Hi Everybody. Sorry it has taken so long to post. We have just been so busy. We have been having a great time lately but we have just been crazy busy.
A lot has happened since our last post so here it goes:
1) Nannie came and stayed with us for a couple of weeks. It was great seeing her and as always the kids didn't want her to go. She became quite skilled at playing Wii and she really enjoyed playing against Spencer. I think bowling was her favorite game but it was really funny just to watch her play against the boys. Sometimes, she would even play by herself without the boys. I'm telling you, that game is really addicting.
2) We went to the zoo. Indianapolis has a great zoo and we really had a lot of fun. We went with Nannie while she was here and then went again last weekend with Ray because it was such a beautiful day.
3) Madison had a High School Musical 2 Party. The girls had a blast (and Jack & Spencer too) watching the movie together and loading up on lots of popcorn and sweets. It was so funny to watch those little girls get so into the movie. It was like Greece was during our time.
4) We went to our neighbor Melissa's 40th Birthday Lobster Bake. It was such a blast. The event was catered under a tent in her backyard and she had the DJ that does the voice for the Indiana Pacers. We had SOOOOO much fun and we danced until 1:00 am. I couldn't tell you the last time we stayed up until 1:00 a.m. We just laughed all night and it was really fun hanging out with our friends. I haven't seen Ray dance in years.
5) We went ice skating. We figured when in Rome . . . do as the Romans (or Hoosiers do). I think I'm just trying to mentally start preparing myself for the winter that will be forthcoming. Ugg! The kids loved it and the even had these walker-like supports to help the kids learn to skate.
6) Madison started 2nd Grade. She got a male teacher this year and absolutely loves him. She got off the bus the first day and said that her teacher ROCKS! She really loves the guinea pigs named Jenny & Lucy in her class and she likes to take snacks to feed them.
7) The kids are involved in activities 5 days a week and their games are on Saturday. I never wanted to be one of those parents that over commited their kids and I'm not quite sure how this happened but . . . . Ray is coaching Madison's softball team. Madison and Spencer are playing soccer and taking tumbling. Madison is still taking piano lessons. Jack is taking swimming lessons because he can swim - he just won't get out of the baby pool because he says he will sink. Given Jack's size, that seems like a reasonable fear, but he can swim and I have seen him do it. Ray and I are teaching Spencer's Sunday School Class.
8) We took the kids bowling for the first time. They LOVED it. Jack bowled 104 and beat the older kids. He was happy to have bragging rights for once.
9) We had a Sunday School party at our pool last weekend. It was a lot of fun and we had about 50 people attend. The weather was horrible that day so we were really fortunate that it cleared up in time for our party because otherwise I would have had about 20 kids running around the house - ugg and I would have needed to be heavily sedated I'm sure.
10) Our baby snapping turtles hatched. Back in May a snapping turtle climbed up our hill about 25 feet to lay its eggs right by our driveway. Well, a couple of weeks ago they hatched. I saw a tunnel in the ground and dug where the eggs had been and they all had hatched. A couple of days later Rachel was barking her "there is something in the garage" bark and I went out to see what it was and sure enough it was a baby snapping turtle. Needless to say, we rescued the turtle and set it free in the creek behind our house.
11) We have rescued several stupid birds. Ray had to free a hummingbird that got its beak stuck in our screened porch. What was it thinking? I had to rescue a bird that got stuck inside our bird feeder. I have no idea how it got stuck inside our bird feeder that has a roof on it.
The kids are just growing up so fast. They are finally getting old enough where it is more enjoyable (and not so much work) to go places with them and do fun things together. We went out to dinner tonight, got ice cream, went shopping and then listened to a jazz band play. The kids loved listening to the music and dancing. It was just nice to hang out as a family and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, weather and music.
The weather is perfect now - 50's at night and lower 70's during the day. I'm hoping it will stay that way for a long, long time. I hope everybody enjoys their Labor Day Weekend.
