Responsibility Pillar

Annah came home from school today with something very exciting to show us!!

Her school is studying 6 Pillars of Character this year, the first of which they have discussed and worked on since school started--RESPONSIBILITY.

At a school assembly today, Annah was recognized and received the Commitment to Character--Responsibility Award for her class!

We are SO proud of her!! Way to shine your light Baby Girl!!!

Bayern Stube

Kevin was in town, so we just had to meet at the Bayern Stube!!

Annah trying to keep Caeden entertained while we waited 45 minutes (with no food) for the rest of our party to arrive at the restaurant.

another great family self-portrait

Show & Tell

For her class Show & Tell time, Annah had me bring her violin to school for her today. She was quiet and shy, but enjoyed showing her kindergarten class about her instrument. She played a few things for them, and they really enjoyed it and encouraged her.

Goodyear Blimp!

The Goodyear Blimp flew over our house tonight!!

Jeremy was outside mowing and saw it. It was really cool to see--even though my quick snapshots didn't turn out. We just don't see the Goodyear Blimp fly over Arrowsmith all that often!

100 miles and Adoptions

Jeremy rode 100 miles on his bike yesterday!! He and Pastor Scott rode from Bloomington to Starved Rock--with some zigzagging in between in order to make it 100 miles.

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We were honored to attend an adoption benefit tonight at our church for the Crowley family. They are adopting a little boy, Caleb, from Haiti! He is Sylvia's age. The auction, along with being a very blessed event, was fun! We all enjoyed listening to Landon do his auctioneer thing, and we just can't wait to meet Caleb! Two other families at our church are also in the process of international adoptions. One couple is hoping to adopt a little girl from China, and another is adopting TWO little girls from Guatemala! So very exciting!!

School Open House

Tonight we all went to Open House night at Annah's school. She showed us her classroom and everything in it, projects she's done, the gym, the cafeteria, all her different classrooms, and introduced us to her teacher and her music, art, and computer teachers too! Sylvia was thrilled to get to play the triangle at music class; since Annah started playing violin, she has said she wants to play the triangle "when she grows up."

Annah in front of her locker


Annah in her classroom

 

Annah and her teacher, Mrs. Tompkins

Annah has really jumped into kindergarten well. Her teacher told us that she is very quiet, and is just starting to play with the other kids. We have noticed she is starting to be a little less shy, and has started talking about the other kids and what they do and say. She is happy when she comes home and shares a lot with us about her days--praise the Lord!!

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Sylvia LOVES preschool! When I go to pick her up, as soon as she sees me come around the car she shouts, "Mom! I made...!" Her teachers noticed on the first day that she talks more than her sister, and is not as shy. She only has 7 kids in her class too, so she probably has more opportunity to talk. When Daddy gets home, she jumps up and shows him what she did at school too.

Siding the house

The siding is going up! If it would ever quit raining, Jeremy might be able to get some more done on the house! He's out there every chance he gets.

Shaving Cream Painting

 I had one of those moments of temporary insanity and let the kids play with shaving cream on the kitchen table. It only lasted about 10 minutes, included a mess on the kids, the table, the chairs, the floor, their clothes...everywhere! But, they sure thought it was fun!

Sylvia Starts School

3 1/2 years ago today, Sylvia was born; today was her first day of preschool. She was very ready and excited and happy about it, and it went very smoothly. Jeremy even came home after his early morning workout just to wish Sylvie well and see her off to school!  He spent some time snuggling with her on the couch, tucked her into the car for me to drive her to school, and even went back inside and wrote her a letter before going to work. I think she felt really special, and glad that her special day was here!

Sylvia said she read books at school, got to be the line leader, ate goldfish crackers and red punch for snack, and her favorite thing of the day was getting to dress up as a princess and play in the castle. She made a puzzle piece necklace and did a paper with a stamp of her hand based on the book her teacher read, "The Kissing Hand." She was fully satisfied with her first day of preschool and is excited to keep going back!!

Our sweet Sylvie, all set for the big first day EVER of school!!

Cheesing with Daddy--and, of course, Caeden had to get in on the picture taking action too!

Sylvie had a little snug with Mommy before school.

Last night we decorated Sylvia's cutout to look like her. It was her "homework" for her first day of school.

getting right into the action with play dough

 in the classroom

Grandparent Visit

Sunday, September 3, 2006 - We had the pleasure of a visit from Gram & Krampa (my parents) this weekend! They arrived Friday afternoon, took the kids to Bob Evans for dinner and swimming at their hotel, and sent Jeremy and I on a date! What a huge blessing and a real treat!! We went to Outback Steakhouse; I had never been to one. It was zehr yummy!!! Jeremy and I were at Gordman's after dinner, when Dad called and said we'd all forgotten to put the kids' bag in the car and they had no swimsuits or anything. J and I picked out new swimsuits (that will fit next summer too!) at Gordman's awesome clearance sale for $7.76 total for all three and rushed them over to the hotel.

The kids decided they loved the hot tub...Sylvia said she was going to "stay in it forever" and Annah said "We really need one of these in our yard!" Caeden thought it was "HOT! HOT!" The girls even spent Friday and Saturday nights at the hotel with Gram & Krampa and thought it was THE coolest thing in the world! The report was that their eyes were as big as saucers when they walked in, and they thought the room was just "AWESOME!" They were very excited to sleep on a pull out sofa bed too. Some fun firsts for them this weekend! Thank you SO much Krampa & Gram!!!

It was quite difficult this morning when Gram & Krampa dropped them off at church. The girls cried and cried. On the way home after church, I asked them if they had fun with Gram & Krampa, and of course they said yes. Then Sylvia said, "It wasn't fun when they leaved!"

Jeremy received help from Dad on the house/siding project. He is currently putting up the outside insulation and will probably be starting putting actual siding on very soon!

Here, the girls are modeling new outfits from Grandma Lopshire.

putting the insulation on

My Boys

workin' man

the back of our house--(almost) "Before"

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Caeden loves bubble baths!

Caeden, havin' a little relax & read in the tub...