Baseball~by Beth

We enjoyed watching the Miracles play a baseball game last night.  Though they lost, it did not lessen our fun.  The younger children were able to participate in a Summer reading program through our local library and each earned 2 tickets to last night's game.  Since four of them read for these tickets, we all went free.  The bonus was that it was also Ladies' night and all the girls in our party received 2 vouchers for a free drink.  I used one for water for me and the shared the other voucher with Stephen.  The other joy was bumping into friends and reconnecting.  After the game the children could run the bases and then get some candy at home plate.  Some of our last Summer time fun, as Monday we begin school. 

Play ball!

I should have switched to sports setting for this shot.

Stephen gets his candy

We took one last shot down on the field before heading home.  Johanna even got a fly ball during the game as a souvenir!

July 2014~by Beth

July always begins with the Independence Day celebration.  Again the children rode in the bike parade at the Pine Island parade.  This year Stephen joined the troops riding his new (thrift store new) bike that he got for his birthday the week before.

Emma, Johanna, Abby and Stephen

After the parade we had two families over for games and a cook out.  After they left the children decorated the driveway with chalk art while waiting for it to get dark so the boys could set off fireworks.  In our area we don't drive any where for the big stuff.  We can see huge fireworks exploding in the sky around us in at least 5 or 6 different directions.

right side of the driveway

left side of the driveway

  In the evening our a.c. for the back side of the house went out.  Jon watched a bunch of youtube videos and figured that the capacitor had gone bad.  We replaced it on Monday and sure enough, the air worked again.

After the 4th, the children completed their summer golf program with a party.  Here are a few of our players.  David, Christiana, Charity, Emma, Johanna and Abby participated.

Christiana, Emma and Abby

This month could be summarized by the word: PROJECTS.  We fixed several car issues, including Jon fixing the a.c. on the Rodeo with junk yard parts.  With that work being done the driveway got pretty dirty so the girls are using the pressure washer today to clean up, now that the car work is done.  We also did a ton of painting.  It started with some water spots on the ceiling in the entry way that came from driving rain the previous summer and got under the ridge pole.  But, trying to paint the entry demanded that we also cover the living room and kitchen as they are one ceiling.  As long as we were at it we did the kitchen walls as well.  That was a major project with all the prep work, but we had all the children helping, and it looks so clean and nice.  Next we tackled the boys' bedroom.  I have never liked the dark blue in there, and we chose a lighter gray to change to.  Of course, painting in there made "clean up the room" necessary.  We washed down the beds, turned mattresses, washed all the bedding, cleaned up the computer area, closet and shelves.  It looks so nice now.  We also did the baseboards and trim with the eggshell color we use on the trim in the rest of the house.  That same week we also painted the window seat, and the trim below it, and the boy's bathroom.  They never liked the yellow in there, and we got a gallon of mistint paint from Sherwin Williams for $2 in a nice, light blue.  Jon and I did that whole job ourselves.  The next day was cow appreciation day at Chickfila, and we all dressed up for the event.  Here we are.

Before

 

 

The next week the girls all got their hair cut by a friend of ours.  The older three wanted longer hair so even though they got a lot cut off, it does not looks like it in the picture.  But Johanna donated her hair and we cut off over 12 inches of her hair once it was all trimmed up.  She looks so cute.

After

June 2014~by Beth

This month began in Ohio.  Here is the month in photos.

Charity, Emma and Christiana swim in Grandma's pool

Stephen caught a bug and had a temperature.  Here he is "washing away my fever."

Our 30th anniversary

Enjoying the oldest kiddie park in the U.S.

Christiana, David, Abby and Johanna riding the kiddie roller coaster

Back at the Creation Museum on the way home

A sign at the Creation Museum

Father's Day lunch

 For Stephen's 6th birthday we went to Bass Pro
Shop and took advantage of a number of the free classes and activities for kids.  The children learned about archery, camping, hunting and water safety.  The activities they participated in included archery (real for the older ones and nerf for the younger crowd), casting, shooting, and crafts.

Stephen shot a bullseye the very first shot.

Just before the 4th of July celebration we also painted the ceiling in the kitchen, living room and entry to cover some water marks.  We also did the kitchen walls.  It was a family job and we all helped the entire day.  We are having a great Summer.

May 2014~by Beth

May was a very busy month for us, as you will see by the length of this post.  It began with our children's piano recital.  Here are David, Christiana, Charity and Emma with their fellow students and teacher Mrs. Vander Pol.

 Next came Charity's 14th birthday.  Here she is with her cookie cake.

The next day the soccer tournaments began.  Here is Charity blocking a kick.

Charity and Emma after a game

Next came the golf field trip for our home school group.  The younger ones had golf instruction first, then played on the course.  The older students were able to swim at the pool near the pro shop.  Ten days later the older ones had the golf time while the younger ones swam at the pool

Emma with friend, Hope

Johanna at golf instruction

Charity and Emma with friend, Nina

Stephen swimming

Next was our home school commencement.  Each of our students received a certificate with a character quality displayed and an academic achievement for the previous year.  Stephen graduated from kindergarten.  He got to wear a cap and gown.

Dad and grad

The crew on the way to graduation

TaDa!!

 

 

Next came Charity's confirmation.  She did very well with her memorization and giving her testimony.  It was a great day for her and us.

Charity receives her Bible

corsage

This next week we wrapped up soccer with our end of year party.  Christiana and David both coached teams, girls and boys respectively.  Here they are.

4th place trophy

Boys team

 On Sunday we celebrated Christiana's 16th birthday, and Caleb's birthday a week early since we would be leaving the next day on vacation.

Caleb turns 21

The next day Beth left for Nashville with the 7 youngest children for our ATI conference.  It was a great conference and the children all enjoyed their programs.  Here they are at their presentations at the end of the week.  By then, Jonathan had joined us.

Stephen in his class with his teacher and 2 classmates

Christiana sings in choir in Commit.  Charity is in the upper right corner.

Johanna sings in Pre Embassy.  She is to the right of the leader.

David was a squad leader for the Cadet program.  You can see his eyes and cap in the upper left.

After leaving Nashville we headed to the Creation Museum outside Cincinnati, Ohio.  It is so good that we return as often as we can.  Here are some highlights.

Johanna holds a snake!

David shows Stephen a chipmunk on the grounds

The crew in the Japanese garden area.

At the petting zoo

Jon and I were going to celebrate our 30th anniversary the next day so we captured a shot of us.