Up and running

The good news is we are up and running again.  The bad news is we had to buy a new hard drive and the computer man could not get my pictures off the old hard drive.  Bummer, we lost a few months of pictures.  I will say I learned my lesson.  I will now upload my pictures to kodak gallery or to a CD-R before I delete them from my camera.  So back to blogging this week. 

Crashed

Yes, my computer crashed and I am clueless when it comes to fixing it.  I tried but worried I may do more damage.  I dropped it off today to have the computer man recover my pictures off my hard drive and get my computer up and running.  So I am taking a blogging break.  I am posting this from work but I cannot do this most days because I am too busy.  Hopefully I will be back next week. 

Garden Update

Our garden is doing very well.  We have had lots of cucumbers and they are delicious!  The vines are actually climbing the tree next to our shed so I keep joking that we have a cucumber tree.  I just hope I can reach the cucumbers that grow towards the top. 
We are starting to pick tomatoes and they are yummy!  I have made a black bean salsa and we have been eating sliced tomato on salad and also omelets. 

I picked a bunch of basil and froze it with a small amount of water in ice cube trays and then put the cubes in zip locks.

My cilantro went to seed so I picked the seeds to save til next year and I planted the last of the store bought seeds- I really wanted fresh cilantro when the tomatoes were ripe.  I did pick some a few weeks back and froze the leaves.
No peppers yet but they are growing.

My zucchini plants died so we started over from seed so it will be awhile.  Some of the ladies at my office have gardens and they have been giving us squash and zucchini.

Anyone one know the name of this scary guy?

He was on the side of the raised bed of my garden and I had to knock him off with a broom before I could reach in a pick cucumbers.  I wasn't sure if his spear was a stinger or if it's purpose is to flip him back over if he gets stuck on his back (like toe horseshoe crab).  Do you know?

Cold Front?

No, in fact it has been super hot here but we decided to have dress up with winter scarfs and boats!  Sydney is a ham, giving me all her best poses. 

VBS Update

 The theme this year was Panda Mania- God is wild about you!

Day 1:  God made you
"I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: your works are wonderful. I know that full well"
Psalm 139:14

Bible Buddy: Fez the pheasant- we talked about how God made each of us different and wonderful.  Every night we had a video, games, crafts and snack- at each station the bible verse and a story were incorporated.
For example snack on day 1 was a trail mix and it was full of different colors and foods.
Picture:  Sydney front right with blue skirt

Day 2:  God listens to you
"Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord."  Psalm 139: 4
Bible Buddy:  Amanda the red panda

Day 3:  God watches over you
"even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you."
Psalm 139:12
Bible Buddy: Boomer the panda- his black and white colors represent the light and the darkness

Day 4:  God loves you, no matter what
"See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  Psalm 139:24
Bible Buddy" Pogo the snow leopard
Game below- the balloon represented our heart and we covered it in shaving cream (yucky sin) and then used water bottles (represented the blood of Christ) to wash our hearts clean.
Snack was pretzel sticks with frosting and sprinkles in the shape of the cross- we talked about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.  I teared up when the teacher asked why Jesus died on the cross and Sydney answered "he died for our sins", I am so proud that she is learning the TRUTH.

Day 5:   God gives good gifts
"You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me."  Psalm 139: 5
Bible Buddy:  Lulu the monkey-God blessed her with strong arms and tail so she can swing around the jungle.

kids drawing pictures of something God gave us that they are thankful for- Sydney drew a dinosaur

 Praise and worship- kids placing backpacks that they painted at the foot of the cross-each of them made two one for themselves and one for a child in South America

The offering we brought it helped cover the cost of the backpacks and the shipping- we brought over 700 dollars during the course of VBS! 

Griffin playing in the nursery with Charlie

My little panda

We had an amazing week, we bought the VBS CD of all the songs we learned and we have been singing in the car.  Griffin even sings along- I can here him from the front of the car "He loves us" but his v sounds like a b- so cute.

A Great Day

Saturday while Bill was at work the kids and I met our friends Nicole and Max at Burlington City Park.  We had the best day!

Griffin on the Carousel

Swinging, the tress were all gorgeous

Picnic time, Max with blackberry smile

riding the boats

Griffin found the only puddle

I took this picture right before he laid down

see the wet shirt and shorts and also the big smile

a train ride

Max and Syd in the fire truck

helicopter ride

Griffin with Max on the boats

It was a wonderful day with my kids and our friends

Our New Pet

We have a new pet caterpillar!  Sydney named it Millie.  Actually the picture above is the first one we had, which died within 24 hours of being home so we now have a new Millie.  A lady came to the school and taught the kids all about caterpillars and butterflies and we had the option to buy a kit.  So we are raising a caterpillar who will hopefully turn into a beautiful butterfly!  We will keep you posted. 

I really hope this works.  I have memories as a kid of collecting caterpillars that lived on milk weed and we would keep them until they formed a cocoon and then watched them hatch. 

Di'Lishi

Asheboro has a new frozen yogurt shop!  Yum oh.  In the picture below is my mom and Sydney picking the flavor of yogurt.  You have the choice of 10 flavors and you can also select twist.

Papa was keeping track of the little ones and pushing them in the high chairs- this was an easy way to keep them still.  Yes Sydney is sampling which you are not supposed to do.

After you pick your yogurt you have lots of choices to make because they have every topping imaginable.  They have all the traditional fruit and berries, plus candy crumbles, various cereals, graham cracker crumbs, oreo cookie, gummy butterflies, sour worms, nutella, hot fudge, carmel, then less traditional things like cheesecake bites, fudges brownies, turtles, raspberry truffles.  They have a few things I have never heard of moshi and di'lishi balls.  I was told moshi was made of rice and is Asian and dilishi balls are strawberry and orange flavor and almost burst in your mouth. 
Sydney was so excited when I let her pick several toppings.  She choose chocolate yogurt and added- brownie bites, skittles, gummy butterflies, and heath bar.

Griffin and I shared vanilla yogurt with chocolate toppings- Reece's and health bar. 

Mom and Daniela were a bit healthier and had fruit on theirs.

Papa went back and got his after we were settled and he had all kinds of toppings. 

I will be honest and tell you that I have been back twice since this first visit. 

I think I am going to have a bit of an issue because this place is within walking distance of my office.

21 months

Griffin is 21 months old!  He is talking all the time and now saying phrases.  My favorite is "I love you" but he also says "a big bite", "that's mommy's (daddy's or Sydney's), " I want more", "want water" "hey guys", "alrighty then".  He will repeat almost any word.  He is always on the move, running, jumping, dancing.  He is loud!  He loves water, whether it is the bath or the pool or even a bucket of water outside.  He continues to be a big eater and is not picky at all.  His first words in the morning are "eat eat".  He is addicted to his pacifier (papi) which we are about to get rid of.  He is a mommas boy but loves his daddy.  He just had his first haircut ever by La la- it is still longer and has curl in the back but it was getting too long.  Griffin would live outside if we let him.  He is great at sharing and playing with other kids.  He can be rough and likes to wrestle and does hit from time to time.  He is a snuggler and loves to be held.  We love this guy more every day and are so thankful he is in our lives.

on a walk one day

One morning while we were in Indy Bill met with Marcus for breakfast and then went along to his barber for a haircut before the big day.  I got the kids ready and we headed out on a walk.  We went from our room on the 8th floor down to the lobby and out of the hotel to discover it was chilly and windy so back up to the room for sweatshirts.  Finally on our walk we headed toward Monument circle and ran into Bill and Marcus.  We all chatted for a bit and then Marcus needed to run some errands.  Bill and I finished our walk with the kids.  Griffin enjoyed a dum dum and of course shared with his daddy.

slump

Are you ever in a slump?  Do you ever want to bury your head in the covers or disappear for a few days.  Let me start by saying I am fine but man life can be a bummer.  I feel defeated at times and over whelmed.  I am tired of myself at this point.  There are days that I am not proud of the mom and wife that I am.  I want to be patient and fun but I find myself inpatient and like a dictator at times.  I think in blog land we all post about the good things in our lives because no one wants to read about other peoples problems because we all have our own.  But I feel more normal when I have a girl night and my friends confess they have the same struggles.  I know that real life is full of struggles, kids are challenging, marriage is rough and bad things happen to good people.  I should know when I get like this I need to surround myself with uplifting people, music and scripture.  I want to snap out of it but that is easier said than done.  I need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and working toward being more joyful.

Girls plus 1

Sydney, McKenzie (our niece), Ireland (granddaughter) and Griffin

 

I love this picture!  When we are in Indiana and these girls get together they have a blast.  Sydney just adores these gals and they are so sweet with her.   When we were home in September for Bill's mom's funeral Sydney got to spend time with the girls.  They talked, colored, made friendship bracelets and more.  Sometimes I wish we lived closer so the had more time together. 

At the reception there was a photo booth complete with props and Sydney went in a couple times with Ireland and McKenzie and they took some cute pics.  You got to keep the printed strip of pictures and Marcus and Lindsey will get a disc with all the pictures that we taken in the booth- how fun!

They will see each other again later this summer and I know Sydney is looking forward to it!

Bride and Groom

Introducing Mr and Mrs Marcus Hall!

the entire wedding party minus Ryder
everyone looked great and the flowers were beautiful!
Bill's daughter Laura sang at the wedding and her voice is amazing

First dance

Shoes- Lindsey had some fun pink shoes (she loves pink) and Marcus wearing chuck taylors
every guy in the wedding party received a pair of black chuck taylors to change into at the reception- fun!

riding the trolley- so fun

At brunch the next morning, aren't they a great looking couple?

I took plenty of pictures while on the trip including ones of them at the church and the reception but it was dark and the lighting just wasn't great.  I was also busy just enjoying the wedding and at the reception keeping after the kids.  We are so excited to welcome Lindsey to the family. I will share more wedding pics soon, I am borrowing pics that the photographers took and there are a lot of great ones.

vacation #2

We spent the first day of our vacation at Bill's daughter's house. We played with her three kids and visited with her and Brad.  She made us lunch and also a yummy dinner. We went to Ireland's gymnastics class and watched her perform- so fun.

I thought I had posted about Ryder before but very shortly after he was born he was very sick and spent almost a month at Riley Children's Hospital.  This is the link to his caring bridge site- he is a MIRACLE.

Ryder loves to swing and would let Bill push him all day.

Griffin loved Ryder's push mower!  It was good for the kids to have a place to run and play for the day after being cooped in the car.

Thursday morning we took a long walk around downtown Indianapolis and walked along the canal. 

If you have never been to Indy, you should plan a trip.  There is so much to do, several museums, IMAX, an amazing zoo, great shopping and wonderful Children's museum and more.  We really just had time for visiting family and the wedding but we did enjoy walking around a bit.

Cool buildings- this is Union Station, directly across from the Omni.

Circle Center monument which is undergoing some reconstruction- see the Exact Target sign?  Marcus works in this building and his office overlooks the circle.

Murals under a bridge along the canal

fun bridges- I have this as my desktop right now- so calming

We enjoyed the city of Indianapolis!