Just the 2 of them

Liam and Andy left for Cary Camp on Thursday.  This is the overnight camp for Cub Scouts.  Andy has been going for an easy 5 or 6 years.  This year, it's just these two from our pack, but I know they will have some fun.  

17 years for us!

May 22, 1999

17 years

6 kids

3 dogs

5 cats

multiple fish

4 addresses

8+ cars

10+ jobs

love, laughter, family

us

Happy birthday to Andy!

Happy birthday to Andy!  We got to celebrate his birthday on his birthday-which is a big deal for someone who is busy with work during the sports seasons.  Well, Sunday was definitely a day of rest-we didn't even have any soccer games.  We got to spend time together and celebrate this guy who is an awesome husband and father.  Since Andy said he didn't "need" anything, I took some of the kids to Goodwill to find some fun gifts.

Ooo-Life-another game to make the children cry

Cale found this wooden paddle, which was given as a gift, but I think will find it's way to Cale's possession. 

Another random game, a book and a card game.

Trying to guess what great surprise is in store.

A new coffee mug!

Probably, what Andy wanted most was a good steak dinner.  Done.  He got to go to the market and pick out his meat to bring home to grill.  Yes-he had to make his own steak-I wouldn't trust myself with it.

Then, we had pie and watched the latest Star Wars movie, which was another present, and one I know that Ewan was looking forward to.  So, a great night for a great guy.  Andy works hard for us and I'm excited to see what this year brings.

Off they go....

All clean and ready for an adventure!

A belated happy Father's Day

The most important thing in the world is family and love.

John Wooden

One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.

George Herbert

Babies don't need fathers, but mothers do. Someone who is taking care of a baby needs to be taken care of.

Amy Heckerling

Psalm 127:3-5New International Version (NIV)

3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their opponents in court.

It's that time of summer for scout stuff

Tonight, I get the computer to myself while Liam and Kella watch Netflix on the Wii controller and Marcus watches television.  Kinley is sleeping.  It is 9:30 at night.  I also will add that there are 5-6 kids playing in my backyard.  None of them live with us.

Where are the rest of the fam? They are enjoying nature at Cub Scout camp.  Andy was able to take Ewan (his 2nd year) and Cale (his 3rd or 4th year) to Cary Camp along with 2 other scouts and another scout leader.  That is pretty cool because for the past 2 years it has just been Andy and our boys representing our Pack at the camp.  I love the idea of more kids getting involved in scout camping.  (and a random parent just came by to shoo the children to their homes 9:35)

Marcus just got back from southern Indiana and a caving campout.  The troop camped out on the park grounds and then did a couple walking tours of the caves and did some crawling about in some tunnels-called the Masher.  Marcus had a blast. I love that he is excited to do these scout activities and that they are with a different set of kids than who he sees at school.  A wider circle of friends.  He gets a week at home before going to his Boy Scout camp.

The Boy Scouts.  Good luck finding Marcus, I can see his head between 2 guys in the front row.  

And, another cave pose.  Marcus is easier to find this time since he is wearing orange socks and is in the front row.

And, here is our crew for Cub Scout camp.  I know one of the campers looks unhappy, but I know he will have fun.  They all will.

So, I get to hold down the fort.  Me verses 4 kids, which might sound frightening to some, but isn't bad.  We are enjoying late night tv watching and wearing our jammies all morning

.  It's as awesome as it sounds.  

Happy birthday Andy!

Andy's birthday was a couple weeks ago.  I won't say how old, but suffice it to say he is still younger than me.  I was lucky enough to get the night off from work and Andy was able to be home from work early.  He was able to take Marcus to get new soccer cleats and also picked up a nice steak for himself for dinner.  I had time to make a couple pies for the birthday boy, too.  The kids were super pumped to celebrate Andy's birthday, eat pie and ice cream and see Andy open his presents.  

Kinley stayed up to wish Daddy a happy birthday!

Presents!  Lots of gum-which the kids promptly attacked.

 

A new game; Sheriff of Nottingham.  We love games here!

 

A replacement mug, replacing one he got for his birthday last year.

A new superhero shirt for our superhero dad!

Apple pie with and "A" on it for "Andy's pie".  The kids got there own so Andy didn't have to share.

Yea for Andy!  He's an awesome dad, husband, friend.  I hope this year is an awesome year for him!

You know...

You know you have a family that likes to play games when your 5 year old asks to play a game.

And, he doesn't pick Jr Yatzee,

or Sight Word Bingo,

or Connect Fou,r

or Candy Land.

He picks chess.

And, he's not too shabby at the game.

'round here

We are well into our third week of summer vacation.  It has been pretty humid here and has rained every day for a little bit-like Florida.  Right now, we are coming out of a tornado warning for a storm that went to the south of us.  Yippee.  All plans I had for today are cancelled except for a run to the store for to restock our milk supply.

We've tried to keep ourselves busy here.  Some things have been checked off our summer wish list.

Ewan and Cale went to Cub Scout camp and loved it.  Cale actually passed his swim test (or, rather, the part he was tested on) and earned himself a paddle in the canoe he was in with Andy.  I think both the boys earned their belt loops, and maybe their pins for archery and bb guns, too.

Ewan, climbing a rock wall.

Cale, shooting.

I think we've gotten to 2 parks so far.  It's hard for me to coordinate park time with Kinley's sleep schedule and evening activities.  And, I don't feed like playing in this humid, hot weather.  

Look, proof that Kinley can be smiley.  She really likes these swings.

We've had a guest at our house-Flat Stella from Oregon.  We take her around so she can see some of central Indiana.

Sad news-Mr Orange is missing!  He went missing on Saturday night 6/14 and hasn't been seen since.  I think he got shut outside that night on accident and instead of sticking around, the next door dog ran him off.  I am hopeful that Orange ended up on someone's doorstep and that kind soul took him in.  I keep looking out the doors thinking I'll see his face peeking in.  I tell the littles that Orange is off having an adventure.  Kella says that he is fighting Doofenshmirtz (the evil genius from Phineas and Ferb-a show we watch a lot here.  In the show, the kids's pet platupus, Perry, goes off the fight the evil doctor in every episode).

A week after Cale and Ewan got back, Marcus headed off to Boy Scout camp.  Andy got to go, too.  

Looking spiffy in his scout uniform.  The scarf holder was made by one of the leaders.

The "boys" ready to go.  I think Marcus was tired of getting his picture taken at this point.

Marcus comes back Saturday morning and Andy comes back the night before since I have to work this weekend.  Andy is back for two days and then he leaves for a football camp (for work) on Sunday and will be gone for another week.  Crazy, I know.

We've also been working on the library reading program and have just been hanging out.  Lots of play time, lots of electronics time, lots of relaxing time.  Summertime.

He did it!

It's been a long few years for Andy. Many late nights, group projects and papers. Trying to coordinate work, kid stuff and class work. Happy to say, that Andy did it! He graduated with his MBA and we are so very proud of him! Andy worked very hard to get this degree while still being a terrific husband and father. What an achievement! And, he got great grades in his classes and had an awesome graduating GPA. Way to go!

(Andy was even sweet enough to take a picture of this page for me so I could put it on the blog.)

Happy birthday Andy!

Here's to Andy!  His birthday was last Thursday and he got to spend part of it working and doing homework. :-(  But, he did get to spend part of it with his wife and kids who love him very much and are thankful for all his hard work for his family.  :-)

A picture with the just the little one.

Apple pie!  I put some candles down to make a letter "A".  Liam started off the singing of "Happy Birthday"  by saying "a 1 and a 2 and a.." and then ended by blowing out the candles before Andy had taken a breath.  Very cute.

Present time.  Liam was so excited to help.  Preparing for his birthday a week after Andy's?

A new game.  The boys were excited to play this with Andy.  By the next morning, I think everyone had watched a youtube video on how to play this game.

A Superman shirt for our super-man!

A new coffee mug.  The old TARDIS mug had lost its picture...time for a change.

Sherlock season 3 and some new biking gloves rounded out our gifts.  

Happy birthday and I hope your next year is great!

Another week, another park

We were able to take the littles to the park again this week. We live very close to one, but it's a lot more fun to take them to the different ones in the area. It's an unofficial goal of mine to take them to a different park every week. Did I take some pictures? Why, yes, I did.

These are my favorite swings.

Liam got to push Andy on this spinning teacup thing. When Liam rode it, he spun around so fast that it scared him a little. (But, Liam came back for another turn.)

The teeter-totter was a little calmer.

Kinley got to roller blade around with Andy.

Kella played by herself and then with another little girl. She sure does like to climb. 

Father's Day catch-up

I don't remember what we did on Father's Day. I remember offering Andy a chance to go for a bike ride. Maybe we had some steaks. Maybe we were too tired to do much because of the new baby and Andy having to do homework. I didnt even get a picture of andy with all the kids. Regardless, a few of the kids did a Father's Day craft I children's worship that morning and I finally got around to 1. Finding them and 2. Taking a picture of them to post for posterity.

First is Ewan's. He thinks Andy is funny.

And, Ewan also colored a nice picture. Looks like a tent, but I'm not sure.

Apparently, someone in children's worship think Andy is strong. Could be Kella, but I'm placing my bets on the actual writer. Kella holds a pencil great, but this is advanced sentence structure for a 2 year old :-).

Last is Cale's. he thinks Andy is a mastermind. I'm pretty sure this is I reference to a game we have called mastermind and not to being an evil genius.

There we have it. Better late than never.

more hospital pics and coming home

I had a lot of down time with Kinley in the hospital.  Andy was able to go back home each day to see everyone and help out if needed.  What do you do with a baby that just wants to be held while she sleeps?  Take lots of pictures.
 

 

a rare, actually sleeping in her bassinet picture (yes, 2 days old with a hair wrap)

 

 

 

Daddy got some holding time in, too

 

Sunday night-time to get out of here!

 

hates the car seat...

...liked the car ride

The boys wanted to stay up till we got home.  I thought it was because they were excited to see Kinley (and me).  Maybe they were more excited that Grammy Pammy made a cake and they would get a piece.  Liam called it Kinley's birthday cake.  It was okay not to have candles because she was "zero" years old.  We did have to sing "Happy Birthday" to Kinley.  I will say that at bedtime, the boys' favorite part of the day was that Kinley got to come home-so maybe they do like her better than cake.

 
Kella was excited that there was a little baby.  All the kids are adjusting pretty well.  Kinley is so little right now that she is kind of just along for the ride and hasn't done anything to interrupt the status quo.  Hopefully, this continues as the weeks go on.