Kolten's 15th birthday bash

Happy 15th birthday Kolten! We had the usual big family party this year, but were lucky enough to get guest appearance from the band Letusin. It livened things up for sure. We had pizza, salad, cake and ice cream and lots of chaos.






The guitar cake, I told Kolten this was my hardest cake I have made, he doesn't believe me. It just had a few problems. I don't know if it was the hardest, or maybe I just forget the previous cakes.

The band members of Letusin are Kolten, Reed, and Branson. The singer quit an hour prior to the performance. Oh well, the drama of a band I guess. Maybe when they are famous, we'll be rich off these early pictures and videos!

The band all sang one song for us, they wrote the music and everything. Pretty exciting to have your own band in the family!

Wasn't it great to be 15 and know EVERYTHING!!!!

Valentine's Day tradition

Each Valentines Day, and Kolten's birthday, I make heart pancakes for breakfast. I think I eat them more than anyone. I didn't really know what to get them for Valentines Day, so we went to the mall and they picked out their own gifts. Kolten wanted clothes, and Kate a Build-a-bear frog. Every one's happy. Bart had to work so we just went to eat and a movie for Kolten. Kolten didn't have a very exciting birthday, the party is next week. Sorry Kolten, but the older you get, the less exciting birthdays are.

Christmas Day

Christmas eve



Christmas Eve, they all are wearing their new pajamas, home made of course!

So much enthusiasm, it's scary!

Kate had a great Christmas! I don't know if she could even think of anything else she could want.

Kolten was happy with his new snowboarding jacket from Lucy. It isn't easy to please a 14 year old.

Kate asked Lucy for an American Girl doll, she got Kit.

Kate with Gramps and Grandma Debbie.

The style of a 7 year old

What do I want for Christmas...

Kate's Christmas list: a keyboard, a mermaid doll, and a playhouse.

1st grade gingerbread party

OK, this got out any ambition I had of creating a big, beautiful gingerbread house. I went to help with the 1st grade gingerbread house party. They actually were very creative and there were some very cute houses. It was a big project though, and an even bigger mess. I think the kids all had a lot of fun, some just mainly enjoyed eating the candy, but who could blame them?

Christmas Card 08

Kate looks so old here!

Kolten and Tracker.

We just went outside to hurry and get a picture for our Christmas cards, last minute of course. We almost couldn't send them out since we almost lost Tracker the next week. He had a big cyst in his neck and was so sick. He couldn't eat or hardly walk. We all shed many tears and said our goodbyes. I think he was in septic shock. Each morning I couldn't believe he was still alive. But, the cyst ruptured, now that's a whole different story. He is definitely the dog of 9 lives, over coming sepsis and paraplegia. It would have been a very sad Christmas if he wouldn't have made it.

The zoo in the fall

I couldn't believe we got this picture, perfect timing. It was so much fun watching the elephants eat the pumpkins. We always go to the zoo in the heat of the summer, and can barely walk through with out feeling totally exhausted. It was so nice to go when it's cool, we walked through the zoo feeling great, and there were hardly any people there.

We always have to end with the train ride. No line!

Telos Tri Champion 09

The cheerleader. I was too, I couldn't decide if I wanted to race, it was nice watching for once, but I did feel very lazy. Maybe next year.



Bart starting the race, it was a reverse order sprint.

Bart won the age group division! Again. He is really a natural triathlete. He just started this year and already is doing so great. He especially loves when he wins. Good job Bart.

Where's Waldo?

Kate and Elle having fun in the leaves. Who feels like raking them up?

Happy Halloween!

Kate marched in the costume parade, then we had the class party. I am one of the room mothers this year. We had the witches brew, played games, and it turned out really fun for the kids.

Kate made a cat pumpkin, Kolten made his usual basset hound pumpkin. I think he's obsessed.

If you can't tell who Kolten is, he's Syndrome, the evil guy, from Disney's Incredibles. I think he was a little on the old side for trick or treating, but he went with his friends. My opinion is if you make the effort to get all dressed up, I don't mind giving you some candy. He did look a little bit funny though standing by the little cute 3-4 year olds in their costumes. This was the picture before he went to school. He chose the costume, you don't really find many of these in the stores, so I had to make it. He is pretty brave though to wear a leotard to school in 9th grade.

Kate decided she wanted to be a candy corn witch. I made her costume, but this one I should have bought. She did look cute. We went around the neighborhood, then around Lucy's neighborhood. This was an easy year for us, we had the family party a different day so that was nice, a lot less running around than our usual Halloween.