Gene and Sheri Family: 2009

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Isaac's 2nd Grade Gingerbread House

This year, Dad only made one gingerbread house at the kid's schools. Audrey rotates through different teachers throughout the day already, so it would be too hard to do one for her this year. And Austin has been rotating classes for awhile now....so Isaac was the lucky duck this year. Here he is with his sweet teacher Mrs. Shropshire and the completed gingerbread house. THANKS Dad!!

gingerbread house in Isaac's 2nd grade class, Mrs. Shropshire

Thanksgiving & A Visit from Aunt Leslie NOV 09

Gene's Sister Leslie came into town to visit us for Thanksgiving for 4 days! Are we lucky or what? The kids SURE thought so! Here's what we did while Leslie was in town...

We ate good food...cooked by our in house chef Dad (Gene)....

We went bowling!

We decorated the Christmas Tree...

We went to the festival of lights at the Cincinnati Zoo...which was gorgeous! We got to the zoo early so we could see some animals by daylight, and by the time we were done, the lights were starting to twinkle in sync to the Christmas music being played throughout the zoo. We all just loved it! Then, we had to take Aunt Leslie, back to the airport....can't wait till she comes for another visit! THANKS Aunt Leslie!

Pottie School Graduate... NOV 09

I know this picture doesn't look like much, but it makes this Mama want to break out into "Halleluja!" This is William decorating his VERY OWN cake...for his Poo-Poo party! Which means...he is a graduate of pottie training school! WOOO-hooo!!! lol! We promised that boy the MOON if he would just use the pottie like every other 3 yr old in the land. Well, almost the moon....this is what the boy collected when he finally did the "deed" on the pottie: A call to Santa Claus, a bowling game, gumball machine, lollipops, a real genuine ping-pong table...and last but not least, a Poo-Poo party!! I know, I know...we went a little overboard, but let me tell you...IT WAS WORTH IT!

poo-poo party for william Nov 09 (finally pottie trained)

Austin's Eagle Scout Project NOV-DEC 09

Austin has earned all the merit badges he needs towards becoming an Eagle Scout. Now all he has left are a few campouts, and his Eagle Project. Mom and Dad were thinking that sometime next Spring we might try to help motivate him to get an idea for a project....but low and behold...the boy already knew what he wanted to do and wanted to do it now!

His project is collecting coats, hats, gloves, socks, underwear, and gaming devices for an orphanage here in Cincinnati. He has been able to get people in the community to donate bins for "collection", and copies to distribute flyers. And SEVERAL schools and businesses have allowed him to have a "collection bin" at their various locations. "Super" stores have donated money towards the new socks and underwear. Its really going well, and we are SOOOO proud of him! The "coat drive" ends on Dec 18th and it will be interesting to see how much he is able to collect for these children in need. We have really appreciated the generosity that has been shown so far, and we KNOW the orphanage will appreciate it even more.

Here is our boy on a "Scout Night" coordinating the creation of flyers and bin covers with some other scouts....true leadership at work! It seems like yesturday I was wondering if he would ever be pottie trained! Sorry, I had to say it...its a Mom thing! lol! Way 2 Go Austin!! We love you!

Halloween Night! ...and MORE Uncle Brad!! :)

Here are the kids all ready to do some serious trick-or-treating. Austin stayed home and helped Mom pass out candy this year. But don't feel too bad for him, because Uncle Brad took him to Sonic for a treat before he was "on duty" to hand out the goods....THANKS Uncle Brad!

See if you can "spy" a SCARY Uncle Brad monster in this pic... :)

WAAAAAYYY too much candy!! This pic doesn't really "show" the GOBS of candy....

Pumpkin Carving OCT 09

The kids did a good job with their pumpkin face designs this year! But they were being goofy for their photo-ops! Please focus only on the pumpkins and not the messy house! lol!

The United States Air Force Aviation Museum OCT 09

While Uncle Brad was here, we decided to go visit the United States Air Force Aviation Museum in Dayton, OH. Its only 40 minutes to the north of us in Dayton, OH. It was very interesting and loads more fun because we were with Uncle Brad! :)

There was a hands on portion of the museum for kids...but the adults liked it too! ;)

Uncle Brad learning to fly a plane...

Gene and Sheri at airplane museum oct 09

After our trip to the museum Uncle Brad took us to one of his FAVORITE restaurants, the Rusty Bucket. It was GOOOOOOD!

Uncle Brad making everyone laugh...

Uncle Brad Visits!! OCT 09

Uncle Brad is like a rock-star in our family. Just the mere mention of his name and our kids get all excited!! And there is a reason for that...he is fun, cool, hip, and funny...Gene and I are not. But thats OK because Gene & I rather like Uncle Brad too. In fact, we think EVERYONE should have an Uncle Brad!! Sorry though, we're not sharing, go find your own! ;)

Uncle Brad with Austin--he took Austin to his Scout Court of Honor while Gene was out of town and I was still recovering from the flu. THANKS Uncle Brad!!!!!

uncle brad smith and austin ahlborn before court of honor o9

Uncle Brad with the rest of the hooligans... :)

Daddy (Gene) turns the big 40! OCT 09

I'm not sure why...but for the past 2 years I have had the flu on Gene's birthday...so the poor guy has had to fend for himself regarding the celebrations and what not...and this year was no exception....So here is my HANDSOME man getting ready to eat his birthday pumpkin pie that he made all by himself...with the birthday pictures being taken by Austin. I PROMISE I will not be sick for next year!! We did get to go out to the Bonefish Grill on a date all by ourselves once I recovered...courtesy of Austin and his amazing babysitting skilz... HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUZBY!

Hanging-Out with the Ahlborn/Semons in Indiana--SERIOUS FUN! Oct 09

Here is another pic of John & Wendi with sweet little Johnathan! They let us come invade their home for a few days and goodness was it fun! The kids(cousins)...totalling 11...seriously played board games with a movie here or there, the entire time! We did make it to the park, but they were all about gaming! :)

Oct 09 John & Wendi Semon &Johnathan Ahlborn

Here is SOME evidence of the gaming! :)

And of course Uncle Gene made YUMMY rolls!...Everyone is lovin them some rolls...

Aunt Sheri got to go on a beautiful walk with these lovely ladies and one fine gentleman!

We went to the park...and were graced with the presence of the handsome faced/leather jacket wearing Christian Ahlborn...did I mention he is handsome?? ;)

Sadly, the fun had to end, so we took one more pic of all the CUTE cousins together before we headed back to Ohio....thats A LOT of kids in one house....THANKS Wendi & John!! We LOVE you guys!

Wendi & John's Sealing at the Kentucky Temple Sept 09

We were so excited to be able to attend Wendi & John's sealing at the Kentucky Temple that we forgot to take a picture of them! It was a wonderful experience and we are excited for John & Wendi's new beginning together.

Here is a pic of John & Wendi at a later date...aren't they cute? :)

Aunt Leslie with Austin, Audrey, Isaac and William at the Kentucky Temple.

This pic has 6 of Wendi's 7 children in it (where were you Megan?) along with Gene, Sheri and our William.

Sept 09 Kentucky temple/John & Wendi Semon sealing

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Family Pics-- Summer 09/Utah

Can't believe it has taken me 4 months to post these pictures. Well, maybe I can... ;) They were taken in June by "Aunt Jer"....the wonderful, amazing woman that married Sheri's brother Preston. And they were taken in "Aunt Natalie's" beautiful backyard in Lindon, Utah. Some were taken in the oh so hip, downtown Lindon (brick wall pics). I think everyone should try to have a family picture taken at least once a year. It really is amazing how much a family can change in a year...so here's our family in 09'! THANKS JER!

William did NOT want his picture taken! This is as good as it got for our family pic day....silly CUTE boy!