cousins...

more on this later....just wanted to say HI!

Ketchup!

Charlie's a tenderhearted little dude and he was so cute with Molly.

Whatta good big cousin boy.

the FIVE handsome grandsons...some of them were looking at me, some of them were looking at Tom...I did tell them to keep looking at Tom till he was done but nonetheless...sorry Tom.

The FIVE lovely granddaughters

not sure if it'd make the Christmas card but it's in the running. wonder if I could photoshop the wooden spoon OUT?

as always, picture perfect.

Andy, Duncan, Phebe and Charlie.

All TEN of my parents grandkids

This is a miracle, in and of itself. 18 people, 10 of which are KIDS, 95 degree heat (not including the scorching heat index), tired and cranky babies and to top that off? we were too far back for the little remote to work so we all had to collectively scoot forward. I'd say this turned out pretty awesome! Hoot HOOT!

I have quite a bit of catching up to do...so I will start slowly.

My brother and his 3 kids returned to Cali this past Tuesday. Always sad. It was so nice to get to be with him and all of his kids. It's not wrong to wish they lived in the same area, is it?

I am so glad we were able to get the 18 family member picture above. That was no small feat...These pix were from last Sunday, August 15th (which was also my kid bro's 35th birthday)...we went to church with my parents and then descended onto their house to photograph.

On that note, my parents are on their way here, so I'd best get some coffee brewing.

Hope you are enjoying this overcast, rainy Saturday. I know I am.

It's all relative...

I thought Molly was a little "toughy" till I met this little crazy cat for the third time....she tunks around like she owns "the place"....and she puts up with no bull! cute! tough! spunky! sassy just like her momma! Your girls are sweet, Dawn.

My big boys...

whose food can I eat now?

I think I'm safe....I don't think Dawn is a regular Livin' the Good Life follower, so she won't notice this picture...but the pic of Taylor is pretty funny!

Levi and Laynee...second cousins can marry, right? eww. j/k

David's trusty side kick (you are doing awesome, big bro), Tom. He is notorious for pulling a Sean Penn when the camera is pointed at him...but when he's snapping shots? watch out...he gets some pretty wild pix...

cute girls

it's like looking at pics from the past, except that Dawn is four years older than me and Molly really doesn't look all that much like me...but Taylor, the little toe-head next to Mollsy??? she is the SPITTING image of her mother!

I thought it was cute the way Molly ran from me when I let her out of the stroller. no really, Mel was walking with her...and this little pug likes to give her patient big sister a harrrrrrd time.

______________________________________

Part of our Michigan family came down for a visit last week...Lanie (my aunt, she was married to my mom's brother, and he passed away almost 10 years ago...can u believe that, guys??), her daughter, Dawn, and Dawn's two little chicklets, Laynee and Taylor...We visited the mall, the local Mickey D's playland, soccer practice, ate dinner a couple different times in the hotel dining room....and the catch up visit was nice....Thanks for coming down, gals!

We had a very nice time! I'll have to stalk Dawn's facebook page to put some of her pix on here....until then...hope you had a fantastic weekend. Be back later.

"I like her bangs"

"Your hair looks really dorky, Molly"



This is funny to me. funny that these are the daughters of my sister and I. funny that after all those years of playing house, dreaming what our kids would be like, these are the kids that God has blessed us with (of course, I'm not including my three boys but you know what I mean). It's also funny to me that Beck's girls look so much like their dad and my girls look so much like their dad (good thing, huh?) and each one of these females has such a unique personality. all different. so stinkin' cute..some more laid back than others...


Poor Molly, stumbling around like the lights have been turned off...cruel parenting. I can't help that the child has stick straight bangs and she refuses to keep the barrette in. Nora looks like she's saying "so glad my mom styles my hair"

~Can you tell me what movie that title line is from?

Here are a few pix from this past Sunday night's visit with my sis and her girls.

I went around after Miss Moo this morning, just snapping some shots of her going here and there...she is non-stop. time for another "this time last year" installment. to make me weep soberly for the baby that has been replaced by this spaz.

In other news, a quiet day on our homefront. Well, kinda. David isn't working but he is taking the boys out to meet a friend. Thank you, ol' boy...now I can stay home and do some school and exercise with whatever kids are left. Tonight, Levi has soccer practice...and all my laundry is caught up. I don't believe it. I hope that you, whoever you are, have a lovely Wednesday, for we are having one here in the midwest...76 degree day. Amen and welcome Autumn. Talk at ya later!

Walking for Life, locked in and sunburned babies

Mel hangin' with Adelaide...

compare these two shots of Molly...almost exactly one year apart and sunburned again and in brown polka dots...spooky!

Ahhh, the weekend. A time to rest, reorganize and relate. Right?

Maybe in the past but not at this point in our lives. We said no to doing some things so our fall season would be a bit more "relaxed". Hmmmph. Silly girl. Craziness finds us. (and that's ok with us)...The Lord presents us with so many cool opportunities. Let me list a few because I know you are dyyyyying to hear 'em. right? you're still here, right. thought so.

1.) We had a kick-off picnic for the new homeschool activity group we are a part of on Friday night. Let me just say homeschoolers know how to parrrrtaaay. I just want to say that our family is so blessed and thankful to be a part of such an awesome group of peeps, raising their kids in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is NOTHING like it. Twenty families, 80 + people...games, food, fellowship, praising, encouragement. The pictures speak for themselves. If that wasn't enough (we closed the place down at 11 pm), we hung out with some friends and watched "Signs" until 3 am. smart move.

2.) Walk For Life: Wow...again. What a neat opportunity...The local Crisis Pregnancy Centers (now called Life Centers, I think) had their 25th annual (wow, I'm almost as old as them...hee hee) Walk...it's not a long walk (one mile around the grandstand at the Indiana State Fairgrounds) but it's a neat operation, respectable and the speakers were not afraid to say the name of Christ...in fact, one of the main ladies (Christy) got us all fired up, reminding us of what a powerful God we serve...among some other awesome traits of Jesus Christ (Creator, King of Kings). All 7 of us went, we donated some money, we all got t-shirts and enjoyed some family time! Shoot, they had stacks of boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts...so that is when I knew it was a classy operation (that's for you C)!!

3.) Mel's first soccer game, which then turned into Will and Ethan's first soccer games, even though they were technically taking the fall off. Ha. I should've known they'd get recruited. But they are glad and always excited to be a part of it. Will even scored yesterday...and I saw it! Melanie even locked the van keys in the van so after the games, we tried to stick various kids' arms and even Amy's into the cracked window...a sweet, slim young girl came to our rescue and saved the day!! David's sister, Amy, and her three girls came down from the north side of Indy to spend the afternoon/evening with us. A full day.

We attended the Horizon Worship service this morning and heard Jason bring the message...he spoke, very thoroughly, on worship, why we worship, how, when...and it was really refreshing to hear...We feel so blessed, again, to have found such a sincere body to be a part of. We are continually amazed at how the Love of Christ just overflows in this group....

After church today, David went to work over in Terre Haute...so the kids and I came home to clean (reorganize) and then Mel had a birthday party she was going to at 5 pm. At 7 pm, my parents and my sis and her two lovelies came down for some dinner and fellowship. I guess, all in all, it was a very relational weekend...whew!....but it was packed full and honestly, it amazes me sometimes how we can get here and there with all these people. They (the smaller people) are so very helpful to David and I and we wouldn't get anywhere without them.

If you think about it, would you pray for Ethan today? He has a killer earache...it is so swollen, that the canal is almost shut...kinda freaky and he's hurting! I know he would appreciate your prayers!

Unexpected blessings!

The boys, with the explosion of mail goodness! We got a big box filled with all sorts of fun, and rather useful goodies!

I think the Kodak camera (that this pic was taken with) needs a date stamp re-do...this pic was taken on 7/6/08...Melanie in the tiara that she received from our loving and thoughtful cousins to the south!

O MY WORD! We got the biggest box of fun in the mail on Saturday. Can I just tell you that the mail lady had to bring it up to our door, it was so big?

Can I just tell you that when she knocked on the door, David was in the middle of his "work-out" with weights, loud music, no shirt. yes, a scary sight to some!

Can I just tell you that when I realized who said package was from, I shrieked and all the kids came a-runnin?

'Twas like Christmas morning at our place...paper flying, kids squealing, adults squealing as well!

I have some second cousins on my mommy's side that we've gotten back in touch with. Tory? remember her? new blogger? yeah, her and her parents sent this awesome package to us! Filled with cookies, candy, scrapbook stuff galore, stuffed animals, mini-flashlights, 10 in one tool for D., Larry Boy video, talking stuffed bull that seeps love, tiaras and make-up for Mel, pen games...o my word...I could keep going!

Thanks Tory, Linda, and David! You made our Day, month, year! That was great fun and we are grateful to you for thinking of us, taking the time out to send that to our doorstep! I know how much Tory loves the Post Office too! :) We love you!