Hawk Family

Halloween

2011-11-16T21:35:00.001-06:00

Halloween was a marathon holiday once again. I guess it's good that they get a lot of use out of their costumes. I have a bin full of costumes that we raided for most of the costumes. But for the first year one of my children was adamant about what they wanted to be for Halloween. I tried and tried to convince Dylan to be tigger but he only wanted to be scooby doo. He was so excited and wore the costume constantly when I brought it home. Gavin was a nerd (a good one I might add), Madison was a vampire queen, and Camryn was a princess and piglet depending on how cold it was. Our Halloween festivities included the trunk or treat, class parties, and the Halloween parade. I was in charge of Madison's party and I sent Mark to Gavin's. They both had a lot of fun and Mark came home telling me their party was better than our party. On Halloween night we went to the parade where the kids got more candy than they knew what to do with.

Apple Picking

2011-11-16T21:23:00.001-06:00

We went apple picking this fall at Mills Apple Farm. They have a little playground that the kids loved. They had a maze that was like a big chicken coop. Mark was in his element and dreamed of owning his own tractor and farm. We rode the wagon to pick apples and boy did we enjoy the apples. They told us to make sure and taste them before we picked them and my kids took that quite literally. Gavin ate five or six apples while the rest of us picked.

Scarecrow Contest

2011-11-16T21:10:00.001-06:00

Our little town has a scarecow contest and we love to go look at them all. People are so creative. We always choose our favorite scarecrow and snap a picture with it. Madison's was the cheerleader, Camryn's the x-ray scarecow, Dylan's was the fireman and policeman, and Gavin's was the sheriff.

Madison's Birthday

2011-11-16T20:58:00.001-06:00

Madison had her first sleepover for her birthday. We invited a couple of her friends from church and it went surprisingly well. I thought for sure I would be calling parents in the middle of the night to come and get their kids. They had lots of treats and watched an American Girl movie with their dolls. They are such a cute bunch of girls. But we made sure they new this was a special treat and wasn't going to happen every weekend. They must have had enough fun to last awhile because they haven't asked to do it again.

Merry go round

2011-11-16T20:49:00.001-06:00

A trip tp Grants Farm wouldn't be complete without riding the merry go round. I volunteered Mark to go on the ride with the kids. Those rides make me sick now (I must be getting old). Everyone had fun (especially Gavin) and can't wait to go back again!

Rat Race

2011-11-16T19:48:00.001-06:00

While we were at Grants Farm Madison got chosen to do the rat race during the bird show. I was shocked because this girl is so afraid of spiders and bees. I never thought she would have volunteered. They had two teams and you had to hook arms and have the rat race across one arm over your neck and down the other arm. It gives me the creeps just writing about it. But she did it and her rat lost the race because it just stayed on her arm and didn't go any further. It was pretty funny. She is definitely braver than I am!

Grants Farm

2011-11-16T19:39:00.001-06:00

We went with the Hawk family to Grants Farm. It started out a little rough when Camryn threw up in the van on the way there. She must have been car sick because she felt better when we got there. Dylan and Camryn were amazed at all the animals. They loved feeding and brushing the goats. We watched the elephant show and the bird show. It was such a fun trip I love watching Dylan and Camryn enjoy these new things. Camryn asked me for a solid two weeks when we would go to Grants farm again.

Cardinals game

2011-11-16T19:31:00.001-06:00

Were were able to get tickets to the Cardinals game. We left Dylan and Camryn at home so we could actually enjoy the game. It was so much fun! Gavin is really into baseball specifically the Cardinals and Albert Pujols. So it was fun to see his excitement. It made it even more fun that the Cardinals won the World Series. It must have been pretty intense at our house during the world series because I still hear Camryn randomly chanting let's go cardinals.

Park

2011-11-16T19:20:00.001-06:00

It has been so fun spending some time with these two. They are so much fun and make me laugh constantly! My mom has tried to convince me to write a book about all their shenanigans. They are really full of it. But we sure have a lot of fun!

First day of school

2011-11-16T19:06:00.001-06:00

We were reaaly excited for school to start this year! Gavin started 4th grade and Madison started 1st grade. As you can see from the pictures Gavin is getting a little too old for his mom to take pictures of him at school. Madison was more than happy to let me take all the pictures I wanted.

Fishing

2011-10-11T15:06:00.002-05:00

One of our favorite things we did this year at Grandpa's and Grandma's was go fishing. Grandma has a friend who has a pond on her property. They were out of town so they told us to go fishing. It has been such a long time since I have been fishing and I forgot how much fun it can be (especially if you actually catch fish). Mark was in heaven and so were the kids. Mark, Gavin, and Madison caught plenty of fish. I on the other hand caught one small one but I still had fun. They also had a paddle boat that my mom and I took the kids on. There was also a dock with diving board that the kids jumped off. The water was so nasty and Mark and I still can't believe we let the kids jump in it. But when we thought about it we probably got into some nasty water when we were young too.

Riding horses

2011-10-11T14:25:00.000-05:00

One of our favorite things to do when we visit Grandpa and Grandma is riding the horses. This year Madison learned to ride by herself. She did reallly well and even tried galloping on the horse. She could have ridden all day if we let her. This was also a big year for Dylan and Camryn because no tears were shed when we put them on the horses. Mark and I decided if we ever have a pet, a horse would be our first choice. We all love riding the horses!

Gavin's Birthday

2011-10-02T16:55:00.000-05:00

Gavin turned nine on July 2 and got to celebrate twice this year . We had a joint party with his cousin Elijah and then he celebrated again with the Binks family. He chose to go bowling on his birthday which was a lot of fun. Grandpa didn't even win this time which is always our goal since he plays once a week in a league. After that we ate the lego cake I attempted to make. It was a lot of fun and I can't believe I have a nine year old. But I can't complain too much because he is such a good kid and brings so much happiness to our family!

Baseball

2011-10-02T16:41:00.002-05:00

Gavin played baseball this summer and loved it! He got to catch quite a bit this season but he definitely prefers to play first base or outfield. We really enjoyed watching him play except when it was over 100 degrees outside. I don't know how he could enjoy playing in the heat like that but he did. He must really love the game.

Lightning Bugs

2011-10-02T16:41:00.001-05:00

One of Madison's favorite activities was catching lightning bugs. She would also collect bags full of cicada shells which was quite disgusting. But today we went for a walk before general conference and she was so jumpy about the bugs and would scream at the top of her lungs because she thought there was a bug on her back. She is such a funny girl.

Splash Park

2011-10-02T16:41:00.000-05:00

I guess it's time once again to update our blog. We had a great summer and spent a lot of time at the splash park and the pool. It was one of the few activities that kept everyone happy and entertained.

Graduation

2011-06-20T15:02:00.003-05:00

The day finally arrived for Mark to graduate with his MBA. He has worked so hard and we are so proud of him. Mark started his day at 3:45 am to go to work, then he went straight to the library to study, came home to eat dinner with us, then went to class and didn't get home until 10 or 11 at night. Oh did I mention he is the Elders Quorum President and also a father to four kids who also like to spend time with him. So he was just a little busy. We have been so excited for this day and it was such a wonderful ceremony to celebrate all of his accomplishments. They a had a hooding ceremony for the graduate students from the school of business. It was such a fun day and we sure love the graduate! Now the fun continues as we search for jobs. But at least we have school behind us!

Easter

2011-06-20T14:44:00.004-05:00

We had a lot of fun this Easter. Dylan and Camryn were very excited to go on egg hunts. They found lots of eggs but they would stop and open each egg as they went along to see what kind of candy it was filled with. Gavin and Madison were really excited for Grandpa and Grandma Hawk's egg hunt because some eggs have money in them. I don't think we made it out of the driveway before they asked to go to the store to buy someting. We are working on the whole save your money thing but it still hasn't quite sunk in.

Basketball

2011-05-02T16:02:00.004-05:00

Gavin just finished up basketball and he had a lot of fun. His team had a lot of new and inexperienced players but they all tried really hard. They really started playing well as a team towards the end of the season. The first few games I watched I felt so bad for them and I really worried that Gavin was going to get really frustrated. He can be pretty competitive at times but he handled it like a champ and hardly mentioned anything about it. So even though they didn't win any games they learned a lot and had fun which is the most important!

Pinewood Derby

2011-05-02T15:54:00.003-05:00

It was Gavin's first year participating in the pinewood derby. It was definitely a group effort getting his car ready. Mark was so busy with school so he helped Gavin cut it out and sand it. Grandpa Hawk helped Gavin put the weight on and I helped him paint it. It was a learning experience but he ended up taking 5th place which was great! I was just hoping he didn't take last in every race. He had so much fun! There was a smudge on our camera lens so our pictures of the actual race didn't turn out. But I did get one of my handsome boy!

Christmas morning

2011-05-02T15:37:00.004-05:00

We had a really fun month of December. I put fun and easy things to do in our advent calendar this year so we celebrated all month long which was really nice because on Christmas Eve Madison started feeling sick and from there on out it hit each one of us during Christmas break. The kids really enjoyed everything they got from Santa. We left to go to my mom and dad's in the afternoon since the kids were exhausted. We had high hopes that they would sleep a lot of the drive and they did! When we got there the kids opened their presents. Madison got an American girl doll which she was really excited about! My whole family was there this year so we had a lot of fun together despite passing around the flu. Even though we were sick we really enjoyed spending time together as a family and celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Santa

2011-05-02T15:29:00.003-05:00

The kids got to sit on Santa's lap at our church Christmas party. Dylan and Camryn did not like Santa up close. They loved seeing pictures and got really excited about him this year but when he got to close they got really upset. Dylan wouldn't even get close enough to get a picture and Camryn just buried her head in her hands and cried. Maybe next year they will warm up to him.

Christmas program

2011-05-02T15:20:00.004-05:00

Gavin and Madison were asked to be in the annual church Christmas nativity. Madison was really excited to be the angel and Gavin was a little concerned that he would have to perform which he isn't a fan of. He gets really nervous getting in front of people just like his mom. But when I told him he just had to stand there he finally agreed.

My big helpers

2011-05-02T15:13:00.002-05:00

Madison and Camryn love to help me in the kitchen. If I am in the kitchen Camryn comes running in yelling help you mommy, help you. They are pretty good helpers and they even do the dishes.

Playing in the snow

2010-12-12T19:05:00.004-06:00

We had our first snowfall today. The kids spent so much time playing outside. They all loved it! I thought for sure Dylan and Camryn would only last a few minutes but I couldn't get them to come in. Their hands were frozen and they still wanted to play outside. Gavin shoveled the driveway all by himself while his dad shoveled snow at the church. After they were all done we came in and snuggled by the fire and read books. It was such a fun day!

Dylan and Camryn turn 2

2010-12-12T18:53:00.004-06:00

Dylan and Camryn turned two this month. I can't believe they are two! They are so much fun right now. They loved opening presents and eating cake and ice cream. They are so different from each other. Dylan is pretty quiet and shy and Camryn is outgoing and loud. Dylan loves to play with his toys especially cars and trucks. They both love to color. Camryn isn't really into toys but she loves to follow me around and help. We sure love these two!

Pumpkin Patch

2010-12-12T18:45:00.003-06:00

Gavin and Madison got some free tickets to the pumpkin patch so we took them on Halloween before we went trick or treating. There were lots of rides, a corn maze and a haunted house. The kids had a really good time.

Halloween 2010

2010-12-12T18:33:00.003-06:00

We had our ward trunk or treat at a farm this year and it was so much fun. They had a chili cook off, games, roasted marshmallows and had a hay ride. The hay ride was pretty bumpy. So bumpy that I thought we would lose a couple of kids out the back of the wagon. And so bumpy that Mark's cell phone may have fallen out of my pocket and we may have had to stop the hay ride and search all over for it. Luckily I found it. Dylan and Camryn were Pooh and Piglet and they thought Halloween was the best with all the candy. They tried to stop and eat their candy after each trunk.

Halloween 2010

2010-12-12T18:22:00.004-06:00

Gavin and Madison both had Halloween parties and parades. Madison was a pirate and Gavin was Voldemort. Gavin played a game where he had to touch food and guess which body part it was (ie. grapes were eyeballs, hot dogs with almonds in the end, fingers) The kids were pretty grossed out! They also had a pinata so Gavin came home with a lot of candy. Madison also played some fun games and got lots of candy.

Dylan

2010-12-12T18:18:00.003-06:00

Dylan loves to ride Madison's old scooter. He goes in the garage gets the pink barbie helmet and rides around in the garage. He gets very upset when I have to take the helmet off. He occasionally wears it in the car when we run errands just so I don't have to hear him scream.

Madison turns 6

2010-12-12T18:07:00.003-06:00

Madison turned six in September and she had a great birthday. My mom and my niece and nephew came to celebrate with her. We had a little party and she got lots of fun presents. Madison is such a happy girl. She loves everything girly but she isn't afraid to get dirty. She loves to put make up on and get dressed up and she also loves to dig for worms in the yard. She is such a good friend and a great sister. She is very funny and always keeps us laughing. We are so glad she is a part of our family!

Mark's Surgery

2010-12-12T17:57:00.002-06:00

Mark had PRK surgery in September. He had several eye infections and couldn't wear contacts anymore so we decided it was time. I took him and got to watch the surgery and it was pretty gross so I didn't watch the whole thing. It only took about three minutes each eye and he recovered quickly. He was seeing 20/600 before surgery and now he sees 20/20.

First Day of School

2010-12-12T17:49:00.002-06:00

Gavin started 3rd grade this year and Madison started kindergarten. They go to different schools across town so I was grateful they both wanted to ride the bus. They both love school and are learning so much!

The Amish Farm

2010-12-12T16:42:00.003-06:00

It wouldn't be a trip to Ohio without a trip to the farm. My kids love feeding the animals and I love eating all the amish food. So it's a win win situation.

Swimming

2010-12-12T16:34:00.002-06:00

My parents have some friends who have a pool so we went swimming. They have lots of pool toys and goggles and I think my kids tried on every single pair. Even Mark used the goggles and he looks pretty good if I do say so myself!

The Lake

2010-12-12T16:19:00.004-06:00

We went to a lake while visiting my parents. We camped overnight which was quite the experience. We didn't bring any air mattresses because we thought we could rough it for one night. But I was wrong Mark and I didn't sleep at all. Grandpa even resorted to sleeping in the truck because the ground was so uncomfortable. And the raccoons ate all of our food during the night. It's a good thing the water was so refreshing because I don't think we would have made it. The kids loved playing in the sand and water. We rented a pontoon boat the next morning and pulled everyone on the tube.

Grandpa and Grandma

2010-12-12T16:12:00.003-06:00

We spent some time at Grandpa and Grandma Binks this summer and had such a great time! We spent a lot of time riding horses. Everyone loved the horses except Camryn which was quite a surprise because she is an animal lover. Grandpa even let Gavin mow the lawn on his tractor. As you can see he is quite the natural.

Summer

2010-12-12T16:04:00.003-06:00

Well we had our first snowfall today and church was cancelled so I thought it was a perfect time to update our blog and feel the warmth from our summer pictures. We had such a fun summer with family and friends. We spent a lot of time swimming because I felt like it was the one activity that pleases everyone and that's pretty hard to do around here.

Brace yourself

2010-09-15T14:10:00.004-05:00

Now I don't want you all to fall off your seat but I am going to do some updating. I can't believe 6 months have passed. I'm going to fill you in on what each of my kids have been up to and along the way you will see some of our fun adventures this summer. I'll start with Gavin because the most has happened with him. He has found a new love for sports and played soccer, basketball and baseball and loved every second of it. He was baptized on July 3 and it was such a wonderful experience for him. He just started 3rd grade and moved to a different school.

Valentine Dinner

2010-02-15T16:14:00.004-06:00

We had a special candlelight dinner with the kids for Valentine's Day. We had manicotti and for dessert chocolate covered strawberries. It was delicious if I do say so myself. What a wonderful yet simple Valentine's Day!

Camryn

2010-02-15T15:44:00.002-06:00

Camryn is walking all over the place. Dylan and Camryn are my latest walkers but they seem so little to be walking. Dylan is still not walking which is fine by me. He is my most cautious child so it may take him awhile. Camryn loves to follow me around and it's easier for her to keep up with Gavin and Madison now that she is walking. I love watching her walk and the proud face she makes as she's doing it. I do not love that they are growing up!

Our little hairstylist

2010-02-15T15:27:00.003-06:00

Madison loves to do my hair! It brings tears to my eyes(maybe because it hurts so bad)! Oh, the sacrifices we make for our kids. We may have a little stylist on our hands which is fine by me. She definitely owes me a few free haircuts.

More pictures of the Family

2010-02-15T15:13:00.004-06:00

A Binks get together wouldn't be complete without a rodeo of some kind. The kids loved riding the buckin bronco! Even some of the big kids took a turn. We used to do this for hours growing up. My dad was one of the best buckin broncos around. Since he's getting up there in age Riley has taken over and is doing a mighty fine job. It was fun getting the four newest additions together. They are all so close in age and will have so much fun in the future. Mark was glad that we didn't have quadruplets but by the looks of the picture he would have handled it just fine! I sure love my flamily( just a little inside joke)!

The Cabin

2010-02-15T14:59:00.003-06:00

While we were in Utah we stayed at the Hales cabin. We had so much fun in the snow! Our days were spent sledding and riding the four wheelers and our nights were spent playing games. And of course there was eating in between all of that. We would sled from the cabin all the way down to the gate. I felt like I was in the Olympics doing the luge. I even had the bruises to prove it. Mark was a pro and was the fastest going down the hill. Only because he had the really good sled and wouldn't let anyone use it. Gavin was really good too! It was hard to get him to come in the cabin at all. Madison enjoyed it too until her hands got cold and then she was ready to go inside. Dylan and Camryn liked watching everyone from the window they didn't really care for the snow. It was so nice to spend some time with Jason and the rest of the family!

Jason's Homecoming

2010-02-15T14:53:00.002-06:00

Jason came home from England in January and we took a trip to Utah to welcome him home. We were so excited to see him!

Just Dylan

2010-02-15T14:46:00.003-06:00

A few pictures of our little Dylan. He is a climber and likes to climb in and on anything he can. He has the cutest little smile and loves to play with his toys. His favorite at the moment is his rocking horse. We sure love this little boy!

A couple of firsts

2010-02-15T14:42:00.003-06:00

Dylan and Camryn had a couple of firsts.They had their first ice cream cone and they sat on Santa's lap for the first time. They enjoyed one a little more than the other.

Graduation

2010-02-15T14:37:00.003-06:00

Mark graduated in December. It has been a long journey but we are so proud of him and his accomplishments. He starts his MBA program next week and is really looking forward to it. The sooner he starts the sooner he'll be done.

Christmas

2010-02-15T14:23:00.002-06:00

I had high hopes of getting our blog updated before Valentines Day and I just missed it. We had a wonderful Christmas with lots of family time. Grandma and Grandpa Binks spent Christmas with us this year and we had so much fun playing games, watching movies, and eating. We even made our own commercials which I hope never surface (right Fred). Mark's entire family was here at Christmas too so the kids had so much fun spending time with their cousins! My only complaint is December went by too fast. Well, maybe two complaints I didn't take very many pictures Christmas morning. We were busy helping Dylan and Camryn open their presents and I forgot to take more pictures.

Look who's one!

2009-12-13T15:41:00.013-06:00

Dylan and Camryn turned one year old this week. I always say that time flies by but with these two it flew at double speed. We have had such a fun first year with these two. They are such a fun addition to our family. They loved all the attention they got at their birthday party. They loved opening presents and eating the wrapping paper. But even more than the wrapping paper they loved eating the chocolate cake! Dylan and Camryn are both getting close to walking. But they can take as long as they want. They already get around too quickly and pull out everything in sight. But it's hard for me to get very mad at them because their smiles definitely melt my heart.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T20:17:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween from our little monsters!

We love to eat!

2009-10-30T20:03:00.004-05:00

Dylan and Camryn love to eat! Dylan has discovered that sometimes it's just faster to put your face on the tray and eat that way. That's why he has manicotti stuck to his forehead.

Sundays

2009-10-18T20:17:00.003-05:00

This is a typical Sunday afternoon at our house. We look forward to our naps. I thought this was a cute picture of Mark and Gavin. Somehow we all ended up on this couch but I was too squished so Madison and I moved to the other couch.

Applesauce

2009-10-18T20:01:00.004-05:00

We have been busy canning this weekend. I got two bushels of winesap apples so we made applesauce. Despite how Gavin and Madison look in this picture they loved helping us so it went pretty quickly. This applesauce is so yummy!

Punkin Patch

2009-10-18T19:29:00.006-05:00

We took a trip to Eckert's to get some pumpkins. It was a little muddy but we had a great time. Gavin got chosen to be the counter for the pumpkin cannon and for the pig races. His pig Hamma Montana won and he got the grand prize (a pooping pig). There were rides and a haunted house that the kids loved. We chose pumpkins before we left and I told Gavin and Madison to pick a pumpkin that they would be able to carry. Mark and I were carrying Dylan and Camryn so our hands were full. We searched high and low for two small pumpkins and there weren't any. So Mark and I had a baby in one hand and a pumpkin in the other. It was quite the chore getting back to the wagon and then back to the car. My arms were killing me. I am bound to have some bulging biceps (Mark already has some)before Dylan and Camryn can walk.

Monday

2009-10-12T10:55:00.002-05:00

It's Monday. I wonder what's in store for me this week.

Fall Festival

2009-09-26T19:54:00.003-05:00

Glen Carbon Elementary had their annual Fall Festival. It's one of the big fundraisers and something the kids really look forward to. Gavin and Madison couldn't wait to visit the Wacky Hospital. They came out with all kinds of injuries. They also have lots of bounce houses, games, and food. They had so much fun on the climbing wall. When we got home Madison washed off all her make-up from the Wacky Hospital. I went in there afterward and it looked like there really was blood all over the sink, towels, and walls. It looked like a scene in a horror movie and one I hope I never see again.

TROUBLE

2009-09-26T19:43:00.003-05:00

This is just one of the many things these two get into everyday. They pull off every DVD on this shelf at least once a day. They are starting to move really fast. In the morning Gavin plays with them while I get in the shower and if he opens the door they quickly go out of the room. He picks Dylan up and takes him back in the room. By the time he puts Dylan back Camryn is in another room. He goes to get her and by the time he gets her in the room Dylan is gone again. Gavin is like a little shepherd herding his flock. It's pretty funny but I am so glad he is so helpful because it's the only way I can get in the shower.

A couple of firsts

2009-09-26T19:31:00.002-05:00

Madison has had a couple of firsts this week. She rode her bike without training wheels for the first time. She probably could have done it awhile ago because she took right off. It took her one time to get the hang of it. She loves riding her bike even more now because she can go faster. Gavin is already trying to teach her how to do tricks. She also had her first soccer game. She just follows the herd of little kids trying to kick the ball. She really enjoys it and actually scored a goal. I love watching kids play soccer at this age! It is my comic relief for the week.

Happy Birthday Madison!

2009-09-26T16:25:00.003-05:00

My little girl turned 5 years old this year. She had such a fun birthday! She had a pajama party with a few of her friends. They watched Matilda and ate lots of popcorn and candy. She has such a fun group of friends! We also had a family party and I made a princess crown cake that she requested. We sure love this girl! She is constantly making us laugh. She loves all things girly but isn't afraid to pick up a worm and get dirty.
The pajama party. Madison, Brooke, Sasha, Shyann, Delaney, and Julia.

Madison opening all of her presents. She got a princess castle, polly pockets, a barbie swimming pool and a barbie jeep.

The birthday girl. Another year older and cuter too!

The princess crown cake.

Two peas in a pod

2009-09-08T13:06:00.002-05:00

I just love these two! They are so fun to have around and are getting into everything. They love each other and it is so cute to see them interact. When they wake up in the morning or from their naps during the day all you can hear is giggling. They just sit in their crib and talk and laugh until I go into get them. They are both crawling all over and pulling themselves up to everything. They keep me on my toes and I have had to pry dog food out of their fisted hands more times than I'd like to admit. We have so much fun with these two and just love them to pieces!

Dylan driving

2009-09-06T19:00:00.002-05:00

Dylan had his first experience driving home from church today. Grandpa handed over the wheel and Dylan wouldn't let go. He should feel priveleged because Grandpa never lets anyone drive. Don't worry he didn't make it out of the parking lot but he sure enjoyed every second of it.

Nina and the Pinta

2009-09-06T18:20:00.004-05:00

Replicas of the Nina and the Pinta were docked on the Mississippi River in Grafton, Illinois. This was so close to our house we didn't want the kids to miss it. It was really neat to see the ships and think about the history of the Nina and the Pinta. We also walked around the small town of Grafton and found a fudge shop that we couldn't pass up. Chocolate peanut butter layer and rocky road were just a couple of our favorites

Mark's Birthday

2009-08-30T20:01:00.003-05:00

We had a little get together for Mark's birthday. He wanted an ice cream cake so I got one from Coldstone. They have the best ice cream cakes! It was so yummy and we had so much fun celebrating. The kids really enjoyed the cake. It was covered in chocolate ganache so you can imagine the mess it made. Madison got it all over herself and the floor. I had no idea but Dylan had quietly crawled under the table and was eating all the chocolate that Madison dropped on the floor. He really enjoyed his first taste of chocolate and I don't think he'll have a problem eating cake on his birthday.

Madison's First Day of School

2009-08-30T19:39:00.006-05:00

Madison started school this week and she is in Miss Connie's class. She got into the Pre-K program at Glen Carbon and we couldn't be happier! She misses the kindergarten deadline by eight days and was so ready for something a little more challenging. She goes Monday through Thursday all day. She loves school and has only complained about nap time. When she comes home from school she always has so much to say. She told me that she is friends with the French girl at school and is learning French words (maybe a little too much Fancy Nancy). I asked her what words she new and she said Hola. I told her that was Spanish and then she remembered that her friend was teaching her Spanish. On another day Mark picked her up from school and she told him she got sent to the principals office. She told him some girls in her class said she had a baby cup at lunch time so she hit them. Then she quickly told him she was just kidding. Now as soon as they told me I knew there was probably a little truth to the story. We found out the girls told her she had a baby cup during lunch so she flicked applesauce on their arm. This girl had a plan she told us the worst scenario so when she told the truth it wouldn't be nearly as bad as it could have been. Madison is definitely going to keep us on our toes. But at least we don't have to worry about her being picked on at school. I think she'll be able to hold her own.

Gavin's first day of school

2009-08-18T22:35:00.003-05:00

Summer is over and school is in session. There has been a lot of excitement this week (mostly for me) as we have been getting ready for school to start. Gavin started second grade and has his first male teacher Mr. Schneider. He was really excited about having a boy teacher. He was a little nervous this morning when I took him but once he saw some familiar faces he seemed to relax. When Gavin got home from school he talked on and on about what a fun day he had and how much he liked his teacher. It made me so happy because Gavin is a boy of few words and I feel like I have to drag information out of him. But today he had lots to say about his first day. I can't wait to hear about tomorrow.

Pioneer Day

2009-08-18T22:25:00.003-05:00

Our ward had a Pioneer Day activity. The kids dressed up for a parade and they had fun games and yummy food. They played stick pull, had three legged races, wheelbarrow races, and rolled a wagon wheel. It was great to see all the primary kids having so much fun without any material things. It was a great way to celebrate the early saints and their sacrifices.

Salt Fork Lake

2009-08-18T21:48:00.004-05:00

We rented a pontoon boat and went to Salt Fork Lake. We had so much fun and this is possibly one of our favorite trips. We had a tube to pull behind the boat and we all took our turn. Gavin did really well and started to get pretty fancy as the day went on. Madison was a little scared at first but that didn't last long. Mark was a pro and I was a rookie. I didn't know I was supposed to get out of the middle of the tube. I couldn't see anything because the water was splashing in my face. After they stopped I asked them what I was doing wrong and they told me to get on my knees once I did that it was smooth sailing. Dylan and Camryn were so good considering they had to wear life jackets that were almost bigger than they were. They were really content and enjoyed playing in the water when we stopped. We played at the beach and Katie put on a good shark attack show. I think everyone on the sand was about to pack up and take off. My dad was a good captain and let the kids help him drive the boat. Everyone had such a good time and we are already making plans to do it again!

Blackhand Gorge

2009-08-18T21:28:00.003-05:00

We went hiking at Blackhand Gorge in Ohio. It was a beautiful paved trail which was nice because we could take the stroller. There were a few hikes off the paved trail so I took Gavin, Madison, and Hobbs, on one of them. They were sure they heard indians and we hurried to find them but we couldn't find any. The hikers in front of us saw a snake slither past them but we didn't have such luck and I was very grateful for that. There was a little lake and the kids wanted to just get their feet wet. It didn't take them long to dive in. Gavin took his shirt off and swam in his shorts and Madison kept asking me if she could do the same. I should have been more prepared and taken swimsuits because they were dripping wet the rest of the hike.

Hershbergers

2009-08-18T21:00:00.007-05:00

One of our many favorite places to visit in Amish country is Hershbergers Farm. The farm has many animals and the most delicious baked goodies and produce. The kids love petting all the animals and Mark and I love the cinnamon rolls and fry pies. We never leave Ohio without stopping at least once and we've been known to go a few times during our stay. During our most recent trip they had a Family Fun Night and all the pony and buggy rides were free. Gavin and Madison rode the ponies over and over again. They had lots of food and free kettle corn. I saw people loading grocery bags with the kettle corn. It's that good! Dylan and Camryn loved petting the little puppies.

Everyone waiting for their buggy ride to begin.

Gavin had to find the biggest pony to ride. He is getting so tall I think his feet would drag on the smaller ones.

Madison was in heaven! She loves horses so for her to get to go as much as she wanted was a special treat.

Gavin holding the cutest puppy there.

A picture of some of the produce. Most of it is twice the size that we see at our grocery stores.

Mark petting one of the many work horses.

Screamin for ice cream

2009-08-16T22:46:00.003-05:00

What's summer without ice cream and we have had our fair share this summer. We went to Ohio's ice cream capital on one of our visits and it sure didn't disappoint. I had the buckeye ice cream which was so good and possibly my favorite. You can't go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate. Gavin and Madison tend to choose the ice cream with the brightest colors. Gavin had superman and Madison had bubble gum. They just don't know what they're missing!

Just Swinging

2009-08-16T22:34:00.004-05:00

Dylan and Camryn have loved swinging on the swings this summer. We have visited many parks and swinging always puts a smile on their faces! These two are getting so big and crawling all over the place. I can tell these two are going to be hard to keep up with. What one doesn't think to get into the other one does. They definitely keep us on our toes. But their smiles melt my heart and I can't imagine my life any other way!

Sting Rays

2009-08-16T22:25:00.002-05:00

We went to the sting ray exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo. The kids loved petting the sting rays. They were nice and slimy and splashed water all over us. Madison was a little nervous at first but towards the end we couldn't get her to get her hands out of the water.

Gavin and Hobbs reaching for the sting ray.

Gavin, Madison, and Hobbs waiting for another one to swim by.

Gavin's Birthday

2009-08-16T21:57:00.004-05:00

Gavin Turned 7 years old this year! Boy how time flies! We went to Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs in 3D with several of his friends. They had so much fun watching the movie in 3D. Later we had a party with family. He wanted cupcakes instead of cake so I made him a soccer ball cake out of cupcakes. He got a razor scooter that sparks, rollerblades, a cd player, and a new mitt. We had such a fun celebration! Gavin is such a great kid! He is such a good example to his brother and sisters. He makes good decisions and is nice to everyone. Some of his favorite things are soccer, swimming, riding his bike and scooter, listening to music, reading, and making Dylan and Camryn laugh which he is really good at! We love you Gavin!

Gavin is always playing tricks and telling jokes so we got trick candles for his cake. He tried and tried to blow them all out with no success!

The soccer ball cake I tried to make out of cupcakes.

Gavin trying out his new rollerblades.

Ethan, Lawson, and Austin wearing their 3D glasses and watching the movie.

Gavin and Evan watching the movie. What cute boys!

Just a few things...

2009-06-09T14:13:00.006-05:00

Mark had a break in school before he started summer semester so we tried to fit some fun activities in before he had to get back to studying. We spent some time in Ohio and went to Kings Island and some of our favorite places in Amish Country.

Gavin and Madison waiting in the bumper cars. This was the ride Madison was really anxious to ride.

The crew on Plankton's Plunge. What a fun grandma! We all had such a great time at King's Island. Gavin was a little more daring than he has been in the past and went on a few roller coasters. We didn't have to wait in any lines so he would stay on the coasters and go over and over again. Dylan and Camryn even enjoyed their first amusement park. They were so content riding in the stroller.

We went to Rolling Hills Ranch to feed the animals. Gavin and Madison were able to steer the wagon.

The Amish don't like you to take their pictures but since Madison was steering it was a great opportunity to sneak a snapshot of our driver Jebediah.

Our first photo with our whole family. My how our family has grown!

When we got home we were able to get tickets to the Cardinals game. We had so much fun. Gavin enjoyed watching the game and seeing Albert Pujols. Madison enjoyed people watching and pointed at about every person there. Gavin and Madison were both amazed at how much beer was being consumed. On the way home Gavin said, "I saw one guy have five bottles of beer". I couldn't believe that he counted. It was a good teaching moment.

We have had so much rain the past few weeks. We had over 9 inches in one day and our street was flooded. Mark couldn't stand not getting in the water. What a great example he was to Gavin and Madison. They couldn't stay out either. I think they changed their clothes 3 or 4 times that day. Which meant lots of laundry for me!

I am enjoying.....

2009-05-04T15:36:00.004-05:00

The toothless talk of this cute boy!

The funny things this little girl says. One of our more recent conversations went something like this:

Madison: Mom everybody has armpits.

Me: Yes they sure do.

Madison: Yep, everyone has armpits and Jason has furry ones.

Oh, she makes me laugh!

And last but not least the smiles and laughs I get from these two. They are growing way to fast! It seems like time goes by even faster when there are two of them!

A doorbell

2009-03-13T11:21:00.005-05:00

Madison thinks Dylan and Camryn are a doorbell! We have to agree with her. We think they are pretty adorable too!

City Museum

2009-02-01T19:54:00.003-06:00

My family came to visit this weekend and we took them to the City Museum in St. Louis. It is a really neat place and fun for all ages. As you will see in the pictures even the "older" kids had fun!
My Dad posing as one of the sumo wrestlers.

Mark swinging on the rope in the skateless skate park.

Riley climbing through the tubes. I am still amazed that he made it through these without getting stuck.

Gavin going down the 7 story slide.

The kids were like little hamsters climbing all over the museum.

Madison taking her turn on the slide.

Our Crazy Life

2009-01-25T13:51:00.004-06:00

Wow! What a month. We have made it through the holidays, finals, a wedding, and talks in sacrament meeting. This month has been such a blur but we have enjoyed every minute of it. Dylan and Camryn are such good babies. They sleep well at night and I think we finally have somewhat of a schedule. Gavin and Madison love their brother and sister and are such good helpers. Every morning Gavin changes Dylan's diaper and gets him dressed for me. Gavin even wakes up during the night when they are crying to make sure I get up to feed them. He is going to make an excellent father some day! Madison likes to hold the babies but tends to treat them like she does her dolls. She is learning that babies like to be held still and not bounced all the time. Mark and I are adjusting to having four children and have realized that we each need an extra pair of hands. Life may seem a little crazy at times but we sure feel blessed for all that we have! Here are some pictures of our cute kids. For those of you who have seen Gavin and Madison as babies the resemblance to Dylan and Camryn is quite shocking!

Introducing

2008-12-14T09:00:00.006-06:00

Dylan Thomas Hawk

Born: December 10, 2008 at 9:21 a.m.

5lbs. 10oz. and 17 1/2 inches long

Camryn Hawk

Born: December 10, 2008 at 9:27 a.m.

5lbs. 10 oz. and 19 inches long

Dylan and Camryn are such good babies and we are so happy they joined our family! I had a really good experience at the hospital. I went in at 2:00 in the morning and they were born at 9:21 and 9:27 a.m. I didn't have to have a C-section which has always been a possibility. I feel great and Dylan and Camryn are doing well!

Anderson Hospital puts all the babies footprints on the wall. So here is a picture of Dylan and Camryn's footprints. Gavin chose the spot on the wall. He has been such a big help and loves his new brother and sister.

Dylan and Camryn getting ready to go home. We were all glad to get discharged from the hospital and able to go home!

Update

2008-12-08T11:48:00.002-06:00

Yes, I am still pregnant. I am 37 weeks but I measure about 49 weeks. I feel like I am 49 weeks too. I am getting really uncomfortable and I am definitely ready to have these babies. I have been frantically trying to get everything done for Christmas. I am finally ready and looking forward to the holidays! I have been so blessed this pregnancy. My first doctor's appointment was very discouraging. The doctor started off by telling me that twins are double trouble then proceded to tell me all the possible problems when having twins. We haven't come across any serious problems and my doctor said she would be ecstatic if I made it to 38 weeks. Only one more week to go until I get to that point. I have a great husband who is such a big help and I am trying to train my kids to do the same. We are really looking forward to the next couple of weeks to see when these babies come. Keep checking our blog for any updates!

October Highlights

2008-11-01T17:37:00.005-05:00

We have had a busy October with all the fun Fall activities. Here are some pictures of all the things we have been doing. We sure had a lot of fun this month!

Halloween Parade

Class Parties

Trick or Treating

Trunk or Treat

Pumpkin Patch

Field Trip to the Zoo

2008-10-17T14:40:00.003-05:00

Gavin had a field trip to the zoo yesterday. I had the opportunity to go with his class. There were four boys and three adults so it was pretty easy to keep an eye on everyone. I was very glad because I did not want to chase kids around all day. I think Gavin's teacher knew that too! The boys had a lot of fun and were able to get rid of a lot of energy. We visited all the animals that boys love to see. We spent a lot of time seeing the reptiles.

Ashton, Lawson, Evan and Gavin in the reptile building. They watched this snake for several minutes while it slithered up the glass and finally tipped over.

The boys spent a lot of time climbing on the statues and jumping off of benches. Boys will be boys!

The Circus

2008-10-17T12:38:00.004-05:00

The circus was in town last weekend so we went with Mark's family. Gavin and Madison had so much fun! They loved all the performers and animals. They even had tigers this year. Gavin loved the tigers and acrobats. Madison loved all the silly tricks and the elephants. Mark enjoyed all of it and I really enjoyed the bleachers that we sat on. I was very uncomfortable but it makes it kind of worth it to see how much fun your kids have!

The circus just started and I was already a little uncomfortable. But Gavin and Madison were watching so intently that they wouldn't even look at the camera.

It's hard to see but these are the tigers. It is amazing the things the trainers get these animals to do.
The elephants were one of every ones favorite!

We couldn't leave until Madison got to ride the pony. She loves animals and one of her favorites is horses.

Wacky Hospital

2008-10-10T17:32:00.005-05:00

Glen Carbon School had their annual Fall Festival last weekend. Gavin and Madison took a trip to the Wacky Hospital. They both look pretty beat up. Thank goodness they got stitches and bandages. It took a little convincing to get Madison to go in because she thought she had to see a real doctor. She was also very concerned about the red bandages and would stare at everyone that had one on. When I told her it was just red paint she was all for it, and they both were very happy with the results!

26 weeks

2008-10-01T14:34:00.003-05:00

Well I usually don't take pictures of me when I am pregnant but this will probably be my last. I have many people ask me how big I am. So this is for them! I am 26 weeks and I am starting to feel very uncomfortable! I have the little girls head on one side of my ribs and the little boys feet on the other side. These babies are very active so my ribs are constantly in pain. The size I am now is about the same size I was when I delivered Gavin and Madison. And I feel like I am nine months pregnant! Mark, Gavin, and Madison take really good care of me and always make sure I have time to rest. For the most part I feel really good. We are so excited to have these babies join our family!

Apple Orchard

2008-10-01T14:26:00.003-05:00

I went with Madison on a field trip to Mills Apple Orchard. We took a wagon ride out to pick the apples. We picked some really good ones but Madison's favorite is golden delicious apples so she didn't want any other kind. I did sneak a red delicious but she wouldn't let me put it in her bag so I ate it while she picked apples. She was very particular about which apples she chose. Madison also got to help make apple cider in an old cider press. We got to try some cider which I really like but Madison didn't like it at all. I am trying to fit in as many field trips and other activities that I can before we have these babies!

Time out for Women

2008-10-01T14:12:00.002-05:00

Time out for Women came to St. Charles, Missouri and our ward decided to go. My mom flew out to come with me too! It was such a great experience and I got such a spiritual boost. The theme of the conference was finding joy in life. I learned many things to help me focus on the joy I experience everday. I have spent more time enjoying life and my family since attending the conference!

My mom and I waiting for the conference to start.
My mother in law and sister in law, Camille.

Madison's 4th Birthday!

2008-09-10T15:41:00.002-05:00

Madison turned 4 years old yesterday. She started her day by going to school. She had a special snack, her class sang to her, and she got a present from her teacher! We had a family party later that night and she got lots of presents and had yummy birthday cake! Madison has such a fun personality and always keeps up laughing! She is such a good helper and tries hard to obey her parents. We love her so much! Here are a few of Madison's favorite things now that she is a four year old.
favorite food: lasagna
favorite color: pink
favorite treat: apple (I don't think that is actually the truth)
favorite thing to do: paint and play on the slide
favorite toys to play with: purses and babies
favorite movie: Dora

Madison getting her birthday book at school.

Madison's Barbie cake. I made this myself and I really struggle when it comes to cake decorating. This is actually one of my few attempts. It turned out pretty good and Madison loved it which is what's most important!

The birthday girl getting ready to open presents.

She got everything she had asked for!

Madison getting ready to blow out her candles and of course her big brother was right there to help her.

Madison's first day of school

2008-09-02T10:40:00.003-05:00

Madison started school today and has been so excited! It has been hard for her to watch Gavin go to school every day while she stays home. We visited her classroom last week and she was so excited about the dress ups and the sand table. She was concerned that there weren't any purses for her to play with and wanted to take her own. Her teacher this year is Mrs. Hall and we are very excited for a fun filled year!

Madison in her first day of school outfit.

Madison outside her new classroom.

Madison at the sand table. She was very glad to get her hands in there.

Mark's Birthday

2008-09-02T10:27:00.003-05:00

We went out to dinner for Mark's 30th birthday last weekend. We went to a place called Lotta Watta Creek. The name says it all because you get so much food. We topped it off with a brownie mudslide, it was delicious! I love spending time with Mark he is such a great husband and father! I love him so much and look forward to spending many more birthdays together!

The brownie mudslide. It was huge but well worth it!

Gavin's a First Grader!

2008-08-19T14:53:00.004-05:00

Gavin started first grade today. He was very excited but also very nervous! They did a lot of rennovating at his school this summer so it was like going to a brand new school. I took him to school and he rode the bus home. I always worry that he will get off at the wrong stop. Today Mark and I waited and waited for him to get off the bus. The bus was really late so I was getting a little worried, but he made it home and had a great first day of school!

Gavin decked out in his new school attire.

Gavin's teacher is Miss Hogg. He loves his new classroom and his new desk.

Mom's Birthday

2008-08-19T14:43:00.004-05:00

We had a great party for my Mom's Birthday! She will probably be mad at me for posting these pictures but she was such a good sport! Riley got her sunglasses, a crown, and a wand so she could be a princess for a day. And boy did she look beautiful! We were so glad we were there to celebrate!

Grandma's entrance to the party!

Madison also thought it was necessary for Grandma to carry the princess coloring book.

Grandma blowing out the candles. I guess you have to try really hard when you have that many candles to blow out! We sure love you Mom!

Rolling Hills Ranch

2008-08-19T14:27:00.004-05:00

One of our favorite places to visit in Ohio is Rolling Hills Ranch. It is in Amish Country and they take you on a wagon ride through 80 acres to feed all the animals. The animals walk right up to the wagon and you feed them from a bucket. It is so beautiful and we see all kinds of animals.

Grandpa Binks and the grandkids. They sure love their grandpa!

This is how close all the animals would get and some of them would take the bucket from your hands. So we had to hold on tight!

This large animal resembled an elk but I can't remember the name of it. Everyone got a chance to feed him. He was one of the few large animals that didn't try to rip the bucket out of your hands. I know from experience because I had a pretty serious tug of war with one of the elk. I almost fell off the wagon but I was not about to let him get it. Luckily, I kept the bucket and stayed on the wagon!

Mark really enjoys harassing the animals. He gets some of them pretty mad and they chase us through the park. I'm just waiting for one of them to get him back.

They also have a petting zoo. Gavin and Madison loved petting all the animals.

Our Little Vacation

2008-08-19T13:56:00.004-05:00

When Mark finished school this summer we went to visit my Mom and Dad in Ohio. We always have so much fun when we go. It is so beautiful and peaceful there. We spent our time riding horses, going to the lake, feeding the animals at Rolling Hills Ranch, and celebrating my Mom's 50th birthday. It was a nice and relaxing trip and just what we needed!

Gavin learned how to ride the horse all by himself this year. Every free time he had he would spend on the horses. And of course he couldn't do it without a cowboy hat.

What a handsome cowboy! Madison enjoyed riding the horses too. She wasn't as brave as Gavin and wasn't quite ready to ride by herself. Her favorite thing was feeding the horses carrots and apples.

We went to a lake near my parents house. Not only was there a lake but a swimming pool too. Gavin, Madison, and Hobbs had so much fun playing in all the water!

This is a picture of my dad in the hammock. I thought it was so funny because it was so close to touching the ground. But doesn't he look comfortable!

Gavin and I taking a little rest!

We even ventured out on the raft. We didn't make it very far because Gavin and Madison wanted to jump out every few inches.

It's a ????

2008-08-12T20:28:00.004-05:00

Today was the day we have been waiting for and we were so excited to find out if we were having a boy or a girl. We were SHOCKED to find out that we are having twins! We are having a boy and a girl. I have been known to joke about things so I have posted a few ultrasound pictures for those of you who may not believe me. You will see baby AA which is a girl and baby BB which is a boy. Gavin and Madison are so excited! They each got what they wanted. Madison has been telling me all along that I would have a boy and a girl and she was right. I am a little overwhelmed to say the least but we are so excited for these babies to come!

A few things we have been up to...

2008-08-01T08:58:00.004-05:00

Mark and I took the kids to the St. Louis Zoo to see the Dinoroarus exhibit. Gavin loves dinosaurs and has really been wanting to go. They had life size dinosaurs that moved and roared. One of them even spit water at the kids. It was a really fun exhibit and the kids really had a good time.

Madison was very hesitant and didn't dare turn her back on the dinosaurs which made it difficult to get a picture. She also wanted to touch them because she was amazed that they moved. When I tried to help her touch one she was too scared. When we got home she told everyone that the dinosaurs had batteries.

Gavin kept his distance from this dinosaur becuase it was the one that spit water all over him.

Mark really enjoyed the exhibit too!

This is the Tyrannasaurus Rex. This is the dinosaur that Gavin was so anxious to see. Gavin brought his camera and took pictures of all the dinosaurs himself. He really had a good time and is trying to talk us into taking him again before September.

My parents came to visit a few weeks ago and we went to Grant's Farm for my nephew's birthday. Gavin and Madison always enjoy feeding the goats and petting the animals. Madison is such an animal lover and it's hard to get her out of the pen. Usually the goats start eating her clothes so that makes her get out a little quicker. We sure had a fun visit with Grandpa and Grandma Binks!

Gavin always had a herd of goats following him.

Madison enjoyed feeding the goats. I think the goats were probably a little frustrated because she would only feed them for a second. She wanted to make sure none of the goats went hungry so she tried to feed every one.

I think Madison gave a hug to every goat in the pen. She sure loves animals.

A fun picture with Grandpa and Grandma.

And finally our most exciting update is we are having a baby! I am due January 1. Gavin and Madison are so excited and can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl. Of course Gavin wants a brother and Madison wants a sister. Although Madison says quite frequently that I am going to have both. The ultrasound is scheduled for August 12 so stay tuned!

Happy Birthday Gavin!

2008-07-03T13:22:00.006-05:00

Gavin turned six years old yesterday and I can't believe how quickly the past six years have gone by. Gavin is so much fun to have around. He always tries to choose the right and he is a great big brother. He watches over his little sister so carefully. Gavin has a great sense of humor and is so witty. He brings so much laughter and smiles to our family! We love him so much! I asked Gavin a few questions on his birthday so I can document some of his favorite things as a six year old.
Gavin's favorite food: pizza and manicotti.
Gavin's favorite color: white, red, black, gray, brown (this I am happy about because it wasn't too long ago that it was blue and he didn't want to wear anything but blue. This has broadened his clothing choices).
Gavin's favorite thing to do: riding his bike.
Gavin's best friend: Sinan (he lives a few houses down the street) and Jonah (he lives a thousand miles away).
Gavin's favorite primary song: Book of Mormon Stories
Gavin's favorite song: Christmas song sung by Alvin and the chipmunks
Gavin's favorite subject in school: math
Gavin's favorite book: Watch out Jar Jar! (Star Wars book)
What Gavin wants to be when he grows up: a stormchaser but he's not quite sure yet.

Gavin had a Star Wars birthday party and he and his friends went through Jedi training. Mark was a good sport and put the darth vader mask on and battled each of the kids. The kids had a great time!

There wasn't much left of the pinata after these boys were through with it.

Gavin as Luke Skywalker and Dad as Darth Vader. I think Luke Skywalker ended up winning the battle.

All of the Jedi's posing with Darth Vader.

Gavin opening his presents. This was by far his favorite part!

We also had a party with Mark's family. We all really enjoyed the cake and ice cream!

Gavin opening more presents! He loved all of his gifts!

Summer Fun

2008-06-12T17:17:00.003-05:00

We have been keeping ourselves busy this summer and having a lot of fun! We spent some time in St. George visiting my grandparents. We did a lot of swimming and hiking. Gavin and Madison had so much fun! We had planned to go camping when we got home but it was supposed to rain all weekend. It has rained so much this year that it has been hard to plan anything! We went to Six Flags instead of camping on the one day it didn't rain. We had a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed the rides and the water park. But they liked meeting all the characters even more! Gavin was so excited about riding the Scooby Doo ride. He even wore his Scooby shirt and everything and it was closed temporarily. He was really disppointed but he did get his picture taken with Shaggy and Scooby. Madison sure has enjoyed having Gavin home from school. I have been trying to plan fun things and keep Gavin busy, but I still hear I'm bored quite frequently.

The Khaki Team

2008-05-07T10:41:00.003-05:00

Gavin has really enjoyed soccer this Spring. He was on the khaki team. You would think they could come up with a better name than that. Last fall he was on the burgundy team so I'm not sure which was worse. I guess they have so many teams they have to get creative with the colors. It has been so much fun to see him improve each year. A few of my favorite moments this spring have been when our team scores a goal for the other team and they are still so excited! One little boy wasn't watching where he was going and ran into the post of the goal and fell flat on his back. Luckily he was okay and he actually laughed about it. I loved it when Gavin scored a goal and he walked away like he was so embarrased because he was the center of attention. When I finally got his attention and gave him a thumbs up he smiled from ear to ear!

Gavin almost scored a goal in this picture. We are talking inches from scoring!

This year Gavin hasn't been afraid of getting in there to kick the ball. I love this picture because it shows how determined he is.