Ashby's festivities

Ashby's birthday was also in October. She's our big eight year old now. She was baptized at church by Roger on her birthday. We were so lucky to have both grandmas and grandpas here as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins. Do you think I took a picture of any of these guests? If you thought I did because that would be smart, you are sorely mistaken. I was just looking through my October photos and it's horrible. I didn't take a picture of anything. I do know that Roger's brothers Bryan, Richard, Kevin and his sister Karen were here with their families. We had lunch after the baptism at church and I can't even tell you how wonderful it was. We had several friends stay with us for both things and their help and support was truly invaluable. I really feel awful I didn't take any pictures, but it was a wonderful day and I hope Ashby will remember it anyway. One thing I would recommend, don't let your daughter ask you to speak at her baptism because you will be crying so hard it will be nearly impossible.

That Sunday was also our primary program. The girls were so excited that so many family members were here to see it. The program was exceptional and added to the great day.

Here she is before church opening her new scriptures. I like Roger in the apron, don't you? We were shredding pork for BBQ sandwiches. He was smart and wore an apron, I was again unsmart and was already in church clothes while shredding and ended up with grease stains all over my skirt. Do you think I changed before church? Sure didn't. I went with the story that it was water and would be drying any minute.

Before the baptism. I can't believe she's eight. Ashby is such a good girl, she is the best example to her siblings and to her friends at school. I am often struck by her compassion and can-do spirit. Ashby we are so proud of you for making the choice to be baptized. I can tell your testimony is growing each day. We love you!!!

Ashby with her new Penguins shirt. After all the fun of the day, we still got to come home have under the plates, cake and ice cream and open presents. Look, look I did get a picture of a visitor... that's Baby J, Karen's daughter. We were lucky enough to have them stay with us for a night.

Luke's birthday

Lukey Lu turned 2 in October. His birthday was on a Sunday and he decided to come into his Terrible Two's in style. He was really unhappy the whole day. I kept demanding that he cheer up, it was his birthday for heaven's sake, but he didn't listen. We sure do love this little boy though even when he's angry. He's a pretty thoughtful little boy and takes time to figure stuff out. He's our snuggliest baby by far. He really, really loves his daddy (I feel for you sometimes Rog.) He also loves trains and cars.

Was it wise to get him a hammer and something to hit with it? I'm not sure, but so far so good.

He could actually blow out the candles and I actually missed it with the camera, but here's the before.

A happy looking birthday boy. Happy birthday Luke, I love you too!

Avery's birthday

I'm so behind and I really want to remember this stuff, so buckle up, here we go!

Avery turned six back in September. I can't believe it. She is a wonderful girl. She loves school, her friends and anything girly. Again this year, we were driving to Virginia on her birthday so we celebrated a day early. She is rather easy going about things like this and she loves to go to Virginia too.

Avery was the recipient of our first pet. She had no idea and was surprised and excited. It's a beta that I named Casper because no one could come up with anything else...

Getting ready to blow out the candles.

Avery on her birthday in new clothes from Grandma. I love you Avery, happy birthday!

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Well it's the end of August and here in PA that means the start of school. Can I just say, for the record, I don't like it, not one bit. Avery started kindergarten yesterday. This means that after the easing in period she will be going to school all day as well. That means both my girls, my helpers, my friends are going to be gone ALL day. Nope don't like it, not one bit. On the brighter side Avery was extremely excited to start school. She has Ashby's kindergarten teacher which is wonderful. Ashby says she isn't excited, but she comes home happy so it can't be all bad. What are Luke and I supposed to do all day without them?

Here's Avery on her first day. She is all skirts and sparkles.

Here's Ashby on her first day, she's all tennis shoes and boy backpacks!

In other changes Avery finally lost her first tooth. She kept waiting and waiting and finally got it out. Her permanent tooth is all the way in behind it. Yikes.

In other sad yet happy yet necessary yet watch Chelsea eat her words news, we traded in our Jeep. I loved the Jeep, but not lately. It had issues that were too expensive to fix and had 168,000 miles on it, so I guess it was time.

We got this instead. It's painful to share with the world because I've always said I would never drive a minivan. Turns out we aren't in a position to afford the Suburban I would like, so this is what we came home with instead. To my credit it's a Honda which we love and it will last forever, which is good or bad if you're me and want something else sometime before 2035.

The timing of the new car couldn't have been better because another big change (pictured below) will be coming on or around March 12th.

A little ho hum

I really do like the summer, I really do. But at the same time I would like it a lot more if I spent three months in Lake Tahoe or at the ocean. About this time every summer I'm starting to feel ready for the structure and busyness of fall. That's my excuse for not blogging this time... anyway here are some pictures, mostly for my mom!

We had a pretty low key Fourth of July, but there were sparklers, always sparklers.


Roger had a business trip in Cincinnati and invited us to come along. We went to the Children's Museum while he was working. Luke is obsessed with lawn mowers. He was so pleased to see they had these in a toddler area of the museum. He tried to push it up the slide. I was a little sad to put a stop to it because I would have liked to see how far he could have gone.

We actually stayed in Covington, KY which is right across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. This huge bell was in the nearby town of Newport. I couldn't really figure it out, but it was huge so I took a picture. It was called the Peace Bell, so there you go...

In June we had to make this rather unfortunate upgrade. Our fridge just stopped working, so we had to replace it. We knew we wanted a new fridge, but I didn't want one right now. There's still the business of the furnace that we need to replace, but I guess your food has to stay cold too.

Before

After. We got this bad boy at the Sears Outlet. It's all dented, but who cares? The price was right and we have kids that dent stuff, it fits right in.

The gargantuan post of things I consider to be both fun and exciting

Here's my unintentional once a month posting and it's chock full of goodness.

May was one of the busiest months we've had. Ashby was playing soccer and softball, Avery was playing t-ball and having dance class once a week. Roger was working a lot and I went to Utah for a week. There are only a few pictures, but trust me we had a good month.

June brought the end of school (YIPEE!!!). Summer has already been eventful and fun. We look forward to more sleeping in, playing outside and doing other summery things.

Look at my all way cooler than me siblings. Aren't they all so beautiful and handsome. I went to Utah for a week because my sister Katie (far right) had some surgery and needed help with her rugrats. I'm not going to lie to you, it was so fun to be away for a little while. Roger took the week off stay home with our kids. Katie and I had so much fun and I got a good dose of my other sisters and brother too.

Avery participated in her year end dance recital. And look Kevin, Kelly and Ethan were there too. We were very glad to be done with dance class and the recital was a great note to end on.

Try not to shudder in horror, but this, people, is my bathroom. Yes it's carpeted, why? Who knows. Note the red towel near the toilet. We had a leaking toilet a few months back and that section of the carpet had to go. I mean really you can only go up from here right? Did you note that I said Kevin and Kelly were here? They never get to come with out being put to work.

This is what they accomplished. Isn't is so great you could cry? Maybe that's just me. There is more to do in this bathroom, but if nothing else got remodeled, I would still be happy. I feel so much joy every time I go in there, I can hardly stand it. Did you know tile could make a person so happy?

We went camping last weekend at Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland. The weather cooperated and we had so much fun. There was a lake so we spent most of the day Saturday swimming. The kids had fun, well I know the girls did and Luke well he's a different story. There was always something going on that made him unhappy, at least he's cute.

This was our little cabin and we also had a tent pad. The bathrooms were just off and to the right, overall it couldn't have worked out better.

Luke ate sand and drank the lake water.

See that canoe? It's holding Kevin, Ashby, Avery and Roger. I think they had fun and no one fell in.

I hope there's much more of this this summer. Being outside and sharing a snack, is there anything better?

Girl, you really got me now

Avery: Life is really hard sometimes.
Me: That's true, but it's also really good sometimes too right?
Avery: Yeah, like especially on pay day.
Me: Yeah that is pretty great.
Avery: Because then you get money.
Me: I like it when we get money.
Avery: But life is really bad when you get in a tornado.
Me: ?????
Avery: That happened to me once.
Me: ???? (comprehension slowly coming)
Roger: She's talking about the game of Life.
She had me going for a while there. Turns out my five year old is not turning into a tiny philosopher, thank heavens!