Visiting Parents

Hello everyone! This pictures are from a couple weekends ago when my parents came down to visit. Leann was very busy that day. She did my hair and nails and she also did Rebekah's hair. Rebekah has highlighting in her hair. It looks so cute. She seems so old now. It makes me a little sad. We had a great time. My favorite picture is of Leann and I and our big sunglasses! Dad thinks that we might be a little to excessive in the size of our sunglasses! =) Work is going really well. I love working with the kids. For those of you who don't know what a Para is, it is like a teacher's aide, except that I am also outside of the classroom teaching job skills. Richard has been doing great at his job too. He loves teaching. We are going to be celebrating Jacob's birthday today since his birthday is really on Tuesday. We just aren't going to have time. Maybe I will get the blog updated some more this weekend. Hope you all have a great weekend. It is supposed to be 80 degrees all week! Beautiful! Oh, for those of you who care. I am reading "The Shack" by William Young. It is a wonderful book that is about God's love. I would so recommend it for everyone.

School Pictures

Obviously I have not updated the blog for a while. Sorry about that. These are the pictures of the first day of school. They have been doing really well. Rebekah loves math because her teacher makes it fun. She is doing much better than last year. Alyssa made a speech in front of the class for student council. She didn't get it, but I am so proud that she tried. She is also in the Benton Choir. Aaron is excelling in reading. He likes PE because of all the games that they get to play. Jacob is loving everything. It is so nice that I can now work during the day while they are at school. It has been wonderful. I love my job and I look forward to going to work everyday. It is only 15 min from the house. Anyway, Richard is at drill this weekend. He is just staying overnight in a motel so he wont be back until Sunday. Alyssa's eye therapy is going well. She is going to be done in November. On the 23rd is Jacob's birthday. He will be 6 can you believe it? I am still going to school online, but it is fun. Richard is going to start his master's degree in the spring. Last weekend Dad and Mom came down. It was a very nice time. However, while we were at Leann's house there was a huge lightning storm over here and so we had a big power surge. Pretty much anything that was connected to cable was ruined. Thank goodness my computer wasn't. We didn't lose anything major. We got another TV for only $40 so that was great. I will hopefully update more on the blog soon. Love you all!

Henri Frederic Amiel

One does not improve through argument, but through examples... Be what you wish to make others become. Make yourself, not your words, a sermon.
Written by: Henri Frederic Amiel

Happy Birthday Isabelle

Last weekend my parents and Ryan's mom came down to celebrate Isabelle's birthday. It was a lot of fun. Leann had planned little activities for the kids. You can see the pictures of the girls putting makeup on. It was really sweet. Isabelle had a wonderful time. We were over there all day pretty much. This week I started my new job as a para at Goddard High School. I LOVE my job. This week of course has been totally crazy. Ryan and Leann were gracious enough to watch our kids all week long. It was such a huge burden lifted off Richard and my shoulders. The kids started school on Thursday. Jacob will be starting Monday. He is really excited about it. All the kids love their teachers. Rebekah is now taking Choir. That's my girl!! =) This week is only going to be in the 80s so already we have been out riding bikes. I am going to wait till Monday to put the pictures of the kids on here from the first day of school. I hope you all have a great week!

Hangin' Out

Hello everyone! I just wanted to show some pictures of the kids. It is just us hanging out at home. Alyssa took a picture of her hamsters and so they are on here too. I went to the school to registar Alyssa, Aaron, and Jacob. Tomorrow it is Rebekah's turn. Let me just say that four kids is ALOT of paperwork. The kids start school August 14th. Have a great week!

The Lighted Path

I have found a new website called "The Lighted Path". It is a website designed by Church of Christ women. It helps with day to day life. I would encourage every one to visit it. I hope that everyone enjoys it as much as I do.

http://www.lighted-path.net

Good Friends

Hello everyone! We have had a very busy weekend. Troy and Laura Kronewitter were here. It was so great to see them. They have two cute little girls Violet and Hazel. Before we get to pictures of them, I wanted to show you a picture of Alyssa. This is her eye patch that she has to wear for two hours every day (one hour on each eye). She is getting eye therapy because her eyes do not work the way that they are supposed to. So I took a picture of her today. Doesn't she look cute? She told me I could call her "Patchy the Pirate"!! Ha!! She made a crown and was in a princess dress when I took the picture. It is pretty funny. She looks like she is a princess from the "wrong side of the tracks". Hee hee! Rebekah was playing the piano at Leann's house today. She was actually doing a very nice job making up a song. She is really excited for the day that she can babysit her cousins. She is always taking care of them. I am so proud of her.

Alyssa is eating corn on the cob here. She was sitting by herself. Not because she was in trouble, but because there were soooooo many kids that she couldn't find a chair at the table! =)

Aaron and Rebekah eating. Aaron was being a total boy and not opening his eyes. He is a goof ball.

Isabelle and Gideon did not want me to take a picture of them. I don't know why that was. This was the best that I could do. When we arrived at Leann's, Gideon came running outside while Richard and I were walking up. He was saying "Uncle Richard, Uncle Richard!". I had to cajole him to say hi to me and then he only called me "Mary". I can't even get an "Aunt". I am so loved. =)

Violet is in the foreground here. She was loving having her picture taken. Hazel is busy eating, but they were both wanting their picture to be taken. Jacob and Gideon were in the background. I think everyone just wanted to concentrate on eating and not smiling for the picture. Food is very important in my family! =)

Violet, Hazel, and Jacob again.

Troy and Laura. It was so great to see them again. Ryan, Richard, and Troy all went to see Batman yesterday and then they played Bocce today. I think that they had a good time. We girls were content to talk. It is what we do best!!

Laura and Leann. It was like old times again (and new times since there were kids). There are some very good memories. I am so thankful that we grew up around that family. Troy and Laura, Have a safe trip home, we love you!