Miles, Katrina and RJ

While we wait for the exciting holiday season....

Katrina is preparing for her Christmas performance with dance called, Sweet Jesus. Katrina has transformed as a dancer since starting at her new studio last year. She is taking three classes a week, hip hop, ballet and tap! Next year she wants to add Jazz in the mix! She loves it and has improved with her love of dance, its amazing to watch. For a girl her age, dance is an amazing outlet of energy good and bad. A great way to show her emotion, get exercise and hang with her friends. We are happy for her and cant wait to see her future performances. She has also been really in to DIY (do it yourself) projects from YouTube and Pinterest for her bedroom décor as well as making creative fun videos with her friends!

Miles is continuing on with his soccer journey! His team was undefeated this season with one tie game! He loves hanging with his buddies and stays very busy with them. As well as sports, Miles is very talented at drawing, building, creating, art and more. In my opinion he would be a great architect or engineer! Miles attends a sports ministry function every Sunday night with his buddies where they have discussion on a lesson, hang out and play sports! A great way to end each week reminding the boys what is truly important. Faith, Friendship and of course for these boys....sports!

RJ is learning words and when he doesn't have his binky in his mouth you can really understand him well! When his binky isn't in his mouth he is saying , "binky binky binky"....In other words, he loves his binky. He brings me books to read all day long, loves to be social with big kids and small kids alike. We attend our weekly bible study on Wednesdays where he hangs with kids age pre school and under and we go to the gym daily where he enjoys playing too!

Dave and I are finding our way as parents to Middle School age children as well as having a (almost) 17 month old! We are coming across challenges but with that also having a lot of fun. We miss our families a lot and often feel we live SO SO far away. The blessing is that Oregon is beautiful with wonderful people.

Photos below (a reminder, you can click each photo to enlarge them)....

Cole, Alex, Kyle, Miles - 8th Grade!

a really great shot of Miles soccer team

Tailgating at the Beaver Game

 

We recently had to turn RJ face forward in his car seat because he is SO BIG!

 

our cutie pie lunch date

Katrina - 6th Grade

sibling love

AUSTIN TO DALLAS -9 days of fun!

From the Sexton/Rakes Wedding in Austin to Dallas Texas Halloween festivities, RJ and I are pooped! Dave flew with us to Austin for the wedding and headed home Sunday. RJ and I stayed a week more at Mom and Dad's in Dallas!

The pictures tell the story! Seeing family and friends in Austin was a highlight for sure! We rented a big house for the long weekend and when we arrived we immediately were greeted with frosty beers. So great to see our Honeycut neighborhood gang from childhood!

My brother in law David, Dave and brother Andrew

Dianne and Aunt Holly

Mother of the bride at the bridal luncheon day of the wedding.

beautiful hair at the salon!

Mom, Ashley, Jess, Aunt Holly, Dianne and Jamie with the mother of the bride, Anita!

Isla

My brother Andrew and his girlfriend Jess

My brother and I out in Austin

WEDDING TIME!

beautiful bride Kelsey!

with MissyMa!

the venue was full of country charm!

My sister Ashley and her boys with Isla! Wedding Ready!

 It was a beautiful wedding with yummy food, lots of dancing and wonderful company!

The day after the wedding we went to Sexton club house and had lunch and time at the park! Perfect for all the kids! Water, slides, swings and goodies! The weather was perfect!

 

Mom, Dad, RJ and I rode back to Dallas for a lovely week full of Fall fun.  My niece and nephews were there one night with us and left the next morning after breakfast with RJ!

Isla and RJ , breakfast at Missy and Papa's house!

what a crew!

 RJ and I went shopping in SouthLake! His ball goes where we go!

I bought this sign for a bookshelf....I love it

Pajama time games with Missy
 

 Dad and I carved pumpkins one evening! I roasted seeds with Mom!

 

I had the privilege to see a couple college girlfriends while I was in town! They live in Texas now and I am sure to see them when I visit!

Jen and I

  Halloween was such a great time!!! Missy and Papa played along with the fun. The Story Movie is adorable and we each picked a character! RJ was the cutest Woody character ever. I was Jessie, Mom and Dad were Mr. and Mrs. potato head!

 

We made festive drinks and appetizers!

 

Katrina was with her friends having a great time in Portland. Miles was with his buddies as well.

 

more Halloween.....

I love Mom and Dad's house.

 

College girlfriend and her husband- Elsa and Jacob (what he always looks like; cowboy!)

 

We went to The Dallas Aquarium and it was so neat to see....what a cool place.

 

JFK memorial site; Grassy Knoll

 

It was a great trip. Miles and Katrina were happy to see RJ when we got back.