GEORGIA . . .

The day after Christmas, we loaded everybody up and drove about 14 hours, or so, to Georgia, to be with Quinn's family. We had so much fun seeing Annie and Poppy, and Uncle Travis and Aunt Katie, and playing with cousins, Sydney and Addyson. It was also super special to get to spend some time with Memama, who will be turning 90 this year!!

Sydney and Luke

Luke's favorite spot, was perched at the bar, playing with Annie's gingerbread train and houses.

We got to hear Poppy give a great talk at church, about setting goals, and working hard to reach them. In his talk, he shared the story of his friend, Stan Cole, who encouraged him (Poppy) to go out for the water polo team. He told how Stan Cole set a goal from a young age, to be the best at what ever it was he was doing. This friend ended up playing in 3 olympics on the US water polo team, and medaling in all three. Poppy wrote him a letter and told him about his grandson Liam, and his efforts in swimming. At dinner that night, Poppy presented Liam with Stan Cole's olympic pin, (sent to Poppy - by Stan) from the 1964 Olympics. It was really special.

The "kid table"

Annie playing "cowboys/girls" with Luke and Addyson

(They got her! --and only a kiss would bring her back to life!)

Claire and Annie

I went to check on the boys, after they went to bed, and this is where I found Luke . . . totally asleep!

Our Dallas Cowboy

Claire and Poppy

Pretty Aunt Kate, Claire, and Syd

Family Home Evening (If you chace to meet a frown . . . do not let it stay!)

We all love Memama!!!

Memama and Claire

A fun game of Twister on New Year's Eve

(Liam won!)

On New Year's Eve, we all played outside . . .

Poppy threw the baseball to Caleb

and Daddy threw the football with Liam.

That night, we celebrated the New Year with fireworks and a pinata!! (AND some, much appreciated homemade hot chocolate from Aunt Kate! It was cold outside!)

Travis sporting some lovely "locks"

Annie and Addyson -- keeping warm

FUN FUN FUN!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas wrap up . . . FINALLY!!

My sister Taryn and our brother in law, Brady did the cutest thing for our kids . . . they sent them a chain of candies and treats that they had made for them, with one to open each night of December, until Christmas day. It was like a Christmas advent. The boys loved it!! It was their daily highlight . . . they looked forward to it each night. I WISH I had pictures of it :(-- so cute! Thanks Aunt Taryn and Uncle Brady!

Here are a few random shots

Claire's FIRST Christmas

Caleb's Christmas Program

Breakfast with Santa (Caleb's pre-school)

CHRISTMAS EVE

The kids and I went to my parents house on Christmas Eve. Quinn joined us later, when he was done delivering packages in his UPS browns. (hee hee) EVERYBODY at UPS has to deliver packages on Christmas Eve, even management. My sister Sarah, her husband Eric, and their little cuties Jack and Adeline were in town from Wyoming, to spend Christmas with Eric's family. We got to visit with them for a couple hours that night. Sooooo fun.

Grampy and the two new little grandaughters, Claire and Adeline (Addie)

Jackers and Luke playing with Grammy and Grampy's train.

(not a great shot . . . we want to see faces! I was so disappointed that we didn't get a picture of ALL of the kids together! It just went too fast.)

The two girls sporting the new headbands and leg warmers, made with love by Aunt Carrie! Notice the lovely diaper and t-shirt look . . . my mom teased us, that Carrie is ALSO going to have to help us learn how to DRESS our girls (style maven, that she is).

Our nativity (little bit small and simple this year)

placing Baby Jesus.

Hugs and kisses, and home to our house to put out treats for Santa and his reindeer.

'twas the night before Christmas . . .

The stockings were hung . . .

while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads . . . dreaming of . . .

CHRISTMAS !!!


waiting to come downstairs


. . . and on to the loot!

Our dear friends (more like family) from Longview -- The Wrights surprised us on Christmas day! They called to say Merry Christmas and see how things were going, and while we were talking, the doorbell rang . . . it was them . . . on our front porch!! We were totally surprised!!

Miss Kelly and baby Claire

THEN . . . my mom and dad and brother Brett came and played Santa! And we had a big Christmas feast.

It was soooo fun!

In the whole eleven years we've been married, this was the VERY FIRST Christmas we have EVER had in our OWN home. It was really nice. We're excited to take some of the wonderful traditions from both sides of our family, and develop some of our own as well. If you have any you'd like to share . . . we're making a list!

my boy

I'm sure that every parent experiences this, but I just had to share My experience . . .

Liam has been swimming competetively since he was 6 years old, and he has developed a real talent. I remember watching him swim in his first race . . . my eyes filled with tears and I thought my heart would explode through my chest -- I was so proud! (If you are a parent and havn't yet experienced this -- get ready, cause YOU WILL!!) A totally emotional and physical reaction!

As time went on and he progressed, I recall my father in law (a swimmer himself) also be moved to tears as he watched his grandson swim the IM (Individual Medley). Liam was so graceful in the water -- beautiful to watch.

Through the years we've watched Liam compete in many sports, and we've always been proud. But to see your child find his gift . . . well, it's an indescribable experience. Liam has earned many awards through the years for swimming, but with our recent move to the city, we knew he was a fish entering different waters -- competition would be real.

Last night we attended try outs for a nationally competitive swim team in the north Dallas area. We got there early -- he warmed up -- they called his name -- and he swam. He blew them away. They called me over and said that they were giving him immediate placement on an advanced team -- something they hadn't seen happen, straight from tryouts, before. They said they saw great potential in him!

Now I don't know what the future holds for Liam, I don't how long he will continue to swim. But I have really enjoyed watching MY BOY develop a talent.

(This is an old race--just a fun summer one -25 yd. breastroke-. Liam-1st; Truman (friend/teammate)-2nd)

For your listening pleasure . . . a crazy mama yelling the same thing over and over, and a little East Texas twang at the end! Enjoy!

A New Year . . . A Fresh Start

WELCOME 2009!!

With excitement we look forward to this new year -- hoping for more time in a day to get things done, better organization, a new look a priorities, improvement, progress, and just all around happiness!

::We wish the same for YOU!::

Wishing you a . . .

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

At this time of year we like to reflect on our blessings, among which are our family and friends. We have been blessed through the years to be in the midst of amazing people, amazing examples. This year was no exception. We are grateful for the opportunities we have had to stretch ourselves, to be tried, to grow, to improve.

One of our greatest priveleges is to be parents to FIVE special children. As the years progess, we are increasingly humbled, and our respect and admiration for our own parents grows tremendously! We think they are INCREDIBLE! There is nothing more rewarding than being a mother or father. Just in case anyone was wondering, our family is now COMPLETE!! It's a wonderful feeling, and we excitedly anticipate this new chapter, RAISING a family. (although I still have pangs of saddness that the BEARING chapter is closing. --- such a happy stage of life, it's hard to move on!)

We are all well. It has been an adjustment moving to a new place, especially two days before school started. We hit the ground running, and we still havn't quite caught up! Still much to do to feel "moved in". But we like our new area, and are looking forward to putting down some roots. The kids are happy and busy. Quinn is working like crazy!! (as always) He is such a good daddy and husband. Even though we moved to the "city", you can't take the "country" out of the boy(s). Quinn and the boys still explore the outdoors and hunt and fish as much a possible.

And I feel like I should mention that our sweet baby Claire was born, June 27. She is a doll! She has BIG blue eyes and stops traffic every where we go!! She is such a happy girl, and can sure melt hearts with that smile.

We hope that this holilday season is filled with happiness and laughter. And may the new year hold blessings for you and your family.

All our love,

Quinn, Kjirsten, Liam, (Elizabeth), Caleb, Luke, and Claire

. . . @#$%&*/?!

Look what came home from school with Liam this week . . .

. . . YIKES!

This guy was appropriately named, "Harry" and has fascinated the boys in this house for the past few days. (There are cricket carcases littering the cage . . . AWESOME!) The instructions say that the more tarantulas are handled, the calmer they are. So I told Liam, "well, I guess you'd better start handling him." He smiled and said, "yup . . . do you have any gloves?"

p.s. Liam purchased this guy with his own money :)

where do I begin?

It's kind of hard to know what to start writing about . . . considering so much has happened that I want to record (remember -- JOURNAL). But I guess this isn't the place for a detailed history, so I'll just do a quick update:

We moved to Longview (East Texas) five years ago, with Quinn's job. Our family consisted of Quinn, me, Liam (4), and Elizabeth, in spirit. While in Longview we added three more children, Caleb, Luke, and Claire. Longview was a wonderful place to raise a young family -- small town feel, strong sense of community, southern values and manners, extremely nice people, AND pretty (piney woods). We made some great friends there, and we miss them. We moved (job transfer) to a great area, north of Dallas, just a few months ago. It's very different from Longview, but also has great things to offer our children and family. We really like it, and we're excited to finally put down some roots.

So, in the past few months, we had our fifth baby, sold a house, bought a house, moved, started the kids at a new schools (two days after moving), and are gradually getting to know our new area and make new friends. . . . Life is good.