November

What a fabulous November we had.  So full of family time.  We started off the month with the Annual Holiday Parade for our town.  Both Kamryn and Avery were part of the parade this year with their cheer squads.  Below is Chris and I waiting to cheer on our favorite cheerleaders!

 Here they come!

 Avery

 Kamryn

 The grande finale of the parade....Santa's arrival!!!

 We started the week of Thanksgiving with my birthday.  We had a fabulous family dinner.  Later, my sisters family came over for cake and icescream.  Chris and I spent the next three days getting ready to host Thanksgiving for the Hartman family.  On the morning of Thanksgiving, before we headed to our annual Turkey Bowl, the kids all got new Christmas pajamas.

By 815 on Thanksgiving morning most of the Hartmans headed to the Annual Hartman Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl.  What a great way to start our day.

 After the game, we head home to get dinner in the oven, and spend time with NaNa and Pop Pop.

 As our kids get older, there seem to be fewer and fewer times that they are all together.  So, whenever they are all together, I make sure to snap away with my camera.

 Thought I would use one of these for our Christmas card, but we took one even better for our cards.

 Finally, around 330 most of the Hartmans gathered at our home for Thanksgiving dinner.

 We ate, we drank, the kids danced, we laughed, and laughed, and laughed.  Seating for 45 is not always easy inside, but we all manage.  One of my most favorite days of the year.

 Then on Friday we all got ready for a family wedding, David and Aimee.  Thought I might use this for our Christmas card....but no, it didnt make the final cut.

 My beautiful, amazing, fabulous party of seven at the beginning of the reception.

Our Crazy busy Fall

September/ October/November are so crazy busy for us.  Kamryn and Avery both cheer for our local township football team.  They practice 2 times a weeks and we are at games any given Friday night, Saturday or Sunday afternoon watching our girls cheer.

 Because we have been super crazy with cheer on weekends, we never had a chance to go pumpkin picking.  Chris ended up just buying one at Giant.  Our three youngest helped with the carving process.

 The final product!

 The last two trick-or-treaters.  Avery was a gangster and Kamryn was Kit the Kat. (Your guess is as good as mine!)

 On Friday, November 2nd, Santa arrived at the mall with an escort the local fire department.  Chris, Kamryn and I headed over to see him arrive.

 Here's the man in red on top of the fire truck.

 Kamryn waving to Santa.

 On Monday, Nov.4th, Chris and I took the four girls to the Justin Bieber concert.  Well actually, Chris and I didn't go into the concert.  We dropped the girls off at the gate and then we headed over to Xfininity Live for dinner.  All I can think about is what a great memory for our girls to have...all four of them going to a concert together.

What the heck happened to August?

For as long as I can remember, my mom has always said that summer is over after the 4th of July.  When I was young, I never understood this saying because the 4th was at the beginning of the summer.  Now that I am old, I totally get it!  One day I am enjoying my lazy days at the swim club, and the next thing I know, August is over, the swim club is closed for another season.  WAAAA!!!!!  The end of the summer means back to school, homework, projects, activities, homework, PREP, homework.....

The only thing that gets me out of my 'Back to School' blues is celebrating our baby's birthday.  I can't even believe that our baby is 7.  I need to slow down time a bit.  My baby ain't no baby.  

She woke up on the morning of her birthday to breakfast in bed!

 It was a Sunday, so after church, she opened up her presents.

 She still loves all things Bieber!!!!

 Her favorite gift, an American Girl doll.  She names her Skylar.  She asked Kylie and Madison to be Skylar's Godparents.  Looks like our ideals do pass on to our kids after all!!!!!

 Make a wish, darling!

And....they're off.  Back to school.  This year is Kylie's last year and Madison's first year at the high school.  They are so happy to be at the same school again.  Mornings a little bit of challenge having 2 girls now getting ready at the same time in the same bathroom.

 This year is Avery and Kamryn's last year together in elementary school.  Next year Avery will be heading to the middle school.  

And our boy is a freshman in college.  He refused to let me take his pics on his first day.  :(

July 2012 Happenings

July was a busy month for our family.  On the first we celebrated CJ's 19th birthday.  He worked in the morning, as soon as he got home he opened his presents.

 His baby sister loves him so!

 A life long Stewie fan.

 Grammy and the C's joined us for his celebration.  Since our stove still was not connected at this point, I had to buy him a cake.  I was not happy about this because I enjoy making my families birthday cakes from scratch.  

 On Friday, July 6th Chris and I hosted the first (hopefully of many) annual Hartman Phillies Tailgate.  We all got to Philly about 6 hours before the game to tailgate. we had lots of tents, beverages, food, games.

 Some of the little kids watched movies to pass the time while their parents pregamed!

 The Hartman Tailgaters!

 My party of Seven!

After a great tailgate, even making it on the news, Channel 6 did a feature of our family, we headed inside.  Although it was a disappointing game, we all had a great time.   

 On Sunday, July 15 we celebrated Madison's 15 birthday.  All she wanted to do for her 15th birthday was spend the day in Ocean City.  We woke up early so she could open her gifts before heading to OCNJ.

 Her favorite gift, a 76er's back pack!

 By 11 the girls were swimming in the ocean.  

 Kamryn having fun at the waters edge.

 Sisters!

 As soon as we got home the C's came over to help us sing Happy birthday.  BTW, kitchen is done, oven is hooked up, cake was homemade!  Happy momma!!!!!

 May all of her wishes come true!