Birthday times Four!!

Wesley starts off the b-day season in October by turning 15!!

Whatta goob!

Brian took a trip up north and scored some "Bears" gear for Wes.
So hard to find down here in Colts country!

Jessica turns 17...the "8" was one the cake cause we sometimes combine our
candles to come up with the right age!! Next year we'll be right on!

Fried ice cream at La Cha's with friends and family!!

I got to celebrate with Joseph's preschool class by reading them a story!
He turned 4 in November!

The Birthday Parade...Joseph was the leader and they march
thru the church (preschool) playing their instruments!

Joseph celebrated his birthday at Chuck E Cheese.
Whoa...I think every parent should have to go thru that...at least once!!

Birthday buddies....

Anna finishes off our 3 months of b-day celebrations. She turned 9 this year and got to have her first slumber party! There was lots of partying and VERY LITTLE slumbering!!

Anna's most awesome rainbow cake! Got the recipe from one of my favorite blogs!
I don't know Meg but she seems like the kind of person I could really get a long with! :)
Check it out...her photos are awesome and her writings are hilarious!

Craft Hideaway

I have to tell you about one of Kokomo's best kept secrets...Cherished Moments Craft Hideaway. A few friends and I got together for a day away of crafting. Where do I begin? I guess I can't put into words how wonderful this place is...I'll just let the pictures do the talking!

Just about a 1/2 hour drive from IWU and the whole gang made it!

...the porch swing kept beckoning us outside.

...Carol repairing a quilt that has been in her family for years!

Computer with internet access...in case we needed a fb fix

...but it also had a printer and photo paper in case we needed to print.

...punches, cricut, cutters
...pretty much any crafting gadget you wanted could be found here!

...all the stamping supplies we could ever want to use!

One of Carol's many projects of the day...no it's not a landing strip Bekah
...it's a table runner!
This was such a cute sewing project that I've been inspired to attempt one of my own!
This is my new friend Tracy Curfman helping her out!

Bev and Bekah working on their projects.
Check out Bekah's blog for all her pics.

Sarah and Teresa...Sarah was the one who set this whole thing up for us!!
She's da bomb.com Thank you Sarah...it was wonderful!!

The food was unbelievable!!

This was lunch...chicken with some yummy topping!
I'm sure there's some fancy name for it...but I made up my own!

...and yea, I made room for this!!

...and dinner

Sarah trying to finish the yummy apple cobbler.

and Bekah calling it quits.

good food...good friends...good conversation!

Our lovely hostess' who made us feel right at home...and quite pampered!!

Check out the website...check out their pictures of the rooms upstairs.
This house had such a warm, cozy feel to it.
We didn't want to leave...but we shall return.
We are already planning another one for after the first of the year!

Halloween Fun...

Someone said what are you supposed to be?

Brian said, "broke!"...Jess said, "an owl"

Wesley as Barton Damer...some skateboarder dude

The Jopho was sickly this day...but we made sure he got some candy!!
Notice Brian holding "Lizzy". Lizzy is Anna's teddy bear.
I spent the most time working on HER costume...not my kids!!

"Like, okay fine, fur sure, fur sure...she's a valley girl...and there ain't no cure!"
Some authentic 80's buttons she's wearing!!
Why Be Normal?

Yikes!!

One tired Buzz Lightyear

Anna was a Ninja. This is at the mall trick or treating. Joseph wasn't very healthy so we kept Halloween on the down low this year. This is our friend, Lauren.
She works at Penneys and got to pass out candy to the ghouls and goblins!

Why a Bears fan?

Here's why.

Totally Shocking!!!

Did ya know that while you are shopping at WalMart you can continuously be shocked by the carts?? By the time I got to the check out after my 1/2 hour shopping trip, I made a comment to the cashier that I was having a hard time getting to my $$ because my right hand was numb! I explained I kept getting shocked by the bar on the cart. I was seriously getting ready to head back to the laundry aisle to stock up on fabric softener!!

She said, "Oh, it's just your cart. It isn't grounded. See that cart up there with the wire by the wheels? It is grounded. You should look for one of those when you shop."

What??? I've never heard of such a thing. But, be sure that I WILL be looking for a little wire dangling down as I choose my cart for now on!! I am usually shocked when I get to the check out...but unfortunately it's NOT because of my cart!! google this...it's not a new thing!!

*Things That Make Me Smile*

~ Laughter of my children.

~ Listening to Joseph use his imagination to play and seeing how embarrassed he gets when he sees me watching him.

~ How Brian straightens the living room before he goes to bed.

~ Seeing the kids reading just for enjoyment and not cause they have to.

~ That my younger kids think "hate, stupid and shut up" are BAD words.

~ That the older kids still hesitate to say those words and won't say them around the little ones.

~ Recycling - our family of 6 only took one trash bag to the curb this week.

~ Cuddle time w/Anna...wrestle time with Wes and Joseph...chat time w/Jess.

~ Seeing Brian walk thru the door with a polar pop just for me.

~ Our maple tree that is the last to turn and the last to lose its golden leaves!!

Yep, I even smiled as I typed them...What makes YOU smile?!?!

Mama's Got a Job!!

Yippee...I've been looking for something part-time for quite some time now and in today's economy I was realizing how hard it was going to be!! BUT...in God's perfect timing the perfect job came along! It's a children's resale shop.

We sell all kinds of children's clothing up to size 12

Toys, Maternity, Books, Videos

Baby Gear

Keetha...this one is for you...A Wisconsin Badger sleeper!! :)

And the best part is (besides a paycheck).....

I can bring my kiddos!!

This is one of the playrooms she has set up in the back for her kids
...and mine too!

Another playroom...plenty to keep the little guy happy!!
Yay!! Praising God for this WONDERFUL blessing!!

Applesauce!!

It sure ain't pretty!!!

But it was sooo worth it!!

I was given lots of apples...so I made lots of applesauce. I also made a yummy apple crisp and froze up enough for two pies!! :) Notice the apple cinnamon candle on my stove...definitely didn't need to burn it that day!! :)

Tippmann World Challenge 2009

I wish I would have taken some pictures and more video but I was chicken the camera would get hit. There were tons of paintball flying around. So this is all that made it out of the woods. Hope you enjoy.

Tippmann World Challenge 2009 from Brian Holland on Vimeo.

Click on image to enlarge.

They are in, THE NET is selling discount cards to raise money to attend the area youth convention this year in Kentucky. They cost $10.00 please see one of our teens or Pastor Brian to get a card. They are good for a year and as you can see there are some pretty good deals.