Days with the Davis'

December 2010 Highlights

2011-07-20T20:19:00.003-04:00

1. WE ARE HAVING A GIRL!!

2. Cody was part of a recital the Clifton's held.

October 2010 Highlights

2011-07-20T20:13:00.003-04:00

1. Chloe turns 5!

2. We went to Winchester for some family fun and apple pickin.

3. The annual Pelt and Davis West VA trip took place.

4. The boys ran the fun run in DC and then we went over to the American Indian Museum.

September 2010 Highlights

2011-07-20T20:09:00.003-04:00

1. Jonathan was commissioned as a Pastor.

2. He went to Indo for a mission trip.

3. The Clifton's and our crew went hiking at Lake Anna.

August 2010 Highlights

2011-07-20T20:04:00.003-04:00

1. Our family along with the Dowker's took a trip to the beach.

2. Cody went on his first big mission trip to Canada.

July 2010 Highlights

2011-07-20T19:58:00.002-04:00

1. Jonathan and I found out we were expecting a little one. (We did not share the news at first.)

2. We held our annual July 4th party.

3. The kids and I ventured into DC to the Newseum.

pointing to a Taiwan newspaper

May 2010 Highlights

2011-07-20T19:55:00.002-04:00

1. Cody turned 12!

2. Ashes, the kitty, joined our family.

3. Cody made the All Star team.

April 2010 Highlights

2011-07-20T19:49:00.003-04:00

1. Kale turns 9!

2. We met my sister and the boys in DC for some fun.

3. Jennifer Clifton used her amazing talents for our family photos.

4. Chloe cut her hair and donated it to Locks of Love.

5. The Davis' and Clifton's enjoyed some fun at Alum Springs Park.

6. Cody began his baseball season.

7. Our family once again, enjoyed TVR!

March 2010 Highlights

2011-07-20T19:39:00.004-04:00

1. Keegan turns 10!

2. Jonathan and I celebrated 15 years of marriage!

3. The kids meet the nephews.

4. Keegan began playing Challenger baseball.

February 2010 Highlights

2011-07-20T19:29:00.003-04:00

1. Henry Slade and Jackson Matthew were born on February 19!!

2. Our first Disney trip! (Another blog post for this one later.)

3. Lots and lots of snow ending with no power and a hotel stay.

January 2010 Highlights

2011-07-20T19:24:00.002-04:00

1. Aunt Wendy had a shower for the twins.

2. Our family went in the freezing cold to see the Festival of Lights in Richmond.

3. Our family along with the Clifton's and Wires went to the Air and Space Museum.

June 2011 Highlights

2011-07-18T23:27:00.004-04:00

1. Chloe graduated from Riverview preschool.

2. Chloe had her first pedicure. (And we learned she will NOT let a male do it.)

3. Chloe lost her first 2 teeth (naturally).

4. We went on a vacation to NC to Papa's and the beach house (with the Dowker's).

May 2011 Highlights

2011-07-18T23:20:00.004-04:00

1. I became the parent of a teenager as Cody turned 13!!!

2. Keegan began baseball this month.

3. We surprised Jonathan's mom on Mother's Day.

4. Sadly, I went back to work.

5. We went to Williamsburg.

6. We had family photos done.

April 2011 Highlights

2011-07-18T23:12:00.003-04:00

1. Kale turned 10! All the boys are now double digits!

2. Cody was inducted into the NJHS.

3. I had my gall bladder removed.

4. PCLG launched on Easter.

5. PCLG held a block party at the town center.

6. We went to Maymont for a family fun day.

National Junior Honor Society

Maymont Park

March 2011 Highlights

2011-07-18T23:01:00.003-04:00

1. Kinsley Blake was born!

2. Keegan turned 11!!

3. Jonathan and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary!! (which led to #5!!)

4. Riverview friends gave Kinsley a baby shower.

5. I had a gall bladder attack.

6. We made a trip to NC to see Jonathan's family a week after Kinsley was born.

February 2011 Highlights

2011-07-18T22:54:00.002-04:00

1. Henry and Jackson's 1st Birthday!!!

2. Superbowl with the Clifton's at Greene Turtle.

3. We had confirmation that Keegan has epilepsy.

4. Baseball began for Cody.

January 2011 Highlights

2011-07-18T22:44:00.003-04:00

So, since I have been horrible at blogging but realize the importance of this blog, I am going to do highlights for each month. I am randomly beginning with January 2011. The highlights are in NO particular order, just events from our lives for that month:)

1. MANY snow days which we ALL love!

2. I sprain my ankle.

3. Cody made All District Band!!

4. Pillar Church Locust Grove kicked off Sunday mornings.

5. WE celebrated Christmas with my sister, Matt, and the boys!!

Birth day arrives:)

2011-07-03T20:53:00.004-04:00

Kinsley Blake

March 16, 2011

6 lbs 10 ozs

19 inches

5:28 pm

Kinsley made a grand entrance into the world al little early. I had a gall bladder attack during the wee hours of March 6. At 4 in the morning, Jonathan, the kids, and myself headed to MWH to see what was going on. They quickly determined I was having an attack and needed pain meds. I was extremely dehydrated so it was VERY difficult to get an IV in me. Eventually they did and the rest of the day is kind of blurry. They kept me 2 nights to make some decisions. My OB doctor wanted Kinsley out while the high risk doctor (more so for baby) wanted her to stay in. So after going home and continuously throwing up my doctor asked for an amnio. So the following Tuesday (March 15) I went to have an amnio in the morning. After lots of tears due to the doctor scaring us, we realized there was another issue. My fluid was VERY low. He said she needed to be out NOW! We followed up with my OB that afternoon and she gave us instructions to get our stuff together and head over to MWH to get the show on the road. So we picked up kids from school and headed to hospital. I had to be induced over night. Late that night, the OB (a different one) decided I had pre-eclampsia and started me on magnesium. This stuff was BAD!!

The next morning MY OB came in and I was a mess. She felt really bad and went to talk to another doctor. They both agreed that they did not think I was pre-eclampsia and took me off those meds. By lunch, she was returning to break my water. I slept on and off all morning. I did have an epidural before the doctor came back. My water broke on its own while she was there so they cranked up the meds to get things moving quicker. The kids and mom came in that afternoon along with my sister. My OB came back right after 5 and I was beginning to feel the urge to push. so she said, let's do it! We were cracking jokes during the delivery. It was by far, the EASIEST (and quickest) delivery I have ever had. It felt very natural and I knew what I needed to do. Kinsley came into the world screaming and was perfectly healthy. This was a big deal since she was 3 weeks early. She was laid right on my chest and it was so sweet. I was never allowed to hold the boys so early. Jonathan and I enjoyed our sweet baby girl for a bit before the kids came in. They were super excited to meet their new sister. We were eventually moved to another room where we hung out for the next several days. Both Kinsley and I needed some extra attention afterwards. We were finally able to go home on Saturday.(I had my gall bladder removed at the end of April! )

Pregnancy and crutches

2011-01-23T20:10:00.002-05:00

I have always wanted crutches . . .maybe I should have changed that thought for when I am old and pregnant. Yesterday, I was walking out the door to crank the car and slipped on the steps and twisted my foot. Thankfully, I did not fall completely down and was able to catch myself. Kale and Keegan quickly jumped into action and pushed a chair where I could sit, then ran and got Jonathan. They were screaming, "Mom's hurt!". Jonathan came running to find me in lots of pain and bawling! He helped get me to the couch where he examined my foot. After deciding I needed to have it checked out, we headed off to Spotsy Hospital. Due to the location of the pain, the doctor thought there could be a fracture in the bone of my foot so he ordered x-rays. Thank goodness, there was no fracture just a sprained foot. The nurse wrapped my foot and sent me home with drugs and crutches. I've never used crutches so this was an interesting experience especially when I have a huge belly in front. I kept my foot propped and iced and before bed was able to walk some without the crutches. I have gone all today walking on my own. However, I was already moving slowly due to the above mentioned belly and now I am moving slower. Hopefully in the next few days, the foot will all be healed and I can move a little faster. And I no longer have the want to use crutches:)

Family of 6 is becoming family of 7

2011-01-18T12:32:00.002-05:00

At the end of July, Jonathan and I took a home pregnancy test which came back positive. We were quite excited, but not ready to share the news yet so we sat on it. This was very difficult to do. After a couple of weeks, we told the kids and they also had to sit on it until we were past the 12 week mark. They did a great job keeping the secret! At the end of September we began to share the news that we were expecting a new little one in April 2011. We could not be more excited!!

Jonathan and the kids wanted to know the sex of the baby while I didn't. However, after reading about a Christmas present idea on a blog, I decided to surprise everyone on Christmas Eve. At a sonogram at the beginning of December, I had the lady put the picture and news in a envelope that we would open later. I did tell Jonathan I had the envelope, but not the kids.

On Christmas Eve, we opened the envelope to discover we are having a GIRL!!! I was in shock and Chloe was ecstatic to have a sister. She is all about sharing her room with her baby sister. So, Kinsley is due April 7. Everything has gone great so far and she is growing right on target. We are very ready to meet her!!!

New Beginnings 2011

2011-01-18T12:30:00.002-05:00

So everyone keeps reminding me I need to blog since I sort of quit. So, I decided with the new baby coming and wanting to document all the things our family does, I would attempt to do this again. I hate not being able to look back at 2010 and see all the things we have done so I may attempt to fill in some gaps there as well. So, here's to new beginnings. . . .

CWAC Story Hour with Annie Garman

2010-06-29T16:58:00.000-04:00

Pillar S.T.O.R.M. Event 2010

2010-06-29T16:49:00.000-04:00

Pillar of Locust Grove Baptism

2010-06-29T16:33:00.000-04:00

Chloe's Donation

2010-04-09T20:30:00.004-04:00

Much to everyone's dismay, Chloe had her long locks cut. She was able to donate several pony tails to the Locks of Love.

December happenings

2009-12-19T20:23:00.003-05:00

Brief summary:
1. Cody had his first band concert. It was a great success and he did well.
2. Jonathan's birthday in Charlottesville
3. Jonathan painted our bedroom for my birthday. It looks super!!
4. Jonathan and the boys were home ALL day for 3 Saturdays in a row.
5. Chloe and I had a girls only date for lunch and shopping. She was very excited that there were NO boys and that we were shopping. She did not want to stop.
6. I decided to work at blogging again:)) Thanks for all the "gentle" reminders from everyone.

Blizzard 2009

2009-12-19T19:43:00.004-05:00

The snow began about 6:00 last night and it is currently still snowing. We have over 2 feet of snow!!

Christmas Tree

2009-12-06T20:02:00.000-05:00

We did our normal and went and chopped down 2 Christmas trees. It has snowed the day before so it was messy and cold.

First Snow

2009-12-05T19:55:00.001-05:00

We were suppose to go get our Christmas tree today, but the weather has a different thought. It began to snow not long after we got up and continued most of the day. We enjoyed chilling at home!!

Jonathan's Birthday

2009-12-04T19:51:00.000-05:00

The kids and I took off from school to go with Jonathan and Chloe to Charlottesville. They went to a doctor's appointment and the boys and I hung out at a children's mueseum. We then went to see Blindside. It was a great day!!

Thanksgiving in NC

2009-11-28T19:59:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving play

2009-11-26T20:36:00.000-05:00

We had Thanksgiving at the Clifton house with many friends. The kids did a play about the celebration.

CWAC opened

2009-11-01T20:30:00.000-05:00

Coffee with a Cause opened the doors.

Snapper Mower

2009-10-24T20:50:00.000-04:00

Papa decided Cody needed a mower and so he got him one as a surprise. Both Cody and Keegan are enjoying it.

Camping with the Childers

2009-09-06T21:09:00.000-04:00

We went camping at the Occoneechee State Park. It was really nice and we had a fun time!!

Cow N Corn

2009-08-03T21:30:00.000-04:00

A whole crew of us went with our kiddos to Cows n Corn. It was very hot, but with a nice breeze we survived and the kids had a super time. We would like to go back to the fall events.

Papa visit

2009-08-02T21:20:00.000-04:00

Papa came to visit and hang out with us before we go back to school. We visited the air mueseum and Frying Pan Park. It was fun!!

Papa dress

2009-08-01T21:05:00.000-04:00

My dad bought Chloe this beautiful dress all by himself!! I was quite impressed with his choice as was Chloe.

My baby boy turns 8!!

2009-04-20T15:51:00.002-04:00

Kale turned 8 today!! It is hard to realize my boys are growing up so fast. Kale chose to just hang with the family for his day. He wanted to eat at Cici's, get ice cream, and go to Funland. We did Cici's and ice cream, but will have to do Funland another time. We had a card with money on it, but the card got left at home. He also went to Target to pick up a flag football set and a few pair of shorts. Nana Jo and Nama had sent money and Papa had money at the bank for Kale. He had plenty to spend and even saved some.

Kale has always been and continues to be a VERY laid back boy. Not much phases him!! He loves all his grandparents, but he has a very special relationship with Papa. I believe it is because he is sooooo much like Papa and Uncle Marvin. He would move to his house and never blink an eye at home. He likes Papa'a laid back life, fishing, naps, and piddling around. He is a bright boy with tons of book sense. We often are not sure about his common sense, but the SCOPE teacher keeps reminding me most gifted chldren do not have common sense. So, we are feeling like he is probably VERY VERY VERY gifted!!!!! He loves to play football and is pretty good. However, he has a bad temper and often ends up letting his temper get in the way. He is working on it and we have seen some small improvements. Kale loves his sister and would do anything for her. Kale loves his brothers and generally will help them out when needed. They have the typical brother relationships. We love Kale and can't wait to see what his future holds!! Happy birthday, Kale Jonathan!!

Spring Break

2009-04-15T15:43:00.000-04:00

During Spring Break, we put hardwoods down in living room, hallway, and kitchen. We began on Monday, worked Tuesday, took a break Wednesday and Thursday, and then finished up on Friday and Saturday. Naethan, Ben, and Clint were big helps with this project. The floors look really nice! We still have a few projects to complete in the kitchen, but the big projects are done.

For our break, we headed to West Moreland State Park with two other families. Our kids love hanging out with the Pelt and Clifton kids and were very excited to spend 2nights with them. We really liked this state park and will visit again to hike and stay. All 3 families ended up with different cabins, but close to each other. The kids enjoyed being able to run back and forth to each cabin. We hiked to fossil beach to find shark teeth. The hike was great and we even found a few teeth. Next stop was George Washington's birth place. It was beautiful!! We walked around and looked at all the houses and such. Our final event of the day was a game of kickball. This was lots of fun and we realized we are all very competitive. Each family had different meal responsibilities and no one let anyone down. The meals were fabulous!! We can't wait to do this again.

Spring break came and went in a flash. The good thing about that is it means school is lots closer to being done!! Woo-hoo!!!

Papa's visit

2009-04-03T15:33:00.000-04:00

I had a workday so Papa came up for a visit. He picked the boys up from school on Thursday and they had ice cream (imagine that??). Chloe and I met them and Jonathan for dinner later that evening. The next day, Papa took the boys to the NRA museum and a few other places. Wendy came up on Friday night and stayed with us. Papa had won a karaoke machine and brought it up for us. The kids had fun singing and performing on TV. On Saturday, we ate breakfast at Panera then headed to find some fun. Mary Washington was having a cultural event so we headed there. The kids enjoyed the different displays and running around. It was nice out. Next stop was Ferry Farm. We did not stay long as Keegan was having some sort of allergic reaction adn needed medicine. After some great meds, we went into town to eat lunch. We ran a few more errands and then headed home. It was a full day!! Wendy had to head back home and Papa needed a nap. We cooked out and had a good dinner while the kids played. Papa ventured back home on Sunday morning. The kids had tons of fun, but are always sad to see Papa leave. They can't wait until summer to head to Bayboro:))

Keegan Daniel

2009-03-23T22:23:00.003-04:00

On March 12, Keegan turned 9. It is amazing to look back at his last 9 years and to look where he is now. His character is one of a kind and his personaltiy shines in everything he does. He has come so far in life with the challenges that were before him. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for the rest of his life. Whatever it is, Keegan will be up for the challenge. We love you buddy and are very proud of you!!

Granddaddy and Nana Jo visit

2009-03-20T15:24:00.002-04:00

Grandaddy and Nana Jo came up for a visit and we decided to get Grandaddy to help out with a few projects. Friday night, we hit Lowes to get materials for the project. On Saturday, we began with McDonald's for breakfast and then Nana Jo, the kids, and I were off to a different Lowes to pick up more stuff. While there, Lowes was having a kids project of building a water gauge. So the boys (with LOTS of help from a GREAT employee) completed this project. They enjoyed the tool aprons and goggles more:) Then we came home with the needed items for Jonathan and Grandaddy. We left them to work and went to town to eat lunch and shop. The boys found some treasures at 5 and Below. Next stop was Happy Hour at Sonic. Final stop at Dollar General to get Chloe (who was at home asleep) a gift. Upon returning home, the men had done quite a bit. Before bedtime th ey finished up and. . . we now have a microwave above the stove, new lights in kitchen, new light and celing fan in living room and new light above desk. It looks SUPER and we are very excited to have these projects done!!! Thanks Nana Jo and Grandaddy!! The boys and Chloe had lots of fun seeing the grandparents and were sad to see them go Sunday morning. Hopefully we will see them again soon.

Chloe funnies!

2009-03-19T19:55:00.004-04:00

Sorry about the quality of picture. It was with my phone and the easiest way to take one quickly.

Jonathan has had a fake puppy since he was little. It is a HEAVY sort of rock style puppy. Chloe has recently discovered this puppy. She totes around her puppy and pets him and talks to him. She wants him to sleep in the bed with her and covers the dog up because he is cold. As soon as we get home each day, she runs to get her puppy. It is really cute, but she is NOT getting a real one:)

Last week we were at Chick Fil A (big shocker). I was on my way home and we stopped to pick up dinner. Well, the cow was outside and I said, look there's the cow as I rolled her window down. She proceeded to scream at the top of her lungs for the window to go up and no cow. I know I am cruel, but it was very funny. All the way home, I'd roll the window down and say there's the cow and she would scream. The next day on the way to school, the boys wondered what would happen if we rolled window down. Well, she screamed again. In fact, over a week ago this happen, but she still screams and whines when I mention Chick fil a or saw there's the cow. Since we eat at Chick fil a way too often, this could present a serious problem.

Aunt Wee Wee and Uncle Matt

2009-03-07T22:05:00.000-05:00

A few weekends ago, we headed to my sister's house in Maryland on a Friday night. We hung out that night and after the kids went to bed, I enjoyed playing the Wii Fit while Matt and Wendy enjoyed laughing at me. Jonathan was finishing a paper for school. The next morning, we went to an Amish place for breakfast. It is such a neat place to eat and look around. Next stop was Sandy Point near the Bay Bridge. It was a little cool outside, but beautiful. The kids enjoyed running free, skipping rocks, writing in the sand, and just having time with Wendy and Matt. There is a neat jetty that is made to walk on; Wendy and Matt stayed back with Keegan as there was no way he was going out there. Then we heading downtown to Annapolis to walk on the waterfront. Wendy and Matt were married here almost two years ago which was about two weeks after Chloe came home. It was funny to see her in the park now compared to then. She has changed lots. After eating lunch, we went back to their house and rested (or at least I did). Wendy and Keegan made his birthday cake (pictures of that to follow soon). Jonathan and I went out to a seafood restuarant on the water for our anniversary and then to a few shops. We headed home early to tuck the kids in bed. It was now Jonathan's turn to play Wii Fit. The next morning, Wendy cooked a good breakfast and we headed to church. It was lots of fun!! Thank you guys; I know we are a loud crowd!

Life

2009-03-03T15:40:00.006-05:00

It has been awhile and when it has been I like to play catch up, so here goes. . .

*Cody read the book Inkheart while Jonathan listened to it on CD. Then he took all the boys to the movies to see it. Both agreed the movie was NOTHING like the book. Chloe and I went shopping while they were at the movies. It was a fun night.
*For family night we went to Suessuical at a local church. It was put on by CYT. The kids really liked it. The Little Mermaid is coming in May and I hope to take Chloe.
*This week we have enjoyed two snow days at home. It snowed around 6 inches and made for lots of fun.
*We went on a hike on the trail near our house. It is lengthy, but a very nice hike with many streams and creeks. I was able to take many pictures and the kids were prepared for the hike with magnifying glasses, snacks, and water. Chloe enjoyed walking and riding on dad's back.
*Papa challenged Kale to not get his hair cut. Kale made it until a couple of weeks ago. Jonathan and I had been ready for it to be cut for awhile, but had not had time. Kale began to complain about his hair as well. So he lost the bet with Papa, but we are all glad to have lost the shaggy boy.

Life has, as always, been fun and busy and this is our slow time of the year. The boys are all doing well in school. Chloe loves her new sitter and friends. We recently attended a middle school orientation for Cody. It is VERY hard to believe that next year he will be in middle school. He will no longer be with me at my school. Cody is growing up so fast. Chloe will join us next year for preschool at Riverview. She can attend 2, 3, or 5 days. I'd like her to go for 3, but it depends on transportation right now. I am excited for her to be at school. Keegan has an addiction to all electronics. He would play the Wii or watch TV or on the computer all day if we let him. He is growing straight up; not out and eats like a horse. Kale continues to excel in school and has qualified for SCOPE for next year. He is excited about that. The boys will be joining the swim team in our neighborhood this summer. I think it will be a great way to meet friends and have fun. Practices will just add to the craziness of life since I'm pretty sure they practice most days.

I changed the background as March begins birthday season around here. Keegan will be 9 next week, followed by Kale turning 8 in April, and Cody turning 11 in May. Let the fun begin. . .

iHeartFaces

2009-02-24T18:32:00.003-05:00

I read about a photo contest on a friends blog and decided to check out the contest. After reading about it, I decided to join the contest. The hard part was figuring out which photo to use:( So, we'll see and maybe I'll do more of these; there is a contest each week.

Book Break

2009-01-31T15:57:00.003-05:00

After reading about this book on the Toole blog, I wanted to read the book. Thanks to a blog tour, I was able to have the book sent to me and all I had to do was read it and write about the book. I love to read so I was quite excited. So here goes. . .

Jeanne Damoff writes this true story about a near drowning of one of her children and how it changes their entire world. She talks boldly about her faith, her doubt, the troubles that are created from the accident, her family, and her personal feelings throughout the story. Her community never leaves this family hanging from the smallest issues to huge ones.

I cried from beginning to end. This is an amazing book!! I liked at the end how the people in the story wrote where they are now and how Jacob changed them. I would recommend reading this book to anyone. It will touch every part of you. You can find it on Amazon.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-28T06:03:00.000-05:00

Making cookies

2009-01-02T08:44:00.000-05:00

Papa and Keegan scrap

2009-01-01T19:59:00.005-05:00

Annual tree cutting event

2009-01-01T08:42:00.001-05:00

2008-12-31T08:07:00.002-05:00

This year for Christmas we did something different. We have friends who create a scavenger hunt for their kids to find the gifts. Well, since the kids had big outdoor items, we thought it might be good to have a hunt. After opening the gifts inside, they found a note from Santa. It told them to put on a coat and shoes then go to the backdoor to wait for instructions. Chloe had the first clue, followed by Keegan, then Kale, and last Cody. They could only open a clue if all 4 of them were at the spot. It all led to the church trailer which Jon opened. Inside they found Chloe's jeep, Keegan and Kales's bikes, and Cody's DS. Now, let me say, Cody had already found his DS. Kale had been sick throughout the night and had ended up in our room on the floor. When Keegan and Cody got up, they came to our room also. We were not quite ready to get up yet since we had not slept much. As it got lighter, I heard some discussion about some sort of game. It suddenly dawned on me, I had plugged Cody's DS into the outlet to charge and they were looking right at it. I was VERY upset. I wanted him to be surprised along with the others. Oh, well, he was very excited. Anyway, they had a super day with Papa, Aunt Wendy, and Uncle Matt. They look forward to receiving Papa's gift each year--a gift card to Dollar Tree--and he did not fail them. They love to go shopping there with their money. The bow and arrows were big hits. The weather being so nice helped with the outside rides. They rode lots throughout the day in their jammies. Chloe preferred to have Keegan drive her around and he was more than happy to oblige. It was a wonderful day spent with family!

Christmas Digi Scrapping

2008-12-30T21:49:00.005-05:00

I did these 4 pages today of the kids from Christmas. Once I get going, I really get going!!!

Papa and Keegan cook

2008-12-30T09:54:00.000-05:00

PS The pie did not turn out too well. Papa blamed it on my electric stove. He uses a gas stove and says it heats differently:0)

2008-12-29T19:47:00.002-05:00

Pillar Church did a kids choir/musical this year of the Christmas Story. Cody played Joseph; Keegan was an announcer and had to say "Hear Ye, Hear Ye" three times. He did an outstanding job!! Kale was also an announcer who had to tell everyone the king had issued a decree (and a little more). And Chloe sang the first and last song in the kids choir. She knew all the other songs as well. We practiced often in the car; so much so that all 4 of them pretty much knew everybody's lines. It was quite amusing to hear them go through the entire musical with only the 4 of them.

Catching up before Christmas

2008-12-26T21:07:00.003-05:00

Yes, I know I am behind again. I actually like the catching up thing; it goes so much quicker!!Let me catch you up until Christmas and then I'll do that soon and add pictures from all our Christmas activities.

*November 15 we headed to Maryland to Matt and Wendy's for Thanksgiving. Dad was already there. We ate lots of great food, laid around, went down to the water (it was rough and cold), watched football, and preetty much did nothing. It was terrific!!! We spent the night which is always fun. Wendy cooked us breakfast the next morning and then we headed to church. The boys came back with dad later that day. They were out of school the next day and he was going to hang out with them.

*For Thanksgivng, we went to the Toole's and ate with everyone from Pillar. We had a huge feast and lots of good conversation. A great time was had by all.

*On the Friday after Thanksgiving, we headed to NC with the first stop at Papa's. He cooked the normal requested shrimp--you can't even know how good it is until you taste it:) We had fun and enjoyed our time together. The next morning we headed to Nana Jo and Grandaddy's house for another round of food. It's always fun to eat, eat, talk, eat, and well eat some more. It was rainy and cold so it made for soem crazy kiddos, but they managed to have fun.

*December 5, the kids, myself and Jennifer and her kids headed to Blue's Clues Live at a local high school. It was kind of cheesy, but the kids enjoyed it. Free tickets always make things better. Next, we went back to my house and had hot chocolate and cookies before putting the kids to bed. Then Jennifer and I stayed up very late doing nothing. The next day, Jenn and I headed to town to do a little shopping (Jonathan stayed with all 7 kids!!). On the way back it began to SNOW!! I am like a little kid when it snows. I was very excited even though it was very little.

*December 14, the kids were in a musical at Pillar Church. Cody played Joseph and Keegan and Kale were Ceasar's announcers. Chloe sang in the choir. The kids were amazing and really enjoyed the experience.

*On the 19th we attended the annual Pelt Christmas party. It was a t Kelly's Ford Inn which is near our house. Becky Castle (one of the boys favorite sitters) made it back into town just in time to keep them. We enjoyed decking ourselves out for the event and hanging out with adults. As always, the Pelt's out did themselves.

Now we are up to Christmas break. Since I am home from school for the next week and all our company will have come and gone, I can catch up blogging and pictures. I'll leave you with one of the kids for now. Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

BEST Christmas present ever!!

2008-12-23T16:53:00.005-05:00

Is this a Chloe face or what??

We received a package today from our adoption agency. Inside was a small sketch book with her footprints at birth, photos of Chloe from when she was 2 wks and up, and notes to Chloe from a few different people. The notes were written in Chinese so we will have to find someone to translate, but it is so precious. There was also a CD with hundreds of pictures from near birth all the way to Gotcha Day!! There are several pictures of her birth mother and other people that we are not sure who are. We can easily tell her birth mother--she looks just like her!! There are pictures with her and the gifts we sent. We have asked many times for these pictures and had given up getting these so we were very excited!! I will post more later.

PS After "opening" the CD, they have the pictures in categories. There are folders with her birth mother and they are labeled with three different visits. This will be awesome for her to see as she gets older to kow her mother came to see her at least these three different times. They also included pictures with her BM, Chloe, and the gifts her mother left for her.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-10T21:25:00.001-05:00

My kids

2008-11-26T20:14:00.003-05:00

At the grocery store today, Chloe was looking at something while I getting chocolate chips off the shelf. She says, "Mama spank my hiney" as she spanks herself. I look and it is wooden spoons she is looking at:0) (Which we do use) The lady near us started laughing.

This evening Keegan and Kale were playing a Wii game. Now you guys know Keegan and his vocabulary is . . .developing shall we say, but lately we've heard him say many funny things such as telling Kale he needed to "hustle". It was too funny.

Just a glimpse into our world . . .

Chloe's birthday

2008-11-21T22:46:00.003-05:00

I am trying to go back thru my pictures and create scrap pages as I go. So, tonight I created pages for Chloe's birthday party. I get to scrap and you get to see pictures and read about our lives. Enjoy. . .

Relaxation

2008-11-20T22:00:00.003-05:00

This is so much fun!! It is very relaxing to sit back, scrap, watch TV, chat with Jonathan, and drink hot chocolate.

Another page done

2008-11-19T22:05:00.002-05:00

Our family, the Clifton's, and the Wire's held a pumpkin party this year. The kids had a grand time with all the different activities. Here's a page that shows some of the activities.

Christmas scrapping

2008-11-17T20:35:00.002-05:00

Keegan and apple orchard

2008-11-10T21:52:00.004-05:00

I can't decide if I like this or not, but I worked too hard on it not to display it. So, here goes. . .

Playing catch up

2008-11-07T22:22:00.004-05:00

Well, let me see if I can catch everyone up on our last couple of months. . .

-a virus ran through our family minus Kale and myself (Actually, I forgot, Kale also ended up with it)
-we attended the Davis family reunion (09/13)
-we went to Hartland Orchard to pick apples (10/27)
-we attended the Homecoming football game at Massoponax (10/03)
-enjoyed the Garman sendoff concert (10/04)
-daddy came for a visit and the kids had tons of fun (10/10)
-Jonathan and I went to see Fireproof and out to eat (10/11)
-travelled to West Virginia with the Pelt's; Chloe and Cody spent the day being sick while
Jonathan, Keegan, and Kale enjoyed the train ride (10/18)
-help take photos at the Scott wedding (10/25)
-Keegan and Kale went on a field trip to Belvedere farm (10/30)
-celebrated Chloe's birthday at Chuck E. Cheese with many friends (10/30)
-pumpkin party at Clifton's house (10/31)
-Jonathan spent Election day with the kiddos; he let them make all the decisions (11/04)
-Cody went on a field trip to Pamplin Park (11/06)

Well, I think that sums it up!! I have not wanted to blog because I was so behind. Now, I can get back to regular blogging:)

Busy day doing NOTHING

2008-11-01T22:52:00.004-04:00

It has been awhile since I have blogged anything but pictures. We've been really busy and soon I'll hopefully catch our blog back up. Today, we have not been busy. We have stayed home the ENTIRE day; I am still in my jammies:) Besides washing clothes, eating, and playing we have done nothing and it feels great. I had to mess with my digiscrapping and I did accomplish a page, 2 new desktops, and organized my supplies. I have not scrapped any in a while, but I started a friend scrapping and she has inspired me to get going again. So, here are my creations from today. The first I created from scratch and the next is a quickpage (I just add a picture and title).

Happy Birthday, our 3 year old princess!!

2008-10-22T20:33:00.000-04:00

Chloe turned 3 on Sunday. We are having a birthday party in a couple of weeks for her. She was sick all weekend so it really stunk, but she was very excited to get her very own pink Leapster. Then on Monday, she received the Cinderella Leapster game and has been playing ever since. She also got a Dora game and coloring book as well as money. She had "Rella" cupcakes at school with her friends.

It is amazing to think this little princess is 3 and has been home with us for 18 months. She spent exactly 18 months at St. Lucy's and has now been with us the same exact amount of time. It seems like she has always been ours. She acts like all of us in both the good and bad ways. She talks quite a lot even though it is not always completely understandable. We will have her speech evaluated in the spring. However, she understands everything we say and has become quite a helper. She enjoys music, books, the Wii, her Leapster, playing with her brothers, and adores her daddy. It is hard to remember the times where she went crazy when he was in the house. Everyday when I take her to school, she asks for daddy to pick her up. It is really cute. We all love this girl with our entire hearts!! She is a happy little girl:)

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-22T07:26:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-15T07:23:00.001-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-08T07:22:00.001-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-01T07:20:00.001-04:00

Football season

2008-09-25T05:34:00.001-04:00

Kale began football a few weeks ago. He had his first game this past Saturday and his team kicked the other teams tail. He played many positions and did well. He really likes it and gets wound up tight to play. Pretty much every day Jonathan and the boys play football outside. Kale has quite a temper and often gets in trouble for yelling at someone about the game. We were glad to see he did not display this in the game on Saturday. Maybe it is just a brother thing.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-24T07:18:00.001-04:00

WANTED: MISSING TOOTH

2008-09-23T19:32:00.000-04:00

First, no one knocked out a tooth!! However, Kale is missing one. On Saturday morning, he said, mom I think my tooth is loose. I checked it and it was not loose, it was falling out. I barely touched it and out the tooth came. This is the first tooth he has lost and he was quite excited. It's amazing he did not swallow it since he missed the fact it was "loose".

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-10T06:52:00.000-04:00

Life in general

2008-09-08T06:36:00.001-04:00

Life in general always changes once school starts. So far, we are off to a good start this year. We've managed to cook supper every night, keep clothes washed all week (and put up), make it to bed early, and still have family time. Oh, yea and we even had football practice twice last week.

Kale started football last week. He had 2 practices and was suppose to play a game on Saturday, but Hanna had other plans. He has a game this Saturday, but we will be in NC for a reunion. He'll still have practice this week and then his games are all on Saturdays He really liked it the other times so we will see how it goes. I am not sure I am ready for the gear and all that involves. I can deal with flag football, but not sure about the rest.

Chloe is doing much better at school. She cries very little when I drop her off and one day did not cry at all. It was nice. She really likes her teacher and lately there has also been an Asian lady in her class as well. She walks right up to her and starts talking. It is too cute.

Cody is enjoying 5th grade. His teacher, Mr. Andrews, seems to be nice and Cody likes him. He has had no homework since school started. A little weird, but nice. He will joining a team for reading this year that looks neat. He loves to read and be challenged so it should be good for him.

Keegan is off to a roaring start. His teacher, Mrs. Barsanti, is wonderful. I really wanted him to have her. This is only her 3rd year of teaching, but I see teacher of the year down the road--she is GREAT!!! He uses a computer or Alphasmart for most of his written work and both of his teachers are good about letting him use it. It helps him lots to be able to focus on what he is writing instead of that and forming letters.

My year is really just beginning. Before I start working with students, I have to do lots of testing, scheduling, paperwork, and planning. I will begin to pull my students today. It looks to be a fun year, with some returning faces and many new faces.

Jonathan has been busy with school, work, and Lakeside. He is taking an English class which he detests so he puts it off as long as possible each week. This sure makes for some fun Saturdays and Sundays. Lakeside keeps him busy as well. He is constantly trying to figure out what to do next and planning sermons. Please continue to pray that we reach our neighbors and that doors in our community will open.

Keegan's new joy

2008-09-02T18:09:00.003-04:00

Recently, we have discovered that Keegan LOVES to cook. He will jump at any chance to help with dinner, breakfast, and especially cookies, brownies, and cakes. He can crack an egg easily WITHOUT any shell, measure ingredients, and mix it all up. It is really cute to watch.

The other night after dinner, Jonathan and I were sitting at the table talking. Next thing you know, Keegan is at the sink washing the dishes and loading into the dishwasher. I mean, REALLY washing the dishes. He used half a bottle of soap detergent on a few plates and cups. After he put the cups in the washer, Chloe promptly rearranged what he had done. It was driving him nuts, but it was too cute. The next day, Jonathan was getting dishes out of the dishwasher to use thinking they were clean since they looked it when he suddenly remembered the night before. We never wash off our dishes before putting in washer, so you can see his confusion.

Anyway, it is so fun to see watch as the kids grow and develop their own interest. Who knew, little Keegan would be the one to love to cook. He often does not even eat the sweet stuff:))

Small House + Many People = FUN!!

2008-09-02T17:26:00.004-04:00

Sunday night after church, we had planned to cook out with our Lakeside family. Bobby and friends, the Wire's, the Clifton's, and the Hendrix were on hand. We had lots of fun and food. The kids kept saying everyone is staying the night with us. We were all like, WHAT??! Anyway, both the Wire's and Clifton families ended up staying the night. Yes, that means, my 4 kids, +3 Wire kids, + 3 Clifton kids = 10 kids + 6 adults all in our little bitty house:))) It was so much fun and the kids had a grand time. Chloe and Ruthe shared a bed and she thought that was the best thing ever. The adults stayed up way too late especially since we knew the kids would be up early, but how often do you get to hang out like that? The next morning, Jonathan and I made pancakes, eggs, bacon, and biscuits. With full bellies, the kids then began a Wii bowling challenge. Afterwards, they went out and played and we all sat around and talked as we all messed with computers. After lunch, everyone headed out to conquer errands. We can't wait until next time:)))

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-27T13:33:00.002-04:00

New School Year

2008-08-23T07:33:00.002-04:00

I had to report back to work on Monday. As much as I love teaching, I love more being home with my kiddos. It is funny, I use to say I could never be a stay at home mama, but I've reached the conclusion that I could and would love it. Oh well, not happening, so. . .

I have enjoyed being home with the boys and Chloe this summer. We have had tons of fun. I often end the summer with feeling like I did not spend enough time with them doing fun stuff, but I must say, I do not feel that way this year. We hung out and did nothing on some days and way too much on other days, but it was great. They are so much fun to be with and I'll miss just hanging out.

School begins on Monday and they are very excited minus Chloe. She is not liking daycare. The boys have good teachers this year and hopefully all will go well. I usually have already bought all their school supplies, but this year time just got away and we still have not gone shopping yet, so we get to do it this morning--woo-hoo!!

Well, enough rambling for now

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-20T12:58:00.003-04:00

Good ending to vacation

2008-08-15T07:50:00.000-04:00

On Friday, we headed to my sister's house in Maryland. Our plan was to stay there Friday night and head home Saturday afternoon. She had tried to get all of us on the pirate cruise but everything was booked. We'll have to plan to do that later this fall. Anyway, it was fun to hang out Friday afternoon. The kids enjoyed playing ladder ball, swinging on the rope, football, and hanging with Aunt Wee Wee. Jonathan enjoyed nap time and I finished up my book. Matt arrived home and we ate supper. Then we headed to the water (they live on the Chesapeake Bay) for some fresh air. It was beautiful outside. The boys later enjoyed watching some Olympic events with Jonathan and Uncle Matt. We made the decision to stay both Friday and Saturday night.

Saturday morning, we headed to an Amish store and restaurant to eat breakfast. They both said it was really good and they were correct--it was great! The store is really neat and if we lived closer, we would easily do some shopping there. Next stop was the house to drop off Jon and Matt. They were "bonding" while Wendy and I took the kids to Solomon's Island. There was a museum there we wanted to check out. We thought it would be okay and something to do for a little while. Turns out it was an amazing place with lots to do. We had to pick and choose since time was short. First off, were the otters. The kids thought it was really cool to see the otters swim right up to them. Then along an open pier you look for things in the water. The kids saw lots of minnows and some crabs. Next, we headed to the Drum Point Lighthouse to take a tour. You could climb inside all parts and see the kitchen, bedrooms, control areas, and more. It was really neat. You even got to see the outhouse:)) Before heading inside we checked out the outdoor display of boats. There were many different types with information on how they were built and such. Finally, we went inside to check it out. There were many aquariums to see different fish, crabs, sea horses, and more. It was not crowded at all so they could take there time and get up close. There was an open area with sting rays that you could see up close. There was a kids room with dress up, a touch tank, a sail boat, a lighthouse, and more. And last, they were able to walk through and see different historic information about the area and such. It turned out to be way better than we expected. Next time, we hope to take the scenic boat ride.

After this adventure, we attempted to eat donuts at a Fractured Prunes, but it was closed. This is a definite stop next time since she has heard such good stuff about these donuts. We made our way to the North Beach area. We walked on the boardwalk and down a long pier. It was not busy and nice outside so we enjoyed just hanging out. Finally, we headed back to Wee Wee's house where Matt had cooked spaghetti for supper. After dinner, we took the kids down to the beach area to swim. There were many jelly fish out so Cody would not join in the fun. Kale and Chloe had loads of fun and enjoyed splashing around. Keegan stayed close, but enjoyed himself. Eventually it got darker and instead of getting the kids out, they played away which ended up with Kale getting stung by a jellyfish. Needless to say he was not happy. However, Nurse Wee Wee took very good care of him with medicines and ice cream. Doesn't that fix everything???

Sunday morning, Wendy cooked breakfast and then we packed and headed to Pillar for church.
All in all, it was lots of fun and we hope they survived our wild crew. We can't wait to head back up to do it again.

We had an amazing week and can't wait until next year. We are thinking about Ohio or Kentucky. Maybe I should start planning now.

FYI: This is a LONG slideshow. I did not mean for it to be, but somehow pictures I took out stayed and it was a pain to do again, so sit back and relax:))

Thursday of vacation

2008-08-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

Thursday was a big day!! We were heading to go on the Lewes-May ferry that is more like a cruise ship. The weather was beautiful (as is was the entire vacation). We boarded our ship at 10:15 on foot. We explored all 3 floors of the ship and then found some seats to just sit and relax. The ride is about one and half hours over to NJ. The kids also used those machines that turn pennies into keepsakes. When we arrived, we boarded a shuttle bus to take us into the main area. The mall area is outside and full of little quaint shops and eating spots. The area is a couple blocks from the ocean front. We found a little place to eat lunch and then walked down to the water to see the ocean. Again, it is very different from NC beaches. The kids had been asking to play putt putt, so the boys and Jonathan played although Chloe did eventually steal Jonathan's ball and putter. Then we walked around and found some sweet treats before we headed back to the shuttle bus.

The ferry this time was even bigger--there were 5 floors to explore. A playroom, snack room/restaurant, gift shop, and more were there. We found a big place on the deck where nobody was at and chilled out. The kids ran around and played and Jon and I napped. It was a relaxing afternoon.

On the way to the ferry in the morning, we had passed a creamery and we decided if it was open on the way back we stopped. It was so we did. The cows are right behind the ice cream spot and they make it right on site. Now, we eat lots of ice cream from places, but this was ABSOLUTELY THE BEST ICE CREAM EVER!!! We all tried different flavors and then Jonathan and I went back and got 2 more flavors. AMAZING!! Too bad we didn't find it sooner--we probably would have gone every day.

At camp, there was an option of hot dogs or hamburgers. Kale and Keegan opted for HD so they could cook it themselves. They played with the friend next door for a long time. Since it was the last night, they wanted to enjoy it all. After showering, we headed off to bed and all crashed. WE were exhausted.

In the morning, Jonathan and the kids went back out bike riding while I cleaned and packed to go. After I showered, I found them walking back to camp. Jonathan loaded the car up which was no easy task and we headed out.

We would definitely do this again. The place was really nice and relaxing. I would like to come back in the fall and stay there again, During the summer, I think the kids would rather camp where there is somewhere to swim. Whichever we do, we all voted to come back to Delaware again.

Wednesday of vacation

2008-08-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

At the camp, you could check out bikes to ride. So, we decided to do this and go riding for awhile. The bikes were the old school kind which made it nice. The trails were VERY nice and the kids loved it!! We rode for right past 2 hours and when we asked we found out it was close to 10 miles. It was the first time Chloe had ridden and she completely enjoyed it. We realized Kale drives like a wild man and he crashed several times, but than goodness didn't get hurt. He doesn't slow down to take turns so. . . Jonathan and Cody split with the rest of us at one point. While they were riding, Cody fell and busted up his knee. Considering what it looked like, I was impressed he made it back on the bike.

After showering, we headed out. We stopped to eat at Grotto's again. We decided to head to Dover to see what was there. The ride was nice and scenic. We arrived in downtown Dover. There was lots to see and do, but we soon discovered everything closes at 4:30 so we only had 30 minutes to explore. We opted for the state house. After being screened by security we made our way into the Senate room. The kids explored and checked it all out. Then a lady came to talk to us. She answered all the questions and then invited us back to her office. SHE happened to be a Senator. Security came to tell us we were not to be back there and we let them know we had been invited. She gave all the kids Delaware pins to wear. On the way back out, another lady stopped us and gave the kids candy. They were both really nice. There was a new statue of front so we headed around to see it. Then we walked around a bit. It was really pretty and had cooled off a bit.

On the way back to camp, we stopped and ate ice cream. Did I mention we ate ice cream EVERYDAY we were gone and sometimes more than once?!?!? Back at camp, we had chicken, corn, and cucumbers. The food was GREAT! At camp, there were more people there now. Next door, there was a family with a boy about my kiddos age. They all played together and we talked with the parents. It was a nice evening. The kids, again, made smores. After showering we headed off to bed to get ready for our big day on Thursday.

Tuesday during vacation week

2008-08-13T12:07:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, we all got up and got ready to head out. We headed to Fenwick Island at the southern tip of Delaware. It is such a different "strip" than what we are use to. It is more friendly and towny looking than Emerald Isle. There are not tons of shops with lots of junk. There are some nice jobs. In driving through Fenwick we also drove into Ocean City, Maryland. It looked like what we were use to. In Fenwick we stopped in a bookstore and a shop with treasures. There were the old fashioned candy cigarettes and lipstick candies. We let the kids get these and they thought it was so cool. Next stop was lunch at Grotto's. Apparently Delaware is quite famous for this pizza shop. After eating there we could see why. The kids ate pizza and Jonathan and I tried other entrees. It was very good, not too expensive, and the waiter was extra nice. Next up was Bethany Beach, then Rehoboth Beach. We parked and walked around a bit there, but it was VERY HOT!! All the beaches here have boardwalks right at the beach. We walked up on it and were amazed at the number of people and umbrellas we saw. You could barely see any beach it was so crowded. As we were leaving, a seagull gave Jonathan a superb present that he was so excited about;) We then drove along to the Delaware Shores State Park. You can see most of it riding so we didn't do much exploring here.

We had heard lots about a ferry that is like a mini cruise ship. It is located at Lewes so we headed down there. And yes it is like a mini cruise. (More on that later.) The kids played on the playground and we checked out the fares for later that week. It is next to Cape Hedelopen State Park. That was our next stop and the kids were very excited. They were finally going swimming. Before swimming, we visited the small nature center. It had a touch tank, all sorts of fish to look at, and more. This beach was nothing like the others we had seen. It was not super crowded and the bathhouse is so close to parking and the beach. The kids had lots of fun playing in the water even though it was very cold water. About 5:00 the lifeguards blow the whistles to get everyone out. So, we packed up and left. Little did we know until later in the week, they make you get out just to let you know that you are knowing swimming at your own risk. We could have stayed longer. Oh, well, it was fun while it lasted.

On the way back to camp, we stopped at another roadside stand to get firewood. WE also bought some Amish Apple Strudel bread for breakfast the next day. Back at camp, we cooked hot dogs for supper. The kids really like being able to cook supper on their own. For dessert, we tried a recipe some friends had shared. You cook apples over the fire and then put it in a mix to eat. It was like eating apple pie. After dinner, we all headed over to take showers. Such an experience for the kids. They couldn't believe they had to keep their flops on to shower. Then we headed off to bed since we were all quite tired from our day.

First Family Vacation

2008-08-13T11:34:00.005-04:00

Last Sunday, Jonathan, the kids, and myself left for a solid 7 nights to ourselves. This is the first time we have ever gone on a vacation with just us (Iceland and Taiwan do not count). We spent Sunday night in a motel in Annapolis. The kids always enjoy when we all sleep in the same room and there are always many giggles as we all try to go to sleep. The next morning we headed to our destination---Delaware.

We had reserved a yurt for four nights at Trap Pond State Park. I have never been camping so this was cross between a tent and a cabin. It was a beautiful park and our yurt site was in a great location. Upon checking in, the attendant made a funny face when I said we were there for the yurt. She stated all she knew of them was they were really HOT!! She also said there was an AC which I had known about. My thoughts were not good--I don't like heat. We made our way back to the yurt and unlocked the door. We were greeted with what it felt to be 100 degree temperatures. I was freaking out. We took our fans and set them up to help cool the yurt down. We then went walking through some trails to give it time to cool. A couple hours later, it was no cooler. Now, I am in serious panic mode as is Jonathan since he knows I get a little cranky when I am hot. We decide to head to town to get our meats and such to grill. Salisbury, Maryland is only 20 minutes away so we headed there to a Walmart. Upon arriving back at our yurt, we were greeted with much cooler temps. Wow, it was relief. Apparently( as we discovered over the next few days) being in the yurt during the daytime means being VERY HOT!! However, during the night it would get cool in there.

For dinner, we cooked hamburgers on the fire pit, baked beans, and corn we had picked up a roadway stand. It was delicious. There are 2 yurts and about 10 cabins back there and besides 2 guys we were the only ones there. It was nice, quiet, and peaceful. After cleaning up from dinner, we had smores. The boys cooked tons of marshmallows just for the fun of it. Keegan enjoyed finding very tiny frogs and putting these in his bug catcher. Everyone played frisbee and football on the walkway.

Jonathan and Cody drove over to the showers later. These were a little further away, but we were thankful there were latrines very nearby. At bedtime, Jonathan realized Kale's feet were pitch black. It took him about 20 wet wipes to even get them closer to being white. He likes to be barefoot so he was going everywhere like that. We all went to sleep to prepare for the next day.

New blogger has joined the world!!

2008-07-31T12:40:00.003-04:00

Cody has joined the ranks of all the others (especially Noah) and created a blog. Check it out at agent4jesus.blogspot.com

Uncharted by Angela Hunt

2008-07-31T09:50:00.005-04:00

"Uncharted" is the story of five college pals who became acquainted while working for an author to help sell his new book. Although they all feel a strong connection and develop deep friendships, after college, and divorce for a pair in the group, they go their separate ways and lead very different lives. David is the only one in the group who reads the book and takes it to heart. Eventually, he is also the one who gets them back together. Agreeing to help on a mission trip, they all have no idea of the magnitude of the adventure, hardship and harsh reality they will eventually have to face. The reader
will find several twists and surprises along the way. Wow! It is definitely a thought provoker, making you evaluate your own life. Angela also provides questions for group discussion.

I read this book over the past few days. It was very interesting and surprising at the end. I'd love for someone else to read this and tell me what they think. It is Christian fiction and I was able to check it out at the library. Let me know what you think.

Kale Tale

2008-07-23T21:58:00.003-04:00

Tonight, we went to Lifeway. There is a sale on Bibles and I have been wanting to get Kale one. We bought him a NIrV which is great for kids his age. He promptly came home and spent time looking through it. He came to ask me a question about the inside cover where it asks for your name, date, and who gave it to you. He had filled in his name and in the who gave it to you blank, he put "Lifeway". I thought that was hilarious!! Just a Kale moment. . .

Swimming!!

2008-07-23T21:10:00.001-04:00

Right past our house is the neighborhood pool. We generally have not made the best use of this great opportunity. We are attempting to make better use of it now. We went swimming this past Saturday. It was so much fun we stayed for about 3 hours. The boys are always skittish at first but eventually warm up to playing. Jonathan took Cody and worked with him on swimming, diving, and jumping off the board in the deep end. Cody has made great progress and can jump off and swim to the ladder on his own. I worked with Chloe on relaxing in the pool. She had Dora swimmies on but it took her awhile to calm down. Eventually she did and swam/floated around on her own. Her little legs moved VERY fast and she was quite excited. She did not want to get out or have anyone hold her. Next up I worked with Keegan. Amazingly he had no fear or panic so I used that to my advantage. I pushed him really hard and it paid off--he swam from one side of the pool to the other all on his own!! He was so excited!! And I was very proud of him. Kale was just enjoying playing around and going under to find a toy. He was not ready to attempt much more.

Before we left, the lifeguard asked if we had ever thought about putting our kids on the swim team. I was like what you saw is all they can swim. She said she had been watching them and they can do better than many kids on the team and we should try it. So next year I think we might give it a try. She said they work on teaching them how to swim and I figure it beats swim lessons. Swim lessons only last for a week or two. Swim team goes on for about 8 weeks so they get plenty of practice. We'll keep you up to date!

Today, I took the kids back for some more swimming. Again, Chloe swam all around. She even figured out how to float on her back and she would just laugh and laugh. Keegan swam from one side to the other several times. Cody is enjoying working on flipping and practicing his swimming. I think we are going to attempt to head over there each day to keep up their practicing.

Baseball season is over

2008-07-21T16:53:00.000-04:00

Keegan finished up today with a great (and long) game. He actually came in and scored a run. He was very excited!! He has done well although backyard ball is even better. The boy lives and breathes baseball and would play every day if he could. We'll have to see what next year holds for him.

Quantico Museum with Papa

2008-07-19T21:01:00.005-04:00

Last Friday while my dad was in town, we headed to the new Marine Museum. Before heading that way, we hit Krispy Kreme and apparently the kiddos ate WAY TOO many donuts (thanks, Dad). This was our first visit and it was really nice and not too crowded. The boys enjoyed checking out all the planes and such. It was neat and a very nice set up. Next visit, we hope to head to the Air and Space Museum at Dulles. It should be loads of fun!!

One of those things you are not suppose to let your kids do

2008-07-19T20:59:00.003-04:00

July 5th Celebration

2008-07-19T20:08:00.003-04:00

Before we even moved into our house, we began a tradition--we have a July 4th celebration here at our house. This year marked the 5th year of our fun times. We celebrate it on a Saturday close to July 4th instead of the actual day. Each year there have been new people and it is great to all hang out and have fun. We started at the house, then to the lake where the kids swam and the men played volleyball, then back home to cook hot dogs and eat ALL the food everyone had brought. The food was delicious!! The kids (and there were MANY of them) enjoy hanging out and playing in the backyard. Just as things were winding down a storm began to brew so everyone started packing up and headed out. It was lots of fun and we can't wait until next year.

Missing my boys

2008-07-15T20:59:00.002-04:00

Well, my dad came for a visit last week. He left on Monday and since Nana Jo and Granddaddy were coming on Thursday, we let Cody and Kale go back with Papa. This was a HUGE deal for me!! It is one thing when they are close by but not when they are 5 hours away. Anyway, I did good and did not even cry:)) The boys were very excited to go and we will probably have to bribe Kale to get him to come home. They have spent Monday and Tuesday night with my dad and then will meet up with Nana Jo tomorrow and head to her house. And on Thursday, they will arrive back here. I can hardly wait!!

I believe Keegan is more excited about seeing his brothers than the grandparents which is a rare occasion. He has missed them something awful. For one, they all sleep in the same room so he has slept alone and he does NOT like it. He also misses them during the day --some how Chloe and I are not Cody and Kale. Oh, well, they have had lots of fun!

One proud Papa

2008-07-11T16:26:00.002-04:00

As most of you know, Keegan decided that his sport of choice for this year would be baseball. I must say that I for one am very glad of this decision. It has brought back a lot of memories of when I played "America's pasttime" back in the day. I was lucky enough to have a great teacher and mentor of the game as my coach...my Father. So with that said, I didn't sign up to be his coach this year but after being out there for a few games and practices I think I might be getting that itch.

I wasn't sure how Keegan would adjust, as he has never really played a whole lot. But he has come a long way. He had two hits last night with runners in scoring position and he also had the chance to throw out three base runners. He fielded all three just like a professional. The first runner beat out his throw. The second runner the first baseman dropped the ball. And the third runner he threw out by a mile. You should have seen the excitement on his face. Needless to say I was one proud Papa.

I think I'll be in the coaching saddle before long. With all my other hats I wear.

Praise Music

2008-07-08T09:42:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, we had been listening to Blessed Be the Name on a CD. This is one of Keegan and Kale's favorite songs so we listen to it quite often. Apparently enough tha Chloe has picked up the tune for the chorus. We had turned off the music, but she's in the back "singing" it at the top of her lungs and good enough you can tell exactly what she is singing. It was amazing!!

Air Show pictures

2008-07-06T23:19:00.005-04:00

This is one of my favorite especially with the flag in the background. I also made a slide show of more from the NC Air Show we went to at the beginning of June.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-02T20:36:00.002-04:00

Relaxing Day

2008-07-01T09:34:00.002-04:00

So after such a busy day and weekend, the kids and I just hung out at home yesterday. I was such a great mom and let them watch TV all day. I am usually pretty strict about how much they watch, but it was nice to be able to sit and do nothing. They did help unload the dryer, load the washer, and put up clothes, but other than that they just chilled. After dinner, Jonathan played football with the boys outside. I cleaned up lots of stuff yesterday and have about 7 bags of yard sale items. While they played, I went walking with a neighbor. Before heading to bed, I finished a book I had been reading. Such a nice and relaxing day. . . Now off to paint:))