Brock is 7!

He wanted a Scooby-Doo party this year. He had a friend party and it was so fun! The "birthday phantom" stole the presents and left clues. They had to play different games and follow the clues to the presents. At the end, they had to find the presents and the phantom (nicely played by Russ in his "disguise") in the van. Good times.

Brock and Rach played tee-ball this summer together. Brock loves baseball and did awesome this year. It was about 3 weeks after Rachel got her cast off. She has had a particularly hard time since the surgery with new things and being involved. She would play in the outfield if Russ stood with her, and she wouldn't even try batting the first few games. So, the third game she decided to bat and smashed it off the tee. She ran her little heart out, sort of limping and lumbering around the bases. Every time she got to a base she'd jump on it with both feet and give me a big thumbs up. The first time I saw her cross home plate I just sheered and cried at how well she did when it was hard for her. My brave little girl making baby steps...it made me appreciate the simple things we take for granted like seeing a kid run the bases...



Brett watching Daddy base coach. Cody was always somewhere off with friends on the playground.

This was all Brock's idea. He told me we had to have "last day of tee-ball pancakes" and he told me how to make them. I love this kid!

Computer Games

So this is the view I see every day after Russ gets home from work. The kids beg him to play computer games with them. Right now the excitement is for Need For Speed 3. These boys are definitely like their Dad...

Here's Russ playing X-Box with his Dad and brother...On vacations Russ and Dan usually play this or Wii until the wee hours of the morning. This is a view of the future of Russ and his boys. Good times had by all...

Sunrise, Sunset

I can't believe how old our kids are getting. Time goes so fast. We're pretty grateful for our good kids.

The Moon

Russ wanted me to explain why we changed our background on our blog. I have always been fascinated with astronomy and the moon and it's always been at the top of my "happy list." Lately I've been excited to talk to my kids about the phases of the moon throughout the month. Well, Brock is pretty smart and loves studying space. A few weeks ago I went in to his bedroom one night and said "Brock, the moon is so bright tonight, have you seen it?" He was reading a book in bed and said "yeah Mom, I saw it." I, trying to show a little knowledge and impress my kid said "But do you know what phase it's in?" He seemed a little annoyed because I was interrupting the reading of his Magic Tree House book, glanced over at me with a sigh and said "of course Mom, it's a first quarter." Huh. I like my kid.

The Kid Magnet

I have probably 30 pictures just like this from the years I have been married to Russ. This was at Blake's b-day party this week. No matter where we are, if there are kids there, this is what's going on. Everyone loves Russ!

This is just some cuteness of our Brett.

"We got Cows!"

Actually, we got sheep!(That movie quote is from "Twister" in case you're wondering). It's that time of year again. We have our windows open all night, and in the early morning when we're sleeping we awake to the sounds of hundreds of bleating sheep! Not the most pleasant sound. As they move the sheep in the summer, they take them through our big meadow where we live. This goes on for a few weeks in the summer. Our kids think it's awesome, but I'd personally like to sleep in a bit more...