Fun With Dad

Maddie swinging again...imagine that. As she swings, she talks to me, her voice fades in and out, " MOM, I THINK I CAn hear the creek and DO YOU WANT TO Push me again? I SEE MR. CLIff and he is still wearing hiS EARMUFFS(headphones) EVEN THough he is not mowing anYMORE."
Ben swinging Steitler in the hammock.
Mini, decorate-it-yourself, spice cakes to celebrate Maddie and Steitler's birthdays with Ben.

Aunt Lizzie Is 18!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Today is the 18th birthday of a lovely sister and fabulous aunt. She has gracefully taken on her responsibilities of being make-up consultant, nail polish queen and keeper of the gum. She is a senior at Eastside High School, is active in her school chorus, and is a teacher cadet. She will be attending North Greenville College in the fall. She is, above all, the coolest aunt ever to 5 adoring fans.

Try This!

Is there really a product that can change your life!? I think so. This fabulous cleaner was recommended by my sister and after a lengthy search, I found it in an obscure grocery store.

The results:

Effectiveness: superb cleaning power with minimal effort
Price: Worth every penny
Give it a try - and send all thank-you's to Em

Please - No Unwanted Guests

Ben and Steitler found this trespasser in our yard today.

Evening Bubbles

Mayberry's Before School

Maddie with her favorite bulletin board at school

Ben, Maddie, and Steitler after ice-cream from Mayberry's -
Maddie : Mint Chocolate Chip
Steitler : Superman
Ben : Vanilla Milkshake

Hi Honey- I'm Home

In haste, Maddie lost her shoe.
"Look at who, Mom? Who?
Steitler was finally convinced it was really Dad and ran in for a jumping hug. Maddie fell trying to relocate her shoe.

Biding Our Time with Chuck Yeager

While the kids wait patiently for our "appointment" at the airport, we learned about West Virginian Chuck Yeager. He was the first person to break the speed of sound. This would explain the Yeager Airport.

Introducing Moxie Rants

MOXIE:

mox·ie (mŏk'sē) n. Slang.
The ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage.
Aggressive energy; initiative: “His prose has moxie, though it rushes and stumbles from a pent-up surge” (Patricia Hampl).
Skill; know-how.

Check this out.

Almost Feels Like Home

A certain Dad that we have not seen in 7 weeks arrives this afternoon. Maddie and Steitler do not know he is coming and are under the impression (I lied to them) that we must go to the airport to make some arrangements for Zoe's air travel. I think they will forgive the lying and deceit.

Feels like home to me Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I come from
Feels like home to me Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
- chantal kreviazuk

Let me go home I’m just too far from where you are I wanna come home -michael buble

Introducing Tyler Nathanael

Tyler Nathanael was born Friday evening to Ben's brother Nick and his wife, Sarah. Tyler has an older sister, Kyanna, who is 18 months old.
Which brings me to my next thought, Ben and I currently have 3 nephews and 4 nieces between both sides of the family. Including our 2 kids, the total number of cousins is 9. This would not be that interesting except that the oldest (Clovelly) is 6 years and 4 months old. And there is another on the way (Ben's brother, Jonny and wife, Jessica are due with their first child in September) so by the end of the year the total will 10.
This is the run-down:
(Ben's sister) Becky and John: Josiah - 4 and Tabetha - 3
(Ben's brother) Nick and Sarah: Kyanna - 18 months and Tyler - 3 days
(Ben's brother) Jonny and Jess: due in Sept.
(my sister) Em and David: Clovelly- 6, Kinsale - 4 and Ryn- 2

Afternoon Sun

Each one's turn to swing is never long enough, who wouldn't want to be selfish on a day such as this?

The Contrast of Blue and Brown

A Boy and His Dog

Things We Will Miss

We will miss the ... thrill of pushing the tiny cart at IGA (they are known for their hometown pride- by the way)

Sunny Sundays

Steitler and Ian on the tire swing, round and round and round they go.

She loves to feel the wind whoosh by her ears and kick her flips off mid-flight. She has wings.

Gonna Get Back to Basics

Just so we are clear, I am NOT too old for this.

Friday Night Lights - 3

The George's had a bunch of people over last night for Mexican food, baseball, and Smore's. We had a delicious dinner, then went across the lake to the park for baseball and swings and then had Smore's around a huge fire that Steitler helped Mr. Mark build. What a great way to spend a Friday night.

Friday Night Lights - 2

Greg, Ian, and Steitler fishing at the lake Maddie and Amanda swinging
A 1st Prize Fire courtesy of Mr. Mark and Steitler
Kids waiting for a fish to bite
Maddie and Lauren

Friday Night Lights - 1

Anna Beth with Maddie, Lauren, and Amanda
Maddie supervising the fire building technique
Make-overs in Anna Beth's room
Caleb, Steitler, and Ian back from taking Shiloh for a walk
The boys and Mr. Mark work onthe fire

Spring Break - Friday

Maddie and Steitler were invited over to play at the George's house today while Ms. Ashley and I went to shopping. It is a toss-up as to which group had more fun. The kids dyed eggs with Ms. Anna, Anna Beth and Ian and Caleb played their musical requests off the computer.

Spring Break - Thursday

Thursday we enjoyed lunch at China Garden. Since the kids eat free until they are 6, the entire meal cost $5.30 +tip. After lunch, we went to Target and then headed home to play outside until dark.

So Much Depends On a Pair of Platform Shoes

High school...ahh, the memories. It is interesting that while I disliked much of my highschool experience, I have in my more recent, wiser years realized that I would do high school all over again to have the friends that I do now. My Freshman year, I was brand new to this particular conservative private school. Being that my parents did not work for this establishment, the only possible conclusion for my enrollment was that I was a discipline problem, a rebel who needed a new moral compass. I took this to heart and tried to live up to my new expectations. Judging by everyone's reaction to me, a girl in a broomstick skirt was apparently very intimidating. One day, about 2 weeks into school, I was sulking at my desk in World History waiting for class to start. The guy who sat in front of me was nice enough. He always said "hi" and never gave me a Drink-the-Kool-Aid vibe. Plus, his name was Quay. I was immediately intrigued since "Quay" was about as unusual as "Evie." These hints of decency were not enough for me to snap out of my silent brood and be friendly. I had no idea that I would make my first friend that day. In strolled Quay, wearing a brown, polyester leisure suit and the most hilarious platform loafers I had ever seen. Gasps were heard, people fainted, the teacher was flabbergasted. Why, oh why would he wear this outfit!? A certain girl in the front row yanked out her school handbook to see if this outfit was deemed inappropriate. While most of the class was shaking their heads, I was laughing. An uncontrollable, tears in the eyes, embarrassing kind of laugh. Quay turned around and said, "So, you can laugh. " To this day, I still chuckle thinking about those shoes.

Wednesday Continued

After the elephant show, we went to the George's for lunch and then the kids played baseball. Ms. Anna taught us how to make "Resurrection Rolls." Use thawed roll dough, take each individual roll, flatten it out, wrap it around a big marshmallow, then dip in butter and roll in sugar and cinnamon. As they bake, the marshmallow melts and they are hollow.

Spring Break - Wednesday

The Circus is in town! We went to see the Mighty Elephant Bubble Bath downtown with our friends, Anna Beth and Ian.

Spring Break- Tuesday

On Tuesday, we went to the Capitol Market, a large fruit and vegetable open market in downtown Charleston. We picked out some sweet potatoes, beans, fresh bread, apples, and sesame stick snacks. We also had a picnic lunch at Daniel Boone Park.