Come to the Fire

Renee and I have arrived at Come to the Fire. It's a women's conference in Ft. Wayne, IN.  It has been so awesome already and it is just the first night! Our hotel is really nice.  The conference is at Indiana Purdue Ft. Wayne. 

They have elephants everywhere, like our frogs at home or Clevelands guitars.  I think they are technically Mastadons but they look like elephants!

Batmobile

A pottery barn kids catalog came in the mail the other day.  I'm not sure why because we don't shop there. Anyways it came. Rowan was looking through it and found a batmobile in one of the pictures. He immediately began talking about how he and daddy were going to build their own bat car.  He didn't forget about it and the next day he began begging daddy to build the car with him.

Yesterday and today, they built the car! Rowan is so stinkin' happy! We have to get wheels still and a nice paint job, but she is nearly done!

Miller Ferry PIB 5K

This was a busy weekend! On Friday, Rob and I went with Julie, Chuck, Char, Jenna and Uncle Jeff to see Suzi perform in the Rocky Horror Picture Show.  It ended up being a crazy night! Traffic was bad and messed up our dinner plans.  The power was out for 30 minutes before the play began! It was just weird! but the show was great!

Suzi is the far right!



Rob, me, Uncle Jeff, Chuck, Char & Julie outside the theatre!



On Saturday morning, Julie came over to watch the kids (THANK YOU!!!!) and Rob and I were off at 6 am to run in the Millery Ferry Put-In-Bay 5k! I ran the whole thing this year! I didn't train at all. Neither did Rob.  We had fun! We met up Jeff & Dar. Jeff works with Rob.  Then we hungout with some of their running friends - Charlita, Clovis, Lee & Jody.  We went to Hooligans, PIB Brewing Co. (the old FireHouse), Beer Barrel and then Rob and I had to get on the ferry and head home! It was quite a group, 2 realtors, 2 magistrates, a professor, a finance guru, a blue collar guy and a pastor! And I bet we had more fun than anyone else on that island! It was a great day! Despite about dying while running!

My first wedding

This past Saturday I was able to officiate my first wedding! I've known the groom for almost 20 years.  So I was happy to help them.  The first picture is the scenery at the wedding! The bride walked over the bridge for her processional. It was fun performing the ceremony! Learned some things about technicalities, overall it was a great experience.

The Big Day

Today was the big day! Two things happened! One Jourdyn's braces went on! She wasn't too excited about it! But it went well. The doctor said that her front teeth will move immediately! And by this evening, she was feeling it. In fact, she went to bed before 9 pm.  We haven't had the chance to snap a good picture of them.  She's a little self-conscious and I don't blame her! But she will get used to it soon!

There was a point that they had to put this thing in her mouth to hold her lips and cheeks away from her teeth.  I reached for my phone and she said "Don't you dare!" I said, "What? A mom can't take a picture?" I didn't take a picture and I wasn't going to, but I thought it was funny!

She loves the idea of colors. Her first colors today were yellow and green!

 Our second big day thing was Nadine's first cheerleading night! She did a fantastic job!

Cheerleading Camp

Nadine participated today in her first cheerleading camp! She had a ball! This was the biggest group of girls they've ever had.  So tomorrow night she will be cheering at the HS football game!

We are going to be putting her in gymnastics in October! We'll see how she likes it.  She wants to play soccer, so next spring we will sign her up! Rowan is going to start T-Ball as soon as possible. And we are looking for a new piano teacher for Jourdyn!



Caravan Round-Up

Well It's that season again, our church scouting programming is beginning! Last night our family went to the Caravan Round-up! The kids had a blast! Here's a video of some of their worship. They had a horse and buggy, cornhole, food, crafts and just lots of fun!

Me and my kids, as well as my friend Kathy and her daughter, Faith!!!



Canning

We have canned several times this year. I've done pickles and spaghetti sauce earlier. This weekend Rob and I did salsa!!! We made a mild and of course, our traditional hot salsa. 

On Friday, I went with the Rook's to the 15 yr Cedar Creek Celebration at the Huntington Center.  It was a great service and there were A LOT of people!  It is amazing to see how God has worked through Cedar Creek.  They have baptized nearly 3000 people in 15 years. I am so thankful that several of those were my friends!!!

Getting normal...

We are off to the normal school year. Rowan is adjusting to preschool. Nadine is settled into her 1st grade class.  And Jourdyn is I think still adjusting to 8th grade.  I think just about the time she's figured out junior high, she will be moving onto high school! I am still trying to establish a routine for the school year.

Jourdyn is getting braces next week.  She was really excited about it for a while and now she's a little concerned.  Her spacers went in this week.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds...

Mom and Jim headed home today and they took Mia with them! Nadine is a little sad.  Rowan was sad for a moment and then within minutes said "Mommy, I don't miss Mia anymore!"  Rob and I spent the day stopping at some garage sales, but first we went to the Toledo Art Museum to see The Psychedelic 60's.  It's all poster art from the 60's and 70's.  Rowan came with us and he liked it! Especially the black light room. 

I didn't get a good picture of this, but it's probably what it looked like after a hit or two of acid in the 60's!  Rowan wanted to reach out and touch them.  We also tried to see the mummy's but they are off exhibit until October 19th.  I did get to take some awesome pics outside the museum. 

Rowan loved having his picture taken by the pillars.  He was very excited about the architecture of the building.  This is the first time he has been to the museum that he will remember it.  It was very hard to keep him from touching things.  Last picture is my favorite! I love it!!! I also love the one above of him and daddy!

Last Weekend

This past weekend Rob, Julie, Evalee and me all worked the German American Festival.  We banded people as they came in. It was fun! And we got free tickets for the weekend!

Mandy and I also walked in the NW Ohio AIDS Walk on Saturday! It was a 5k! The weather was beautiful and we had lots of sunshine!!! We are coming into the 5K season.  I will be walking in October for the Toledo Memory Walk in memory of my grandmother.  Rob and I will be running the Put-in-Bay 5K at the end of September! We like fall walks/runs instead of summer ones.