Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Every year for Thanksgiving our church meets and celebrates the goodness of God and how He graciously cares for His people. We always have an abundance of great food and the kids bring games to play together. After a scrumptious meal the dancing begins, yes dancing at a church function. Our boys all danced and Grace loved to be swung around by her daddy. It is a blast and even the youngest ones get involved. This lasts for several hours and then the children begin dropping like flies. Around the room are many strollers filled with sleeping little ones. The fellowship is sweet and after all stuffing ourselves, in a non glutinous way of course, we load up the vans and head for home.

Kids night at our house !!

Curran and Rylan had some friends over for a night of Xbox Halo entertainment on the big screen. It's fun to watch kids interact at this age. I have to laugh and wonder were we actually that goofy. They really are great kids and it is a joy to have a bunch of young adults come over who are so polite and respectful. The best part is when the dads showed up and were totally killed in every game of Halo. There were definitely some competitive spirits in the room and it wasn't the kids. It is rough getting old.

Veteran's Day 2007

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Burg Eltz Castle

Curran just bought a new schwanky camera and wanted to
start taking pctures right away. He decided he would
take some pictures of Grace and she was more than happy
to help him out.

Can you say cute!!!

Gracie dresses for Reformation Night

O.K. I know this doesn't look like a reformation costume,but it was too cute not to dress her in it. We celebrated at our church and everyone dressed in costume and diffrent people stood and talked about there part in the reformation. The kids were all in costume

and there were games and lots of candy. With 5 kids that is way to much candy to have in the house!! Grace had a great time and was wired from too much sugar.

Gracie

Happy 40th Birthday Mike!!!

Mike turned 40!!! I am so happy, because I turned 40 last year and he is finally catching up to me. We are all so blessed to have such a great man to lead us and love us all so much. We really enjoy it when he is home spending time with us and he always gets us laughing. He is truly my best friend. We had a fun party at home and the boys put up funny banners . The candles on the cake almost set off the fire alarm. Grace loved all the smoke, she is reaching up trying to grab it in the picture.

Oct 2007

It is getting colder here and we are all enjoying the fall colors. Grace has been sick with some kind of flu bug,so the day we went for pumpkins she just wanted me to carry her around and was not so thrilled about picking out a pumpkin. Everytime we would put her down for a picture she would scream,poor thing, so the only picture we got of her is on Mike's shoulders. She is usually always happy so today is a bummer!! The boys all got pumpkins and Rylan got a light one to make me some pies. He enjoys cooking and baking and has been known to make a scrumptious chocolate cake. All the boys are busy with school and after traveling all summer it is nice to just have time at home.

PUMPKINS

Swimming

The weather gets pretty gray all winter long in Germany, so most towns have nice indoor pools with slides and play areas for the kids. There's a great snack bar for food and coffees. We always get french fries and my kids like them the German way with mayo {YUK!!} It's a great place to come in the afternoons when school is done. The boys always finish school faster when they know we are going to swim. This day a bunch of mom's met with a bunch of kids. I thought this was a great picture! One thing that is different in Germany is there are no rules. There may be a few, but they are never enforced. Therefore if you kill yourself it's your own fault. I have to remind my boys that 15 people on the slide at once probably isn't a good idea.

Curran WinsThe Photo Contest

Curran saved his money and was able to purchase a pretty shwanky camera. You usually don't see Curran now without a camera around his neck. He has been taking a photography class and has been taking family pictures for people in our church. He really enjoys it. Curran entered a photo contest and won a 1st and a 3rd place. The first place was a picture through a wine glass called Glass View.The 3rd place was in the nature category and was a black and white picture of a dock at the lake where my sister lives. It was called Summers End. The pictures will go on to another base wide level for competition. We Hope he wins!!!

Oktoberfest

Curran Opening Gifts

CURRAN TURNS 13

Curran is now officially a teenager. I have heard all kinds of horror stories of what happens to nice children at this age. Hormones raging and all kinds of attitudes. I have to say by God's grace alone I am totally enjoying life with my older boys. There is always something totally funny happening between my two oldest boys and of course we all have to get involved in whatever it is. We have been doing a lot of laughing lately,the two of them are quite comical and they know it. Curran is planning to have a sleep over for his birthday also. It isn't the same kind of party as my younger boys. This party has beverages served like mountain dew and cappucinos with a lot of blog checking and you-tube videos. Then they stay up, eat a lot of junk food,watch movies and in the morning they actually sleep in. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful boys. WE LOVE YOU CURRAN!!!!

Hadyn Opening Presents

Hadyn's Party

HADYN TURNS 10

Our little boy is growing up. It's like I don't notice it until they reach double digits. Yesterday he was still little, but today, 10 WOW!! He opened presents at home and then he planned to have a bunch of friends for a bonfire and sleep over. They were outside at the fire for a long time cooking smores with big sticks of course. Then they played some flashlight tag down in the woods, but after several injuries we thought we should call them inside. They stayed up late and got up early,but that's what makes a great party. Happy Birthday Hadyn WE LOVE YOU!!!

Lets go to the castle!!

It's a great sunny day and Mike is off work, so we have to do something, we just can't sit inside. The boys suggest the castle. It's a ruin only a 15 minute drive from our house and there are some great hiking trails too. Grab the backpack for Grace and we're off. We plan long trips like this too. The boys have to bring their own sticks, like they won't have any in the woods when we get there,but I'm informed that the sticks we are bringing are special sticks. They look like ordinary sticks to me. Grace is able to run,jump and climb now, so she is off chasing the boys. She really is becoming a little mother, she would tell them what to do if I'd let her. They all adore her and she is fully aware that most of the time she is the center of attention. She is such a joy and blessing to all of us.

Charging The Hill

This is what I see as I get out of the car. Curran is already over the hill. You would think these boys never get out to play.

Jenn and Grace walking

We took a hike on one of the trails close to our house. The boys love to get out and run and Grace is close behind. We do bring the backpack for when she gets tired which is rarely!! The summer is drawing to a close and I am looking forward to fall and all the leaves changing. I am not looking forward to all the school planning I have to do so I opt for a walk and put it off fo another day!!!

Hiking near our house

photos from germany

Puppies!!!

We had 6 very cute yorkie puppies. One of the little girls has a cleft palate and we don't think it will survive. The mama is still taking care of it, so that is a good sign. Our boys aren't too interested in these black lumps especially when they just lay there, but in a couple weeks they are really fun. When the girls come over they all flock to the puppies and will hold them forever. Gracie loves the puppies and she has been really gentle with them. She wants to touch and hold them every morning when she wakes up.

THE FALL OCT 2007

It was like every other Sunday night at our house. Around 6pm folks start showing up for Sunday night Bible study and grub. After the study all the kids run out to burn off all that energy they have from sitting. Derek is a tree climber so up he goes to the top of the tallest pine tree. We hear from the back yard Derek fell out of the tree. No great panic, until we see the faces of the kids. It is bad!! With in minutes 5 doctors are on the scene, mostly from our church and the ambulances arrive, S.P.'s come running down the driveway and a huge crowd develops as a rescue helicopter hovers above. Derek is quickly taken to the trauma unit and after many exams and x-rays it is determined only a broken wrist. God was truly protecting Derek and as we went out to look up the 50+ foot tree every branch was broken. God had known as he grew that tree that those branches would save Derek's life. We are so grateful to our merciful Saviour for his sovereignty over our lives.

Family Pictures and Bocci ball at the pool

New Jersey AUG 2007

At The Beach AUG 2007

Gracie on the rides!!

Grace had a great time on the boardwalk. We put her on the carosel and she waved to everyone as she went around with a huge grin on her face. It was so cute!! She loved the rides and has no fear. The boys were happy to take her on all the rides and we all loved watching her reaction and theirs. It is such a wonderful thing to watch our older boys care for their sister and love her so much. It is so hard to believe she has only been home with us a few months. She loves the waves and the beach and she would lay on the boggie board wanting us to pull her through the water. She had a couple wipe outs, but she got right back on. She doesn't seem to be bothered by change. We were concerned that this trip across the ocean may throw her off,but she is doing great and seems to be enjoying every aspect of traveling. We are really thrilled because we love to travel!!

Opa's Birthday and Ocean City Board Walk

New Jersey AUG 2007

We visit New Jersey AUG 2007

We arrived in New Jersey Aug 10th. We were planning to travel the end of Aug. but with Mikes work schedule and puppy's, yes more puppies due the end of Aug we decided to pack up in 2 days and head for the States. Opa and Oma picked us up at the airport and we stayed at Mema's over night. It is always so great to visit family. We then spent the next day at my sister's and the boys played with their cousins Hannah,Kendall and Macquire. The last time we visited was in April, so we could see a big difference in Macquire, who will be turning 1 soon. The boys went on the huge blow up slide in the backyard. Then we headed for the lake and hung out there the rest of the day. The boys love the water and Gracie loved it too. Grace is still a little jet lagged, so we are hoping she will get on a schedule here quickly. We are spending the night at Opa and Oma's and planning to go to the beach a bunch. We are looking forward to a great week.

Gracie

IT's AUGUST !!!

July has flown by and it's August already. I spent much of July preparing for the new school year ordering books, curriculum and trying to figure out how to homeschool four boys with a new toddler. We are still schooling through the summer, although a much lighter schedule than in the fall. The boys have been reading a lot and Hadyn and Eamon are working on writing proficiently; it's been funny how their assignments always reflect our daily life. This week they wrote on a charcter whose cat somehow was tar and feathered. The names were Ms DVD for Eamon and Ms Fish Oil for Hadyn. On my schedule of things to do this week was transfer my DVD's to disks and to buy flavored fish oil for Grace. I guess they really are listening when I talk. Grace is repeating everything we say. The boys keep teaching her crazy things, which she loves. Curran has her saying "bally ole chap, wot wot" in a British accent. I like to get on the computer and check e-mails with a cup of tea I tell Grace," Go get your computer", which is a leap pad with pen connected to draw letters on. She always goes running to get it. She quickly comes over and climbs up on the big stool, sits up with me and we both drink tea and use our computers. What fun!!!! Grace plays well most of the time by herself, but has started holding on to my pants and pulling me to where she wants me to go. It's usually over to her large pile of books Goodnight Moon , The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and The Very Busy Spider are her favorites, so we sit down to read. In the afternoon Grace goes out with the boys to play, but I had to bring her in with me this week, as they have big ramps going into the woods and are taking all kinds of wheeled carts and skateboards down the big hill and off the ramps. I can't watch, so I go inside expecting to hear I need to call for an ambulance. So far it's been all fun with only minor injuries.

Family Pictures