Sunday

"Don't stand on your tippy toes."
 

Normal... for us.

 Is it me or do they look like they're all in pain?

 

"Don't touch me."

"I'm so over this picture."

 

It usually ends this way for at least one child

11

Dem's birthday rolled in and most of my plans completely fell apart.
Her day started with a new bike, breakfast with Daddy and a brother
DYING for her to open her new water bottle with dogs on it.

 

 

Her best buddy was coming for the weekend and we were going
to play, watch movies, stay up late.
But her friend got sick.
But we still had birthday dinner.
And then oven decided not to work.
(thankfully Daddy was able to fix it on Saturday:
minor miracle - words can't describe how thankful/happy I was).
No planned birthday dinner.
So pizza out, movie without friend...
The gifts were a hit:

 

Mimi felt good enough to hit the show we had tickets
for on Saturday and spend Sunday with us.

 

And now she's 11.  

Fall Happenings

Catching up...

The last days the pool was opened, the boys figured
out how to do flips off the diving board.

 

Fridays we meet with a group to do science (Astronomy)
and history (Story of the World) projects.

Demaree's solar system


Charlie's solar system

 

 Charlie LOVED this project about the sun:
using the magnifying glass to burn leaves.
I caught him outside before breakfast trying this...

Tartans from history
(no normal children)

 

 

Sunday-
Our intern at church often wears a bowtie
and Charlie was eager to imitate him.  

 

 

Peter and Geneva were here for a couple days

while they got a new brother.

We had a great time!

 

The newest Eagle's fan.

Summer in September

It was 92 here yesterday.  I sent the kids out to play
 in the sprinkler and returned to this.
 

 

 

She stayed in the backyard...



Our new friend, Wolfie.  He keeps moving his large web from
the tree to the mailbox to....
Keeps life exciting!

 

 

He loves to come home from school, get a freeze pop
and read outside (regardless how hot).

Sophia

My children want a dog.

My husband wants a dog.

I don't want anymore responsibility

especially cleaning and toilet training.

My solution:  I will CONSIDER a dog after

we've had a dog in the house for two weeks

and the children have done all the work.

John and Demaree (who is the force behind this)

borrowed Sophia from church friends.

Everyone loves her.

Amelie adores having someone lower in rank than she is.

She yanks on Sophia's lease and says "do you want

to get run over in the street?"

 

 

This was my other motivation.

Charlie is TERRIFIED of dogs.

No, he has never had a bad experience.

It's completely irrational.

Somewhat annoying when you go to someone's

house who has a dog and he's crying in the car.

The first two days we had Sophia, he was in his room.

Then he pet her (while Mach and Dem held Sophia down).

Then he'd be in the same room with her.

Slowly, slowly, he's warmed up.

To this:

A miracle.

 

Tea Party!

After praying many months, we celebrated the Lord's kindness in
bringing Rachel home.  Instead of a "baby shower," we had
a tea party for ladies young and old.

The young ladies really got into it.  :)

 

Dem with her friends.
She was my right-hand woman for this shower.
I could never have done it all without her.

 

 

 

 

Soccer Season!

Today began the soccer season for us...
Machen will play with PMCA and these two tried out and made
the travel team.  They were both thrilled!

He's so happy because he'll score in his game.
 

Dem was really unsure about playing for the sake of playing
(not knowing anyone on the team.  Think 11 year old girl).
She loved it and she's really good!


 

She's very aware that she's small and loves that in soccer it
doesn't matter and can even work to her advantage.