Emily is turning eight years old today! It is a very special day for her, she is getting baptized today on her birthday at 3 pm. She has been getting ready for this big event in her life for quite awhile. There are lots of things that are great about being eight. One of the most exciting to her was to get her ears pierced (just look at her beautiful earrings). I love our darling Emily, looking forward to a great year of her being eight! Happy Birthday Emi!
Happy Thanksgiving! We had a great day! We joined the Angell's for dinner at Golden Corral and then went to the movies.
We started getting ready for halloween the night before, carving pumpkins and playing scary music.
Emily is ready for school today. They are going to celebrate, but call it fall day or something like that.
She got that cute witch from the team garage sale.
Emily, I mean Harry Potter showing off her pumpkin.
Happy Birthday to you, we love you we do, we love you dear dad/pappa jess, happy birthday to you! 
I am what you would call a Daddy's girl. Always have been. Just want to recognize my dear sweet father on his birthday! He is working in the temple today, I guess that is perfect for him!
My parents are so dear to my heart. I am grateful that I can call them, just wish I could see them more often. Looks like my mom adores him too.
There they are in the AZ sunset.
Here she goes, another season as an Auburn Tiger!
Coach Eileen talking strategy before the game.
She may have played on the Tiger team five seasons, but this is the first season to have a team mascot!
Go Tigers!
Lexi's cheer squad has been working really hard to get ready for Cheer Off.
Lexi doesn't wear make-up on a regular basis, but she wants to tonight.
Getting ready for the big night.
We washed her hair and were drying it straight. Getting ready to go to Coach Cindy's salon.
Ready to go to the salon to get her hair done, pizza and practice.
Looks like the gangs all here, time to do hair.
Hair is done, had their pizza, one last run through in the back of the salon.
Lexi and Liv ready to caravan to Gwinnett Arena.
Emi is ready for Cheer Off, showing her North Bulldog spirit!
Just a sea of cheer squads. Go North Gwinnett! Tons of energy in the air....
We are all having so much fun....well everyone except maybe Tucker and John Michael. At least they are wearing the right colors!
The girls are competing in the medium division and did an AWESOME job!
Look at that smile!
The North Gwinnett 8th grade cheer squad came in 1st place!
Tucker loves fall baseball, he really enjoys playing for Coach John.
Tucker and Matthew at one of the tournaments waiting for the next game.
This tournament was in Monroe, they took 2nd place. It was a fun weekend of baseball.
The sisters have to do something to keep entertained during these long weekends.
Emily and Audrey.
Cutest little sisters at the park.
The older sisters, Lexi and Kate, not wanting their picture took. They spent time texting, listening and watching their ipods, they watched Step Up 2.
Trying to escape the heat under Lisa's shade.
This tournament was our favorite, the boys took 1st place! I think the trophy is taller than the coaches.
We played Collins Hill for the championship. This win was a little bit personal, we knew quite a few of the kids on the opposing team.
Coach Patrick, Coach John, Coach Brett, JM, Wes, Kevin, Jason, Stephen, Kyle, Brian, Tucker, Wihan, Christian, Matthew, Barrett, Alex. (Garrett was out of town, Kevin and Wihan filled in for this tournament).
The boys played a few scrimmages against teams out of our park, won all of those.
We ended the season this weekend playing a tournament in Conyers.
My heart breaks as we have to say an early goodbye to Cecilee and David Ben.
This whole thing just doesn't feel real yet. Mel called me around 3 am to tell me that David and Cec were killed in a plane crash coming home from work. The plane went down a couple of miles after takeoff, no survivors. They were with their work team 10 people all from the Cedar City area. David 60, Cecilee 31, leaving darling Zoe 2 behind along with Ann, Yorke and Chelsea.
I talked to David on the phone just about a week ago, and am so glad I got the chance. He was worried about Ann and I reassured him she would be okay. I love David, he has always been a great brother-in-law. I appreciate his kindness not only to me but to Patrick as well. Patrick remembers when he thought he and I were a memory, and how good David was to him when he bought his computer from him for probably more than it was worth. I'll never forget David helping me write some health paper when I was in High School. Help nothing, he wrote it all. One of the funniest stories I love about him is he and Ann were visiting and Mel walked in the bathroom on him and he was flexing his muscles in the mirror naked!!! He always made us laugh and smile.
Our beautiful Cecilee. I lived with Cecilee and her family when she was around 8 years old. She was always so happy and fun. Now she has grown to be a beautiful woman and a very loving mother. I went to be with Ann and the rest of the family after I got the call. That Sunday evening I was downstairs playing with Zoe and Maddie, the girls were being so cute and playing in the kitchen. I know that Cec is not too far because Zoe started saying no, I love you more mommy, and then she would make cute sounds and again say no mommy, I love you more mommy this went on for a little while. Zoe was talking in the cutest little singsong voice and I know she was talking to her mommy and that her mommy was letting her know how much she truly loves her.
Here the two of them are in Tonga. Cecilee was born in Fiji, while David and Ann were in Tonga working for the Peace Corp. You never know what life will bring or how long you will get to enjoy it. I know families are forever and take great comfort in that as we say goodbye, I love and miss you both.
Today is our anniversary, 19 years! When our neighbor heard how many years she said, "(superlative) what did you do, get married when you were 10?" Patrick said he did and since we all know I am younger than him, well....
We may look older than we did a few years back, but somethings never change, like wanting to spend time together. He still gives me butterflies!
This whole cheerleading/football thing is new to us!
They kicked off the season with a jamboree.
They started off with a greeting, a prayer, and the National Anthem.
Just a sea of kids! Lexi is out there somewhere.
All the kids had a great time.
Tucker, Mallory, John Michael, Emily and Madison.
Emi and Maddie staying out of trouble?
Lexi, Liv and Mall, making the most of it.
