Day 345-351

Day 345, Sunday, December 12th

Tonight we went to church for the Advent Night of Carols.  This is what happens when you leave these boys alone for a minute!  And this is what happens when you play with my camera when I'm not around - you get posted on my blog!

M has another loose tooth!

Day 346, Monday, December 13th

I haven't posted a pic of our beloved Toby for awhile . . . this is what he has been doing a lot of lately.  Aahh . . . to have a dog's life!

Day 347, Tuesday, December 14th

What is missing from this picture?  Baby Girl has been playing with this, a gift from my grandmother.  I love having one the kids can play with.   

Day 348, Wednesday, December 15th

Science co-op!  Today was a game/review day with some cookies and snacks thrown in.  All set and ready to go!  I loved seeing what they've learned.

L drawing for the boys team (which lost by the way) . . . can you guess what it is?

Day 349, Thursday, December 16th

J had his Christmas concert tonight.  He's the middle head in the picture :)

And my attempt at getting a picture of Baby Girl enjoying the music . . . not what I was going for, but definitely worth keeping! 

Day 350, Friday, December 17th

Nothing like the smell of burning plastic.  Thankfully, I noticed the smell before any real damage was done, but it was NOT fun to clean up and I really think I still smell it when the woodburner gets hot enough.  This was after I pulled it off of the side of the stove.

Day 351, Saturday, December 18th

Hubby caught this one for me.  Impressive bubble!  

Day 317-323

Day 317, Sunday, November 14th

I started making Baby Girl's book tonight . . . as you can see, I didn't get very far.

Day 318, Monday, November 15th

J's new hat was delivered today - I love his pose, not sure he really thought I was gonna take a picture :)

Day 319, Tuesday, November 16th

I had to take a picture of Baby Girl in her matching vest and hat (a great hand-me-down from cousin Sophie!).  It had me smiling all the way to bible study!

Day 320, Wednesday, November 17th

Trying to stay caught up on my 2 bible studies.  I am constantly amazed by God when two completely different studies bring out the same exact message!

Day 321, Thursday, November 18th

Packing L up for his first overnight camp!

Day 322, Friday, November 19th

The day has finally arrived.  L had heard so much about this camp from big brother J, that he could hardly wait for his turn to go.  And what better than to go with a great friend!  I think they are excited!

Day 323, Saturday, November 20th

Happy Birthday to by dear hubby!  He just loves the attention - can you tell?  He did like the cake - Swedish Pineapple - yummy! 

Dayy 268-274

I am having a hard time getting pictures taken and posted lately, but I just can't give up on Project 365 yet!  This week has been the worst so far and I will definitely try and do better for the next one! 

Day 268, Sunday, September26 th

Yeah . . . no picture today.  There is just something about Sundays!

Day 269, Monday, September 27th

M has started taking piano now that he is in the first grade.  He had asked me this last year when he would start learning to play the piano like his brothers.  I loved how he just assumed he would, it was never a question of will he take piano or not.  This summer he said that he didn't want to go to lessons because he didn't know how to play (yes, that is the point of the lessons), so we started the beginner books to give him some confidence.  He was so excited after his first lesson because no one had passed so many songs on their first day!  He likes to practice (at least for now!) and enjoys playing.  I love watching him grow!

Day 270, Tuesday, September 28th

Happy Birthday Toby!  

Day 271, Wednesday, September 29th

Play date and school all rolled into one!  These kiddos are just along for the ride!

Day 272, Thursday, September 30th

We stayed home and did nothing!  We had all been fighting a cold this week, so it was our chance to try and play some offense!  Is that a good reason for not having a(nother) picture?

Day 273, Friday, October 1st

I cannot believe it is October, but I think I say something similar each month!  We took some time to celebrate Nana's upcoming 65th (!) birthday.  (This was one of about 6 shots!)

Day 274, Saturday, October 2nd

And again . . . no picture.  But I did spend a lovely day with family (which I brought the camera and then left it in the van?!) and topped it off with a night of work.

Day 226-232

Day 226, Sunday, August 15th

Again, didn't realize I didn't have a picture till I went to post!!  Maybe I was still recovering from the Pulsefest?  I was going to post more on that too . . . maybe this week . . .

Day 227, Monday, August 16th

Sorry for the bad picture, but the camera didn't focus well and then the batteries went dead!  So, this is the only one I had.  We had bought this chair for M's 1st birthday and brought it downstairs because we thought Baby Girl might enjoy it - apparently, so does Toby!

Day 228, Tuesday, August 17th

Big changes are happening in our house this year - after much prayer and discussion, J is going back to public school - he is going into 7th grade - Jr. High!  (Prayers appreciated)  That means time for a  haircut!  Isn't he a cutie?! 

Day 229, Wednesday, August 18th

J's first day of school - and I didn't take a picture!  Shame on me!  We did pass some of the time without him playing with Baby Girl's new toy from her Aunt C.  It is about time she learned how to apply lipstick and start wearing some bling, isn't it?!  Thanks Aunt C!

Day 230, Thursday, August 19th

What better than an outing with your cousin and having your own special place to sit?!

Day 231, Friday, August 20th

Toby in the chair, again, and Baby Girl trying to figure out how she is going to get in!  She loves climbing in and out of it, sitting in it with a book and getting in trouble for standing in it, but he just wants to nap!

Oh, yeah, and a night out with the hubby to celebrate my birthday!  All I need to say is "Yummy"!

Day 232, Saturday, August 21st

M's books all ready for 1st grade.  We usually don't start until after Labor Day, but with J already in school, we are ready to get going!  Not only was I getting him ready for a new experience this week, but also getting everything ready for M and L!  We start on Monday!

4-H Dog Club Showmanship

Here is the video of J and Toby for the showmanship portion of judging.  This was the first year for both of them.  The obedience was more for Toby and J was judged on the showmanship.  They both did a great job and received 191 out of 200 for showmanship.  Notice, the rapid wagging of the tail when the judge approached! 

Fair - Revisited

Come to the Elkhart County-4-H-Fair!

On our first visit, we saw the Elephant Encounter,

dressed up as a bee-keeper,

 and watched J and Toby in the obedience judging for dog club.

Notice, we are the only ones with a Jack Russell terrier . . . do you know why no one else enters a Jack Russell terrier?

This is why!

On our second visit, we rode the ferris wheel - what a view on a beautiful day!

Took a break with a sno-cone,

went in the fun house,

watched the chicken flying contest (can you spot the chicken and the fair queen trying to catch it?),

and J and Toby competed in Showmanship for dog club. 

Day 212-218

I don't know about you, but this week was a rough one!  I found myself looking for something to take a picture of at the end of the day.  Needless to say, most of the pics are of things and not people.  Oh well, I guess some weeks are like that.  Here's hoping I am a little more on the ball next week!

Day 212, Sunday, August 1st

Yeah, Toby, this is about all I want to do to!  Maybe there is something to the saying "the dog days of summer"!

Day 213, Monday, August 2nd

Went to dinner with some high school friends - It was great to see everyone and to catch up!

Day 214, Tuesday, August 3rd

It took me all day to can these beans!  Between feeding kids, a teething 1 year old and the prep work - only one more batch to go!

Day 215, Wednesday, August 4th

My freebie with my B&B Organic fruit box this week! 

Day 216, Thursday, August 5th

I went to pick up our Math-U-See books for the upcoming school year. (See, I warned you there were some lame pics!).

Day 217, Friday, August 6th

Remember the kids triathalon M and L participated in?  M just rec'd his trophy for his 5th place finish!  (Apparently the times were not completely accurate after the race and it took some sorting out).

Day 218, Saturday, August 7th

Speaking of triathalons . . . here is my dear hubby completing his!  This one was nice and close so we were able to go and watch most of it.  He got first in his age group - way to go Babe!  I love L in the corner cheering him on!

Day 198-205

Day 198, Sunday, July 18th

Pool party at the Bollenbacher's!  Our wonderful hosts of a wonderful time!

Day 199, Monday, July 19th

It was beautiful . . . I don't think the picture does it justice!

Day 200, Tuesday, July 20th

Does anyone else use baking soda/water mix for a bee sting or is it just something I learned from my mom?  It was only a sweat bee and I am not sure if it really helps or was just psychological for M.

Day 201, Wednesday, July 21st

South Bend Silverhawks game with the family thanks to a vendor at hubby's work!  You gotta love free tickets and free food!  When we were talking about going, the boys were so excited - "free food - that means we can eat as much as we want too!"  We (Baby Girl) didn't make it through the whole game, but we came away with 2 baseballs!

Day 202, Thursday, July 22nd

We had some a friend and her two kiddos over for dinner and I took this picture for his Daddy who is in Afganistan - just what every soldier wants to see, his boy loving a baby doll!

Day 203, Friday, July 23rd

Four-wheeling/dirt-biking in the sweltering heat!  Getting dirty like boys like to do!

Day 204, Saturday, July 24th

Obedience judging for 4-H Dog Club at the fair.  J and Toby did great - Toby just needs a little more work sitting/standing still for 1-3 minutes.  And if you know our dog, that is a tall order!