Precious Friendships

I get so discouraged sometimes hearing how mean my children can be to each other. They nit pick, nag, tease . . . on and on it can go. So when my youngest son came to me about three weeks ago with a plan of what he wanted to make for Mary's (his oldest sister) birthday I about cried. He explained how he wanted to stitch it and that it should be on one of those round things that holds fabric. Then he said he wanted it to be a girl and an arrow would point to it with "Mary" stitched above the arrow. Today he was in a panic because it was present opening time and he couldn't find it. Ah, but with mom's help it was found, wrapped and delivered. Precious little sinners do share moments of victory for which I praise God!

A Christmas Carol!!!

We had our first rehearsal for "A Christmas Carol" tonight. The whole family is excited as we ALL were cast!

Drew: Bob Cratchet,
I: The Mrs.
Mary: Ghost of Christmas Future
Jacob: Peter  Cratchet
Abi: Belinda Cratchet
Baruch: Boy Scrooge & the ghost of Ignorance
Abram: Boy 1,
& last but not least, (drum roll)
Chloe: Chloe, daughter of old Belle & the ghost of Want!

I am so excited to all be in this together! The play will be performed two consecutive weekends before Thanks giving at The Grand! Their website has ticket information. We know a number of people in the cast and are looking forward to working together to put on a great show!

Dead on the Road Side

Jacob has been working hard to improve his running.  This is the conversation I heard this morning after Jacob came home from his run.

Jacob: If I can not be sore tomorrow I will be on the road to getting better
Chloe: You know Jacob, running on the road is dangerous, there are cars
Jacob: No, the road to success
Chloe: Yep, dead on the road side

Pretty hilarious!

I am very proud of both Mary and Jacob. They are both running cross country this season. It is pushing them (in a good way). They are both motivated to train and are seeing results.

If you are interested, here are their *and Abi's race results for the season so far:

Sept. 3 - Monroe
4 K JV Girls Mary: 25:18 pace 10:09
5 K JV Boys Jacob: 26:37 pace 8:34

An Extremely Hot Sept. 7 - Darlington
4 K JV Girls Mary: 26:53 pace 10:49
5 K JV Boys Jacob: 28:29 pace 9:10
1.3 Mile Junior High Abi: 11:30 pace 8:51

Sept. 21 - Mount Horeb
4 K JV Girls Mary: 23:00 pace 9:16
5 K JV Boys Jacob: 24:08 pace 7:47

*Abi has only raced once as not all the races are open to Junior High.

Happy Golden Birthday!

Twelve on the Twelfth

Apple Picking

Gifts from Grandma and Pa!

Hard at work breaking cement.

On the way home ; )

Party on the Fourteenth

Praying Mantis

At the Park

In hot pursuit of . . . 

A Bull Frog

Picnic Time

Rides home

Back to the house to frost your own cup cake

and open gifts

and pick some up : )

After the party came the post party surprise - ear piercing!

Making Abigail smile!

Anticipation 

 Ear # Two

 The Worst is Over!

 

Friend Support.

On the way home Abigail said the day had been like a dream and she was waiting to wake up. The great party, all the wonderful friends, gifts and now having her ears pierced all seemed too good to be true!

Reunion Time

Here are some pictures from our recent reunion with four out of six of my siblings and their amazing spouses and as Ione would have said, "above average" children. [I missed you Renee (and family) and Mark!!!]

 The sea lion exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo!

 Drew and Matt

 Henry, Baruch, Dawson, Abram and Jason

 Terry and Michelle

 Mary and her favorite Uncle  - Tim

 The brother in laws

Tim, Eldon and Chip

(amazingly good sports as you can see)

 At the Pool with the Aunts

Our reunion started Aug. 18th. We left a day early, stopped at the zoo, then spent the night at a hotel. The next morning we visited a church and picked up my sister Renee's van so my brother Matt could drive it home to FL. Long story, that one, let me know if you want the whole story there and I will give it : )