Bring on December

I still have pumpkins on my porch from Thanksgiving, but it is Christmas time on the family blog! Wish it was as quick and easy to decorate my house as it is to change the background and music on here. I feel good that I do have a couple gifts bought and our Christmas cards ordered and hey, it's not even December 1st yet! I say this every year, but I am really going to try not to stress out about all the craziness of Christmas this year. I am going to simplify as much as possible. Looking at our calendar, this will be tough but I am determined to simplify and not stress and to focus on Christ and not the crazy. We'll see how I do! So, bring on December and let the holiday fun begin!

P.S. We had a really special Thanksgiving holiday with my family and I hope to find a few minutes soon to share some pictures with you.

Go Tigers!!!!!

Just got this action shot from last night's game. We lost, but it's a great photo!:)



This is why I haven't posted in several weeks! Most of our extra time has been spent on the soccer field watching Caleb play for his high school team. It's been fun for us, tons of work for him, but the season is almost over. Caleb will be mad that I didn't put an action shot on here, but Mark has those on his camera. Maybe I can sneak his camera and post those too. He is #8 and just warming up before a game. Tonight and tomorrow we play our biggest local rivals so we are hoping for some exciting games and wins. Go Tigers!!!!!

"God of This City"

I have each of our kids tell me their favorite song that's playing on KHIS radio, then when I am listening throughout the day I will pray for them when "their song" comes on. Their favorites often change, but Levi's favorite right now is "God of This City". What a neat song, especially for Levi right now as he is on a huge mission field as he goes to school each day in a public middle school. Let's just say he has lots of opportunities to make an impact for Christ, if he will just do it.

This weekend was our Mission Celebration at church and this was kind of the theme song. However, the video our church shared showed pictures and faces from the city where we live. Pause my playlist music on the left, then listen to the words of Levi's favorite song as you think about the city you call home.

Summer Nights...

Caleb, the soccer player, for some strange reason has decided he loves tennis and wants to play all the time. He cannot get enough of his new sport! So, the other night he drug the whole family out to the tennis courts near our house for a night of fun! It was a beautiful evening, but was super muggy so we didn't stay long. I did manage to get a few action shots of the new tennis pro though!

I loved watching Caleb try to teach Lydia, the lefty, to hit the ball!


Levi's doing pretty good too!


Here's the pro in action!


Wimbledon, here we come!


Watch the video below to see how Lydia spent most of her night on the tennis court. She just learned how to do this a few days ago and is now jumping the fire out of her new pink and purple jump ropes! Pause my music on the left so you can hear her.

We're Back!

Well, we finished up the school year and I now have a 1st-grader, 6th-grader and freshman in high school at home to drive me crazy all summer! I had to teach the last few days of school, then we packed like crazy for 2 days, then left for our annual 10-day trip to the beach with all my family.

We had a great time with perfect weather, good food, fun family time and NO OIL!!! Thank goodness we were there in May! I'm getting 2 kids packed and ready for 2 different camps so I haven't had time to make a photo album of our trip yet. I always love to do that so the kids can get on here and look back at it through the year when they're missing the beach! So, check back in a few days. Here's a little teaser for now tho!

Dreaming...

It's official--I think the Strickland family is TOO busy and this momma is tired! Here's a list of what we've been up to the last few weeks. And why there's been no time to update our blog or cook or clean, etc.!

**Caleb's soccer games in St. Louis (he scored a goal last weekend as defender!)
**Hours of "The Sound of Music" play practice for Caleb
**Caleb got his braces off
**Both boys have been MAP testing at school
**Levi's Boy Scout meetings and upcoming campout
**Levi's track practices and meets
**Lori's root canal that won't quit hurting
**Mark's out-of-town trips for work
**Helping to get a bond issue passed for our schools
**Lori's still subbing for first-grade
**Organizing the sale of 3,000 tickets for Caleb's school musical
**Easter and family get-togethers
**Lydia's new haircut
**Lori trying to figure out the world of extreme-couponing

I could keep going on, but I'm sure you're worn out and bored by now so I'll quit. It looks like it will be this way for about 4 more weeks until school gets out, then we're all dreaming of this...our beach vacation! Can't wait!

Daddy/Daughter Dance 2010