BacKpaCk loVe

My babies are growing up and what a joy it is to watch them bloom into what God has created them to be.  This year our little princess starts preschool.  Truly hard for mama to believe it!  Liv doesn't need school supplies but every new student needs their very own backpack.  It's almost like a rite of passage.  Today Mommy, Daddy and Livie went to lunch at Jason's Deli (yummy and healthy) and then went to 2 different Targets to find the perfect backpack.  Don't worry about it getting dirty, she hasn't put the bag down since she got out of the car. You may want to check back tomorrow to see if there is a picture of her sleeping with it too.

Look at the LOVE!!!

Preparation

Sometimes the "getting ready" is bigger than the "doing."  Mentally, I'm preparing for a change and maybe I'm over thinking it a bit.  :)  Chris would laugh, he says over thinking is my M.O., my way, a strength if you will.  There's more to come but for now I'm thinking about how my mental preparation is going to effect me over then next 5 days.

Busy is a Four Letter Word

Oh how I am struggling with the fact that my family continues to get busier and busier.  Fall is always a full time of year for us as school starts up which means not only the girls have new routines but so do Chris and I.  This year Olivia starts preschool four days a week, Emma will be in middle school for the first year and Reagan stays in the same elementary school...that is 3 different buildings that I will be dropping off and picking up from DAILY.

We feel that it is important for our children to have time to play, attend midweek church events and spend time with the family.  In order to do that we have limited their activities (ie sports and dance) to only one activity at a time.  To this point it has worked out nicely.  No longer is that the case.  Reagan is stepping up several levels in both soccer and softball which adds more games, practices and over all time commitment.  This fall she'll be playing soccer and softball at the same time.  Honestly, I have no idea how this happened and mama isn't very happy about it.  However, it is what it is and we'll make the best of it.  I guess if she has to miss a game or practice once in a while, that is what she'll do.  Keep us in your prayers that we don't all go crazy.  With Emma dancing more this year than last, Chris coaching high school softball and 9 year old competitive softball, as well as his book being released (whatever that will include) and Olivia starting school, I don't know when we'll find time to hang out as a family.  Oh let's don't forget guitar, cello and mom's scrapbooking.

There is so much more to life than cramming a bunch of unimportant activities onto a calendar each week.  Being "busy" is a great way to lose sight of eternal matters.  I pray that God will stretch our family time, help us prioritize our down time and ground us when we forget what life is all about.

A Corny Place To Be

Picking corn is a tradition that the girls look forward to each year.

Not sure, but I think Liv might have just found a bug

Reagan and her friend go in deep

Yay!  Liv found one!

After a hot and sweaty adventure through the rows of sweet corn the girls needed a little time in the pool.  Funny thing is, after swimming for an hour they wanted to pick more corn.  They brought home enough corn for us to share it with 5 neighbors plus several family members.  If you  need some sweet corn and want to drive over to Iowa, I know a great farm that has way too much.

Lake of the Ozarks

Spending time together as a family

Representative of my week at the lake.

Liv promises us that she didn't fall asleep on the boat.  :)

She must be a great faker!!!

Reagan found out that jumping off the boat & swimming in the big lake can be a little intimidating while sitting ON the boat having a snack is a lot more fun.  After the first day all the girls were swimming like fish, especially at the dock.

Love my hubby!

This guy works WAY too hard.  

A week lounging around is just what he needed.

MM 47 has a place known for "shooting the minnow."  Emma really wanted to go do it and get a t-shirt to announce it to the world.  I think Reagan might have just been along for the ride but after watching Hope and Emma swallow a fish in a shot of lemonade she was determined that she could do it too.  

Ick!!!  Not Mom!

We have not taken many vacations that did not include staying with family.  This week at the Ozarks was fun, relaxing and much needed.  Already the girls are asking when we can go back.  I guess that all depends whether Mark and Sandy want to invite us back or not.

Natures Goodness

Neighborhood fun.

Our garden is really growing and starting to produce all kinds of goodies.  We have picked several cucumbers but the tomatoes are a little slow to turn red.  However, when they do, they'll be running out our ears.  The sunflowers are about 8 feet tall, not that this pictures shows that but I love the bee sitting on the flower.  We've picked our first eggplant, which I'm sure was not ready.  Still to come are the peppers, strawberries, squash and seems like I 'm missing one more thing.  I am beginning to wonder if the basil and mint will take over the garden...geesh!  Next year (again) we will need to expand the area of the garden.  I really want onions.  No zucchini this year which is fine, I've found a supplier.  :)  Honestly, I wish we could grow all (most) our food.  It tastes so much better and lacks the pesticides.

After the Storm

Tonight we had a crazy storm come on as we sat in the pizza joint down the street.  Honestly, I was worried that we were going to blow away.  The wind bursts were 70 mph and rain blowing from side to side.  The topper was hearing the sirens blaring as we sat at the stop light.  The silver lining to this storm came about 20 minutes later...this double rainbow.  Ahhh, God's promise!

Olivia told me this was her first ever rainbow.  So for the second day in a row, "Today is the best day of my life."  Oh little Livie, I love the way you think!

Olivia's First Camp

My darling little 4 year old attended her first ever camp at church.  No, I didn't get any pictures because the PARENTS DON'T STAY!!  She'll go back the next two days from 10-12 for more fun in the sun and learning about Jesus.  All she could remember about the "best day of her life" was going down the slide and eating blue jello for a snack.

My baby just isn't a baby anymore.  It's hard to believe she is going to preschool this fall.  Some of my hopes and dreams as a parent include watching the girls grow and develop into beautiful, smart, self-confident women.  I didn't realize that letting the baby slip through my fingers would be so difficult.  Stay tuned.  Over the years there will be many more posts that lean close to me whining and crying over the girls "growing and developing into beautiful, smart, self-confident women."  Hang in there with me, I'll need your support.

More July 4th

6 States in 2 Days

Spending time with my grandma (in-law) is always special to me and last week I had the opportunity to have some quality time with Grandma in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.  Too bad I didn't get a good picture of grandma and me on our 2 day drive.  I do however have a few photos to prove I had a some time away from the humidity and my family.

Eileen and I had a just a couple hours together.  I just love this girl!

This picture was taken just minutes before I was left out in the desert all by myself hoping a friend would pick me up.  Lucky for me I was able to pull my BIG RED SUITCASE into a Paradise Bakery.  It was cooler in there (vs 114 degrees outside) but rather embarrassing.  I looked like a bag lady.  :)

 Tammy: Dear Friend, Ribbon Addict, Kind Beyond Words, Ultimate Crafter

Our time together included pedicures, Chili's Chips and Salsa and a chick flick.  Loved it!

Vicki and I spent a wonderful afternoon together.  We already talk on the phone every week so it really wasn't a matter of "catching up" as much as finally just having face to face conversations.
Thanks Vicki for lunch!

Eric, Karen and Regina were able to squeeze me into their schedule.  My niece really is a beautiful girl growing quickly into a woman.  YIKES!!!  I tried to make friends with the dog again but I'm sure if he had a chance he'd eat me for dinner any day of the week.  :)  Hope they are having a great family vacation this week.

Early dinner in Mesa with Grandma, Special Friend Bob, Shelly and Camille.

Look how serious Grandma looks here...not the norm, especially when Bob is around.
We managed to squeeze in a day at IKEA.  Love that place!!!

You might be asking who that guy is in the cockpit of the southwest airplane.  Oh just the gentleman assigned to do repairs to our aircraft AFTER they loaded us all on that tiny little tube with wings.  UGH!!!  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind my flight leaving late when there's a repair to be done but is it really necessary to make us all cram in there for an extra hour.  For the first time ever, I got anxious and claustrophobic on the plane.  The 4 year old boy in front of me asked every 5 minutes if we were moving yet.  It was cute until I started to internally freak out.  The bad thing, these days you can't run off the plane because they assume your luggage down below may have a bomb in it.  I couldn't show my stress, instead I chewed 15 pieces of gum.

By the time I was packing my suitcase to head back to Omaha, I was ready and yet I didn't have enough time to see everyone that I wanted to see.

Firework Fanatics

It's a annual affair...the Fantastic Foley Firework Party.  This is where is all starts...in a freight car full of explosives.  To be totally honest, I think it really begins somewhere on I-29 in Missouri but I probably shouldn't talk about right here and right now.  :)

Where else would we shop but at the best firework stand in GI...Bret and Lindsey's stand at Roy's Music.

All Liv really wanted was snakes and smoke balls.  Look at that big smile!

Tonight we'll have a chance to sit down with some really great friends that we seldom see.  Tomorrow we'll have more pictures and I hope there aren't any from the hospital ER.  :)

Amish Health

This is an incredible article that truly sheds great light on the subject of eating well and living healthy lives.  Some of it may challenge your belief system.  I wonder if you should consider where your knowledge of health has come from.

http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/295-the-amish-dont-get-autism-but-they-do-get-bio-terrorism.html

To All Our Dad's

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/7466/Memories-Of-Dad

We saw this at church Sunday...just had to share it. 

Big Day

We had a big day around here and I'm sad to say it wasn't because it was Father's Day.  My girls are so blessed to have the most amazing father.  Chris works hard, plays hard and loves like no other.  He not only gives guidance but lives what he teaches.  Thank you Chris for being the man, husband and father that you are!
We have enjoyed the company of our friend, Andy Richey from Phoenix for 3 or 4 days...honestly I don't even know how long he was here.  ha ha  Every night we stayed up so late, I loved every minute of it but I'm feeling the lack of sleep today.

Today started with the end of yesterday. Does that sound weird? We'll I can hardly tell when one ended and the next began.
My day began like this...

1:00am   We finally went to bed...not a good start to my day.  :)

2:00am   Emma woke with a terrible ear ache

3:40am I crawl back into bed

4:00am  I hear Andy leaving our house, heading for the airport.  I got up to wish him well in my groggy state.

7:00am  Alarm clock goes off...time to get ready for church and get at least 2 kiddos in the shower.  (we had an extra one here last night)

8:10am   I head out the door for church hoping and praying that Emma will sleep in and feel well when she wakes.  Camp starts today for her.  YIKES!!

9:00am  Chris calls our AWESOME chiropractor Niki Pearson to get Emma adjusted.

10:45am  Everyone goes to church  (praying for Emma's healing with the Packwoods)

12:30pm  Eat a quick lunch...Chris' favorite pizza.  (praying for Emma's healing)

1:20pm  Emma and I leave for church camp so I can help with registration from 2-5 and she can join up with her friends at 3:30.  (praying for Emma)

6:00pm   Meet the in-laws for dinner, Chris' games are cancelled due to rain so he joins us.  (praying for Emma)

8:00pm  Chris heads to his "writing cave" to work on book #2.  (praying for Emma)

9:30pm Olivia and Reagan are in bed (praying for all 3 girls)

10:52pm   It's time for me to fall into bed as well. (praying)

Dad, wishing you a happy father's day and to all you wonderful men who make a positive influence on your children's lives.  Thank you!

Family Reunion 2010

Making memories is important, especially when it involves family, the people you love.  Chris' dad's family has always been close.  In fact, not just Dean's family but Warren's family and the generations before put God first and family second to everything else.  (Ok, baseball was a VERY close third!  You know 2 of Warren's bothers missed a sibling's wedding because of a baseball game and as the story has it, everyone was ok with that.) Back to the topic at hand...loving each other inspite of their flaws has always been top priority.  Don't tell anyone but there are even several Democrats in the bunch. 

All 27 of us made it to our annual family reunion.  We poured into a local state park with loaded minivans.  Not only did we have games, food and firewood for smores but we had christmas presents.  Most of us just brought our gift exchange packages but Helen could not be outdone.  Each of my children opened at least 10 gifts.  Good grief!

Back by popular demand, my handsome hubby organized planned and created a fun filled 3 days of games and silly events.  Dean's family took home the gold in ladder golf.  Lois and her clan came on strong during Boce ball...crushing the rest of the family.  Nail pounding wasn't even close....ALL ME!!  I will have pictures at a later date.  The diaper challenge was a close 3-way tie.  Pitch took place late at night in the cabins...no known winner.  If smore making was an event Logan would have been the clear winner... that boy had 6 marshmallows on a stick at a time.  Not to brag but I made the best coffee of the reunion.

Surprises of the weekend...

Holly's bright orange hair

Kelly and Ryan are expecting

The group picture includes everyone

No children were lost

Reagan caught 2 fish

No one was able to cheat in the gift exchange!

On The Field

Softball is a big part of our family for most of the year.  Chris coaches high school softball from August thru October with a peppering of meetings, hitting and coaching clinics, and brain zone meetings through out the entire year and then spends April thru June coaching Emma and Reagan's softball teams.  So with all that softball it's pretty important to capture some of those moments on film...well no one uses film anymore but you know what I mean.

Emma playing first base.

She is really growing as a softball player.

I love to watch her at first and short and recently we realized she's pretty good behind the plate as well.

Great catch Em!

Chris coaching while Liv tries to get Daddy's attention.

What a great game!

The Diamondbacks beat the #1 team The Orange Crush

I can't wait to get these sent off and start scrapbooking.  It's been too long!

First Long Camp

Today was a big day for Reagan.  At 4:30 this afternoon I had to chase down Reagan just to give her a hug good-bye as she walked into the chapel for the opening ceremony at camp.  For a shy little girl she sure wasn't scared to leave mom and dad for the next 3 nights.  I can't wait to hear all the stories of new friends, fun games, scary camp stories and hopefully some that lead to life changing decisions.

I bet she was bummed that she didn't get a chance to change her pants from church...but she sure did put on her camp shirt as soon as possible.

Reagan and Gabby's first small group with couselor Savanah.

 
Reagan, I will be praying for you every day.  I love you dearly sweetheart!

Dance Recital 2010

Oma and Opa were able to make the long drive this year.

It's hard to believe how our little girl is growing up.

We were so proud of you tonight. You are a graceful dancer.

What a blessing to have Great Grandma here.

Finally the day is over.  It's been fun but exhausting.