Let's get this PARTY started!

School TIME!

It's come......
And I'm so unprepared.....
But come it has, and it's time to get this party started!



I had fully intended to start school last week when the public schools started, but it just didn't happen. For one thing....we got invited on an impromptu playdate, which I hope to post a little more about soon. So....today is the day and would you believe????

We were all finished up by 11:30!

Woo Hoo!!

Josh is loving Switched on Schoolhouse this year for 3rd grade. It is a new curriculum for him that is self directed and computer based. I'm hoping this will mean fewer battles between us. Don't worry...he'll still be doing some reading out of "real" books and handwriting. As well as some hands on stuff. At the moment though, we're going to take a little time to focus on learning the ins and outs of the program.

Andrew is thrilled to start his first year schooling at home, in Kindergarten. This is all new for me too, since Josh and I didn't start until 1st grade. So it's different territory, but I look forward to being able to focus some time on Andrew. He really seems to be needing it these days anyway! :) {Think: middle child.} He is so fun to be with and I can't wait to watch his eyes light up as he learns this year.

As far as little Nate goes....let's just hope and pray that he continues to nap well, and that those multiple naps are required for a long time!

So here goes.........Happy Learning!

Stay Tuned.........

..........updates and changes coming soon to a blog near you!

13 Years and Counting

Today is the day I married my high school sweetheart!

Thirteen years ago.

We literally WERE kids!

18 and 19 years old

We've been through many ups and downs together.

Grown up in adulthood together

We still love each other deeply and are happy with the life we share together...

...are so in love with our 3 beautiful, rambunctious and healthy boys.

...so grateful for our lives and our health.

...not wanting to take a second for granted.

...amazed by God's grace in our lives.

Happy Anniversary to my sweet Craig! I love you! Let's age gracefully together!

VBS

So last week, we had Vacation Bible School...

I taught Josh's class of Transition through 2nd grade, along with several great helpers. We had the largest class with never less than 19 students and as many as 21. I'd say we kept a pretty steady average, wouldn't you?

Overall, it was a pretty good week. All three boys seemed to really enjoy everything about it. They especially enjoyed the music! I love hearing them sing about Jesus. Speaking of that....

I listen to christian radio (KLOVE) anytime we are driving. One morning, on the way to VBS, I glanced back during a Third Day song to see Andrew singing with every passion in his body, "You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song...you are beautiful my sweet, sweet song...I'll sing again." It's fun to hear them sing the words to these songs. Such an easy way to get the Word in their hearts. Now, if I could just find some good old hymn singin' for them to listen to...

Back to Bible School....

Nathan did great! Never once did anyone have to come and get me. And that is where all the teenage girls fell in love....

A couple of pics..



One day we had some guests bring two snakes. A baby python and a 7 foot long boa constrictor!

Here's the boa! His name is "Peanut!"
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Fourth Fun

Every year on the 4th of July, we go to my Aunt Mona's and Uncle David's to celebrate. They absolutely live to entertain and have created a place just for that. It's hard to even describe, so hopefully a few of the pictures will shed a little light on why we enjoy going there so much.

First and foremost....it's the FOOD!

It wasn't all brought out yet in this photo...but this is the service area.


Uncle David is an excellent cook and can feed an army. Attendance was a little low this year for some reason, but even though David never knows how many to expect....there is always plenty of food. And variety! So yummy I can't help but overeat...

Then there is the 'public park sized' playground for the kids! See it in the background there?




I just had to post this one 'cause I think it's cool....




And the stocked pond for fishing...


or swimming....

That slide back there......it goes into the pond. There is also a big dock with a swing on it. Too bad I'm not a pond swimmer...


or boating...




You can't forget the miniature cars! A favorite of the boys. These pictures represent only a small sampling of the cars...


Unfortunately, Josh will no longer be able to ride them....legs...






And the cars can be ridden around and around this gazebo, which is the center of festivities.


A view from the gazebo...


What 4th of July would be complete without fireworks? The evening ends with a spectacular show!

Nathan enjoyed his first look at fireworks!


This picture does no justice for the quality....


Certainly, NONE of this would be complete without the fellowship of family and friends!
FUN TIMES....can't wait for next year.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

I know this isn't the best picture, since you can't even see his face...
but I wanted to post the most recent one I had since he's now healthier than he's been in years. So here you go...

Happy Birthday Grandpa! We Love You!

Cousin Capers

Next up?

Cousin fun!

My nephew Gillan and niece Gracie came for a visit for a few days. Josh and Andrew are always SO excited for their visits. Gracie and Josh are two peas in a pod and Gillan and Andrew are buds. And of course, Gillan and Gracie are both crazy about Nathan.

We had many adventures. I did not happen to capture them all with my camera. Many were with my Mom's camera. I did get a few though.

First up: Riding Dixie


Here's Nathan after he wallowed around in the sidewalk chalk drawings. He thought he was big stuff being turned loose to get dirty.


Gracie always enjoys the kittens. She even took one home the last time she was here. She reminds me so much of myself at that age, when it comes to animals.


Gillan and a kitty.


One day I took all the big kids to the pool. It was fun and relaxing for me since I didn't have Nathan to look after around the water. The others are getting quite good around the pool. Andrew still wears floaties, but is fearless with them. I am so proud of Josh for breaking out of the floaties this year. He's doing great! See......



Log roll dual...


Who's going to win?


Gillan is really growing up!


Always so photogenic...


Lookin' big!


Cheese!!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTY! (That's Gillan and Gracie's sweet mom...)

Babies and Bottles

I'm going to start with the first pictures on my camera. They were taken towards the end of June.

Nathan turned 9 months old on June 25th and here are a couple of shots of him that I got close to that day.



He now has 6 teeth,
can walk when pushing a push toy,
and crawls like nobodies business!

He can give hugs and kisses,
fingerpaint with poop,
and look so cute in the process you can't stay mad.

He has captured the hearts of all teenage girls at church,
with his dimples and curls,
and is unanimously nominated as the next Gerber baby.



At the very end of May, Josh and Andrew brought a couple of calves down to our house to raise.



They have been bottling them twice a day and giving them feed and water. On this day, the babies were a little sick and not very clean, so I am choosing not to post pictures that have them in view. The boys are looking cute despite the sweat! Boy, has it been HOT!





Stay tuned.........

De-Clutter

I have a TON of pictures on my camera...
just waiting to be uploaded to the computer, edited and posted.

So much to share...
but it has become necessary to do some decluttering around here.

So....
that's what I'm up to for the moment.

I'm not sure I will ever get it all done.
In fact, I'm quite sure I won't.

But while I'm in the "mood" for it..
..if you can even call it that..
..I am going to work at it.

Stay tuned. You never know when I might show up!

Dad Blessings

A Belated Happy Father's Day post for the Dad's in my life.....

I am SO happy and thrilled to have another Father's Day with my Daddy (David).
It is great to see him finally feeling healthy again!
Such a sweet blessing.



We had the rare opportunity for a 4 generation photo with the O Daddies. (Lloyd, Terry and Craig) Or.....would that be the Daddy O's! LOL
What a blessing!



This photo is from when Nathan was born and you can't see his face, but I want to also mention Craig's sweet step-dad (Dennis).
He is certainly a blessing to us.



We LOVE all of you!! Thank you for being blessings in our lives.

Dr. Andrew

So the other day...we're sitting at the table eating supper...

Andrew tells us when he grows up he's going to be a doctor.

He then proceeds to describe this contraption that he would invent for people who are not able to bend their knee. (He thought of this because Josh had a deep cut on his knee and couldn't bend it because of his band-aid.)

Then Craig says: Will you be a farmer on the side?

Andrew: On the side of what?

(laughter)

Me: Will you be a farmer in your spare time?

Andrew: I won't HAVE any spare time!!

(more laughter)



You go for it Little Man!

You will make an excellent Doctor. (Or whatever else you decide to be...)

Summer Reading

We have been to the library a couple of times for the summer reading program. They always have an activity or guest speaker and it's a lot of fun for the boys. After the program, they choose several books to check out.

The first day we went, Josh chose a book titled SHEEP. It is about a Border Collie dog and is probably the longest book Josh has read from cover to cover...at least up to that point. He read it in half a day and his reading comprehension was impressive to say the least.

Josh totally let himself be drawn into this book.

So much so, that when it didn't end the way he had hoped......

He was CRUSHED!

And seeing him crushed, crushed me.

So what did I do?

I read it too. (That's how I know he has good reading comprehension...)

I was confused as to why he was sad, because the book has a happy ending.

But, it wasn't the happy ending Josh wanted.....

So we don't talk about it anymore.

He's been a tad less enthusiastic with reading since....but hopefully he'll be able to once again let his imagination be drawn in by good reading very soon.

Bucket Seat

Can you guess what this is?



Give up?

Try it from this angle...



Why yes, that IS a 5 gallon bucket strapped with a seat belt, with a baby tucked inside.

And no....it never goes on the road.

This little invention was created by my dad (aka Grandpa) when Josh was a baby. Josh loved looking all around on the farm, so Grandpa rigged up this bucket (actually not this bucket, but one like it)....buckled in for safety! He could spin around and around and see out in all directions.

So....the other day, it was Nathan's turn to try out the "bucket seat" and well....

Let's just say he didn't last long enough to see anything before falling asleep.



Maybe next time...

Just Josh

Today marks the day Craig and I became parents.



It's been a full 8 years.

In some ways it has flown by.

In other ways, it feels like an eternity.

I barely remember the days of being childless, footloose and fancy free.

But really this isn't about me.

It stopped being about me 8 years ago...

Three months before the whole world changed forever. {9-11}

June 6, 2001 : D-Day

We went to the hospital to induce labor and meet our baby girl.

An uneventful day suddenly became one of the most defining of our lives.

Her head had dropped on the umbilical cord, and her heart rate was dropping fast.

I was rushed to the O.R. and quickly put under.

Hours later...

I wake and ask where my baby is.

Your baby boy is in the nursery.

Boy?

I was supposed to have a girl.

No, you had a boy.

A boy....huh! I have a boy....

Joshua Reed came into this world quickly, screaming loud and perfectly pink.



Praise God.

That BOY with dimples and piercing blue eyes changed our lives forever.

So who is Josh today?



Where do I begin?

Active. Energetic. Cautious. Loving. Caring. Smart. Creative. Artistic. Enthusiastic. Tenacious. Eager. Imaginative. Compassionate.

I know there are so many other words that could describe Josh.

And I'll be honest...

Some things about Josh are downright frustrating.

But, we love him.

We joke that one day he'll be famous for the very thing that drives us the craziest.

Josh likes to make noises!



All KINDS of noises!!

It's what he gets in trouble for the very most.

But, we love him.

There are so many wonderful qualities we can see in Josh.

He's a devoted brother.



A caring friend.



A tender son.



Sometimes we get a glimpse of the man he will become.

I particularly remember the watchful care he took of me during my pregnancy with Nathan.






I thought...what a sweet, compassionate husband he will be one day.

I watch him as he takes Nathan from my lap, just to play with him.



Or how he patiently handles his crying until I can get free to take him.



And I think....what a patient, playful and loving daddy he will be.

Then there are the times when we kneel as a family in our living room floor to pray.

And I hear him begin to echo the things he's being taught about Christ.

And my heart smiles.

And hopes.

That one day...

He'll be a great man of God whose LOVE knows no limits.

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY sweet Joshua!




We LOVE you!


A look through the years......

1 year old - 2002


2 years old - 2003


3 years old - 2004


4 years old - 2005


5 years old - 2006














6 years old - 2007


7 years old -2008


8 years old - 2009


MY.... how you've grown!