What's Happening?

It's a reoccurring theme around here...  Busy, busy, busy!  That's the name of the game for now and I don't look for it to change anytime soon.  And to be very honest, I don't know if I'd know how to handle "boring". 

So, here's the run down on our busy and fun-filled lives:

Chad is doing great.  Loving his job.  Changed to a new position.  Graduating in a few weeks with his Associates degree.  Will continue on to UCM this fall to get his Bachelors in Industrial Technology. 

I am doing well also.  Love my job. :-)  No new position for me.  I have one more semester left before I graduate with my Associates in Business Management.  I've decided to continue on after I graduate to get my Bachelors in Business. 

Cody is playing baseball this summer.  Looks like he'll be rotating between the pitchers mound and 1st base.  Archery is done for this school year.  He had a blast and plans to continue with the Archery team in the fall when he starts 5th grade (WHAT?!).

Samantha Grace just finished her Spring Soccer season.  She continues to love drawing.  We've bought her three drawing portfolios and she has filled two of them already.  She definitely has a gift for drawing.  Can't believe she'll be 9 in a few weeks and finishing up with her 3rd grade year!!

Chloe Faith also just finished up with her Spring Soccer season.  She absolutely loved soccer this season!  She scored a few goals and was able to kick around the ball quite a bit.  Kindergarten Round-Up was a couple weeks ago, so she is all ready to start school in the fall.  It's definitely going to be a change for all us, but very exciting too!

Bubbles is doing great.  He doesn't move as fast as he did a few years ago, but then again he will be 13 years old this August!  He's getting a bit more sassy in his old age, but we love him more and more everyday!  Such a sweet "furry" soul. 

Well, that about does it for the updates.  I hope everyone has a wonderful summer!!

Playing Basketball

Cody's basketball season is well underway.  Actually, we only have one game left before tournaments begin.  It's been a good season.  The team is made up of 3rd and 4th graders.  For many of the boys, this is their first year of playing basketball.  There are lots of new lessons to be learned for all of them.

It's been fun to watch the progress that each of them make each game.  Chad, as the coach, has enjoyed getting to work with the boys and help them learn the fundamentals of the game.  Cody has also loved having his dad coach this season, except for that one practice when Chad made them run lines....  :-)

Cody, 2012

Chad with all of the boys.

Shooting around before the game.

Cody at the free throw line.

Move those feet.

Bringing the ball down.

Cody playing point guard.

Other team shooting free throws.  Cody checking out the score board.

Huddle it up.

We're Getting Closer

Another semester of college classes has come and gone.  Nothing too exciting, other than being able to cross a few more classes off the list of to-do's.  In some ways it seems as if we have been at this FOR-EV-ER.  Yet, other times it seems like it is flying by.  Just depends which day you would ask. 

To help propel the end goal, we both took a crash course over the holidays.  A 16 week course condensed into 10 days.  That was interesting.  It doesn't matter.  We've finished and both passed with flying colors.  Check.  Another one bites the dust. 

So, as we head into the spring semester that begins next week, we are both dreading it and very excited too!  It's the last semester for Chad.  Then, he gets to move on to UCM to finish his bachelor degree.  For me, I'm going to finish my degree this summer.  Hopefully, the classes I need will be offered and I'll be done before the kids go back to school in the fall.  We'll see. 

2012 is going to be an exciting year!  We can't wait to finish one chapter of our lives and move on to the next.   Giddy up!!

Deacon Ordination

This last Sunday, Chad was ordained as a deacon in our church.  It was a very special day for our immediate and church family.  I feel so blessed to have Chad in our life and for him to be the leader of our family.  We also feel so very thankful and blessed to have such a wonderful church.  Their kindness, love and compassion for us is overwhelming and humbling.  We continue to stand in awe of the goodness and gifts that God puts in our lives everyday. 

Let the Games Begin

Chad and I had been trying to figure out what to get the kids for Christmas.  We're kind of past the point of buying little, itty bitty toys for the kids.  We prefer getting them things that may hold up for longer than a few days.  So, while I was talking with a friend(Thanks, Ang!), she mentioned something that her boys were getting and it was an excellent idea!

It's something that everyone in the family can enjoy.  And, it's durable enough that it won't end up on next weeks trash run.  A win-win!!

We've already had many hours of competition and laughter!!

An air hockey table.

(Yes, Chloe has already learned why we don't put our fingers on the table....)

It also makes into a ping pong table.

 

I'm not sure who is enjoying this gift more....the kids or Chad??!!

Christmas Dinner

Christmas dinner was a bit more quiet than in previous years.  Usually, there are more people than room at the table.  Not this year.  We ended up staying home this year and our family wasn't able to join us.  So, it was the 5 of us.  (Well, 6...we can't forget Bubbles)

It was still nice.  We've become very proficient in making the best out of any situation.  And, so we did.  Our meal was great.  The company was even better.   And, like many holiday dinners that have occurred in the past, a few (mainly Chad) enjoyed a nice after dinner nap.  Some things never change.

My Boys

It's been a while since we've had a relaxing evening at home.  To say that we enjoyed it would be an understatement!!

I know these boys sure enjoyed it!!!

Chad, Bubbles, and Cody

Our Family

We bought a new camera.  It's wonderful!  There are so many features and settings that I will probably spend the better part of the year trying to figure it out.  But, it's still awesome!  

So, in honor of our new camera....

Here are some family pictures.

  Chad & Chloe

 A daddy and his girls.

Chad and the three amigos.

Samantha, Mom, Chloe and Cody

I love them so much!!

Open Up Those Books

It's time again.  School is starting.  For all of us!!

Chad and I begin our classes today.  Chad is continuing with his two class plan.  It's definitely a struggle to fit in time for two classes with his work schedule, but he's dedicated to trying to get done as soon as possible.  I've decided to tackle five classes this semester.  I'm not sure I was in my right mind when I signed up for that many, but we'll see how it goes.

Cody and Samantha start on Wednesday.  Cody will be in the 4th grade this year.  Samantha will be in the 3rd grade.  They seem fairly excited about their year ahead and the new teachers they have.  It's just going to be a struggle to get back into a routine of early bed times and early mornings.

Miss Chloe is also starting school this year too.  She is going to be going to Preschool every day in the afternoons.  She has mixed emotions about this.  She really wants to meet new friends and go to school like her brother and sister, but being separated from Mom is going to be a little sad for her.  I'm expecting a few rough days/weeks, but I hope that once she realizes how much fun they have she'll do great!!

Here's to hoping that our new school year is filled with kind teachers, new friends, fun memories and lots of knowledge!!

A Visit to America's Hometown

On our way home from Chad's family in Iowa, we decided to stop in Hannibal, Missouri.  Hannibal is the the hometown of Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain.  Hannibal sits right on the Mississippi River and has so much to see and experience.

The small town feeling is so welcoming.   The view of the river is amazing.  And, the amount of history here makes kids of all ages feel like there is a time long ago that would have been so amazing to experience.  I've never been one to enjoy history, but when you are able to see and experience the sights and monuments, it makes it so real.  So captivating.

The first evening we got there we went for a walk down to the River.

Mark Twain was a Steamboat Pilot

The Mississippi River

We had supper here the first night.

Belly's are full.

Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain's father's law office.

The town was bursting at the seams with charm.

The Lighthouse.

We went on a trolley ride around town.

Mark Twain statue

Mark Twain Mississippi Riverboat

The view from Lover's Leap was breathtaking.  Hannibal is in the background.

A view from Lover's Leap.  Hannibal and the Mississippi River.

We also got to see "The Unsinkable" Molly Brown's birthplace and museum.

Her trunk and clothes would have been similar to this when she was on the Titanic.

She was on her way to Hannibal when the Titanic sank.

We really enjoyed our visit to Hannibal and plan to return sometime soon to visit the cave's and maybe take a riverboat ride.  There was so many things to do and see, with just not enough time. 

The relaxing and slow pace of the town was a perfect getaway from the bustle that will be starting with school and fall activities just around the corner.