Joey gets an award

Joey got an award in school a couple weeks ago. The school has core values that they follow and every month they pick one of those values to recognize. Each teacher then picks one person out of their class that demonstrates that value. This month it was "Initiative" and Joey was picked out of his class to be recognized. So Eric and I and Mom and Dad went to the assembly and cheered him on. The top picture is baby brother holding Joey's award. He really loves his big brother.

Some more pictures of the cousins

We took some pictures of all of the cousins. It's really hard to get 6 kids to all look at you at the same time and all of them smiling too. But... we did pretty well I think. I snapped pictures while Myra stood behind me and jumped out yelling "look at me!" We wanted to try and get some "semi-professional" looking pictures that we could maybe put on a postcard or something.


The 6 cousins!

The Engelman 3

The Wall 3

Cousins playing in the snow

After Christmas I stayed at Myra’s for 4 more days, letting the cousins spend a little more time together. Ok… really I wanted to spend some more time with my sister, but the kids really did have a lot of fun together. They had several inches of snow on the ground outside and a huge pile of snow in their driveway. I took a bunch of pictures of them all playing in the snow. It was William’s first time in snow, and he did really good for awhile… until his hands got so cold he couldn’t feel them anymore (he wouldn’t leave his gloves on).

Too much snow! Ready to go inside where it is warm.

Scott... running at full speed.

Joey... peek a boo!

William chewing on some toy.

Andy... sliding in to base.

Alex... just like daddy - playing with the excavator

Tori... posing for a picture

The 3 youngest boys

William walking in the snow for the first time

Christmas 2008

Christmas this year was a little different. Eric was on call the week of Christmas so he was pretty much tied to Redding. Myra and I really wanted our kids to be together for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day though, as they have never been. So... I drove Joey and Tori to Chico the Monday before Christmas and met Myra. She took them back to her house (after some Christmas shopping at Toys R Us. Why don't they have one of those in Redding?) and I took William and went back to Redding so that we could spend Christmas with my husband. William wasn't quite sure what to do with his parents all to himself for a whole week. We hung his stocking on Christmas Eve and put his presents under the Christmas tree. The nice thing about having a toddler on Christmas Day is they don't know what day it is so they don't get you up at the crack of dawn. He woke up around 9am and he opened his stocking and then all of his presents. Eric and I spent a lazy day together and had cheeseburgers from Carl's Jr for our Christmas dinner. Nice huh? =) On Friday William and I drove to Myra and Scooter's house to rejoin the rest of the family. On Saturday morning Mom and Dad showed early bringing breakfast of homeade cinnamon rolls with them. We ate then opened presents. We then had our official "Christmas Dinner" at 5pm - Myra, Scooter and family, myself and kids, Mom & Dad, Scooter's parents Abe & Melinda, and some friends of Myra & Scooter's (who have been coming to meeting up there)- Doug & Shelly who live about 5 miles away. It was fun. I just wish my husband could have been there. That would have made it perfect.

Welcome to our Blog

Hi everyone! We are new to this blogging thing, but it seems like it could be fun. Plus it looks like the way to keep up with the rest of the family. I don't know how often I will remember to update our blog, but I will try to at least keep some up-to-date pictures in here. Happy 2009!