Gracie our sweet "snow princess"

Just a few pictures from Gracie's first dance recital. She practices once a week at "Dance Unlimited" and absolutely loves it! A GIANT thank you to Grandma Becky for sewing her costume (it was perfect!)and to Daddy for the headband! We are looking forward to many more recitals and getting there very early for a good seat.

Gracie was so excited to dance...not nervous one bit...I hope she is always this confident...the girls had so much FUN!

Gracie and Hailey who aren't in the same class but, did perform on the same night!

A couple shots Grandma got before the performance....

Gracie and Grandma...

Let the Yuletide FuN Begin!

Ben, Nolan (nephew) and Hailey(neighbor) all attend the same preschool. So, today we got to celebrate the "holidays" by icing our own cookies, exchanging gifts and singing! The kids had a fun time and now they can focus 110% on Santa's arrival.

~~Thanks to Heather, Melanie and Grandma and Grandpa for all the ride assistance this year..and a big THANKS to Grandma Sandy for watching the kids so I could attend the party with Ben!~~
**please remember to pause the music on the playlist to hear the boys "sing"..

Ben with his "gift" a plush dog..named none other than Toby.

Aunt Heather giving the boys a lesson in working the video camera...

Hailey and Miguel Benjamin..not feeling the greatest but, still managing to eat his 2 cookies..
Would you believe he didn't eat any of these b/c they weren't from home...Nolan won't eat much that isn't from his home...

Jolly Ole' Saint Nick...

All Tay wants for Christmas is Wii games, DS games, Uggs, (u know the low dollar things)..Gracie would like a Sleeping Beauty vanity, baby dolls, basically everything she sees and Ben would like more cars (like this one daddy got him, that he just had to bring to show Santa)...
So, this is the first time that Gracie has sat on Santa's lap since she was 1. All the other years she would have no part of it. Her question to me before it was their turn was..."Is Santa going to have Bad breath? " Her comment after..."Mommy, Santa's breath didn't stink..it smelled like a candy cane!"

The kids were troopers waiting the 35 minutes for Santa...Thank goodness for Auntie Anne's...

I thought with Ben I would have some say in his fashion choices..WRONG. I think he might be worse than the the girls...He found this sweater that Harrison handed down to him and now it's all he wants to wear...Go figure.

Colton Cash Williams

Finally, Christian (my cousin in Florida) got his boy..after Morgyn, Madysonn and Rylee. Jen gave birth to Colton Cash Williams on November 23rd. He came quick..no epideral..7lbs 5ozs. Everyone is doing well and enjoying their new family member!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!

Love the hat Colt. My Uncle Mike's first grandson...Guess we'll have to send him some "Colts" gear...

So Thankful...

We had a very blessed Thanksgiving...First a visit to Aunt Marcia's and then out to Jason's Grandpa Harold's...everyone was in very good health and spirits..it really made for such an enjoyable day... Aunt Marcia and Gracie ~~

Birdman(cousin) with Justin(2nd cousin).....
Grandma Shirley with Great-Grandchildren..Madeline, Halle, Evangeline,Gracie, Danielle, Justin, Zach, Taylor, Ben and Maggie..Just missing Brody.
Mom and Andrew ....

Ben and Noah with Great-Grandpa Harold... It was so nice to have Kevin, Noah and Sadie visit for the holiday but, we certainly missed Aunt Lori, Colin and the Koles family... Grandpa Harold with Great-Grandchildren Taylor, Layne, Gracie, Ben, Noah and Sadie...

Colin..just over a month old!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gracie had her Thanksgiving program today which included some fabulous singing and a large feast made by the pilgrims and indians... "Dimples" the indian girl

The show had Lane's full attention at 7 months...

Benjamin, Gracie and Shelby
The kids woke up this morning with a little spring in their step knowing daddy was going to be home for 5 days!! Nolan..don't write in that bible....haha

Ben's~~ look at me...I'm going to climb over this pew and not get in to any trouble....smile

***On the music playlist if you push the two lines (pause) button it will pause the music so you can hear Gracie***

Gracie has been practicing and practicing this song..although i'm surprised she didn't take this opportunity to sing a little Taylor Swift for everyone..if you see her..ask her to sing......

Payton Justice...

Just thought I would share this very appropriate pic of my not so little sister Payton...A 6th grader now with braces and glasses..changing so much...She is very busy these days with a boyfriend and friends but, hopefully she will come to see us soon!

Sadie and Noah Unleash their inner Buccaneer!

SHIVER ME TIMBERS!

Ahoy, Matey...ye's about to climb Jacob's Ladder..... Arrrr, Matey...I'm a pirate... Our Dora Princess Pirate niece Sadie...

Trick or Treat

What a FUN Halloween....Thanks to Kim and Alex for hosting the Chili Dinner and then it was on to trick or treating...the kids all loved it this year!!
Kim and Alex had the Chili, hot dogs, a bonfire and of course the treats!
Tay as the 1/2 dead Brownsburg Softball Player...How Sweet..

Gracie, Kate and Hailey..the tooth fairy, Belle and Snow White...I have to enjoy the tooth fairy with Gracie this year b/c next year she says she wants to be Darth Vader! Thanks to Emily for pulling them around all night....
Ben loved running up to every home and screaming trick or treat...

Happy Halloween!

So, this was at 9am this morning...Shelby and Gracie get to dress-up and trick or treat for real candy at their "old fashioned" school...

Shelby (Gray's Best Bud)"The Little Mermaid" and Gracie is the "Tooth Fairy"..She decided she wanted to be the tooth fairy because she has a "dead tooth" that's grey and she wants it to fall out..so she thought this might help the process...

Gray and Lane hanging out in their Halloween attire this morning...

And so it begins!

1st of all CONGRATULATIONS to Taylor...Her Volleyball team won 6 matches and lost just one last night to win her Rec League tournament...the best of 8 teams made up of 5th and 6th graders..now she can attend volleyball camp in the summer for free..WOOHOO!
Happy Halloween parties have begun...the boys were sooooo excited for their party! Of course Gracie wanted in the pic..Nolan(nephew) "Blue power ranger" and Ben "the scary skeleton"..more to come

Our Sweet NEW Nephew has arrived!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!

COLIN CHRISTOPHER MENDENHALL.....

Born Saturday, October 25, 2008...He weighed in at 8lbs 1oz...

Congratulations to Kevin, Lori, Noah and Sadie! We hear everyone is doing well..Tay, Gracie and Ben are very excited and can't wait to meet their new cousin!

Crazysocks WIN! Crazysocks WIN!

To say the Crazysocks were the underdogs in the season ending tourney would be an understatement..They ended the regular season 2-7. So..on Monday when the tourney began we thought we would be done...Here we are 3 games later and "The 10 and under Division Champions!!! The girls played their hearts out and gave it 110% today and after a 2 hour game in the rain all their hard work paid off!! Congratulations Taylor we are so proud of you..Your pitching was awesome, you are a very energetic team player and you always display great sportsmanship!!

Taylor with catcher, new neighbor and friend Alyiah Ericka, Kaylee, Alyiah, Andrea, Mandy, Lindey, Erin, Taylor, Devin, Alli, Amanda and Jason!

Jason, Taylor and Benjamin....
Jason and Mark telling the girls yet again what a fantastic job they did...
The 1st place trophy presentation! Boy, they Are BIG..

Taylor and Alli...they've played ball together the last 3 years...

Way to go Girls! YOU ROCK!!

Thanks to Grandma Becky and Grandpa Jeff for sticking it out in the freezing rain to see Taylor and her team WIN!

Calling Coach Chuck ....who missed the entire tournament for work in Houston!

The girls in front of their winning scoreboard!!! 10-2 CRAZYSOCKS!