Packin' Up and Movin'!!

Well, friends, due to some technical difficulties (which are all my fault), I'm going to move my blog to a new address.  You can find me here.  My sister thinks I'm deserting all of my blogger "family", but really I think it will be okay.  I'll leave this blog here for a little while, but I'll probably delete it eventually.   It's part of my love of cleaning up and getting rid of stuff, I guess.   Why have a blog out there in cyberspace that you're not using any more??

So, come on over and join me again!

Fun!

The caption of the middle picture above should be, "Hey, I found my barrette and I'm taking it out right now!  HAHA!"

My friend, AnneJisca, is wanting to get into photography as a business.  She came over on Sat. and practiced on Hannah.  We couldn't do Josiah's 3-year pic, because he was at Grandma's for the day.  But we're going to do that in a few weeks.  It went quite well and I thought they turned out great for being done on the dining room table!  I made these collages on Picasa (oh what fun!!  I thought posting them was a lot easier and faster than deciding which ones to post individually!

In other exciting news, I have two heaping baskets of wet laundry to hang up downstairs and a bunch of burger thawing to make meatloaf.  Today was a rather excruciating day of schooling and parenting and I have a headache.  I need to go to bed early tonight!!  I hope that doesn't sound whiny.  It's just the way things are today.  

For you home-schoolers out there, I've been reading a great blog called "Grueling Homeschooling".  Doesn't the title just make you love it already?  If you read it, be sure to read the very first post.  I don't know how to make fancy links on here, but here's the address:  gruelinghomeschooling.beautifulheritage.com.  I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Monday...

Overheard At Our House

Logan: Dad, what is 7+7?

Keith: What is it?

Logan: Mmmmmm.....  Nine!

Josiah (with great enthusiasm):  You got it, Logan.  You got it!

Yup, what we're lacking in knowledge, we make up for with enthusiasm!!  

And on another note, yes you will get to see results of the photo shoot.  Pardon me, now, while I go play with the pictures.  I'll be back soon, I hope...

Cleaning Up The Pigpen

Tonight the house was, in Logan's words, "a pig-pen."  I had let everything go today, and we had a photo shoot in the dining room, compliments of our friend, AnneJisca.  So, yes, it was a pig-pen - toys, clothes, whatever, strewn everywhere.  So, just before bed-time, we told the boys we were having a "15 minute clean-up".  Or did we say 5 minutes??  Anyway, I had a little brain wave that actually worked really well this time.  I told the boys to count the things they put away - in the proper place.  I told them they could count every toy, sock, etc.  They seemed enthusiastic and we all dove in.  In about 15 or 20 minutes, Keith, Caleb, Logan and I put away approximately 500 items!!!  Now, probably 100 or more of those were legos, but still, I thought it was quite an impressive number.  And the difference it made was amazing.  I didn't offer any reward for the most items (Caleb would always win a contest like that!) or any money.  I momentarily considered a penny per item, but decided against it.  For this time anyway, the thrill of counting was enough.  Until they were in bed, then Logan said he wished they could have a reward.  So we got to have a smallish lesson on the reward of a clean house, etc. :-)  Anyway, there's my happy little story for the day.  Let me know if you try it and how many things you put away.

Confessions of a Non-Reader

Here it is.  The stack of books that I've started or browsed, but not finished, in the last few years.  Drives me crazy.  (In case you can't read it, the top two books are "Can You Hear Me?" and "Exploring the Spirit of Adoption".)

I'm married to a guy who devours books like I do chocolate.  I read some, but not at all like I want to.  These books are good and it's stuff I really want to learn from.  I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions, so I'm not going to make one.  But here's my idea.  I'm going to try to go to bed 10 or 15 minutes early and read just a little every night.  (That's what Keith does and it sure works for him.)  At that rate, do you think I could read a book a month or so?  That would sure be a big improvement.

On the other hand, I bought this the other day, and I'm sure I'll have no problem finishing it once I start it!  I can devour Bodie Thoene books even faster than chocolate.  I actually usually put off starting one of these books when I get it, because once I start, I'm useless until it's done.  I don't read much fiction and I buy even less, but this author is my favorite and I'll gladly buy her books!

So, what are you reading, or what is sitting beside your bed that you're not reading??

A Year In Review

Oh my word, our baby is one!  How did that happen?  Hannah joined us a year ago and forever changed the fabric of our family.  It's amazing how one little bundle can wiggle it's way into your hearts and lives.

One day old.  Hangin' out with Daddy.

About a month old.

Hannah wasn't so impressed with the Great Outdoors!

Flying to IN to help Auntie Rachel plan her wedding.  Hannah was a great traveler!

Five months old.

Now she likes the great outdoors a little better.  She did pretty well with camping this summer.

Baby food and Uncle Jeff's boat - a great combination!

Still no teeth...

Do you like my bed-head?

Hannah's first Christmas.

And now she's one!  Whew, what a year.  It's been rather a blur, but we sure wouldn't trade in our little punkin' for anything in the world! 

Don't Blink

Three years ago he was this little precious bundle.

Then he was this cutie pie toddler.

And suddenly, a big brother!

Now he's one of our resident goof-balls.

Josiah's birthday is on New Year's Eve.  We managed to have a Mom's and kids birthday party over lunch.  I think the kids had a lot of fun.  We Mom's did, anyway.  :-)

Yay!  A hockey stick from Scotty!

Anne Jisca made maple sugar candy in snow for us.  Yummy!!

Everyone say "three"!

Josiah wanted a blue cake.  That's all he cared about.  Not flavor, not shape.  Just blue!

Isn't he cute?!?  I'm sure I'm not biased...

I guess that's enough birthday for this year!

Christmas in Pictures

Since posting pictures is easier than writing, here are some pictures from the past month.

Making cookies with Grandma G.

Josiah got to put the angel on the tree.

This is what happens when Josiah helps decorate the tree. (That's a lego man.)

My family spent a weekend together at Stormer Lake.   We played lots of games, at lots of good food, we ladies did a fun craft, and the guys and kids played floor hockey and tore around in the gym.

Here we are decorating journals or notebooks with pictures and stuff from magazines.  It was so fun.  Sorta like scrap-booking, but easier.

Rhonda and her pink pages.

Two first-borns, Caleb and Caitlyn, playing Mastermind.

A common scene.  This game is serious business!

Erica, the Beautiful

Christmas morning.  We had the traditional brunch and then tore into the presents.  

Keith modeling his new shirt.

Josiah with his new guitar.  He was so happy he was speechless.  

Rachel and Dave.  Aren't they smashing?!?

Caleb and Logan made this shelf for me.  I was very touched!

Hannah's first Christmas. She was still kinda sick, so her eyes look very droopy.

Some of us had Christmas dinner at our house and then most of us went to Mike and Helen's for dessert.  Here are their two grandbabies, Serenity and Xander.  Aren't they cute??

The kids all over papa.

Grandma Dru surrounded by kids.

Larissa

Rachel playing twister with Caleb and Logan.

We had a good time with Rachel and Dave here for about 10 days.  The Christmas season is always so busy, it seems, but it was still fun - and exhausting.  By Christmas day I was so tired I could hardly function.  But, I'm catching up on my rest now, I think.  At least I will if I shut up now and head for bed immediately!!

Happy New Year, everyone!

This Week's Insanity Brought To You By...

Well, hi there!  Yes, I'm still alive.  Soon, very soon (after we get through Josiah's birthday and New Year's Eve, which happen to be the same day, and how's that for family planning?) I will post about why I haven't been posting, and hopefully also some pictures from Christmas.  But for now, this little story which amuses me and hopefully will you as well...

Tonight, after the day was basically done, I glanced down at my clothes and realized my shirt and pants didn't really match.  I remember thinking this morning as I threw on my clothes that I would wear this shirt because it goes with my light blue sweatshirt.  And the color of my jeans never once entered my mind.  Good thing today wasn't tomorrow, when I'm having three different shindigs here in one day!  Am I losin' it, or what?  :-)  

Oh, shoot, and while I'm here anyway, I'll just give you one little picture of our youngest cutie on Christmas day.

Of Chocolates and Friends, There Shall Never Be Too Much

I know these pictures are almost two months old, but that's just kinda how my life is these days.  :-)  A little behind.  So I thought I'd post them anyway, since I just want to.

The day after my birthday, I had a chance to fly up north to see my dear friend, Iris for the day.  (Well, for about 5 hours, actually.)  We took the opportunity to do our annual tradition of making Christmas candy.  It was fun, but the time just flew by and it seemed sort of like a dream that it even happened.  

I took Logan along since there was another seat in the plane.  He had fun playing with the kids and having a plane ride.  (Although he got a belly-ache when we were up in the clouds and he couldn't see the ground.)

Enjoying the ride.

The bush in the fall.

Our fearless pilot, my brother Matthew.

Co-conspirators in the production of much chocolate and sugar!

Yum!  Peanut butter balls.  Or buck-eyes if you're from Ohio.

Blankets and Buckets

It seemed like such a good idea at the time...

Josiah had an appointment with the pediatrician in a bigger town about 3 hours from here.  (Yeah, we live at the end of the world and that's how far we have to go to see a pediatrician!)  Anyway, we decided to make a little trip out of it and take all of the family and stay overnight with our friend, Debby.  We'd go shopping and have a nice visit with Debby.  And I could even go shopping by myself a bit while Keith stayed with the kids at the house.  And it wouldn't be such a long, exhausting day if we stayed overnight.

It was such a good plan.

Until.

Before we even got out of town, Hannah erupted.  And she barfed most of the way there.  Oh gross.  If you've ever had the experience of a child puking while strapped in a reclining car seat, you know what I mean.  And of course, I wasn't prepared with cleaning supplies and I didn't bring that many clothes along for just one night.  We stopped along the way and bought paper towels, and changed her clothes a few times.

She was fine by the time we got there and even ate lunch.  Later in the afternoon we headed out to Debby's to put the little ones down for a nap while I went to do more shopping.  

Well.

Before I left, Josiah started throwing up.  When I came back a few hours later, Logan had joined in the fun.  Those of us who were still standing sat down for supper and it just didn't taste good to me.  Oh No!  I just didn't feel quite right and as the evening progressed, I got more nauseous, chilled, and achy.  So, we sat and layed around Debby's living room, wrapped in blankets and staying close to the buckets.  Logan and Josiah got quite good at knowing when they needed a bucket.  The poor little guys couldn't even keep any water down.  

When it was bed time, Keith told me to go sleep in the bedroom with Hannah (who had thrown up after she went to bed, but didn't even wake up.  I was too tired and miserable to care and just left her.  Can you believe that!?!)  The boys slept on the floor in the living room and Keith slept out there with them to help with the buckets.  I think they quit barfing around 2:30 am. Some time during the night, I started peeling off blankets, so I knew I was getting better. 

In the morning, I was still tired and achy, the kids were in varying degrees of listless, no appetite, and diarhea.  And Keith was pale and had no appetite!  We left in the afternoon and before we left town, Hannah started barfing again.  Is it a special thing she likes to do in the van??  Anyway, we were so glad to get home.

Josiah is finally better today and I think Hannah is just about better.  (I'll spare you the rest of the details.)  The washing machine has become my best friend!! :-)  And somehow, Caleb has escaped the whole thing.  Bless his heart!

I must add that Debby was very gracious about the whole disaster and willingly shared her buckets, blankets, washing machine, etc.  She and I did get to go out for lunch on Sat. too.  Oh, and I did get a lot of necessary shopping done so all was not lost.  

And on a totally unrelated topic.  Hannah had her mouth open last night for some reason (crying perhaps?) and I saw something white.  The little turkey has a molar through.  I had no idea.  And it's only her third tooth.  Isn't that kind of odd?

My Little Men

Lately Hannah's been taking more than her share of bloggy publicity.  So here are my awesome little guys...

Josiah - on the way home from camping Labour Day weekend.

Who needs Wal-Mart?  I decided to do my own portraits of Caleb and Logan this fall.  I was pretty pleased with the results!

Logan - six years old

Caleb - 8 years old

Randomness

*I cleaned out the drawer under my phone.  Yay!  Now that's something worth shouting about!  Dumb thing is, it's not completely done, but it's SO much better that I'm not sure I care.  I even found the lab requisition for my blood sugar test I was supposed to do when Hannah was 6 months old.  Oops.

* Last weekend my friend, Iris, came to for the weekend.  We had fun and stayed up late.  She had shopping and stuff to do and couldn't get everything done.  She was hoping to update her blog while she was here (since their internet doesn't work), but didn't have time. :-(

* Hannah had roseola last week.  I couldn't figure out why she was so cranky when her teeth were already through.  Then she got a fever.  When that went away, the rash appeared.  She's doing much better now.  Whew!

* I just ordered Keith's and Caleb's Christmas presents, and paid for one for Dave.  :-)  I really like shopping on-line!

*  I've been trying to buy a Playmobil gas station on ebay for Logan and they keep slipping away from me.  Either I don't bid high enough or I forget to bid at the end.  I'll keep trying, but I'm ready to pay a wad right now just to Get It Already!  

* A friend told me yesterday that her sister and family don't open presents on Christmas.  They do that several weeks before Christmas day.  Then Christmas is for going to church and doing family things.  Isn't that a good idea??  I wonder if we could really pull it off...

* The other night the boys were messing around in bed (when they were supposed to be sleeping!).  Josiah hit his nose on the bed and got a doozy of a nose-bleed.  Much weeping and wailing followed!

* I damaged and possibly wrecked two good/casual shirts in the last week or so.  :-(  The first one was my beloved black shirt that Rachel gave me.  It was in the dryer with an orange crayon!  Aaarrrggghhh!!!   Tonight I tried just a little bit to get it out by ironing the orange spots onto another cloth.  It looks like it just might work.  Any advice??   The second one - my beloved light blue shirt (that Rachel gave me, notice a pattern here?) - was a victim of the above-mentioned nose-bleed.  Crud.  Blood on a powder blue shirt.  I soaked it in cold water right away and then washed it.  I didn't dry it.  The marks are still there, but not too obvious.  Any advice on that one?  

* This week is the first in a long time that I feel like the school-work and schedule is mostly under control.  Next week doesn't look so promising...

* I'm starting a weekly "lunch bunch" for young (and others like myself) :-) women - mostly from church and some others.  It's been fun.

*  Next Friday we're heading off to the "small city" for an appointment with the pediatrician for Josiah.  We're going to get his "seizures" or whatever it is, checked out.   He did it again the other night, but this time he hit the front of his head, not the back.  I don't know if it's hitting his head that does it, or holding his breath from crying.  Anyway, we'll see what the Dr. says.

* Next week looks a little too busy.  :-(  I need to decorate the church for Christmas, get ready to lead worship on Sunday, go to a home-school lunch/literary performance shin-dig, and leave first thing Friday morning.  Oh, and we're all going and staying overnight with our friend, Debby.  So, we won't be back until Sat.  Yikes!  Why do things always happen all at once like that?

* Tomorrow Keith is taking the afternoon off and he said I can do whatever I want.  Sadly, it doesn't look like it will be a relaxed afternoon of scrap-booking.  But, I want to take the boys to finish shopping for our Compassion shoeboxes and that will be fun.  And I'm helping set up for a baby shower for my nieces which is tomorrow night.  Maybe that won't take too long and I'll have time for a cup of coffee and a muffin.  I'll take a book along just in case!

* And now it's time for bed!!  Toodles!

Thought for Today

My friend, Priscilla sent me this recently:  from Streams in the Desert on November 5th:  "The only thing 'too hard for the LORD' is our deliberate and continual disbelief in His love and power, and our ultimate rejection of His plans for us."

I needed that!

Out With the Old...

Shoes!  Did I ever mention that I hate buying shoes?  So many questions:  What, pray tell, is in style right now?  Are these cute?  Are they for an old lady?  Am I an old lady?  Will they be comfortable?  Should I buy the cheap ones, or the more expensive ones that will last a really long time??  Do I really like these?  And the list goes on and on.  

So.

When I manage to buy some I like, it's a really big deal! (To me, anyway.)  I don't expect everyone else to be as excited as me, but, since I have a blog, I can subject you to my joyful ramblings about my shoes. (It's a free country.   You don't have to read it if you don't want to.)

Anyway, I give you exhibit A.  I bought these shoes on our trip to Jeff and Wendy's wedding. That was in 1999/2000!!  And I've been wearing them ever since.  (When you don't like to buy shoes, you can wear the same ones for a very long time!!)  But, this fall I started to be embarrassed by their scruffy appearance and maybe even their out-dated style (that part bothers me less.)  These shoes, my friends are going in the garbage to make way for...

... these cute little numbers.  (Exhibit B)   Did I do okay?  I'm anything but an authority on the subject, but I think these are kinda stylish.   And cute.  And leather.  And comfortable.  And they were on sale.  Yay!
Now, a couple questions, since I'm style-challenged.  Can I wear these with skirts or pants?  Panty-hose or socks?  I'm thinking yes, but I'd like some confirmation from someone who knows more than me...

Thanks for sharing my happiness.  (I'm assuming something there, eh?)  :-)

Life

It was a wild week!  Last weekend we were at Stormer Lake for a weekend of encouragement, worship, listening to God...  It was a good time.  Then...

We came home and hit the ground running.  Cell group on Sunday night.  When we got home, Sheldon called and said an old family friend had passed away.  Mrs. Hausmann was always special to us.  By Monday morning, I was thinking, I really should go down for that funeral.  Keith agreed and we started to make plans.  Unknown to me, my friend, Karen, was also making plans to go.  We connected sort of at the last minute and found out our plans were almost identical.  So, she and her boys went down with us.  What a blessing.  I took Logan and Hannah with me and left Caleb and Josiah with Keith, Grandma G., and other friends.  

I was really glad I went.  While funerals are never fun  it's always a good thing to say good-bye. And, I got to connect with people I haven't seen (or not very often) in 25 or 30 years.  It leaves you with a really odd feeling.  It was like being in a time warp.  Some things have changed so much and still so many things are the same.

While we were there, we got in on some of the U.S. election madness.  Enough said!  :-)

We got home Thursday evening in a bit of a snow-storm.  People were concerned about us, but the roads really weren't bad until about 40 miles south of here.  Now, winter is here for real, it seems.  The boys are having a blast playing in the snow.

I decided to (hopefully) start a new tradition - making donuts when it snows the first time.  I invited Karen to join me and we had fun doing that yesterday.  They were SO yummy!!

Hannah has been very cranky.  I'm starting to wonder if she's getting sick.  She got her first two teeth this week, so I thought she'd be happier.  Instead it seems like she's fussier.  Hmmm.....

The last month or so, we've been singing with a little inter-church choir.  We "made" Caleb and Logan go with us and sing with the choir at least for part of the practice.  They grumbled sometimes, but went and seemed to enjoy it.  We sang in church this morning, but we didn't make them join the performance.  Now, I'm sitting at the computer and I'm listening to them playing with lego in the basement.  They've been humming/singing parts of two of the songs we sang.  :-) 

Stay tuned for my post about me and shoes...  

And Some More Pictures For Rachel :-)

As Our World Turns

I've been so focused on posting pictures and getting caught up on my blog from the past few months, that I haven't really written anything about what we're up to right now.  I've been sorta obsessive compulsive about posting pictures and blogging about the summer and fall.  I can't just not post pictures and leave a big gap in my blogging!  :-)  Oh my, no!  Well, actually, yes I can.  So, here they are.  Real, actual words about us!

* I don't know if I mentioned this before, but Josiah is now POTTY-TRAINED!  (Pardon me while I yell a little!)  He still wears a diaper for naps and night-time, but I wonder if he'd do pretty good if I just put underwear on him.)  Anyway, it's really, really nice.  He's younger than either of his big brothers were. :-)

* Hannah is now cruising around furniture and standing alone for a few seconds at a time.  I think she's just itchin' to walk.  She's also started trying out a few words here and there.  Or, maybe I should say, making obvious attempts.  That just amazes me!  As Rhonda (mother of 4 of my nieces) would say, with a knowing, almost smug look, "That's how girls are!"  And, her first two teeth are about to pop through - late just like her brothers!

* I've been going to physio therapy for my back and feet.  I don't know what's wrong with my feet, but I'm supposed to be "massaging" them with a little ball and it hurts like the dickens.  And for my back, we're strengthening my almost-non-existent abs.  Fun.  The therapist showed me how to exercise abdominal muscles I never knew I had.  And I would never have found them by doing crunches.  It's very interesting and gives my some hope for some day having a flatter tummy and no lower back pain.  

*  I have a Dr. appt. for Josiah on Monday to check out his little "seizures" that he gets when he hits the back of his head.  

*  We went to the dentist a few weeks ago and found out that Logan has 5 cavities and Caleb has 2.  Caleb also has a receding gum by one tooth which is either caused by crowding (sorry for the genetics I passed on there, Son!!) or plaque build-up.  Sigh.  So we're beefing up the brushing routines.  Instead of getting the cavities filled immediately, I'm going to get a second opinion at the suggestion of a friend.  But, that means another dentist visit and bill.  It seems like we've been in a "season" of appointments lately and it sure makes the schedule challenging!! 

*  Yesterday Logan was drawing worms in his "Do You Doodle?" book and he said (loosely quoted):

Logan:  Look Mom, these worms are girls.

Me: How do you know they're girls?

Logan:  Because they have eyebrows.  Pretty eyebrows!

* Yesterday I spent about three hours talking on the phone with two friends.  That was so much fun, because it hardly ever happens.  But, it's frustrating too, because at the same time I'm feeling a little bit guilty for "neglecting" my kids and house.  I guess that's just one of the tensions of my chosen schedule and life right now.

* A quote from one of the aforementioned conversations:  "I love Math in theory.  It's the actual numbers that mess me up."  Oh, really, Becky?!?

* Yesterday Caleb was reading "World", a Christian news magazine.  Suddenly he piped up with, "Mom, what's abortion?"  Ugh.  I told him and watched the flicker of pain that went over his face.  It's so sad to see their innocence slowly be chipped away by the rawness of our fallen world.  Did I make the right decision in telling him?

* I've been very fed up lately with my "brokenness" and the junk in my heart.  I'm so longing for a real and lasting change.  "How long, Oh Lord, how long??"

* And along those lines...  We're heading up to Stormer Lake this afternoon (as soon as I'm done with this post?) for a weekend of encouragement and fellowship.  There will be about 10 of us getting together to share and pray for each other and worship together.  I'm hoping this will be another good step along the journey of life.

* In the past few months, Josiah has gone from "stinker" to "the sweetest thing around" to "Challenging"!!  Help me, Lord!

* Oh, and speaking of brokenness... I've REALLY been struggling with my eating lately.  I just want to eat what I want and when I want and hang the consequences.  (Well, actually, I'm wearing the consequences.)  I was thinking about a whole post about "hunger", but here's the abridged version.  When I'm "hungry" for comfort food, what I really need, I know is to feel loved, safe, comforted, etc.  And I know in my head that food doesn't bring a lasting satisfaction.  It just makes me want to go back for more.  Recently I was reminded of the verse, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.   It's a promise.  So, do I need to re-direct my "hunger" in the right direction?  To hunger after God, to long for him to fill my heart with his love and to love him in return, to hunger to be clean and pure in his eyes.  That's what I really long for underneath the "felt need" for chocolate.

* Keith has gone moose-hunting a few days with no success yet.  Last Sat. he took Caleb and Logan with him.  They actually saw a cow, but it was right when they parked the truck and Keith didn't even have his gun loaded yet and she took off right away.  He was pretty disgusted about that one!

* Oh, and I did have a birthday sometime not long ago which was well-celebrated.  I celebrated by signing up on facebook.  Haha.  Not really.  But I did join facebook around that time and I can attest that it's fun but it can be a real time-waster.  I still like blogs and blogging!

* And now it's time to close this sucker down, give Hannah a bottle, and hit the road.  And when I come home, I'll have 12 comments, right?  :-) (That's what ya call shameless begging!)

Fun with Friends and Relations

One of the things that's been fun this fall is spending lots of time with Matthew and Rhonda and their girls - and other cousins and friends along the way.  Iris was here for awhile in August/September so we got to do some fun stuff.  

Here's a whole bunch of misc. hooligans enjoying a meal of smokies and corn on the cob.  Yum.  
Matthew and Rhonda's girls had a sleep-over.  Even Larissa stayed.  The funny thing was that by morning, Caitlyn and Larissa were on either side of me in our bed, and Keith was on the couch.  I was just glad we didn't have to take them home in the middle of the night!

Okay, this has been so much fun.  Wendy, Rhonda, and I did a couple of "school" afternoons together.  Wendy is teaching them art, I did some science activities, and Rhonda did "home-ec" (yummy snacks).  Wendy and I are going to continue with just our kids when Rhonda is gone.  The kids love it and so do we (as long as the babies co-operate!)

Tia and Caitlyn making quesadillas for snack.

Working on a science activity.

Caleb's (top left and bottom) and Logan's (top right) artwork.

The Final Hurrah of Summer

The rest of the trip was interesting.  I won't say much about the alternator trouble.  Let's just say we had some changes in our plans and a big bill on our Visa!  We also spent a night at my Aunt and Uncle's, Ruthie and Dwen, in northern MI.  And I forgot to take a picture of them!  But it was really nice to be at their place again!

When we got home on Sat. afternoon, all of Keith's siblings were already here.  So we jumped directly into a week of G. family partying.  What fun.  It felt like Christmas without the snow and the other busyness that comes in Dec.

Family portrait.  Logan messed up every one on my camera!  But Sandra got a good one.

Shania and Hannah

The boys had a total blast playing with Uncle Neal.  Josiah was pretty sad to see him go at the end of the week!!

"One, two, three..."

After they all left, we had fun spending time with Matthew, Rhonda and girls.  It's so fun to see the cousins all getting to know each other and making good memories with each other.  Labour Day weekend we went camping with my family.  Well, with those of us who could make it.  Unfortunately, Dad and Dru had to work and Mike's had something else going on, I think.  And of course, Rachel and Dave are a million miles away.  :-(  But, we managed to have lots of fun anyway.  The weather was beautiful, but windy.  We spent a bunch of time at the beach and sitting around the fire.  The kids just played and played.  It was a reminder too, that camping isn't generally relaxing with little kids.  But I'm expecting that each year now, things will get a little easier.  Sunday afternoon it was actually warm enough that I went swimming.  Darla and Rhonda came in too and our hubbies and a bunch of kids, of course.  That was a relaxing afernoon and it was so much fun to just play!  (I'm not so good at doing that normally!)

Hot babes hangin' out at the beach.

Goofy kids.

Playing with play-dough.

Scotty.

Dylan - all tuckered out.

Like I said, it was windy!

Matthew and Sierra - cheers!