The Funky Monkey...

Here he is in all of his glory!  The soccer king, goalie, and team captain of the Funky Monkeys...Daron!  I haven't gotten to go to a game yet as I have been home bound with fever ridden kids, but these pictures were awesome to see.  He is loving his soccer season so far and really loves everyone that comes to check him out.  He had a lot of family there to watch this last Saturday and he ate it up!!!  Thanks to all of his supporters!!!!  

I will have to post about Maddie girl on Saturday after I get to her game that day...

What to do with ALL these Leaves...

The kids had such a great time raking all of the leaves from the huge trees out back and then taking turns jumping into them and cevering eachother up with them.  Then they got Oma too!  Daron shoved them into his clothes to be a scarecrow and then they all just started throwing them like crazies!  They really love this yard and today, spending some time playing together.

Family Day...

We took the day off from everything and just enjoyed eachother today for Kev's birthday.  It was so much fun!  We had eggs, homemade hashbrowns, toast and fresh squeezed OJ (from our trees out back) for breakfast.  Kevin actually made us breakfast on his birthday because I cannot make the over easy eggs to save my life!!  Then we hung out and played a couple of rounds of Rummikub together.  Then lunch and nap time for whoever wanted and play time for whoever didn't.  Then some whiffle ball in the back yard where the kids each wished Kevin a happy birthday in their own personal way by hitting him while he pitched the balls to them...  Kaitlin got him square in the groin and dropped him like ton of bricks!  Daron got him on his left nipple and it was bright red for a long time!  Maddie got him on the shoulder, so not so bad.  We laughed so hard when Kaitlin got him though, it was great!  He'll live!!!  Anyway, then we cooked dinner and Oma & Opa joined us for BBQ chicken, german fried potatoes, steamed broccoli and birthday cake.  I made a pumpkin caramel and cream cheese cake and it was soooo yummy!  A day off with his family was all he wanted for his birthday and it was awesome!

Happy Birthday To My MAN...

For those of you that know Kevin you know he doesn't really care for his birthday too much!  A simple Happy Birthday will do.  But, I love his birthday (birthdays in general really) and am so glad that he's mine!  He is such a smart guy.  I don't know where he has learned to do all of the things he knows???  He can do ANYTHING!  He's hard working, patient, kind, generous, loving and cares for our family so much.  He is the best Dad ever and really cherishes each of his kids.  He spoils them, but that's okay because he balances that with consistency and discipline.  They are learning great things from their Daddy every day that will help them in their lives.  He's still a kid at heart and loves playing with them and encourages them to do new and fun things!  He started in a new business this year and is doing so awesome despite the difficulty of switching gears into a new industry from what he was doing last year.  He just makes it work and gives it his all!  He is the most positive person I know and he is such an example to me in that department (I am a huge worrier...you all know that).  He is definitly my ROCK!!!  I feel blessed to have met him and fallen in love and to join our families together and even add a couple to the bunch!  Happy Birthday Babe...  "34"!!!!!

Got the picture...Thanks Deb!

Stuff...

Kaitlin got her Student of the Month award this morning at flag ceremony!!!!  She is such a great girl!  We are very proud of her for being such a good example to those around her and doing so well at her new school.  She is auditioning for Beauty & The Beast this weekend and has been practicing very hard on her song.  Daron is playing soccer now for winter season and has been named team captain!  He also suggested the name voted in, "Funky Monkeys"!  Very exciting stuff.  They won their first game on Saturday.  Madison is also playing winter soccer and loving it.  This is her 4th season I think and we are very proud of her soccer moves!  She is sooooo ready to be baptized in April too!  Lauren keeps walking around the house saying, "butt crack"  I guess because all of the kids make fun of her bum when her pants are low riding and they say it to her.  She goes on and on!  Emmy has been sick for like 2 weeks and no end in sight.  I think partially due to her teething maybe???  She is congested and snotty and all that great stuff!  Kevin is working like a crazy man to make us all millionaires and being a great scout leader, soccer Dad and audition coach!  I am busy with kids, cleaning, cooking and callings!  We hope everyone is having a great week...

(I heard a friend got a pic of Kaitlin getting her award, so maybe a pic is to come???  I'll get on that!)

A Tragedy In Our Extended Family...

An email from Aunt Jacque this morning...  

I don't know if you have heard on the news about the car accident on Friday nite at Sossaman and Elliot rds. that two little boys were killed in or not, they were some of our extended family. It is the Grandsons of Aunt Kay and Uncle Eddies daughter Sandy. They lost little C.J. and Nolan. They were 11 and 6 I believe. Their parents were also injured, their Dad, Frankie, had glass in his eye, he had surgery and they hope they can save it. Their Mom, Tracy, has a fractured pelvis. She is still in the hospital. There was a friend in the backseat with the boys, and she is still in ICU, I don't know her prognosis. It is so sad. Tracy and Frankie had 3 children. A few years ago, they had a baby that only lived a couple of minutes after birth. They have had so much sadness lately, Frankie was hurt in a very bad ATV accident, and was in the hospital for quite awhile. He lost a lost of work recovering, and not too long ago they lost their house because of him not being able to work. They are currently living with his grandparents. I can't even imagine losing all of your children....it's so heartbreaking. Please remember them in your thoughts and prayers. Their names are Tracy and Frankie Smith. As you can imagine they are having a very hard time dealing with this. I wish I knew their friends name, but I don't at this time. Gramma Dorothy was telling me about the little boys. She said they were really cute, sweet little guys. The older one, was a straight A student, and I guess was really good at baseball. They had lots of friends. Hold your families close.....

My thoughts...

I feel very sad for Tracy and Frankie today.  I can't even imagine what they are going through and we will keep them in our prayers.  It is such a reminder to me of all of the many blessings that I have in my life.  We have had a rough year in more ways than one, but have had soooooo many blessings this year at the same time.  And, even our trials this year have been blessings in disguise in many ways!  I am very thankful to my Father in Heaven for my sweet husband and his positive diposition and drive to keep our family going no matter what, our children for the fun each of them bring into our home and family, and for our our extended families and the lengths they are willing to go to help us and how much they love us!    I am very grateful for our health and safety today especially.  Like Jacque said...hold your families close.  These are the things that REALLY matter!

New Years Resolutions...

Well, I am on day 5 of resolutions I made and doing 100% so far!  We'll see how long that lasts!  Emmy is cutting her 2 bottom teeth and they're poking thru!!!!!  I was a little teary when I saw them coming through, who knows why???  I bet it's because I am sooooooo glad she is getting bigger/older (because newborns are such high maintenance) and also a little sad because she's our last baby.  But at any rate, she's cutting teeth, eating solids twice a day for the past 2 weeks, on regular milk (bye-bye formula!), is sleeping 10 hours at night,  takes 2 naps a day,  has a hilarious personality and laughs like crazy!  I am MIA from posting because I have GOT to take down all of the Christmas stuff before I can do anything else!!!  They also gave me another calling at church, so now I have 2 callings to get organized and prepared for every week, and the kids have their new activities coming up this week.  Daron & Maddie start soccer for the winter season and Kaitlin is auditioning for Beauty and The Beast through a community theater group!  So, I hope everyone has a great week as I am sure you are all equally busy so far this new year!!!

Emmy's 1st Christmas...

Well, she missed unwrapping this year but has no idea what that's all about anyway!  She's a cute package all wrapped up with a bow!

And, to our "True Friends" Secret Santa...

We had two Secret Santas this year and the Olson family are our "true friends" for sure!  They did such a cute 12 days of Christmas and left presents like... gift cards for family fun, cozy blankets and hot chocolate, new game for all of us to play, lots of yummy fruit, new movies, brown sugared ham, hoodies for everyone, a beautiful and HUGE fresh poinsettia plant,  a 2009 Christ calendar (which I love all of the pictures inside), etc. and each gift was left on the doorstep every night with a piece of this cute nativity set and a note from "your true friends".  We had a hunch that it was the Olson's, but the last nights note confirmed it!  Thank you to them and they have been such great friends this year and we appreciate them so much!

12 Days of Christmas...

Thanks to the "Elves" that stocked our shelves and the AWESOME 12 Days of Christmas!!!!!

Leave it to Mom & Dad to come up with something so creative and helpful!  It was also a venture FULL of sentiment and we loved it so much as I'm sure all of your kids did...  we love you!

Our "little" family Christmas morning!  It was a very calm morning and kind of nice that way without a lot of unwrapping going on, just Lauren!  We definitly missed our older kids though who were all gone with their other parents/families this year, and Emmy who was still asleep!  

I want to publicly thank ALL "10" of my brothers & sisters for their thoughtfulness this Christmas as they played santa for me and Kevin!  I will never forget it... YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!  I was of course super excited and all cry-baby at the same time when I opened and read the cards.  I know it's been a tough year on everyone financially and that was really sweet and I love you guys!  Not just because you give me nice presents either!  I hope you all remember to let us help where we can too, because it's great to get help, but we love to give also!!!!  Keep that in mind when YOU are in a bind... call us!!!!!

Thank You Aunt Tawna...

The pictures kind of say it all!  Princess Pei Pei was VERY happy Christmas morning with her princess garb, stickers (she loves to decorate herself and others!) and her puzzle.  Thank you again for playing Santa this year!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad...

You guys are such a good combination and always seem to balance eachother and compliment eachother!!!  Thank you for always being such a great example of what marriage is and should be and I hope you have a blast whatever the fun plans are for tonight!  We love you!   :)

Merry Christmas.....

Love, 

The Goodwin Family