Hoops

When I signed James up for Giant Basketball, I thought it was named after the Giant grocery stores that could have been their sponsor. We found out Giant Basketball is named after a real giant. George Muresan is over this little league. When I first saw him, I had to google his name. This man is the tallest man I have ever seen--7 feet 7 inches. He played for the Wizards when they were the Bullets and he was in this movie..

I need to be more like my friend Jackie and try to get a picture with him before this season is over.

James played his first game today. Good thing they don't blow the whistle for traveling, double dribbling or any other rule. We would never get to see them play because the whistle would always be going off.

Faith loved the little sinks just her size in the bathroom and wanted to keep going in to wash her hands.

Hope was very attentive and Spencer did a lot of our photography.

Dear Snow Fairy,

OK, so we don't want a lot of snow this year, but maybe just a little more please. The boys would like to use their new sleds.

Her Dress

I wanted to bury Katie in this dress, but my wise friend Shellie told me I would want this dress for Katie's sisters. She made a new dress for Katie's burial, and now I have this most precious dress that all my girls were blessed in. My friend Tiffany gave me the idea to put their names and blessing dates in the slip. How grateful I am for my wonderful friends and this beautiful dress. I hope to see my daughters' baby girls blessed in Katie's dress, and we can embroider their names as well. I might have to bribe my daughters-in-law.

Katie

August 5, 2006

Faith Ann

December 27, 2008

Hope Whitney

December 26, 2010

Happy New Year!

The first day of 2011 was beautiful--58 degrees. We had to go somewhere so we drove to Mt. Vernon, one of our favorite places.

The kids on the Potomac.

The Christmas season is the only time you can go to the third floor of George's house on the tour, so we went to check out the third floor. It looks like the rest of the house. In case you want to know what's behind the oval window in the front, it's more dishes.

The Christmas season is the only time when you can see a camel at Mt.Vernon. George Washington loved exotic animals and brought a camel to his home for his guests to enjoy during Christmas.

This man and woman were feeding the camel twigs and grass even though the sign specifically said DO NOT FEED THE CAMEL ANYTHING. They gave their twigs and grass to the boys so they could feed the camel too. For the record, we had nothing to do with this. This couple was in love with this camel, and it was kind of creepy how much they loved him.

The Christmas trees were beautiful, and we loved this gingerbread Mt. Vernon.

Out with the Old...

and in with the new year.

We rang in the new year with friends.

Of course all my kids were awake at midnight--even the baby.

Happy 2011!

Adventures in Airports

Getting all of us through security, it's easier just to send the baby through so it's one less thing to carry.

We were supposed to leave Salt Lake at 5:00pm and get home around 10:40pm. When we got to the airport Wednesday night, we found out they didn't have a plane for us; our plane was broken down. We sat at the airport for three more hours while they searched for a plane for us.

The boys had no problem waiting a few more hours.

Faith entertained us all.

This trip was Hope's first time on an airplane.

This was Faith's first time in a seat all to herself.

By the time we landed, it was 2:00 in the morning. While Doug got our luggage, Faith cozied up to these people and their dogs. Good thing they were friendly.

Faith loved feeding them dog biscuits.

3:00 in the morning waiting for our shuttle to take us to our car.

Almost 3:30 am and Faith is still going strong. We would experience these adventures again just to go home for Christmas. So glad we made the trip home, even with four kids.