Happy Birthday Brett (9) and Nicholas (12)

For the boys birthdays this year Brett took some friends to the FPU/Fresno State basketball game at the Save Mart Center (thanks to good friends), Nicholas had a few friends spend the night and we had a taco night celebration with the whole family.

Here are some of the highlights....

Nelson Football CW Area Champs 2011!!

Nicholas and Cody got to play together on the Nelson football team this year and they kept us looking forward to the Friday football games. Last year Nelson did not even score one touchdown and this year they were League Champs! It was so fun!

Nicholas was the kicker and played offensively as the running back and defensively as the corner back. Cody played special teams as the kick returner, wide receiver and safety. I don't know what any of that means, but it was fun to watch!

Here is a picture a friend of mine took when Nicholas scored his first touchdown and Cody was blocking for him:

They look so old in their pads and uniforms....hard to believe my babies are getting so big!!

Pumpkins and Costumes

The boys were not that into dressing up this year....we recycled a few old costumes and Cody got a gorilla mask. They trick or treated for about 10 minutes and then opted to go back to our neighbors house and instead try to scare the trick or treaters. I was not prepared for this change in priorities but did enjoy the fact that there was not as much candy around the house.

Although they did enjoy carving the pumpkins a bit more this year....in fact Cody carved three sides of his pumpkin and it took about 2 hours.

Water Well Celebration

WOOHOO!!!! Can you hear the excitement in my voice?? Last night we gathered all 7 families that committed for one year to raising funds to help build a water well in Africa. This project was focused on the children and one of the goals was to plant seeds and make them aware that not all kids live with the privileges that we have. I am pretty sure that was accomplished and it makes me so gitty to think of how God will nourish and feed those seeds. I pray that this will only be the beginning for all 21 of the children who participated in this project and that He will use them to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty and minister to any who have need.

We had an extra special blessing as well...Corinne, a missionary from Fresno who is permanently residing in Swaziland, Africa, was able to join us and teach the kids a bit about what it is like for the children over there. She is starting a preschool there and our water well will be built by the preschool and will provide clean water for the school and the entire village that surrounds it. It was so special to here first hand from someone who sees it every day, the extreme impact that clean water has on a village. On top of that, Corinne took a video of our kids saying hello to the kids that will be in the preschool drinking the water that we helped to provide. Powerful. I was brought to tears and I am so thankful that God allows us to join Him in his work. I will continue to pray that He will allow us to be His hands and feet and that our children will experience the pure joy that comes from following and serving Him!!

Soccer Recap 2011

This year Nick and Cody played on an Under 12 Clovis Crossfire team under coach Bill Schultz with many kids from the Clovis North area (including Dylan). They had a lot of fun competing with high caliber teams and learning many new skills and a lot more about the game of soccer.

Brett got to play with all of his Nelson friends on the Under 10 Zombie Ninjas. They had a great season and Brett got lots of exercise running back and forth playing midfield most of the season.

First Day of School 2011

I was feeling a little sad the morning this picture was taken....you see it will be the last year that both boys are pictured together at the same school until Nicholas is a senior in high school!! Oh wow....I will do my best to enjoy this year and all that it brings enjoying this time while we still have one drop off and one pick up. In this picture Nicholas is beginning 6th grade, Cody 5th grade and Brett 3rd grade.