VOTE FOR MY NIECE!!

My sister Emily submitted this photo to the I Care-Childrens Eye Foundation calendar contest for 2011. The pictures are supposed to represent love-love between a child and parent/family member or a child experiencing something they love and enjoy. Please go to the following link and vote for her. Last I checked, her photo was on page 9 of the photos.
http://www.childrenseyefoundation.org/Programs/Eye-Care-for-Kids/Vote.aspx

Meet the Teacher

Well, school begins in 2 days!! Joelle has already been going to her school. She is doing well in the 2's classroom. They encourage the kids to try the potty and she does each day, she just doesn't typically pee. On Friday she tried the potty 3 times and actually peed once. She thinks it is great, but I don't think she is really ready for potty training yet. This year she only has 5 kids in her room so far. She is the oldest so that kind of stinks.
David had his 7th grade orientation on Thursday. It took 2 hours!! He is all set up for school. Tryouts for Flag Football begin on Thursday. His day will be from 9-4 and then practices are 4-5:30. He will be very busy! WE will be very busy. I can't really believe he is in Junior High. Thank GOD he is a good, nice hearted kid.
Megan met her teacher on Thursday as well. She has David's old 5th grade teacher. David told Megan to not make her mad!! She is really looking forward to a school year without David. She is ready to spread her wings!!
I guess both my kids are ready to spread their wings. I think it will be good for them to have some separation to really come into themselves.
Sports will be starting soon, so I better enjoy my quiet time:)

My Lumberjack

There is nothing like a handsome man doing manly work:)

Good Times on the Lake!

So, I am still posting for our trip to Wisconsin. I have been back to work for a week already so that is why this has been taking so long:) One of the best things about being in Wisconsin is the fact that with a 50 yard walk we are at the dock and on the pontoon boats ready to have a relaxing afternoon.


We play hard and we rest hard!!

Baby Love

It has been wonderful to have the summer off and be able to spend time with my kids. Joelle has turned into such a love bug. We can be doing anything and she will come up to me and say "Hugs, hugs, hugs" until I give her a hug. I was worried that she would have a difficult time going back to daycare. UNFOUNDED worries!! When I told her on Monday that the next day she would be going back to school to see her friends she got crazy excited!! She was so happy to being going back to school. When I dropped her off this morning, she was excited to be in the 2's classroom. When I told her goodbye, she said "You go your school mommy?" How adorable is that. She impresses me so much with all she has learned. It seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital. She has also turned into a very caring, nurturing, little girl. I worked today and then after work there was a get together at my principal's house so I did not get home until about 7pm. When I asked Joelle how her day was at school, she said "Good, how your day school mommy?" It melts my heart. Children truly are God's gift to the world.

My Megan

The little girls just love Megan. We are going to find out what type of babysitting classes she can take here in Phoenix, but she is a natural with kids. She enjoys entertaining, playing and reading to the little ones.

Fire Starter

Every camp fire needs someone to light it and that someone in our family is Megan. Grandpa Bob sets it up, Megan lights it, Steve uses the make-shift poker and keeps the flames coming, and David puts logs on it when it begins to die down. Having camp fires at the end of the day is a great way to unwind and visit with family. Funny stories are shared, beer is consumed, and enjoyment is had by all. Especially when there are smores. David and Megan both like to torch their marshmallows and eat them when they are like charcoal. By the end of our vacation we had run out of graham crackers so the kids were having Hershey bar smores- two pieces of chocolate with a marshmallow (charred)in the middle. Talk about sugar overload!!