Monday, August 30, 2010

They are all crazy

What can I say- we have more crazy pictures than real ones- they are such hams!

The Walrus Insanity
Kaija trying to look like Cary Grant in I was a Male War Bride, I think??
Kaija instigated Doughnut Making Day

Eli wants to be like his Daddy! Allegedly "Joe" is his middle name- not Joseph!
It took me a minute to realize that he wasn't doing it wrong- nothing to do with Loe! 

Thursday, August 26, 2010

School Begins!


First Day of School

It is hard to believe that we have 2 kids in Middle School, 
Zach is in 8th grade and Kaija is in 7th.
Isabella is our 5th grader and 
Eli is truly rocking this year in Kindergarten!

He has told me everyday so far that they didn't learn anything!  
Basically he makes me laugh!


They like to threaten the kids at the Middle School with DETENTION.  
Now if they are late, or don't have their homework, 
or forget their instruments, or smell bad or had broccoli for breakfast, they get DETENTION! 

Could be an interesting year!! 
Yes, let them fear school- it is so much better that way, right????
I think they already feel motivated to succeed!!

ONE OF ZACH'S SUMMERTIME SKETCHES
(I just thought I would add this little sketch that Zachary did, he really is quite talented)!

Anyhow, let the games begin!  
And we will see if I can actually tolerate waiting in the car rider lines this year; it is not looking good for my kids, because I find myself very annoyed with lines at 3 different schools, especially Bella's!  I will threaten them with the prospect of riding the bus again- perhaps even DETENTION!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

So it's been a while

I think about posting things regularly, but alas that is as far as I have gotten lately.  It has been an interesting summer, that is a lame word to use for sure, but I can't think of how to describe it.  Some days it feels like we have been busy and productive and accomplished loads of great things, and then there are those days when you wonder how it is possible that you waisted away an entire summer doing nothing!  Admittedly this has not been the summer that I have volunteered to do a lot of traveling or major yard projects, or quite honestly a lot of anything.
The kids have had a few fun moments on the home front- it is amazing how they can amuse themselves with so little!
Building with scraps of wood from QPO


Experiencing grandness on a whole new level!

Even with my belly growing at rapid rates this summer, we have managed to squeeze in some great times with family and friends.  I spent 2 glorious weekends in Lawrence, one with my family and the other with good friends! We enjoyed being back in our old stomping grounds getting together with friends and catching up on all the news, there wasn't nearly enough time.

Joe fixed an organ in Oskaloosa and we got to ride around in their golf cart!
We shipped Joe off to Roanoke Virginia for 3 weeks and Canada for nearly a week and now back to Virginia.  He comes back in another 3 weeks so we can have him here for the Labor Day Weekend whilst I am in labor with our 5th child.  There is no doubt that this little addition will be a big boy, I feel enormous!! Sept 3rd is the scheduled induction date, please cooperate baby, please, please!




Zach went on the Jamboree with the family- he will do his own post all about that later!  However, we did have an unusual time in St. Louis when we caught up with the rest of the gang to go to City Museum.

After we saw Lewis and Clark drowning in the Mississippi, and enjoyed a few hours of good hard playing at the museum we came out to find our cars broken into and various items stolen, like Anne's stereo, and most of the i-pods and gaming systems, and cameras with their photos from their 2 week journey, several sets of scriptures in their "deceiving" cases, our TV/DVD player, our swimwear and jammies and library CD's, and wouldn't you know it a 6 pack of Costco blueberry muffins!  Even criminals get hungry I guess- I am glad they left us the apple streusel muffins, cause I like them the best!  We hope they sat down and read the scriptures while they were devouring the muffins, presents a good picture doesn't it?
Opted for a cage for Zach
They finally made it to the 10 story slide and the other pipe organ

Mom and Dad glad to have some moments to themselves
Kaija, Alysha, Babs and Annie soaking it all in
The Crime Lab showed up and dusted everything


Who knew you could have so much fun!  We will have to catch up on the rest later, needless to say it has been eventful!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Oh what do we do in the Summertime?

My, my how the time flies. I think about posting things on here quite regularly, but the ebb and flow of daily life always places options in front of me, and it would seem that everything else has been winning over actually documenting what goes on!  But this is what we do in the summer time!


It is all a blur really, since the cherries are done, and the other fruit isn't quite ready yet, we have moved on to other projects like ripping out the bushes from the front of the house, this was no small feat, but we are really enjoying the results and perhaps once we get the roots dug out there won't be water issues in the basement! We have been to Powell Gardens a couple of times enjoying all the wonderful things there- right now they have big bugs on display which are just fantastic. I made Joe take one Saturday off so we could spend time together doing something besides yard work!

The humidity is officially here, zapping away all energy reserves.  I have to play chicken with the rain storms to get my lawn mowed and we like to always have 15 projects going on at the same time, inside and out, so that not a single one gets completed.  The wildlife here, most notably the deer and groundhogs, make Joseph very edgy since they do rotten things like eat all the goodness that we have worked so hard to plant. They leave it alone for a little while, then suddenly sneak up in the wee hours of the morning and strike with no thought of their actions.  Joe keeps a vigilant watch, but all these rain storms wash away all the critter deterrent that we have applied- sometimes I wonder if it is really worth all the extra money and time and frustration!
Well even with all that other stuff, I do admittedly really love certain parts of the summer, like watching the fireflies in our backyard- it is something to behold.  God is good, because he blesses us with these delights even in the face of hideous things like chiggers and humidity.  I am just very thankful for central air conditioning, especially this year; I wasn't brave at all to use the attic fan with the windows open as I usually do, nope not me, not this time.  It got hot and I turned on the good old AC, I am happy with my decision!


So what have we been up to??  Well, Joe is running around like a mad man trying to complete all his projects at work, and home and church- he really could use a vacation, too bad he can't have one!  I have been keeping busy with some different jobs all stemming from my association with Joseph's employment.  It has been interesting, but I really like the flexibility of being able to choose my own hours and do be able to do some of the work at home. Among other things, I have been wiring action boards for the organ that is being installed in Roanoke Virginia and have allegedly surprised some folks with my amazing skills! What can I say?
This week, we have taken Kaija, Izzi and Eli in to help out at the shop- they have actually been very helpful and have put their creative minds to work, and more importantly, a smile on their dad's face!
Zach has been up in St. Joe for scout camp this week and we are missing him, it is far too quiet without him here! Not sure what we will do when Joe is in Virginia and Zach is tromping about the country with Gram and Papa and some cousins for the National Boy Scout Jamboree. Yikes, we will just think about one day at a time right now- don't want to get ahead of myself too quickly!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Pictures for Zach's Post


To those who wanted pictures of the cherries here they are; we are so glad to have them all picked and pitted and frozen!  -Zach 


Next is Blueberries unless the Raspberries or Blackberries beat them to it!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Zach's First Ever Post

I am so glad that school is finally out! No homework for two months straight, and I can now relax, sort of. I can't believe that I will be in eighth grade next August - piles of even harder homework to finish by, "Next class all you evil pupils! Mwahh hahahahah!" I can't wait for all the madness to begin again. Why do we have to have ten thousand fruit trees in our yard? I have no clue! Yesterday we got yet another tree, this one a Paw paw tree. I think last week we got some berries and maybe another peach tree!  We have to finish picking all of the cherries this week, which is not one of my favorite chores, especially pitting the cherries. The sticky, over-sweet smell of the cherry juice is about enough to make me leave the room in a dash. To all those who like pie cherries, please, keep on liking them, but I am firmly avoiding the cherries this summer. I wish that some scientist out there could invent a bubble filled with cool air that could enclose you while doing yard work so that it wasn't so hot and exhausting outside. Recently this summer, I have figured out that the hot sunlight has left me tired after a few minutes outside, and that my naps have became even longer than usual.

We just got in from picking another seven bowls of cherries, along with weeding the entire garden. Thankfully we started picking cherries at ten o' clock, which was right after a thunderstorm, so it was 60 degrees and the cherries were sprinkling cold water on us when we picked them. After an hour and a half, we finished the cherries and went on to weeding the crabgrass that was in the garden, which took at least thirty minutes, and there is still more to obliterate! I took a shower when we got in, and it felt good to cool off for a few minutes. Thank goodness that we are inside the rest of the day!
                                                                                                                                   -Zach

Sunday, May 30, 2010

HOT

It is hot outside. Thank goodness for air conditioning.