12-pack, Anyone?

I couldn't resist posting this picture of part of Mike's desk.

My desk doesn't look much better; Jason just brought over two pop cans and a glass to go along with the other two glasses, books, camera, phone, and miscellaneous already on the desk.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

For Thanksgiving, I get two of my girls home and a visit from my parents.  :)

Aaron's 17th Birthday

Aaron had his 17th birthday at the end of October.  He didn't want to do anything special other than have cherry cheesecake for his cake but was very willing to say yes to pizza when his dad offered to stop and get some.  He and Tracy did go to FNT (Friday Night Thing--Bible study and get-together) that evening.  Most of his day was spent on the computer.

Driver David

David really enjoys driving around on his car.  He uses jump ropes and trucks and bins and extension cords and anything else he so chooses to use as tractors and trailers.  His imagination never ceases to amaze me.  He is always busy.

Wonder Climber

Here is Melissa showing off her climbing skills.  I'm not sure what the deal was with the shirt changing, other than maybe the fact of her wanting you to see that she got it from the soccer camp VBS she went to.

Miscellaneous Pictures

Wow!  I found this as a draft from 2010.  Look at how tiny and cute David is!  I love his two little teeth in the bottom picture.

"Please play with me!"

The dog is barking at a squirrel, trying to get it to come play with him.  The dog went from the top of the car to underneath multiple times.  We finally had pity on him and opened the hood.  :)

October Days

All has been going well in October.  It has been much quieter the past two weeks without having to worry about soccer this and soccer that.  :)

School has continued to happen most days, and October is a month where my children get invited to a lot of birthday parties.

We also celebrated one of our own birthdays, but that will have to wait for another post so I can see if any pictures were halfway decent.  :)

Snow

That brings us to October.  We had a fun snowfall at the beginning of the month so the kids made it outside to make some forts and snowmen.  I've seen several snowballs flying also.  :)  Aaron used his 3ds and took several pictures for me.

September Days

September brought lots of soccer and running around the country as we went to Karlstad and Thief River Falls for games.

The first and second weeks in August we had the pleasure of bringing a couple girls home from practices and to and from games with us as their parents were on a trip and the grandmother doesn't do driving at night.

Mike, Tracy, and some of the kids attended our "Kids Outdoors" day at our sporting goods store, and Aaron won some sort of gun.  I don't remember what type but maybe one of them will post in the comments in case anyone is interested.

We hosted our Jackpine Retreat in the middle of the month and fed everyone a taco dinner Sunday before they left.  Aaron and I did the mowing to get the grounds ready, and our friend from the cities came up and cut and hauled trees that had fallen so people could get in and camp.

I've been teaching piano lessons to three girls along with Emily and Melissa so started those in September.

Our friends are adopting a little one from China so had a rummage sale.  There was SO MUCH STUFF there for sale.  It was overwhelming for me to see it all so though I did help a tiny bit, I had to leave because of that.  It was just too much for me to take in.  I also brought some plates of cookies for the bake sale part of it; I hope they sold!

August Days

Tracy went to orchestra camp the second full week in August.

We went to Hayes Lake State Park with some friends for a picnic.  We were supposed to go swimming, but my kids would not touch the water as there was algae.  (We are so spoiled by the chlorinated pools!)

I went to Grand Forks with a friend.  We have continued to do that once a month, which makes for a fun outing for me.

Tracy worked at the outdoor pool a lot.

Tracy and Emily were involved in the National Bible Bee again, and Tracy did well.  A LOT of the kids did really well this year!

We went to the park for a birthday party for four of our little friends where the younger kids had their first opportunity to play "organized" games other than at AWANA.

We went to a friend's house and picked some beans to can.

We went to the corn maze.  I hope this is the correct link!  We bought a family pass this year and have been out there several times.

Make Hay While the Sun Shines

Aaron worked for a farmer friend August 11.  He was gone for over 14 hours but came home tired and happy.  I was just beginning to get worried about him but knew the hay needed to be put up (plus he was with trusted family friends.)  Wow, that was one of the days I sat in front of the air conditioner as it was HOT!  I do not handle the heat well as the rest of my family does.  Tracy worked a shift at the outdoor pool that day and took Jason and Emily with her.

Piano and Flute Lessons

Jason has continued with the piano lessons he started in June of 2011 after I made him take a break in June and July of 2012.  His break wasn't much of a break though; Tracy and I made him review in his books and learn new pieces and play lots of duets.  He is now in book 3 of the Alfred series, and I am looking forward to hearing some Christmas music soon.  His teacher usually does a Christmas recital and a spring recital.

Emily got a flute and has been plugging away on that.  She seems to enjoy it, but I really don't think she is working to her full potential.  Considering she is only 10, maybe I should give her some grace.  :)

School Starts

Tracy went to a Bible camp in Gilbert, MN during the split week of July and August so was able to miss our first day of school.  I bought the video school for Jason this year so decided to start school earlier than normal, in hopes of not losing too many days during soccer season.  There are some excellent teachers on it!  I started with a core segment of classes, and we are on day 42 today so have done quite well, in my opinion  We should be able to finish those four classes earlier in the coming year and will hopefully be able to double up on some of the others as we sit during the cool winter months waiting for spring to arrive.  I only have three of legal school age this year; that is different.

We had our annual soccer meeting that evening and decided to start soccer practices early this year as well.  Some of the "Juniors" were involved in a soccer-based vacation Bible school that first week in August so got a head start on some of the other kids.  The kids have really enjoyed that specific VBS.  The "Seniors" were involved in a hard-core workout that week but came home "pumped" each night.  They also ran a mile each night or practice and have continued to do that each night of practice as far as I know.

Aaron left to go on a camping trip with a group of boys just south of International Falls on August 1.  I have asked him every year since he was 12 if he would like to go, and this year he finally decided to make the plunge.  He enjoyed it but came home with sore arms from a lot of rowing in the canoe.  I, not knowing this, had left him a list of stuff to do when he got home which included "sweeping the ceilings."  I guess that did not feel very well with his sore muscles!!!

Birthday Trip

Mike and I along with Melissa and Laura went down to the cities to visit my new niece for a trip for my birthday.  It was really strange not having David along with us, and it ended up being a long two and a half days for Tracy with him.  Emily was at camp down in Gilbert, MN.  The fun for me was being able to sit on the couch and hold Danielle, and that was a perfect birthday gift.  :)

I didn't get a picture of each of us with her, but here is Melissa holding her and also pictures of Melissa and Laura in Mike's parents' tree.

My Birthday

I had my birthday near the end of July.  When I was a teenager, I would ALWAYS get between 12 and 16 cards, which I would hang on my wall for a month or two.  I have continued the tradition of hanging them on the wall.  In recent years I haven't had more than three, but this year I was blessed by several and enjoyed seeing them on the wall to remind me of special people in my life.

My New Niece

Here is a picture of my newest niece and her family.  I've received both of the figures below for statistics so you'll have to take whichever one you like best.  :)  Her name is Danielle Rose.


7 lbs 2 oz, 19.5 inches

7 lbs 1 oz, 19.75 inches

New Niece

I was told several months back that I may have to share my birthday.  Well, a new niece has been born, and she came only two days before my birthday.  :)   I hope to post details and possibly a picture when I receive more information.

Pretty Cookies

The younger kids made and decorated cookies last night while the older ones were at youth group.  The picture doesn't really do justice to the cookies but still...

We had a one-day break from the heat so we could have rain and a little thunderstorm.  It was nice, but now we're moving on to heat and humidity again.

Jason's 14th Birthday

Jason had three friends over for a sleepover for his birthday from Friday to Saturday.  Saturday for lunch another family with five boys came and spent a couple hours so we girls were very outnumbered.

The day was mostly spent in front of video games and doing air soft wars.

Barely awake in the morning

Hot/chili dogs, Ramen noodles, chips, and floats were the main course for the day.

I made a lemon cake.  I used a box mix lemon plus a homemade white cake and put them together.  The end result was still a very "lemony" cake.  I did the same thing with the frosting.

"Passing out" after blowing out 14 candles...

 

"Veggin'"

Sacked out...and even before midnight!!!

Nursery Rhymes

We all have heard of Mother Goose, I'm sure.  Lately we have had a couple nursery rhyme situations at our house worthy of blogging.


Old Mother Hubbard

Old mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To fetch her poor dog a bone;
But when she got there
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.


And now our version:

Our dear old Mommy
Went to the cupboard,
To figure out some lunch for the kids;
But when she got there

The cupboard was bare,

Because David had put it all in his "boat"!






And another...






Contrary Mary
 
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockleshells,
And pretty maids all in a row.



 And now our version:


Shelly, Shelly, the silly mommy,
How does your garden grow?
With peas and beans, and even weeds,
And a soccer ball.  Oh, will it grow?

July 4th

We spent 12 hours in Warroad on the 4th of July.  Tracy was scheduled to work at the outdoor pool at noon, but the pool ended up being closed because of the stormy weather.  We spent quite a while in the van before the day decided to cooperate and let us roam around without raindrops.  Laura spent a couple hours on the inflatable toys they had.  We hit the Beach Park and the Rainbow Park.  We endured the wonderful smells coming from the Spud Wagon and other money-making booths.  Mike sampled chili.  We went to the parade and waved to many friends.  One of the cutest floats of them all was the grandpa who was pulling his grandchildren around behind him.  Another one that stuck out as memorable was a big birthday cake for the bank's 100-year celebration.  We ended the evening watching the fireworks.

Busy Busy Busy

June was a month spent at the pool--24 of the 30 days.  :)  Tracy has been teaching swimming lessons and doing some lifeguarding, and we have a family pool pass for the summer.  Our pass is good for both the indoor and outdoor pools, but I much prefer the indoor pool because the hot sun isn't beating down on me.  I've been swimming some laps when I don't have David with me.  I have lost SO MUCH from my teenage years.  It is scary putting my face in the water and blowing bubbles then trying to breathe at this point in my life!  :)

Emily and Melissa and Laura went to two different vacation Bible schools and had a blast at both.  Three of the weekends Aaron and Jason spent with friends.   Tracy and Aaron went to youth group and Bible studies.

Mike had three celebrations in there--a birthday, 20 years at Marvin Windows, and Father's Day.

There is at least one thing written on the calendar for each day--I wonder if our July can be as busy.  (Yes, and I am sure it will be even busier than June!)

David

Hiding..."You can't see me!"

Either that or it was, "Don't take a picture of me!"

The house got too quiet and David was missing.  Tracy found him on the kitchen floor where he built himself a bed and put himself to sleep.