The Most Fabulous Football Season

Above - #52, Isaac, hiking the ball to #8

What a fabulous football season for us! Despite his sisters begging him NOT to play football (they feared for his life) and even his Mom and Dad's apprehensions (we've got some REALLY BIG black boys round here, some fresh out of prison), Isaac decided to take up the coaches invitation and PLAY BALL! And wow, what a fun time he had! And all of us too! The weather's been gorgeous for every game, the fall colors match the vibrant orange of Curtin's colors, the crisp cool air and warm, golden sunlight added to the experience! The team was completely victorious!!! They have never done better, according to what any Curtin teacher or coach can remember (that's about 40 years back) as they WON 6 GAMES in a row. We had extra amounts of fun because Isaac played center on offense, hiking the ball every play and center something something on defense so he was often involved there too. Isaac's friend, Gabe, from church also decided to play so we enjoyed so much sitting with our good friends for each game and inviting some more church friends over for a football party one night. We finished the season treating the victorious team to pizza, pop (oh, I mean soda, nobody knows what pop is here) and donuts - I have never in all my days see so much food wiped out so fast - that was nearly as amazing as the whole season! Way to go TEAM!

Clara and Her Playmates!

I couldn't resist taking a few shots of Clara and her "siblings" (I mean the puppy and the fillie). Still so amazing that we ended up with three babies at once! Thank heavens each one is doing beautifully! Love, Mom

P.S. Each at six months: CLARA- crawling, standing, LOVES MOM, so darlingly shy (hides in mum's shoulder), delights in all the kids but cracks up at Zoie and Esther daily, still nursing, mimics sounds (especially horses), eats bread from her tray and loves human food NOT baby food (mmmm-mmmm-mmm's while she eats! SO cute!) FILLY- still leaps and plays, greets us without fear now, will lead behind mama with a halter and rope, stands for children when the halter is on, lets up pick up legs and pet all over, still nursing though wanders around independent when Belle leaves and nibbles grass and hay. PUPPY- playful and people-oriented, learning her limits! (which includes no sniping from the counter-top), graduated from kennel to puppy bed in the family room (still in kennell when family's gone), got herself a brand-new electric fence and collar and was a VERY quick learner, loves her new indoor-outdoor freedom, finally all potty trained (OH PHEW!) but still shreds paper now and then - ugh. Mom's still alive and kickin' and most days somewhat sane - WOW.

Still Movin' In!

Finally added a mirror to the main floor bathroom! Got a new dining room table, too big for the dining room so we moved it to the family room. (No chairs yet) So grateful for Jane Arnolds Boston Temple painting, a gift from Kara Obey to grace our foyer. More house improvements later, we hope!

Happy Theme!

One thing I have missed since Mike was put in as Stake President is the missionary's coming over for dinners and splits with Mike! Once Mike became bishop and even more as Stake president they've been so cautious not to take up his time that we hardly know the new missiona

ries that have come in the last few months. So I especially appreciated the happy "missionary" theme to my birthday party and our anniversary this year! The missionaries happened to stop to report to Mike for my b-day so we invited them for the barbeque birthday dinner. Then as a very special way to celebrate 15 years together, Mike and I were invited to the mission home to meet with the mission president and his wife, the 4 neighboring stake presidents and their wives and a visiting general authority and his wife from Salt Lake City. It was a precious evening to spend contemplating on our blessings together and rejoicing in our marriage and the work of the Lord! Happy theme for this year's celebrations!

Back to School!

The weekend before the children went back to school, we visited the horses. Emily and Anna were setting out to ride Belle (mama horse) and Mercedes but baby Serendipity would not follow. From where I stood I could see baby horse, but her mama could not so she was nervous, whinnying back, and in a tizzy. Serendipity on the other hand was busy checking out the world around her on her own, not worried about Mama in the least, amazingly beautiful, strong and independent. Just two days later I found myself sending the children off to school. I thought I'd wake early and treat the children to such a special breakfast, but as I finished feeding baby Clara and set off to the kitchen I found a most appetizing breakfast ready on the table by Isaac. The big kids soon yelled, "Bye Mom, love ya!" as they jumped into the car with Dad. What happened to one more look back hugs and hesitant to leave home kisses of last year? On to elementary school. Mikela insisted she get out of the car and start to class so she would NOT be a minute late. Neither of us knew her teacher or classroom yet, but she was a big fifth grader and fine without Mom walking her in. Bye, Mikela! Then I thought to wave bye and hold Kate a minute longer, but when I said Hi to the teacher and turned around, there she was already in her seat, big smile on her face waving me off. Little Esther to preschool next. Oh, she was nervous but dressed to her best and acting as big as she could as she kissed me goodbye, growing up so much in that one moment. I slowly walked to the car holding Zoie's hand. "At least I have my two tiny ones at home with me" I thought as I went to boost Zoie Grace into the car, but she quickly pushed my hands down as she forcefully proclaimed her own independence, "vyfelf!" Like Belle it was hard to let up on being Mom careful and watching every minute, keeping them under my wings, but like Serendipity they are growing gorgeous, strong, independent with vibrant and beautiful spirits that will go on to do great things and "what's a mother to do?" Whinny them back, cry on the first day of school, but know, she'd not have it any other way. Here's to another year of growth!

Amazing weekend!

Life has indeed been busy for all of us! Too busy to write about it! Please forgive. We did have the most amazing weekend though. We had been disappointed we couldn't head up to New Hampshire last weekend due to several schedule conflicts, but it ended up being one of the nicest weekends we've ever had here. I (CaMarie) felt for the first time like we settling into 'home'. Friday and Monday the children had off school. We attended chores then headed up to our new barn to set it up for the new arrivals. Emily and Anna and Mikela posted darling handmade and laminated chore charts and "tack room" signs. They put up a "gallery" in the tack room - darling horse posters they've saved for months for just such a purpose. The barn quickly became their second home. The horses arrived Saturday morning to (I must admit) heaven on earth. Lush green grass, warm, golden sunshine, lots of friends, and the most vibrant colors of autumn filling the mountainside (where our lot sits) behind them. It was among the most beautiful of days ever made, I am certain. The horses basked in it, and showed how comfortable they were in their new home by rolling in the grass, shaking and heaving big, happy sighs. We are SO GLAD to have them closer, relishing the 6 minute drive versus the 25 minute drive. The girls are SURE it will NEVER be hard to wake up at 6 a.m. to check on them and feed them each morning. Mike and I feel grateful that things have worked out as they have. We learned so much from both the barns the horses resided at this past year, and they themselves are vastly better, easy now to manage, than they were a year ago thanks to our mentors Shane, Kim, and Becky. We are more prepared for full responsibility - loving it so far! The girls took a trail ride Tuesday with little Dipity being led behind them. Mike and I could not resist and took our own little get away trail ride Wednesday for a picnic lunch together admist paradise - EXTRAORDINARY! We feel SOOOO BLESSED!!!!