Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween also came and went at our house! Jeff and Christina took the kids to the pumpkin farm to pick out their pumpkins one wet and dreary day...thank goodness I didn't have to go in the pouring down rain (I had to take Sade to voice lessons). Anyway... we finally got around to carving the crazy things...

Ayodele carved his very own pumpkin this year! He did a great job!

All of the kids dressed up this year! Hey...since when is the 80s a dress-up look? Sade absolutely loves the look of the Madonna 80s... she and her friends would love to try and bring the styles back! UGH! Just say NO!!!

My scary little boys...

All of my scary monsters...

HaPpY hAlLoOwEeN!!!!!

Our beautiful daughter turned 14...

Where does the time go! Gosh... it's been over a month since Sade turned 14 and I'm just now sitting down to get my blog caught up. I love you Sade...sorry!

Poor Sade... her birthday was on a Monday this year, which meant school and football. First she spent all day at school starting at 7am for KeyNotes (the Jazz Choir she auditioned for) and then after school we all went to watch Derek play football at AHS. Finally, after the game, her special day began.

Great Grandma and I went and bought her a balloon bouquet while Grandma and Christina started dinner. Tacos, of course! Then she got to open her presents and eat her yummy lopsided (purposefully) cake!

Happy Belated 14th Birthday, Sade!

Our baby turned 16!!!

Our oldest baby turned 16 on Monday!

Truly an unbelievable milestone that I thought we'd never get to!

He was born on a Monday afternoon back in 1993.

The baby with no name yet because I couldn't decide...

All my family by my side and friends in tow

We headed to Bellingham to bring home a baby!

At 4:56 pm Derek Alexander was born

9 pounds 10 ounces and 22 inches long!

The most common comment upon his arrival was,

"He's going to be a linebacker!" Well... 16 years later, and here he is...

6 foot 4 inches tall and 160 pounds...

Not a linebacker, but a Wide Receiver and Safety!

Derek is number 88 in White.

On his 16th birthday, he had his very first JV Football game.

Dele, the kids and I all went to show our support.

He did a great job... he played Wide Receiver, Safety and ran the line at kick off.

He played quite a bit and almost had 2 interceptions!

Way to go!

The team beat Lynnwood 56-6!!! Go AHS!

But... most importantly...

Happy Birthday, Derek!

We all love you very, very much!

And we're very proud of you!

( Derek is the player in white on the far right - #88)

Fishing for Salmon on the Snohomish River

So my hubby had the brilliant idea to go Salmon fishing. He heard that the Salmon were jumping out of the nearby rivers. So we dug out our fishing poles, organized the tackle box, grabbed the chairs, shoved the cooler in the car, then loaded all of the kids plus Dele's friend Evan and off we went! We had to stop in Monroe to get a fishing license, so we grabbed some food for our always hungry children. Once we found a place to park and access the river, we unloaded everyone and everything and headed toward the fishing hole! We were a little surprised when we arrived and realized to get to the "good" fishing, we'd have to cross the raging river! Dele tested it out and took the cooler and poles over first. Then he came back and took Kayode, Derek and Sade.Then poor Dele came back and took Dele and Evan over... thank God Dele is strong, because Dele almost floated away a couple of times! Needless to say, I prayed a TON as my family crossed the raging river!At first, I refused to cross the incredibly scary river. I didn't want to get all wet... I was wearing jeans and my only pair of tennis shoes for heaven's sake! :) So I sat and watched for a while from a distance! Then, my daughter coerced me to cross so we could enjoy the afternoon as a family! When I got over, Derek and Dele were trying to get the poles ready for fishing!Dele helped Sade fish for a while... she stood in the river for quite a long time. Unfortunately, she didn't catch anything! We could see the fish jumping, but they never bit her line!

Kayode enjoyed the afternoon swimming in the river. Surprisingly it wasn't cold. He had a fun time!

Once Derek got the pole ready, he, too walked out into the river to fish...Nothing!

Ayodele had a lesson from daddy on how to cast a pole and reel it back in!

Did Ayodele catch a fish????

Nope!

But... we got to spend a beautiful sunny Sunday at the river as a family!

There's no better gift than time together.

First Days of School

Sade was the first to go to school in our house. Can you believe she started 8th grade in Arlington? So far she's liking school! She's got some good classes... even leadership! She's looking forward to trying out some sports this year! Voice lessons start next week, and who knows what else she'd like to try out this year.Ayodele was the second child in our house to go to school. He started 3rd grade! I can't get over it...just yesterday he was a baby...wasn't he? Daddy took the picture, but I guess he told him not to "smile fake" so this is what we got... a picture that looks like he's just "So excited to go to school!" :) He really does like his class and his teachers... they're the same as last year, which makes the transition into school a little easier!Derek started school the next day, but refused to let me take his picture because he has zero period weight lifting so he wasn't in his "First day of school" clothes...stinker! After school he has football and was all sweaty and stinky... so no picture! But... he started 10th grade at AHS! WOW! And... the best news is... he likes it! He likes his teachers and he loves football! He's made lots of new friends and is working hard! He hasn't even mentioned going back to MP again... thank goodness!

Kayode was the last one to start school! Kindergarten!!!! I simply cannot get over the fact that my baby started school! I would have loved to have seen him off to his first day of Kindergarten, but the tears would have been streaming down my face and I'm not sure he would have let me leave the classroom! Daddy took him and stayed with him awhile! When I got home from school the first night, I asked him how Kindergarten was (since he was crying the night before and didn't want to go) and he held his arms up and out and said with a smile... "AWESOME!!!!!" I'm so glad!

Another school year begins...can't wait to see what it brings!

Oh, How time flies...

I can't believe it's been almost two whole months since I've added anything to this site... I've been here and taken a few pictures, but haven't done anything with them. August went by so fast! My 20 year High School Reunion was the big highlight of the month. I can't believe it's been 20 years since I graduated from Arlington High School. I'm so glad to be back in Washington so Katie and I can see each other more often! It's so great to still be in touch with my "best friend." The reunion wouldn't have been any fun without her!Towards the end of vacation, we went down to Snohomish to pick some blueberries. The pickin' wasn't very good and the berries were small, but aren't these sunflowers beautiful?
My handsome little Kayode... so big, and ready for Kindergarten in September.

My boys...


My beautiful daughter picking blueberries.

The most exciting news of the month was the phone call I received offering me a long-term subbing position in Marysville. It's not a contract, but has the potential to become one in December or January. I'm teaching 1st grade to 20 adorable, fun-loving kids! I'm exhausted every evening, but am adjusting to early rising and early to bed!

Grandpa Sweeney

My dad and Annie brought my grandpa to Seattle for the week to see his sister (my great aunt Marion). He's living in Connecticut very close to my dad. He and Annie help him tremendously and probably are never thanked or at least not thanked enough! He is happy and well because of them! Thank you, Dad & Annie! He never would have been able to make the trip without them and their unending patience and love for him!

Kayode, Great Grandpa & Ayodele!

Kayode couldn't wait to show Great Grandpa how he could ride his bike without the training wheels!!!

Kayode with his Papa and Grandma!


Sade is such a wonderful daughter!
The other day I found her sitting with grandpa talking to him!
She definitely loves her family!
(Grandpa is blowing kisses here ~ how cute!)


We love you, Grandpa!

It's so wonderful to see my dad...

especially surrounded by all of his "kids!"

Look Who's a Big Boy!

Kayode got a new bike about a month ago because he outgrew his tricycle/big wheel that he rode around on in Las Vegas and the kids here are almost ALWAYS outside riding bikes with the other kids in the neighborhood. Anyway... he's been riding with the training wheels until the other day when he decided he didn't want them anymore. After a little practice, the handlebars fell off the bike... UGH! So, Dele fixed the handlebars and wah-lah! I didn't even know he was outside practicing. Dele asked me to come outside for a minute and this is what I saw... Kayode on his bike with NO training wheels! I'm so proud of him!!!
and he is so proud of himself! He LOVES his bike now!!!

Such a big boy!

Time goes by too fast!

He's going to be as big as Derek before I know it!

Sweeney family reunion...

Brother & Sister!

Our beautiful Aunt Marion (95 ~ almost) & Wonderful Grandpa (93 ~almost)!

What a blessing to see them together again!
Derek, Papa & Sade

The cousins!

Shucking corn with Papa!

Carter & Aaron playing ball in the water!

How fun it was to have everyone together!

Wish we had taken time to do some family shots...

At least the memories are there!

So good to be back with the cousins so we can see them more often!

And how wonderful that my dad brought Grandpa out from Connecticut to visit his sister one more time!

Seafood hunt at Pike Place Market...

Beautiful flowers...

Delicious fruits & veggies...

Clams galore...

Clams, oysters, crab & Salmon (in the bags)...

Papa & Uncle Dan...

Wonderful kids...

All of the ingredients for a wonderful day!

Slip 'n Slide

Grandma gave the kids a Slip 'n slide...

We didn't have grass to use it for a long time, but...

it finally grew in and now the kids want to use it ALL of the time!

Let's just say this has been the perfect summer for it!

New Project...

Dele came home with a go cart for he and the boys to work on together! Kayode is the only one who was gung-ho about spending the time to fix it up. So cute...
They chose to paint the Go-Cart red... Kayode loves helping!

The first test run...

Actually runs pretty good...

now we just have to get Kayode to turn the wheel at the right times!


More fun to come! They're not quite done with it yet!