Happy Day Sweet Caroline!

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Caroline, Happy 14! We are so proud of the sweet, compassionate, smart, creative young woman you've become. God has some great plans for you in your future and we can't wait to see you take the journey He has ahead for you. Hope you enjoy your special day!

Celebrate Good Times!

Here is how we celebrated our anniversary last night. I called into our local christian radio station a couple of weeks ago and got to share about our awesome son, Caleb on the family name contest. I also won passes for our family to share in a private party at a Pump It Up! We had lots of fun and played hard. I'm sore today but enjoyed our time celebrating 18 years of marriage as a family!

18 Years and counting!

Today marks the 18th anniversary to my wonderful husband. He is a wise Godly man, a supportive husband, an amazing father and so fun to be around! We love our sports team (even though we live and die by them - more dying lately then living I add). We have enjoyed traveling together, kayaking together, but mostly just being a family with our awesome kids! We don't know what God has in store for our future but we do know that we get the awesome pleasure of doing life together! I love you, Brad!!!

There is no difference in our hearts but man, certainly one in MY looks!

April 20th, 1991

Easter - one week late!

So here are the Easter pictures one week late. Actually, many places around the world this is their Easter celebration on the orthodox Easter Sunday (Ethiopia). So we will use the Ethiopian calendar and say Happy Easter!

The traditional hunt on the path behind our house.

God's little surprises!

We went this weekend to visit Brad's grandmother. We were blessed with a nice visit and Grandma Great was feeling well. Then God answered another prayer. . . on our way home we stopped at OSU to peer into the stadium (a tradition) and we noticed a gate open.

So we took pictures like Abby the future cheerleader.

Caleb leaning for a touch down!

We posed at the endzone.

OH. . . IO at center field in the horse shoe.

We even got video of us marching down the entrance ramp like the best band in the land starts the games! What a day!

It was a dream come true for my husband and our family!
(oh, by the way, we did get kicked out :))

Some Signs and Not so Signs of Spring

There are some sure signs of Spring

Caroline's first day on the job mowing the neighbors lawn

First fertilizing of our yard with a helper



Of course, smelling spring flowers

We have spring fever but Abby's had some days of real fever to go with them.

Studying in the sunlight and rushing to get done so you can play outside

We start spring break soon and yes, we are to get some snow flurries to go with it. But we will make the most of it. Stay tuned for another funny story about Asher.

Last Week at this Time . . .

I don't know about you but we play this game ALOT in our family. So, last week at this time I was on the road to Bloomington, IN with my hubby for an over night. (My husband planned the trip - He is great!) We had a great 24 hour getaway on my college stomping grounds. We stayed on campus at the Biddle Hotel in the student union. It was such a time warp. When we pulled onto the campus the last reminance of students were scurring to leave for spring break. Many things were shut down like the bowling alley in the union (as seen in the movie Breaking Away) and the movie showings they have there also, but we had a great time walking around and eating downtown and all. It was like I was in another world though cause we past memories on our walk that happened so long ago it almost seemed like they didn't really happen. Ever feel that way? Man, I'm getting old. In a short 4 1/2 years I'll be pulling up to some college campus somewhere to drop off my oldest for college and I know that the time between now and then are going to go FAST! Time, what an interesting concept. Enjoy the hear and now for that is where God has placed you!

Brad and I on our campus walk with the business school in the background.

Campus Chapel Arch

IU Football Stadium

Where I could be found the most on campus.

The Library and I'm not kidding either.

New Kitchen Look

So last week we discovered that our refrigerator was not getting cold and every morning we were smelling the milk to see if it was still good, sooooooo we used our tax money and bought a new frig. And as we were moving out the old one to clean behind it we realized that we never painted behind it and I already had new paint that we were suppose to paint the kitchen this winter and never did. So, two day later we have a new look to our kitchen. It's called brick clay and matches the back wall of our family room. What do you think? My husband helped with the trim but I'm the one that likes to paint and this is a great room cause you don't have ANY full walls!New look!

New refrig that Abby LOVES!

Yes, the OLD color was very bright! It was a pumpkin orange

and brighten up the room but was never quite right.

How we see life

This is Asher's position he decides to take when our black lab is in the kitchen when Asher is eating. If it's not the counter it's the table. And it is not because he is afraid of Buckeye (our dog) but he is defending his food and trying to eat in peace. See Buckeye would put her head in Asher's lap waiting for the food to drop.

Asher has such a interesting point of view with life. It's refreshing. Instead of whining about the dog - he problem sloves. He also enjoys seeing the world in a different way. He explores all of his surroundings with all of his senses. While watching the movie "Facing the Giants" he runs around being tackled and tackling. He often greets people with a nudge instead of a hug. He loves to taste all kinds of this that he shouldn't. And, he sing to a song on the radio while being fully engaged in a movie all at loud volumes. He can be easily distracted in a world of order, silence and direction. I'm wondering what school will bring for such a quizitive little guy. Will he be able to listen to directions, sit still in his seat and even walk in a straight line without talking to his friends? Only time will tell.

Talking about Charlie Brown moments. . .

I know that everyone has those Charlie Brown moments, like putting the milk away in the cabinet or driving away from your house while talking on your land line phone and wondering why your call was dropped. I have quite a few!

I wanted to share one with you that happened last month. We were having a weekend where we were entertaining people at our house both Friday and Saturday night. I wish I could say that I'm a neat freak but I'm not and the kids were off of school so I ask them to help me scower the whole house and clean from top to bottom. It was the coldest day so far like -5 and wind chill of -12. Our dog had smeared her cute little face all over the back door and I asked Caleb to go out and clean it really quick. Well, in my mind I thought he would squirt a little cleaner ( I didn't give him any advice -opps) and wipe really fast but he cleaned like he always does by squirting the cleaner ALL over the door and when he went to wipe the window it has already be frozen to the glass. Needless to say, I got my coat on and helped him by blowing hot air on the cleaner and rubbing like a mad woman. They laughed so hard at the fact that I asked him to clean the window in sub zero temperatures. This is a memory that they will laugh about as they are adults and get together to remember all the silly things Mom and Dad did. Ok, probably just Mom.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Ok, so during the rehearsal that I could tape, I didn't get the best footage. But I will look through it and see if I can pull some out for you to view. Caroline did a fabulous job and the production really was great. They hired an adult orchestra and used our HS auditorium with spot lights, curtains and many props. It flowed wonderfully and the main characters really did a wonderful job - not to mention the amazing dancing and singing of all the ensemble members. I heard many say that it really looked like a high school production not a jr high one. Ok, just a little bit of a proud mama. We had a great family respresented the second night with Caroline's Aunt Beth, Uncle Tim and Aunt Sharon - all from out of town. Here are a few photos from the weekend and I'll wrestle with the video and see what I can do. Now, if we could just stop singing - Happiness is. . .

Stars!

This week at our house two of our four stars have been and will be performing. Caroline is in an ensemble for "Your a Good Man Charlie Brown" for this weekend. So, I post that later. Abby's first grade play was this week and she was Aunt Josie Lou in the country performance they put on. Their class sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Park" - I know but trust me it fit in the program and she had a few cute lines. She did a fabulous job and clearly was not afraid to be on stage. Enjoy!

Brothers!

I wondered and I have to admit I even worried on how Caleb would do with a younger brother. Man, I laugh now that I even thought twice about it. These two are close!!!! I understand on a far deeper level what the term "brother" actually means. It means you ALWAYS stand up for each other. You connect at every level even if it is 7 years beneath you. You help each other and care for each other. You hurt for each other and laugh with the deep belly laughs with each other. You go to sleep with each other to help with the fear and yes, you even have to give in and do it their way sometimes - compromise. You are each others very best cheerleader and you explore things together! It also means you have a shoulder to lean on. I love the term "BROTHERS" and what it means in our house! It's beautiful!

Sorry for the long break

So for the long lag time between posts. I've been sick and just had lots on my mind with kids schedules and some new ideas I'm throwing around. I'll fill you in on that when I get more details. - How's that for a cliff hanger!

We have gotten out an oldie but a goodie in our house. When Caroline was not yet 2 years old she received as a gift from her Aunt and Uncle a sensory table filled with beans and rice. A few years back we tried to convert it to a magnet table for Caleb and we are now bringing it back for Asher. Let the mess, I mean, FUN begin! But this time it is in the basement and not my dining room (play room).

I heard a funny thing on my way to the kitchen

We've been trying to cut down the TV watching. It's something that gets out of hand in the winter time and I find that I let it go because I can be more productive - no excuse. Anyway, we were doing well yesterday and then Asher really wanted to watch Prince of Eygpt. It turned out to be very fun cause we were reading scripture to see where the movie branched off of the Bible. So as I left the room to start dinner I heard from Asher, "Ok, Caleb, you be Moses and I'll be Ramases." It sounded so funny and I thought I'd rather them act out the Bible anyday (even though the movie does distort it some). Then at the end of the movie when Moses parts the Red Sea, I saw my son galantly walk up in front of the TV as his hands are above his head and on cue he drops them like Moses stabbing the rod into the sea for the waters to part. I just may have to watch it again today to see if I can get pictures or a video. :)

Makes you wonder when. . .

you show up at the sledding hill at 10:00am and no one else is around and it is littered with popped blow up toboggins, pieces of plastice saucers and other litter. I was starting to wonder how safe it was to sled ride. BUT, it was great and we had a beautiful time having the hill to ourselves up until the very end. With the ice and then extra layer of snow we had gotten it made for a great ride and fun was had by ALL!

Yes, Asher is being pulled up with the sled.

The bike path behind our house had lots of trees

bent over by the ice making sledding back here a wonderful challenge.

Snow Hedge

When you add extra weight you go further!

The snow crew!