My Home Boys

Just wanted to do a post dedicated to my two sons still at home.  We have a lot of friends our age who are official  "empty nesters" these days.  I am sure there will come a time when I will be ready for that phase of my life, but I am not there yet.  I am thankful that we still have ball games to go to, PTA assignments, scout stuff going on (well, most days I'm thankful for scouts), and kids to play games with and have Family Home Evening with.  We started our family with a lot of girls...which was great.  I never thought way back then that we would be spending our time with just two boys.  But, I am so grateful for both of them and the great young men they are.  Sure love you guys....and your great dad, too.

Evan sporting his hair combed to a mohawk

This little creation greeted us upon arriving home from a date night recently.  The boys apparently just felt like constructing something from marshmallows and toothpicks.

Here are the cookies we recently decorated for FHE.  The boys made them while we were out another night and then we frosted them together. They were DELICIOUS!!!   Merry Christmas to all!!

Some Fun Robertson Shots

After Thanksgiving Janelle and Scott took a short little trip to Baltimore together.  He had a work assignment there so she went along so they could spend some time together and do some sightseeing and shopping.  We got the opportunity to spend that time with Alan and James....and we had a blast!!!  When they returned from Baltimore, they asked Evan to take some photos of them for their Christmas card.  I gotta say, he did a pretty good job.  Here are some of the great photos from our time together.

James heading downstairs to have fun in the basement toy room

Look at that face

James - just takin' a break

"I guess I'll just read my scriptures while sitting here in the fridge"

So happy!!!

These boys love to read.  James was a little too busy to look up.

Alan was willing to smile, but James doesn't look as happy about having to look up from his book :)

Matching shirts

 

What a great photo....

.....and another...

....and a goofy one just for fun.  Love it!!

Fall Happenings

There comes a time about a week before Christmas where I realize that unless I take a few minutes and tell about some of our recent happenings, I will be writing about November in January.  I am pretty sure that has happened the last few years.  So, here are some of our late November happenings.

Some tasty turkeys!!!

Cub scouting is going great in the Medford Ward.  Here are some shots from our November Pack Meeting. We may be small but we have a great time!!

Dylan with his new bobcat badge

Nathan with his whittling chip

Evan receiving his belt loop for BB shooting

Here are the boys building their first aid kits - Thanks so much, Brother Jarema

I went to a fun bridal shower for Lana Sikahema. She and her family are good friends of ours and she will marry the son of our other good friends, the Corbitts this month.  We are very happy for them.  

Another reason I love looking at these photos is that they remind me that I was able to travel down to the shower with two old friends from the Moorestown Ward.  Years ago we were in the Medford Ward together but due to boundary changes, we don't get to see each other as often these days.  Their names are Mary Ann Bramhall and Andrea Christensen.  Well, two days ago, Andrea passed away.  She has suffered with MS for years, but her death was not expected.  So glad I got to catch up with her on this happy occasion!  A tender mercy, indeed.

We so enjoyed having Janelle and her family come down  to spend Thanksgiving with us.  Scott's brother, Michael, and his wife, Sarah, and their son, Micah also came down from Boston.  Such fun!!  Here is Grandpa with James and Alan on the swings.

James looking into a bright sun

"Push me higher, Grandpa!"

Our own little Turkey Bowl......

....with our own little Turkeys!!!  Great job, guys!!

Alan, Micah, and James...such cute little cousins

Here are some of the shots taken when Scott, Nathan, and Steve went down Thanksgiving weekend to help with clean-up from Hurricane Sandy 

Little memories everywhere

This used to make beautiful music, I'm sure

"When We're Helping, We're Happy"

They carried all kinds of stuff to the curb to be picked up

Nate standing in the same spot.  You can see the devastation across the street, as well.

Many hands were there to help

Alan strikes a patriotic pose...love this one!!!

The Great Ladies of the Cherry Hill Stake

We had a special meeting with the members of our stake presidency for the sisters in our stake on November 11.  The stake covers basically the bottom half of New Jersey.  Because of the recent hurricane, we were anxious to help in some way.  We asked sisters to bring used clothing and non-perishable food, health care items, toiletries, etc. to be donated to those who might need these items.  Well, the ladies came through in a big way.  Here are some photos of our collection.  You ladies ROCK!!!

Some of the items at the stake center

We brought some of the items home to our garage with the help of these great ladies and Steve and Nathan, of course.  It has been a privilege to be able to help in this time of need.

The Soccer Player

Evan has really enjoyed playing soccer this year.  He has also learned a lot more about the game and has really become a good little player.  He has even scored a couple of goals for his team.  Here are a few shots of the action.

Lining up before the game to listen to and be checked by the referees

Going for the ball

Heading up field to help out

Go Hornets!!!!!!

Happy Halloween 2012

For various reasons, our Halloween celebration seemed to go on and on this year.  Evan loved it.  :)

We got an early start on the "season" because our church trunk-or-treat was the Friday before Halloween, October 26.  It kind of came up on us quickly and we almost didn't have time to carve our pumpkins in time.  We always take the easy way out as far as decorating our trunk.  We just take our carved pumpkins and put them in the back of our Trailblazer....ta-da....instant decorations.  

Here is Evan with his scary howling wolf........

....and Nathan with his sinister smiling pumpkin (check out the mullet cut on the top)

And a together shot

Ooooo....Scary!!! 

Evan playing one of the games at the trunk or treat party

The Soden family, complete with Toto

The Rankin's

Because school was cancelled for a couple of days during the hurricane, the annual Halloween Parade at the elementary school was postponed until Nov. 1.  Can you pick our our little Anakin?

There he is.  

The Governor postponed trick or treating throughout the state until Monday, November 5 to allow for additional clean up after the storm.  Here is Evan in his intense evil pose....pretty scary, huh!!  Hope you had a good time, buddy.

Hurricane Sandy

It isn't very often that a hurricane actually hits New Jersey head on, but one did hit us last Monday, October 29th.  The eye actually went right over our house.  We felt the intense wind before, felt the literal calm in the center, and then felt the wind pick up again.  Fortunately, most of us in it's direct path  did not receive terrible damage, but those in northern New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut were not so lucky.  There are still some whose power has not yet been restored.  We got everything ready, but never lost power at all.  What a blessing!!!  It is now our turn to try to help those most affected by this terrible storm.  Here are some photos from around here....

This little blurry squirrel was hunkered down in a tree outside our front window during the storm.

Our driveway the next morning

One of the trees we lost in the storm...this one just snapped right in half

Another tree down in the back

Some of our stake members in Atlantic City as part of the Mormon Helping Hands effort

Nate was there, too, but without the yellow tee shirt