Saturday, October 20, 2012

I bet your 3 year old can't do this...

I mean really, how many American 3 year olds can use chopsticks to pick up their Frosted Flakes?!!

 In my opinion not many can look this cute while doing it either ;) But I'm biased. Here Micah and Joshua are "doing their math" while Grace is taking a math test! Hmmm... Grace got a 100 on that test maybe I should make her brothers sit by her for everything.

A great day in the woods...

A free Saturday is such a blessing. We decided to go for a hike (a 7 mile one to be exact) and everyone did awesome!


 Isaac and MeiLi were at the front of the pack the whole way.
 These 2 came dressed like twins, with matching hair and everything. Such sweeties!



 Midway through the 7 mile hike we got to our destination (a waterfall area) and there was a great rock to climb up on and eat lunch.
Thank you Lord for a fun day making memories together!


Tae Kwon Do

Joshua, Joy, and Isaac have been able to participate in Tae Kwon Do for the past few months. They were able to test for the next belts before needing to take a break so their older sisters can do swimming and gymnastics. It's been fun to see their progress.





Friday, October 19, 2012

Costa Rica

Here ya go Caleb ;)... I'm so far behind on posting to the blog but our nephew asked for some pictures of Grace's trip...
 This iguana was outside their room. They saw wild monkeys, alligators, and one of the kids on the team took a picture of a tarantula.
They got to help hand out Operation Christmas Child gifts to some school children. Grace said it was so amazing to see the kids so excited about basic things like soap and toothbrushes.




 Grace had 2 opportunities to share her testimony. One was at a block party and another teaching a Sunday School class. She had an amazing trip and was so blessed to be able to see people come to faith in Jesus. We are so grateful for the opportunity she had to go!

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Why I'm glad I homeschool....

When school was done Friday this is what some of the kids did.... As challenging as this year has been with school these moments at 2 in the afternoon make me glad we get to home school...


Yes, we live in Georgia. The kids shoot BB guns at self made targets after school is over!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Surgery #3 is over...

Now we just wait, recover, restrict activity, then for a few months be "normal", then finally finish up this nightmarish year of surgeries with surgery #4 for his ears and surgery #5 total in a 12 month period (he had his palate redone in Boston in December of 2011). Lord willing he'll finish his surgeries for the cholesteatoma they found in his ears in December of 2012!
 
Wow... what a year! This surgery has so far been the easiest... shorter... 2 1/2 hours... less throwing up afterwards and just a more alert, happier kid.
 
Now his mom on the other hand is throwing herself a big ol' pitty party. I know, I know, many other kiddos have it much worse. At least he's not fighting for his life..... though I think I'm fighting for mine. Man....... I've been grumpy this week. I hope to be coming out of the funk soon. It helps the little emperor just came up and gave me a hug and a kiss.
 
He just "made" his bed, that is really our bed. He sleeps with me until he doesn't need pain meds at night anymore. Here's the cutie picture of him and his animals in our bed this morning.
Even though he is so cute sporting anything.... I'm quite tired of those crazy head bandages, changing out gauze pads, giving medicines, and reminding him not to run, jump, or horseplay. I am grateful however that I can lay off a little on the restrictions this go around. Just his normal way of getting off his bed, walking, and moving downstairs will be fine! Josh tends to have a certain bounce/ run/ fast movement to anything he does and I won't need to nag him about that this time :)


Saturday, September 15, 2012

Isaac's birthday

I just can't believe Isaac is 8 years old. Time certainly flies.
 
He had 2 boys spend the night after partying with
friends and family.





 
 A cold evening swim...
 The boys slept in the camper with Clayton.
 On his actual birthday we celebrated as a family. He saved $100 about 6 months ago hoping that the money he got for his birthday from us and his great grandmother could buy him an ipod. He was so excited!!
Ready to battle...
 Joshua at AWANA games. We are so happy for him that he has the confidence to be able to go into his AWANA class this year. He loves it that he is "upstairs" in Sparks with the big kids.
 Isaac, Joy, and Joshua at Tae Kwon Do
My camera was "stolen" by the older girls to take
pictures of the cats.


 We walked into the kitchen and found Allie asleep
in the pizza box.