I'm Baaaa-ACK!

Due to technical difficulties with my camera, I have not been able to upload pictures in forever! Last night I finally took the time to figure out my new uploading program so now I can actually catch up on my blogging!
Caleb's high school tennis team made it to the state A championships. We travelled down to watch them play, but sadly, they got knocked out in the semi-finals. They returned just in time for the Sports Award Ceremony where Caleb received his letter and an award for Most Promising Newcomer to the tennis team.

Joshua graduated from elementary school, which means we now only have 2 kids left to get through elementary school! He had such a great year with *almost* a perfect report card....sadly he got a B in word study for his last quarter. Here he is with his teacher, Mrs. Scarpinato.

Our big job of putting in hardwood floors in the entry, living and dining rooms turned into something bigger when I decided to repaint the living room, then the bottom half of the dining room, then debated on pulling down the red painted over wallpaper in dining room (NOT going to happen yet....we will live with the red a bit longer!) We have finally started moving furniture back in! But I still have the entryway to paint....

My Life in Chaos

We have turned our small kitchen into an eat-in kitchen. It's a little tight, but still doable.

We have 3 couches, a loveseat, 2 tables, a piano, a computer desk, a rocker/recliner, 2 bookcases and an entertainment center in the family room.

We have turned the basement into temporary living quarters for five kids.

I know, it looks chaotic, but amidst the mess, there really is living space.....for instance, this is Caleb's "room".All so we can do THIS.....

Believe me when I say it is SO worth all the chaos I am living in!

SHE DID IT!!!!

After 4 1/2 long years of hard work, Shelby has earned her Young Womanhood Recognition award! I have to admit, there were days when I didn't know if this would ever happen! :) Here she is showcasing a few of her projects that she has worked on--one was learning to play 10 hymns on the piano and then playing them at church and the other was helping to run the Craft Shack at Cub Scout Day Camp.And just because I am one of "those" moms....you know, the ones who won't let their kids drive until they earn their YW Recognition or Eagle....here is Shelby showing off her driving skills on the way to church.

I was feeling a little guilty for manipulating her into earning it, so I did ask her on the way home, though, if the award even meant anything to her or if she just did it so that she could drive. In the end, she said that it was the biggest thing she has ever accomplished and she felt good about it. So I guess a little manipulation isn't so bad after all.....Congratulations Shelby, we are so proud of you!

Field Trip Fun

I had a chance a few weeks ago to accompany Samuel's class on a field trip to a local park and nature preserve. I went on the same field trip a week later with Savannah's kindergarten class, but suffice it to say, I liked chaperoning 3rd graders better....even if they were active boys! Leave it to Samuel to fall in the Japanese koi pond! At least he was not alone in his follies....both boys were wet up to their thighs!

If I had my pick of destinations with boys, I could think of no better place than a 100 acre park! We had so much fun watching them run wild!