2009.01.10 Pinewood Derby!!

Korbin created such an awesome car this year. It was a police car but the problem was that it didn't chase any cars, others chased it!

This years car was much faster than last year and Korbin ended up taking 3rd place among 21 cars. It was some steep competition. Kirk pats himself on the back saying "the first place winner's dad is a carpenter by trade and the 2nd place winner's dad had 4 boys already go through cub scouts, so I'm pretty darn good." Whatever.

Korbin had a great time.

2009.01.03 Boys riding new dirt bikes

Ethan on his new Dirt Bike. He's working on saving money to get gear like Korbin.

There is nothing Korbin is more passionate about than his Dirt Bike. He saved for over a year to earn the $120 Kirk told him he had to earn before he would pitch in the rest for his dirt bike. With Korbin's saved money Kirk purchased all his gear. This was really a very emotional Christmas present and has created a lasting memory for us because of how long Korbin waited for this. Christmas in general was the best our family has ever had as we focused more on giving and it changed the mood in our family for the better.

2008.12.27 Hard at Play

The joy of peace and quite while children relish in their new toys...alas, the moment is brief.

Our very proud Ethan who completed his lego death shippy whatever you call it in only 3 days.

Koral very much the mothering type

2008.12.25 Some great Christmas shots

This one really captured the joy of Christmas morning. I'll be honest, Mrs Claus was really awesome this year!

Part of our fun tradition is burying ourselves in the Christmas wrapping after everything is opened (it looks a lot funner than it really is)

Christmas eve in all their new pajama's (part of our tradition)

Local mall in Dallas has an indoor skating rink and a ginormous Christmas tree. We all had a lot of fun, even if Kirk and I didn't skate.

2008.12.2 Horse Drawn Carriage Ride

I think this is the first time we have been able to do this as a family. We waited in line for 1 1/2 but it was worth it!

Kirk is making me write that it wasn't really cold but I am anal and made everyone dress up in winter clothes. So, yes, Texas is pretty warm.

2008.11.10 Setting up the Christmas Tree

We were a little late getting the Christmas tree up this year...we try to get it up the weekend after Halloween (are we insane?)

You can just feel the joy coming from Kirk's little smirk.

2008.11.02 Teage's Birthday

Hopping in the tub to clean off the chocolate cake> honestly, most if came from his brothers!

Teage's big day, he partied pretty hard.

The gang's all here!

Believe me, this was the start of something bad, very very bad.

Haloween in Flower Mound!

Here we are. Looking at this picture, Kirk looks like a vulcan, but in reality he's just himself with hair. He did wear his Geek Squad shirt to add to the geeky mop on his head. Ethan is the shark, these are shoes and pants sticking from the sharks mouth. Koral was Minnie Mouse, and my good friend Terri Parker visiting from Ann Arbor, Michigan, painted her face for me. Korbin was a mad scientist, and Teage a clown. As always, I'm a party pooper when it comes to Halloween and didn't dress up. I think I was traumatized as a child, because I hate this holiday. Just skip it and move right on to Thanksgiving!

We joined up with our good friends the Nickerson's for a bit in our neighborhood.

The end of a hard day!!

Kirk has gotten the kids into counting and sorting. Korbin hauled in some 167, Ethan 156, and Koral 150. Kirk (who was supposedly trick-or-treating for Teage), hauled in a good amout as well. Now that the candy is here, Kirk is starting to be the Halloween scrooge and wants to give the kids 1 week, then at the end of the week, he's tossing everything. I remember saving my candy for months. Kirk's brother used to save it for almost a year. Kirk says that's just not the way it is any more. Kids now have so much candy that they just don't need any more. He's also starting to play Dentist, as he's making the kids brush after they get done eating their candy!

The day before Halloween!

One last trip out to the pumpkin patch to frolic in the autumn mist.

We really were behind this year. We picked up pumpkins only today and then spent the night carving and eating donuts and hot chocolate.

Oct 5, 2008 Surprise!!!

On my birthday, I heard a knock on my door. Kirk quickly made himself busy and asked me to get the door. He had just come home from an "interview" at a Starbucks at the airport. Sounds fishy? Well, it wasn't at the time. So, he walks in and gives me my kiss and pinch on the rear and we chat for a while. Then this knock. After the screaming died down, I invited my sister from Las Vegas in and we all enjoyed a great week together. It was the best birthday surprise ever.

We spent a lot of time at the pumpkin patch. We got some great foto's of some cute little kiddo's.

This is scrapbook material for sure.