Cakes!

Well, I took a 4 session cake decorating class this last month and just loved it!!! I had to share what I've learned here. This is my first real cake! I made it for Alex's upcoming birthday. :)

Bethany, Lij and Zachy's summer visit

We were so excited when my sister and her boys came to visit this summer!! Here they are here with my kids. All except Keaton, who wouldn't pose for the picture...

We took a picture of Brianna's and Zac's feet to show that they have matching middle toes. Do you see the similarity? We think it is sooo cute! :)
Bethany has always thought she had celiac. Well, lately, she's been wondering if she has it anymore. We think God might have healed her! Cuz she's been eating things with gluten in them and hasn't been reacting!! We hope it's true! While she was here, she tried an oreo. Her first one EVER!

SHE LOVED IT!!!!! :) We took a trip to Mall of America and met our long time friend Mandy for lunch. It was sooo good to see her again!

We had suckers for a treat when we were done eating some Noodles and Company Mac n Cheese. Yummy!

Lij and Brianna became best of friends while they were here. It was ADORABLE to watch them together!

What a good time we had with my sister and family. We did miss not having Jason, here, though. Maybe soon...

See you again in October, Bethany!!

School time!

Well, we have started our 2009/2010 school year here at the Cottrell Academy! The kids are doing well and are getting into the swing of things now that we are on week 4. We started a little bit early this year so that we can take a bit of a break when the baby comes in January.

Here is a picture of the first day of school. :)

Random Pics from lately...

We've been busy around here! The kids are having fun playing outside everyday - really enjoying the summer!

This morning, they wanted to dress up. So, they decided to put dresses on to dance. Even one for Keaton! :)

We went fishing on our camping trip last week. The girls had so much fun! Alex and Taylor caught alot of fish!

Good job, girls!

Daddy and Keaton on the front lawn watching the big trucks across the street.

These pictures are so adorable!!

We went to our nephew, Ryan's graduation party. I had him pose for this pic. What a stud! :)

This was his cake. We are so proud of you, Ryan! He is off to the Marine's in less than a week!

These lilacs our from our yard this year. I just love when I can bring them in the house! Beautiful!

Keaton loves corn on the cob!! He acts like he is attacking with every bite. He adds a growl as he starts chomping away! So cute!

Keaton turned two in May. We are so happy to have him in our family!! What a special little boy he has been for us. We love you, Keaton!!!!!

Update

Well, it's been forever again since I've posted... We are enjoying our summer!! It's been hot this week and we are loving it! The kids have been outside everyday playing with the neighbor kids. They are enjoying the trampoline (jumpoline, as Brianna calls it) and, now that it is getting hotter, the pool this week! Keaton would live outside if we let him... He is a true boy. :) He is loving to play with balls, of course and gets so excited when he hears a plane in the sky. He looks up and says, Where'd it go, Mom???? Then we find it and he says, Oh, yeah. :) So cute.

There is some news since I last posted. I am now 8 1/2 weeks pregnant! I am due on January 27th, 2010. Can you believe 2010??? Wow. We are excited and can't wait to meet this little one soon! We already had an ultrasound and got to take a little peek... soooo tiny! But doing well, it seemed. We are thankful to God for this new little gift. :)

Aaron survived another layoff a few weeks ago... Thank God! He is still working at Emerson and doing a great job.

I am starting to contemplate just how in the world I am going to make it next school year... The baby will be coming right in the middle of it!! I think I will end up taking off a month or so in February. Will be a nice break anyway. :)

Hope you all are enjoying God's beautiful creation this summer!

First Piano Recital

Alex and Taylor had their first piano recital this weekend.

Alex did really well. She was barely nervous and the music sounded beautiful.She played one of her pieces as a duet with her teacher.

Great job, Alex!!!

Keaton sat well and listened to the music while cuddling with his snuggle rag. :)

Taylor did a beautiful job, too. It was wonderful!
She also played one of her pieces as a duet with her teacher.

Awesome job, Taylor!!!

Here are the girls with their wonderful teacher Mrs. Boecher.


We are so proud of you girls and all the hard work and practice you put into these recital pieces. You did a great job! We love you! We are glad that God has gifted you with music talent! We pray that you will always use it for Him!!

Alex's new tutu.

I found a really cute and easy way to make a tutu online last week. I just had to try it!! And I was also excited about an inexpensive way to have a new outfit for the recital!!

Here's the back.
Our other two ballerinas will have theirs done, too, for the recital in two weeks. They can't wait! I will post pics of that when it happens. :)

A Trip to the Zoo

We attempted a trip out to the Zoo the other day with 4 moms and 13 kids, all under the age of 8. It went well, far above what I imagined :) . We had a great time together and the kids loved it! Here's what we did and saw...

Here's Kara, the chicken. :) A few of the kids had fun posing for pics inside the chicken coop.

We even saw a goose that just had laid eggs. She was protecting them and hissed at us when we got too close. Cool to see!
Sweet Alani

We saw a baby cow that had just been born a day or two earlier!

Alex trying out the tractor.

Laura and Katelyn

Brianna, Taylor, Emmi, Brayden, and Alex around the piggies.

The baby piggies!!!

Some of the kiddos even got to milk a goat! Brianna was sad she didn't get a turn. I think she was too little for the farmer to see her.... :(

Alani and Malachi playing together. How sweet! :)

Keaton checking out the ducks and flamingos.

All the kiddos, except Graycen, who was in his stroller. L to R: Emmi, Katelyn, Kara, Gracie, Taylor holding Malachi, Brayden, Alex holding Alani, Charissa, Brianna, and Keaton.

The kiddos.

Keaton and Brianna enjoyed playing in the water where the fish were. :) ...until Brianna got a bit wetter than she was hoping for. This happened last time she went to the zoo!!

Keaton was in awe of most things at the zoo. He liked this coral reef.

All in all, a really fun day! We must do it again!

Birthday Card

They are learning something!!! I just had to post this birthday card to Brianna from Taylor and corrected by Alex. I was encouraged to see that Alex has brought away something from English/Grammar this year! And Taylor learned how to write and get the letters right!!

However, she did make one error. She made an "E" in the word "Fun" instead of an "F". This is how Alex corrected it.

Just as she was taught!! Delete mark through the misspelling and add mark to replace it with and "F"! Wow. This makes it all worth it. Just when I thought they weren't hearing a word I say. :) Good job, girls!!

Brianna and Nick's birthday party

Nick, one of the cousins, came up from Iowa to celebrate his April birthday with Brianna's April birthday! It was so fun to be all together!

We started out here and drove out to the bowling alley for a little fun. The kids had a blast!!! It was fun for Aaron, Gina, and I to show off our skills, too. :)

Nan and I

I can't believe she is FOUR already!!

Gina is a most excellent bowler. :)

Daddy helping Nan bowl

Nick had so much fun helping Keaton bowl. It was sooo cute!

Taylor tried the granny position. :) She did quite well!

Grandpa and Grandma joined us, too! Here is Grandpa and Keats.
Brianna loved bowling so much. She was so excited when she found out she gets 2 turns in a frame! :)

Alex - what excellent form! ;)
And Nan wishing it was still her turn...
Then we came home for presents, Strawberry Shortcake cake and ice cream!
Brianna got so many wonderful gifts. Dress up dresses, shoes and crowns, stickers, BUBBLES!, a picnic basket with a tea set inside, some clothes...


She saw the tea set! She also did this when she got her $4 from Grandma and Grandpa. :)

Raincoat from Auntie Gina. She couldn't resist. How could you??

Nick was happy with money and a gift card!

Time for cake. Strawberry Shortcake!

This is what Brianna did pretty much the rest of the day. Dressed up and played with her tea set. :)

Tinkerbell

Happy Birthday, sweet heart!! We love you so much! You bring much joy to our family and we love all the little things you do to make us laugh. :) We are thankful to God for how he is teaching you to obey and that He loves you and wants to give you Jesus as your Savior! We pray that will happen someday soon!!