Tis' The Season!

Basketball season that is! Liberty Basketball is in full swing. Mark's team got off to a rough start with lots of injuries but everyone is healing and should be back soon. My winter wardrobe continues to be dominated by red and black clothing. When I shop it seems to always be about what I can wear to games! I had a tshirt specially made this year that has his logo in bling! It is completely obnoxious but I love it! This next week will be a busy one with 3 home games. Friday's will be especially fun becuase the girls' dance team is performing at half-time!

Sorry Mom!

First off I must apologize to my mother and all of my other non-facebook family members. I always forget to update my blog because it is so easy just to post short updates on facebook. So, this one is for you mom!

The girls danced last weekend at Glendale Glitters. They debuted their new competition routine to "Fame." The first try was an absolute mess! The older girls went on stage to set up the chairs they use in the routine and they set them up backwards. The girls went on stage to perform and had absolutely no idea what to do. Their teacher and I were standing side stage yelling at them to turn the chairs around. I guess they never heard us because the music started and they started dancing. Unfortunately the messed up props threw them off completely and the dance was a disaster. They performed their next 2 danes beautifully and then at the end of the show their teacher went out on stage, explained the "technical difficulties," and let them perform Fame again! I tried to upload the video of them dancing but the file is too big. Mom, if you can get on Gene's facebook and go to my profile you can see it! They both still LOVE dance and both have solos this competition season. Lindsey's is a jazz number this year and Caity is musical theater...of course!

Friday Night Family Fun!

We heard a knock on our front door at about 5 o'clock this evening and were surprised to open it and see the Spies Family! I think they made it from Tucson to Phoenix in record time! Morgan was excited to see Cameron and Nash and her cousins of course! She kept asking to play outside so Lindsey took her out for a ride on her skitter! After some playtime, we met Dad and Joanne at Babbo's for dinner. During dinner Morgan kept telling Lori that she wanted to go to Aunt Jen's house and play. It's hard to tell that cutie pie no, so after dinner everyone came back to our house. We played a game of banangrams and then it was time for Morgan to head to Pa and Nannie's to get to bed. We have another day planned tomorrow that will be "Conner filled!"

Caity checking out one of Pa's words in the dicitionary!

I told you Lori! Maybe next time you will look at me when I'm taking your picture!

My adorable, sweet, smart, and perfect niece Morgan!

Summer Fun!

So far, this has been a pretty busy summer. The girls have a summer job! They are selling snacks at Mark's basketball camp. So, almost every day (they have a very understanding boss who will give them time off if something comes up!) they had up to camp for a few hours and sell gatorade, chips, and candy to the hungry players! They are making decent money (I think Mark has finally broken even!) and have met some of Mark's assistant coaches daughters.

We have been hanging out with lots of friends and enjoying the water! Mark got us all season passes to Wet n' Wild and we have been there a few times already.

Of course Lindsey and I have been doing some shopping. Caity will usually opt to stay home, she is not a fan! We are having fun and enjoying our time together. The girls are each getting their own special trip just them and their daddy. Mark is taking them each to Disneyland by themselves! He is such a great daddy. We have a lot more fun things still to come! I promise I will try and stay on top of the blogging!

Lindsey's 10th Birthday

When Mark and I first got married he joked that I didn't have a birthDAY, I had a birthWEEK! I guess I have passed that on to my children. Lindsey's birthday festivities have officially lasted one whole week! It started last Friday with her party. She wanted to go rock climbing. Mark found a place close to us on line and we invited her cousins and friends. They had a lot of fun and Mark and I were worn out afterwards. We had the job of "belaying" for the kiddos. Basically it was our job to make sure they didn't fall and tie off the ropes for them the whole time. On Tuesday, we celebrated with some friends of ours. Their son's birthday is the day before Lindsey's and he was turning 6. They set up this really cool water slide in their back yard, we ate pizza, and had ice cream sandwiches. On Wednesday, which was her actual birthday, our family tradition is that we go out to eat at the restaurant of the birhtday person's choice. Apparently I have also passed along my good (yet sometimes expensive) taste and Lindsey chose PF Changs! So, our little party of 12 went and ate and celebrated yet again! Finally, today, exactly one week later we will conclude the birthday celebration. Lori, David and Morgan are coming into town and we are going to eat at Lindsey's favorite restaurant, Babbo's. I told you she has great taste! It's been a fun filled week celebrating our "little buddy" turning 10. She is now double digits and I'm sitting here wondering where the time has gone!

Dinner at PF Chang's where her biggest concern was whether or not they were going to sing to her. She wanted them to of course!

Celebrating with friends! This is Dawson's birthday smile, I love that kid!

Mark trying to figure out how to tie the knot. He never did figure it out and I had to help each time he switched kids!

Lindsey....Then and Now

I can't believe that my baby girl is about to turn 10. She is the sweestest, smartest and funniest girl. She loves to laugh and loves to make our family laugh. She is incredibly thoughtful and cares so much about people. She is our little fashionista and loves to shop! In fact, at the end of the 4th grade this year she was voted Kindest and Most Fashionable in her class!

Caity

These are just a few of my recent favorites of Caity!

The Newest Wood Girls

Cameron and Nash joined our family in late April. Mark surprised us all by bringing home Cameron first. He then went back to the store to get some puppy supplies and called and said that they had one puppy left, Cameron's sister. He came home with his second surprise for the girls and we named her Nash. Mark's rule was that since the puppies were girls and he was now greatly outnumbered, they had to have basketball related names. Nash is obvious. Cameron was named after Cameron Indoor Stadium where Caity's favorite college team, Duke, plays their games. They are a pomeranian/dachsund mix (Mark calls them Pom-a-Weenies which drives the girls crazy!). After our latest visit to the vet Cameron now weighs in at 3.6lbs and Nash is 4.4lbs. They are great puppies and we are having so much fun with them. They sleep all night and Caity and Lindsey take turns being on "puppy patrol" in the mornings! Nash and Cameron

Cameron

Nash

Daddy Daughter Dance

Our church has an annual Daddy Daughter Dance that Mark has been taking the girls to for years. Each year he comes home tired and a little grouchy. Our girls are complete opposites. Caity loves to be out, to be around people and to have fun! Lindsey is a bit more on the reserved side. She loves to have fun, but she also loves her bedtime! So, each year the girls fight over who is dancing which dance with Mark and then another fight occurs when one is ready to leave and the other wants to stay. This year, our church is holding the dance on 3 nights! Problem solved! Each daughter gets her very own night with Daddy. The girls were happy to have Mark to themselves and Mark came home from night number 1 in a much happier mood! Here are some pics from the first night of Daddy Daughter. Mark and his beautiful date, Lindsey!

Every year Mark "surprises" the girls with a corsage when he picks them up. This year he told Lindsey that with all of the craziness of basketball playoffs he "forgot." She moped around the house a little bit that afternoon but would not admit that was the reason! She was real happy when daddy picked her up and had the corsage!