Update

Lots been going on.  Here is a quick update with some pictures:

- Sad good bye to Maria (see previous post)
- Stove stops working.  Have to wait 8 days for Sears to get repairman out here.  Repairman comes today only to tell me he has to order a new computer.  Will take another week for it to come in, then get to schedule another appointment for someone to come fix it.  Don't like Sears, but thankful for stove being under warranty.  Also thankful for camp stove to use when necessary.
- Helped at the Answers in Genesis Conference at church with Ken Ham and Buddy Davis.  Learned lots and had fun, but very tired.
- Family of 9 stayed with us for the conference.  Lots of food.  Had two families they were friends with over Monday, still lots of  food left over. :)
- Big storm came through this afternoon.  Later, Isaac decided to go clean up the branches down in the driveway.  He suddenly burst back through the front door yelling, "The Honda's rear window is smashed!".  Sure enough, a tree smashed the windshield and dented the trunk.  Bummer.

And now for pix:

Self-containment entertainment.

Joy Anna yelling at Troy to move.  She's not intimidated by the dogs at all, though they knock her down frequently.

Small tree, big mess.

Dented trunk and smashed windshield.  Haven't attempted clean up yet...

This would have been interesting to watch happen, but not so fun to deal with now. Bummer.  Needless to say, we won't be driving it for awhile.

Saying Good Bye

I started to post this last Monday, July 16, 2012, but the day fell apart and it never happened.  We had to say a sad good bye to long time family member and friend, Maria.  We took some last pix to remember her by, then cried over her and loved on her. 

Isaac with Maria

Peanut and Maria.  Maria had taken to scratching her ears, neck and back to the point of making them bleed.  They were pretty nasty.

Amazingly enough, Maria usually tolerated Joy Anna's "lovings".

Maria's favorite spot - on Danielle's pillow looking out the window.

Good night, Dear Maria Kitty.

Cow Appreciation Day

Today was the official unofficial Cow Appreciation Day at Chic-Fil-A.  If you came in wearing a cow outfit, you got a free meal.  So even though everyone is sick with colds, we went to Chic-Fil-A for lunch.  I had thought we could also go for dinner, but dressing everyone up as a cow for one meal was enough for one day.  Enjoy the pix!

Mooooooo

Cute cows, but couldn't get Joy Anna to turn around.

What we'll do for a free lunch...

Some funny looking cows...

Joy Anna!

Chatting with Danielle on Skype almost every morning and night has truly been a great blessing.  However, it does drag me away from the other kids.  The J-PIG's don't mind so much - they can sneak off and do what they want without being tasked with something.  Joy Anna, on the other hand, is beginning to resent the computer and all the time Mommy spends there!

Tonight the poor baby was running around in just a diaper.  She made such a mess of her outfit at dinner that I stripped her down.  I was about to bathe her when Danielle beeped on Skype, so the bath was put on hold.  A while later, as Joy Anna was whining and running around, I caught sight of her diaper!  She had "the plumber" look, as Andy called it!  She had been pulling at it and pushing on it, so it was drooping down and her little crack was showing.  Of course I told Danielle all about it and she wanted pictures.  So, here are the pictures.

This was the first time Joy Anna became "cheesy" and actually smiled and said,"cheese"! 

Love the wrinkling of the nose!

Joy Anna was really "hamming it up"! :) 

Just too cute!!

Love that smile!

Promise didn't want to be left out, so she jumped in, too.

Not very centered, but love that nose wrinkle!

So this one's not so good...

Big Peanut smile.

And per Danielle's request - a pic of the "crack".  We'll show this one the night of her wedding rehearsal. :) 

And in case you needed a closer shot...

Joy Anna actually posed for many of these with a big "cheese" - too cute!!

Picture Update

Daddy arrived safe but tired Wednesday night.  The kids were thrilled to see him, but even more thrilled that our drive to the airport and back provided several fireworks viewing opportunities!  They were glad to not completely miss out.

Skype has been awesome - we can "chat" (ie instant type/message) with Danielle every morning and night.  She was EXTREMELY homesick after Andy left, and it took her a couple days to recover.  But, she has caught her first baby now and the midwives are eager to teach her everything they know, plus let her do it on her own, so she is turning back into her regular old self.  She also took tons of photos and updated her blog, so you can view it at: www.midwife4hisglory.blogspot.com.

Here is a photo update of what we've been doing:

While the big boys were at hockey practice and I was doing school planning, these four were playing dress-up!  It's hard to get a good picture of them that shows off their smiling faces and adorable outfits.  I'm sure Danielle would have done a much better job.

Another attempt at a decent photo... 

Joy Anna had an adorable outfit - butterfly wings over a tu-tu!

Joy Anna is finally allowing me to put up her hair.  She likes the "fountain" on top of her head, as well as the fancy barrettes when I put those in.

Promise wanted to take a picture - can you tell by the "up" angle of the camera?!

Nathan is his father's son.  He LOVES this time of year when the jalapenos are ripe and he can just walk out to the garden and pick them fresh.  This jalapeno sandwich with cheese has two large peppers on it. The smell alone was enough to make my eyes water!

Finding a way to transport his beloved jalapenos. :)

It is love...

Sigh.  Even the bread misses Danielle.  This is a sorry, caved in "brick" of a loaf I made.  Missing the good bread that turns out for Danielle.

Joy Anna loved the frosting of the 4th of July cupcakes Promise made for Daddy's return.  She didn't care so much for the cake...

Wazzup July?

Hey Guys, wazzup?

This is Nathan, finally taking over Danielle’s blog. Last week I went to TeenPact Judicial (TPJ) and had tons of fun and no sleep! TPJ is basically a week long Moot Court training and competition event. Cramming in around 8 hours of classroom instruction a day, the staff forced us students to work insanely hard to write our cases in the little free time provided as well as worshiping God and exercising. However, the week was one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. The work load pushed me to my mental limit while the ice skating, Ultimate Frisbee, and snowboarding breaks allowed me to hangout with tons of AWESOME people. As mom previously posted I took 3rd in the oral Moot Court competition, as well as in the written brief. Though exhilarating, the competition was only one of the minor perks during the whole event. 

The best part of the week consisted of getting the whole TPJ family on the ice and playing Ultimate Frisbee. The rules were almost exactly the same as normal Ultimate, however, you had to be going side to side to catch the Frisbee and couldn't glide forward with it on your skates. Our group started a new sports tradition which I hope will be preserved by all future camps of Teenpacters. 

Another awesome part of the week was all the fantastic friends I met. When I first arrived I observed many different, random teenagers milling all over the place. When I left I recognized a group close knit friends with their own lives and hobbies dispersing all across the US; Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Chicago, and even Hawaii. We forged some amazing friendships strengthened through all-nighters and shared pranks. During the competition I found myself just as happy when I lost and my friend won, as I did when the situation was turned. The greatest trophy I took home from the competition was a shirt, with all the signatures and nicknames of my new friends, representing the special bond we possessed.

Well that's a recap of my week. Below are some pictures of a watermelon seed spitting competition organized by our amazing Grammy. The winner happened to be the only kid in the house over 6 feet tall.

Joshua spitting seeds

Grace taking air

Random neighbors Grammy invited over

The Amazing Grammy

Peanut taking a spit

The lineup

Not all frogs are found in Grammy's ponds

My beautiful Sister Joy Anna

Joy Anna preferred eating to spitting

Nathan's Back!

JJ-PIG's and I drove out to Liberty University to pick up Nathan yesterday morning.  Everyone was so excited to see him.  Joy Anna screamed, "Na-Na" (her name for him), and ran into his arms.  Of course, Nathan ate it up and used it as an opportunity to show off to all his Teenpact friends. :)  Isaac was a bit more discreet in showing his affection.  He waited until Nathan was about to get into the van, then came over and gave him a big hug and said, "I missed you, Bro.  I'm glad you're back."  Awwww.

Aside from getting only a couple hours sleep every night, Nathan did AWESOME!!  There were 36 kids participating in Judicial.  They came from all over the U.S., all with different backgrounds in Teenpact, Judicial, speech and debate.  They had a competition, similar to the NCAA basketball eliminations (that explains what Nathan meant when he texted me and said he made the sweet 16).  Nathan made it all the way to the semi-finals and came in THIRD overall!!  I am so proud of him!  He only lost by 4 points.  So, it looks like Nathan definitely has the makings of a lawyer if that is what he feels God calling him to do.

On the way home we stopped at Appomattox Court  House to see where General Lee surrendered to General Grant, ending the War between the States.  We didn't stay very long because Nathan was exhausted and nobody felt like being outside in the 100 degree plus weather we have been having.

Plan to head home tomorrow, but first have to get the a/c fixed in the van.  When we were getting ready to head to the lake yesterday afternoon, Nathan started the van to get the a/c running.  There was a loud POP and whooshing sound, followed by smoke.  In looking it over after talking with Andy we saw the green a/c fluid on the passenger side of the engine.  Andy said that was the a/c line, which unfortunately has come out before. :(  I had thought of just packing everyone up early to beat the 100 plus degree heat still expected for tomorrow, but my dear husband suggested it would be much better to fix it before we head home and have a much more pleasant ride.  I guess he's right.

Danielle gets to work another shift at Newlife, this time doing pre-natals.  She was thrilled to get to see two births yesterday - she is a birth junkie!  Though Tuesday will be hard saying good-bye to Daddy, I know she will be fine once she gets back into a routine in the birth world.

The kids outside the Appomattox County Courthouse where General Lee surrendered to General Grant to end the War between the States.  No one was happy to pose for the picture in the 105 degree heat.