Back in Action

Yeah ... Katie's hand is feeling strong and she was able to play in her first softball game in over 6 weeks. She played center field and even hit!! She will be pitching this coming weekend at the ASA State tournament. Our team did much better this weekend ... we won 2 of our 4 games and played much better on defense. We are still a young team and learning every game and getting better!!

It is pretty funny to see William actually watching the game ... when Katie gets up to bat ... he yells KAAAAAAAATE!!

I am Thankful For ...

Another Thanksgiving gone and past, but so many things I am thankful for:

• The love of Jesus Christ and the freedom to worship Him in our wonderful country.
• My husband of 14 years, who works so hard to give us an amazing, secure life and whose love keeps growing with our family
• Andrew, my first born and an incredible young man
• Katie, my first girl and confident, spunky young lady
• Matthew, my middle child, most sensitive and spirited
• Julia, my little darling girl who is very "stylish"
• William, my snuggly baby and the best surprise of my life
• My mom, whose strength has amazed and guided me
• My Dad, who looks over all of us daily and whose bravery was inspiring
• My sisters, the two most beautiful and incredible women I know and their husbands who are a perfect fit in our family
• My brother, the baby and following right in my dad's footsteps
• My neices and nephews .... wow, what a thrill to be an aunt
• My mother and father in law ... for loving me as their daughter
• Buddy ... through it all, she has been right at my side, laughing, crying and living life with me.
• For all my friends who support and love me for who I am
• For our church ... a wonderful place to worship (whether in a cafeteria or a beautiful new church)
• For WPS .. a loving, safe and challenging environment where I send my guys each day

On a lighter note ...

• For Diet Coke
• For old school rap music
• For the internet, blogging, facebook ...
• For the Florida weather all year long
• For a really HOT shower
• For homeade whip cream
• For the last 10 minutes of my workout
• For the Biggest Loser show

Hoping everyones Thanksgiving was full of joy and relaxation and realization that our lives are so rich and full!!

Football Wrap Up

We celebrated Andrew's football season with a banquet on Thursday night at WPS. It was a potluck and all the kids enjoyed being together as a team one last time. The kids got really cool metals from the coaching staff!! Andrew had a very good season, learned tons, made new friends, worked his butt off (you should see his abs of steel!) and really impressed us with his composure and hard work!! Way to go Andrew ...

Let's Go Lakers

So the other day Katie came to talk to Sean and I and asked if she could join the middle school cheerleading squad. Sean and I both trembled at the thought of another activity (especially in Windermere). It actually is a very low commitment and they are more like a pep squad and not a full cheer squad. They will be cheering at middle school basketball (cool ... Andrew is on that team .. 2 for 1). They were very cute and there are 8 girls ... all 5th graders and all good friends.

Giving Thanks

Julia had her Thanksgiving Feast on Thursday at Montessori. They do such a wonderful job celebrating Thanksgiving. The children make all the food ... including the butter!!! I was able to sneak in during the meal and snap a few pictures. I was so impressed with 30 3, 4 and 5 year olds, all sitting quietly, cutting their food, using their napkins. They were so polite and well behaved!! I included the picture of Julia's plate full of food (she ate it all!). It was somewhat curious that she spread butter all over her turkey!!

Braces Time

BEFORE

AFTER

New stage ... Andrew got braces this week ... just the top. He handled it pretty well and is not complaining too much. Once again, another indication of how fast things are going ... remember how he wsa so excited when he l0st his first tooth in Naples!!!

Christmas Card Photos

Sunday was the dreaded day ... Christmas card photos. Sean had to leave early am for Rhode Island, so I got up extra early, got everyone ready solo and in coordinating outfits (yes, Andrew was thrilled that he did not have to wear the same shirt as will and Matthew this year!) It was only 50 degrees and the little two were not very cooperative. My great friend, Terri, took the pictures and has such an amazing attitude and personality during the whole thing. I wish I could be more like her ... there is something about Christmas Card pictures that don't mix with me. I am anxious to see if she got a great picture ... I know she got some wonderful candids ... thanks Terri for putting up with all of us!! Just a sneak peak about of the kids!! They looked pretty darn cute I must say ... let's see what the pictures show

UH OH

I love it when a baby learns to say "uh oh". It is so cute. Will started saying uh oh just today. He dropped his pacificer and I said, "Uh-oh" and then he said it!! He has been repeating it non stop today. I can't believe how fast time is flying by with him ....

Growing Up ...

Wow ... Katie looked so pretty going to her 5th grade social tonight. It amazes me how the kids just leap into each new stage ... Katie is really coming into her own. I love her confidence, spunkiness and own style. She is a very special girl ... we love you Miss Katie.

John's First Disney Visit

On Monday, Jules, Will and I took Grandma, Mereditha and John to Epcot. It was the most perfect weather ... 75, sunny, no humidity. We had an absolutely magical day ... the kids were so good, the park was not crowded, John got a kiss on the cheek from Snow White, Julia was tall enough for Soarin and Test Track (and she did both!!). We had a nice lunch at the Germany pavilion and several treats throughout the day ... It was a super great day!!!

Where Did My Baby Go?

The other day at the Veteran's Day celebration, William was getting restless so I took him off to the side. He entertained himself by sitting on the curb, walking up and down the ramp and exploring the grassy areas and the pond. As I sat and watched him, it amazed me how fast these past 15 months have gone, how Will is already becoming an independent little guy with words, emotions (you should see him when he sees candy!), snuggles, concentration, fear and joy!! What a surprise it was to find out we were having a 5th little Kane .... I can't imagine our family without him.

Grandparent's Day @ WPS

We were lucky that my mom was here over Grandparent's day this year. She got to go to school with the kids and spend the morning with them. She started in Matthew' s classroom where she was able to help him with some work ... you can really tell she is a teacher here. Matthew's class same the Fifty Nifty United States (I love that song!!) and then Grandma quickly was wisked away to 5th grade to visit with Katie.

After Grandparent's day in the classrooms, we have a Veteran's Day assembly at the flagpole. Andrew's band played so my mom was able to see him perform. It was a beautiful day out and the kids were very lucky to get to spend it with their Grandma!!

Celebrating our Faith ... Building on Solid Ground

Many of you know that Sean is very involved in the building of our new church in Celebration. Our parish, Corpus Christi is 3 1/2 years old and we meet in the High School cafeteria. We broke ground this past weekend on a beautiful piece of property on Celebration Avenue (only 2 minutes from our house ... walking to church will be amazing!). Sean is the head of the finance committee and also on the building committee. We are very proud of his service to our parish and he is a wonderful example to our family about using your gifts to glorify God!!

Members of the building committee .... and yes our priest is very tall (he is standing up on the loader, but he is just shy of 7 feet tall!!)

WPS Fall Festival

My mom and sister got in on Friday and we went right to the WPS Fall Festival. We had a great time ... especially the babies with the cotton candy!! Didn't see Andrew and Kate all night because they just ran around with their friends!! Matthew got alot of attention and did a bunch of cool rides. Jules hung out with Grandma most of the time and checked things out. Will and John spent most of the time in the stroller ... they were all about the eating.

Matthew stuck on the velcro wall!!

Matthew loved the bungee jump / trampoline ... he got soooo high!!!

This was all Will got to do ... hold on the ropes and stare at all the rides. He thought it was hilarious to see Matthew flying through the air!!

Halloween ... the Day that Never Ended

Halloween was a fun filled day with tons of activities. We started the morning early by getting in our costumes and getting to school by 7:45am. Julia didn't got to school because we spent the whole day at WPS, but she got to wear her Cinderalla costume to the kids' costume parade.

Katie looked very hip once again in her funky costume ... check out those boots!! I can't believe she could walk in them throughout the whole parade!! I also love the bright cast to compliment her dress!!

Matthew dressed up as a gladiator and had so many parts to his costume it took us forever to get him dressed. He had a blast at school on Halloween. After the costume parade, they went trick or treating at the middle and high school. He got tons of candy and then went back to the classroom for his class party.

I took the little kids home to my mother in law and headed straight back to school to help set up for the FIRST EVER pep rally and football game at WPS. I was so glad that I went to the pep rally ... it was a blast!! Just like I remembered in high school (but no burnouts or hoods in the top right hand corner of the bleachers looking totally disinterested!). I video taped most of the assembly so not too many pictures of the event. This school has so much spirit and support for each other. The decorations were amazing, the energy incredible, the band played, our mascot was there (Butler the Dragon), all the Fall Sports teams were introduced and ran out on the floor. The football team even ran a play .... it looked really cool!!

One of the coolest things was the band made signs for each of the football players that are in the band. You can kind of see Andrew's sign .... I thought that was a very cool idea!! I love it that Andrew is the QB and also a band kid!! Great mix.

After the pep rally, we went straight to the football game. The entire 4th - 12th grade was at the game and it was soooo much fun. We lost 28 to 14 but this team did so much better than expected for their first season. We have a great foundation and look forward to next season. We were so proud of Andrew this season ... his commitment, hard work, enthusiasm, spirit, dedication, and appreciation to his coaches and to us were really amazing. I always remember wondering when he was a little boy how his sweet disposition and kindness would transform or translate when he was older ... he is still that same sweet little boy just 5 foot 5 and bigger. We are so truly blessed with Andrew ... he is very special young man!!!

After the game, we had a pasta and pizza dinner for the other team and their fans. It was nice to be able to visit with all the players and their parents. We then rushed home to start Halloween night. Andrew went home with his friend Allen ... it was the first year he was not around to go Trick or Treating ... Katie was exhausted and handed out candy and then went over to Casey's house to do a bit of trick or treating and then spent the night. Sean took Jules and Matthew trick or treating (Will went out for a while with me early and then he was fast asleep by 7). Will wore the lion costume and I have to say that is my favoirt costume of all time. All of the kids have worn it ... I will try to pull out pictures so we can compare.... He really like the costume and kept it on for a while .. until he saw himself in the mirror. He did a huge belly laugh and then started to pull the hat off!! Needless to say, when the day was over, we were all out like lights!!