Merry Christmas!!

We opened presents early this year....as we will be a Grandpa and Grandma's for Christmas!

Bethany got her wish...a TV w/DVD for her room...I guess Santa thought she had been good this year!

Ashley is into music, music and more music...she can now play all she wants with headphones on!!

Carlie awaiting the anticipation of what could be in the box!

Watch out Hannah Montanna....here I come!!!!!

Come in for a Christmas Tour..........

Step on in....sit down and have a mug of hot cocoa!

We apologize for the small tree...but we kept it more low scale this year, since we will be gone!

The Candy Tree...one of my favorite!

I bought these ornaments at my favorite candy store in CA..Granlunds.

This tree is our collection of places we visit tree.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,

The Pooles

Tim Carol Ashley Bethany and Carlie

Ashley in Marching Band

Ashley is in the Great Mills Marching Band this year! She usually plays the clarinet, but they needed an extra barritone player, so that is what she played. She has done a really great job, and the band put on a great half time show at the football games. Ashley compete in many band competitions throughout the Fall and has enjoyed every minute of it!

The Magic of Forty!

Hitting a certain age can cause one to stop and take pause. I have just reached the big 40! I have been saying that today's 40 is the new 30, but I have to admit I am still in shock over turning what I had always considered middle aged.
So in turning 40, I started to think about what that meant! Today, I don't feel how I thought 40 would feel. I don't feel old, and yet I know I am not young anymore either. I would like to think with this age has come some wisdom, as I have been around the block a "couple times" now. I have been through hard times and have survived! I have stored up wonderful memories from the past 40 years, that are mine to keep! I have a wonderful husband, three fabulous girls, a loving family and some incredibly special friends. Its been at times a long journey, but yet in retrospect an incredibly swift journey. So to quote " Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.”

This quote will always work too-"
“35 is a very attractive age. London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained thirty-five for years.”

So here are some things I have been told by fellow 40 somethings: "You will make it through", "It's not that bad", "I feel more in control at 40 and happy with myself", "You don't look 40 at all" (I like that one),"It's about time you joined us" and "40 is great"! So I guess I will just embrace it and move on...........................................

National Junior Honor Society

Tonight Bethany was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at Spring Ridge Middle School. To be asked to be in the Society, you have to have a 3.5 or better (Bethany has a 4.0-okay parents can brag a little) and have been a leader in your community. We are very proud of her and her friends who made it in!

Allison, Ashley, Amanda, Krista, Michelle,(not sure), Bethany!

Fall is in the Air

One of my favorite holidays is HALLOWEEN! I know this could cause a big theological debate, but for me it is harmless, spooky fun! As soon as the weather turns cooler, the girls and I look forward to setting out the Fall and Halloween decorations, in anticipation for our annual Halloween Sleepover Party. This has been a tradition we started, when we moved here 5 years ago, and one the girls always beg to keep, along with our annual pilgrimage to Hershey Park in the Dark (but that is another blog episode).
This year we made these cute little countdown to Halloween treat bags. Each girl will take turns taking a bag off the tree, starting on October 1 st and counting down to Halloween. Each bag has some treats in it to enjoy!


We had a lot of fun creating these!

We hung them on the tree in our family room
it gives it a festive look!

It's SOCCER Season

The Blue Lightnings

It's that time of year again for Soccer! This year we only have one brave daughter who decided to play the sport! The Oldest one is way to busy, and the Middle one, just doesn't care to run around a field chasing a ball!

Carlie is a great runner and enjoys the sport! Last game she

got shoved to the ground by a bigger girl, but popped right back up, and later on the side lines a team mate fell right on top of her-poor girl had some aches after that. The season has been off to a slaughter so far, but we are hopeful that they can turn that around!

My Re-done Laundry Room

As many of you know, as much as I love my house, there has been one room, that just was not thought about much by the house designer....The Laundry room. I finally came up with solution, to be able to separate out the clothes, and not have to wash on a daily basis, due to lack of space. Tim kindly lowered the shelf that the builder had installed (we added the cabinets) and now I have room to set some wonderful containers to hold the various categories of clothes. This small fix, has made me very happy to once again do the laundry!

I am still working on getting the front load washer/dryer in the beautiful color of red, or maybe mystic blue......ahhh one can dream. My dryer came with our house in Ridgecrest, and it must be at least 20 years old, that thing just won't die!

Our washing machine, is the only new laundry appliance I have ever had, and it is almost 13 years old! Who says they don't make things to last!!

MY BIG FAT LIP

On Sunday night, during an imprompty icecream party, for Carlie's Daddy's birthday, Carlie got an unexpected surprise! While having loads of fun chasing a ball around on the trampoline, with about 6 other girls, Carlie's chin connected with her friend's head, resulting in THIS. Carlie's front tooth, went right through her bottom lip, causing her to swell up to proportions-that did not allow for going to school on Monday. The doctor has put her on antibiotics, and we are happy to say, she looks much better!

A Tired and in Pain Little Girl

17 Years Today!!!!

Today is our 17th Anniversary! Wow..time sure does fly by! We decided to do something out of the ordinary, and something I had always wanted to do...ride a Segway! Tim and I took a 3 hour segway tour of DC as our anniversary present to each other this year. We had a great time visiting the White House, monuments, Capitol, Ford's Theater, and many other sites. This was definately the way to get around DC! There was even a lady who looked to be about 80, who was taking the tour as well. So it just goes to show you can still have fun, when you get older!

Our Vacation to Cancun 2008

Bethany is a TEENAGER!

Bethany is a TEENAGER!

July 20th 1995 at 10:50pm, west coast time Bethany Brooke Poole entered the world! The world has never been the same since! She came looking like a little Sumo wrestler-black hair, red face, chubby cheeks(8lbs 10 oz), and grew into a beautiful curly haired, long lash little charmer. She could of been the next Shirley Temple when she was 3. It is hard to believe it is 13 years later and she is growing into a young lady. We are very proud of who you have become and know God has great plans for you in the future.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHY BOO!

Luau Slumber Party

Carlie had a Luau Slumber party for her 10th birthday this year.She invited the girls from her class and a few other close friends.

We took the girls to the pool on base to swim(or get them tired..ha ha), and then came back to the house for our luau feast. We played fun games like, walk across the hot lava, hula hoop race, limbo, and of course the wacking of the pinata. We then had volcano cake and icecream, and ventured inside to sleep(yeah right!)

It was a fun and memorable day!