Another season's a wrap!

Cavin finished out another season of soccer. He completed Fall season which makes 6 seasons with the Texas Heatwave. He has had the same coach and has really enjoyed playing with Coach Tory. This year they were the Red Dynamite a name he proudly chose.

Here he is at the beginning of the season.

He sure loves getting his trophy each season! They had an end of the year party at the bowling alley and they had a blast!

 Here they are, minus one boy Miles

He sure is a handsome soccer stud!

Family Pictures 2015

My favorite thing to do every year is get family pictures. While I don't enjoy the preparation and finding something for everyone to wear, or the anxiety that comes with making sure everyone is rested and happy, I love the end results. I love to see pictures of my kids and how much they have grown each year. I am so grateful for our family. Here are some of my favorite shots.

Sweet Ella

My Handsome Cavin

Our sassy "orange head"

Cute little Deacon

This is a face we see so often. He is so excited about everything!

Our Family!

Some candids

Me and one of my sweet boys

Cute girls

11 years later

The cute gals!

Hartzheim Boys!

I am so grateful I have eternity with this family of mine. They truly are the family I dreamed I would have.

October Fun!

October is always a little busy around our house as Ragnar starts up the Rockets season and the holidays begin. The kids and I enjoy getting ready for Fall. This month started with a trip from Daphne for the kids church Primary program. We were so grateful she took the time to come. 

The girls are always glad when Daphne comes for church because she curls their hair so pretty! The kids did great in their program and it went well as a ward primary presidency.
The next week we painted pumpkins for FHE as we prefer that to carving.

They each were definitely different and I enjoy seeing their creativity.

Cavin had to make a pumpkin of a character in a book for school as well. It was a family project and we chose "The Tickle Monster" book. My kids have loved that book since my best friend Stacey introduced them to it. 

Ella also got to go on her fourth grade field trip all the way to Austin, Texas to see the state Capitol and a couple museums. I was nervous for her to go that far alone. They had big greyhound buses they took them on fed them and such and she had a blast! I mean she talked about it for days. I am so glad it was such a positive experience for her. 
As for Halloween this year. We were a little less than enthusiastic. The kids were indecisive about what they wanted to be and I was all for keeping it simple. Cavin decided to be a basketball player and I was glad because he had everything and Deacon was one as well. I much prefer spending money on something they will use again! Ella wore her dance recital costume and Channing her birthday dress of Sophia! It worked out well!

 Ella as a princess ballerina.

 Cavin was James Hardin

 Channing was Sophia the First

And...Deacon was a handsome basketball player.

I sure love these kiddos! We went to the Trick or Treat in the suites at the Toyota Center and it was packed this year. We had fun though and then we hurried to our ward trunk or treat and caught the end. Then on Halloween it was raining. It slowed down so I took the older three kids with some friends out to trick or treat, but it was kind of a dreary day. Another Halloween in the books!

Deacon's 13/14 month pictures!

Deacon is growing and growing! He learned to walk right after her turned 13 months and now he is almost running! He has several more teeth and loves eating most everything. He still loves bread and fruit.

He loves to go under the table and see what is left for him...

Walking can be exhausting!

This is what he looked like after 30 minutes of running back and forth after a ball! Sweaty!

Here is how he spends his time at the dance studio when Ella has dance! Staring at himself and throwing a ball!

And this is his new favorite thing to do at soccer practice! He looks adorable in that chair!

He also is learning to be so helpful around the house...or so he thinks!

I didn't need that laundry in the dryer anyway....

Such a good helper ;)

He has a love for his brother, but Ella is moving up the ranks!

 He has the funniest faces!

Ok Ok I know I'll stop trying to make you smile!

I just love his cheesy grin!! He makes me smile. He is a very happy baby. Last week however he got a staph boil and it was bothering him. Hopefully with several days of the antibiotics we can clear him of those! He loves kicking and throwing a ball and loves balloons as well!

Ragnar's Birthday!

Ragnar is officially 38! We celebrated his birthday over a span of 2 weekends! The weekend before his birthday, his sister Daphne who lives in Baton Rouge, LA was kind enough to invite him to LSU's biggest football game of the year against Auburn. Lucky for him it was also the second hottest game in history ;)

He went up Friday night and then they tailgated Saturday morning and went to the afternoon game!

Go LSU!
The next weekend Daphne came to Houston. We celebrated with some yummy cheesecake!

After cake, the kids went to bed and my parents were kind enough to watch the kids while we went to Top Golf. We brought along Daphne and a friend and the 4 of us enjoyed a night out golfing!

It was a fun evening, minus hearing gun shots not far from us and then seeing several police cars! Ragnar whooped us the first game. Happy Birthday to him!