Happy trails

Will left on a great adventure all his own today, and by that, I mean none of us are with him.

He is on a Spring Break Work Week with his PhosOntos group.

We look forward to hearing many cool stories and ways in which the Lord has worked in his life.

it's hard to come to grips with the fact that our firstborn boy is growing up.

exciting

Happy Monday Eve. Exciting things on the horizon for this week. I just know it.

shoulda known

I should've known on this day, that Molly was going to be a pistol. such a sweet baby she was...and kapow! now I'm stuck with Sybil of the split personality. more below.

I just added this because these days, though difficult in their own way, were so much easier than these days now. Now I have kids from 15 to 2.5 and whew...the dynamics are intense. teaches me to choose joy in each situation and circumstance I find myself in.

Hi there. I hope you are enjoying the lovely spring days God has given us. I know we are.

I let the littles out to play this morning. I opened the windows on the school side of the house so I could hear any tomfoolery. Not even five minutes later, I hear Levi's squeaky, screeching whine....er, scream that "Molly is running in the parking lot up the hill....."

Yeah, I look out the window and there are the curly q's bopping toward Waverly Rd. She was running like the wind...not a care in this world. heck no, she was FREE! FREE AT LAST. Melanie saved the day....but that 2 yr old is fast and independent.

A great way to start out this day. I long for simpler times. Less time in the car but with soccer on the horizon, that is NOT likely to happen. Will, you really need to look forward to driving...lift my burden. :)

I'll be back when I can form a coherent thought. I'm bushed tonight...but in spite of it all, God is good and takes such good care of us. I have no complaints...so forgive if it seems as if I do. my bad.

g'night.

Calvary Chapel Circle City

The church that we attend, Calvary Chapel Circle City, is MOVING into a new facility on Easter Sunday.

We have been meeting at the German American Klub since last July. This will be a nice change.

Just wanted to share these pix...If you need a place to worship, we can found next door to the Melting Pot and down the way a bit from Little Mexico on SR 135, just south of County Line a bit.

Hangin' by a thread or so it seems

either Molly is trying to lick her dad's (balding) spot or she's embarrassed because of the annoying game we are playing. I'll go with two. We were doing that weird thing parents do "Where's Molly?" "did we leave her in the resort?" and she responded by doing this weird thing with her tongue. I guess it made her feel less self-conscious. (I used to do weird things like this too)

Ahh, I don't think they want you standing on their fancy shmancy chair, Miss!

even the restrooms at the West Baden Resort were hoity toity...cloth towels, golden filigree mirrors, amazing hexagon tiles on the floor (my faves)...

this was actually on the way down to check out the job at the Springs Valley School. We really enjoy it when this kid sleeps. She's non-stop action and attitude lately. love is a commitment.

Hi.

How are you? I hope you are well. I really do. We aren't doing so well over here. Stress is an ugly thing. Even good stress takes it's toll.

With all of the changes taking place in our lives on an almost daily basis, it seems, I knew it was a matter of time till it caught up with David and I. He's been under the weather all weekend and it trickles down. Poor fella. Some good decisions have been made regarding his company and it's moving in a most excellent direction, just not as fast as in the movies. ha ha. :) The decision to sell his construction company was a great one. The decision to work on M-F only is an even better one.

It may take time but his dedication and drive tell me that it will happen.

Some fun things happening now, for posterity's sake or for that time when I go back for his records to remember what we were doing at this time...

-Soccer season starts soon and all four of the big kids are playing for one last time at MPCC before Will, and possibly E and Mel join a local, incredibly awesome travel homeschool league called the Thunder! Will is so flip-flappin' excited for some moving up.

-Life is crazy. good crazy. but crazy breeds tempers, anger and no peace so this week, after organizing, Goodwill piling all weekend, I am looking forward to freeing up my/our schedules a bit. Piano, guitar, karate, exercise time, AHG, library service doesn't leave much time to umm, breathe.

I'd keep going, and I know you are curious but I just realized the time and I'm supposed to meet my sista at the Y with my girlies!

Happy Monday...brb.

check out this blog...

Love to hear about new blogs...I met my cool friend, Stephanie, for coffee and she told me about this one...it's hard to fit in all we want to say in 2 hrs or less.

www.kellehampton.com

check it out...

you might have to go back into January to get the whole story...you may cry.

I did.

thanks Steph.

Not much

One of the many exciting activities we've been a part of lately.

Time to get out there and enjoy this awesome weather...be back later...gonna go get my walk/run in!

Happy St. Patty's Day to Ye!

Oh, and did I mention that Molly is nearly 100% potty trained? She was ready right around her 2nd birthday but I was lazy (she's still 4 mos from her 3rd)....she slept in her undies last night (oops, that was actually a mistake) and upon awakening, she told me she had to go potty. When I pulled her jammies off, howdy do...you are wearing undies, little miss....and they are DRY! Leave it to Sybil to get herself potty trained....she's such a go-getter. these are the little moments that allow her to stay in our house (I won't mention the little scene she gave when we were with friends this afternoon...smacking her mom in the face and screaming...yeah, we don't blog about those moments)...Sybil still needs her naps...esp. with all this fresh air we are getting!

Levi: a true non-stop delight and weekend fun!

this was taken on the way to his first day of 3 year old preschool in Mooresville! wish I could kiss the little 3 year old face again....I guess I'll go kiss the big 7 year old face. :)

always such a little bug.

this kid falls asleep in the weirdest positions and places.

fretful dude!

love his little chubba wubba face.

and this is one of my top 10 favorite Levi photos of all time. He had no clue that in 8 days, Molly would show up and take over as baby of the clan. He still fights her for that position.

wanted to showcase this little dude since I've been digging up pix of his older sibs and posting them like a madwoman. Levi, if you should ever read this, hope you know that, in spite of your jabber jaws and incessant questions, I am committed to you and want only the best for you. You are one handsome, intelligent, musical, thoughtful fella. I love you. I know your Dad does too.

Good Sunday afternoon!

Just sittin' here, adding up receipts for the mid month record of David's business...sounds like a good time, huh? it is. in all reality though, it's one of the last times I will be doing that...David sold his construction company to 3 really awesome guys last week. He will still work for them and promote his patent etc but the stress will be cut IN HALF, if not more. God is so good...the 3 guys are Christians (not to say that Christians are perfect). We are breathing huge sighs of relief over here...yehaaa!

Lots of things coming down the pike but I will update this blog later...gotta pick Will up from his youth group and then we are going to the Factory for dinner. I, of course, won't eat anything but delicious rabbit food (yum yum nibble) but it's the ambience we are going for...and nothing thrills my motherly soul more than watching my offspring and spouse split the Western BBQ burger meals.

Hope your day has been restful and that you are enjoying this milder weather as much as we are!

I didn't forget you, David...

such a fabulous husband you are...

u don't take yourself too seriously. and that's a good thing.

not afraid to laugh at yourself and have a good time.

such a thrill-seeker and all around fun guy...you always come up with the coolest, most fun things for all of us to do. thanks.

such a hard worker and provider...and creative and genius to boot.

such a good daddy....to all 5 of your kids.

I'm most of all impressed with your dedication to this family...and your commitment to your relationship with Jesus Christ. Even though we sometimes want to drop kick each other, I want you to know that I'm thankful for you and for the efforts you make every day. Even when I don't feel like it...deep down, I'm so blessed to have met you that summer day in 1992. I love you, my former lumberjack goofball. You astound me....and it amazes me that God would give you to me as my husband and greatest friend! whew...

Happy 39th Birthday. Whatta Guy.

Twin birthdays and easy like Sunday morning...

while taking "ambience" photos, I caught Natalie throwing out the peace sign. There really isn't a much cuter human female than this little momma to be.

David is the guy without glasses (though the eye doc tested him and said he will need glasses again. bummer) and Matt is the guy with glasses. Do they look like twins to you?

Cool Hand Mel. not so much. we might need to get a pool table so we can tweak the kids' pool skills.

The Party was taking place in that upper lofty place...I am really quite fond of the tin ceiling.

Natalie, all glowy and such...and the rest of 'em...Emilie is in awe of her sister, Nick looks like he's picking his nose, though he wasn't...and Will, well....

Sunday morning, we stopped by Matt's uber cool top floor apartment. Here, he is showing us his favorite gift...yes, that is a take and bake Pyrex dish. I was just impressed that it was his fave gift and that he actually knew how to use it and was pretty darned excited about it.

Matt and his lovely lady friend, Katrina.

Twinkies. um, David appears to be taller than Matt here....but as you'll see below...

they are almost exactly the same height...they compare their heights frequently.

Katrina's adorable pooch, Frances, checking Will out.

I won't expound much on the above photos, since I already did.

i will say this...

Molly stayed with Beck and her fam. If you are my friend on Facebook, you surely saw some of the funny photos that B. sent me of Moo in various events. my favorite MMS was the Carwash Horror. I know Moo had fun, in spite of herself. Thanks Beck and Scott. I smooch you...

Levi stayed with my parentals. He is spoiled. That is all i will say about that. thanks Mom, Dad, Tom, for taking such good care of Levner. Hugs to you.

It was nice (stayed in the Drury) and went by too quickly but I'm so appreciative of the help that my family gave...THANK YOU....and for the time we had to just get away. You really realize how much work those littler people take. And how much NOISE. but hey.

We had a great time.

I really shouldn't blog when I'm overly tired. g'night.

Downsizing....An update...

The kids and I were lucky enough to be able to get out of town two weeks ago, to visit David on his Fort Wayne job. Conveniently, our nieces, Abigail and Alexandra, live their with their awesome family. We know their dad well but had not met his wife, Teresa her daughter, Tyra and their little boy Levi, yet. Teresa is one cool chick and we are so blessed to have witnessed their family life together.

Abigail, Melanie, and Alexandra...

Chow time....Patrick prepared a delicious spread of grilled salmon, steamed veggies, tossed salad...yum!

Mel and Levi were glad that they got to have the girls to the hotel for some swim time.

#1-3 with A and A...

and a few days later, it was time to celebrate the late February, early March birthdays...Randy stopped by just in time...he could smell the Boyden's cake from Peoria...

Beck: Feb 27. David: Mar 6. Tom: Mar 9, which also just happens to be tomorrow....and if that wasn't enough...the ol' dude is turning FORTY! couldn't have happened to a nicer fella.

We usually try to just lump all of their birthdays together. They seem to be ok with it. which is good, because none of us need 3 different cake occasions. EVER.

We had a hard time keeping Becky off of the cake...she's all about Boyden's cakes...and apparently, Molly and Nora are as well.

Happy March to you!

We had a sunshine-filled day today...and man, was it nice. I got to take Will to the Y with me before his guitar lesson...we had windows down in the van. amazing. smelled so clean and fresh. After our strength and 3-mile cardio session, we came home and I took Moo out for a 2 mile walk...she fell fast asleep. Fresh air is so good for that!

My hubby is so excited to have Randypants, our oldest boy, working with him on their big install in Michigan City. I really hope that Randy comes to work for us for good...but he's slightly nomadic and newly snagged so that may be difficult to do. So glad that D. can be on an out of town job with one of the coolest cats on the planet.

Otherwise, my next post shall include pix from our quick trip to Champaign-Urbana, Illinois this past weekend. We enjoyed meeting Matt's lady friend, Katrina and hangin' at Crane Alley with an eccentric group of humans.

If you were wondering why my pics are so small...it's in an effort to save MB space...I used up all my free space so I had to buy more. It's so worth it. so glad to be able to keep blogging. WordPress is too new and skeery to me.

Until then, sleep tight and sleep in heavenly peace.

Ol' Blue Eyes

Love digging thru the boxes upon boxes of pictures in my possession....

THIS is another one of my favorite Ethan shots.

He was such a beautiful boy, not that the other two weren't, but his eyes just would NOT quit. I am sucked into their deep blue...

This photo goes along with the one I posted of Will last week, in a bucket.

Hope your Sunny Thursday is delightful...I know mine has been so far...adios amigos!

Nephews...

This adorable lady is Natalie. She's been on my blog before.

She and her hubby, Nick, found out yesterday that in August of this year, they will welcome a little boy to their family and ours.

I have to say, we are pretty excited over here. Girls are sweet and all...but there have been a lot of girl births in our families over the past few years. Whatta sweet little NickNatian he will be.

Can't wait to meet him.

Just wanted to share the good news. Congratulations to you Nick and Natalie.

HELP!!

If any one of my faithful followers can help me, I'd be much obliged...

I want to keep this blog going. but Blogger tells me that I have no room for any more photos.

I went thru and started deleting posts to make room. I'm guessing, like comments that get deleted, that they aren't permanently deleted and hence, it's not making more room for newer posts.

Am I right?

Mel tried to update her blog today and it told her NO MORE ROOM. WHA???

Any help, (hint hint Kara, Natalie) would be super...I love you in advance!

I'll keep two blogs...it's no biggie...

I made room by deleting old pix that I no longer want to see, so I could keep looking at these little gems...this is the Molly as a Hobbit pic by Will Y.

I love old baby pictures of my babies.

Levi, you were such a challengingly sweet little guy. such a little bubba! so glad to have you in our lives. (p.s. glad you grew into your noggin a bit...your head was like Sputnik!)

I will continue to make room on my blog so I can keep the Google blog going as well as the WordPress blog...I'm quite the multi-tasker.

ha. yeah right...

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! New blog on the horizon...

I've met my photo quota on Google Blogger...so off to Word Press I go....

I love my Google Blog. sniff sniff. time to make it into a book.

when I become a millionaire.

but aside from that...my new link is as follows....

dl4everyoung.wordpress.com

come check us out. I'm trying to figure it all out. any pointers will be greatly appreciated.

Over and out....LY