HAPPY FIFTH BIRTHDAY, BRIGHTON!

Hard to believe that our baby is FIVE today! She started the morning by opening this fabulous new outfit from Grandma Barbi! She'll have the first of her birthday cakes today at school, with one to follow tonight and then her big Rupunzel Birthday Party on Saturday with all her friends! We can't believe she is five already. Since she's informed us that she is now too old to cry, or sleep in our bed, we anticipate a bang-up year!

With her friends at school...

HALLOWEEN 2011!

The Evil Jester, Wednesday Adams, and Rupunzel had a great Halloween! After a wonderful party at the Mainwairings we were off to trick-or-treat and see Auntie Gayle and Uncle Jock (a Halloween tradition). We had a wonderful time - and were especially excited when Grandma Barbi got into the spirt and donned her fabulous witch costume!

Brighton's Soccer Season

Brighton finished her first soccer season this year. She played indoor soccer with boys and girls her age and surprised us all with how aggressive she was on the field (four goals her last game!). She had a lot of fun and made some nice friends. Next year, she'll play outdoor soccer at Amend with her brother and sister - she's getting so big!

Soccer Fall 2011!

Max and Bella both finished the soccer season on Saturday. They both had exceptional seasons and we were very proud of their determination and the skills they've developed. Max is #2 in these photos and is quite the offensive player. His coach gave him the award "for never wanting to come out of the game."

Bella also scored her share of goals. She really got aggressive as the season went on, and started enjoying the defensive aspect of the game - the other team found it hard to score when Bella was in there!

Bella and her little friend Kennedy.

Denver!

Holy smokes did we have a great trip to Denver earlier this month. I have been running with a dear friend for about a year and a half now. We have run 3 half-marathons together and a couple on our own as well. Earlier this month, we ran the Denver Rock-n-Roll marathon and went over to Denver with our families. While we were there, we enjoyed the very generous hospitality of Cindy's dad and MariAnn...including the Denver v. Chargers game! It was my first pro football game and Max's as well, and we were able to watch it from the Martin's box at Invesco - just a little spoiled. We had a great game and Max especially was in Heaven (although Gavin was having the time of his life as well). The game turned the whole family into Tim Tebow fans . The game changed when Max hit the snacks (and, coincidently, when Tim Tebow was put in the game). Suddenly, the Broncos started scoring and everyone in the box was telling Max that he was "eating us to victory." The result - Max made himself sick with too many chips and seven layer dip, but he became a Broncos fan that day for sure (he proved this while screaming and yelling during Tebow's march to victory yesterday). At the game, he kept telling his dad, "I'll watch football in real life anytime Dad, it's not boring when you're really here."

One excited little guy just before kickoff.

Happy Gavin.

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Max and Tebow's jersey, his wig and Broncos hat.

Cindy and I enjoying the game, and nursing our sore legs with Coors Light.

Max - when he couldn't eat another thing.

The girls got in some time at the American Girls store as well. They both had their doll's hair done at the salon. Brighton and Emily don't have big girls dolls yet, but I have a feeling Santa may have a special request this year.

Making Memories...

Last night we were very excited to go out to our new home and allow the kids to each place their handprint on our brand-new back patio. Each of the kids left a print, and we then marked the year and their initials. It was a lot of fun, and helped make this process a bit more interesting for the kiddos. While progress on the house seems fast to Gavin and I lately, the kids seem to think things are moving awfully slow. The important thing is we have confirmation that we will be in our new home by CHRISTMAS!!!!

Brighton loved making her handprint. After she was finished here she proceeded to leave her mark in every puddle of dirt on the site.

And here goes my Maxer.

And finally Bella-Boo.

The finished project. They actually "framed" it for us so if we ever move (we are NEVER moving), we can take this memory with us.

Here is the house. We have a driveway up to the garages, and you can see where they are placing the frames for the front steps. The circular driveway will hopefully get poured today or tomorrow, as the weather is supposed to get a bit cooler later this week.

Here's a close-up of the front door as they are framing the walway and steps. Notice we have shingles? Hurray!

Murphy's HOUSE!!!

The construction of our home is definitely finally underway! We are soooo excited to see the progess, as things have really picked up over the course of the last month or so. Here are pictures of the outside, and we'll get pictures of the inside posted as soon as there is more to see besides just framing, wires, and pipes!

This is a shot from the South West corner of the house. The downstairs windows to the right are Max and Brighton's bedrooms.

And the back - we love our covered deck. The half-circle will be our kitchen nook - and we have spectacular views! Bella's bedroom window is hidden by the van. The upstairs window there will be the master. Windows are in, as you can see.

Another view of the deck. There will be a large patio in front of the garage there off the deck.

And here you're looking at the North West corner of the house. We are hoping to be moved in by Christmas, although we may just sleep on the floor Christmas Eve if we have to!