Claire's Boots

We took Claire to the store this weekend to find some boots. I tried to talk her into getting some suede boots to match her cousin Sophia but she liked this boots the best. She knows what she likes. I think sometimes she is 6 going on 16. This the outfit she wore to school today. Hopefully, her feet aren't hurting too bad when she comes home from school.

Football Games

Nile has won his first two football games. The first one, 12-0 and the second 30-0. He is doing a great job on defense. He says he likes defense better because he can tackle the other kids. We started hockey practice last week. This is going to be interesting doing to overlapping sports, it's just for the month of October and this last little bit of September. Hopefully we survive the month with all the practices.

Jason and Brianna's Wedding

Drew and B

Claire

The girls me, my mom, and sister

Brianna and Jason

Scott and Nile under the All Star Arch

The centerpiece my mom made for the stadium, we also made baseball sugar cookies

Nile in the Cardinals dugout

NIle on the field

my dad, Jason, Flat Jonathan, Steve, Scott, Nile, and Christian golfing

My brother was married last Saturday. We all went to St. Louis for the wedding and had an exciting weekend. Friday, Scott and Nile went golfing with Jason. Then Friday night, we went to Busch Stadium for a rehearsal/welcome Brianna to the family dinner. There was a program and we all had a great night. Saturday was the wedding and reception. We are excited Brianna is part of the family.

School Starts

Brent on his first day of preschool

Nile is on the left with the navy jersey

Nile on his first day

Claire on her first day

Nile and Claire started school last Thursday. Brent started preschool this morning. We are all excited to be back in the routine of things. Nile started playing tackle football a couple of weeks ago. It is keeping us busy. He loves it. He is a defensive tackle and loves trying to get to the quarterback. His first game will be next month. Claire loves school and being back with all of her friends. The kids are starting to learn Spanish this year as one of their electives. Claire came home the first day of Spanish counting to 10. I don't know if Dora had anything to do with that also. Brent was so excited to start school today. He was the first one there.

Hilton Head 2009

The family on the beach
Scott and Nile golfing

B on the beach

Claire boogie boarding

The hissing alligator

The alligator on the lower left, we call this the gator bait pose

Grandma at Harbor Town playground

Nile

We made our annual trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina last week. We had lots fun. The weather was perfect this year, no rain and not too hot. We spent lots of time at the beach, the pool, and bike riding. The kids love going bike riding and looking for alligators, turtles, lizards, and frogs. We got the closest we have ever been to an alligator in the Nature Preserve, we could almost reach out and touch him. The kids were nervous he was going to jump up, he even hissed at us. We went back later in the week and they had added another wooden post to the bridge. Scott's mom went with us this year. We hope we did not wear her out too much. The kids loved building sand castles and jumping waves in the ocean, and picking up sea shells. We went to see fireworks one night. We climbed up the light house and looked out to Harbor Town. Scott and Nile went golfing and kayaking this year. They saw a bald eagle on their kayake tour and a big alligator on the golf course. Scott blamed the gator for his poor score.

Branson Family Vacation

Nile and Scott in the cave

Claire and me in the cave

Claire and B waving good bye to Silver Dollar City

The gang on their favorite ride getting soaking wet

B, Claire, and Nile at mini golf

papa, nana, and Claire

Claire on stage waiting for awards

Papa and Nile with the golf ball

B and Claire at Dick's 5 and 10

The gang at the Dixie Stampede

Claire had a dance competition in Branson this past week, so parents decided to come down and meet us down there to see Claire do her dance since they couldn't make the dance recital. The first night we went to the Dixie Stampede show which was fun. The kids loved it!! Nile thought it was the best dinner he had ever had. On Thursday, Scott, Nile, and my dad went golfing, which was fun even though we had an injury. My dad accidently hit Nile in the leg with a golf ball on the 18th hole. He has a pretty good size bruise. My mom, B, Claire, and I hung out at the pool in the morning and then I got Claire ready for her dance competition. She danced great and received a gold award. Then we went mini-golfing and out for some frozen custard. On Friday, we went to Silver Dollar City, which brought back some great family memories. (My grandpa and grandma Farmer took all of us, aunts, uncles, and cousins to Branson 14 years ago on a big bus, it was quite the family vacation. We all loved it!!!) Claire could go on almost every ride but one. Nile loved all the roller coasters. Brent even got to go on Fire in the Hole. The kids had fun riding rides with papa and nana. We did get my mother on one ride.

On the way home we decided to stop at the Fantastic Caverns cave. It was an interesting experience. It is the only cave in the U.S. that you can drive through.

Recital Weekend

Claire jumping in
Brent swimming

Claire with Grandma and Grandpa after the show

Scott's parents came in town last weekend for Claire's dance recital. She did a great job!! We had a fun busy day. The kids talked grandma and grandpa into going to the pool to see them swim even though it was in the 70's. Then we went to the movies to see Night of the Museum 2 which the kids liked. Then I came home to do Claire's hair and make-up and get her ready for the recital. We had to wake all the kids up on Sunday morning for church. It's weekends like this that we wish we had church just a little later.

Nile is in cubscout day camp this week. He survived a little ran yesterday. His baseball game got canceled because of the lightening. Claire and Brent started swim lessons yesterday. Brent screamed for the first little bit which is surprising because he loves the pool. He has to go everyday to feel like his day is complete. Hopefully, it will go better today.