not your mama's dance team

Last weekend I got to see Madeline perform with her dance team for the first time. I was so proud I could hardly stand it! Boy, did it bring back memories. The energy, excitement, and screaming girls were all the same. But the look, as you can see here, was all new:








Like I said, not your mama's dance team. And as further evidence I offer up these gems:

AWESOME

christmas 2008

Top 10 Christmas memories of 2008:

#10 SNOW!!!

a beautiful white Christmas

#9 Dan as Bob Cratchit

not to mention Grandma P as narrator

#8 Cutting our Christmas tree in the pitch black and pouring rain. Picture flashlights, chainsaw, and very muddy boots in my clean suburban. And hurry, because the ward party starts in 1 hour. Now there's a little Christmas chaos for you!

this isn't actually ours. it is shauna/wayne/grandma's. ours was very unlit sitting in a very dark, cold, empty house. see #6.

#7 Decorating Christmas cookies

this one, in particular, was done eyes closed by Patti & Madeline. lovely girls.

#6 SURPRISE! No electricity. (for 4 days, but who was counting?) (no picture available)


#5 Christmas caroling to the neighbors through the previously mentioned SNOW!!!



#4 Loading all the little boys onto Dad & Mom's bed for the classic Christmas TV specials. Nothing says Christmas like Rudolph + popcorn.

(prior to the electricity going out, of course)

#3 Christmas jammies


#2 isaac's night vision goggles, noah's guitar, & what came to be known as Caleb's "Heidi hat." enough said.




#1 most memorable thing about Christmas 2008: 18 grandkids, 13 siblings/spouses, and one awesome grandma at a Papworth reunion. We love you guys!

here's just a sampling of our gang. the official family picture is to follow at a later date.

moball

moball=mormon snowball=standards friendly girl's choice winter dance



emma & alex. turns out in addition to being a star football player, alex is also a killer waltzer. emma learned a few new moves & had a great time. their group's pre-dance fun included lazer tag, miniature golf, arcade, and a little wii rock band. they regrouped for a "crazy dinner" which included some very unusual eating utensils and dinnerware. think pasta in a frisbee and juice in a vase.

jordon, alex, kyle, stephen, ryken, joe, & adam. what tough guys.


brittney, emma, ami, katie, alex, alli, ashley. what cuties.



zack & sarah's day included a picture scavenger hunt, gingerbread houses & pictures with santa. their glamourous dinner was served on silver-lidded platters and grandly presented to reveal . . . burger king for dinner!

i take no responsibility for zack's hair that night. i do take full responsibility for emma's :)


the girls looked so pretty

and so did austin

enoch's blessing day

enoch was blessed by his dad on december 7. dan gave him a beautiful blessing and enoch has truly been a great blessing to us all, especially me. there is nothing in the world like a newborn baby. i love the softness of his skin, the dead weight of him on my shoulder when he falls asleep there, the smell of him, even his cry is sweet. i am so blessed to be a mother. when i think back to what i wanted as a little girl . . . all those hours spent playing "house," . . . i am truly living my dream. and i thank God for that great blessing.

livin' the soccer dream!

caleb & isaac are truly living the soccer dream! soccer in this house is an all-year sport. fall outdoor soccer, winter indoor soccer, spring outdoor soccer & summer soccer clinics. and when they get home from practice or a game, what are they doing? playing basement soccer in their pjs. you get the picture. and if not, here are some for you to check out.

caleb fall '08 played for: teams real madrid & liverpool


check out that form

a sweet corner kick
frolicking down the field


isaac played for: team shock


"stay on your feet, isaac!"


what a cutie


and how cool to have your dad for a coach


dan & his undefeated U7 boys: TEAM SHOCK

he's here!

And to answer the much asked question, his name is . . .

Enoch Benjamin Lounsbury
Born November 3, 2008 at 3:12 p.m.
9 lbs 14 oz *** 21 in

My beautiful baby

This is what I like to see about 11:30 p.m.

There's nothing in the world like a sleeping baby

This baby's arrival has been much anticipated by the whole family. On the morning I was being induced, Isaac said the morning prayer with Grandma, who was with the younger kids. She later told me he said, "Please bless our new baby, that he won't be scared when he's born." When she asked him why he thought the baby might be scared he said, "Well, when he comes out there will be all these strange people and sometimes it's scary to meet new people."

No one could be happier that he is here than me! Being pregnant . . . not my favorite thing. But I feel very blessed to have another healthy baby. Right now we're still in hibernation mode--feeding, sleeping, changing diapers, staring in awe at my beautiful baby and repeat. Despite the sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, etc. I try to remind myself to enjoy the moment. It only happens once.

homecoming

For starters, who does this outfit remind you of??? (think back about 10 years or so) This is Zack all ready for the soccer float in the homecoming parade.



Austin, Nicole, Heather & Zack




the boys--Jake, Austin & Zack


the whole gang



dinner masterminded by Sheila Wetlauffer--she did a terrific job! All we had to do is clean the house! Now that's the way to entertain.



Emma's homecoming started at her friend Ashley's. Let the primping begin!



The three beauties--Ashley, Emma and Ami


all gussied up



With instructions to bring home LOTS of pictures, this is the only one Emma brought me with the whole group. (She's not a big fan of pictures.)