Way Back Wednesday!

Carter dressed as a scarecrow.

~October 1999~

Backpacking

This weekend, Carter went camping with the Boy Scouts to Enchanted Rock. They hiked two miles to their camping spot. Each Scout carried all his own stuff, including food and the supplies to cook the food as ground fires were not permitted. Carter weighs 70 pounds, his pack weighed 30 pounds.

He had a lot of fun even though it was hard! He said he "only fell over once." :)

Roland Piano Festival

Last night Taylor participated in the Roland Piano Festival. There were 20 kids in her age group ranging in age from 11-13.

They each picked one piece to play and then used the Roland Piano's capabilities to add background music, sound effects, and multiple instruments. With a little help from her awesome teacher...

...she added some really cool effects to the piece, He's a Pirate by Klaus Badett, and then played for a panel of judges...

They chose two participants to go on to the next round in Los Angeles, California. She was not chosen but we are so proud of her and think she did awesome! Dave's best friend's son was one of the two kids picked which was really fun. Congratulations Gabe...you were AMAZING!

She did a fabulous job! Check it out...

Did you notice that the judge mentioned her finger nails? Taylor told me that she was really excited to play in the festival because of the camera hooked up to the monitor giving a close up of each participants hands as they played and she was thrilled that everyone was going to see her painted nails. So, we thought it was funny that the judge actually noticed! :)

Way Back Wednesday!

Lauren was afraid of Carter in his Winnie the Pooh costume.  Notice her pouty lip...

The closer he got...

The more terrified she was...

But her guardian angel...

Made it all better...

 Cute little Piglet!

~2001~

Outlaw 100

My friend Laurie and I...

...biked 42 miles in the Outlaw 100 this morning.  

It took us  3 1/2 hours and we burned 1830 calories (Laurie actually burned over 2000 but whose counting?)  Woo-Hoo!  It was so fun...we talked and laughed the entire time.  We did the Outlaw 100 last year too but did 25 miles. Next year we'll have to try to ride 50 miles.  You can ride up to 100 miles in this event but I'm not sure I'd want to do much more than 50 on our hybrid bikes.  I think we'd want to invest in road bikes (and padded biker shorts) if we were to ride much farther.  

Way Back Wednesday!

~Taylor & Carter 2002~

Thirty Seven!

October 1, 1974...

~Yours truly...one year old~

October 1, 2010...

 I woke up and found a special message on my bathroom mirror...

 On the kids birthdays, I always leave them a message on the mirror.  So, Lauren and Carter decided to
leave me a message as well... I thought it was pretty cute. 

I enjoyed a lunch out with great friends...

~Laurie, Halli, & Gracie~

Lauren helped Dave make me a cake...

And I didn't even have to help clean up!

I was super excited to open this...

...and find a new pair of sun glasses!  (I had broken my favorite pair this summer and was really bummed.)   Thanks babe!  They are perfect.

Lauren likes them too!  :)

Dave's mom made me this beautiful wall quilt...

I love it, don't you?

So, I'd have to say that October1st was a good day, a very Happy Birthday indeed.

Way Back Wednesday!

 Like Father...

Like Son...

(Dave & Carter 2001)

Twelve!

This cutie...

 ...is already TWELVE years old!  My kids are growing up way too fast.  It kinda makes me sad.  

Lucky for him, his birthday was on Saturday, so he invited a few friends...

Carter, Jacob, Justin, & Sam  (His buddy, Brock met us a little later as he had a baseball game.)

...to go to Austin's Park n' Pizza!  We met his cousins there and his Grandma & Grandpa Matheny are visiting from Oregon so they came too! 
His favorite thing was the go-karts...

But the girls liked the rock wall the best...

We stayed until they closed (10:00 p.m.) so on Sunday, after church, we had his favorite dinner (hamburgers, chips, and watermelon) and, per Carter's request, an ice cream cake...

...just like Taylor's!  I told you it was a hit.  :)  Check out the candles, they glow the color of the candle itself.  Pretty cool, huh!

Then he opened presents...

...while we watched.

~Lauren & Grandpa Matheny~

Then we all played a really fun card game called Bang.  Now, if only they could grow up just a little bit slower?  Yes, that would be good.  :)

Happy Birthday Carter!  We love you!!!

It's a weekly thing...

For the past month, my friend Darlene has been taking a really nice group of mama's on a standing date every Friday out on her boat...

(Darlene pulling Ginger on the tube.)

...and I've been getting braver!  I've been skiing like this...

 But today, after a little peer pressure, they finally talked me into kicking a ski!  I slalomed a little as a kid but after a bad fall, which felt like I broke my neck, I was scared to try again.  So you can imagine how nervous I was, especially now that I'm old.  But try, I did and walla...

 It was fun!  :)  And the best part (besides lunch on the lake)...I didn't fall!  Woo-Hoo!!!  Thanks Darlene for another perfect day at the lake!

Way Back Wednesday!

Check out this little video clip from Lauren's 4th birthday...

Isn't that just the cutest thing ever...I want a "geerl kiss" too!  :)

Fourteen!

Can you believe this cute little thing...

...is now FOURTEEN years old! Where has the time gone?

Lauren made her this...

And I made her an ice cream cake...

...to go along with her favorite dinner (lasagna, salad, and garlic bread). It was a hit. I got the recipe here.

Dave's sister and her family came over for dinner and to celebrate with us. It was fun. We are so incredibly thankful for this cute little  big thing...

How did we get so lucky? We love you Taylor! Happy Birthday!