Christmas in California

Snow was on the ground in Southern California, when we landed! It was colder here than Maryland! My brother Mike and I

Jet Lag

4 generations at our favorite place to eat

Granlunds!

Hiking in Joshua Tree

The whole gang:Grandpa Grandma Tim Carol Ashley Bethany Carlie Mike Christie Megan Collin and Joshua

Christmas Day

Corvettes in San Deigo

Hotel Del Coronado in San Deigo

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!