Random September

September was such a busy month and I tried to document some of the highlights.  However, I found a few pictures of other "happenings" in September that I wanted to be sure and include.

 Ben had his good friend Blake over for a sleepover.  Unfortunately, the summer sun had passed us by and the pool was just too cold to get in.  But, it was the perfect "lake" for their motorized boats!  They had so much fun racing those around the pool.

 On a sad note, we said goodbye to our beloved Lynx.  Lynx came to us in a very odd way.  Andy's uncle was needing a home for him and we decided to take him in.  He was ancient when we got him, but he was a trooper!  Lynx lived with us for 3 years before finally getting to the point that his body was just giving out.  I noticed one night that he wasn't eating and really hadn't moved much throughout the day.  Andy was gone, so I stayed up until 3 am trying to get him to eat and make him comfortable.  A trip to Purdue the next day confirmed that he had a tumor in his jaw and only had a couple weeks left (if that).  We decided to put him down so that he wouldn't suffer any longer.  I have to say, I was very hesitant to take Lynx (I am NOT an inside animal person) but I fell in love with him.  I don't think I'll have another inside pet, but I'll admit that Lynx was pretty special and will always hold a place in our hearts.

 On a brighter note, Ashley and I ran (ok, we walked a lot of it) the Cupcake Run/Walk for Education.  This was our third 5K that we've done together and it was one of the best.  Don't mind our make-up free/no hair-do photo...we were doing good to just be awake and going, lol!

Finally, I had to include this photo.  Kyran woke up one morning and said he wanted a mo-hawk.  Since it was a Saturday and we had nowhere to go, I happily obliged!  Later, he was looking out the kitchen window for "the big foot" (we had just watched Harry and the Henderson's), and I couldn't help myself...I had to get out my good camera and snap a couple photos.  Those eyes just melt my heart!

Gymnastics - Something New and Something Fun

Once we got back into the routine of school, my friend and I decided it might be nice to get our kiddos involved in some type of activity.  Her daughter wanted to do gymnastics and the place that she looked into had classes for all the kids.  They had a boys only class for the older boys, a class for her daughter, and another class just for Kyran.  It was the perfect fit for all of them!  After a little bit of convincing, the boys agreed to go.  They had a GREAT time!  Kyran had a little bump in the road after the first class (he was a little scared to go back, but he made it through).  Hopefully in a few weeks we can sign them up for another round!

Date night

Ben had a little bit of a rough start to 1st grade this year.  I think the "summer of fun" was a lot for him and when we had to get back to a routine, it was tough.  He definitely was missing his mom those first couple weeks.  So, one night, he and I had a date night.  We hadn't done that in a while, so it was nice to get away for the evening with my little man.  We went to Target to look at the toys and then headed to Red Lobster for supper.  Ben had never had crab legs before, so we had to try them!. He decided they were good but they were a LOT of work, lol!  Thankfully after a couple rough weeks, Ben started loving school.

Family Work Day - Take 2

We had our second family work day this past weekend, at my brother's house.  It was a beautiful day, thank goodness, because we were working on several projects outside.  Matt and Allison were in the process of redoing their back deck and pool deck, new landscaping around the property, and the pond needed cleaned out and treated (that was the super fun project, lol)!  Matt was super organized, so when we got there, we all knew where to work and what to do.  Andy was on pond duty with Eric and Evan, I was with Mom and Stacey on landscaping, and the boys were on "play" duty with all their cousins!

 Eric, working hard cutting down all the grass and reeds.

 Stacey and I got a super fabulous job, after we finished planting flowers.  We got to rake algae off of the top of the pond...good times, lol!  It wasn't a hard job, and it was such a pretty day, so really not bad at all!

 Dad and Jason working hard.

 Ed and Allison working on landscaping!

Seems like everybody worked on the deck at one point or another!  Taylor and Ed, working hard!

The kids had so much fun all day, jumping on the trampoline and swimming in the pool.  After the guys got the top deck finished, they put the slide back on, and then the fun really started!  The slide is from our pool, when we were growing up, so only about 30 years old...more on the slide, at the end of the post!

The finished product!  It all turned out SO nice, thanks to lots of hard workers!  Work is not always the most fun, but when you have lots of helpers it makes it go fast!

So, remember the slide I was telling you about?  Kyran felt like he was invincible and sure didn't need to listen to any adults when they KEPT telling him he had to sit down when he went down the slide.  Sure enough, the worst happened...he didn't sit down, and as I yelled for him to do so, he took off and flew off the side of the slide, straight to the ground (about 6 feet).  One ambulance ride, a back board and neck brace, and several x-rays later we were released with no injuries.  God was certainly watching out for Kyran that day, and we are very thankful He was.  In some ways, I am so glad that Kyran is fearless and isn't afraid to try new things and take risks.  But, at the age of 3, he needs to have a little bit of fear, for moments like this!  Hopefully there will be no more risky slide rides in his future!!!

Thanking the Lord each and every day for keeping this boy safe!

Summer Adventures

Our summer has been packed to the gills, but every now and then we get some free nights at home to adventure out and enjoy the peace and quiet...

 Catching fireflies.  This picture brings packs some emotion for me.  Catching fireflies as a kid, of course, but seeing Ben in his daddy's shirt reminds me of staying the night at Grandma and Grandpa Fincher's and putting on one of his undershirts for pj's.  We'd run around outside, just like Ben...I can close my eyes (with a few tears in them) and see it like it was yesterday.

 My little firefly catcher was so forlorn...he was not having much luck with his net, but thankfully Daddy came to his rescue.

Swimming in the evening is the best.  It's so relaxing when the sun slowly sets, the water turns a beautiful shadowy blue, and the day just melts away. 

Summer is rolling right along...

Summer just keeps rolling right along, no matter how hard I try to stop it.  Here are a few random pics from the last couple weeks.

 You know you're exhausted when you don't make it two miles from Grandma Debbie's before you're out...the headphones were no match for the nap!

 This is a pic from the All American, but I couldn't resist playing around with it a bit.

 Kyran thought Lynx needed to have his blankies for his "nap".  Lynx was not amused!

Our little mini 4H'er made these cookies with very little help from momma.  He got a little tired of stirring until it boiled, but other than that, he was a cookie making machine (who apparently doesn't need to wear anything but underwear when working in the kitchen)!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day this year was very low key, which was exactly what we all needed.  We have been running around like crazy these past few weeks, so it was nice to have a day with no agenda.  We headed up to my parents house in the morning to relax and spend the day with family.  We pulled left overs out of the fridge and a frozen pizza out for the kids; it was a perfect lunch.  No fancy table decorations, no fancy food, just paper plates and a hodge podge!  

Of course, this wasn't just any Mother's Day, this was my sister-in-law, Tai's FIRST Mother's Day, and how special it was!  Rose was the center of attention with everyone, and you practically had to fight to get a turn to hold her.  This was the first time Andy and Kyran had gotten to meet her.  Andy was in love and Kyran was just concerned she might try and steal his truck and trailer!  He doesn't quite grasp the concept of newborns, lol!  I realized when I was going through my photos that I didn't get a single one of Kyran.  Probably because he was guarding his toys the entire time, just in case!

 These two couldn't get enough of Baby Rose!

 

In the later afternoon, I headed over to Eric and Tai's to take Rose's newborn pictures while Andy helped Dad and the boys played in the hot tub.  We loaded up to head home around 8:30, and I swear the boys were asleep by 8:31...it was the perfect way to end the day.

Happy Mother's Day to my mother and to all mothers; those who have children to hold in their arms, those who hold memories of their children, and those who long to hold children in the future.  I'd hate to think where we would be without strong, supportive mothers in our lives.  God certainly knew what he was doing when he gave us the love of a mother!

Welcome to the World, Baby Rose

We were so excited to hear that Baby Rose (Roslyn) had entered the world on April 29th!  We had been praying for a healthy baby girl, and when we got the call, we were just elated!  Andy was still on antibiotics for tonsillitis, so he stayed home with Kyran while Ben and I went up for a quick visit.  She is absolutely perfect, and we were both in love the moment we saw her!  She's teeny tiny and has the most dainty features...as Mary Poppins would say, she's Practically Perfect in Every Way!

Welcome, Baby Rose!  This place is full of people that love you and can't wait to watch you grow!

When we came in the room, we didn't see Rose in the crib and we didn't see her with Tai.  However, when we walked over to Eric, we found her tucked in his sweatshirt...snug as a bug, in a rug!

Love at first sight!

Family Work Day

It has been crazy here this past month, which is the reason for the lag in posts.  But, I'll make up for it tonight, I hope.  A few weeks ago, almost all of us met up at my sister's house for a family work day.  Andy was super sick with a fever, and my sister-in-law was running her kiddos to and from practices, but other than that, the rest of the family was there.  Several of Jason's family members came, too, so it was a big crowd.  We worked all day on their siding.  They'd been in the middle of the project for a while and decided that it would be helpful to call in the troops.  The weather was perfect and the company was even better!  The kids had a blast playing together and the adults (though thoroughly worn out and maybe even a bit sunburned) enjoyed the day, too!

 Working hard!

 Matt and Eric sharing some brother bonding time!

 My nephew, Evan, worked his rear off all day long!  He's such a great kid!

 This goofball. and those beautiful blue eyes!

 The whole crew, after lunch, and before they were too tired to stand, lol!

 Evan and Mom were master siding cutters by the end of the day!

 I love this picture.  You're never too old to learn from your dad!

 This storm trooper was hard at work all day long...if his truck and trailer couldn't haul it, then it wasn't worth hauling!

 These two are best buddies and worst enemies...just depends on their mood.  But, they're two of the cutest toddlers I know!