LET'S DO BUSINESS

Trevor Discovers Capitalism

October was the month of us learning that - like his father - Trevor loves to spend his down time dreaming up business schemes. I had no idea our children would inherit the "Emerson Entrepreneur Gene", but it manifested during his month off track. If it wasn't business plans sketched out on the Magna Doodle, it was begging pleas to go outside and sell items from the house to the neighbors, specifically to the Coles...thanks for contributing to Trevor's mission fund. The CEO and Executive VP ready for business. I had to talk Trevor down to 25 cents - he wanted to charge "55 cash" for a cup.

I thought I would appease his hunger for the almighty buck after I let him have the koolaid stand, but he was persistent in wanting to organize a fair. He had a plan, including what games and activities there would be, and who would work - Garrett refused to work the bounce house...Trevor got a taste of disgruntled employees.

Dad helped set up the bounce house and games before he went to work.

Party-goers arrived in costume, and Trevor was officially "in-charge". Trevor wanted to charge an entrance fee, and I didn't want to squash his entrepreneurial spirit, so each attendee was given a bag of money to spend...they earned tickets at the games for fabulous prizes.

He even hired Aunt Lori to work the snack bar.

He also had the idea to do a cookie decorating contest, in which he would vote for the best cookie. When I asked him if he thought that might hurt someone's feelings if their's wasn't the best, he said that he would tell everyone that their cookies look great, but that one was really great...so p.c.

...the cookies did not last long enough to be judged, however.

And, no Trevor party is complete without a dance party.

The fair went off without a hitch! Thanks to all of our friends who are able to help make it such a success!!

Balboa Island - End of OctoberI have to say that I have no complaints about it still being warm at the end of October...I love So Cal! The boys got to go to the Harvest Carnival with Aunt Lori and Cousin Jay, then spend the night on Balboa Island with Uncle Andy and Aunt Lori. We joined them for lunch and a bocce ball tourney, along with some of Lo's friends from the island. Garrett and Andy won, thanks to the 'creative refereeing' by Lori .
The Bocce Teams - we are a very competitive family.

Mommy, It's Halloweentime...

The 31st came quick - let's hurry and carve the pumpkins before it gets dark! Thanks grandma for helping!

We like to carve topless around here...I don't know why my boys ended up with no shirts.

Later that night...

Everyone got into character, including the naked Dora on the left.

Grandma stuck around for the Halloween festivities.

So glad the Startups joined the Emersons and Coles for what has become tradition...thanks for leaving the hills for the night! So fun!!

When the bag is draggin, it's time to call it a night.

Congrats on Beating Chaffey!

We feel at home on the bleachers at Citrus.

And now for some Christmas browsing...

September's Gone?

Was it me, or did September FLY? We were crazy busy, but after yesterdays church conference talks, I have new resolve to "find joy in my journey"!

Trevor has been loving playing soccer!! He has scored a few goals, and has been getting pep talks from Coach Emerson! ; ) So proud of him!

Block Party!! Maren and I organized a block BBQ - it was a great chance to socialize with our wonderful neighbors!! We had a ton of food, and almost everyone from the cul-de-sac came!
The dudes manning the BBQ.
Thanks Aunt Lo for coming to Trev's game and babysitting Kami while we went to Kev's game!!
WE GOT A TRAMPOLINE!!!!...

AND WE"VE BEEN...
JUMPING FOR JOY EVER SINCE!!
...and sitting pretty.
Kami can hold her own with the other jumpers.

I love that as a domestic goddess I am so aware of my kids favorite foods - for the week that it is their favorite. It's one thing that a mom gets to know about her kids more than dad! The past few weeks Kamryn has gone bananas over...bananas. Her favorite sentence (of the few words she can say), is "I want nana", as she points to the fruit bowl.

I once asked my girlfriends, when Trevor and Garrett would only eat grapes, if giving them fruit all the time was bad, if that's all they want. They wisely told me that as long as what they're asking for is fruit, give it to them, becuase one day it will be a fight to get them to eat it...it's just a matter of dealing with yucky diapers! ; )

Trevor ran his first "race"!!

He had a jog-a-thon at school, and he was so excited to be running in a "race" like mom does.

Thanks to all my friends and family who sponsored him!! We love you guys!!

'Tis the Season

It's the most wonderful time of the year!! Around here, we speak FSL - Football as Second Language. I can define, and use in a sentence (in football context) the following: "option", "screen pass", and "I-team". This time of year we have 'game film' almost constantly being reviewed, and I find little scraps of paper throughout the house wth x's and o's on them...and no, they aren't love letters! Football is not only a game to us, it is a paycheck. And, luckily, I 'heart' football.

I 'heart' that my husband gets to do something he is passionate about for a living. He, and his former team and fellow coaches, were recently honored during halftime at an APU football game. Ten years ago, as he began his career, he was the Offensive Coordinator at APU, and they won the National Championship, so they had a reunion and halftime presentation this year. Seeing the old team ten years later for this reunion brought back a lot of great memories!! Awww...we were just dating back then!!

Here he is waving to the crowd!!

The team...1o year reunion!

I also 'heart' cheering for my teams! I have highly sought after season tickets to Citrus College football games...I've got an in with the head coach! ; ) ...Go Fighting Owls!!...Kevin just loves that mascot!

I 'heart' my Purdue Boilermakers. I went to grad school there, and made some really close friends. When you are with 20 women every day, going through a full-time grad program together for 2 years, it's hard not to make close friendships! We went to many football games together, and had some really fun times!! I was lucky enough to get back to Indianapolis for my friend, Mandy's, wedding in August and reunite with several of those girls! When we get back together, it feels like it did 5 years ago!! I love those kind of friendships, where you pick up where you left off. They are so comfortable!

Purdue Speechies Reunion

Finally, I 'heart' UCLA. I loved going there, loved cheering for them at the Rose Bowl, so I was heartbroken when they lost so badly to BYU. During my period of mourning, the day after that game, I found this on my car window as I walked to my car after church:

At the risk of sounding sacreligious, I REALLY don't 'heart' BYU...they have some really crazy, Mormon fans. In fact, as evidenced above, one of them desecrated my car with this vile sticker...I'm not going to name names, but I have evidence that the perpetrator is a leader in my ward, his wife makes vinyl stickers, and his last name rhymes with "how". I drove home from church with my face shielded, hoping that someone wouldn't mistake me for a Cougar Fan. ; ) Long story, but they got a lot of mileage out of one little sticker.

As much as I don't heart the teams that beat mine, I do 'heart' college rivalries, and getting to watch the drama and excitment that this sport brings!! It makes this time of year fun for me, even though we miss seeing our husband and daddy!!

Sugar and Spice...heavy on the spice

When we found out a girl would be the tail-end of our family, we envisioned a quiet, docile princess, who would bring peace and tranquility into our already busy, loud, boy-friendly home. However, this princess RUNS full speed everywhere she goes, and HATES being held. She is very loud, in a cute, girl way, of course. She loves climbing and chasing/being chased by her brothers...enter exhibit A... While running in the house, Kami fell on the hardwood floor, hit the banister, and got her first shiner...actually the hugest shiner of any of our kids so far. It was quite alarming to see a goose egg protrude like that from her head, and I was sure that brain matter was oozing from her skull. ICK. Kevin was even taken aback when he got home and insisted on holding her, even though the tears had long been dried. Birth order may contribute to her business...she does have 2 brothers to keep up with and defend herself against. That combined with her strong spirit, makes her one tough cookie!! She is fiesty...but soooo cute. Kevin and I still go peek at our 'peaceful' girl sleeping before we go to bed every night...so, she does have her quiet moments. ; )

Friends Forever

Timaree Startup (5), Quincey Coles (4), Berlyn Startup (3), Presley Coles (2), Kamryn Emerson (1)...little girls all in a row. Plus Madison, then add a dash of testosterone.


The Startups were one of the very first, very friendly families who Kevin and I met when we first moved to Chino Hills, back when we were childless (was there ever a time when we had no kids?!...hard to remember!). Now the Starups have a million kids, and we have 3...ok, we give, you guys win! The Starups introduced us to the Coles, and the 3 families have grown up together ever since. We had 3 of the Startup girls at our house the other day, and got these great pics of the "buddies".

Busy Summer

Ok...thanks for the pressure, Maren. I have reluctantly entered the world of blogging. Apparently it is THE thing to do in Eastvale. And I ALWAYS follow the crowd. I doubt that anyone will want to read/see so many details about me and my family except my mom, Kevin's mom, and my grandma...so this is for you Grandma, Nana, and Granny! ; )

After a very busy summer, we are finally settling back into a routine. One, or all, of us were on trips for 7 weekends straight! Very fun, but also exhausting. Places we went: Lake Havasu (x2), San Diego, Balboa Island, camping in San Elijo, Kevin went on his annual coaches' golf trip in San Diego, I went to my friend Mandy's wedding in Indianapolis, and I went to exotic Diamond Bar (in lieu of a flooded condo in San Clemente) for my Bunco trip. Phew!! But we did get great tans, Kev and I learned to surf, Trevor learned to swim, Garrett nearly drowned AGAIN, and Kami developed a strong, independent spirit. Overall we made many memories together as a family!!