Tyler and Grace playing trucks.

July/August

Our trip to Amish country was awesome. We had a wonderful time together and it was the perfect trip. The place we stayed was amazing and it was nice to spoiled and pampered for a few days. It was a much needed (and enjoyed) break, but we were ready to get back to our angels! They had a wondeful time with their grandparents and I'm so tahnkful for all the help we had and for the relationships the kids have with their grandparents.

In early August we took a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina to see Josh and Lia. It was a really fun time and we really enjoyed getting to see adn spend time with the newlyweds. The long weekend sped by way too quickly! We really did love the Charlotte area too. This was good news to the elder Bush's but we quickly assured them we'd be staying in Ohio, unless God does a huge work our lives- which we're always open to! :)

We also got to see Victoria twice already! Once the day after she was born, at the hospital, and last weekend at their house. It was so fun to see the house all put together and decorated (we'd not been their since moving day) and all the baby stuff out. I got to hold Victoria and feed her too! She's so sweet. The poor dear is colicy though so Shannon and Joshua and quite exuahsted Pray for them. I'm thankful that her crying is colic and not a serious illness. As difficult as colic is, I'm thankful its nothing worse. They are doing a fabulous job with her and it's so fun to see my brother be a dad!!

For the Alliance Carnation days we also attended the Parade, Days in the Park, and the Fireworks. Our church hands out water bottles at the parade so we went to help put labels on them. People in the church purchased several hundred of them but it didn't take us long to get them labeled and in coolers. Gary took Grace and Pops took Tyler while I sat with Esther. Grace didn't make it too far so at the first cooler refill she joined Esther and I roadside. By the time the parade started though, the boys got stuck on the other side of the road! The parade was about half over by the time they made their way back to our seating area. The parade was great and it was nice to have a little one on one time with the girls. I was able to talk to Grace and not have any inturuption. We have a very intelligent young man who likes to answer all questions heknows the answer to, or correct the questioner to change the question to his liking. Grace really enjoyed all the princess and queens- and there were a lot! We went home for naps and then headed back to the Park in the evening for food. The kids love sharing elephant ears with Pops, bless his heart for sharing with two kids who two fist their sweets! We ran to the car as the storm started and spent the rest of theeveing with the Bush's. The rain clouds cleared for a few hours allowing us to catch the fireworks show. We drove to a nearby parking lot and sat outside to watch. We dind't get to see the laser show I hear they had, but the kids don't know the difference and we didn't have to sit in traffic or near any smoking, or swearing or teenager hormones.

This past week we had an extra super special treat of the Pierre's coming to visit and even staying overnight!! The kids had SO much fun with their friends and I enjoyed the sweet fellowship of having Hannah here! I love staying home, but sometimes I do miss being social- Facebook just doesn't cut it usually! I think they had a good time and I hope we can do it again soon while the weather is still nice. We never did get out the pool or the slip and slide!

In Esther news, she's fabulous! She's pulling up to stand now and eating all sorts of things. She's singing and babbling but mostly a quiet observer. I shudder to think what's she's learning by observation, but her sweet spirit gives me hope!

We had our first "harvest" from the garden. If you can call it that. We've had the most of the one thing we don't eat! Somehow I ended up wiht Cowhorn Peppers which are hot. I'm giving them away which is fun. We've gotten 4 tomatoes and so far only Esther and I enjoy them. If we can get what we have to turn red we'll have enough for me to eat and maybe even make some sauce! Our green peppers are pretty tiny but they are growing! We're already talking about doubling the garden for next year and what additional plants we want to try to get. We simply started planning way too late.

Yesterday we went to the Cleveland Zoo and met Grandma Sandra there. We saw almost the whole zoo and the kids really enjoyed showing their favoirte parts to grandma. She read lots of signs to them and answered their questions so the teacher in me took a break to just make it a real family day. I think Grandma really enjoyed it too!
I was devistated to find, as we were leaving, that I left my camera in a bathroom when I took Grace potty. I was able to ask an employee for help and the head of lost and found drove me back up to the Northern Trek (of course I lost it as far as possible away from the main gate) to look for it, wiht no luck. I had over 600 pictures on the memory card. I'm praying someone will return it and we can get it back but I am not holding my breath. I'm so dissapointed in myself that I was too lazy to download those pictures in the past two months. Every picture from June 30 till now is gone except for the few I downloaded of our anniversary trip. Those are moments we'll never get back- including the events mentioned above. I know it's a stupid and small thing with no eternal implications, but the regret is still there... lazy and careless. *sigh*

We've also started school! With all the extra I have from my teaching days and fun things I want to do with them we're still working through our Preschool curriculum but we're not quite ready to purchase the Kindergarten one, so it'll all work out. Daddy's first day of school is quickly approaching so more and more staff is coming every day. His super crazy busy time is quickly turning into impossible and overwhelming- can't -please-everyone time. He lvoes what he does and is surrounded by fantastic people. Kids will be there after Labor Day and then the fun can really begin!!

I heard some exciting news from a dear friend this morning so I want to say to her again CONGRATULATIONS!!!! We love you and hope to see you soon!

PS: Look for rain soon! Last night I watered the garden and Gary and the kids just washed the car and the van!

Welcome to the World!!

We're so excited for our friends, the Neely's,
as they welcomed their newest blessing into their family!

Lila Claire Neely
born Friday, August 13, 2010 @ 5:07 PM.
She weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. and is 20 inches long.

Congratulations Jason, Jennifer, Aubrey, Jack, and Zeke!! We love you!

Mrs Neely is having her baby today!! We're very excited to see this amazing family grow again by two little feet!

July 28, 2010 at 9:30(ish) PM

we became Aunt and Uncle!!

Victoria Marie Torres

8 lbs and 21 inches

arrived perfectly healthy and gorgeous!

We went up the following evening to see her and she's just amazing! We're so blessed as a family! Shannon was up and around and looked fantastic. She had a wonderful labor and I'm so thankful. I prayed many many nights she's have a first delivery that was much much better than mine, and she did! It was so fun to get to meet her for the first time and see the love and excitement between my brother and his wife. We are so happy for them!