"And They're Off!"

Yesterday we headed to Louisville and Churchill Downs as guests of Matt Linville and his family, Kelly and Vivienne (Baby L 2 is due this spring). Also there was Dusty Bishop and his family, Keri, Averi and Ella. We all had a great time and the kids got along really well. We felt like royalty, sitting in The Turfway Club and watching the races outside above the private boxes.

I always said after my 1st Derby experience -
not one I care to EVER re-live again...in-field. Need I say more?
- I would never go back unless I had a seat and I was wearing a hat! Well, it was not a day for a hat but I had the best seat in the house! Thanks, Linville Family!


The Family at Churchill Downs


The boys watching the horses


Brooke in one of her many holiday outfits


Hey Dad - is this stub a winner?!

What A Thankful Week

We, too, have lots to be thankful for. We had a wonderful week leading up to Thanksgiving and an awesome 2 days post-Turkey Day!

Wednesday we headed to Grandparents Goshorn's early since we were getting our carpets cleaned.

This is typical fun at Grandma's...


Everyone playing, eating, watching TV, dancing, singing, sleeping...
in Grandma's room and/or bed.


See what I mean?!

On Thursday we headed to Aunt Stacy's for the Sorg Thanksgiving.


And the boys love playing together...


This is Jack, Will, cousin Graham and Baby Cade trying to be a big boy.

Family, friends, health and happiness....
what more could you ask for!

I Lied

I lied. I have no new pics. I really have nothing to say. I have been busy getting 5 people packed to get outta here for Thanksgiving travel. Add to that we have to leave early this morning due to carpet cleaners coming (Alleluia!) I am a chicken with it's head cut off.

Or maybe a turkey. You pick.

Either way...have a great Thanksgiving and Blessings to you and yours.

And there will be pictures soon.
Brooke has WAY too many holiday outfits to photograph before Christmas!

Girl's Night Out

I had a Girl's Night Out with my Mother-In-Law tonight. Some girls are less fortunate in this category...not me. My MIL is caring, thoughtful, generous, easy to talk to, loving and most of all HONEST. She tells me like it is and asks the same of me. Makes for a pretty awesome relationship.

Great night of food - PF Chang's. We never get to go here because of my children's nut allergies (no asian or thai food). Then off to see "Precious." That was some sad, crazy, disturbing stuff.

But you wanna know the best part?

2 of my children had blow-outs (yes, you know what I mean) and I did not have to clean them up.

That is what I call one good Girl's (MOM) Night Out!

Thanks, Peg!!

PS I know I have been lacking in the picture dept. I will get on that tomorrow. Promise.

Lesson Learned

It does not pay to sleep in.

Because while I slept in today, Will asked his usual morning question:
"What are we doing today?"

I would have answered with "Watching OSU beat Michigan." or "Going to a family reunion with Grandma and Grandpa Goshorn."

How did DAD answer the question, since he got up with the boys and let me sleep in??

"You are going to get a SHOT today to keep you healthy."

Again, it does not pay to sleep in.

'Cause when you do, and Dad tells the kids they are getting shots,
your kids SCREAM BLOODY MURDER at the Health Department
because they know what's coming.

Thanks for letting me sleep in this morning, honey.
Thanks a whole lot.

Right Now...

We are enjoying a "Majama Day." Oh, how my children love staying in their pajamas as long as possible. And how cute they are doing it!

Oh, how happy my children are today....

...that is, until they realize why we got in the car, drove 20 mins., show up at the Health Department and go in to get them all H1N1 shots in the arm.

Oh yes...how happy they will be.

We are...Are you?

We have been doing A LOT of the Turkey Pokey around here.

What is the Turkey Pokey, you ask?

Well, it is the traditional Hokey Pokey
(you know you know it, you know you love it)
but with a twist.

You put your beak, your wings, your turkey legs and,
of course, your tail feather, in. And shake it all about.

Come on over to our house if you want to join in.

'Cause that's what it's all about.

It Must Be Sunday...

Time for another edition of
"What Will The Goshorn Brothers Say in Church THIS week?!"

Our children are known for being the ones that whisper LOUDLY
"Is it over yet?"
"Am I being a good listener?"
"Can I have a tootsie roll when I get home?"

And, my all time favorite...
Jack : "Is it time for heaven?"
Me: "Do you mean communion?"
Jack: "Yeah, communion. What is heaven again?"
Me: "Heaven is where you go when you die."
Jack: "Oh yeah. That is where Michael Jackson is."
Exactly.

But today we had the return of another "Oldie But Goodie."
The Knights of Columbus helped with mass.
That's right. The men in the black tuxedos with the swords and headdresses.
OR...
As my kids call them..
"Look Mommy! The pirates are here!"

Yep...raising 2 good little Catholic boys!

What is Worse....

than all 3 of your kids having bad colds...
your baby vomiting and being up 1/2 the night...
and you having a cold?

I will tell you what is worse...

Your HUSBAND being sick.

I love you, honey. Get well...

SOON.

Family Pictures

The day after we returned from Florida we had our family pictures taken. It's always better to have a little color, right?! We used the same fabulous photographer that did Brooke's 3 thru 12 month pics that I ADORE!

Remember these??








We were certainly pleased yet again with Mandy Paige Photography. I don't want to show my faves, as they will be used for Christmas cards. But these were the runner-ups...

Football Weekend

The Goshorn Brothers had a memorable weekend of football!
Andy's cousin, Jack, is a Lt. Colonel in the Air Guard and is in charge of most of the fly-overs you see at any events around the tri-state area. Along with these fly-overs come tickets to the event. He could not use his tickets this weekend so Andy, the boys and I were lucky enough to attend...

THE BEARCATS at Nippert Stadium!

It was a perfect night for football - we didn't even put jackets on 'til after halftime and it was an 8pm game! This was the boys first college football game and they loved the atmosphere, the excitement, pre-game band, fireworks...and, of course, they already know the UC Cheer...

Ooooh...Ooooh...Ooooh...bum, bum, bum, bum...UC!
Including motions, I might add. Their mother was a cheerleader, remember?

We made it to the end of the 3rd quarter and headed for home. We made it there in time to get the already-asleep boys in bed and watch the Bearcats pull out another victory. Still undefeated!


Jack and Dad pre-game


Will lovin' the giant Bearcat


No event is complete for Will without Popcorn!

Today, we had Grandparents Goshorn and Great-Grandpa Sweemer over for the Bengals game. We had a big pre-game meal and then enjoyed the WIN on the big screen. Jack is really into the games this year and we get a big kick out of his "play-by-play."

All of our teams - Bengals, OSU and UC - got wins this weekend. Between that and this beautiful weather, it doesn't get much better!

God Love Nordstrom

We treked to Kenwood tonight (one of my favorite places on earth) to look for a few things.
We all walked down to the new Nordstrom that just opened in September. Can I say how proud I was of my boys who LOVED the shoe department??!! Just gets me right in the heart...

Anyway...

I noticed a sign in the store window before we entered Nordstrom and it read something like this:

"We will not be decking our halls here at Nordstrom until November 27th. We believe in celebrating one holiday at a time. Happy Thanksgiving!"

AMEN!

I knew it was right to love this store...now I love it even more.
Save your Christmas trees and garland 'til after my Thanksgiving dinner has been eaten and has put me to sleep.

And that is all I have to say about that.

What I Miss About Florida

Seeing this cute little thing walking around the pool.


I love you, Baby Girl!

Will on Wednesdays - Edition 1

Seems like I write about Will and his funny Will-isms once a week so I am starting my own blog carnival (I am BIG TIME now!)...

WILL ON WEDNESDAYS

As we are driving home today from Jack's school I noticed in the take-home flyer that the school is sponsoring a food drive for the month of November.

Ahh-Hah! Teachable Moment!

After my 10 minute dissertation on how it is nice to give to those who do not have anything, we are lucky, it is like sharing, blah..blah..blah..the moral of my talk was:

1. Some people are homeless - they have no place to live.
2. Some people have no food to eat.
3. Some people have nothing to clean themselves with.
4. We need to help.

Thus, we will donate food, soap and toothpaste to the food drive. Jack agrees.
Will says the following:

"Yeah. I will help Aunt Julie. You guys can help the rest. She needs toothpaste."



See this beautiful woman with my kids? She is homeless, has no food and has no toothpaste.
Please help her. We love her.

The Leaves of Change

I was so surprised at how the boys really noticed fall this year. When we got back from Florida all the boys could talk about were the colors outside, the leaves and the beautiful trees. The leaves of change...in more ways than one!

The boys have been asking when they could jump in piles of leaves. While Brooke slept yesterday afternoon the boys and I had fun outside. Here they are in their first leaf fight this fall...I am sure more to come!


Jumping for joy!


Jack...just about to get it!


Will loved every minute of it!


Hip-hip-hooray!


All they kept saying was "Hiiiggghhhh Yah!

Halloween 2009

"Justice" prevailed! We had a wonderful time in Fishers trick-or-treating with our crew. Grandparents Goshorn drove up for the festivities and several of my sister's friends and their families came to celebrate the evening with us.

Here are the Goshorn Heroes before their night of fighting crime...against candy stealers!


The "Justice League"
Brooke never minded the headband (shocker) and Cade squealed when Stacy put on his mask - he loved it!


The beautiful Austin Family - thanks for a fun night!


Here is the entire gang, including a life-size Spiderman and the return of "The King!"


Will was happy to flex his muscles to anyone and was overheard asking many times
"Do I look cool?"


This is Brooke's "Don't mess with me - I'm Wonder Woman" look.
Many thanks to Godmother Julie for finding the costume!


Please notice Baby Cade in this picture...he ate more candy last night than my kids ever have...COMBINED! Every time we turned around he had a new sucker in his mouth!

All the kids had a great time. Highlights:
*Jack's mask was drenched with sweat upon his return...and it was 50 degrees or less outside.
*When we FINALLY found Will's costume Friday morning, after 3 stops and 20 mins. before Jack's school party started, we put it on right in the store and Will shouted
"Yes! That's what I'm talkin' about!"
*Brooke never ate any candy...she just sucked on the wrappers. She already knows a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips. Can't say the same for Mommy...

Hope you all had a great Halloween!