The Good Stuff

Daddy's Little Girl

Gwyneth is all about her daddy (and vice-versa!) She cries every time he walks out of the room. She lunges for him if he comes near. She stares at him while she eats her baby food. It's so cute! John thinks it is so cool, since she has been such a mommy's girl so far! John and I took her for her checkup on Tuesday while the boys were both in school. John is such a good dad-you'd think that Gwyneth was his first, the way he oohs and ahhs over her. He has been this way with all three of our children. He is a very hands-on and helpful father. (I bet he's changed more diapers than some moms!!!) I am so thankful that John is not only a wonderful husband, but a super great daddy! Our kids certainly are lucky!!!!!

Posing for a picture in the waiting room. It was so funny. I got my camera out and she opened her mouth wide open and just sat there with it open until I took the picture! Her stats: Weight 18 pounds 4 ounces

Length 29 inches

We were THRILLED that she is in the 50-75th percentile in weight!

She cried during her shots, but not because it hurt so much. It seemed like it was more because her feelings were hurt. It was SO sad. She just looked at us like, "Why???!!!!" Enough to melt your heart!

Heart & Soul Patrol

The WBCL Heart & Soul Patrol did a Tiny Town Tour yesterday. John and I were SO excited to hear that they were coming to Rockford-and on Tuesday, his day off!! They said that the first person to spot them in town got a t-shirt. We were all fired up about this! They said they were coming into town at 1:00. Our plan was to sit at TJ's so we could watch them come into 118 and grab up the shirt!!! About 5 'till, we were going uptown to wait, and we saw them already parked on the side of the street with someone else spotting them first. Oh well. We tried! Ron Schneeman(not sure of the spelling) said that woman was pretty vicious! Whil we didn't score the shirt (whose would it be, anyway?) but we got some really cool water bottles. Two of them, even, so we don't have to share!!!!

Tricia with the booty!

Different Strokes for Different Folks!

We went to the Rebel Run Car Show last Saturday at the Allen County Fairgrounds. It is a HUGE show, and we love to go every year! We let the kids choose which cars they wanted to take their pictures with. Haydn was in HOG HEAVEN, running around like a mad man, loudly choosing which ones he wanted.

John and I quickly noticed a trend in Haydn's favorites....HOT(usually flaming) AND FAST!!!!!!!!

Hutch finally woke up from his nap in the stroller, not really saying too much, just chilling out and taking it all in. Until----he saw THE ONE. It was a couple of rows over, under the tree. He grabbed my hand and led me to the car of his dreams!!!

John and I got a kick out of this! Their tastes in cars are just as unique as their personalities! We love each one just as he is!

Go Lions!

Haydn is playing flag football this year, and John is helping coach. Saturday was their first game, and they won 3-2 (funny how they keep score!) Haydn scored one touchdown, and played great defense. I love to watch Haydn play sports, and I'm so excited that he has an interest! He is a good little player. For anyone who is interested, I'll put his schedule below. All of the games are on Saturday, and played at Camp Clay. (let me know if you need directions!)

September 27: 12:00 noon

October 11: 11:00 am

October 18: 12:00 noon

October 25: 12:00 noon

November 1: Tournament/Finals TBA

Friday Night Fun

Haydn sold tickets for the High5 (PTO) Dinner for school. Grandma Shirley, Grandpa Larry and Grandma Nancy all bought tickets. John went over to school and picked up the dinners and we all ate them here, and had a bonfire. What fun!

Camdyn came over with Nana and Papa. It's so cute, because Gwyneth and Camdyn are starting to sort of "play" together. Here she is giving him a kiss!

Gwyneth hanging out in the tent!

Thanks for helping Haydn sell tickets! It was a win-win situation: the Bright Eyes Catering Pork Loin was GREAT!!!

Slow Fade

::image from flickr.com::

My mom called me this morning on her way to work. "Have you ever gone on the internet to a site that has the lyrics to a song and lets you listen to it?" I asked her why, and she said, "You HAVE to look up a song by Casting Crowns called Slow Fade. It is so awesome, and it really makes you think about your life!"

I have heard this song before, but I am more of a music person. A lot of times, I listen to the music, and don't even hear the lyrics. I looked it up on the internet. Wow. What a song to make you think about your actions. There are so many people I have seen slowly fade-people who you would never imagine. This song helps us to remember that, as Christians, we are NEVER safe from sin. There is always room for it in our lives, and that is why we need to keep short accounts with God, and to constantly arm ourselves against Satan. What a cool song. Thanks, Mom, for telling me about this!

Be careful little eyes what you see

It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings

Be careful little feet where you go

For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

People never crumble in a day

It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear

When flattery leads to compromise,

the end is always near

Be careful little lips what you say

For empty words and promises

lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands

Is shorter than you're thinking

Be careful if you think you stand

You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

Daddies never crumble in a day

Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see

Oh be careful little eyes what you see

For the Father up above is looking down in love

Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Missing: Front Tooth

Haydn FINALLY lost his front tooth! It's needed to come out for a long time, but he wouldn't mess with it too much. This morning, it fell out when he was brushing his teeth before school! I snapped a picture right before he went into school. (He stopped at the front doors and blew me a kiss before going in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Crib Recall

I was watching the Today Show yesterday, and saw that there was a recall on Simplicity Dropside Cribs due to serious Entrapment and Suffocation hazard to infants and toddlers. As I was watching, I had a fleeting thought that Simplicity sounded vaguely familiar-maybe our crib is that brand, I 'll have to check on it. Throughout the day, it got pushed to the back of my mind until I put Gwyneth in her crib last night. A lightbulb clicked on in my head, so I checked on the internet and Yep! Gwyneth's crib is on the list. What a scary thought. I prayed, thanking God for protection for her, and that I saw it on television ( I rarely watch Today, and even then, I only watch snippets), and remembered to look it up. I snatched her up out of it, and she slept with us last night! It's amazing how things happen, and you can so see God's hand in them! It gives such peace that God uses situations in our life that seem inisignificant to put His plans into place for our lives.

Here is the link for the recall. Get the word out to anyone you may think has this crib. To think that our little sweeties could die from something we trust as safe is disturbing, to say the least. The recall said that, thankfully, there have been no injuries or deaths so far from this recall, but I did see that there were two deaths last year from a similar recall in the Simplicity cribs. My heart goes out to those mamas.

Sunflower Fields Forever

There are three sunflower fields down the road from our house. I made John stop today so I could take some pictures. Interesting fact: All sunflowers face the East!

Mommy and Gwyneth time

On Thursday afternoon, Haydn and Hutch are both in school, so Gwyneth and I get some alone time! She was crawling around and I just had to snap some pictures. She is now 7 months old. She sits by herself really well. She gets all over the place! I wouldn't say that she "crawls" yet. She either rolls over and over or she does an inchworm sort of crawl/flop thing! She says Mama (oh yeah!!-my first child to say mama instead of dada first!) and she also says Baba (not sure what that means!) She is starting to LOVE her food, and she talks constantly while she eats!

She is so sweet and silly! We all enjoy her company!

First Garage Sale

Last Saturday, our family had its First (and possibly last) Garage Sale! We peddled all sorts of priceless treasures! We had some people over, I made a big pot of chili, and we had a great time! The only thing I really didn't like about it was the fact that I couldn't go to all of the other garage sales going on in town (I think there were 38!!!) Alot of work, but

it is so nice to get rid of so much JUNK!!

Hutch's First day of Preschool!!

I thought it would be easier sending my second baby to preschool. Nope! I think it was actually harder because Hutch is a little more independent when it comes to things like that. It's also harder because you expect to do all of these firsts with your oldest, but Hutch-he's still a baby! He's growing up right before my eyes. He told me, "Mommy, I not gonna cry. I'll miss you, but I won't cry." He was so brave when we went to the classroom. No clinging or sad eyes (that almost make me melt!!!!) When I went to pick him up, he looked kinda tired. His teacher said that he had a great day. That's my boy. Love ya', little man.

Lucas and Alex's Wedding

On Saturday, we travelled to the big city of Burkettsville (ha) for a wedding of one of John's school friends. To say these two are Adventurers may be an understatement! They met on the Appalachian trail whe he was completing a three month hike, and she a one month. Lucas spent 3 months in Antarctica early this year working on the National Science Foundation's base there. They were engaged while backpacking in New Zealand-while eating avacados! These two are so adorable together, it almost makes you sick! Both brimming with a love of life, they had a very heartfelt and simplistic ceremony. My favorite part of the wedding was when- well, I have 2. First, her maid of honor was her grandma. how sweet. Secondly, after they were joined at the front of the church, the first thing they did was face each other and hold hands while everyone, including them, sang How Great Thou Art to a guitar. To watch Alex sing with all of her heart while sort of dancing to the music was one of those magical moments you get caught up in. It was like nothing else in the world mattered, just the two of them getting married. A very sweet day.

O Lord my God,

When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!