We're all sick...

Yep. All but John (lucky stinker!). It was confirmed today what I have suspected - the boys all have strep throat. Pretty sure I am the one that started it and still have it but its "unconfirmed".

So here we all are, starting to go stir-crazy! John 'gets' to escape to work every day, but we'll be confined to the house till we aren't contagious anymore...

(Samson the Ebola Doctor)

Christians mouth... Nasty!

Jakobs mouth and "whoa" tonsils... YIKES!

Even the Dr and nurse today were surprised at the size of his tonsils! I imagine he'll be getting them out before too long.

I couldn't get a pic to show you of Isaac's throat. Not that you are terribly interested anyway!

Here's to a healthy Christmas!

Sunshine

We are all enjoy the tidbits of sunshine that come peeking through the clouds lately... 

Some of us more than others!

Yeah. He said that.

On one of the snowy days, we went over to Gramma and Grandpa's house. Chris and Isaac didn't even come inside. 

At one point Isaac came in and asked, "Christian is making a Calvin and Hobbes snowman and he wants ketchup." (in total seriousness) 

I looked at him and said, "Um, no." 

He looks over at Gramma and says, "Do you agree with that?"

Gramma (desperately trying no to crack) says, "Yep." With that, Isaac goes back outside and we lose it laughing. 

Oh. My.

Snowy Weekend

Last weekend we had a snowstorm... they let school out early on Thursday and there was no school Friday or Monday and a 2-hour delay on Tuesday! At the top of the snow count, we had 15 inches... and then the ice came.

On Sunday John and I were stir-crazy and decided to take a walk. It was quiet and cold and beautiful!

Here I have a good 4 layers on... John has a t-shirt and sweatshirt and a heavy pair of pants on. Seriously.

When we got home, I just HAD to do a snow angel! With the ice, it was kinda hard, but I did it!

 John is my sweetheart... Love him.

We never win ANYTHING.

Until now.

Meet Chocolate Milk and Oreo (guinea pigs). The newest members of our family!

At conferences last week, I gave Jake a dollar for 3 raffle tickets. Little did I know, until after the fact, that he put 2 of those 3 into the drawing for 2 guinea pigs. Chris came home Wednesday telling me that we had won them. I didn't believe him. I didn't WANT to believe him. I told him I needed a call from the school... and that call came this afternoon from Chris' math teacher. Yeah. Luckily they came with a cage, bedding, food and hay (as well as other misc. stuff).

Yippee. Skippy.

10

At some point, early on in the trials of my divorce, God gave me the age of 10. It had something to do with the man that would treat us the way we were meant to be treated, the man that I would eventually marry. The age that one of my boys would be. God gave me peace that He knew that man would come, would be there for us. And that peace allowed me to pick myself up off the floor of depression and live life. That was 5 1/2 years ago…

(John and I in March 2012)

John came into our lives and then we started dating in March 2012… Chris was 10.

And now, in August 2013, we will be getting married… and Jakob will be 10.

 

(John and I when he proposed Spring Break 2013)

Just makes us think… what awesome, crazy thing is going to happen when Isaac is 10?

I Moustache you a question

 

   

We have been having a little fun with moustaches around here… can you tell?

 

    

I Love you!

Happy Valentines Day to the ones that I love!

It has been a while…

but I am just going to start!

In no particular order I am finally going to just post pictures that I want to share or remember (or both), as well as thoughts and stories that need to be written down!

Happy 2013 to y’all!

Have a bit o chili?

This is a “normal” size coffee cup – 12 oz.

This is NOT a normal size can of chili.

Note the size on the bottom – 6lbs. 12 ozs.

 

That’s a LOT O’ CHILI.

What do you think about that Aussies?

Off to school…

Chris said his good-byes, hugging me then hugging Isaac. We both tell him we love him and just before he walks out the door for school, Isaac says, “Just remember, it isn’t just for anyone, it is for God!”

 

Gotta love that kid.

 

(Thanks Mom!)

First day of school…

So Tuesday was the first day of school. No surprise to most of you, right?

Well, Chris started Middle school (Seriously? 6th Grade?) and Jake started 5th Grade with Chris’ teacher from last year!

Most of you know that Jake has been bumped past 4th grade to 5th grade. We are hoping that the behavior problems we saw last year (and a bit the previous years) will be helped with the challenge of 5th grade. That will also be helped by the fact that his teacher this year knows him already!

 

 

Of course, Isaac HAD to have his picture taken too! He won’t start pre-school for a couple more weeks, but he was excited for the first day too!

Cape Kiwanda Nail Salon

Mandie and Laura getting their nails done by Sarah

 

Grace and Sarah; Benny and Scott

 

Chris painting his own nails a bright shade of pink;

Scott painting Nate's toes

 

Benny and Isaac painting my toenails many different colors;

Sarah painting Nicks toenails green

 

Benny painting one of my fingernails… I think there were 5 different kids that painted colors on my fingernails. Each fingernail was a different color when they were done!

 

Almost all of the boy cousins and ALL the girl cousins (I think) had their fingers and toes done by the time the “Nail Technicians” were done! We had beautiful fingernails and toenails!