Nate's Christmas program

Nathan had his school Christmas program this past week.  It was a bittersweet program for us and it was our last young elementary Christmas program.  No more cramming ourselves into bleachers with our winter coats and gear to watch the cutest kids ever welcome Christmas.  We love it (well, I love it...Joe enjoys it).  Our youngest child who loves music and an audience was super, super excited for this program.  He also had a speaking part which just added some gasoline to his fire of excitement.  Here is a video of the 1st graders.  It is rather long so if you aren't family, don't feel like you have to endure it.  I also apologize for the lack of videographer skills.  I need to figure out my camera and why it is blurry.

Christmas Break!

Today was officially the first day of Christmas break here.  The kids took full advantage of it out in the snow...well, the younger three did.  It was "too cold" for the oldest.

desperately trying to make an igloo with the little snow we have

Deep Thoughts....

Swimming part 2

 Sara had her second swim meet on Saturday.....

Warm-ups

Waiting for her events

Waiting some more....

Getting ready to swim the back stroke.  This was a huge meet for the venue...a crazy number of people!  This was the girls in her age group getting ready to swim their heats

Smiles all around at the end of the her events.  She improved her free style swim by 9 seconds and her back stroke by 7 seconds!

yuuuummmmmmy!

 Friday afternoon was cookie time at the Horn house.....

I love this kid!

Nathan waiting for the bus...

The debut...

Last night was our first of two school concerts for the season....the girls' Christmas concert.  Ashley made her debut playing the oboe.  So proud of her....it has a been a challenge for a girl that doesn't see many challenges in her life.  She has stuck with it and can make the oboe sound beautiful.  Sara is still at the flute and also makes beautiful music.

'Tis the season.....

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year spent with the Horn side of the family.  Joe and I ran in our first Drumstick Dash and actually managed to lose a pound or two over the weekend (woohoo!).  Two of the kids braved some early morning shopping on Black Friday with Joe & I.  And we had a great time catching up with family.  Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera, so you will just have to trust me that we all had smiles on our faces.

When we got home it was time to transition the house into a Christmas theme.  It was a "times are changin' and kids are getting older" kind of an evening for me.  I didn't bring any of the boxes upstairs and I didn't put a single ornament on the tree.  The kids and Joe pretty much did all of it.  And I haven't even moved around any of the ornaments on the tree...  They did a really good job! And here are some pics...obviously not in any particular order...

We have also launched our other advent traditions....Christmas kisses countdown, advent readings and the reading of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  If you have not read it, it is my favorite Christmas book.  I highly recommend it!  We hope you are enjoying this advent season as we not only look to Christmas Day 2012, but look forward to that day when Christ will return!

The first celebration of the season...

With their cub scout pack

Sara is in the second row in the middle.

Our annual town Christmas parade was today.  I am not sure you could find any child more excited than Nathan or less excited than Sara. 

A beautiful Saturday Morning

 It was an absolutely beautiful morning here.  I spent it soaking up the view and sounds.

lego man

I wait all fall for this bush to turn this color.  It finally turned this past week.  I get to look at it out my front window.

Nate read me a story.  Do any of your sons bring their sidearms to the table to read?

The finished lego project...getting us all in the Christmas spirit.

The frost was certainly on the pumpkin this morning...

Ashley's Speech at State

Ashley participated on speech team this year.  She had so much fun.  Since she is just a 5th grader she was only allowed to do one.  So she chose to do a solo.  They also have duets, chorus, improv., etc.  I anticipate that next year she will do the most she can which I believe is three.  For those not familiar with speech, it is really more "acting" than just standing up and giving a speech.  They have a conference competition and then a state competition.  For those who maybe participated in band solo and ensemble contest as a kid (or has a kid in it), these competitions are very similar.  You are basically competing against yourself.  Ashley scored a first at both Conference and State.  She did an awesome job!

MY boys of fall

Nathan at quarterback position

"Big John" was John's nickname by his coaches.  I foolishly had him block me after one of his games while he was still in his pads.  Man does he hit hard...

Here he is on the "O" line trying to keep #1 from getting through

Both of the boys played football again this fall.  Nathan was still in flag football (and, much to his frustration, will be next year too).  John played his first year of tackle.  Both boys had wonderful coaches and had a wonderful season!

Sara Swimming

We are been "underwater" the last couple of months with all the kids' activities.  I feel like I am finally "getting my head above the water" as football and speech are over.  Sara joined the local swim team this fall.  I am so super proud of her.  It was a steep, steep learning curve for her.  She went from recreational swimming to swimming over a mile during her practice in the first week.  It was so tough for her and she stuck with it.  She has now settled in and is enjoying it.  Here are some pictures from her first meet.  She has another one mid-December and we are both super excited to see how much her times improve from the first one.  (I will try to get my settings right for the next swim meet!)

The blurry one jumping in is Sara

Thoughts for today

I don't have anything significant to post about, but in effort to keep up with my family journal I thought I would share what is happening here today.

• Right now I am outside enjoying a beautiful September day with my daycare kids.  They make me smile as I watch them run through the grass with the wind blowing their hair.
• Ashley has her first speech team practice today.  I can't tell you how excited she was.
• Sara has her first swim team practice this evening.  Not being one to excited, it is not surprising that she is much more nervous than excited.
• John got his first set of braces this morning. Joe took him, so I can't wait to see him when he get home.  
• It is picture day for the girls and I remembered!
• Mosquitos are back from their summer vacations. Poor Nathan got bit on the cheek last night.
• I have discovered a new app called StumbleUpon.  I love it.  Discovered a way to get my silver ring untarnished.
• It is about fall and that means pumpkin spice lattes hitch I happen to love...one of my favorite drinks.  I "stumbled upon" a homemade recipe for them that I can't wait to try.  I will share if it turns out as good as it looks.
• My face is peeling and itchy and no, I am not trying a new beauty treatment.  I sat outside on Saturday cheering my boys on in football.  I had sunglasses and a hat on, but unfortunately that doesn't prevent sunburn on your lips and chin.
• I am still a Colts fan, but it is really hard not to cheer on the Broncos as well.  Wow, did Peyton look great on Sunday night! He is truly a master at quarterback.

My Current Life

I found a sock in the laundry and I have no idea whose it is or how it got in my laundry.
I have dug through the trash twice in the last month looking for papers my kids needed to return to school that, ahem, I threw out.  My excuse?  Unnecessary papers.  Truth? I obviously need to stop and ready papers before I throw them away unless I have taken a liking to digging through trash cans.  Which I haven't.  It's been hot. Yuck.
In an effort to lose a few pounds, I am limiting myself to only fruit and veggie carbs during the day.  I am hungry.  That is good, right?
Ashley is going to start playing the oboe soon.  I have been enjoying my quiet afternoons until duck calling begins on a regular basis.  Kidding! Well, sort of...okay, maybe not.
Our grass needs mowed. I kind of enjoyed that part of the drought.
I think my daycare kids like Joe better than me.  I am a little jealous.
Nathan came out of his room the other day at 6am to go to the bathroom.  I looked up at him when he came out. Of the bathroom and he had his pj pants on, no shirt and sunglasses.
Poor John is the slowest guy on his football team.  Good thing he's big.  He just needs to make sure he can stand in front of someone to stop them before they get past him.
Sara is learning how to march.  We will find out at the Homecoming parade if she can march in step.

One of my boys of fall....

John started practicing with his pads on this week. This proud mama thinks he looks so cute in his uniform!!  Is it odd that I took my camera to practice?

Here he is practicing in the center position...one of his favorite position.  He also like playing guard. And I am learning exactly which positions these all are....

First Day of school

Well, I am only a little late on this.  School started here last Wednesday.  It has been a huge jump from relaxing summer to "oh my, we need to move a little quicker and be a little more scheduled" for some reason this year.  I am sure it has nothing to do with football practice, my daycare starting up again, youth stuff (since Joe is interim youth pastor), a funeral last week, and a CRAZY weekend schedule.  And on top of that, all of my tomatoes are ripening so my counter is full of tomatoes and peppers to can and freeze.  This week we are finally hitting our stride and feeling a little more normal.  We are adding open gym for basketball this week and in a few weeks we start speech team, swim team practice and scouts.    A typical life of a family of six....  Here are some pics from the first day of school:

I love how you can always see my kids' personalities whenever we do a group shot.

My ladies

My gentlemen

Guess who lost his top two teeth right before school started?! 1st Grader

3rd grader

5th grader

6th grader

I love being able to watch the girls wait for the bus.

Eager anticipation

The first of many embarkments this year