Slacker!!!

I have been the biggest slacker on keeping up with my blog! One of the biggest reasons I have a blog is to keep a little journal of our families happenings throughout the year. My plan has been to make yearly books from my blog but I have not completed one yet. I started one a while ago but never finished it so I think now I will just make one big one and then from here on out make a yearly one.

Another reason I have been a slacker is because I have been a single mom to 4 busy kids over the last 5 months. Trav started a marketing internship with Pfizer at the beginning of August which required him to travel 85 percent of the time, making me on my own. The internship ended at the end of December so it has been nice to have our family back together again. The marketing team of Pfizer loved Travis so much that they created and offered a position for him, so he is no longer in sales with Pfizer. He still travels but not to the extent he did before. He is based out of our home and travels a couple days here and there.

One more reason for me being a slacker is because I started a little jewelry business that has kept me pretty busy. I have a friend who offered for me to buy all of her inventory of beads to start a business of my own. The whole point of this business is for others to design their own jewelry and I put them together. It is usually in a party setting at my house or sometimes I have friends that have hosted a party where I bring all my beads and then every one at the party can design their own jewelry and I finish them for the party goers to take home that day. You can design earrings, bracelets, necklaces and key chains. This has been a great outlet for me but has kept me quite busy. Since I started the business "Lilly Paige Designs" in October, I have had 6 parties and a lot of orders for custom made jewelry. It has been fun going to Gem Fairs, ordering supplies online and learning how to run my own business. I am also learning how to do hand stamp jewelry which takes a lot of patience for me since I can be a perfectionist at times. If anyone wants to host a party (who is local or close by), it is a fun night to get your friends together and do something creative.

The last excuse is the longer I would wait to post on my blog, the bigger mountain I have to climb to catch up. I kept thinking, I do not have the time, but since I have had sick kids and have been stuck in the house, now is the time.

So, those are my excuses why I have been such a slacker at keeping my blog updated. Hopefully in the next week I can be 100% caught up and then start working on my blog books.

Halloween 2010

Sydney's preschool party

Abby, Sydney and Chelsea

Sydney and her buddy, Anna.

Since Halloween was on Sunday this year, we celebrated on Saturday by going to a Trunk or Treat at our church. On Halloween night we went to the Tanuvasa's house for a special Halloween dinner. For some reason I do not have a picture of Jake, he was an Oregon Duck fan with green hair and Oregon Duck clothes.

Cinderella and Minnie Mouse

Baylee was Iron Girl.

Fall Soccer 2010

Jake played soccer again this year, his team's name was "The Champs". They were pretty good and undefeated. He loved playing with his friends and he was very aggressive on the field, a little pushing and elbowing, we had to remind him it was not football. After every practice the boys would grab a football and play tackle football until their parents were ready to go. Most of these boys will play football next year (you have to be in 3rd grade to play football here). Jake's favorite soccer games were when it was raining because he would get muddy, which happened most of the time since we live in Portland.

Jake's power kick

He is pretty muddy from going after the ball.

Jake and Max

Jace, Jake, Max and Noah

Volleyball

Baylee started playing volleyball this year and loves it!

Baylee's 10th Birthday

For Baylee's 10th birthday she invited 17 friends for dinner, "A Silly Supper", crafts (we made scrabble necklaces and flowers for our hair) and games. It was CRAZY but a ton of fun. I wish I had a picture of the table that sat all 18 girls but I forgot to take one. My parents were in town so they were able to help me serve the special dinner as well as witness 18 giggling 9 and 10 year old girls. I can not believe my baby girl is double digits.

They are playing the cookie game where they try to get the cookie in their mouth by only using their facial muscles.

Baylee attempting the cookie game.

14 out of the 18 girls

Jake showing off like always.

The next day was her actual birthday so she had a Birthday weekend!

Downtown Portland

While Tina and Madi were visiting we went to downtown Portland to explore the waterfront. We played in the fountain and rented a bike/golf cart to ride along the river and over the bridges. It was a beautiful day but tiring for Tina and I as we pedaled and pedaled all these kids around town.

Running under the fountain, trying not to get wet.

Madi and Tina

Our bike/ golf cart, we are not sure what it is called but it was so much fun! Bryn had her special seat right up front and waved at every one as we passed.

Roloff Farms

My sister and niece came out to visit us in October. While they were here we went to Roloff Farms from the show, "Little People, Big World". Our family has been to Roloff Farms a couple of times during pumpkin season so it was fun to take Tina and Madi to show since they also watch the show.

Zach taking people on tour of the farm.

Jeremy is a cutie!

Waiting for our tour of the farm.

The Roloff's house

Amy Roloff

I felt like a teenage girl asking Jeremy to take a picture with us, I also look like one with my braces.

Us with Matt Roloff

Madi has a crush on Jeremy's friend, Mueller.

The Roloff's Grandparents

School Fun Run 2010

Every year our school has a Fun Run where the kids run laps for a certain amount of time to earn money for the school. This was the first year Travis was around so he got to run with both kids when it was there turn. It is always fun for the parents to run with their kids, helps to keep the kids motivated. Jake ran 17 laps and Baylee ran 18 laps, they did AWESOME!

Jake and our neighbor, Sean.

Trav was trying to show off for the camera.

Like father, like son, pure concentration.

I even got in on the fun and ran a couple laps with Baylee.

Jake and his buddies from class enjoying the after race Popsicle.

Baylee was one tired girl, she really pushed herself and was one of the top runners in her class.

Cute little spectators, Bryn, Sydney and Halle.

Two of Sydney's friends are already in kindergarten (they have summer birthdays), so this was their first official year doing the Fun Run. Syd got to run with them.

Sydney and Halle