Go Gators!

We went to the Gator's Women's Basketball game last week and had a great time. Porter was less than thrilled at first, but I think they all liked it. As season's ticket holders we were able to go to an "in game social" at half time where we ate some great food and came away with some Gator's pens and notepads - very exciting! Autumn is enamored with the cheerleeders, even though I tried to convince her that it would be so cool to play on the basketball team. :) They won, so that made it even more fun! It's great to be a Florida Gator!

I just had to add this picture because it is cute. I am embarrassed to say that I have never let Marik paint before, and he did a great job for his first time. It is hard to tell, but he actually stayed inside some of the hearts he was painting...he just kept adding colors and layers, so the finished product may not convince you that is true. This was definitely a favorite valentine this year. Autumn made me a really cute one too, that says she loves me because I take her to the grocery store. Maybe I should feel bad that I avoid taking any kids if at all possible!

Funny

Marik is really fun to have around during the day. He has a great personality and makes me laugh quite a bit. I wanted to post this video of him yodeling...I don't know where he got it from...has he met David's Uncle Tim? :) I also wanted to include this picture with Grandma Edwards.  Unfortunately I had just missed a very rare moment where Marik was cuddling up to her when she put her arm around him. Marik is hard to catch on camera doing the sweet things he occasionally does.

Boosterthon Fun Run

The kids had a pretty great time on Wednesday running about 2 miles to raise money for their school. Porter ran 35 laps and Autumn ran 25. (One lap is 1/16th of a mile) Marik was there with me to cheer them on...one of the highlights was when they let us run the last "victory lap" with the kids. Some people were just wandering, but Marik was determined to get a lap in. As you watch the video, tell me if you think the announcer sounds a little like Nathan Olsen...he reminded me of him.

Hoggetown Medieval Faire

On Saturday we went to the Hoggetown festival here in Gainesville with Grandma and Grandpa. It was pretty neat. Porter was able to help the falconer. (He didn't look up much after she told him to wear this hat to protect him from getting pooped on). Autumn picked up on archery pretty quickly, and the kids enjoyed man powered rides, and riding an elephant! We are excited that this is an annual event!

Grandma and Grandpa Edwards

We are lucky enough right now to experience having grandparents living nearby as grandma and grandpa Edwards are staying in an RV park about 20 minutes away. It has been wonderful to do things with them...we have seen more of Florida since they have been here! On Monday we went to Homosassa Springs. It is a beautiful state park where we were able to see many animals including manatees, which are gigantic! A couple of Saturdays ago we went to the beach...it couldn't be much better than this!

Just a few pictures from Crescent Beach and Homosassa Springs.

Cahoon Family Reunion

Our reunion was typical Cahoon style: packed with action, talent, fun, memories, and some of the best people that I know. There isn't a nicer group around. They make everyone feel good about themselves, and feel welcome.

Some of the activities were: olympics, putting tournament, golfing, scavenger hunt, improv games, great meals, talent show, basketball, volleyball, games, a fish pond, and many of us spent New Years Eve together at Randy and Elaina's, thanks to grandparents watching our kids. (Thanks mom and dad!)

As always, we shared memories of Grandpa and Grandma Cahoon, and it was so neat to hear everyone's experiences and memories of them. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful heritage, and I came out of that reunion with greater resolve to be a kinder, more hard working and loving person. I also realized that a lot can be done in one day! Each day we would say "Is it STILL Tuesday?" or whatever day it was because the days were so packed that each day felt like two!

Merry Christmas!

It was a really fun Christmas, except for the fact that David wasn't with us. We went to St. George for a Cahoon Reunion, so we had a mini Christmas before hand with him and grandma and grandpa Edwards. The kids had a nice prolonged Christmas! Autumn even got to leave early with grandma and grandpa Cahoon on a road trip to Utah. She had a great time!

Christmas Eve Traditions

I love Christmas Eve. Some of my favorite things are seeing little kids act out the nativity, opening and wearing new pajamas, and my mom reading a story that makes us cry. It wasn't that type this year, but it was geared toward the kids, and they had a good time! I may have to retry the video, but if it works, it is Darren and Erin's girls, Alivia and Halle that are the stars. They were so cute! Autumn was so concerned with her makeshift costume, that she wasn't able to concentrate, and sadly Porter was cut out because I was so focused with how cute the Cahoon girls were!

Snow for Christmas!

The kids and I headed to St. George for Christmas, and we were lucky enough to have some snow while we were there! There was snow when we arrived, then we enjoyed some mild weather, and a little more snow on Christmas Eve, which quickly melted on Christmas Day!

Porter's Baptism

I have been meaning to post this for a while, but I don't have any pictures, so I stole some from grandma Edwards. (Thank you!) It was such a nice baptism, and a great day for us. Porter is a wonderful kid, and he is becoming more mature all the time. I was so proud of him, and David, and I was so grateful to have our parents and friends there to help us with the program and other details!

Happy Birthday Porter!

This was one wild party! Boys have a lot of energy. All I have to say is thank goodness David's parents were here...they were a big help! I think if I was here by myself I might have been trampled or something! Can you believe he is 8 years old? Happy birthday Porter! You are a great big brother, and we love you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

This picture is from earlier in the year when we went to Virginia for a few days. Marik was enamored with this turkey. I guess it was potentially dangerous...here they are having a showdown. :)

Downtown Disney

 

 

 

 

I had to go to Orlando to pick something up, so I went one day when the kids had no school. Just so that it wouldn't be a boring trip for them, we did the free part of DisneyWorld, which isn't great, but these are some highlights. The Lego store, the carousel, and the most exciting, the splash area. Marik started out fully clothed, but when he saw someone without their shirt on, he had a great idea. Oh, and I had to put the pictures at the Mr. Potato Head store, because Marik finds the Darth Vader version very intriguing.

Another highlight for some was going to the biggest McDonalds in the world. It is pretty cool, and includes a whole floor with games just like at Chuck E. Cheese. A must see for visitors to Florida!

Oh, and I need to mention a funny story...Autumn reminded me just now when she said "that says Lando". (What she always says when referring to Orlando) In our Primary Program this year, the kids sang "Called to Serve". Autumn has been singing it to herself a lot, and I caught her one day and had to laugh at her lyrics: "Awkward, ever onward, (yeah, she got the second one right) as we glory in His Name...." I corrected her, and she asked what awkward meant, and Porter said "This is awkward."

Halloween....Still

I just had to add a couple of videos because Marik was really funny on Halloween. He marched right up to every house with total confidence...

Halloween Fun!

 

 

 

 

Halloween was pretty fun this year...Marik got to make cookies and a pumpkin, we went to a few parties, and Trick or Treating was a blast! We were unprepared for the amount of kids that would come to our house...our neighborhood is quite busy on Halloween night!

Porter Saves the Day!

 

Saving the day actually has nothing to do with this picture, I just wanted to do two blogs at once. This is the first bunch of bananas we cut down from our tree! They took weeks to ripen, but now we know to wait longer! They were good though, and it is so great to have food that is free! Bananas for every meal! Back to saving the day, I just wanted to say a little something about Porter because he has been so helpful to me, and he really saved the day when I hosted a book club at my house last week. Marik kept getting out of his crib (all the while crying over I don't know what), and I couldn't get my house cleaned and food ready, so I gave Marik to Porter. He read him a story, and Marik fell asleep on his bed. Then, he came and helped me in the kitchen peeling a taro root, doing some cleaning, taking out the garbage and recycling,etc. It was such a big help to me when I thought I wasn't going to have everything ready on time! It is really nice to have such a responsible and helpful young man around!