Bible School 2018

This year Bible school was around their birthday. They always have fun going and getting out and about while learning new things is always good for them! Looking forward to next year. I remember when they were a lot younger and were so shy they couldn't even do the moves for the songs. As they get older they do more. They may not look like they're having fun, but they are. Pretty soon they'll be the big kids teaching the little kids. Where has time gone? I miss my babies.

Family Vacation Fun

We always have a good time spending vacation with the family, the kids especially when we take boating trips thanks to Grandpa! We usually do something once a year. This year during spring break I believe, we went to Pokagon and stayed at a hotel nearby, and then met up with my parents and the boats for a day of boating. It happened a while ago so I'm trying to remember, but I think Josh and I kept the M's and my parents kept the J's the first night, and then we switched after we got done boating, for another night before we left in the morning to go home. They got a lot more attention that way, and it was easier for both sides. Looking forward to next year!

A little gardening

Over the summer, the front yard looked horrible. So Josh and I decided to fix it up a bit. Makenna helped with the flower beds and making them look nicer, and Jace helped with the light pole bricks that had to come out on the side of the driveway. It takes a lot of work and we need to do so much more to it next summer, but we have two little helpers who I'm sure we'll enjoy it... maybe even the other two will join us. If it involves destruction, Jace is always willing to help. And usually anything I ask of Makenna, she will do. Jae and Maysie I am sure will help for a little bit if I find them something fun to do.

Jace and Socks

The battle this kid has with socks is craziness. Every morning I ask him to put on his socks, he will sit there and take them off, and then put them back on, and then take them off again, and then poke at them for a while until they are exactly as he wants them. He gets so stressed out! I have bought a variety of different socks including seamless socks which really aren't seamless. I am about to give up and just let him go sockless all the time. I understand his frustration a bit because I hate socks too, but they don't drive me crazy like they do him.

Aunt Kristin's House

The kids always love going to Aunt Kristin's house throughout the summer! They have so much fun things for them to do, their pond, their kittens, playing with their cousins, and just running around! And of course Jace loves to fish, so he is usually doing that the entire time, when he's not looking for frogs or toads. Thanks Aunt Kristin and Uncle Greg for always giving us a fun place to go in the summer!

It's so short!

Makenna had been talking about growing out her hair and getting it cut, and then donating it. But I guess with the heat she decided she wanted to do it early. Originally she was going to grow it out until it reached her butt. So all three girls decided they wanted their haircut and we went! The twins just got a trim, so not too much of a change. Makenna decided she wanted to go very short. So we found a few pictures to show the person who was cutting her hair. She said she thought she understood what she wanted and starts cutting. I couldn't believe how much hair she was cutting off. I think it was a total of 13 inches she donated. So when she was done she asked me to come over and see what I thought. I look at Makenna and she has this look of hate on her face, like she wants to kill someone. I think to myself, oh my gosh, is it too short? There is nothing we can do about it being short. The lady has this puzzled look on her face after seeing Makenna's face. Makenna has always struggled to communicate her feelings. So this lady and I both ask her what's wrong. She would not say anything. We asked her is it too short? She shook her head no. We said what's wrong, can you tell us? And she still would not answer. So one of the other ladies working here's our conversation and comes over to try and help. She shows her different lengths they can do with how short her hair was. And Makenna eventually said yes. But that's all she said. So we went shorter! Later Makenna told me she wanted it even shorter. I think she wanted it shaved on one side. But that's going too far for me!

Injuries, when in doubt, just go to the doctor

Having 4 kiids means they're going to be injuries. So far the biggest one was when Jaeli broke her arm. Recently Mak and Jace had a bad injury. Its so hard to know when to go to the doctor. Just for a simple visit is going to cost us a lot. Then we never know how bad it really is... are they exaggerating? Does it really hurt that bad? Are they just trying to get sympathy?

Jace was jumping on a trampoline at a friend's house and called me to let me know he hurt his ankle. I walk outside and he's at the bottom of the driveway sitting on the ground. He said he couldn't walk on it and it hurt really bad. The mom drove by and said it seemed like he hurt it pretty bad, he was crying quite a bit. So we iced it and waited a day or two before we decided whether or not to take him to the doctor. He was playing on it, playing baseball, having fun outside still. So I figured it was just a sprain. Then a few days later it was all black and blue. So it must have really hurt! And he's just being a boy and wanting to play, and try not to let the pain bother him. So we never took him to the doctor and regret it after I saw how black and blue it was. Few weeks later he still complained of pain every once in awhile, but nothing like it was before. I should have taken him to the doctor!

We went to pick the girls up from a slumber birthday party a few weekends ago, and Makenna was putting her bags in the car. All of a sudden I hear her screaming, help help help! I run over and the hatch of the car is completely shut and her hand is in it. She had slammed her own hand in the car hatch. I was freaking out, she was freaking out! The mother of the girl who had the party, give us a bag of ice, I took the other two home, and took her to the clinic right away. I was for sure it was broken. She said that it didn't really hurt but it was numb and tingly. She said It felt funny. They took an x-ray and it came back with no broken bones. Thank God! It could have been much worse. She had it wrapped up for a while but it seemed to heal pretty fast. I was amazed it wasn't broke, if I slammed my hand in the car hatch, it would have been broken! But her hand is much smaller than mine, so that is the only reason I think it did not break.

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School Plays & last day of 2nd/3rd grade!

All the kids except Makenna had a school play at the end of school year. Its always fun to see them come out of their shell.  I try to attend as much as I can since I know these years will be gone sooner than later.

Jace's teacher (Maysies's last year) retired this year so some of the moms and I got together and made a special tree thumbprint picture for her and surprised her. The kids had fun doing it and we all managed to keep it a surprise! We Could tell it made her feel very special. I bought her a special feather bookmark with a personalized saying and I think she really enjoyed it and touched her heart. I could see tears in her eyes. I cant tell you how much she helped Jace and Maysie grow. She is an amazing teacher and will be missed and always remembered as one of the best teachers they had!

Here is a picture from their last day of school! This summer sure has been a struggle, since they tend to do better when they have a schedule. But we are managing. However I am looking forward to the school year starting.