The past few days...

It was Vicki's birthday on this evenin'....so she got a scoop of ice cream with whip...Happy Birthday, Lovely V!

Barbara and Sarah...in the pic below, they are kinda hidden so they got their own picture! Lucky girls! Fun ladies! I'm blessed to know them!

a remnant of our Ladies Bible Study group, meeting at BJ's Brewhouse...good times!
let's go around the table starting at Pinky in the front, whose name is Sandra, Belinda in the yellow, Sarah, Barbara, Mary in the waaay back, Linda, Mariah, who is Vicki's daughter, Vicki and yours truly. I was leaning down so my being would not be in the way...it was a great time!

Tuesday was a heeeeeeeectic, crazy weird day....and in the midst of all that, Molly was fussy and whining....I was here and there but when I went to check on her, this is where she was. The poor punkin could take being up no longer! sweet pea. Levi was keeping his eye on her! thanks, buddy!

After our morning chaos let up and we went to piano lessons, we found a good park in G-wood so the kids could let off some steam and get some fresh air! I swear the 13 and 14 year old kids are the biggest kids of all. but that's what I love about 'em. mostly.

Ethan's turn to make the merry go round go round...

Sweet ride, Moll.

this was the cutest part of the day...watching the short one run around...what is it about short, little people running that is so darn cute? could it be her woman sized head with all that "lady hair" flopping 'round? or those stubby arms flailing? or the way she bounces instead of runs? I dunno...'tis cute!

the older kids were not thrilled that I asked them to do this...but the one that really didn't want to hold hands? Levi. Ethan's outfit is kinda funky because he was dressed and ready for our next stop, the YMCA! Yah! and no, Levi is NOT wearing man-pri's (guy capri's)...he just has some unusually long shorts on...sheesh...

love this running away from me shot...

subdued....

lovely Mel

Molly wasn't that fond of being thrown in the air...


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Things continue to be unusually busy around here....I don't know how I feel about that. :)

Tammy and I were talking about missing the quieter, more low key days of the younger kids scene. What's with this high energy lifestyle + teens/pre-teens? Our babies will never know that more homey time. Soccer has started, karate is in full swing, piano lessons, trips to the YMCA, running hither and yon....ahhhh. I am grateful for a car to drive, and a bit of $ in my pocket, though it does go fast with my crew....so please don't think for one second that I write all this to complain.

Just noticing. I can look forward to the quieter days of summer, when we can just kick back and hang out at the manor, swimming, tanning, playing! I will hang onto the lazy days of summer!

Today is a bit more low-key...home, catching up on laundry, helping Mel organize her room (yes, I'm helping her...the Anti-organizer), checking out math statuses, hopefully getting caught up on lots of stuff....like David's blog, facebook....so on that note, I'm outta here. Hope you enjoyed the pix....please continue to pray for little Stellan (My Charming Kids)...his heart rate is not going down! How unbelievably scary for his parents...but how amazing to see their reliance on a big God...our Awesome God! Have a blessed day! Come back soon....LY

Please pray for Stellan and his family!

Sweet little Stellan needs your prayers!

visit his momma's blog, posted over on the right (My Charming Kids)...to see the updates!
He is tachycardic and needs his little heart to slow down! Pray for his parents, older siblings, family...Sweet little miracle boy...
You are in our thoughts, prayers, MckMama, Prince Charming...your hope and faith in Jesus Christ is inspiring!

Housey pictures

David has some of the nicer legs I've seen! (he's the cutie in all black)

mmmm cedar.

nothing smells quite as earthy, inviting, splendid as that!

Amazing how a few cedar boards can make a place seem that much more put together.

Yeah, we've got a way to go...but this was the push it needed to tie it up a bit more....yeah, we wish our money tree out back was budding again (big smile inserted here) so we could put on the cool siding ... 'tis oh so neat!

Good work, guys!

I will have to take more pix tomorrow, in the daylight again, but when we got home tonight, it was dark...and there was even more completed! wow!

makes me feel so grown up.

ha ha.

Happy Spring tomorrow...7:44 a.m. Vernal Equinox...you can balance an egg on this day! Try it.

this time last year and some deep thoughts...

can't believe this was one year ago...

sweet girls!

oh, I miss this sweet, chubby baby face...don't you, B?

and then this...

I actually miss this....

Beautiful baldy and Harriet, her cousin...Toupee...isn't that what we called her?

so, this time last year, I was still carrying around Fatty Patty in her baby seat...

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Happy Thursday to ya! I'm kinda low on pix right now...need some inspiration!

I've enjoyed looking back at these way cute pix of Molly and Nora...I had forgotten how chubbalicious Nora's babyhead was and how Molly looked like she was wearing a toupee...hilarious! man, time flies!

The guys from TMorgan Constr. are doing a fabulous job on the ol' homestead! If you need any home improvement, anything built, anything made to look 100% better than it does already, these are your guys. Craftsmen! Very professional, very kind, very talented! I'm hoping to get some pix of their hardwork up later....we are muy impressed!

I'm just wondering, as I sit here, if life will ever really slow down? I mean, I know it will when I die, but for real...things are just downright busy! I thought today might offer some peace, but I forgot about Mel's dental appt., and the fact that all the kids need some form of clothing or another. Mom, why didn't you tell me I would be so booked? I honestly think things are busier even these days than what they were when my sibs and I were younger! Stop! take a deep breath...choose JOY...and thank the Lord that we have the means and the freedom to go about our business, do the things we WANT to do. Realizing, of course, that we are so blessed to move about...

So sad to hear that Natasha Richardson (Parent Trap, daughter of Vanessa Redgrave, acting royalty) died...Liam Neeson's wife, (Aslan, Qui Gon Jinn, Rob Roy, Michael Collins, the bad guy in Batman Begins)...one of my fave actors...she was only 45...FORTY-FIVE! beginner skiing lessons (THIS is why my kids won't ski, folks) I just feel so bad for her 12 and 13-year old sons....it's just sad. Makes ya think...bet she didn't plan on dying when she went to that lesson.

On another, less depressing note, I worked with David last night...that was kinda fun. I don't know that I'd want him to be my boss...ha ha. Get it?

Gotta run, kids are slacking. Peace!

Mondays and Tuesdays are always crazy

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So, how are ya?

I'm relieved. I'm always relieved when Mondays and Tuesdays are over, not in a bad way, just a busy, busy way.

Monday was great because we had two extra girls at our house..Annie and Sarah were here...and that's always cool for Mel, who is always so sadly outnumbered over here. Then it was van cleaning day, off to drop the girls back home and over to Kristen's for the Beth Moore study....last night was cool because we got to send Kristen and her family off on their nearly 2-month trip to Hungary, where they will be adopting 3 more children to add to their family of 5...SIX KIDS! whoa nelly! So, Kristen, Tom, wherever you are tonight? you are in our prayers as you fly over the ocean and land in unfamiliar territory tomorrow...and as you meet your new family members! Check out their adoption blog at www.nemeth-csalad.blogspot.com.

Tuesday....after getting in at 3:30 a.m., David was up, bright and early to begin taking down our old siding...before TMorgan Construction showed up to begin their work! that is what the house pix are up above...nice guys, amazing work! we are astounded! whodathunk that trimming out our windows in cedar boards would make our house look so much cooler and so much different. I didn't. but I'm simple.

Mel, E, Molly and I left at 2 for piano and other amazing errands...and just got home at 9...that was a long, busy trip out and I'm ready to crash and burn!

so that's that. hopefully, I will have cool house pix to post tomorrow. G'night!

Weekend Update #124

Levi and his friend, Zion, from Horizon...say that three times fast...Zion from Horizon, Zion from Horizon, Zion from Horizon...whew! He is a funny kid and his awesome red hair makes all of us momma's jealous!

my bug eyes indicate that I was telling the photog to just take the beepin' picture...

my kids ARE big! Mel, ten, Will, 14, Ethan, 13...ahhh!

Molly's face was cracking us all up...she did this same expression in mostly every shot...

love my little brood! our driver took this for us..

we're still having fun, and you're still the one! I am honored to say that!

it's funny that when you start to lose weight, people just want to pick you up, put you on their backs and stuff....hee hee. I was actually on his back here...look closely at his face...he was suffering!

I love my dork...

E. can make some faces too...kinda like his mom.

smooth sailing down Capitol Ave...don't try this at home, folks!

This train had us stopped in our tracks for a good 10 minutes...sheesh!




this is what I was doing while we waited for train to pass...

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If you live in Indiana, did you experience some beautiful springtime weather today? O man...that sunshine and warmth does my soul some good. It could be 65 all year long and I'd be a-ok with that!

This weekend has been enjoyable...

*Friday night, enjoyed some shopping with B., her two girls and my #3-5...although I'd rather put a pencil in my eye than shop with Levi, Molly, it wasn't too bad. At the end of our trip, a little girl walking with her parents decided to throw up man-sized puke in the middle of Macy's. yes, we walked in it but we tried hard not to. it was EVERYWHERE! She was like Linda Blair in the Exorcist. (I have never seen that movie but who hasn't seen that clip?) We got some much needed clothing shopping started and had great success! I love new clothing!

*David and E. got up early and attended Horizon's Men's Breakfast...where Mel, Will, Moll, Levi and I met up with them to finish the church cleaning.

*David and the big 3 went to their first soccer practice of the spring season and I quickly departed with #4 and #5 to my mom's. she graciously watched them for me so I could work my guts out at the Y with my beautiful sister. When we got down to the grown up ladies locker room, to enjoy some hot tub/sauna time, we were bummed that the hot tub was in need of repair. We did enjoy sweating our guts out in the sauna though.

*Came home, slept for ages and then Mel and I went to the store with no one else (yup, we even got to leave "Sybil" at home)...to get salad stuff and pizza for dinner.

*played some Apples to Apples...always fun...I won violent, weird and neglected. hmmm. they say the cards you win say a lot about you. don't get me started on neglected. ate some jelly beans and Reese's eggs, and David proceeded to feel the need to puke for a while. He didn't though. TMI? yup.

*Up for church...so glad to be going this morning, since we have missed the last two weeks...wonderful worship service, great message from Tim and wonderful fellowship afterwards. amazing! Didn't exercise at all today.

*Home again...light lunch, made some of Donna's salsa...mm mmmm good. I could eat it all day..her version is my fave...come smell my breath. maybe you can from where you are...it's highly possible. poop breath. prep for an evening at the canal.

*Oops, no canal...let's go on a carriage ride...that was the most fun! nothing like driving thru downtown Indy with 6 of your favorite loved ones, sniffing horse poo. We did try to check out the scene of a big blaze that occurred on the canal last week...big apt. building and homes up in blazes...all blocked off...can't see but boy could we smell it. eerie.

*Trains, taco bell, emails for David...now I must go to bed...Annie and Sarah K. are hanging with us tomorrow....we will be praying for you, Tambo.

Hope your weekend was as lovely as ours. I really do. Hope to be coming outta the bloggin' slump. I think I can, I think I can....God bless you!

Cute nieces, daughters and girls that try hard...

This is Beck's new charm necklace with her girls' names on the front and birthdates on the back...'tis so cool! Mine would weigh about 25 pounds....

Beck & Mom took the 3 youngers for me last weekend when we went to Illinois...and B got some great pix of the young'uns...this is a classic!

cutesy...

Pipes, you are one stylish girl...

this is Nora throwing out the PEACE sign...you're cute girl...you really are.

Troublemakin' girls...

check out the expressions on these little gals...Piper, you are pure cheesecake.



we can't just take a serious picture...it goes against our nature...


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Not a whole heckuva lot going on over here today...Kinda under the weather (remind me to never say "we've been unusually healthy this winter....) though I haven't gotten full blown sick...just blah sick. it all sucketh.

Cleaning

Shopping for clothes for the family

Shopping for some food for the family

Getting ready for the start of soccer tomorrow...is it that time already?

Cleaning the church the rest of the way...

Pretty exciting stuff, huh? I know...hold me back.

Life is good, why is it so hard to choose joy somedays? David's keeping very busy, and we praise God for that, not taking that fact lightly in these uncertain days, the kids are doing very well, finishing Math and English by month's end...good times, blessed times.

Forgive the blah. This too shall pass. Have a wonderful weekend!