Soccer game....

Joel signed up to coach Saige's soccer team this year and so far, they've had a ball. Joel has even decided that it's a fun sport! The kids love Joel, of course! I finally remembered to bring the camera this last game and here they are for your viewing pleasure.

Coach Joel and Coach Chris heading to the field.
I actually did a pretty good job of getting some good action shots during the game.

Saige is a super fast runner...she loves to play mid-field, she gets to run all over the field.

I was naughty and made her turn around for this pic...Joel scolded me for distracting her during the game!! He's totally hard-core.

This is my favorite picture...I love her pony tail flying in the wind!

This was an exciting game....they tied, 4 to 4.

After the game.....they are both so cute.

I told Joel to show is teeth....this is what I got! I love my little family.

Fall Decorating.....

A cute picture of Saige to start off with...this is my favorite outfit for fall so far!! I had to talk her into wearing the boots...imagine that!

I LOVE Fall! It makes me so happy...I love how cozy our house feels in the fall...we love to snuggle on the couch and watch movies and have all kinds of "fall" meals! Joel made an awesome beef stew this weekend and it's almost time to kick off the hot chocolate traditon!
Anyway...here is a picture of our entryway...I made the harvest sign a few years ago and it's holding up well. The gourds have also been around for years and I still love using them.

The space above the piano is always challenging for me and I'm constantly changing it...I'm pretty happy with this year's arrangement...I put two canvases together..I painted the bigger one brown and then attached the smaller one with velcro...I really like how that turned out. I'll probably still tweak the stuff on the piano.

Not so happy with this arrangement...but it's okay for now. I love the pumpkin candle holders and I actually found the candles here. Germans have weird fall things...some of it works, but most of it just doesn't gel with what I already have...but, I'm always happy when I find something I can use.

I'm loving the vase full of twigs and orange cattails...and I made the pumpkin topiary like 8 years ago!! It's getting a little wobbly...but, again...I'll use it until it falls apart!

Love, love, love my buffet. The pumpkin soup toureen is so awesome...it hasn't actually been used yet...but, who am I kidding??? I got it for looks only! Ha Ha.

A close up look at the little goodies on the buffet. I got the glittered pumkins while in the states for a whopping 6 bucks!! I love shopping back home....but, I did get a little overwhelmed...there is soooo much to choose from!

The glass apothacary jars....always a good decorating idea!!

And now for the best thing I did this year....I got this picture thing a while back and it has never really looked right...Joel wasn't too happy about hanging it either!! But, with just a few dollars, I changed the look of it for fall. I love how it turned out. All it took was a little tape, scrapbook paper and a wooden fleur di lise!! Am I spelling that right???

Presto....change-o! Isn't it cute? I may leave it up all year!

When the cat is away...the mice will play!!

These pictures show what Joel and Saige did while I made a quick trip to the states to get Jade settled at BYU! And can you believe that they didn't save me ONE? Joel just turned into Mr. Mom and ran himself ragged running Saige around to all of her extra curricular activities and they still had time for fun stuff like this. I didn't worry a bit while I was away. He's such a good dad. Jade is LOVING college...my sister and I drove up to Provo and spent the weekend with her. She is just embracing the whole experience and even loves her prision cell-like dorm!! Seriously, they were a bit scary with the cinder block walls...but, she loves it and that is all that matters!! She made it through 3 rigorous auditons to make the women's choir at BYU and she is so excited to finally have a wonderful choir to sing in. She also found out that she wiped out her freshman year with all of her AP scores and started college as a sophomore. Kudos to my little girl...who is all grown up!! I don't have to worry about her a bit...but, it sure was hard leaving her! Yummy!

Wow.....they look delicious....don't they??

Saige and their hard work!! She looks a little scruffy....but, that's okay...they had more important stuff to do....who has time for hair? Ha ha.

Fall kick-off is almost here!!

Here is my newest fall addition! I totally got a steal on this little baby...now I just have to have a reason to use it! Ha Ha. I think looking at this every day has pushed me into my "autumn" mode a little early this year...but, really....who cares??? It feels like fall here anyway...so, I'm going for it...Joel doesn't know it yet...but, he'll be pulling down the plastic tote boxes from the attic this weekend!! I'm sure he'll be thrilled! It's a good thing he loves me so much!

First day of 5th grade and a little house guest!

Things are getting back to normal around our house....Saige arrived last Thursday and she started school yesterday! Not much time to get over the jet lag...but, she's been a trooper. She also came home to a little house guest....Mr. Jack, a little yorkie that we dog-sat for about 5 days. She had fun playing with him and didn't mind taking him out all day! Joel and I weren't that sad when he went home...but, it was fun having him around for a few days!

Two little cuties...

Saige the caretaker!

Joel's favorite thing to do!! Not really, we all crashed after picking Saige up at the airport at 5 in the morning...UGH! Jack decided he needed a nap too.

Then he decided it looked a little more cozy over on Saige's couch!

Saige on her first day of 5th grade and Middle school...I was able to go with her to most of her classes and she is super excited...she can barely sleep! This picture was taken after school as her mom is totally lame and forgot to take one before we left for the day! She still looks cute after her long exciting day!!

I love my house....

One of my favorite things about living in Germany is our great house! I have so much fun decorating and making it cozy. Fall is in the air and I don't think I will make it until September 1st to pull out all my fall decorations!! We just planted the mums and I love how they look.
Here is a new sign for our front gate...now people will know they are at the right place!!

A view from the street.

Our front yard! So much and fun...and so much work!!!

Ward Party....

We had a ward party at our house this Saturday and had an absolute blast! The weather was beautiful (for a change) and everyone seemed to enjoy socializing with each other and not having to worry about running after their kids too much! This was an elder's quorum party and they really did an awesome job....the kids even got a huge bouncy castle to play in. Here are a few pictures from the par-tay......


This is Steven....Joel's little buddy from church.
I could totally kidnap this little boy and call him my own! I could play with his hair ALL day!

One of our "cutest" party attendees!! Isn't she adorable???

Let the games begin...this was the first game...and believe me, people were NOT lining up to volunteer for this one!! Do you see Joel in the background hiding?? I had a hard time taking these pictures, I was laughing so hard!

Angie's (pink shirt) strategy was to get down low!

Get ready, get set, GOOOOOOOO!

Too funny!

The next game involved whip cream and gum....don't they all look so excited????
They had to get their piece of gum from under the whip cream and the first person to blow the bubble won...

Much harder than it looks :0)

I'm not sure who won...I was laughing again! Silly me!

I forgot to take a picture of all the food everyone brought....but, everyone outdid themselves and we had so much! The dessert table was AWESOME!

We had a great time...we really love our ward family and look forward to doing this again!

Birthday Boy!

My sweetheart turned 38 on August 7th! It took two boxes of candles, but he managed to blow them ALL out which is pretty remarkable with advanced age! Here is my Top Ten List of reasons I love this old guy....
1. He picks up after himself
2. He's a great cook!
3. He honors his priesthood
4. He honors his family
5. He's really, really, really funny!
6. He's an expert toenail painter
7. He uses Q-tips daily
8. He thinks I'm cute!
9. He's a great dad to our children
10. And finally....his face...who couldn't adore this face????
Happy Birthday Lovie.....I love you.

Summer with the boys....

So, the summer just flew by and our house is very empty now! Joel and I don't know what to do with ourselves...we really enjoyed our visit with the boys...unfortunately we didn't get many pictures...but, here are a few.
It was so nice to see Brannon's face!!

Can you say carrot top????? Why do the boys always get the curls?

Kyle in his new "skinny" jeans! I don't think he took them off while he was here!

Brannon rockin out to Jade's pink guitar! Doesn't it look great against Joel's alabaster legs??

Could have used a flash for this picture...but it was the best one we had for Joel and Kyle.

You can see one of Brannon's eyes! Whoo-hoo!

Kyle taking Brannon's pic in the car.

He's loving it!

And finally....Kyle sticking his face out the window....I don't think I want to ask how he got this picture!!!