Football season

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

WANTED: MISSING TOOTH

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

Life in general

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

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!!

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

New School Year

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

Good ending to vacation

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

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

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

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

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!!

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

"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

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!!

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.