State Bowling Tournament - Dickinson, ND

MARCH 26-27th, 2011

Parker and his buddy (and next door neighbor), Nicholas have been on a bowling league together for the past 3 or 4 years (can't exactly remember!!) - they are both quite talented and have a lot of fun!

This is our second year participating in the ND State Youth Bowling Tournament and it was held in Dickinson, ND which is about 5 hours away from where we live! So, we got the kids out of school early on Friday and headed out for a weekend of fun. The boys did a GREAT JOB and even though they were competing against each other during the singles games, they are very supportive of one another! Had to take a picture of the screen - this is Parker's BIGGEST GAME EVER!! A 220!! It was SO MUCH FUN watching him! He was so excited, the whole room was excited for him as well!
Also had to get a picture with one of Parker's biggest supporters, Grandma Pam! She came with us and is the lady that got Parker and Nicholas bowling in the first place! Her and Emmett bring the boys EVERY SATURDAY morning to the lanes, and yes, she has been doing this for 3-4 years - what a super grandma!!

Look how handsome my little bowler is! My neighbor Tracy and I ordered the boys these matching, "official", retro - bowling shirts! The boys look and feel "professional" in them and I love that they have their names on them!

Couldn't use the flash on the camera while they were bowling - Parker has a nice approach and his ball even curves!

This one turned out to be a S-T-R-I-K-E!! WHOO-HOO!! Over all, it was a GREAT weekend! The tournament goes for 4 weekends and we participated during the first weekend so we will have to WAIT (oh no!) to find out the end results!!

WAY TO GO PARKER AND NICHOLAS! WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU!!

MARCH 25th, 2011

Here we are at the water park in our hotel in Dickinson. I mean, these kids were out there AS SOON AS we brought all the stuff into the room! It's a good thing the pool was fun, because our room was the size of a SHOEBOX so sitting in there with nothing to do would have made us all nuts!!

Here's Mr. Aiden relaxing on a whale!! He is so funny..."I'm just chillin', mom"!
Savannah had a blast on these floating disks and the rope! It did cut up her hands a bit....good thing they are completely calloused from the monkey-bars at school!!

Parker spent most of his time on the water slide and in the hot tub!!

E-I-E-I- OOPS!!

March 24th, 2011

Aiden had a speaking part in his 2nd grade play tonight! He was "Aimless" the lamb and he got to talk to Bo Peep! He did a WONDERFUL job speaking and knew the songs to a T!! It was really fun watching him as he puts his all into his "performances" - with facial expression and everything! Way to go, Aiden WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!

Yep, mom had to make his costume and since I don't sew, this is what we came up with...COTTON BALLS!!

Hmmm....what a darling little lamb! Hiding...

Here he is at the microphone!

LOVE the facial expressions!

After the show with his 2nd grade buddies, Ty and Benny!

Can't wait to see what he comes up with in the future!!

St. Patty's Day!

March 17th, 2011

It's St. Patty's Day! YAY!! Today we got up a little early to get dressed and take the dreaded pictures mom INSISTS we take!

Here we have Mr. Parker....such a cute Lad! I've been making him pose in green for me for MANY years, and he continues to do it witout complaint! What a trooper...and a good-hearted boy!

Mr. Aiden, a true stinker-ish leprechaun through and through! He's lucky he's so cute and his heart is so big....you'll never meet a bigger love-bug than him! And he's SO LOYAL! Such a proud Irish lass!! Who can resist that happy face!?

Ahhh...it does my heart good to look at these three sweeties in their Irish attire! They were all such good sports about it!

Since we were hosting a dinner, I thought it only appropriate to purchase a few decorations!!

Even Great-Grandma and Grandpa Cottrell were in the mood to celebrate!

Here we have our Lamb and Potato Stew, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Corn and not pictured was the AMAZING Guiness Chocolate Cake with Irish Whisky Carmel Topping!! YUMMY!!

The kids with Grandma Pam and Grandpa Emmett! We always love having them stop over!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!

The Three of Us...

October 2010

Every year I like to get pics of my three little monkeys together...they were such good sports today!

Hi Cuties!
Sometimes I enjoy a little "rustic" look.

This one is my FAVORITE (below)!

Fun colored wall, huh?

This one makes me giggle...

MAN! I LOVE THESE KIDS!!

Pumpkin Time Again --- YEA!!

Last year I waited too long to get our pumpkins and they were SO picked over! This year, that's not gonna happen! The kids and I go out about 4 miles north to a family farm to purchase our goodies --- the family is SO nice!

Savannah wasted no time finding hers!
The boys found some corn stalks

Yep, we needed a TRUCK to bring this haul home! I LOVE FALL!

Sweet Pea and her bestie, Grace...one of these days I'll have to post the very first picture I have of these two together...Savannah couldn't even sit up on her own yet!

I don't know what it is about pumpkins, but I LOVE THEM!

HAPPY FALL EVERYONE!

New Jacket

While we were looking for NDSU shirts, I came across this DARLING fall jacket and just couldn't pass it up!

Even better was the fact it was only $12.00!! WHOO!

NDSU Homecoming Parade

October 2nd, 2010

Today, one of the local colleges (and one of mom's alma-maters..go BISON!) is having a Homecoming parade --- North Dakota State University. Savannah is in a dance class called Just For Kixx and they were asked to participate in the parade for the first time! So, we got all dolled up in our green and gold and even made a couple of accessories for the event ---

I volunteered to walk with the dancers and Aiden had to come with by default (yes, he was slightly less than pleased!), of course we had to show our support too!
Ohh...they are SO CUTE sometimes!!

Ooops! Not too happy with mom here! But, those cheeks and little nose are still adorable!!

That's better...she said the pom-poms in her hair were heavy. I like them...the writing and stickers on the face are cute too --- this was the work of their dance instructor.

Dancin, dancin, DANCIN! Practicing in the parking lot.

Here she is in her line...GO GIRLS!

Now we're dancing AND walking...tricky! They are following a truck with HUGE speakers in the bed.

The entire crew...good job dancers!

Aiden is a Faith Friend

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

We have a brand new program at church called Faith Friends and it's REALLY cool! Itis sort of like a mentorship program, but it's for 2nd graders and newly baptized babies. The 2nd grader is connected with a family when they are in meeting with the pastor before the baby is baptized --- this 2nd grader, or Faith Friend, is responsible for praying for the baby, sending cards on the baptismal birthday, letters, school pictures, etc, recognizing the family at church (children feel more connected and part of the church community when at least 3 adults / older people in the church can call them by name) and when the child grows and is ready to start Sunday school, the Faith Friend is like their mentor (at this point Aiden will be 10 or 11), you know, someone to say "hi" when they see them in the hall or sit next to them during singing, help relieve any anxiety they may have during their new experience. I hope the program turns out as well as it's potential...what a NEAT IDEA, huh?

The Faith Friend gets to be a part of the baptism as well!! They are given a specially made stole and they stand next to the pastor during the ceremony --- they get to hold the candle, a "keeper of the light"....Aiden was nervous, but really excited!! This pic didn't turn out perfect, but there's no flash allowed during ceremonies in our church!
Here is proud Aiden with Alyssa Joy---Isn't she a punkin!!? Aiden kept saying "look at my baby, her cheeks are SO CUTE"!

Good job, Aiden! You are going to be a GREAT Faith Friend --- I'm SO PROUD of you!