I lack in many things...

... mostly time.

I wish I was better at this blogging, so my parents could get happy updates of the going ons in our world.  I should be better, my mom writes a note to each of her grandkids EVERY month, not a small task when you have 20+ notes to send. I think I should be able to manage one update a month.  Perhaps that should be my goal, but I would hate to fail so I will wait on that one.

Life is busy... work, laundry, paying bills (seems to be the only time I get on the computer), dropping kids off, picking kids up, trying not to panic that my son is learning to drive, and always basketball.

Nate and Mase went rockclimbing with the scouts.  Mase who is afraid of heights actually did it.  I think our recent trip to Sea World and all the rides we forced him on may have helped.

 Marra enjoyed the snow more than anyone.  Even when the heat was on she wanted to be outside.

 We also enjoyed some much loved "Jimmer" time with our friends.

So life is good, busy and I would love to tell more, but I am off to pick up the kids.  Oh how much they need to start taking the bus.

Day 4 of "The Deep Freeze"...

...and I am ready for the thaw.  As a Texan I have developed thin blood, that doesn't seem to warm up in temperatures less than 60 degrees. (I can hear my dad saying "wimp") Aside from the freezing temperatures, and the snow, I need the thaw so my sweet children can be in school.  For their safety and my sanity.

Day 1 of no school brought much joy with a day off and Dad home because his office was closed.  A miniature golf tournament was started. Marra was content with a few preschool worksheets and scissors and glue.  Homemade pizza filled bellies at lunch and soup and homemade bread was enjoyed at dinner.  Amazing what you can bake when you are home all day.

Day 2 started early with rolling blackouts and a continuing game of mini golf.  Soon a Pokemon war started and golf was forgotten.  Soon an NBA tournament on the Wii began and peace from the Pokemon war was restored.  "Left-Over Day"was declared for lunch and my sweet hubby braved the streets to bring me a fresh supply of Diet Coke.  Dinner was tacos or left-overs again.  Thanks to BYU basketball the evening was tolerated.

Day 3 started earlier with the sound of my sweet children arguing about who could be on the computer first.  Next came the news that our gas company (we use propane to heat our house and cook) that the gas truck was running SEVERAL days behind so conserve as much as we can - the thermostat was promptly turned 60 and on went my jacket.  The kids are in shorts and not bothered with the cold.  Mini golf is in the entry way, puzzles are everywhere and Marra is trying to convince her brothers to play her "Princess Chutes and Ladders" game with her.  The Wii basketball tournaments continued. Lunch brought "how many bubbles can you blow in your milk", with a side of soup and Panini sandwiches.  Fried rice and chicken help the feast and dinner, and my Diet Coke is dwindling once again.

We woke up this morning to greet Day 4 with six inches of fresh powder.  Dad's office is closed again.  We will make it another day, at least I am pretty sure.  I am down to my last cup of Diet Coke and no gas truck yet.

Putting all that aside I am still grateful to enjoy time with my kids and a couple days of hubby at home.  After all who else would brave the elements to bring me a drink.  Thankful for food storage that has given us much to eat, perhaps i need to store more of my drink.

Now off to enjoy a movie snuggled in a blanket.

Bonse Aba 2 Sloan Creek Choir

Between basketball and homework Mase, whom I once claimed never sang a note in tune, enjoys singing in the choir at school. He surprised me once again when he announced he was trying out for a solo in choir. The solo turned into an ensemble of 10 boys.

So enjoy the rehearsal at school Mase (red Texas shirt) is one of the boys up front.

Now I'm off to another weekend of basketball, hoping my house will get cleaned during baseball season. I won't hold my breath.

I am a slacker...

...so a late Merry Christmas to all and a Happy new year.

We did write a christmas letter.

I do have the cards.

No family picture, and my motivation ran out sometime between school ending and New Years.

So Here is the family letter..

via family blog and a few random pictures of our Thanksgiving trip to Georgia.

note not one with the whole family together, maybe I will set the goal to get a

family picture taken this year. Ohhh Steve would be so happy.

2010 was a very eventful year for the Cottrell family.

The biggest event of all occurred in March when after five years of being away, we returned to Texas. Two years after an ill-fated move to Las Vegas just as the economy was beginning to implode, we opted for the security of the area we called home for 7.5 years. After 5 years of vacation in Encinitas and Vegas, we are enjoying country life on a 19-acre spread in Lucas.

Steve is finding more and more specks of gray in his hair, and is still adjusting to his post-knee-surgery lifestyle. No more running or playing basketball, which has been a difficult adjustment. He was able to help out with coaching a few of the boys’ basketball and soccer teams this year, and says that he must be old because he reads only non-fiction except for an occasional Grisham novel.

Marnie is busy running the house, and this year added a new title: Teacher. In preparation for the next stage of her life, she became a pre-school teacher at Little Hart’s Pre-School in Lucas. Next year the school will offer kindergarten for the first time, and Marnie has accepted an offer to teach it. She is busy most days preparing for next year’s curriculum, plus all of the other things associated with running a busy household. More than the rest of us, she really missed Texas and is so happy to be with old friends and acquaintances.

Nathan (15) is in 10^th grade at Lovejoy High School and starting to think about college and working. This year he started to get serious about working out and obtaining the ever-elusive “six-pack”. He will be starting driver’s ed soon and hopes to finish his Eagle requirements soon. He left behind some wonderful friends in Nevada but is making some great new ones in Texas. He enjoys writing, school, and after ending his school basketball career now plays for a team in the local athletic league.

Mason (13) is in 7^th grade at Sloan Creek Middle School. At the beginning of the year he was playing left tackle in football for the Henderson Cowboys as they were one game away from the state championship

for their age group. He is now focusing on basketball as one of the tallest members of the 7^th grade team. He has straight As, and has an outsized, lovable personality that keeps us laughing. We were especially impressed this year with his ability to make new friends quickly after the move.

Cameron (9) is in 4^th grade at Hart Elementary. He constantly impresses us with his knowledge of facts and his memory. He started the year playing football with the mighty mite Henderson Cowboys and was part of a team that only allowed three touchdowns all season, culminating in a championship game with a score of 50-0. He also is an awesome basketball and soccer player, while maintaining straight As and a 100% cumulative grade in his favorite subject, science. He recently won his class spelling bee and will be participating in the school spelling bee after the holidays.

Peyton (7) is in 2^nd grade at Hart Elementary. We can hardly believe that it’s been nearly 6 years since the miraculous surgery to mitigate the impact of a cyst in his brain, and we are thankful every day for his continued improvement and attitude. He is still a little behind on some motor skills, but he has a sharp mind. He has straight As, is getting a workout in his gymnastics class, and is part of the chess club at school.

Marra (4) gets to go to pre-school with Mom most days. She has beautiful long, blonde hair and dreams of being able to wear it like Rapunzel someday. She continues to be all princess with a little tomboy mixed in, and she loves having 4 big brothers who adore her 24/7.

Love from the Cottrell’s

Season come and go...

We celebrate many seasons at our house: Winter, spring, summer, fall, and of course football and basketball. There is another season however which just ended and has left me exausted and I am sure a few pounds heavier. You may think I am referring to the season of turkey and pie, and while I am truly thankful for all that I have been blessed with, I am talking about our birthday season.

With seven of us in our family we have a birthday every month from July to early December. That means at least one birthday per month and sometimes two. Lots of cake, ice cream, and the following child-planned menus:

Peyton's request: Doughnut, Mac and Cheese, Root Beer, Pizza, and chocolate cake and frosting.

Nate: Chocolate chip pancakes, Subway sandwich, Monte Cristo sandwiches, and vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting.

Mase: Sonic sausage and egg croissant, turkey and cheese sandwich, fish tacos, chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

Cam: Doughnuts, hot dogs, spaghetti and strawberries, and lemon cake with lemon frosting

Marra: Doughnuts, McDonald's Happy Meal, hot dog, strawberries with vanilla yogurt and a cheese stick. Pink cake with pink frosting and pink sprinkles.

As part of the birthday privileges comes a "do nothing day", at least you don't have to do your chores, and if you're lucky mom will even do your wash (Nate and Mase).

Somehow in all the celebrating Steve and I missed out on the "do nothing day", but I guess someone has to go to work, do the dishes and laundry, and get the kids to school on time.

Next year for the big 40 we will get our day the way we want it.

Life is good,

we are a year older, hopefully a little wiser too.

Now on to Christmas...

...oh and basketball (it is the never ending season around here).

I should be...

...cleaning the bathrooms,

...putting the last bit of laundry away,

...straightening the family room,

...taking out the garbage,

but I am not.

I am sitting at the computer wasting time until I pick up the kids from school.

I am tired.

I know lots of people are tired, I am just one more.

Fall is here, the kids are in school, and the weather is GREAT!

I am loving my part-part-time job.

Yes, after 15 years of being a stay-at-home mom I am working outside the home.

I teach a preschool class two mornings a week.

Nice for Marra so she can meet children who are not her older brothers.

Great for me because I get to do what I love, teach.

Other than that life is the same,

house still needs to be cleaned,

dishes need to be washed or put away or both,

grocery shopping,

laundry,

homework...

the list goes on.

I did add one more thing...

I started to teach my two youngest boys piano.

Crazy I know, but trying to find the time to drive them to and from piano, and wondering what their teacher must think of me for not forcing them to practice as much as they should.

It is easier... for now.

I also bought Nate a guitar DVD so he can teach himself to play.

I love a house full of music, even if the count is off and slightly out of tune.

Summer...

...summer has gone,

and I was a little sad to send my kiddos off to school, (now that is a first). Somehow we all survived the first week.

Nate is a sophomore and ready for drivers ed, girls, basketball, girls, seminary, a little more basketball, girls, and hopefully a little learning in between.

Mase is off to his second year of middle school, and one year closer to being the "big man on campus". His size helps him to blend in with all the existing "big men". I think by the end of the year he will be able to share shoes with his dad. Oh how I hate to buy men's shoes for a 12 year old.

Cam tells me "fourth grade is the best, it has lots of science". When not consumed with all things that can gross a mom out he is excited for soccer, basketball, friends, football, anything to keep him moving, and always plenty of math and science.

Peyton was so eager for second grade getting him to sleep was more challenging than usual. While I was trying to get him to sleep he told me..."I already have my clothes ready. I am going to wear my 'awesome' shirt. Everyone will see my shirt and think that kid is awesome, and I will make friends just like that". (SNAP)...

...I'm sure it worked.

That left Marra the lone child at home...

That is until next week when she and I go back to school. Marra will learn, I will teach. Marra will be with friends and play, I will be teaching some fabulous four-year-old the fine art of getting ready for kindergarten.

It should be another great week at school.

Still kind of miss these guys.