Mark's Early Christmas Gift

I had to give Mark one of his gifts early. I had been planning it for a little while, but in order to do it, I needed him gone for an entire day. That is not a problem during basketball season! He had a game up in Flagstaff and left to catch the bus at 7 am. I got up and started the project! I spent all day painting and didn't even get to the lion. He was so surprised when he got home and pulled in the garage! I finished the lion 2 days later. He loved his early gift!








Mark's basketball logo painted on the wall of our garage!

The Black and White Ball

Mark had to chaperone the dance up at school and so he took Caity and Lindsey as his dates! The girls and I had a fun day of shopping for their outfits. It was a black and white ball and we were able to find some really cute outfits at Justice! They had a blast getting ready for the dance!

Lindsey....Our Little Character!

This year our school is doing something a little different with our "Character of the Month," program. Each early release day we are holding a school wide assembly. The teachers choose their Character of the Month ahead of time and send a secret letter home inviting the parents to the assembly. The students are then surprised at the assembly. They play loud music and have colorful lights going and all of us teachers make a tunnel for them to run through while everyone is cheering for them. Today was our first assembly and Lindsey was chosen as the Character for her 4th grade class. Mark was able to get a sub for the morning and be there! Lindsey was a little suspicious when she came into the assembly and saw her Daddy there. I told her it was because he knew that Mommy had to perform in the teacher skit at the assembly and he came to make fun of her! I think she bought it! She seemed very surprised when they showed her picture on the big screen and called her name! We are so proud of Lindsey and her great character!

Softball and Heatstroke

Caity pitched in her first game of the season this past Saturday. She did a great job. Her pitching coach, Vanessa, came to help her warm up and offer encouragement. She was doing great and then after the inning was over started to feel very sick and looked like she might pass out. We ended up having to take her home after that inning. Why they have to play games in the middle of the afternoon when it is still 100 degrees outside is beyond me. Thank goodness we have had cooler weather this week and this Saturday's game is at 8 am!

Family Update

Wow! I can't believe how long it has been since I have posted anything. Life in the Wood house has been busy! Caity started softball last week and it looks like she may get to be one of the pitchers this season! The coach said she will get to pitch in next Saturday's game. We'll see! I'll take lots of pics to post! Mark had his first Liberty basketball player commit to a D1 school this week! Jordan went to visit University of Texas at San Antonio and gave them his verbal commitment. He can officially sign on November 17th and the school plans on making a big deal out of it! Mark is very excited. He has coached Jordan since his freshman year and saw his potential at a very early age! Lindsey is doing an amazing job at school and dance. She made "high math" this year and is working very hard. Her dance team is working on a new competition routine to Hannah Montana's song "Supergirl" and Lindsey gets to act out the part of Hannah. I'm not sure Caity was too happy about that! They are also busy working on their dances for Glendal Glitters already! I will let everyone know when they will dance at that! I promise I will try to some pics up soon!

First Day of School!

Last Monday was the first day of school. Caity is now a fifth grader and Lindsey in fourth! They both LOVE their teachers. Caity is not real happy to be back at school of course, she is certainly not a morning person! My first week went well too. I forget every year how little they are when they first start 3rd grade and how much time it takes to "train" them in the classroom procedures. I came on Friday exhausted and without much of a voice left! Things should start to calm down once we get used to our new routines! The girls are still dancing once a week after school for 2 1/2 hours. They are working on a new routine for the upcoming competition season. Soon, Caity will start her softball season and Lindsey is thinking about trying volleyball. And then, before we know it basketball season will be starting! Life just gets busier, and busier the older they get! :) But, we are loving every minute of it!

Caity-5th grade Lindsey-4th Grade

New Kids on the Block!

Where to begin..... I guess the best place is back at the beginning, about 20 years ago! There was this band, maybe you've heard of them....The New Kids on the Block. To say that I was in love would be an understatement. Their posters covered the walls in my room, I knew every song by heart, I wanted to marry Joey Mac! Right about that time I met Eileen. She also shared my obsession and thus began a life long friendship! 19 years ago we camped out all night at MetroCenter in Phoenix just to get a lottery number to see them in concert. Our seats were horrible, we couldn't even see the stage from where we were, but we didn't care!

This brings me to 20 years later! Last night, I received a phone call from Eileen. The New Kids were in town for a concert and she said Come on, let's go! We drove downtown, bought a ticket at the window (no camping out this time!) and had the best time!!!! Honestly, that was the most fun I have had at a concert in such a long time. All that time has gone by and I could still sing every word to every song. The guys were amazing, they've still got "the right stuff!!!" The show was a little different, they were selling beer this time around! The commentary from the guys between songs was a little less G rated, but they still remembered why their fans liked them and performed all of their hits! Okay, so right about now some of you are laughing and wanting to make fun. I'll tell you what I told Mark this morning! "Go ahead, make fun of me all you want....I had the best time!" I have to thank my amazing husband who bought me the ticket as an early birthday present and insisted that Eileen and I go! And yes, I screamed until my throat hurt!

Here they are, as Caity calls them....The Old Kids on the Block!

Here's Joe, he came out wearing his hat with the hole on top and sang "You're my Popsicle!"

July 4th and FCA Camp!

We just got home yesterday from 3 wonderful days in Flagstaff at FCA camp. Mark was coaching basketball at the camp and they invite coaches to bring their family. We stayed in a dorm and the girls had their own room, they enjoyed feeling independent and getting a small taste of what college life is like! We ate all of our meals in the dining hall. The food really is much better than I remembered! The girls loved being able to eat ice cream after each meal! While Mark was busy coaching, they had Bible study for the coaches' wives and Kid's Camp set up for all of the coaches kids. The girls had a great time and made lots of new friends. They were some of the older kids there this year and were such a big help with all of the little ones at Kid's Camp. I was able to meet some wonderful women and spend time talking with other wives who know what it is like to be married to a coach! We had such a great time, thanks FCA!

Like Father, Like....Daughter?!?!

As many of you know, Mark has a love for all things Jordan. The other day we discovered that the girl's tennis shoes no longer fit. With our trip to FCA camp coming up this week and school starting in about a month we decided it was time for new ones. Mark volunteered to take them shopping for new tennies! He is such an amazing Dad. So, last night the girls came home from the shopping trip with... you guessed it, a pair of Jordans!! I had no idea they made them for girls. They really are cute on them and now they can be just like Daddy! Linds was even showing off how much higher she could jump in them!!!

Lindsey's new Jordans


Caity's

My Dad is Far-Out! by Caity

My dad is real easy to love because..........

he always wrestles us, Daddy-O shows his love all the time!!!!!!!!!!!! I always love when he gives me hugs and kisses. Mark Alan Wood (awesome dude) is honest with everyone, intelligent, humorous, kind, trustworthy, joke proof, funny, and couragous. I love my outstanding #1 father with all of my heart.

Why I Love My Daddy by Lindsey

I love my daddy for all sorts of reasons. I love him because he plays wrestle. He also let's me go to work with him in the summers. Another thing he does is cuddle me (which I love). I love his nickname for me which is Little Buddy. Those are a lot of reasons and there's still more. He takes me places even when he doesn't feel 100%. I love my daddy so much and he loves me. Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Lindsey Lu!

Our little buddy has quickly discovered one of the great joys of being a girl. Manicures and pedicures! Aunty Mel, Uncle Steve, Bailee, and Ashlyn gave her a gift certificate for her birthday to the girl's salon Sweet and Sassy. We went yesterday and she enjoyed an afternoon of Starbucks and getting her nails done! She got to pick a ring, a toe ring, and sticker decals for her nails and the pedicure chair was just her size! It was a fun afternoon! We just love being girls!!!

Family Pictures

Three generations!
Me and my girls! Lindsey (9) and Caity (10)

Four generations together!

Great Memere and Pepere with the great grandkids!

Country Living!

Lindsey swimming in Memere's Lake

The cousins ready for movie time!


Caity and her sparkler!

Caity and Great Memere picking flowers

The girls and I just got back last night from a week in Tenessee with my mom and sisters. It was such an amazing trip. We stayed with my sister, Chrissy, and her family. My other sister, Lori, and her daughter, Morgan, flew in from Tucson. So, the Conner girls were all together again. Poor Keith!!! The girls had the best time playing with their cousins, swimming in Memere's lake and fishing. Caity caught 55 fish! Caity and I had knitting lessons from Great Memere. Maybe someday soon we'll be making gorgeous blankets like she does! Chrissy and Keith threw what Caity called the "best BBQ EVER!" on Saturday night. The kids caught frogs in the backyard, we went out on the paddle boat in their lake, made a fire and made s'mores and then Uncle Keith put on an awesome fireworks show!!! Our week in the country was a blast! Wednesday night we returned to Phoenix and the girls were reunited with their daddy and their doggy!!! They missed both of them terribly. Lindsey said today that she wishes she could take all of her friends and family in Phoenix and move us all to Tennessee. They are happy to be home with their Daddy but are already missing their "country cousins!" Thanks Mom and Chris for an amazing trip! We love you so much and miss you like crazy!