Happy Birthday my big 11 year old!

Sleep over pixs!





I can't believe she's 11! Our beautiful 9 pounds 12 oz. baby girl was born 11 years ago at 12:00 PM. After a long 41 weeks of pregnancy, I was so excited to have a girl! I couldn't believe it I finally had a girl. I just wanted to stare at her forever! She came out starving and ate and ate and ate!!! Every hour for days! (OUCH-some pains you never forget!)
This year has been a big change for Leah Beth. She has changed schools. She left her old school where she started kindergarten and spent all of her school days and her comfort zone. She bravely took on a new environment. I was so proud of how well she has done. She has made so many new friends and adapted well. We love our sweet girl so much. We are so thankful to the Lord for letting us share one of his beautiful daughters.

Happy 8th Birthday

Our sweet Caroline turned 8 today and was baptized tonight. We had a beautiful day!
We are so blessed to have her in our lives. She adds a spice of our family!!!!
Happy Birthday Sweet girl!

XC in full force!

Today Andrew raced his first middle school race. He did so good for his first ever race. I love XC. It is so fun to watch. Blake ran his first high school race. We were so proud of them both. I am amazed at how all these teenagers can do this from the winners to the ones that finish last they never stop. I can never go to a race that I don't start crying when I see the determination on the faces of these youth!

Both boys have been crazy busy since school started. B in seminary, both in school, after school XC practice and work 4 nights a week at their little part time job at the ballpark and church - throwing in cross country races on the weekend are surely going to top it off. I am amazed at their work ethic! I miss them though. Everyone said teenagers get so busy and it's true. I am just glad they are getting so busy with good stuff! I love having teenagers!

Happy Birthday Steve!

Today we are celebrating Steve's birthday! I am so excited. The boys have taken off work tonight-no one has to go any where! We are all coming home together (a rare occasion) to eat his favorite meal and a cookie cake! We are so blessed to have such a good daddy and husband.

Unregistered

Great News!

I got the most wonderful email today from the Early Childhood Education Dept. It said this:


Dear Student-

Congratulations! I am pleased to inform you that you were accepted into the teacher education program at Middle Tennessee State University by the Committee on Admission to Teacher Education on August12, 2009. Let me be the first to welcome you to the program.

EFY Bound!

Blake, Andrew and Steve got home Saturday afternoon from a 7 day fun boy scout camp and Blake is at it again but this time EFY! I am so excited for him. I loved EFY-it was the highlight of my high school years. I hope he has as much fun as I always did. I was so excited this morning!

Can't believe he'll be 15 in 4 short months. Time is going so fast.

water balloons and stuffed animals

water balloons as baby dolls stuffed animal bath time!!!

My girls do the most random things.

This is what happens when a bumblebee lands on your forehead!

Way to go STEVE

Since the beginning of January Steve was chosen out of hundreds of applications to participate in our county's biggest loser contest. Anyone who works for the county-teachers, govt. workers, or like him board of education workers can apply to enter the contest. 12 applications were chosen. It was a really intense program. He gave it all he had and WON the contest. We are so proud of him.

Hiking/backpacking trip

Blake and Andrew left Wednesday morning for a four day adventure with my brother (uncle A) and his scout group! Our boys have both been to traditional scout camps but nothing near this nature. We were all excited for the experience and grateful to Uncle A for adding them to his already full load of boys. They carry everything on their backs for 4 days-that is their food, shelter, clothing anything. Over the course of the time they will hike in, set up camp, and sleep-get up, take down camp, and hike some more to the next destination-set up for the next night of sleep. Today they are hiking 7 miles. I am sure this is a huge rude awakening for them-no mess hall to eat, no tent already set up, they do all the work. I am excited to hear about their adventure. I have to say though I cringe at night when I hear the thunder. Last night according to the news they got 5 inches of rain in 15 minutes! (maybe the news is wrong!)

Packing up

Everything they will have for four days-food, shelter, clothing, first aid etc.

Ready to go! (notice blake has a book!)

These are pictures of my two of my brother's previous camp outs...repelling down and mountain and going into a cave with nothing but a knapsacks, 1 water canteen and a live chicken! So as you can see my boys are in for a treat! I know they are having fun! The less I know about the adventure stuff the better I'll be!

Back to the hospital again!

A couple of times a year my dear ole' Dad gives us a good scare. This past Friday it happened again. For the past 12 years he has been in and out of this hospital with heart trouble. He had open heart surgery when Andrew was 1 and he is now 13! I remember so vividly that day juggling my two little boys around the hospital waiting for the word. Since that time this has become my folks vacation spot! He has good times and bad times! I decided this needed to be in my blog for the memory since we spend so much time there. He was a good sport about it-but he always is a good sport about everything!The 4th floor is for heart trouble! I know he's been in this room before too!Nice red warm socks to keep his feet toasty!Chips of ice!IV'sNeedles and wiresNana taking care of himAnd here he is so much better than last week!This is where my mom stays-a neat little place she calls home that is attached to the hospital.Always making her laugh and thinking of others even when he feels rotten!

Last Friday he was sitting on the couch and just feel over! My mom said she really thought she lost him this time. This has happened before at Wal-Mart and another time fishing with his buddies and other occasions. My mom tried to slap him back awake and his defibrillator shocked him. When he woke up she said his big blue eyes were looking at her and he wondered what in the world she was slapping him!

He was transported to St. Thomas by ambulance again. He is much much better now and hopefully will get home by the weekend.

He is truly like a cat with nine lives or he could be compared to the saying "takes a lickin and keeps on tickin" I wish I had recorded each time this has happened. It is gives me peace to know he's out of the hot water and his way to recovery again. He is an amazing person (even if he flirts with the nurses!) As I watch his body wearing down he keeps fighting on. I know he is in pain most all of the time and I hate to see him that way but in between the pain he still finds the strength to be an amazing Papa and Dad. He gives me strength, encouraging words and always knows what to say and just when to say it. He is a constant strength to all of us. He has been through more than any human I know. He lost his mother at a very young age (she was struck by lightening) He was raised by many different people learned to take care of himself at a very young age. He even lived in the school once! He worked his way through high school where he met my mother, he went to the army then to college after my brother and I were born and on to get a master's degree despite of his life. He is the hardest worker I have ever met. His life is a constant example of righteous living mixed with fun! He is always a joy to be with in all situations. I wonder how I got so lucky and was blessed to have him.