i broke my camera.

Here's a shot of Matthias....I cut his hair recently, so he doesn't look quite as shaggy. :)

I dropped my camera at VBS last week. I am really bummed about it and there have been several things that have happened at home that I have reached for my camera only to remember that I don't have it anymore. I sent it to Nikon and they're going to tell me how much it'll cost them to fix it. If it's too much I guess I'll just wait for birthday money to buy a new one. Anyways, I don't know what this blog is going to look like while I'm camera-less....but, I guess we'll see! such a bummer.

Leighton was throwing up this morning. I'm really praying that it stays with her....although it seems highly unlikely that no one else in our family will get it. Stomach bugs are my most dreaded virus...I've been Lysol wiping down every knob and switch I can. :) headed for bed.....thanks for checking in!

AJ turned 4!!!

AJ's birthday was the first day of VBS last week....I felt a little bad b/c we spent the whole day at the church, our AC was out, so we weren't spending anytime at home...it was crazy, but we were able to have pizza and cake with some kids who stayed after VBS for a while to celebrate with us. Ashley Joy has been such a joy to our family....as many of you know we felt like we might've been finished with 3 kids and then decided that since Kylie and Josiah as so close in age that we wanted to have 1 more to be a buddy for AJ. We all know how that turned out! :) But....of all of our children, AJ has the sweetest and best personality to be the one in the middle. She loves being a big kid (she really didn't like being the youngest child before the babies came along) and gets along well with K and J (although she and J have their moments)...and she loves being a big sister and plays with the twins just as well as she does with the big kids. This year has been filled with Tom and I finding so much joy in AJ's sweet spirit, the way she runs/skips/jumps everywhere she goes, her cute little raspy voice and how she doesn't say her s's (I till want some pite...I still want some sprite), her love for her babies...matthias was always "her" baby...but now she calls leighton her baby, too. I am sooo thankful for our big 4 year old little girl....how blessed are we to have her as a part of our family.

VBS 2008!!!

It's been VBS week here for us...we're doing "Power Lab" which has been a lot of fun for the kids (and the adults). Tom is playing the role of 3 station leaders, so it's been a little insane for him (I'm just running around taking pictures which I enjoy, but am not interacting with the kids as much as I'd like to)....it's a bit of a mix that tomorrow is the last day....sad that it's done, but a little relieved that we made it to the end of the week. :) The babies have had babysitters all week long in the morning, so they're definitely ready to have life return to "normal".
AJ's preschool group...the "squeaky beakers"
Josiah's crew
Kylie's crew (somehow ended up to be 5 rising 3rd grade girls)
A shot of the fun diet coke + mint mentos experiment.

Not only has it been VBS week, but our AC was out from last Saturday to Wednesday (had to replace the entire unit), and as I was walking around taking pictures this week I dropped my digital camera (and it stopped working). Anyways, that's what we've been up to lately! The 3 older kids have week 2 of their swimming lessons next week, so we'll be headed to the public pool every morning next week. I can't believe that the kids start school in 5 weeks!!!

Today's playdate!

I have met the majority of my good playdate friends at storytime here in town. We went to see Ronald McDonald doing magic tricks yesterday afternoon and he reminded us about Wacky Wednesdays (49 cent hamburgers and 59 cent cheeseburgers). Anyways, we decided to set up lunch/playdate...I put some fries in the oven and we picked up some burgers and the kids ate and then played together while the mother's talked.

The big kids played Star Wars Monopoly....

The medium kids played my little ponies, and other girly things...

And the unpictured little kids took naps! :) It was a fun day...nice to add a few more kids to the already chaotic household. The adult conversation is much needed and a welcome change. I am blessed to have such good friends.

And we are finally home...

We arrived home to a special package from a friend (bluegrass simpsons music) and then another package later in the week....fresh hand picked berries from the same friends! I was going to try the berries, but the smell was too overpowering. It was definitely the thought that counts! (Thanks Jen and Todd)

After getting back at 6:30am on friday morning...we spent the weekend somewhat recovering and headed into swim lessons on monday morning. The tough part was that we were coming into week 2 of a two week session. So, after really not swimming since last summer, the big kids got to class and were told to swim a lap. It's been a tough week for Kylie and Josiah...swimming laps and learning to breath and stroke together...but all very worth it. AJ has really enjoyed her class....she got dropped into the deep end (fully clothed) today as part of the class...to make sure she knew how to swim up and grab the side. Josey did a feet first dive here.

AJ and Kylie happened to go off the diving boards at the same time.

We pulled out Kylie's old princess castle she had gotten years ago and all five kids piled in and had a blast. Should've pulled it out earlier if I knew how much they'd be entertained!

Catch up Part 2....

Tom and I have been talking for a little while about what might be in our future. Our position here in Wauchula lasts for one more year from now (I cannot believe we've been here for a year already!). Something that we began praying about (starting in March) is the possibility of overseas missions. We took a trip to Atlanta where MTW (Mission To the World) our denomination's sending agency is located. They held a vision retreat for people who are thinking about missions...it was a sweet time of hearing from missionaries from all parts of the world and meeting other people who are praying through going overseas. We are specifically thinking through going to Japan. Less than 1/2 of 1% of Japan is Christian...and it is the 2nd largest unreached nation. Please pray with and for us as we look towards our future in ministry!

On the way down to Atlanta we had the blessing of spending the night with the Sanders....sweet friends and old neighbors from seminary...here are pictures of me with the Sanders girls....

Sweet Lizzie....
and my friend, Jen


We really enjoyed the grass in Virginia. Florida grass is not very soft and the yard is full of fire ant mounds, so walking barefoot in the grass is not an option down here. The babies (for the most part) enjoyed the green grass. And last is a picture of the kids with grandma....she graciously watched all 5 kids for us for the 4 nights that we were gone to Atlanta. I called her on sunday and she proceeded to tell me that Leighton threw up in the car on the way to the airport (she was dropping someone off there) and Matthias threw up on the way home from the airport. I felt horrible for her, but glad that I wasn't there. :) I know that she was exhausted by the time we got back. Thank you Rose Marie....it was a blessing to know that everyone was well cared for.

Catch up time Part 1

I have been way behind in blogging. The month of June was full of crazy travelling, so now that we're home it's nice to be able to start our summer. We pretty much left town when school got out and were gone for just about 3 weeks! Here's part 1 of what we did......

Uncle Dave (Aunt Julie and the boys) were up at my parents house for several days when we were there, so the cousins got to spend a good bit of time together playing....

A-kong took us all putt-putting....
We always need to get a picture of A-Kong and A-ma with all the kids...
We spend a day at a really fun playground with my friend, Julie, and her kids. (fun fact-Julie and I attended elementary, middle, high school and college together) (Josey wasn't so happy in this pic, too many girls)
The girls and Julie's baby (Tyler)
Our time in NoVA was really nice. A little busy, but for some reason i usually keep my life relatively busy....otherwise I get bored. :) Anyways, this is part 1....our trip to Atlanta comes next...I'll write more about that in the next couple of days (maybe tonight if I get a chance!).