Christmas Ups and Downs

We had ups and downs this Christmas, but we do our best to focus on the positive!  Although, that is hard sometimes.  Our big plan for Christmas break was a trip to Cincinnati to watch the Denver Broncos play the Cincinnati Bengals.  The Friday before the game, Ethan complained of a headache, the next day a cough, and then a flu the day before departure.  The night before the game, Andrew woke up in excruciating pain.  So....instead of going to a football game, Andrew was in the ER and dentist having emergency surgery on his wisdom teeth, and I spent the afternoon at the doctor with my flu-stricken baby.  Fortunately, we were able to sell our tickets, and watch the game on tv.  More importantly, everyone is healthy now, and that is what is important.  Besides this hiccup, our Christmas has been very blessed.

 Christmas party with some silly 4th graders (sorry...forgot to snap pictures with the 1st graders).

 

 Oh the joys of public school...the flu was rampant at the boys' school, and Ethan fell victim.

While Ethan slept the flu away, Jackson and I made Swedish meatballs.  Delish!

Oh, and we baked a few Christmas cookies.  

Jackson was so helpful with the frosting and test-tasting.

  The fam all fancy for Christmas Eve service.

  My sweet boys.  So excited for Christmas!

      Santa brought our family season passes to Dollywood!  And Mom and Dad got the boys (and ourselves) a trip to Disney World!  It's going to be an amusement park year for the Goldhahns.

We hope everyone had a very magical Christmas, and we wish you the best in 2015 (maybe I'll have a New Year's resolution to be a better blogger?).

Fall or Winter?

It sure feels like Fall in Knoxville...maybe even Spring since the boys wore shorts to school this week. Of course Winter is coming in the form of Winter Storm Cato right as we plan to drive to Washington DC. We are going to attempt the trip today and pray for clear skies and roads!

Here are some pictures from our afternoon of "raking."

Air Jackson!

Long and lanky. We've currently nicknamed Ethan "Noodles" due to his long limbs. 

I love these moments. 

Happy Fall Ya'll! (Or Spring...Winter...)

Zoo Trip!

Last week I helped chaperone Jackson's class on their field trip to the Knoxville Zoo! I didn't lose any children!

We started with the camels. Jackson was nice enough to pose for a VERY quick picture. 

Cruising in the zoo jeep.

Playing with the otter. 

A Jack-owl!

Thanks for a fun time first grade!

May the Force Be with You

We had a great Halloween dressing up as the cast of Star Wars. Mom and Dad were Han Solo and Princess Leia, while Ethan was Darth Vader, and Jackson was Luke Skywalker. 

Due to some freakishly cold weather, we started with indoor trick or treating at a retirement community. We then RAN through a couple neighborhoods (in freezing rain) to ensure our buckets were overflowing. Despite the cold, Halloween 2014 was a success!

This is Ethan, I mean Darth, on the 30th on our way to Trunk or Treat at the school. Jackson and Dad skipped the event for soccer (I think Jackson would choose soccer over Disney World). 

Darth Vader was ready! Luke Skywalker was annoyed by his costume. He is not a fan of dressing up, but he quickly forgot about it once candy came into the equation. 

Andrew and I couldn't resist being Han Solo and Princess Leia!

Bobcats. Roar!

Ethan and Jackson joined cub scouts this year. Ethan is a Webelos, and Jack is a Tiger Cub. On Sunday we enjoyed a hike at the University of Tennessee Arbetum, and both boys were awarded their Bobcat badges. 

Good job Scouts!

Dollywood

We celebrated Ethan's 10th birthday at Dollywood. We consider ourselves to be amusement park-enthusiasts, and Dollywood did not disappoint. Best part of the day -no lines! Not one! I foresee season passes under the Christmas tree this year. 

Mom and the birthday boy - ready to ride!

The newest ride - Soarin' Eagle. Jackson and Dad loved it. Mom and Ethan skipped it. 

Cute little owl babies. 

Mom and Dad rode this once and got soaked. It was chilly this day so we were okay only riding it once. The boys just rode it over and over. Thank you no lines!

Great day!

TEN

Here are some highlights as we honored Ethan being a decade old. 

Spine was so anxious to wish Ethan a happy birthday. 

Presents and balloons and a ten-year-old. 

Starting the beautiful day with a brotherly scrimmage (football and soccer) while Mom got her 3 miles in. 

The boys and I spent the afternoon playing putt-putt until it was time to meet Dad at Cracker Barrel (birthday boy's choice) for a birthday dinner. 

We ended the day with homemade ice cream cake!

Ethan said it was a great birthday. At Ethan's request, in lieu of a party, we will celebrate next weekend at Dollywood! Stay tuned...

10th Birthday Eve

Tonight I come back to the blogging world to document my sweet boy turning 10. I am in tears (happy tears) as I look through these pictures and reminisce on the last AMAZING ten years. When Ethan was two weeks old, an old woman approached me and said, "Enjoy him; it goes by so fast." So true. I absolutely love the amazing person Ethan has become, but I would love for time to slow down. Happy birthday Ethan!

Our First Guests!

Earlier this month, one of my bestest friends, Tamara, and her kiddoes stopped to see us on their way from Michigan to North Carolina. Tamara and I first met in 2007 in Okinawa when she had two kids, and I had one. The last time I saw her, her twins were in her tummy, and now they are four!

We had such a fun time swimming, eating pizza, and picking blueberries. We hope it's not another four years before we see each other again!

Evelyn and I are best friends. 

These fourth graders were in the three-year-old classroom together in preschool. Sob!

The big boys: Jack, Sam, Ethan, Austin

The whole gang eating pizza!

The hot mommas (and Miss Evelyn).

Love you Tamara!

Knoxville!

Sorry for the long delay in posts. I have been SO busy as we moved from Oklahoma to....KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. Why Tennessee? Andrew was offered a job as an Investment Consultant with Scottrade. This job allows him to have the work-home balance he so desperately needed. Our house sold within a month, and we found a very cute (albeit small) rental in a great school district. The boys have started school, and the military movers dropped off our stuff yesterday!

Saying goodbye to our first home we've owned. 

Who loves a 13 hour road trip? Ethan!

How is it possible that he is a fourth-grader?

That's one pumped up first-grader!

And FYI, the first day of school went great!