Speech Meet 2009

Jaron and Evan qualified for the Regional Christian School's speech meet back in February. It was yesterday. The kids all had the day off from school so we all went and made a family day of it and watched them compete. They both received Superior ratings and this year Evan followed in his brother's footsteps and was chosen to say his speech in front of the entire assembly. Unlike Jaron, Evan has been extremely nervous and initially didn't want to be chosen to say it in front of everyone. But as the time drew near to being selected, Evan admitted to really wanting an opportunity to do so. Well he got it. Here it is...

A morning at Lowes

We try to find something to do together as a family on 

Saturday mornings.  Generally in past winter months 

we do swimming lessons, but over the course of the 

last couple of months we have participated in the 

Lowes Build & Grow program for kids.  Twice a 

month on Saturday mornings they have a building 

project for kids to make with parents.  When your 

finished you get a certificate and a badge to put on 

your apron that they give you the first time you attend.  

The best part of it is that it is all free.  The kids love it 

and ask us every Saturday if its time to go to Lowes.  

So far they have made a pumpkin, football goal, 

gingerbread house and this week we made time 

capsules.  We have had a great time doing this and 

we all look forward to it.  Next month we are making 

jewelry boxes (which the boys are going to give to 

their teachers) and race cars.  Should be fun!

Stairway laced with toys

Yesterday I was cleaning the main floor of our home trying to get ready for Thanksgiving.  It will just be our family around the table, but there are few things as relaxing as a clean home on a holiday around the house with family...so I was placing all the boys things that need to go back to their room on the stairs.  This is a ritual of ours since we live on four stories of house.  We always place them on the stairs and we are all supposed to carry something up whenever we head up the stairs, unfortunately this rarely happens and I usually have to assign them to clean the stairs when I'm splitting up duties.  Anyway, I looked over at the stairs while I was sweeping and the song that Jenette loved as a teen hit me hard.  We all liked it growing up, but now the words pierce deeply.  I am so thankful for my husband and my kids.  They are my life.  My father is always telling me not to blink.  I try to remember, but sometimes forget.  I pray that this weekend of thanksgiving I take in every moment of our family just being.  I hope you do too.

There are watercolour ponies

On my refrigerator door

And the shape of something

I don't really recognize

Drawn by careful little fingers

And put proudly on display

A reminder to us all

Of how time flies

Seems like endless mound of laundry

And a stairway laced with toys

Gives a blow by blow

Reminder of the war

That we fight for their well-being

For their greater understanding

To impart a holy reverence

For the Lord

But, baby, what will we do

When it comes back to me and you?

They look a little less

Like little boys every day

Oh, the pleasure of watching

The children growing

Is mixed with a bitter cup

Of knowing the watercolour ponies

Will one day ride away

And the vision can get so narrow

As you view through your tiny world

And little victories can go by

With no applause

But in the greater evaluation

As they fly from your nest of love

May they mount up with wings

As eagles for His cause

Time Flies

I know I say this every year (except for the year I waited to turn 16, so I could drive)... it just seems like this year has flown by so fast.

We have had a whirlwind of wonderful things in 2008, I just can't believe were almost to the middle of November. It seems like as soon as November 1st comes, you blink and you're into a new year. I was filling in our calendar for the rest of the year and we have something every single weekend.

My prayer for you and I is that we don't let time slip away from us. What do you do to shut out the noise? What do you do to stop time? How do you brand moments on your heart and the hearts of your loved one's so that they will last a life time? I'd love to hear about them.

We are planning to have a family night packed with lots of fun and remembrance. We are going to take down the family calendar and go through each month and talk about the neat things that God has allowed us to experience this year. Definitely not like its as monumental as crossing the Red Sea, but we have stones of our own to help our children remember what Christ has done in our lives. I don't know if this year has been difficult or pretty easy for you, but God is good all the time. I hope you find the time to reflect on His goodness and remember His grace.

Fun Fall Night

Our friends, Dave and Reva; from church invited us to come to their home to experience one of their fall family traditions. They would gather all the fallen leaves and make a huge pile...then they would hide candy in it. Their son and the teens of the church would come over and dive into it to find all the candy. Dave had been working in their yard and they decided it would be fun for our kids to come over and hunt for candy. After a phone call and invitation, I told the kids what we were going to do and the questions began...How big is the pile going to be? How will we know if we found it all? Jaron, don't you think that will be fun?

All four of them had a blast. We were so appreciative to Dave and Reva for thinking of us. We all laughed and giggled and laughed and giggled. They cleaned out the little playhouse and rearranged the furniture. It was a new experience and a memory that will last a lifetime. Thanks guys!

Kids Annual Talent Night at the church

For the last three years all of our kids have participated in the annual Kids talent night at our church.  This year the boys decided they would all like to do something different so we tried to come up with things that each of them liked.  Jaron was going to do a monologue, but unfortunate for him his parents waited till the last minute to find him one.  So after playing around with Buddy (our dog) and showing the kids some of the tricks he can do, we thought a dog training show would be cute.  The initial plan was for Jaron to bring in Buddy and Lydia to perform different tricks and do some slap stick in between.  Well last night at rehearsal, Buddy was extremely uncooperative.  So we thought we would just have Lydia do it. 

We practice for about 40 minutes this afternoon on the stage in the sanctuary and Lydia did it every time, well then tonight as soon as she discovered there was a crowd she changed her mind.  Jaron was crushed.  He really wanted to do his act.  Evan came and whispered in my ear that he would do it so Jaron could go on stage.  It was a condensed version, but they got the job done.  I was proud of Evan for helping his brother out and for not caring to wear part of Lydia's pink costume. 

Evan did an arting (what he likes to call it) piece where he drew a picture while music was playing.  Evan practiced several times before his performance and I thought he did a great job.  He was under the pressure to complete his picture in about three minutes and he did it with ease and confidence.  I believe he is on his way to becoming a great little artist.

Ethan did a martial arts piece to "Eye of the Tiger".  He has been taking classes this fall and really loves it.  I thought it would be good for his self-confidence and I've been proven right.  He was great up there and everyone got a "kick" out of him.

They all concluded with a song, but I didn't want to over do it...hahaha.  I hope you enjoy the show as much as we did.

Labor Day Parade

The only parade I remember growing up as a kid was when I was in highschool and I marched with my piccolo over the Main Street Bridge for the opening of the Jacksonville Landing.  I guess being in a large metropolitan city there aren't many parades.  Glen on the other hand can recall several parades he dressed up as a clown in and marched to promote his father's hardware business.  I am almost positive it was all of his on initiative.  

Our small town (33,000 strong) has probably five parades a year.  We've gone to most of them (been in a few) and its become a family tradition.  The kids love it because a majority of the people in the parade throw candy and the kids get a kick out of picking it all up.  They almost always give out little American flags and the kids like to wave them around.  We almost always see someone we know and its fun to hoot and holler for them.  I know when our kids get older that like their dad, they will have lots of memories of our small town parades.

A Night at the Circus

Some friends of ours from church own the local Dairy Queens in town and received some free tickets to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus - They ever so kindly asked us if we would like them, and trying to never pass up quality family time, we accepted. 

Plus there are a few in my family that actually like clowns. 

(Maybe because they are clowns themselves)  

The kids had a great time.  

Here's a picture of them before they shot a man out of the cannon.  

I thought it was funny that they all covered their ears at the same time.  

And there is one of Lydia about half-way through, she had seen enough, 

so she made herself comfortable (laying upside down in the chair).  

The kids brought their paper route money and bought their own souvenirs. 

(They actually picked the three least expensive ones.)

We had a wonderful time.  Thank you 

Fran and Linda, we appreciate you thinking of us.

Out of Town

If you have read past blogs, you would know that we planned a trip to Chicago this weekend for Jaron's Birthday.  We set out on Wednesday to go to district assembly (our church denomination annual meeting) at Manville Church Camp.  Glen went up Tuesday for Missions and then we all headed up Wednesday for Youth and Thursday for general assembly.  

I had high expectations for the three days we would be away from home just before school starts next week.  I had imagined getting away from it all and enjoying my family time.  We had a nice time, but my expectations got shot out of the water and the first indication of this was when my children were horse playing around in the hotel room and Lydia hit her mouth on a chair and busted the inside and outside of her lip.  At first we thought that maybe her tooth had gone all the way through her lip, but just couldn't tell.  She acted like nothing happened within a couple of minutes and enjoyed looking at her big fat lip in the mirror more than letting Glen and I tend to her or cuddle her.

Then on Thursday on our way to the hotel to stay near Chicago we got a flat tire on a new tire and ended up having to replace it.  Bummer.  The delay put a kink in my evening alone shopping plans.  

We ended up having a nice time visiting Chicago on Friday even though we had a bumpy start.

  

We went to the Chicago Cultural Center and did a treasure hunt around the beautiful building.  We also took in a couple of photography exhibits.  We found the photography exhibit of Ellis Island (with tag lines and stories) very interesting.  Then we took a water taxi to Navy Pier where we went to the Children's Museum.  Glen, Evan and Jaron went to the Chicago Shakespearean Theater in the evening to see the stage production of Willy Wonka and had a great time.  My camera battery went dead at the beginning of the day so I didn't get any pictures.  On the way home I turned it on and snapped the last picture and then the camera died again.  This is us on the METRA train at 10pm.  The kids were sound a sleep.  We eventually got home at 2:30 am.  What a trip!

I had a hard time shifting gears out of my expectations into just having fun.  But all in all in was a nice visit.  The kids and Glen had a great time and that makes me happy.

Pump it Up

We went to Pump it up with some friends at church today.  We all had a lot of fun.

Fishin' with Friends

We're Back!!

We are finally back home in good ol' Galesburg, Illinois.  We left Boston on Tuesday and took our time just enjoying the scenery and Children's Museums along the way.  I took over 500 hundred pictures, so I am trying to narrow down what I will actually post.  I didn't want to bore anyone with one of those horrific "Our Family Vacation" slideshows with tacky music - you know the one's I'm talking about, you'd go to one of your parent's friends house for dinner and sit and watch a thousand pictures of people you hardly knew.  Anyway, I thought I'd spare you the pain.

Glen and I only have one regret from our entire trip...yesterday...we had the bright idea of going to a waterpark with the kids as a last hoo-haa before we arrived home.  It was an overcast day and pretty chilly, but the kids were stoked about it so we decided to go.  By the time we left, he and I were rock lobster red.  We spent a whole week at the beach and didn't get any degree of burn, but take us to a concrete slab and now you could fry an egg on us.  The kids were spared of any cancerous, careless, fire-hot broiling, but Glen and I were idiots.  We are so mad at ourselves and completely embarrassed.  We kept calling ourselves idiots while we spread the aloe-vera all over.  At one point, I started to blame him, saying I wanted to leave earlier, but all he could do was laugh at me, because I have raccoon eyes.  (Side note - my girlfriend Melodie is always on my case about not wearing sunglasses, so I've been wearing them more and apparently they worked.)  We got into such a giggling frenzy that my skin was hurting from the laughing.  We were quite a sight.

Other than that we had an absolutely wonderful time with my parents and having special family time.  If you get the opportunity to spend quality time with your parents, husband and kids this summer, do it.  It is priceless.

On the road again...

Well we began our journey home yesterday from Cape Cod. We spent five completely relaxing and glorious days at my Aunt Joann's vacation home at the ocean. We had a wonderful time with my parents and spent most of our days reading good books, napping with the ocean breeze and spending the early evenings at the beach. We actually frolicked in the ocean and mozeed here and there.

After two jammed packed adventurous days in New York City, it was nice to just enjoy the simplicity and beauty that surrounded us at the Cape. We truly enjoyed each moment and kept commenting on how this was exactly what we needed. We went to a children's museum in Maspee, looked at the Mayflower II from afar (they wanted $10 to tour it). We ate Lobster and New England Clam Chowder. We went to Hyannis and walked around the quaint town. We even went to a church on Sunday that I picked out from the newspaper and after the service we found out it was a Nazarene church. The name didn't give it away, but the people did. It was a newer church plant and it was neat to see God at work in a different part of the country.

Mom and dad left Monday morning, so we spent the day relaxing and picking rocks off the beach to bring home as souvenirs. Then we went to Red Robin for dinner. One of our favorite places just happen to be in the same area of town.

Yesterday we ventured off to Boston and went to the Boston Children's Museum. It was one of the best we've gone to so far. The kids had a fantastic time. Then we went to the U.S.S. Constitution, the oldest commissioned battle ship still around. The boys enjoyed looking around and looking at the sailors in their "costumes"(uniforms). After a full day, we started our journey home. We stopped in a town called Fishkill, NY which is smack dab in the middle of the mountains. It is a beautiful sight to see. Whenever you think of New York, you always think of the city, but we have gotten to see some pretty country. We went to a cool family rec center this morning and are heading to another children's museum this afternoon. I tell ya that Annual Family Museum pass from the ACM is well worth it.

So there's a quick update. We didn't get WiFi at the cape so this is the first opportunity I've had to blog. I plan on putting up a slideshow of all our adventures once we get home. We should hit home on the 4th or 5th.

New York, New York

We'll we spent our first day in the city today. We got up early and took a bus from New Jersey over to New York and then rode the subway (for the experience of it all) to 81st street and landed right at the American Museum of Natural History. We spent all morning there and around 1:30pm we left and had New York Style Pizza. Afterwards we went to Toy's R Us to look around while Glen found us some last minute tickets for Broadway. By the time we all met up again, we were feeling a little tired, so we jumped on a city bus and took a tour of the city. We went through Greenwich village, Ground Zero and Battary Park. We got off the bus and caught a glipse of the river and the Statue of Liberty (where we are headed tomorrow). After the nice bus ride we sent mom, dad and the kids back to the hotel and Glen and I saw the new hit Disney show Mary Poppins on Broadway. It was fantastic and we truly enjoyed ourselves. We had really wanted to see Wicked, but they were sold out for a month. Lion King was our second choice, but they were sold out for the evening as well. But it was well worth it, Disney + Broadway = wonderful and delightful.

While we were on our adventure we decided that most families probably wouldn't find it enjoyable to take four young children into New York City. But I have to tell you that the kids were so much fun and they did a great job. They loved seeing everything at the museum and they just kept a good attitude the entire day until they closed their little droopy eyes. They all said thank you one time or the other and it was a good day, definitely one for the memory books.

Like I said earlier, we are headed for the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Cruise tomorrow which we plan to take on the New Jersey side and then we'll spend the rest of the afternoon in Central Park before we head up to Cape Cod.

I am trying to put pixs up, but between Glen's non-apple laptop and this slow hotel internet service I am finding it difficult. I will keep trying, we got some great shots. Hope you guys are enjoying your families and finding ways to relax.

Here we go again

I had to post this picture because it keeps getting funnier and funnier.  Glen has joined the gang and there was a symphony of snoring going on when I went up to bed tonight.  The funny thing was that Glen was just going to lay down with the kids tonight and maybe take a little nap.  Two hours later I tried to wake him up, but to no avail.  So I guess I'll try one more time.  

ALL ABOARD!!!

A week or so ago I called a friend of ours who works for the railroad to see if we might be able to get a tour of the train yard when the Cartwrights come to visit.  Their son Steven absolutely loves trains and I thought it would be a nice surprise.  To my dismay, they don't give tours anymore but said sometimes they give free train rides.  He called back a few days later and said we could go on the 2008 BNSF Special on Monday, unfortunately our friends weren't coming until Tuesday.  We decided to take the tickets anyway and surprise the kids.  So at 8am this morning we got in the car and took them over to the train.  We all had a great time.  About every 30 minutes people would come through with prizes and snacks.  Halfway through the ride Glen and the boys went exploring some of the other passenger cars.  They were all different.  Mom, Lydia and I ended up joining them a little later on.  It was a 2 1/2 hour ride.  It was a lot of fun.  Thank you Andy for the tickets!

Sweet Dreams little ones

Last night it was too hot in the boys room which happens to be in the attic, so I had Jaron turn on their air up there and told them all to jump in our bed until it cooled off.  They asked if they could read, which they always do and I said yes.  About 15 minutes after I tucked them in and Lydia into her own bed, Lydia decided to join them.  This was the scene when we turned in for the night.  Buddy of course had to join them once Lydia did, there was no way in the world he would be left in her room or any room for that matter; alone!  We dispersed them back into each of their beds and went to bed as well.

Daniel's Graduation

I just got home from going to see my baby brother graduate from high school.  I had a wonderful time being with my family.  It was fun to watch Daniel at Graduation, but still managed to shed a few tears.  Sitting between my other brother Nick and sister Crystal didn't help matters because they were making fun of me for crying.  It was actually a wide array (that was for Crystal and Dad) of emotions this weekend.  We all laughed our heads off as Daniel paraded around in a borrowed hot pink unitard with a big ruffle that he wanted to wear under his cap and gown.  We laughed even harder when my father went yelling after him outside our house to get his butt back inside.(By the way, my parents threatened him within an inch of his life if he actually wore the thing.)  I almost peed my pants when Daniel fell down the steps after receiving his diploma, everyone else in the audience gasped.  Needless to say, he got $100 for the stunt from his friend who dared him to do it.  As my Dad put it several times..."It was a good day!"

Some Days you just never forget...

There are some days I will never forget, like the day I met Glen.  I can still remember what he was wearing and what he was doing.  I clearly remember the days I brought each of my children into the world, not because of childbirth; but because of the feeling I had when they were first placed into my arms.  

There are days I wish I could forget, like the day I got into my car accident or the night I told my family I was moving 1100 miles away.

I guess being the oldest in my family I also have very fond memories of my siblings.  I remember sitting on the hospital bed with my parents and naming my sister.  I remember the day I found out my parents were pregnant with my brother Daniel...not one of my proudest moments.  I was 16 and of course I was only concerned about how it was going to effect my life.  But then I remember meeting him and falling instantly in love with him.  He was the third boy I had loved in my life.  My daddy had come first and then there was Nicholas Aaron.  

My mom had previously had two miscarriages before she got pregnant with Nick.  I was young and didn't totally understand but was old enough to feel a loss.  Not until I went through my own miscarriage did I completely understand what my parents must of went through.  Needless to say, when my parents got pregnant with Nick we were thrilled and a little nervous.  It was the first time I learned about praying over children in the womb; a tradition I carried on with all of my children.  My parents prayed over Nick and called him an "overcomer," a name he has lived out his entire life.  

I remember the day Nick was born like all the other days that are engraved on my heart.  We were getting ready to take a walk down by a park near the hospital to help my mom's contractions get stronger.  She went to the bathroom before we left and the next thing we knew an ambulance was coming to get her.  The umbilical cord had come out and Nick was in distress.  They rushed her to the hospital and my mom had an emergency c-section.  They were so quick to save Nicholas, that when they cut my mom open they also cut the bottom of Nick's baby foot.  The cord was around his neck and if my mother hadn't responded as only a mother would have known to, he would have died before they had gotten to the hospital.

I can still place myself at the nursery window with Ann Herndon holding my hand.  I remember the nurses holding him up so I could see my baby brother.  I remember how my prayers and the prayers of so many were answered.  The second boy in my life to love was healthy and whole.

Since then I have my very own boys to love, four to be exact.  I catch glimpses of Nick in my three boys.  A look from across the room or sounds of fire engines and sword fighting. Un Nic, what Lydia calls him; resonates through our home on a regular basis.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Nick.  Thank you for being one of the treasured days of my life.  I love you.       

A time to retreat...

Every spring our church sends Pastor Ron & Cinda and Glen & I on a pastor's retreat.  We have been to Branson, Missouri and to Amana Colonies, an Amish area of Iowa in recent years but this year we went to the Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  In years past we have taken the kids, taken the kids with a babysitter or gone alone.  This year we took the kids with us and had a great time.

We had a wonderful room with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan.  We got to spend two wonderful days at Breaker Bay, an indoor waterpark that is at the resort.  

We spent time walking by the Lake enjoying each other and taking in the view.  

We went to breakfast each morning at a restaurant that when you were sitting at the table it felt like you were under the sea.  

The kids enjoyed milk and cookies on the grand stairs as they listened to a bedtime story.  

We even got to go to two children's museums:  one in Sheboygan and one in Milwaukee. 

And last but not least, we got to retreat.

The kids had a great time, we all had a great time.  We are continually grateful to our church for everything they provide to us.  They truly take care of us and love us on a consistent basis.  So any of you reading from our church family, THANK YOU!