So, we had our ultrasound today and....

It's a GIRL!!!!!

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our newest member on Valentine's Day, 2010.

Shenandoah National Park

Over Labor Day weekend we drove down to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. JJ used his hotel points to book a room that had a kitchen so we took our own food, the hotel had free breakfast. so the whole trip only cost $15 dollars to get into the park, what a bargain!

We went on a not too strenuous hike that had a nice waterfall at the end...

Bryson enjoying the very comfy fold out bed at the hotel.

Bryson and Preston being "friends" for a minute.

The "boys".

Cute pictures of the gang!

It was a fun trip we actually saw 3 baby black bears and their momma cross the road right in front of our truck while we were driving through the park, it was pretty cool!

First Day of School '09

I can't believe the summer is gone already and yet another school year has begun. What I really can't believe is that Ashley is a sophomore! Bryson started 4th grade and Preston is in second. They were all very excited to start this year, they couldn't fall asleep last night and were up at the crack of dawn today. As you can tell by looking at these pictures, they were all taken at our house this year, a new thing for mom, they all decided to take the bus this year rather than me taking them on the first day, this is the first time in 15 years I have taken first day of school pictures in my pajamas without fighting for a parking spot at 7:30 in the morning. I suppose I could get used to that. It was a very busy summer so it will be nice to get back into a routine....bring on the homework packets!

Take me out to the ballgame....

For Mother's Day, JJ gave me tickets to the Phillies game yesterday, the last couple innings were exciting...Phillies were tied at the bottom of the ninth so it went to an extra inning, but the Dodgers scored 2 runs in that inning and the Phillies just couldn't get the bat to connect with the ball, I thought maybe we would pull it off with the Dodgers star player being suspended, oh well, it was a fun date, thanks, babe!

BIG FISH...

It was a spur of the moment idea to take the boys fishing on Saturday afternoon while Ashley went to a dance. So, I threw together a quick dinner before we went so we wouldn't be distracted by growling bellies. Bryson said the prayer to bless the food and as we started eating he says "Oh, no I forgot to ask Heavenly Father to help me catch a fish". So, we all stopped eating and he said another quick prayer asking that he would be able to catch a fish that night. Well, I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about whether or not his prayer would be answered as I have taken the boys to this spot before and never even got a bite, but I tried to have faith, obviously he had more....we had been fishing for a few minutes and Bryson says he is going to reel in his line to make sure his worm is still there, as he reeled in his line he says "I got a fish!" When he pulled it out we all started to laugh because it was the smallest Rainbow Trout I had ever seen. However, I was relieved that at least he could say his prayer was answered even if he had to put it back.

Here is JJ stuggling to pull in his catch of the day....a big log! Hey, what can he say...it looked impressive!
Preston with his catch...not sure if it is the same one Bryson caught 10 minutes before, but he was happy to have caught something.

So, the sun was going down and we were reeling in for the night, when Bryson yells again that he had caught a fish. I assumed that it was the same poor little fish that had been caught and released twice before, but when I looked over and saw the bend in his line I knew that it was bigger. Here he is with the one and only "keeper" of the day he was very happy and his first comment was "I guess he heard my prayer". Thank goodness for the faith of children to humble us adults sometimes.

So, here is the beginning of the gutting, I will spare you the next picture. As you can see they are all smiling right now, the next picture they were not. This was JJ's first cleaning and the boys first witness of how it is done. JJ did a good job with the cleaning and we took it home and grilled it, it was actually very tasty! So, for a last minute throw together outing it turned out to be a good memory for everybody!

Easter 2009

Well, Easter is one of my favorite holidays so I love to wake up and see what the Easter Bunny brought just as much as the kids.





So, here are the crepes! They were very yummy, thank you, sweetheart!
Here is everybody after the Easter egg hunt, it was fun. It was a little chilly, but at least the sun was out, I don't think it was quite cold enough for Ashley's eskimo coat, though.

Easter Memories...

EASTER 2005

This was the last Easter we were all living in Utah, I love this picture of the cousins after their Easter egg hunt at Opa and Oma's house, there have been a few additions since this picture was taken.

Cyle enjoying an Easter egg hunt and Ashley showing off her Easter basket treasures...

Me and JJ cooking Easter morning breakfast....looking good!

JJ and Preston hanging out and Brock on the right...don't they look like babies (I am referring to Preston and Brock, of course)

Easter 2006

Cyle, Preston and Bryson enjoying another Easter egg hunt...funny how the hunt for the eggs never gets old.

Easter 2007

Ashley and Brock showing off their loot...the same still goes...Ashley excited about money, Brock excited about candy.









Easter 2008

What happened? Our first Easter together he helps me cook breakfast, 4 years later he gets his basket delivered in bed? I think this year we need a repeat of 2005, what do you say, babe? Crepes?

The Perfect Picture...with kids..haha!

Hi All - This is JJ, I once again have decided to make a post without permission.... hope you get a chance to enjoy this while it is still posted... Karly loves pictures of the kids and she decided to stop on our way home from church and take a few pictures of the kids next to a very old bridge and stream.. what took place will be a family classic...enjoy!

New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. in 3 days...

For the past 9 days we have had visitors! My mom and my brother and his family came to stay with us and tour the sites and boy did we give a new definition to the word "tourist". I think this is the first time I have sat down since they got here, they just left today. It was so much fun having family come visit, our rooms are always available and our rates are cheap so if any of these pictures look enticing call and make a reservation at the Van Komen hotel we would love to have you. We rode the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty one day it is bigger in person than I thought it would be...

Here are the kids about to get on their first New York subway...

The kids standing in front of the Statue of Liberty with New York City behind them.

We visited Ground Zero, the picture on the left is of a man who we came to know as Harry. At first, I thought he was a homeless man begging for money, but come to find out he is a very intelligent man who has dedicated his life to educate people and help us never forget 9/11. He comes to this corner everyday and hands out flyers and tells about the day it happened, he has a folder with pictures and gives a very interesting and informative speech about that day. As you see by the picture the kids were very involved in what he was saying I am sure they will never forget him. On the right is a picture of a New York Fire Truck pulling out onto the street, right behind it is Ground Zero. The NYFD were the first on the scene where many died as the second tower was hit and collapsed. There is not much to see here right now as they are rebuilding on the site. There is a memorial that you can walk through that is very emotional.

Then we were on to Philadelphia...here we are at the Liberty Bell, we went on Saturday so JJ was able to go with us.

This is Independence Hall in Philadelphia where the Constitution was signed...
Here we are in front of the statue of Rocky, he has been moved off the top of the steps that he ran up because people complained that a fictional character should not be placed in such a prominent area so now he is at the bottom of the steps and off to the side in between some trees.
Me and JJ standing at the top of the "Rocky" steps with Philadelphia behind us it was a great view...

Next stop was Washington, D.C. Here are the kids in front of the Capital building, Preston thought it was cool that the Secret Service were walking around the premises with M-16s.

Above is the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial and the White House.

Bryson standing inside of the Lincoln Memorial and Preston sitting in front of it.

The changing of the guard in Arlington Cemetery, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Ashley and my nieces standing in front of the Iwojima statue, this thing was massive!

In the end, this is how we all felt...pooped! Unfortunately, most of us were too big to curl up on the bench of the trolley and take a snooze.