Happy Birthday Kyle!

Kyle wearing his Grandpa's army shirt and his great-grandpa's hat that he got for his birthday.

Dear Kyle,

I can't believe you are 13 today! It does not seem possible that you have become a teenager. It seems like just yesterday you were born. Blue and not breathing and stressing us out. You spent 4 days in NICU and we had to leave you and come back to get you after I was sent home. Dad and I were crying when we left and crying when we went back to get you! We were such emotional first time parents!

My how time has flown. You are a fabulous young man! Kind, courteous, sweet, loving, smart, and funny. Your little sisters adore you. You are Ethan's best friend. You have made so many accomplishments in just this last year, getting to dark blue belt in Karate and becoming a First Class Scout. Dad and I are so very proud of you and your determination in accomplishing your goals.

Don't lose sight of your dreams. You have an incredible confidence and spirit. You are a hard worker with a wonderful sense of humor. You are an absolute joy to be around. Whatever you set your mind to I know that you will accomplish, from becoming an Eagle Scout to running for President! You are a joy to teach and your love of learning and determination makes me so proud.

Have a wonderful day, we all love you very much.

Love,

Mom



We are proud parents!

We couldn't ask for a better big brother!

This is Kyle's regular happy spirit!

The 3 is not sinking it has just had some busy years! We can't replace it now, it has too much history!

He is a wonderful nephew and grandson.

So gracious and apprciative of everything he is ever given or of any experiences he has.

These girls know how lucky they are to have him for a brother. They hear friends complaining about their big brothers and they don't have anything to say but good things about their Kyle.

And these two, well they have a special little bond!




Lindy and I love you very much!

Christmas in August

Back in June my Great Aunt and second(?) cousin (I always get confused with that!) were here from Pennsylvania and Florida visiting. We had a great time visiting. Kyle got to hear WWII stories about his great grandpa, and the girls got to show off their room and their dolls.

Both Aunt Ann and Debbie are huge sewers. Somehow this gene missed me since I can't even thread a needle! But these two, who were in town for a huge quilt show, are amazing. Soon after they returned home Debbie called me and had me measuring all the appendages of the American Girl Dolls. She loves to make doll clothes and was going to try to make a couple of outfits for the girls.

The beginning of August and packages are arriving. I received a quilted wall hanging for my birthday which is so neat! Then THE box arrives. I had no idea that Debbie was zipping together so many outfits. Well, Lindy, Paige, and Erin thought it was Christmas! The box just kept going on and on. At the end they each had one dress, one short and top set, and one bathing suit with cover up. They are all so cute, we could hardly decide what to put on first.

The girls got all of their dolls dressed up for a little photo shoot. Debbie really out did herself on these. She has made doll clothes in the past and was very excited to get started again. She had so much fun that she is going to keep making clothes. So if anyone needs American Girl Doll clothes for the holidays let me know. She is only charging for her materials and shipping, anywhere from $5-$12. Can't beat that!

Erin was most excited to find a dress for Julie that matched her favorite dress.

Paige with Samantha and Kit.

Lindy with Felicity and Molly.

Very hard to choose what to dress in for a photo shoot. Finally, Molly, Samantha, Julie, Felicity, and Kit are ready for the day.

Samantha

Julie ready for the beach with her cover up.

Oops!

I can say oops since I wasn't on the balloon! This is one of the hot air balloons that are always in our area giving rides. We had watched this one seem to have some problems right behind our tree line over an open field. It just could not get up very high. The operator finally got over the trees and then over the houses to make an "emergency" landing on the street behind us.

Of course the kids had to run and check it out. Everyone was fine and the balloon operator was happy to explain how the balloons work to the kids. It seems there was a little too much humidity last night to get things high enough.

Dancing With the Star!

Paige and Lindy with Jonathan Roberts from Dancing With the Stars.

We are hooked on Dancing With the Stars! All of us. I even got Kyle to watch last season to see Shawn Johnson. But the girls, Erin included, are regulars each week. At the beginning of the summer the Fred Astaire Dance Studio by our karate lessons was offering Ball Room lessons to kids. One mention about it and the girls were ready to sign up. How cool for them to watch all of the different dances and then be able to go learn them! I want to be seven again!

And learn them they did. For the last six weeks they meet twice a week for 45 minutes with Miss Rachel and did the Cha Cha and Fox Trot. The first lesson they came home with the basic footwork to both these and two other dances. Gradually they have put the arms with it and also learned a handful of others including the Waltz, Swing, and, Tango. And yes, Bill and I have had private lessons in the kitchen. They are both pretty good teachers.

When I saw the sign that Jonathon Roberts would be at the studio one night for a group lesson I had to ask. The owner was more than happy to let the girls come watch and they were bursting when I told them. So last night was our girl night. We watched a 45 minute lesson where Jonathan worked with about 20 people and taught them a short dance and tricks of technique. He entertained with some behind the scenes of the show stories which the girls loved. They hardly moved and shyly met him after the lesson. He asked what dances they had learned and their little faces just went blank! It was pretty cute. He graciously posed for a picture before he left.

Tonight is our last lesson of the summer. If the studio continues lessons this fall I think they plan to continue if we can work the schedule out. And get this, Erin is on a list for a little girl class they hope to start.

Paige and Lindy with Miss Rachel. They love all of her outfits. It is one of the fun things to see each week at lessons.

Summer Girl Fun

All summer long Lindy, Paige, and, Erin have been playing with our neighbor girls Grace, Julia, and Emma. They also have 2 older brothers making them a family of five as well. Maybe they are all escaping the boys but the six of them have been rather inseparable. In a good way. They have been playing games, American Girl dolls, creating drama productions, riding bikes and scooters, and just hanging out.

They happily posed for pictures the other night and got themselves arranged. They are a pretty cute bunch!

Last week Grace and Julia came over to play and were wearing the same outfit as Paige. Last years Vacation Bible School shirt and hot pink shorts. I remember the days of dressing alike with friends.

17,000 Photos...

were on my computer waiting for some sort of storage! I got up yesterday to a full hard drive. Bill didn't believe me! I got my laptop just before my surgery in February of last year which would be 18 months ago. That is 1000 pictures a month. This is not a surprise but when you see the total number pop up when transferring over to my permanent storage "book". All Bill and I could do was look at it and both say "Wow".

I know that I have a "hobby", I have had a camera since I was in high school. Being the yearbook editor I learned tons of graphic design and photography skills. I was instantly hooked. To make a long story short I have always had a camera. Bill has always been very encouraging over the years. When I resisted going digital he showed up one day with a new camera for me. I used film and digital for a while not trusting the whole load into the computer and being able to find them! I am not a very computer savvy person but I am getting better. Now with Photoshop I am getting deeper into the time I spend on all of my cropping and enhancing. Bill is pretty proud since he has seen me struggle at the beginning with just learning to do the basic computer things and be willing to turn in my film!

So, 17,000 pictures later Bill spent all day Saturday fixing all the problems my laptop has had. I have had errors that did not have fixes yet and he was finally able to get that all sorted out. I am now the proud owner of a storage book of all my photos which is basically a portable hard drive. It is pretty cool and I feel like I have a clean slate to start snapping away!

Thanks Bill for all the time you put into making sure my computer was in tip top shape. Thank you for always being my biggest fan and respecting all my creative endeavors!

Spool People

Lindy's Family

We saw this on Crafty Crow back in the spring and never had time to make them. Lindy especially has been asking when we could make spool people. Finally, last week the girls made their little families. Simple, simple!

One wooden spool, one wooden ball (one side flat works the best) fabric scraps, embroidery floss, and markers and the possibilities are endless. Once they got started they could not stop. We need more spools and then they will be at it again. Ours are fairly small but we are going to make some larger ones next.

The girls have been playing with these in their numerous dollhouses along with the porch, patio, and yard. So cute and fun!

Paige's Family

Erin's Family

Mrs. Smith

Mrs. Smith passed away on July 16th. The Brownies did not see her in July because she had just moved to a nursing home before our last meeting. I took a poster to the meeting and had all the girls decorate it and sign their names. Nancy delivered it on her visit July 12th. Mrs. Smith loved the poster and read and recognized all the girls names. It was hanging at the foot of her bed where she could see it during the day.

Last week Nancy called me and said that Mrs. Smith's family had hung the poster in the front window of her house (they are next door neighbors). Lindy and I stopped by last week and took a picture to share with all the girls. It looks so neat when you pull up in front of the house and see our flower garden and this beautiful poster hanging above.

What a dear and well loved lady. We developed a wonderful friendship with her over the last three years. And I know that these girls gave her so much joy. She just loved to hear their stories and have them sing songs to her. Someone always had a card or treat for her and that put a huge smile on her face, especially the Girl Scout cookies! She shared stories about when she was a Brownie leader in 1945. That was a priceless experience.

We will always remember and treasure her friendship. We love you Mrs. Smith!

Little Mama

A week ago we went to the Canal Winchester farmers market. We snuck into a few of the cute little shops while we were there and Lindy fell in love with a baby doll. She has quite a few that she plays with regularly and one (Dylan) that she sleeps with and totes around everywhere. Well, this doll that she saw was destined to join her brood.

All weekend she counted her money and asked how long until we could go back to get her baby. Of course they were not open again until Tuesday morning making this a very long weekend for all of us! She exchanged her $2 bills from the Tooth Fairy with Bill hoping that he would give her back a $20 instead of the $12 that would be correct. She lost that wish! Finally, Tuesday morning arrived and Lindy and I were off on a date of our own. I can't remember the last time we went out for fun by ourselves. That made this a very special occasion.

Fortunately, Devin (her chosen name for the new additon) was waiting patiently for her to return and bring him home. She was one happy girl! We snuck into another little shop, Hannah Grace's Dollhouse, where she also fell in love with the beautiful Lee Middleton babies. That is next on her list. I did treat her to a new diaper bag that she filled with all yellow baby supplies. Every new mom needs a fresh diaper bag!

After she returned home she was mobbed by her siblings (relieved I am sure that the doll was still there) and her friends who all sat around the porch baby passing. It was a busy day for any new baby and mom. Best of all was I got to spend a quick hour alone with Lindy, who will someday make the greatest mommy.




Mom and baby, holding the hand written receipt "Paid in Full". No bag needed.




We have lived close to the old downtown Canal Winchester for almost 10 years and never had a chance to walk around. We had a great time looking in the little shops.

Lindy filled her bag with a pacifer (smart girl), bottle, socks, and bowl and spoon set.

Baby passing with Paige and Elleigh.

I Wish I Was 7

Erin loves putting her feet in the water during Lindy and Paige's swim lessons. She has been tagging along to all of the girls activities and I don't blame her. Along with swim lessons last week and this week, Lindy and Paige have quite the fun filled summer. Things are starting to wind down and I am looking forward to one month of minimal commitments. Kyle will still keep me on my toes!

June was filled with camp and VBS. July started all of our summer "classes". I told myself we were not going to over commit to things this summer but apparently that went in one ear and out the other. It doesn't help that Lindy and Paige want to do it all. And as long as it is something they really want to do and is a quality activity I am fine with that. Here are pictures of their swim lessons and scrapbooking class.

They also have Ballroom Dancing twice a week and competitive dance readiness once a week. They both really want to try competition dance this coming year. So their dance shoes have had quite the work out.

They are doing great at swimming!

Paige loves the slide. She and Ethan go down it constantly when we go to the pool. Lindy went down once in class when they had to and she is done with it. She would not try the diving board at all!

With wet hair we are off to the scrapbook store on Mondays. The girls are taking a class on making a chipboard album about themselves. They are sharing a kit since we had to miss many classes at the beginning due to other commitments. But they are learning so much and still able to try everything, carefully dividing pages and embellishments. It is really turning out cute.

Lindy got to use real sand to make a sand castle. She also learned how to use the sticker machine to make her own stickers.



Erin brings her sticker box and works away in her sticker books. It is so fun to share your hobby with your kids. We are all having so much fun learning and working together.

Not to shabby of a summer if your seven!