10 Years Together!

Friday August 21, 2009 we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I wanted to make the day special for my love so I drug my rear end out of bed at 6 am and made breakfast for Scott. I don't know if it was too romantic seeing that I carried it in on my one and only cookie sheet. I woke him up. He was shocked and surprised. We ate and then got ready for work. That evening we came home and got all dressed up for a night out. It was our special day. 10 years is something to celebrate, but we had to share it with these goof balls because we had a Section 5 youth rally to attend in New Albany. After church I thought we could have a nice dinner somewhere with soft music and a romantic atmosphere......well I got Buffalo Wild Wings with the twins, Levi, Bro. Nichols, his boys, and Bro. Huff. The main topic....church and revival (a common topic around our house).
We got home around 1:45 am and I thought there is always tomorrow. The alarm sounded off at 7:30 and then I was reminded that it was the day of "Praise in the Park" So we all (Emily, Adrian, Ella, Matthew, Levi, Scott and I) (yes all of these people spent the night) hopped..well sort of dragged ourselves out of bed and headed for Monticello Indiana to Indiana Beach. Three hours later we were beginning to wonder if there really was more than corn in Indiana, but we found it and in we went in. I spent most of my day waiting for Scott and Levi and working the booth to sell tickets to get in, I also went to the car and took an hour nap while Scott was talking with Bro. Bowman. It was also freezing outside. I do not ride roller coasters or any of those rides that spin you. I did let Levi drive me around on the antique cars and we took a 30 min. tour of "Beautiful Lake Shaffer." Around 6 I was ready for dinner and to head home. Wendy's supplied my dinner and Scott drove us home. I was exhausted.Sunday came we got up early...again and went to church and came home. I was ready to take a nap when I checked my voicemail and there was a message from my saying she was on her way with Millie.....so much for the nap. She was coming because Levi was getting baptised and she kept Millie for us over the crazy weekend. Sunday night at church Scott walked up to the pulpit, pulled a little box out of his pocket, called me over, and got down on one knee and asked me to marry him all over again. It was very sweet and I absolutely love the ring. Gorgeous!The first time around, Scott didn't get down on his knee.

As for Scott, I just got him a tree stand that he had been wanting.

A recap - Friday night; Twins, Levi, Ella, Matthew spend the night.

Saturday - Levi at home, and we are exhausted

Sunday - Mom spent the night and we are exhausted.

What a romantic weekend! :)

Levi Getting Baptised

There is no greater joy than to watch your child be baptised in the name of Jesus and be filled with the Holy Ghost!!!

Levi was filled with the Holy Ghost Sunday August 16th, and then asked to be baptised. Which we did last Sunday evening. He is truly a changed child. Still a kid though. When we have asked him about getting the Holy Ghost and how it made him feel his response is always, "Aint no party like the Holy Ghost party, because the Holy Ghost party don't stop! Say What?"

Thank you Lord for this blessing!

Millie's First Day at CMO

Today, well actually yesterday, but I forgot my camera, was Millie's first day in the orange room at CMO. This makes me a little sad for a couple reasons. One Millie is growing up and getting big. It is hard to believe that she was in the nursery two years ago. The second reason is that I usually work in the Orange room, but because Millie is in there this year I have moved over to the Blue Room. I love working with Miss Caroline and Miss Leanne and miss them, but it will be a great year with Sarah, Sarah K. and Jen.

As for Millie, she loves school and is doing great with the transition. Of course it helps that she is every bodies favorite (they would never tell you that....but she is :) ) All ready to go in, carrying her "backpack" aka lunch box. Miss Leanne and Miss Caroline. Doesn't Leanne look great for being 8 months pregnant?Miss "Keylime" as Millie calls her. Millie really does like Miss Leanne.

Millie is trying to show off her craft and reward while still sucking her sucker. The award--

"Hear Ye, Hear Ye, The Royal Courts Declare that Amelia has been a Princess at School Today!"

School Days

Five years ago we started our school days journey with Mr. Levi. He was three years old and started going Tuesdays and Thursdays to Prince of Peace Lutheran Preschool. I remember he was so excited and a little nervous too. So was Grandma Nancy (who drove down for the special occasion) and I.

We finished preschool with a bang and all was going great. Levi loved school and was ready for the big school. So one day before his 5th birthday, he hopped on the big yellow bus and drove away to Indian Creek Elementary School. Again Kindergarten was a great year and Levi loved it, graduating with honors from Mrs. Binders class. Then we moved to Columbus and switched school systems. We started first grade and Levi was every bit as cocky and smartelic as he looks in this picture. Oh he thought he was cool stuff. Well the year didn't go so well and Levi and I both hated school and HOMEWORK! So we decided to give first grade another try with the same teacher (who we loved). This was the best decision that we have ever made for Levi. He matured and left the play era and moved into the learning era of school......Which leads us to today. The first day of 2nd grade. Now Levi has never really cared what he wore......as long as it was cool.....you know spongebob and spiderman t-shirts with light up sketcher shoes. But this year is different. We has to go shopping for a new outfit that was not cool, but "in style" Yes it has started. So he carefully picked out and bought Tony Hawk jeans and t-shirt and new black converse all star shoes.

He came home today all excited because "2nd grade is so much more fun than 1st......we got two recesses!!!" so much for the learning era. I am just praying for a peaceful and smooth year.

When I look at these pictures I get a little emotional. Where has my little boy gone? Last years pictures he still had a glimpse of "baby" with his pictures. But this year it is gone, he is looking so grown up.

A New Fence........in progress

At the beginning of summer I decided that I wanted to put in a new privacy fence in the back yard. Well a couple of $5000 and $6000 estimates. I quickly changed my mind. So I decided that we could spend a couple hundred and have it power washed, restained, and sealed.

Today our friend Ryan came and power washed it for us. I am in shock at the difference. I can't wait to see what it is going to look like after we stain and seal it. It first has to dry.

Check out the difference.

Before

And after.

Making Uncle Gabe Proud

Today it was just Millie and I at home. Levi was out having a blast at Kings Island with Uncle Joe, Aunt Tammy, and Jacob. We spent the morning doing laundry and cleaning our bedrooms. And of course we watched a few episodes of Blue's Clues. Millie's current favorite show. We have just recently started letting her watch limited DVD's.

I was in the laundry room folding the towels and when I came out I found Millie with her toy spray bottle and sponge cleaning her car. I quickly grabbed the camera to capture the moment and immediately thought of how proud Uncle Gabe would be. For those of you who don't know Uncle Gabriel is the "Car Detailer King" His vehicles look like they are coming off the showroom floor every time I am in them. Very clean are they.Door looks clean.I think the inside needs some work.

Spray some cleaner.

Wipe the horn.Make sure the wheel is clean.

This detailing stuff makes a girl tired.

So Uncle Gabe you should be very proud of Miss Millie, or should I call her "Little Pete?" Hopefully she will keep this up later on in life because I certainly do not.

After looking at the pictures I feel I must explain her attire. Yesterday, Bethany - the babysitter- planned a whole beach day. She put the kiddos in their swimming attire and set up a beach. Complete with sand, water (blue paper streamers) and a pool. They swam, had a picnic, and made a sandbar craft, and worked an Ariel life size puzzle. ****She is a great babysitter!***

Both kids love her. So today when it was time to get dressed Millie had to put on her swimsuit. I just let her. It was easier. Pick your battles.

As you can see both of my kiddos love music. Levi played and sang this song as a special at church a few weeks ago and brought the house down. Of course I forgot my camera. As for Millie she just likes to boogie.

Jacob Stays for a Week

Levi's best buddy and cousin, Jacob, came and spent a week with us. The boys spent most of their time in the pool. Thank you grandma Nancy for the water gun rafts, Levi and Jacob loved them.......Scott does too. One time I walked out on the patio to check on the boys, and I heard Scott say, "Who's winning the war now boys?" I looked and Levi and Jacob were hiding under one raft while scott was in the other one just drenching them with the water guns. They were all laughing. Levi taught Jacob how to swim, so they could both jump into the the deep end.

One night I wanted some puppy chow. So I got the boys together and had them help me. They were both excited and eager to "cook" Although reading a recipe is not exactly 2nd grade reading material. According to them I was to add "1/2 table of vanilla ice cream" and "9 cots of cereal" It was fun....maybe I should be domestic more often. Then again I would just have to do more dishes. Millie wanted to hel too........she thought she should be the official test taster. After the puppy chow had cooled we went to the basement to enjoy the fruits of our labor and play a game or two of Mario Kart.

Well Scott played (he is very serious when he plays) and we ate.

We all had a good time while Jacob was here.