Cherry Blossoms

Springtime is a gorgeous time in our Nations Capitol.  The Cherry Blossoms usually bloom right around spring break time for the kids but because we had such a mild winter they bloomed a bit earlier than usual so one fine Friday when it was 82 degrees in MARCH we took the kids out of school and spent the day in DC as a family.  I know I said in the previous post that I would catch up a few months at a time when I started looking at the cherry blossom pictures I realized they needed a post of their own!  Here they are.....

This was right after we came up out of the metro station

 A very cool "hollow" in this tree.  Haylee is obsessed with owls.

 Not cherry blossoms but a cheery smile ;)

 Around the tidal basin with the Jefferson Memorial in the background

The Jefferson Memorial 

 The Fab Five

us :)   

The tidal basin 

 typical

 Contemplating life

 Think she's got it all figured out!  

 a different view of the Jefferson Memorial

a gorgeous canopy of blossoms 

 taking a break

 me and my favorite son

gorgeous girl 

 Springtime is beautiful here!  So many flowers on the National Mall

 this is a "ruffled tulip"  I had never seen one before

Mr.Squirrel 

My little peanut 

 the daffodils 

 love the red tulips

 100 years since the cherry blossoms were given

Very cool to be there during the centennial celebration!

I really should be cleaning my house....

...but I haven't blogged in forever!  And I find myself checking often to see if my friends have updated their blogs and I get so excited when they do and yet I don't update my own!  Don't want to write too much but to tell the story of the last -- - - - - - - months in pictures.  We had some major things happen and if you are friends with me on Facebook you have already seen it all, but here it is again for posterity purposes.

I'll try to start at the beginning of the end of the last part -ha ha ha

The plan is to do two or three months at a time.  Hopefully finishing up tonight.  :)

Here is November thru February:

Haylee's 10th birthday

This picture is out of order -It is Sierra's improv group taking a bow at the end of their show in February.  They are HILARIOUS!

Joe, HD, and Grandpa Huhmann decorating the outside of our house for Christmas.

 HD played in the county All Star Game for soccer he is on the front row in the middle

It was FREEZING!!!!!!!!!!

Each of the kids has their own Christmas tree:  here is Haylee with hers

HD -seriously had to bribe him to get this pic but it is the last year he will decorate it before Christmas break

Sierra was taking too long to decorate hers apparently so here is a pic with her undecorated tree

 Sierra got inducted into the National Honors Society -HD got to walk her across the stage :)

 Haylee was super sick on Christmas Day and ended up in the ER to check for strep.  :(

 D and Sis were with their dad for Christmas this year (which explains no jammies) but I still made them wait on the stairs for a picture. :)

 Christmas Eve we got a surprise visit from our good friends the Stevens family they drove 180 miles out of the way to see us!  :)  This is Haylee and her best friend Kara.

 Me and my bestie Mione on New Years Eve

 Our 2011 Party Rock  :)

 HD turned 18 and got accepted to BYU!!!!!  He leaves in just over a month!

 Before the Priest/Laurel dinner dance

HD took over command of his JROTC unit -

Ok more to come later!!  :)  

Quick Haylee funny

Happy 2012!!!! Can you believe it? Time just flies!!!!

Wanted to get down this quick Haylee funny before I forgot. We were watching TV last night and a commercial for Cymbalta came on and it is a typical medicine commercial talking about the benefits and the side effects. As you all know when you watch these commercials it seems like the side effects list is a mile long -they want to tell you all the possibilities even though the side effects are usually minimal -anyway, the commercial ends and Haylee says:

"Wow. Seems like Cymbalta would make everything worse except your depression!" We were cracking up.

I love that kid.

:) Happy New Year everyone!

Fall pics

We are busy as usual -it NEVER ends..... but that's ok! Life is full and happy! A quick update on the fab five:

HD: Senior! Crazy busy with school and sports. Doing AWESOME was only 2 percentage points shy of a 4.25 GPA first quarter!!!! Applying to college, will be finished applying by Thanksgiving. #1 choice for school BYU. Was selected to play in the high school county all star game for soccer. Drives everywhere (BEST THING EVER!) Is doing great all around.

Sierra: Junior! Gorgeous! I am going to have to lock her in the basement. :) She is so amazing and strong and brave. I have blogged about her medical issues before and they are ongoing. I believe we are very close to a diagnosis and even though she is in consent pain she is almost always found with a smile. She made the improv team at school and LOVES it! That girl was born to be a star! Academics are awesome. She is hanging in there. :)

Haylee J: 4th grader. First year in public school. LOVING it. Her teachers are awesome. She made the honor roll and she just tested at a early 9th grade reading level! She was elected to the Student Counsel earlier in the week and is so excited and cute about it all. She is will finish up playing soccer this weekend and has had a great time doing it as usual although it did take some getting used to as far as balancing her schedule goes.

Joe: Taking two classes at once, he usually doesn't do that slow and steady is the name of the game for him :) -doing great busy at work but has a very consistent daytime schedule which we both love. He went to Vegas and Nashville in the last month but both only for a few days, otherwise he is home. We are SO LUCKY.

Me: I am always running in 10 directions at once but everything seems to get done and miraculously everyone gets where they need to go. Lots of doctors appointments for Sierra has made our hectic schedule even more complicated but Joe has been amazing to help get kids to and fro and we will run ourselves into the ground to get Sierra feeling better. I am so thankful to still be staying home even with all the kids in school. It is the ONLY way I am keeping on top of our crazy life. :) I am the PTO Secretary and 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. Can't believe how fast time is going. I am thankful for my amazing kids-really they are the BEST, my supportive husband, a warm home, awesome people in my life,

my cute dog, and countless other things!!!! Hope you are all doing great!!!!

I took these pics two weeks ago and just today had time to edit them. LOVE these kids! :)

I have gorgeous children. I am bias but hey I'm their mom! :)

I took these pics two weeks ago. Haylee is 10!!! HD is 17 -he will be 18 in two short months, and Sierra is sweet 16!