Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas.  Santa granted many wishes at our house.  Walker received a Fusion scooter,  Garrett, if you could not guess, got Legos and Laine a "swimming dog" and pink scooter.  It was a balmy 80 degree Christmas and we enjoyed it with Grandma Sue and Papa Terry and Grandma Sally and Dave.   We went to church Christmas eve , where Laine and Walker were an angel and wise man in the Christmas story.  

We had a great day building Legos (Laine got her first pink Legos too) after a whirl wind of wrapping paper.  We topped off the day with a great prime rib dinner and ended the evening with a birthday cake for Jesus and 3 very tired children (and grown ups too)

Christmas Continued

Children's Choir Church Performance

Walker joined the Children's Choir at church and last Sunday had a performance for our whole congregation. Everyone had a part and the Children's Choir performed 3 songs. In the 1st song Walker had a solo and did a great job.

Laine was a little sheep. As they told the Christmas story and got to the part about Shepherd's tending their sheep, all our little pre-school sheep ran around the sanctuary being chased by a shepherd while a song "Baa Baa Baa, Baa Baa we're Lambs" played overhead to the tune of "Barbarann" by the Beach Boys. Laine was a great sheep.

National Elementary Honor Society Induction

Walker was invited to join the National Elementary Honor Society for Eustis Heights Elementary School.

These pictures are from the induction ceremony which was held on Thursday evening. It was a special event and he volunteered to be one of the presenters during the ceremony. He did a wonderful job and we are very proud of his accomplishments. Along with maintaining a 3.8 GPA, students must demonstrate exemplary behavior and be good citizens to their school and community. Together the group will plan and conduct a service project in the Spring and will be going on a trip to Tallahassee. Walker is pictured with Mrs. Hill a 3rd grade teacher at EHES that organized the EHES chapter of the NEHS.

Trying Something New!!

Garrett decided he wanted to try tennis.  So we bought him a racquet and here we are 6 weeks into lessons and I think he likes it or at least he likes chasing a little green ball around a fenced in court.  He thinks picking up all the balls is fun too.  He wants to sign up again for the next 6 week session so we'll see... Stay tuned.

Go Broncos !!!

We had a great time at the Bronco Game.  Coy and I flew in Friday night and enjoyed some time with the family before the game on Sunday.  On Sunday we tailgated just like old times and really lucked out with the weather and a Bronco win.  Coy flew home on Monday to be Mr. Mom and I stayed to work in the Denver office the rest of the week.  I only work in Denver a few days a year and wouldn't you know I could not escape a shoveling snow, ice scraping, freezing cold, slick 1 hour commute.  I think I really love Florida.

The Count Down is On

The kids have a great time getting a treat out of the "count down calendar" every night.
Laine is really excited this year and hasn't forgotten yet.
How many more days left ???

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Well the tree is up, nothing under it yet but it is up.  Coy and I are going to be out of town this weekend.  We did not want the kids to wait so while Thanksgiving was digesting, the turkeys went away and out came Santa and Baby Jesus.  The kids had fun all weekend hanging lights and ornaments.  What a long process.  85% of it is up and that will just have to do for now, only so many hours in the day.

Thanksgiving Blessings

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our friends this year. Great food and great company. Coy smoked a turkey which was delicious and the kids got creative making "Pilgrim hat" cookies. We are very thankful to have such wonderful friends when we live so far away from family. We are truly blessed to have found an extended family here in Florida and are Thankful for all the blessings our family has received.

Space Shuttle Endeavor Night Launch

Last Friday, Grandma Susie and Papa Terry took Walker and Garrett to see the space shuttle launch.  This was a rare night launch which, as you will see in the video, was really cool.  They were several miles away watching from the Indian River inlet of the Atlantic Ocean.  Walker is the videographer and narrator.

Shelly and Coy watched the launch from a Sushi Bar in Mt. Dora while Ms. Laine watched Kung Fu Panda at church.

  

Sad Ending to a Great Season

We are sad to report that our Eustis Junior Panthers fell short Saturday 25-13.  They fought hard but in the end couldn't bring home the win.  They earned a huge 2nd place trophy and should be very proud of their efforts.  The team gathered Monday at Gator's Dock Side and devoured a ton of chicken wings in celebration of their great season.  We'll get them next year.

Soccer is in the Books

The Red Bull Soccer season came to end Saturday with a

4-2-2 record.

The last game was won by the Red Bulls with a score of 8-0 and Garrett scored 3 of the 8 goals. The picture is of Garrett after that big win. Boys get a little wet and sweaty playing soccer in Florida. He had a great season and is sad for it to be over. The highlight was a parent vs. kid game and awards ceremony. Mom and Dad both played and are proud to say we whooped up on the kids. We only played for ten minutes and we both never knew how long ten minutes was until we were running up and down a field after our kid and a little ball.

Gymnastics

Laine loves gymnastics.  She attends on Thursday mornings and is very excited when Thursday rolls around.  She is very proud of her bridge and is the only girl that can do one.  Her favorite is the bars.  She wishes her teacher would let her do bars every time.  Mommy and Daddy take turns going with her to gymnastics and she enjoys the chance to show off.  This is Laine's 1st activity so it will be interesting to see if she follows in her brother's footsteps and feels the need to try everything.

Flowing Fountain

Coy and I knew we needed something to the right of our front door but just didn't know what.  Then it hit us while we were walking around the Mt. Dora Craft Festival (Yes, Coy was with me at a craft show, we had an hour to kill while the boys were in Sunday school so we took Laine and walked around for a bit).  There it was, this beautiful fountain.  The leaves are individually made by a local artisan.  We are very please with how it turned out.  

The kids got all excited and we added 3 fish to the pond. We no longer have fish in our pond and I am not sure if we will be adding to the family again.

WE WON !!!!!

We have one happy boy (and some pretty happy parents). They did it, winning 26-18 and are on their way to the championship game.  It was a hard-fought game and the boys played really well. In addition to a birth in the championship game, they received a trophy for the second best record during the regular season.  Now it is back to work to prepare for the last game of the season.  The trophy we really want will hopefully come home this Saturday.  Wish us luck!

  #1  GO PANTHERS !

Bright Beginnings

The first 9 weeks of school are behind us, the report cards have come home and we have had 3 conferences.  I can say that Coy and I are very blessed to have 3 bright children that do not struggle in school.

   

Walker is Mr. Consistency; 94's and 95's in everything.  Fifth grade is rolling along just like every other.  He really enjoys school and we can only hope this continues.

  

Garrett is really coming out of his shell this year.  Coy and I both went to his conference to thank Mr. Murphy for all he has done for Garrett.  Garrett is more confident, a class leader and eager to go to school every day.  He got a perfect 100 in language arts and all of his effort grades were E's (excellent).  Garrett enjoys helping other kids in his class when they do not understand.  Mr. Murphy said he is very competitive and loves gym class.

Then there is Ms. Laine.  We were nervous, though they have told us she is a very good girl.  Mr. Trah has specific things he must teach in PK4 because it is a state run program (we do not pay for PK4, Florida does).  He told us that he has only taught 25% of what he is supposed to, however Laine knows what she needs and is already prepared for kindergarten.  She only missed two number/letter recognition questions; the number 9 because a "typed" 9 looks like an upside-down 6 and the letter Y because Mommy taught her it is a "V" with a tail.  He also said she is well behaved, a good listener, a class leader and "if he only had a room full kids like Laine he would be all set".  Who would have ever thought someone would have wanted a room full of our Laine??????? She has really grown up.  

As you can tell I am a very proud Mom and since this is the Ford Family blog I figured it was OK to brag a little. 

God's Blessings

Trick or Treat

We all had a great time Halloween night.  It was a bit of a crunch to get home from school, eat dinner, get dressed and get out there.  My JaWa (Star Wars), Rocker and Tooth Fairy started their festive evening at the neighboring church for Trunk-or-Treat at 6 pm.  It was just as you would imagine, cars line the parking lot, decorate their trunks and give out candy.  Very cleaver.  Then we came home and went around our neighborhood for some traditional trick-or-treating.  The kids have sooo much candy but I guess that is the point.  They were very proud of their costumes.  We all worked hard to to be creative and original which is half the fun of Halloween.  The kids are already planning for next year.  I made my first blog blunder though.  I promised pumpkin pictures and then forgot to take them before we had pudding.  Sorry.

Laine's PK4 Trip to the Eustis Fire Department

Laine had her first PK4 field trip last week and they went to the Eustis Fire Department.  Mommy went with her PK3 trip to the Fire Department so this year she thought it was Daddy's turn.  They had a great time.  Coy was the only Daddy there and Laine was so proud.

Red Bull Soccer Update

For the first time Mom and Dad had to split time this week between the kids.  Since Walker made it to the  playoffs, and not all the teams did, our helpers that would watch Walker while we both went to soccer, no longer need to go to Football practice, so Monday was our first dilema.  Mom and Laine went to the soccer game and Dad went to football practice.  Within the first 5 minutes Garrett got his feet knocked out from under him and landed flat on his back.  It knocked the wind out of him and he struggled the rest of the game.  He played some but was in and out a lot.  They tied 5-5.  Thursday, Dad and Laine went to soccer and Grandma Sue and Papa Terry were there.  Garrett was on fire, his aim was a bit off but they Won 2-0.  Mom was at football practice.

Pumpkin Pickin'

Saturday after Walker's game we went to a local pumpkin patch to do what all pagans do this time of year, pick pumpkins in preparation for Halloween.  However, here in Florida it is a bit different... a "pumpkin patch" is nothing more than a truck load of pumpkins dumped in a church yard and you pick one.  Now these pumpkins show up about October 1st, when it is still 85 degrees, and they lay in the sun for a month and turn into pumpkin pudding!  Have you ever tried carving a face in pudding?  

We heard that one of the churches by us got a new shipment on Friday so we at least thought we could get pumpkins that were not "mushy".  However, they were all mixed together so the kids did their best and we have 3 pumpkins to carve.  Never have I paid $32 for pumpkins (of course the boys had to pick the biggest they could find).   At least it was a donation to a church. Today I noticed 2 of them must have been basking in the sun because they have developed "soft spots".  We are getting a cold snap, high tomorrow of 70 degrees, so hopefully they will hold on to be carved soon.  Stay tuned to see what creations we come up with!

  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!