Family Pictures

Here are a few of the pictures that David, Michael's very talented cousin, took for us in November:

Grandpa's 90th Birthday

On November 24th, Michael's grandpa turned 90 years old! And he is in excellent health! Grandma threw him a birthday party in Cairo for him...it was so nice! Carrie, Andrew and myself were able to attend, Michael couldn't go because he had a basketball game at the same time 6 hours away! The kids and I had a great time visiting with family and friends! Grandpa was so excited, lots of family he hasn't seen in a while came to celebrate with him.
Grandpa, at 90, is still very active! He helps the local church in the kitchen, helps when there is a need for building things, he does just about anything! I hope that if I live to be 90 I am as healthy and as active as he is! Happy 90th!
  

The cake that cousin Dawne made, it was absolutely delicious!

Aunt Judy and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa looking at pictures from the past

Family and friends gathering

Our Christmas Tree 2011

We were finally able to put our tree up this weekend! With basketball season in full swing our lives revolve around when there is practice and games. Michael didn't have to be anywhere until Saturday afternoon so we went and picked out a tree Saturday and decorated it on Sunday afternoon. I wasn't really in the mood to decorate for Christmas, but once we got everything out I felt better!
Carrie was really into decorating the tree this year. She wanted to know the stories behind ornaments and I enjoyed telling her about the different ornaments. We have so many ornaments, and most of them have a story behind them. One tradition Michael and I began when we were dating was getting each other an ornament each Christmas that represented something that happened during the year and we do that with our kids as well. We have accumulated a lot of ornaments over the years! Some of my favorite ornaments are ones that we got when we got married. I also love remembering why I gave the kids certain ornaments, brings back memories!
I do love this time of year...I love the meaning of Christmas and spending time with family!
  

Andrew hanging ornaments

Carrie

Our beautiful tree

My sweet babies in front of our tree

Love these two!

Andrew begins playing basketball

Andrew is finally old enough to play basketball, one of his favorite sports! Michael is actually helping coach his team, which I really don't see how he is able to do that with his Middle School ball schedule. It seems to be working right now, luckily the head coach is a good friend who understands!
Andrew had his very first basketball game this past Saturday, and I was so proud of him! He played like he's been playing for years! He's been around basketball now since he was a year old, it's in him, but I wasn't sure how he'd actually do playing on the court with others. He scored 4 points for his team and was the one that took the ball up the court most of the time. I was one proud moma!
The entire team did awesome...can't wait to see how they do the rest of the season! I love being able to experience this with my kids!
  

Andrew ready for his first game

So excited to get to play!

Taking the ball down the court

Christmas Card 2011

Our Christmas Card for 2011:

Initially Merry Christmas

Customize your Christmas cards this holiday at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Taco Soup

Here is a great recipe for that cool, autumn night!

1 lb ground beef
1 onion (optional)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 can tomato sauce (large can)
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
2 cans kidney beans, drained

In a skillet over med heat cook beef and onion until beef is browned; drain. Place beef mixture in slow cooker with taco seasoning, tomato sauce, corn and beans (I also added about 1/2 cup of water).
Cover and cook on low 2 or more hours.
Serve with corn chips and cheese.

This is a very easy dish to cook and yummy, too!!!

Hope you enjoy!
  

The Keown's go camping

A few weeks ago Michael decided he would take our family camping in Helen at Unicoi State Park. We borrowed a HUGE 3 room tent from some friend's of ours and headed south to the camp site. I must say I was a tad skeptical, okay that is an understatement, I was a LOT skeptical about camping with a 7 year old and a 4 year old in a tent...but all in all we had a great time. It did storm on us the first night and got everything soaking wet, but we managed to catch a few hours of zzzz's. The next day we went to downtown Helen and went tubing with about 2000 other people, it was so crowded and not my most favorite part of our trip, but we have now experienced that with our kids and never again will we do that!
The kids did meet some kids at the campground and had a ball playing with them, which was nice.
Al in all it was a fun family trip. I love making memories with my family...I absolutely love being a wife and a mother and I look forward to the many, many more memories we will make...even the not so fun ones!

The toothfairy has been busy!

The tooth fairy has been visiting our house regularly this month! Here are a few pictures of Carrie's new look!!!

Let School Begin

A couple of  weeks ago school began for Rabun County! I, in Franklin, started the week before my kids and hubby! It has been an adjustment getting back into a routine, hopefully we will continue to perfect that routine!
The kids are enjoying school and love their teachers. Michael is loving his new schedule at school, which is 3 classes of Technology in the mornings and 3 classes of PE in the afternoons....he is very excited about teaching some PE classes. I am loving my job as a school counselor, I'm staying super busy already!
I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2011-2012 school year!!!!


PS: My computer is acting funny...I have pictures but I can't upload them :(

Family Adventures in St. Augustine

This year while visiting St. Augustine I talked Michael into taking the kids to "The Fort." I have only been one other time before, and it was many years ago, but I wanted to be able to take our children...I thought they might enjoy it! We did have fun, because it was just the four of us, however, it was probably not the smartest decision I've ever made :)! It was blazing hot and with a 4 year old and 7 year old the complaints kept coming...also from the 32 year old husband! After about 45 minutes we were all toast, so we left and headed to Ripley's Believe It or Not! Ripley's was a lot fun, however, I think my favorite part was when Andrew screamed like a girl because something scared him a bit! That may be mean, but it was hilarious! Not only did he scream he started running the opposite way we were going, I don't think I'll ever forget that. For the most part the kids enjoyed Ripley's!
After Ripley's we headed to the Santa Maria for lunch. We go to the Santa Maria each year, we started doing that when Carrie was just a baby. It's a kid friendly place, plus they get to feed the fish out of a hole where you sit. The food isn't the greatest in the world, but we go for the experience!
All in all it was pretty good day for the Keown bunch! I love my family, and I love spending time with them!

  

The Keown Family at Castillo San De Marcos in St. Augustine

Inside one of the rooms at the Fort

Michael and Carrie at the top of the Fort

Carrie and Andrew with one of the Soldiers

Going to the "Santa Maria" for lunch

Family Pictures

We took our annual trip to St. Augustine, we all had a blast. Like every year we get family pictures taken. I love getting to see how much the kids have grown each year, one of my very reason for taking these pictures!
Here are a few of the pictures that were taken at the beach this year!
  

Carrie ends up with 305 AR Points

I am a very proud mommy! Carrie ended up having the most AR points in the entire school...she ended the year with a total of 305 AR points! That's well over 500 books for the year. She read the majority of these books at school, with no help from the teacher or myself.
She is now reading on a 3.9 level, and will just be entering 2nd grade next year. I am so very proud of her! She loves school, which I account to the excellent teachers we have had the last two year, Ms. Page and Ms. Speed! I am looking forward to what the next year brings for Carrie! I'm so proud of my baby girl!

  

Carrie and her "big" trophy she got for having the most AR points at RGCS