Book Character Day

Sophie was assigned a project where she was required to choose one of her favorite book characters, write out a short report, and present the report orally to her class while dressed as the character. Soph chose Judy Moody. It was a good pick since I don't know another child quite as moody as Sophie! :-) Jason and I went to school this morning to listen to the reports, and she did a very nice job. Please believe me when I tell you that her hair is supposed to look the way that is does... a disheveled mess. (Great job on the t-shirt, Jay!)

Chloe and Henry

Rachel, Katie, and Sophie

Sophie a.k.a. Judy Moody

Charlotte with Sophie

All the third grade girls

Tuesdays of Praise

This week a young mother had to say goodbye to her precious one-month-old son. And although I don't really know this person, my heart is broken for her. I cannot imagine the depths of her sorrow. I cannot grasp her pain. No one should have to endure the loss of a child. So today I am praising God that one day (hopefully in the not too distant future), He will defeat death and none of us will ever have to say goodbye to someone we love so dearly.

1 Corinthians 15:26

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

And in the meantime...

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Baby Cooper is here!

Jason and I went up to the hospital to visit Anna, Tom and Cooper on Saturday (Christy and Lincoln watched the girls for us). He is just precious! We took Henry with us and snapped some photos of the sweet boys together. Anna and Tom decided to go home on Sunday, so we took the girls to their house to meet Cooper last night. We love you Cooper, and we're so glad you're here!

Fall Break: Kelsay Farms

On Friday Jason came home from work early, we picked up Nate and met Rich and his boys out at Kelsay Farms in Whiteland. (Check out their blog here.) It was wonderful! The kids loved it, and the adults did too. Here are some fun things to do at the farm:

• Baby Barnyard (play area for kids 5 and under)
• Moo Choo Express (for kids 2-12)
• Straw Bale Mountain
• Pumpkin Bowling
• Cornhole
• The Corn Crib (like a huge sandbox of corn)
• Calves to pet
• Cow barn
• Snacks (yummy milkshakes)
• Rope maze
• Hayride
• 5 acre corn maze (with a scavenger hunt)

It was a great family Fall activity. I highly recommend it!

Henry Jay - ready for the day!

Chloe, Sophie, Nate and Charlotte before we got started

Chloe on the Moo Choo Express

Sophie and Charlotte on the Moo Choo Express (I think Charlotte rode it three times)

A better view

These calves were 28 days old. I think maybe the one calf was using the other calf's ear as a pacifier.

Charlotte and her good buddy, Uncle Rich

The dairy cows

Luke (hiding his face) and Charlotte and Caleb riding the Moo Choo Express (apparently shameful for a 9-year-old boy but funny by the time you hit 12)

Josh, Nate, Luke, Caleb, Sophie, Charlotte and Chloe on the straw bale mountain

Funny Faces

Farmer Charlotte

On top of the jungle gym

Navigating the corn maze... I am NOT a good navigator. Thank goodness I was with Jay and Rich!

Uncle Rich was showing Charlotte the butterfly he caught.

There is goes!

Hank slept while I waited for my yummy chocolate milkshake.

They had pumpkins of every size for sale.

The kids loved playing in the corn crib! They inadvertently carried some home in their clothing.

My sweet sleepy boy

Sophie petting one of the calves (Remember this post?)

Caleb and Sophie on top of the world... Or at least on top of the straw bale mountain.

When I was a young girl, I had a friend who lived on a cow farm (Katie) and one who lived on a pig farm (Sara). I absolutely loved being able to go spend time at their homes! Our kids don't have any friends like that, so I guess this is the next best thing.

 Thanks to Jason for being my photographer - you did a super-fabulous job! :-)

Fall Break: The Children's Museum

Yesterday the kids and I met my sister-in-law (Christy) her oldest (Nate) my brother-in-law (Rich) and his three boys (Caleb, Josh, Luke) at the museum (sorry you had to work, Jay). We arrived when it opened and stayed until about 3:30pm (except Rich who had to leave at 2:00 to go to work). We had such a good time! The girls love to be with their cousins... I'm sure Henry will too when he's older. We were able to see the new frogs exhibit for the first time and spent a lot of time there. Did you know frogs close their eyes to help swallow their food? Or that most frogs have teeth but true toads do not? Lots of interesting little facts like that which I always enjoy! We also got to watch the poison dart frogs eat fruit flies. Somehow Nate managed to avoid my camera - I don't have one picture of him from yesterday, but he really was with us.

Sophie, Chloe, Henry and Charlotte

Little Bumblebee (Charlotte)

Big Bumblebee (Josh)

This was a short play in the frog exhibit. We felt sorry for the guys who had to wear those costumes. :-)

Big and little Terra Cotta Warriors (Josh and Charlotte)

On the runway at the Barbie fashion show

Aunt Christy helped Sophie trace a Barbie fashion

Uncle Rich drove the tuk-tuk for Charlotte.

Sophie and Caleb in a store at the Egyptian market

Josh and Luke helped Charlotte put the warrior statue back together. All of Rich's boys are great with the younger kids.

Until death do us part...

I heard this story on K-LOVE and had to check it out. You should too!

Two Months Old

How can he already be two months old?! Today was Henry's two month well child visit, and that meant time for vaccines. Boo! But he was a real trooper about the whole thing. (I think that babies with a little more meat on their thighs fair better with shots.) He is still measuring at 23.5" long (I'm tempted to get out the measuring tape and recheck that because I think he is longer than he was a month ago), and he is now 13 lbs 13 oz. Doctor Hodson said he looks great, and we'll be back at four months for another check-up and more vaccines. (Can you believe that will be a few days before Christmas?)

Tuesdays of Praise

Today I am praising God for His love... That the Father loved us enough to send His Son and that the Son loved us enough to lay down His life.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Busy Weekend

As you may have guessed by the title, we had a busy weekend. On Saturday Chloe had two soccer games, we went to a Fall Fun Fest at church (which was so great for the kids!), and then a cookout at my parents' house (it was supposed to be a bonfire but the wind ruined that plan). Sunday we went to church, lunch with my folks, a trip to Wal-Mart (my least favorite place to shop... sorry!), yet another soccer game (the last one for this season), and then home to rest (finally). Want to see some pictures of the fun? Okay, here they are:

Charlotte got a purple octopus painted on her cheek. She was enjoying herself despite the way it looks!

Sophie got a green dinosaur painted on her cheek.

Charlotte played the "shoot the turkey" game and hit the bulls-eye by herself!

Charlotte and Audrey enjoying the bounce house...

More bounce house fun.

Anna, Ruby and Tom

Jay taking a break with Hank and Charlotte

Henry smiles all the time, but it's so hard to get a picture of him doing it. He always gets distracted by the camera and the crazy red-eye reduction light. So this is as good as I could get... although there is a little grin in the previous picture as well!

Chloe had to get the oreo from her forehead into her mouth using only her face.

She played that game several times. :-)

Sophie got a hair wrap.

Henry was worn out by all the fun.

I love this picture of the girls!

Jason and Chloe after her finally game (Jay was her coach).