Pictures

I cleaned the pictures off my phone today and found quite a few I have been wanting to post.  So, here they are in random order.  Enjoy the show!!

Andrew and Hannah 9/5/09

Will and Andrew 9/5/09

Andrew's ice cream goatee 7/3/09

Hannah and Will just after Hannah returned from camp 6/5/10

Hannah and Will 6/5/10

(back) Michelle, Alyssa, Will

(front) Andrew, Nathan, and Hannah

at the Zoo 10/12/09

Hannah, Andrew and Will 4/3/09

me 3/16/10

Mom's car after her wreak 4/15/10

Mom's car after her wreak 4/15/10

Will's chocolate goatee 7/3/09

A plant in the "Once Upon A Farm" exhibit at the Zoo 10/12/09

A water feature in the "Once Upon A Farm" exhibit at the Zoo 10/12/09

Mike feeding a parakeet at "Birds and Bees" exhibit at the Zoo 5/28/10

Will and Hannah feeding a parakeet at the "Birds and Bees" exhibit at the Zoo 5/28/10

One of the panda bears at the Zoo 10/12/09

 Andrew feeding a parakeet 5/28/10

Will, Hannah and Andrew at the Teton Trek exhibit at the Zoo 10/12/09

Andrew and the Easter Bunny 4/1/10

Andrew and the Easter Bunny 4/1/10

Back From Camp and Retirement

Hannah had lots of fun at camp, which is relieving for this mama to hear.  While there, she had the opportunity to do "expeditions" three times a day.  Her choices were: archery/games, art, cooking, decorations, fishing, canoeing/tubing, leather, nature, pottery, sand painting, serving other nations (doing projects to send to missionaries), swimming, weaving, and wood burning.  She spent most of her time doing pottery, but she did try cooking, canoeing/tubing, swimming and wood burning.  The campers studied Daniel and the choices he made to stand for God when is was not the popular decision, difficult and dangerous.  One of her favorite parts was the Trading Post.  Here, you could get something to eat (like pizza) along with popsicles and drinks.

The boys missed her.  Andrew would ask me every now and then where Hannah was.  When someone asked him where he thought she was, he answered, "College."  Will kept asking us to go to camp because he wanted to see what it looked like.  He can go in two years and can't wait.  He is counting down the time.

On a different note, Daddy retired on Friday.  He worked for the SCS for 22 years.  He actually started working there a year before I started working at UT.  Wow!  Dad is looking forward to camping, watching the kids play ball, and traveling.  Congratulations Daddy!!  We are very proud of you!!

My Big Girl

Well, Hannah is off on her very first youth camp trip.  Our church has a summer youth camp called Camp Tsungani every year for kids who have completed the third through sixth grades.  It is an Indian themed camp centered on Christ as our Head Chief.  Ever since I started going to this church over 20 years ago, I have heard how wonderful and exciting Camp Tsungani was.  When Mike and I started having kids, I got excited thinking they could go.  This is Hannah's first year to go.

At first, she was apprehensive about being gone for a week from Mom and Dad. [The longest she's ever been away from us by herself (without the boys) is three or four days.]  Mike and I really talked up camp, telling her how much fun she was going to have, what kind of activities she would be doing and all the friends from church that she would be able to play and spend time with.  Even Friday and Saturday Hannah was still a little nervous, but ready to go (her bags have been packed for about two weeks!).  Last night, she and I went through her bags to make sure she had everything she needed.  She was getting more and more excited.  This child (who does not like to go to bed early) kept telling me to hurry up so she could go to bed and get her rest.

I woke her up at 5:30 so she could get ready.  By 6, Hannah was chomping at the bit to leave.  When we got to the church, she was out of the van and getting her bags out before anyone else could move.  Hannah found her friend Emily and forgot all about us.  Mike and I were able to get a few pictures with her before they loaded the buses.  She didn't even look back when they started boarding the buses.  Hannah did wave a few times before and while they were leaving.  At least I know she is not crying and missing us.

I am so excited for her.  I remember going to youth camp when I was younger and all the fun we had.  Our camp was north of town; Hannah's is 160 miles away.  I'm not worried about her.  She will be WELL looked after.  Hannah's counselor is a good friend of mine, along with the Director of the camp.  I also know quite a few of the counselors, staff and expedition (activities) leaders.  I told her that she would be the most looked after child there at camp.  We will miss having her at home but I know she will have a great time.

Sports Camp, Alyssa and Sam's

This week Hannah is doing a sports camp at Melanie's church. It is for kids who have completed 1st through sixth grades, so, unfortunately, Will isn't able to go. Each day, they have two different sports that they participate in, along with a couple of water breaks, snacks and a devotional time. Yesterday, all the girls in Hannah's group picked to play football instead of cheerleading. (Yes, Hannah picked football. This is the child who was upset with me when she found out that Upwards soccer had cheerleading and I had signed her up to play soccer instead.) She had a blast!!! Hannah told us she learned how to throw and catch the ball. That's my girl!!! Mike and I laughed because she was soo cute when she told us about it.

Yesterday, Alyssa came over and watched the kids for me. I needed to get two new tires on the van. Since it always takes about three hours at Sam's (and I knew the kids would be very bored), I thought they would enjoy spending the time with Alyssa. Since Hannah was at camp, the boys played and watched t.v. until Hannah was finished. After they picked up Hannah, Alyssa had to get gas for her car. It was really hot so Alyssa took all three kids with her into the station to pay. She said everyone gave her strange looks. (I guess they thought all three were hers. HAHAHA) Alyssa and her boyfriend Eric took them to the McDonald's in Olive Branch because it has a big play area. The kids had a blast. Andrew even climbed up in the equipment and went down the big pink slide. After I was done and back home, Alyssa brought them home. They enjoyed spending the day with her and I enjoyed going shopping and spending three hours at Sam's by myself.

Two new tires for the van: $211
Niece to babysit the kids: $40
Three hours to shop at Sam's by myself: priceless

It's Gone!

No, not the cabin. We sold our pop-up camper. A young guy and his girlfriend bought it to use when they took their 2-year old son camping. Our camper was a 40-year old pop-up that a friend of ours called "a tent on wheels." Dad found it for us and it was nice to sleep up off the ground. It suited our needs until we had Andrew, then it got a little tight. Mike would sleep with one child in one bed, I slept with another child on the other side of the camper, Andrew slept in his pack-n-play in the middle and the dogs were on the floor. We still have our big tent to use when we go camping. Mike will like parking his car under the carport again.

Fun and Kids

Hannah and Will went with Dad, Joan and Nathan camping in Kentucky at Columbus Belmont State Park. A few friends of Dad and Joan's went also with kids the same ages as ours. There was a playground across the street from their camper, plus all the games, bicycles and toys that were also brought. Joan said Will loved a game called "Hillbilly Horseshoes(?)." I don't remember the exact name but Joan said Will played it all the time. You have two stands that have three bars each. You throw a rope with a bead on each end and try to get it on one of the bars. The bars are worth different points.

Hannah played with a little girl about her age named Brittney. They rode bikes and played a lot. The campground also had a miniature golf course. The kids had a ball playing on it too.

Andrew was with Melanie for the weekend. Friday night, they went to the drive-in with our cousin Cindy and her boys. Melanie said they got home around 10:30 and Andrew was still awake. She finally laid him down about 11 p.m. and neither one woke up until 11 a.m. Saturday morning. (I wish he would do that here. No matter what time he goes down, he's usually up early.) They went to Matthew's baseball game where Andrew played. Matthew showed Andrew how to spit and his football stance. Melanie said it was funny watching Andrew. Alyssa was working in the concession stand and ran out when she saw Andrew. He didn't want to have anything to do with Alyssa until she asked him if he wanted to look for Matthew. Andrew grabbed her hand and they went off. Sunday, after church, he and Mel went to the Collierville mall. On the way home, he fell asleep. Melanie wanted to take him to Chuck E. Cheese but he didn't fully wake up. She even went as far as to unbuckle him but he didn't want to go (this is really unusual for Andrew-He LOVES CEC!!!). So, since he wasn't quite awake enough, they went home and watch some movies and played. Melanie said Andrew talked her ear off. They both had a great time together. Andrew loves his Meme!!!