picture of them with their cousins, Michael, Will and Calla after their egg hunt. It was great being all together for Easter.
We came home late in the afternoon and got ready and went to Mass on Sunday night. Here is a picture of the kids before we left for church.

Navarre Beach

They loved the sand! By the last day they had this big maze (with the help of some
other kids on the beach) and they played in it for hours!

My precious kids!

We had one day that they didn't get in the water (60 was the high that day...of course a near record low.. because we were there) but after a trip to Pensacola Beach (Book Store and ate at Peg Leg Pete's) we stopped and looked for some shells to add to the collection they had.

Molly loved the sand!!!
Check out the next two precious shots I got of her!