Last of the days pictures

Here is My dad and Teresa and Aunts and Uncles
Jeremy, Uncle Joe taking Dave and Jon for a ride!
Chae and Lyndsay (Lyndsay had pretty much just slept thru the whole reunion)
Erin couldn't take a minute more...

more pics

I told you he was grimacing, Trish:) Aren't they sweet?!
Chelsea, Maggie and KJ
All of the second cousins except for KJ who was getting cleaned up!

All of my cousins except for Darrin and Dave - My grandma would've been proud!

Is the weekend over already?

The ladies hard at work getting luch ready!
Having fun on the playground today

Preston having fun!
Erin and KJ

Well, it's been a great weekend! Yesterday, my husband canned 15 quarts of salsa from fresh tomatoes in our garden. We bought a new, albeit it scratch and dent, microwave cuz ours bit the dust, got chicken feed and sawdust from TSC, ordered some parts for our dishwasher that have been needed for months, and got to bed early to boot!

Today, we had the Bohn Family Reunion and it turned out great. Saw 2 of my cousins (one from Florida, one from Hawaii) that I haven't seen in forever! The weather turned out great and we had lots of fun! Lots of good food and desserts, too! So, you'll see that Erin got really tired out today and the last words I heard from her was "will you put on Dora for me?" Needless to say, Dora never got turned on!

Well, God keeps me busy so my mind doesn't wander too much!

Well, another busy day! I have talked with Amber a few times - she's doing good, food is ok, registered for classes yesterday and started classes today! This morning, after a rough night with Lyndsay who is getting a cold, I stayed up after Jeremy left for work and went to Walmart to get groceries and the rest of the kids' school supplies and belts for the boys. I got home at 6:45am and took a shower, then started cleaning the kitchen floors, swept and cleaned the bathroom when the phone rang at 8am - it was the hospital wanting to know if I could come earlier - as soon as possible. I told her I would try and be there in an hour. I called my mom in law and she said she could come right away. I hurried and called the babysitter, then threw a few things in the bag for the girls, we got them up and loaded in the car. I felt bad for Lyndsay - her nose was all green and I tried cleaning it with a wipie, but it needed a warm wash cloth. So, got them to school and came home to wait for Mom and left for and arrived at the hospital at 9:15am. I was taken to the pre-op room at around 10:15am and surgery at 11am maybe? Times are fuzzy with all the drugs they gave me! So, in the operating room, they put a mask on me and told me to breathe deep and just when I thought I was going to have a panic attack from feeling claustrophic, I was waking up in the recovery room! She said, are you waking up? No, back to sleep I go for awhile. What a nice nap after a bad night's sleep! So, I got home at around 2:45pm today with an ace bandage from my foot to above my knee for the next 48 hours and then I can change it and rewrap it. I was bummed because I have to send the girls to Jen's house still tomorrow cuz I have to elevate the leg and stay off my feet for 24 hours. It does start to throb when I stand up to use the restroom, etc. I will take a peek at it later to see what it looks like. He said he "nicked" it quite a few places and there are no stitches, just the small incisions... So, I am sitting here on the couch with my foot up on pillows, getting to catch up on computer stuff that I've pretty much neglected the last 2 weeks! I enjoyed spending time with Mom Rich today, we had some good laughs with the different nurses and staff. I told them I wanted them to remember me all day long! My husband and Brooke are making pancakes and bacon for dinner and it smells great! Our chickens are laying eggs pretty good 4 a day right now out of 10 hens, so I'm sure we'll be getting more and more til they are all laying once a day. So, there'll be fresh brown eggs for sale soon as well as fresh eggs in the zuchinni bread I will be making for the reunion on Sunday! I will post a picture later and will enjoy catching up on the computer. I plan on laying in my bed all day tomorrow since I'll have no little ones to chase. All the housework I thought I might be able to do will have to wait SIGH! Have a great night!

PS - I forgot to tell you, on the way home, we stopped and picked up the pictures of Amber we had taken at Paetz Photography and the group photo of the kids - they turned out terrific! I am soooo pleased! I can take them to our family reunion on Sunday to show everyone since I can't scan them and post them - against the law, I guess cuz they are professional! He scanned the picture I had of Danielle and put it in the picture with the kids - very cool! Amber is beautiful, of course and both poses I bought are great! I will have to surprise her and send them to her!

Make sure you scroll through the next few posts!

Waiting for Dorm room assignments with girlfriend Rachel
In Amber's room, taking up a lot of space - it was very hot 91 degrees and muggy!

Ok, free advertising for Amy's puppies - ready in 2 weeks
Bye Bye Amber!
Playing at the Pfeiffer's house

Hyles Anderson College here we are!

here they are

Amber and Brooke with her dorm building behind them.
Amber's dorm
Inside unpacking...
A view from the other side

More pictures to come`

I will post more pics tonight or tomorrow - I have to get going to church! Have a great night!

We made it back, one less kid...

College is so tiring, but didn't want to get rid of the gum Amber gave me!
Tiring for Lyndsay, too
Getting ready to say goodbye...
The hallway to Amber's room - that's Isaac
Amber's dorm is in the background - this is down by the lake which was beautiful!

Well, all went well! While waiting for her dad to get here, Erin was already buckled into the van, waiting to "go to college". We left at 11:15am Monday and arrived in Gary, IN at around 6pm. We stayed with the Pfieffer (SP?) family in their basement and Amber's dad stayed in town at a motel with Brooke. Mrs. P made a delicious dinner of shepherd's pie and we hit the hay early so that we could get up early! Had a terrible nights sleep - Erin cried every 10 minutes in her sleep and kept saying she wanted to go to her room. She'd wake Lyndsay up every once in awhile so I had double duty trying to keep kids asleep! Up at 7am and made it to the campus at 9am to get in line for admissions. She waited in line in the cafeteria balcony then outside in two different lines before getting her room assignment. She's in the Rice 2 building, room 289. She was all unpacked by 1pm our time. She was the second girl out of 5 to arrive, so she got to pick a bed by the window. All of her stuff fit! There were people there with Uhauls! She has a wardrobe by her bed with 2 drawers underneath, a place to hang clothes and a shelf above that. Bed risers under her bed gives even more storage. So, we then went out to lunch at UNO's in town, then took her back to her room and said goodbye. I did okay until she said goodbye to the kids and we both started crying! That was hard. On the way home, Isaac had 2 bouts of crying and missing Amber! We left around 3 and got home at 7:30pm. Then I got everyone here ready for school and the babysitter's house and baths done before going to bed. Then, I heard someone crying again and had to go and reassure him that we would see and talk to Amber quite often! The kids had their first day of school today and all did well. So, here are some pictures, so enjoy!

Chris

Here we goooo...

Well, tomorrow is the big day. We've been busy getting ready for it and thus the reason why I haven't posted. We didn't get home from work til 5:30pm most nights and Amber spent every spare minute packing. We'll see how it goes, fitting it into her dad's van tomorrow. I hope I don't have to haul the trailer behind mine! So, just a quick post, I'll update more later this week. I have Thursday and Friday off for the surgery on my leg. We are leaving by noon tomorrow and I'll be home late Tuesday night so pray for safe travel mercies please! Thanks!

more pics

Tired out with Daddy!
Making funny faces with Brookie!
My turn (LOOK - A PONYTAIL!) Thanks, Brooke!
Crawling tonight...where'd the catfood dish go?
Another busy day - came home from work to find Brooke mowing the lawn, the kids playing and it was hot! So, Jeremy messed with the pool chemicals, Curt push mowed, we picked from the garden, fed some tomato worms to the chickens and turkeys (YUCK, those are very gross!), we weeded a bit, picked up some weeds, grass clippings, took movies back, ran to the store then to get pizza for supper, then back outside to work on the big flower garden out front full of weeds and no flowers:( Then, inside when the mosquitos wouldn't cooperate to give baths and get ready for bed after cleaning up the kitchen and keeping Lyndsay out of trouble. We have to work tomorrow so off we go to bed, have a good Saturday!

Get togethers

Mom, Amy and the birthday boy, Christopher - Happy Birthday!
Erin, Lyndsay and Isaac playing in the play pen at the camper last weekend
Jeremy, Christopher, and I think Mike?
Erin, Great Grandma Reid and Lyndsay at the campfire
disking the fields

Thursday

Hi there - been a busy week, Friday night we went to Millington and had Jeremy's mom, Len, his brother, Chris and his family and Jenni and her girls out for Christopher's birthday. We had a campfire, and some cake and ice cream. The kids had a great time playing out in cornfield in the dark, scaring each other. Isaac had the kids convinced there was a wolf in the corn field. Jeremy and Chris went out and tried scaring them all to death. Needless to say, everyone slept great that night! Saturday, we mowed, disced the fields, getting ready for hay hopefully. While I was mowing out back, a big buck ran right out in front of me and he had a nice rack! Very pretty, in velvet and all! Later that night, we visited with the neighbors across the street, the kids had fudgsicles and Mrs. Hebner gave me her gift for new neighbors, a pretty pitcher with matching cups in 4 different colors! She is so sweet! Sunday, Jeremy worked on a trail in the woods with the backhoe and stacked wood along the trail to use for firewood this winter. We will bring it up and store it by the barn eventually. It was great weather all weekend and we had a good time. I came home Sunday night and made cocoa-pies for cousin Rudy. The house was very smoky! They were good, but I'm glad I don't make them very often - very messy and greasy! This is one of the weeks we begin working Saturdays. We've gotten home at 5:30 every night, so just getting things done and going to bed pretty much! Tonight, the kids and I went to Heathers and rode Gent, cleaned the stalls, etc. while Jeremy went to Millington. Mrs. Jurva is beginning to can some green beans from our garden. Lord willing, we'll have lots more but the aphids are taking over out there, unfortunately! They really like green bean plants and beans! Hopefully our tomatoes will start turning red soon!

Well, have a great Friday and I will post again soon with pictures. Brooke put a ponytail in Lyndsay's hair today, very cute!

One more...

Sisters... playing nicely together in the crib!

pictures

No more metal!!! What a beautiful smile!
Oh, I forgot to tell you, another milestone, she is now pulling herself up to the standing - yes, I had to lower the crib mattress and might have to lower it one more... Again,she thinks it's funny!
At the camper, watching a movie...
At the camper!
The other milestone, she sites at the highchair at dinner with us and thinks it's great! She is also much easier to feed her cereal to here!

What a week it's been!

This week has gone by fast as usual! Last Thursday night, we spent the night at the camper in Millington. We ate fast food on the way out there, in two vehicles (Jeremy Wilson came along), and unloaded at the camper, then went into town to the festival. We ate at McPherson's, let the kids play games, ride rides, and then went to the fireworks. Erin didn't like the bleachers, so she stood on the bottom the whole time. Lyndsay fell asleep and woke up during the finale:( So, we got back to the camper around 11pm, went to sleep finally around 12:30 after getting Lyndsay to finally go back to sleep. Jeremy and I got up at 4:15am and went to work from there. The kids went back to the house after getting up. We went home after work, got things ready, animals taken care of and went back to Millington, going to the festival again. This time we had Jeremy Wilson and Stephanie Scott with us. We ran into Forest and Brenda Putman and their 2 girls and visited for awhile until town emptied out. This time, Lyndsay stayed asleep, thank goodness! Got a good nights sleep, then got up in the morning and mowed/brush hogged as much as I could before Amber, Brooke and Curt left to go home and get ready to go to a youth activity. Then, it started raining:( It rained most of the day so it was a good excuse to relax a bit. Jeremy ran wire underground to the camper (a permanent pole for camping) in the rain, working in the barn on the electrical box when it was pouring... We hope to get power hooked up to the barn this fall, making it much more convenient. The kids came back, this time with Jean Scott and we watched a movie before going to sleep. Got up, went to church in the morning, then back to the property to have more rain while cleaning up and closing it up for the week. Sunday night, the church had the college kids fellowship/shower and Amber got showered with lots of goodies to take with her to college.

I had Monday off, went with Amber at 8:30am to have her braces removed (YIPPEE!). She looks beautiful! Then, home to fold laundry until my dr. appt at 11am. I found that I am anemic and he has me taking iron for a month to see if it will resolve. Maybe I won't be so tired now! Then, home to pick up a few kids and go to the vein dr. appt. I am scheduled for surgery on my right leg Sept 4. He will just remove the ugly "poochy" vein in my right leg below the knee. We won't do anything else for now, it's not that bad yet. But, I have to promise to wear my hose after surgery. I will be back at work the Monday after. Then, picked up my contacts and got groceries and visited a friend in the hospital before coming home to get dinner going! Tonight, I picked from the garden, sprayed my beans to protect them from the aphids that are eating them and then went to Heathers and cleaned 2 stalls before worming Gentleman and coming home. We're off to bed, but will post some pictures in the next day or two! Have a great day!

Chris

Another funny...

Boy, the things kids say! Sunday we went out to the property after church and did some mowing and trail making through the woods til the backhoe broke a hose. Lyndsay took a nice long nap and Isaac and Erin played. We went for a walk before coming home. Isaac and Erin were playing in the sand pile and Jeremy and I saw 2 turkey and a fox. That was cool. So, we got home that night and after baths, etc., Erin came running to me saying "mommy, mommy" all upset. I asked her what was wrong and she was pointing to her thumb at the bottom. She said, "Look, my b**by came out here!" (very seriously, I might add). Of course, I started giggling quietly and said, that's not your b**by, that's a mosquito bite! She looked at me with her big blue eyes, looked down, lifted her shirt and looked to make sure that everything was still where it ought to be, then looked at me and smiled and yelled, "I have a mosquito bite" and proceeded to run and show Daddy, then everyone in the house that would listen. Boy, I don't know where these kids think up these things! I have been laughing about that all week. Everyone at work gets a kick out of our stories!

So, again, I hope I made you laugh - I know I did (AGAIN)! The kids have been swimming like crazy (amazing the things they'll do when the computer's off). The basement is much cleaner and I feel better about my house:) It's a never ending thing, though! Have a great rest of the week!

Chris

The three fisherman on Monday night another successful fishing night!
This was just now, the camera focused in on the crib instead of her, so I put the side down.
I can't believe it, sitting up...

She thinks it's funny!

I forgot to tell you a mommy funny: Yesterday morning, surprise, I didn't have any clean jeans (that fit me), so I thought, I'll try one of my size 8's... Well, I got them on, a little tighter in some areas (I like the loose fit), but it would do for the day. I got into them, but didn't know if I'd get out:) It was one of those moments when you have a flashback to the tight jordache jeans that were in style, was that actually 27 years ago for me? Anyway, they had to be so tight, some girls would actually have to lay down to zip them up. Thank goodness I didn't have to lay down, but I did have to stand up pretty straight!! Needless to say, I was really happy to change when I got home! Too bad we couldn't wear our comfy pj pants to work, WAIT - there are actually a few women who do, believe it or not. No, I would never do that, don't worry!

Anyway, hope I made you smile, I know I did, again! God Bless!

Yay it's Saturday!

A real quick post before Lyndsay wakes up - I'm going to make pancakes for breakfast, she already had her cereal for breakfast and is sleeping again...

Last night, we took Amber, Brooke and Curt to their dad's for the weekend and then went to see Wallee(?). What a cute movie! Isaac picked a seat near the front (this is only the 3rd time he's been to the theatre) and thenk goodness it was an older movie- not very many people in there. I ended up in the back after about a half hour with Lyndsay - she was sleeping when we got there, but Erin woke her up (imagine that!). Then, Isaac and Erin each had to go potty about 7 times throughout the 2 hour show. But, other than that, it went well! We went to Red Lobster after, but I'm leaning more and more towards just husband and myself going to restaurants like this. Everyone loves crab legs, and by the time we crack open crab legs for everyone (as well as pay for them), our food is cold and our wallet is empty. They would've had much more fun at McDonald's playplace anyway! We really need to start having a "date night" for the two of us. It's just so hard to be away when we're already away so much as it is.

This morning Erin came out after waking up and I was on the floor playing with Lyndsay and she hugged me and then Lyndsay and told me to take a picture! (Think I take too many pictures or something?) Uh-oh, baby's awake!

At the restaurant last night, the waitress asked Erin what the baby's name was and Erin said "Lyndsay Grace", my mommy went and got her from the babysitter (meaning that's how we got her). I said "I thought we brought her home from the hospital after she came out of my tummy?" NO, the babysitter gave her to us. Could I be in trouble? I don't remember stealing a baby ha, ha.

Last night on the way home from work, I rode in the first seat cuz it was empty and the guy who drives and the lady who sat next to him started talking. She just started riding our van and I remember her from Delphi. She was working in paint shop, but was on sick leave for 1 year and just came back and got out of paint a few months ago. Well, after talking a bit, she said that her 22 year old daughter had passed away a year and a half ago and she was having a really hard time with it. Then, the driver had said his first wife had passed away after 13 years of marriage. I know he is a christian. But, God puts me in the strangest places sometimes where hopefully I can be a blessing. I talked about Danielle a bit and then told her some things the Lord has done for me and how I've struggled so she knows she's not alone. Later, she told me she'd stopped going to church because she didn't want to go anymore. I told her I didn't know how I would survive day to day without the Lord in my life helping me. I told her she shouldn't shut God out, maybe that's why she was having such a difficult time. She looked very thoughtful for awhile. Maybe I planted a seed, who knows. Please pray for her, her name is Linda.

Anyway, onto to our saturday. I think we will be going to the property for a bit and then maybe the Saginaw Fair on it's last day, who knows? Sigh, housework will have to wait:) Have a great day!

Chris