The Race . . . .

Every year we get together with our great friends the H's and the G's for a Back to School party. We eat, have a Get Ready For School relay race, and pray over our kids for the upcoming school year. When we first started this 6 years ago we only had 5 kids between us, we now have 10 kids between us! The relay race is one of the highlights of the evening. They start out and have to eat breakfast which is usually half a waffle or something easy, then they have to get dressed for school (usually a t-shirt over the clothes they are already wearing), then they have to pack their backpacks, put it on and touch the fence. This year only the big boys and Caleb, one of the younger boys, wanted to participate. Blaine won! Caleb was a great sport even though he was really last!

Today

Here is today's picture of Nicole walking to her new school . . . 2008.

First Days of School

2004

2005

2006

2007

Every year I take a picture of Nicole walking beside me on the way into school . . .

Today

2008 6th Grade

First Days of School

2004

2005

2006

2007

And . . . .

When Does School Start?!

I LOVE having my kids home and being able to be a little liesurely in the morning, go and do fun stuff, get to bed a little later, and just be bums. Our summer has been so good! The kids have played well together and just had their usual little spats. But this past week has been AAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!! Especially the two boys! They have been wrestling, chasing, tearing up, and being so ornery! This is usually how it goes: C says, "Hey E want to wrestle?" E says, "Sure!" They wrestle for a maximum of 2 minutes before I hear from E, "WWWAAAAAAUUUHHHHH!!! He hit me!" I say, "Where did he hit you?" E says, "Right dere." I say, "CONNER! Play gentle with him, he's only 3!" C says, "But Mom I barely touched him!" Then after a few rounds of this same scenario I got smart and watched them a little closer. E was doing it because he knew it would get C in trouble! The little stinker! I wasn't giving him enough credit. So, all that to say that I never wanted to be one of those moms who wished their kids went back to school, but this past week I can't wait till they go back to school!

The Chapman Family

What an amazing family. Thank you God for such a wonderful example of faith during such a dark time. God is good all the time.  Go to www.stevencurtischapman.com to be blessed.

Avery's Birth Father is that You?

I was watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies and it struck me that one of these men could be "the one." It's a tad far fetched, I know, but what if . . . ? That last picture is not of the opening ceremonies. I saw it the other day and thought it was unreal. Does it look like a human toilet or what? I think it would need to be pretty stinkin' hot for me to have to cool off in that. How on earth do you lifeguard a pool that size with that many people in it?
Back to the opening ceremonies. I have them on the DVR and have only watched a short part of them, but they are amazing! I am just in awe of the technology and creativity involved. There are a ton of people there and I'm not one much for crowds, and I would not want to be there, but I would - make sense?
Enjoy the games!

Legos in My Laundry

 

This is a sample of what I find in my laundry almost every time Conner's clothes are in the dryer. I find Lego pieces or fully formed "guys." He's always had something in his pocket or in his hand, some sort of toy or just anything. I know there will come a day when I don't find Legos in the laundry and I will remember this. He's such a great kid and I don't mind that he doesn't clean out his pockets. Now that he's older he occasionally leaves $$ in his pants and the rule is that if I find it, it's mine!

My First Born Daughter

 

 

 

Some of the things that come out of Nicole's mouth are just priceless . . .
A few years ago we were in Mardels' parking lot. I was pregnant with Ethan and told Nicci that I needed to use the restroom. She said, "Good. I do too, dat because my bottom's eating my panties."
The other day I just had Nicole and Carlie with me and was putting Carlie in the stroller. I said, "You two are my best girls!" Nicci said, "Are we gooder than the boys?"
Then today she was a tad upset that I hadn't pierced her ears when she was a baby. She is scared to get her ears pierced now and thought that if I had already done it and she had started to cry then I could've just put a pacifier in her mouth and it would've been over with.

Fishin'

A few weeks ago the kids stayed at my Aunt Mary and Uncle Gary's house while Lyndal and I did reunion stuff. My Aunt and Uncle have a well stocked pond behind their house with catfish and perch in it, so it was very easy to grab a pole, some worms, and go fish. Ethan loved it and caught a fish every time he stuck his pole in the water. One time Ethan was yelling about a sea snake (he'd seen a picture of one in a book about marine life) and Uncle Gary was thinking there was no snake down there. Sure enough when Uncle Gary looked down there was a little snake trying to take the fish off of Ethan's line! Ethan still talks about fishing at "Uncle Aunt Mary's House!"
Thanks Uncle Gary for taking Ethan fishing!

 

 

 

Movin' On Up!

 

 

 

 

Our poor sweet pool finally bit the dust this summer after 5 very good years. We tried everything to save it. It started with the duct tape, good ole duct tape. When that wouldn't work we tried another stand by, a two by four. Nothing we tried was going to stop the breaking. Lyndal found a good deal on Amazon (we love Amazon) and had it shipped to us. The new pool is beautiful and we feel rich.

Welcome Home!

I know that this isn't what this is about . . . this is about these two guys who rescued a lion cub and had to release it into the wild. They went to try and find the lion who is now the head of his own pride. The lion recognizes them and embraces them and loves on them like they are long lost sons, he even introduces them to his wife. It occurred to me that maybe this is what our Father will do when we get to heaven.

Messy Baby

 

 

You know those biter biscuit things? Well, I guess every child has them (practices on them, uses them - whatever the term is) and mine are no different. Carlie seems to be such a dainty, quiet, little thing, but the other day I gave her one of these things and went to do a few dishes. When I turned around she looked like this. Too funny and headed to the bath tub.

Omelette This One Slide

While I was doing this . . .

 

. . . I did this.