Parents of the year award

Last night Reis' football team, Elkhart Club Football had their first ever official game. We played a local public school and won 28-0!!! It was so exciting! They looked so little out there on that huge field. Scott teased me about us getting the parent of the year award because we showed up with 2 cameras and realized one did not have the card in it and the other had dead batteries. So unfortunately we do not have pics to post. He has another game on Thurs. so I will try to do better. By the way, we are all healthy (at the time) and school is going much better this week:)

A very interesting week

This last week was very.....interesting to say the least. I tried to choose a word that wasn't too negative, realizing that God has a purpose for everything. (Even the stomach flu. ) I was all geared up for our first day of school which was this past Monday. I am trying to be more organized this year (aren't we all?) and spent some time on our Microsoft Works program coming up with assignment pages for me to fill in and print out for the boys each week. That way they know each week what is expected and gives them the opportunity to work ahead if they desire. I have found that they do better if they can "cross out" things when they get them done. (I think they get that from me:) I also came up with a chore chart with morning chores like making their bed and brushing their teeth and daily chores like emptying and filling the dishwasher. I felt pretty good about the week starting until someone came to get me during our evening ABF at church to tell me Davis threw up in his class....a couple of times. That led to Owen on Monday, Hudson on Thurs. and myself on Friday. Luckily it was a quick virus lasting less than 24 hours. Not quite the week I was anticipating that's for sure. Other than that, we had a good week. We added a couple of subjects so the boys have a bit more seatwork this year but they are handling it pretty well. I am especially proud of Reis. He has a strong desire to be at ECA but is submitting to Scott and I amazingly well. Our plan is to send him next year in Jr. High so we are trying to enjoy this last year home together.

In the midst of the chaos, we managed to get a few pics of Chapman and Owen.

Down on the Farm

Karla and I met down at the pig farm at the Neier's home. (Brandon's wife's parents) We had a great time with the kids staying in their lodge they have built primarily for families in full time ministry. What a blessing they are to our family. We love them dearly. Thank you Ray and Judy! We had a blast fishing, swimming, boating, eating, golf carting, fetching eggs from chickens, holding pigs, getting lost in the corn rows, riding tractors, watching the Olympics and just being together.

Cookout crashers

I will post of our week at "the farm" soon but first I wanted to tell you about our night last night. We had planned to have a family over from our ABF class from church for a Wii party. I had made homemade pizza, she was bringing salad and we were going to have a Wii Olympics with the kids. Little did we know that there are others in the class that started a cookout crasher group. Have you hear of them? Be prepared... they can show up at your house at any moment...without warning. And they did.:) As I was pulling the pizzas out, here come family after family (about 40 people total:)from all directions filling my back yard. They brought food, food and more food, plates, cups, drinks...everything they needed to have a party at someone else's house...even the propane to grill out. Their thought was to actually set up at someones house when they were gone and give them a surprise when they returned home. Can you imagine? They had a volley ball net, chairs, tables, grill utensils....I told them I would be sad if I had come home to my own house and had missed the party! They even invited our neighbors who have become great friends of ours. We played games outside, ate, talked and even ended up next door for coffee at 11:30 p.m with the few of us that were left. Scott and I still can't believe what happened. We had a blast and are so grateful for wonderful friends and church family.

We reminisced about the days when it was "ok" to stop in unexpectedly to a friends house. What happened to that? I think now we worry about what they will think or of interrupting something. We decided we're going to do more of it. It really shows you care enough to stop and say hello! Any thoughts on that? I'd love to hear them.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies ever!

I am taking the kids "down to the farm" today. My brothers wife's family lives on a hog farm west of Indy. Last night I thought I would whip up some yummy Chocolate chip cookies. I tweaked this recipe years ago when we were first married and absolutely love it. If you like soft, chewy cookies, you'll have to try them:) Here is the recipe.

2 3/4 cup flour

1 1/2 ts. baking soda

1 ts. salt

1/2 c. crisco

1/2 c. soft butter

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. brown sugar

1 ts. vanilla

2 eggs

choc. chips

Preheat oven to 375. Combine flour, soda and salt. Cream together butter, sugars, and vanilla. Add eggs. Gradually add flour mixture. Bake 10-11 minutes, just until they are starting to brown. Let sit on baking sheet a minute to set. Enjoy!

Have a great week. I will post this weekend of our farming experience:)

Double Wedding

Me and one of my handsome boys...Owen!

Our long time friends of our family had an incredible wedding this last Friday night. We were blessed to be apart of it and I wanted to share with you my pictures I was able to take on a very busy 2 days! Amber and Amanda Byars...sisters married best friends on the same day, same time and same place. It was a once in a life time event for many of us. Chapman and Owen were their ring bearers and I played a part in decorating and helping in where ever I was needed. The wedding had a vintage theme which of course I loved. All the guests were asked to wear black and cream and we were so happy with how everyone participated. The whole event was like a fairy tale even ending with fireworks as they drove away in vintage cars. Hope you enjoy!