We have a new cousin!

Happy Birthday, Isaac Sean!

Born at 10:45am on July31, 2012

6 lbs. 1 oz.

19 1/2 inches

Mommy and baby doing well!

First night of VBS complete...

the workers were still smiling and the kiddos were excited!

We fed the dogs their bones in a relay, chased bubbles, played Duck, Duck, Goose, followed the leader, found our heads and shoulders and knees and toes!

I'm ready with my little black bag of tricks!

I was asked to do 4 and 5 year old game time for VBS this year.  I am sticking with really basic games...but with a little twist!  Ted laughed at me as we walked around the dollar store, "You are getting ideas from the aisles at the dollar store."

It worked! 

            Bubbles, litte fish, foam sheets, ice cream scoops, mice, bone....and the ideas keep coming!
  The normal games of running relays and tag will have a little twist...just for the 4 and 5 year old crowd!

"She made me do it!"

"Dad...I did not!"

"She threatened to beat me up if I didn't buy these for her!"

"Uh...Dad...I didn't, Mom, really!"

Ashlynn went with Dad on an errand.  "I just pointed out that this was what Mom and I saw...mint Oreos."

"I bought the regular Oreos too...because toothpaste and chocolate don't go together, you know!"

What advice will he blurt out next?

"Ash, you are not proper enough to be a lady yet.  You have a lot to go through still!"

"Mad Money" adds up!

Ted and I always find it interesting how married couples handle money.  Every couple has their own way of doing things.  The his and hers, the his and his, the hers and hers, the his and ours, the hers and kids...and the combinations continue.  I still get fuzzy about all these combinations in light of the verse (Genesis 2:24) that talks about the principle of leaving, cleaving, and weaving...but...to each his own...or hers.  I think many of us will be surprised when we stand before the Lord.

From the get go, Ted has provided leadership in this sensitive area and I have followed.  I had good reason to do so.  Now, I would not have it any other way...because I would mess it up!  God's way works and we are blessed.   However...Ted likes to tease and it always gives me the giggles to see people's reactions.  He loves me and I am spoiled rotten.  So when he hands me any change "for my mad money", I throw it in my purse.  (He doesn't like coins because "they make my pants too heavy".)  Ha! 

Well...my purse gets very heavy...eventually...and I clean it out!  Today, at the dollar store, I embarrassed him by counting out $7.00 in quarters to pay for our purchase!  The cashier told me it was ok because no one was behind me.  Ha, ha, ha!  My Mad Money adds up and helps out with those little purchases that would "nickel and dime" the average person.  Not me!  I still have lots of nickels, dimes, and pennies.

Since we were on an "errand date", he had his dollar to buy me a cranberry limeade from Sonic! 

I had the $ .07!

Date night!

Not as if we haven't had lots of time together...just us...so we took off again to meet our friends!

Greater Vision made their annual trek to Chicago area and we enjoyed the untimely slow down due to accident clean-up...with a couple minutes to spare!  Oh...what a blessing the evening was!  Topped off with a late night supper at Red Robin with our friends.  With a 1am bed time...we have zero energy today!  Thank goodness for grandparents who like having overnight visitors!

Clearly...we have a problem!

I looked at the table on Monday afternoon as Mari and I sat together after eating lunch, flipping laundry, and looking at stamping magazines.  I laughed out loud when I saw the picture again...remembering why I had snapped a picture in the first place!  I love my sissy and the things we enjoy together...even if it isn't always super healthy!  Moderation is the key...the problem is...the lack of time to moderate...together.

Those boys of ours

Mari and I took a trip down memory lane by way of the photo box.  This was 8 days before Caden came to live with them!  I still had quite awhile to go before Teddy came...on May 29th.

Oh how we giggle and get teary about "those days"!

"He's touching me, Mom!"  said Mari.  I wondered if Teddy clobbered his cousin with his shovel...I don't remember!

And...now...just look at them!  Scary!  If one doesn't think of something...the other does!

Wish we lived closer...for their benefit...as good buddies!

Still finding pictures in my phone

We beat Dad home from work on Tuesday!  Gave us enough time to unpack the van and get showers...and for Teddy to find his clean camp t-shirt in the suitcases.

Dad got lots of hugs and "thank yous"!  Every day since Tuesday, Dad has been asking a variety of questions that help the kiddos tell more about their week at camp.  You just can't put a price tag on a week like they had...and we will gladly pinch our pennies to give them another!

Grandma stopped by...and they filled her in on several things as fast as they could.  This gathering included one of the pictures.

Enjoying a taste of summer...all week!

Thanks to my sissy for sending me home with yummy tomatoes from her plants!

Can't get this tune out of my head today!

Pray and Wait for an answer, Pray and Wait for an answer, Just wait for an answer from the Lord! Never a mountain, too tall. Never a problem, too small. God looks down and sees it all, Just wait for an answer from the Lord! Would you pray for my cheery friend's mother (and family) as they wait for answers!? Our family knows where they are sitting right now, and the best thing we can do for our brothers and sisters in Christ...is to Pray and Wait!

Today was a "down day"...

...as in sleep in, unpack, lay around, get groceries, do a load of laundry, look at camp pictures, and talk about parts of camp that hadn't been mentioned yet!

Teddy dug through the suitcases to find his cleaned camp t-shirt so he could wear it today.

They all slept in till 8:00am.

They randomly tell me things about the week...their favorite meal, treat at the coffee shop, game, and etc.

Chevy is so happy the kiddos are home!  It is fun to go away...but it is always nice to come back home.

Cake for a teenager!

I made Allison's 14th birthday cake for her on Monday...I made her first birthday cake!

She requested a marble cake...I did a purple and chocolate marble cake to also fill her pink and purple request!  She got to lick the pudding bowl...that way she knew we were messing with her about the flavors I used.  Ashlynn and Bryn told her the cake was cherry...then pomegranate...with banana filling...and orange flavored frosting.  GAG!

It was pretty and matched the black and white candles, plates, and napkins.

Wow!  These kiddos are growing up so fast!  Mari and I told her about my accident the day she was born.  I got rear-ended as I turned into the hospital by a teenager who was slouched down in the seat, going too fast, and couldn't see the brake lights!  What fun memories! 

We also had to take a picture of the purple cake...really doesn't look very appetizing...but it was good!

Happy Birthday, Alli-girl!

Picking up the campers...a three day event!

The bus arrived at about 6:15pm and everyone was still smiling...tired...but smiling!

They had a wonderful time and the air was filled with a continual buzz of explanation of their week.

Aunt Mari and Uncle Brad took great care of all the campers!

They were still smiling too!

I took on the job of camp laundry.  I lost count of how many loads for six kiddos and two adults, but it was completed on Monday morning!  I should have taken a picture of the mountain of dirty clothes...but the wet stuff was stinky and I wasn't thinking about stopping for a photo op.

Church on Sunday...dinner...

resting...crafting...

and coffee drinking!

 Church...fellowship...kiddos went swimming...

Moms ran to Meijer...for birthday prep and a Pepsi fix...

Chilling out with Uncle Brad...nobody seemed to wanna give in and give up to go to bed...

Looking at old pictures and yearbooks...

Finally...a forced bed time...

with a last visitor at 11:15pm and his goggles were full of marbles...it was kind of funny because it wasn't my kiddo...but both sets of nerves were on edge as we waited to hear if the marbles would hit the wood floor!

"The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul..."

One week...five and a half gallons of paint (um, yes, we have some left over)...numerous hours...

and we like the color!

We had a double date last night and stopped at Hobby Lobby for the guy accessories...which were..."Thank You, Lord"...50% off!

We have a couple projects to do...but I want Teddy to do it with me.  I also have the curtains to do for the kiddos' rooms.  I just ran out of time!  I am pleased and I know the kiddos will be surprised...

and that is fun too.

Two cans of black spray paint updated the shelves, mirror, lamp, and curtain rod.  I was having difficulty with getting a good picture of the girls' room...the wall is a raspberry type color and the comforters have a splash of that color.  No more shabby chic...and I really like the change.

Happy Friday...or Where Did This Week Go?

First day all week that I left the house other than for a drive thru run!  I found out that before 11 am...Sonic offers half off!  How neat is that?!  Cranberry limeade for $1.07!  I am excited by little things.

A run to Walmart for the pieces to pull it all together.  Oh...I painted the girls' room too!

Chevy went out and found a neighbor wandering through our yard...um...he didn't like it one bit!  Growling and hissing..."does not play well with others"!

Today...everything goes back to its normal place. 

All is painted and cleaned...ready for the kiddos to come home.