Autumn Underway

And that's ok! We had an intersting finish of summer, as Luke's *minor* back injury turned into 4 weeks and 2 days off from work. That was fun to have him home, but even better to have him back on payroll:)

We tried a new camp up on Sandy Lake in McGregor. I will do a camp post with great pics and some videos too. I am not going to bash them, so this may be the only comparative comment, the food at Lebanon will urge me to register February 1st from now on! And Luke kept thinking there were more activities at Lebanon, but I think they were quite competitive. Big Sandy had an awesome alpine roller-coaster slide into the water, mountain scooters (snowboards on wheels down a hill!,) a climbing wall, and a garage sale- so those were kinda cool differences. Pics to come.

School is full swing, going good. Noah is usually liking to go to preschool too, so curious to see what time of academic milestones he can make there. Libby is doing a 3rd/4th grade mix this year, so that is a good change for her. She also decided to dance this year instead of just gymnastics. Last year she had the 1:1 class and with 5 kids, with a few less skilled it was a quick decision. It will be fun to have the girls together again. I really can't say much except the drain of IEPs and inept programing and services for various reasons always always always keeps me on my toes. Working with the peoples in now 3 different schools is maybe my first- as the boys have always had the same case manager. David is in football this year too, big 7th grader! So that is fun to see him enjoy that, and luckily I have a carpool friend too making it not as bad to have to drive out and get him, school is about 15 miles away. No more activity bus, we are grateful for activities these days I guess.

Birthday week- David's 14 tomorrow. WoW! We will celebrate by going to the mothers of multiples sale to shop early, wishing I would have sold. I won't in March, because I WILL HAVE A NEWBORN. WOoP...WoRd oUt! So then I am like a hoarder with bins of clothes ready to flip into my budget. Could my purchasing wait too?! Anyhow, David has always wanted to go with me. I may even deviate from the household rule and let him wander on his own, seriously, it's his birthday! Then he may be having a friend overnight. My mom will be visiting Sunday too for both boys. Noah turns 4 on Wednesday. I am going to try to take Steph's habit of taking a pic of the birthday kid with mom and dad each year. That is really a good idea. So, there in writing, a goal:)

Okay, so first public announcement, as if it gets more public than this:)
TIE BREAKER BABY...who will share a room? Noah or Naomi? To be determined October 17th, and baby due March 12- Nat, does that give you a bd buddy?!
Spring break tie breaker baby, ready or not, filling up the van!

Now I have broken the ice of my delayed posting, it has just been busy days! Plus I got strep this week, nice. Wishing all of you a great start to fall, loving the leaves! MN does have it's perks...I'd argue autumn is definitely one!

Anniversary

The SEVEN YEAR anniversary of us driving down to Iowa to pick up Adam, David, and Reany, we traveled there again, to bid farewell to Luke's dad. There was great discussion of this event, but it was a good decision and it was a good experience for our family. So many things have happened in those 7 years, it is really hard to imagine life any other way. There have not been any reactions to the farewell, and I think it was good closure for whatever level everyone is on. When we were there, Noah pipes in, "he doesn't have any teeth." Like that was the most valuable thing that he knew of his estranged grandfather. That was also the last time that Aubrey was around, her and her mother seem to have their own agenda of what a teenager should be doing, and we just pray it won't last long or have detrimental consequences. At some point, we release our vision and know that God is drawing the picture, not us, and we are here just doing our best to fill his vision for ourselves and our responsibilities of that which we are granted control of, because there is no lack for our attention.

I held his hand, kissed his forehead, cried when I told him that we'll take good care of the kids and apologized that we couldn't have had a better relationship. He seemed at peace, had accepted Christ just months ago, got Luke's 3 sisters to visit (so 7 of his 15 were able to see him,) and died within 2 weeks later on August 30th, 2011. Luke is thankful to have his Father in Heaven and knows that his earthly father taught him through inadequate examples and grief to be connected and committed to his children. His passing and those details leading up to are a reminder to live life to the fullest and to have purpose in the master plan.
Farewell Richard.

Summer Picks

You have never seen a parade pic from me. The last parade I went to was years ago. My kids have gone, with sitters or friends. I just don't really like parades. But...guess what?! Our hometown, after 4 years of living here, actually puts on a decent one. And I really do love the Coborns grocery cart:



Waiting patiently, but no flowers. Wondering if the seeds were duds. The vines really sprouted, but I was hoping for some excellent flowers, when will they bloom planting friends? Morning glories undecided.


This little fellow never made it. We found him on the side of the house, and despite us letting him be, by morning he had dried up and just didn't make it. What is it? No clue, I think he turns into a moth or something prettier than this stage. We found a hollow shell, so we know that some of these little creatures are surviving.




We took a girls trip to the cities; Lexi, Libby, Reany, Naomi, and I went to the science museum. I didn't go back to the van for my camera though and only got this shot of Naomi trying to indulge in some ice cream. Went to OCB, and was delightfully surprised that 2 kids ate for free with an adult, so it was a good price too!


scrunchy face cutie pie honey bunch my peanut butter little crunch!

Mommy Chronicles

Adam: Is getting broader now too and it's just crazy to see him growing up. Will be in the high school this year...scary! We are hoping that goes well and have some back up plans if it doesn't. His favorite thing to do is ride bike, and he would love me to buy him a trick bike. I refuse though, as the only bike I will get him will be one that is for longer rides- but gears and brakes are a toughie.

David: Is starting football this fall! WoW! I hope that is a good fit for him and that he enjoys being apart of the team. Luckily there may be another family or 2 to carpool with, whatever happened to an activity bus?! He continues to love on Naomi and is a good help with many things. He also is a checkers shark.

Lexi: She is spending the week with us, so that is awesome. We never really thought she might be in our regular head count, but that seems possible after all. She is growing into quite a thinker and likes to play on the piano (although leery of my private lessons, we'll see about that!) We also just learned she has corn, popcorn, gluten, and wheat intolerance. Nice, nothing like trying to rule out your primary diet!

Aubrey: Busy with friends, babysitting her little sister at her moms, and trying to get her permit...sums it up pretty good.

Libby: Lost her first top tooth! I need to upload pics, she is pretty cute with that space there. Her second front tooth is slightly loose now, so that will be next in a few weeks likely. She is very helpful with little ones and could probably start babysitting even! She has Spanish camp next week, so that will be nice to see her get back into her second language. I need a month in South America to learn any more Spanish I think...so maybe in a few years? Yea right.

Reany: Said she wanted to lose one of her front teeth too, pulling on one, and I said, "No! You don't! That is a permanent tooth, you will have that forever." HeHe. She continues to marvel us with her one handed cartwheels. The girls have been putting on performances lately, and she has a ballet combo routine to "A Whole New World." She puts on her blue dance costume and floats around.

Noah: Has officially learned to bike without training wheels! Considering Libby was pushing 7 we are delighted at his ability:) He is also diving into the water and holding his breath to swim- cutest thing, he folds his arms out in front of him, like crossed over- that is his starting position so then he opens them up and does a natural breast stroke. Super cute from my tiny luke with platinum invisible blonde hair. That, btw, continues to be very difficult to cut because of his cowlicks creating a reverse mohawk and patches of horns. Unfortunately, Luke is not impressed or sympathetic to the situation and thinks he could give a better cut. And his always turn into a buzz cut. We might need counseling:)

Naomi: Is saying most words on cue, deciphering them may be the listeners duty. She loves playing with her babies and kitchen. We wonder if her little ringlets in back will stay with her. She has decided she doesn't like bananas. This is like taking away gluten. She used to live off them! At least she will usually eat oatmeal still, if she is not interested in the meal. I don't remember anyone being more picky than her, so hopefully she will get over it, but I won't quit buying our oats!

Luke: Threw his back out by throwing kids in the pool. Adam is 5'11" and 135#...one might wonder why he was throwing him anyhow. I did at least. But he is home for the week. He always wanted more time home during the summer, but he isn't taking his boat out anytime soon, thankfully he can walk again though. It was a rough first couple days. He was pushing the high chair around for a walker!

Me: Was hoping to be granted 34 wishes, one to grow on... but I never made the list, so I guess I can't expect anything. Isn't that some type of strategy- that you cannot be disappointed without expectations. Summer is flying by and I am super duper excited for camp this year, a few days without cooking makes me through the next year until it happens again.

What's been going on...

My camera was just recovered yesterday! I'll tell ya where it was later. In the meantime I have been watching my morning glories grow from seeds up the fishing line, the would climb forever! Wondering when the flowers will come. Bruno, our awesome boxer. Check out that head conformation! I need to find a big German boxer to breed him one more time. We want his lifeline! He has a silky soft coat and is the best dog in the world. If anyone knows big boxers, please let me know!

We have completed our extra curricular activities for the summer. Here was the one day in Lexi's life she has gotten to go to a class and she enjoyed it so much. Here with her focus on the instructions of what she was doing. If I had a better camera half my pictures wouldn't be junk. I just can't afford to, even with my attention though because I try not to read instructions and do not understand most of my electronics to their fullest potential. I could go on for days with the corners I cut:) So back to the activities...Noah, Libby, and Reany did tennis. I need to see if my mil can lend us the rackets she always lured us with but never delivered on. And we got busy enough that they only played tennis during their class for the hour a week. And the girls missed their first 2 lessons. One because I forgot I put them the next class same day to reduce travel until after coming home that night. duh! and then the second when we were on that trip. Reany did a dance camp and Libby did gymnastics. Now we are on break and will not do anything but school related things. Speaking of school, ecstatic to decide with ease for Noah to attend school 8-11 m-f. Wow! I can't imagine. And that is their academics program, but I am only registering the preschool 3 day, I guess it matters sometimes to be honest. I told her I was debating to save $100 a month to go to cherub (our church's daycare in the big city 15 minutes away.)
Wow this caption has turned into a novel. Guess I missed blab blogging! Without my camera though, it just isn't the same. By the time I have a novel kodak will have some killer deals to print this collection of my ramblings:)
So, Lexi is just great and I wish that we could snag her long enough to get some lessons or something. We are starting piano with her, but need to get a little assignment log where she records her practice and then go through another lesson of the basics. She has some natural talent because she is interested in music. I hope she changes her mind about band, she changed hers after begging and begging mom to do clarinet. When I caught wind of that, and heard the story of her crying to her mom and that, now to be convinced in effort to please, that she didn't want to do it anymore, point of no return. So I told mom she should never discourage the investment of music or skill to the girls without talking to us, because we want them to be involved with positive and smart things. Music is smart. So is Lexi. Every other weekend is not enough! Boo Hoo to broken families and may those dealing with that and those unknown to that- let's teach this generation healthier ways then our own examples even sometimes. God created us for relationship and trust me, the evil one is lurking in every corner you give him. Power, love, self - control.

And, on the market we have a beautiful metal twin girls frame with a shorter lofted style cabin underneath. Cute pink with red ties tent under it. Please note: the slide is not attached in this picture, but it has a slide on it! This bed is super cool and perfect for preschool through about 250 pounds. Plenty room to grow:) We took the one down and are using it as a bunk with Libby underneath the bottom, her twin mattress fits perfect, but then has no boxspring and is right on the floor. Their room was crowded for too long now. When we bought them 4 years ago I did anticipate they would be done at about 8. Next on the agenda for their room is real size bunks, as the metal are shorter. Libby really wanted a desk in her room too, and so that has been added. My girls are growing up! The boys went to camp last night and the girls asked to have a sleep out in the living room and get to watch tv at night. Neither of them have done a sleepover yet, and wee intend to keep it that way for a while, so I was happy at their excitement to be with one another. With a family this big who needs friends? Just kidding, we love friends, contrary to not having any!

And this bubbly day, wow! Let's just say if a whole bottle of yummy bath and body works soap dumps in your beach bag, you do need to rinse the towels that absorbed it. Again, trust me. I know what works and doesn't work. If it doesn't work I can tell you why! Bubble maina! And this was after noticing the problem and then ending the cycles to only rinse. Then I am thankful to have a side door right outside that mainfloor laundry and bathroom duo, complete with a hose. I actually forgot that the soap was in those towels and did not think twice to include the tents from both of the beds. That is a nylon poly blend and must have just been perfect for bubble making. I am again thankful- as every moment of my life- but the machine is still running. That is an essential around here!

We have had some wicked weather this summer. So when the sirens go off we take shelter, women and children. Luke tries to get some good pics. wth? Very seldom does Luke take pictures, but have no fear when danger is near- Luke will photograph:) And here is the winning prize...the camera was safe and sound in our storm shelter that whole time! Yea!

look at some of these kids!

i hope some of you peek on these kids, i bet lots of you have room for another twin bed somewhere in your house!! through Christ all things are possible!

too lazy

too lazy to go look for my camera. i know i lost it somewhere downstairs. and while not a necessity, i wish to have it back. but as i move around the home i get a little sidetracked. never a boring moment here to try and get ahead. for when the time does come I'm exhausted...time for bed! they say the cobwebs don't go nowhere; but I've seen a decaying frog. lovely. There really are various culprits to bringing that guy in the house. technically the cat could have, but unlikely.

oh the cat, my beloved princess. calico cutie from cambridge. my little barn cat i domesticated because she has some wild blood in her. I went to london in 99- thanks Prince I can always remember because it was New Years. Which means Princess was born in 1998, making her this August: 13. And she's getting old. When I called the vet and said I had to bring a cat in the asked if it was Jubilee.

I said no, you put Jubilee to sleep going on a couple years here. Maybe you can update his chart. It's Princess who is starting to decline in her abilities and desires of an indoor cat.