Soccer anyone?

Soccer season is here and we are having so much fun! This is Sam's first year playing soccer on an organized team and it turns out he is a really good little player. He always give 100% as you tell by the intense look on his face.



Grace is a great cheerleader, but somehow she always manages to steal the players' snacks. She particularly likes to take oranges at half time.




I would be exhausted from running up and down the soccer field, but not Sam! He has plenty of energy to wrestle with his teammate on the sidelines.



Audrey has these really cool red soccer cleats that are her signature trademark. She has played with Central Soccer Club for 3 years now and is developing some great soccer skills.

3rd annual trip to Fort Warden

For 3 years in a row we have celebrated Jared's birthday at Fort Warden. It is an old abandoned army bunker that now serves as a state park. It also happens to be the perfect place to have a nerf gun war with your buddies.

Jared is 12!

Jared now has his feet wet as a newly ordained deacon. Today he passed the sacrament for the first time and he also attended his first youth fireside. Jared was ordained a deacon by his father on September 27, 2009.

SAMisms

Sam is quite a guy. He always has something funny to say whether he means to or not. On the way home from church on Sunday we were having one of those wonderful car conversations when all members of the family are a captive audience.

Audrey says: "Mom, if the fire alarm went off while you were saying a prayer and there really was a fire, would you finish your prayer?"

Mom is thinking: hmmmm...how should I answer this?

Without missing a beat Sam says: "Well yeah, I'd say like seven prayers!"

Of course, this was a perfect teaching moment because I told them they could pray anytime and anywhere. Even if they were running down the hall and out the door to escape a fire!

Our Nation's Capitol

Mike attended a conference in Washington D.C. last week and I got to go with him. My sister happens to live in the area and so we had fun visiting them. Plus, there are so many fun places to see, all for free! My parents were kind enough to watch the kids while we were away. Thanks, Mom and Dad... 3 days without kids are wonderful!

Arlington

We packed a lot of fun into one weekend, but I most enjoyed visiting Arlington. I have much greater appreciation for vetrans since Mike served in the navy. I was particularly impressed by the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Alexandria, VA

Brent and Kirsten have lived in the Washington D.C. area for a year now in the beautiful community of Alexandria, VA. It is a relatively short commute to Brent's law firm in the "district." Their home is a charming little townhouse built in the 1930's.