Goodbye Summer

Summer of 09 has come to an end : (

We took our last boating trip to the Ozarks, over Labor Day weekend.


Everyone is back at school. For us that means a Junior in college, a Junior in high school, a Freshman in high school, AND.............a preschooler!! This time, she seems to like it, YEAH!


For me that means 4 afternoons, FREE AGAIN!!



Mark celebrated his 44th birthday, WOW!

And......the official end of summer for us.......combining has started. Goodbye summer, see you next year!

Ellie caught this Drum fish on her pole. She set it down to go to the bathroom, and when she came back, her pole was in the water, and swimming away : ) the boys got it back, and this big fish was at the other end.

Ellie and the 12 Disciples

Ellie just learned the disciple song, that I learned a long time ago in "Cadets" at the Missionary church. Here are the words in case you can't understand.

There were 12 disciples, Jesus called to help him Simon Peter, Andrew, James his brother John. Phillip, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon, Judas, and Bartholomew.

Bet you coundn't name them all. Enjoy!!

Kids and Dogs

So hard to get 4 kids and 4 dogs to behave and look at the camera at the same time.

Notice a pattern here.

Meet Ruby

This is Ruby. She is the lastest addition to our clan. She is a 6 week old Chocolate Lab.
For those of you keeping track, she is our 4th dog : ) Ethan hopes she likes hunting.

Ellie's ABC's

Easter at the Lake

Mark and I spent our 22nd anniversary on the Saturday before Easter at the lake. It is the first time I have ever been boating on our anniversary. It was the only sunny day we had.

This is how Ellie shows her Easter basket.
Mark's parents were able to join us for the weekend.

Curtis got to come too.

Mark's sister and her family were also there for the weekend.

2 years Ago Today, Gotcha!

Thank you God for your persistence in me. She truly was an awesome gift!!

Sisters just gotta have fun!!