Ready....Set.....Go

This pic was taken at the Tigers Game Sunday. I thought it was really cute so I had to post it! Well I am now officially feelin ready for vacation. Just a few more things to wrap up and I'm all set. The kids are sleeping in right now....this week they've been sleeping until about 845-900 in the morning which has been great for mommy to get caught up on sleep herself and to get things done! So after a somewhat busy week with a few disasters we are off to a new destination!

Slow Down June!!

This summer seems to be just flying on by!! We've had an incredibly busy last week and 1/2 and I am ready for a break or I think I'll break down! Last week was bible school everynight and we were at my grandparents a lot because my cousins were in town. Now for most families that would be fine....but coming off a weekend of no sleep into a busy week made for some pretty cranky kids by Friday. On Sat. we kept the kids home in the morning for a little relaxed play time at home before we headed to the river where they had a blast swimming,boating and playing with their cousins and my brothers and their families. Sunday was a Happy Fathers day with Gideon going to the Tigers game with his dad and my brothers and us girls heading to the river again. Finally last night I went to my best friends presentation at church about where they will be missionaries the next 3/6 years. We had a great time everywhere we were but I must admit that on Sunday night when Nancy (Keith's mom) asked me if I was ready and packed for vacation I felt like crying. I am the farthest thing from ready for vacation! I was barely home all week and home only for about a breath on the weekend. I am definetly ready for vacation but not.... all at the same time! I have to get myself geared up! Hopefully this week will not be too hectic...although it's panning out to be! I worked this morning and told Keith ....tonight....we are staying home....I know there is plenty we could do.....but I just want to stay home and be with my little family! I miss just us!! So...although the rest of the week we may pay for it...tonight...we will rest, play and love eachother lots!

Zoo Buddies

We had quite a busy weekend. On Friday we met Kelli and the boys at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek MI. It was hot and sticky but lots of fun. The kids got to feed giraffe's which was pretty cool. Gramma and Mommy couldn't pull Lucy away from them or the goats in the petting zoo! It was a really good time and the kids were nice and tired on the way home. We were gone from about 8 in the morning to around 6 at night. We were lucky though....the storm of the year went through where we had been traveling about a 1/2 hour after we were out of the area and then it pummeled us at around 830-930 later that night. There were tornado's seemingly everywhere and the sky looked so nasty we were down in the basement about 10 minutes before the tornado sirens even blew. Our front porch took the brunt of the storm. We listened in the basement as the wind slammed our porch swing against the porch post again and again breaking off pieces as it hit. I almost cried...I love that porch swing. When the storm was over we went out to survey the damages and other than a broken swing and some limbs down were ok. A tornado touched down to the south of us and to the north east as well. Needless to say we woke up Sat morning to the sound of chain saws ringing out. Keith was able to piece the swing back togethor with some nails, screws and some pushing and shoving much to my delight!

On Sat afternoon we headed to my cousins graduation party and then on to West Liberty with my dad to go to his church and to the Ohio Caverns on Sunday. The kids had a blast sleeping in sleeping bags but they didn't actually sleep very much! On Sunday after church we headed to the caverns for a quick picnic and then a 45 minute tour of the caves. I tried to feed Ella before we went down but of course she didn't want to eat...as soon as we started walking down the steps she started to fuss and root. Soooo...needless to say I spent the first about 1/2 hour walking and nursing at the same time dodgeing drips from the ceiling and walking sideways half the time! Lucy started fussing about 1/2 way through and Gideon was talking about how it looked like we were in a sharks belly with lots of teeth and water everywhere. At one point they turned off all the lights to show us what total darkness is.....I thought my kids would freak but they absolutely loved it. Lucy kept saying...Do again....Do again. We stopped for icecream on the way home and since it was 90 degrees they melted within seconds of getting into our hands. It was messy but yummy!

This week we have a lot going on with Bible School in the evenings and my cousins from PA in town! It should be busy but lots of fun! Hope all are well!

Needin' Some Help

Gideon Called me into the bathroom this morning because he needed some help brushing his teeth and he was having Ella help him!!

My New Helmet

We Got Gideon his new Bike Helmet yesterday at Walmart...with the choice of Batman, Spiderman, Cars and a Plain Red.....he chose plain red which happened to be cheaper Thanks Gid!! He loves it so much that he has been wearing it all the time....including through supper last night :)

Resulting in.....More Waiting!!!

Cutie Pie Honey Bun!!

Well...we had the doctors appointment and I officially survived and was able to even listen to the doctor with all 3 kids in tow!! Gideon was on his best behavior and although Ella was fussy I put her in her sling and could manage Lucy and help doctor bourn with the assessment. Good news is her tonsils and adnoids are perfectly fine!! We did have trouble getting her to open her mouth though....then when Doctor Bourn put the light up to her to look into her eyes she finally opened it nice an wide!! She is now taking Zyrtec for allergies though which is what Dr Bourn believes is causing the drooling and choking (both which have subsided quite a bit). As far as her eyes though, there is somthing wrong with her right eye. What it is, however, we are unsure of. ...therefore we have been referred to a pediatric opthamologist in Perrysburg. We couldn't get in until July 15th so the wait will be long...and so will the appointment for that matter. She will have a very detailed exam lasting approx 2 hours. If it is a vision problem..she will then have to see the pediatric optometrist for some glasses! Luckily, because we are seeing an opthamologist that will study the entire eye it should be covered under our Medical insurance. I hope so because we have no vision on our plan since my eye sight is great and Keith's is now too since he had laser surgury. Anyway..I am excited to be getting the ball rolling even though it is rolling slowly! The rest of the week went pretty well. We kept busy and even though it was cold we still managed to get outside! The weekend warmed up and we were able to spend some time with Keith's family on Sat. evening at his cousins wedding reception. Sunday was very relaxing and we spent most of the day outside. I finished the book I was reading called "Strange Son" by Portia Iversen.
It was excellent! Keith's sister in law gave it to his mom to read and then she gave it to me. It's about a "low-functioning" autisic child that miraculouslly is communicating with people around him. It is very inspiring and spurs on my hope for Joshua (Keith's nephew) After reading it/crying through it, I just want to give Josh a big hug and tell him that his aunt loves him very much, now that I know he can probably not only hear me but understand exactly what I said. I have been blabbing about it to just about everyone and I really feel like everyone in our family needs to read it! Although it is a thick book it captivates the reader and reads very fast! I think if everyone in our family read it we could all better relate to and understand our Joshua! He must think we are idiots talking to him like he's Lucy's age when he can possibly understand us just like any other 9 year old, he just can't tell us that he understands. It's just an awesome book and I am thankful that Les gave it to Nancy and Nancy to me!! My love and hope for Joshua skyrocketed after reading it and I feel like I will be able to relate to him so much better now just from understanding a little bit more about what might be going on inside of him! Thanks Les!!! Anyway....enough of my excited mumbo jumbo! Today is a beautiful 85 degrees and sunny weather. I plan on taking the kids out in the sprinkler after quiet time! I am going to fill up a tub for Ella to sit in too! This Friday, the kids and I are headed to Binder Park Zoo with Grammy to meet their cousins Andrew and AJ! It should be a good day as long as the weather holds!! Hope all are well and having a good beginning of the summer AHHHHH!!