Kickin' Off the Summer at the Cabin

Leah (and I, sort of) are officially on Summer Break!! Our kiddo has completed 2nd grade and is now a big 3rd grader...oh my goodness!! To get summer kicked off right, we headed to the Cabin with some friends, The Koscheski's. (Duncan's we missed you!!) We've now decided that this was the 1st Annual Kickoff the Summer Weekend!! We went to Bass Lake, and Yosemite. The weekend was filled with fishing, movies, fun times and lots of laughter...thank to Lazy Man's Trivial Pursuit!! Here are some pics of the weekend, in no particular order.

Michael and Leah, fishing

 The youngest Koscheski, baby Abby!

The rest of the kiddos, can't you tell they're tired!!

The Koontz family! (all 5 of us!!)

Silly Luke and Leah!!

So beautiful!!

We Have An 8 Year Old!!

Leah's birthday was just last week, and we had a little celebration for her at the park near our house.  My camera ran out of batteries, but my mom saved the day and took some great ones!  Here are some of the highlights:

Our little monkey!

With some friends

The whole gang...

The pinata, ready to go!  Isn't a kid party without a pinata!!

Sooo excited for her new DSi game...her face is priceless!!

A Kinect for the XBox from Grandpa Fireman and Grandma Linda, so much fun!!

Ready to make her wish!!

Funfetti Cake at the b-day girls request!!

Our kiddo is growing up fast, but is still our little girl.  Leah girl, we love you so much and have enjoyed watching you grow up into a smart and funny little lady.  We love that you are so sincere and thoughtful and that you are still our little girl.  Happy 8th Birthday, kiddo!!



Your AVON lady is calling!!

Yes, yet another new endeavor for me...I'm now an Independent Sales Representative for AVON.  I use AVON products and love them, so why not sell it?  I am really of fan of theirs, and what they contribute to Breast Cancer Research as well as ending Domestic Violence is something I am glad to be a part of.  What I like the best is the affordability of quality products.  If you are at all interested in buying anything or perusing a catalog, let me know or check out my website at www.youravon.com/laurakoontz.  Or if you are interested in selling AVON, contact me too and I can help you get started.  It starts with a very small investment and great rewards!

Easter---better late than never!

This year Easter was great!  We went to my parents house and had a great time with everyone young and old.  Before we left, the Easter Bunny came to our house and left a few thing for Leah.  He also stopped off at my parents house, too...We do know that the Easter Bunny isn't what it's all about, but we do buy into the Hallmark holiday it has become.  We are so thankful for the gift that God gave us, and are so humbled by the fact that Jesus did die of our sins.  It is a great time for us to gather together, and kick off the Spring Time, too!!  Here are a few photos that capture the moments.

Dear Tooth Fairy, Love Leah!!

Here is a cute Leah-ism:  The Tooth Fairy came last night...she has come about 6 or 7 times now.  Or at least she has supposed to have come in the night, sometimes, she comes in the morning after Leah realizes "she forgot".  Somehow we can always make sure the kiddo gets her loot!  Anyway, last night The Tooth Fairy witnessed a first...she got a letter from Leah.  Here is a picture of it...

It is a little hard to read, but she basically asked why the tooth fairy comes at night, and if she has lost her teeth, too.  My favorite line is "I bet your so pretty your brighter than a twinkling star."  I love it!!  She went onto say that she is 7 1/2, and in 2nd grade and that she lost her tooth at school.  And she signed it Write Back Soon, and signed her name in "cursive"!! 

Well, how could I (I mean the Tooth Fairy) not write back!  I wish I had a copy of what I wrote but Leah took it to school to show her friends, and now she's at her mom's!  It basically said that the Tooth Fairy comes at night because she is so busy, she always just ends up in CA at night.  Also, that the Tooth Fairy is soo old, she can't keep track, but she did pick up her mom and dad's teeth too.  It was pretty cute and I think that Leah was more excited about the letter than the $1 the Tooth Fairy actually left.  The best part is Leah decided to write the letter all on her own, and she taped it to the outside of her door.  I love that little kiddo!!

Spring has Sprung!!

I cannot believe that it is April and Leah is on Spring Break.  We've been busy with life...school and work and trying to work some fun in on the weekends. 

**Our first adventure was a trip Leah and I took to Downtown Disney for a Jr. High Reunion for me with my two besties from that time.  Thanks to Facebook and our ability to know what's going on already, it was a great time to catch-up in person and meet each other's kiddos.  Our course, Leah hit it off with Lauren's daughter, Elisa.  Here they are at Downtown Disney. 

Me and my munchkin...waiting for dinner!

The 3 ladies...it's been 17 years...Ashley, Lauren and Me!!

**This whole school year, Leah and I go to Awana every Monday night.  I am a leader of a "Cubbie" classroom, a group of 6 3 year old girls...a huge commitment.  Leah has loved every minute of being a "Sparky" and I have really seen her relationship and understanding of Jesus grow this year.  It makes my heart swell with pride to see her come into her own.  

Here is Leah and I ready for Wacky Hair Night at Awana... 

I did Leah's hair and she did mine...

are we crazy or what??

Here she is, ready to go. 

**Last weekend, we went to our first pro Hockey game.  We saw the LA Kings play (and beat!) the Dallas Stars.  I guess it was a pretty important game.  If the Stars won then the Kings may have not made it to the Playoffs...but we don't have to worry about that now!!

Me and Michael

The best picture of Leah I got all day...she was in a very, very silly mood...all the shouting of "Let's Go Kings" really got her going!!

The LA Kings!!  (love our nose-bleed seats??!!)

The Zambonies!!

Look at that!!  Kings Win!!

So far our spring is off to a good start and with the warmer weather, it is only just beginning....can't wait to see what else awaits us!!

4th Annual Ski Weekend!!

It's that time of year again...ski time!!  Wahoo!!  We headed up to Bass Lake during President's Weekend so we could hit the slopes at Badger Pass in Yosemite!  We got to the cabin on Friday evening, and were met by my parents.  What a treat to get to the cabin and already have the heat on and all warmed up for us.  The weather was rainy at the cabin, and that means snow at Badger, yay!!  The weather at the cabin got worse and worse...in the form of thunder, lightening, sleet, hail and eventually snow.  We woke up to a few inches of fresh snow at the cabin.  The road report said that the road up to Badger Pass was temporarily closed, but we chanced it and headed up there.  As we arrived at the gate to Yosemite, we were turned away, the roads were closed.  What a bummer...but at least we had fresh snow at the cabin to play with.  We did a little sledding and Michael and Leah built an IGLOO!!  It was amazing. 

The next day we woke up to sun, and headed to the slopes again...this time we made it.  We got our skis on and were on our way to a great day.  We got Leah signed up for a lesson in the morning, and it ended up being a private lesson, and she did amazing.  We figured we'd get her into a lesson in the afternoon too, but she amazed us and was able to keep up with all of us!!  She has got it down!!  We are sooo proud of her.  Here are some pictures of the weekend!

The porch of the cabin

Leah found the air vent in the backseat of the car!!

The cabin, from the driveway

Sledding on the side of the house, yay!!

Our big girl, can you believe it?!?

The igloo Michael and Leah made...so cool!!

The untouched snow waiting for us at Badger Pass!!  So glorious!!

Finally, we're on the lift, for our first run!!

Leah, on the slopes, so great!!

Leah and Papa!

Me and the Kiddo

Papa and the Kiddo

Grandma Carol and Grandpa Dan

Such a great day!!