Pumpkin Carving

Michael concentrating on his creation. I love the face he is making below - that is so Michael right now. I see that face often.

Emiliy is concentrating - see her tongue. When she is working hard on something her tongue sticks out. Doug says that must be hereditary - as Grandma Netherton does the same thing :)

Yuck! Michael did not want to stick his hand in his pumpkin.

Tonight the kids carved their pumpkins. When I say the kids did it - I really mean they did it. I helped Micael clean his out - as he does not like getting dirty - but other than that they did it on their own. They drew & cut using the pumpkin carving knives and a kid safe cutter from pampered chef. Wow! My kids are really growing up. I guess I will have to buy my own pumpkin next year so I can actually carve a pumpkin. Both kids think it is sad that I did not get to carve a pumpkin when I was a kid.

Brown County Camping

Here are some pictures of Doug camping with the kids. The kids collected hickory nuts, played in the leaves, road bikes, hiked, went to two different talks at the nature center, walked in a dried up creek bed - and built a bridge out of fallen limbs. They were also COLD as it was below 30 in the AM and did not get very warm during the day.

Michael being silly

Michael was supposed to be pakcing for our camping trip. He was getting into his top drawer, which until this year was used to store things. In it was a few baby outfits that I had wanted to save. He decided to try to see if they would fit - and surprisingly he got it on.

Wow! Go Razorbacks!

Of course, getting it off was a challenge. Luckily he did not tear any seams. He then tried on a pair of overalls - which did not fit as well.

Funny! Boys will be boys!

HSM 3

I took the kids to see High School Musical 3 this afternoon. I enjoyed it just as much as the kids. If you have seen the other two movies - it is worth seeing. If you have not seen HSM or HSM2 and you enjoy musicals, I would recommend them. I am so happy that kids are getting so excited about movies that are clean - have no sex/drugs/violence/bad language/. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a new type of movies being made - clean family movies. What a novel idea :)

Fall break?

I have been having parent teacher conferences since Wednesday night. I have three more today and then I will be done. The kids had a 1/2 day yesterday and no school today. They are off again on Monday and Tuesday - but the teachers are in Indianapolis for teachers' conference. I keep getting asked what I am doing for fall break. What fall break? I had 10 conferences on Wed. evening, 7 conferences yesterday & 3 conferences today.

At least the kids and I are doing something fun today - going to see High School MUsical 3 that opens today. We are going to the 2:30 showing - which should have meant I saved money as it was a matine. Well, I bought the tickets on line so we would for sure get them and there went my savings. Oh well.

Tomorrow it is off to the Haunted Woods with the cub scouts. It is a whole family thing, so it should be a good time.

ON Sunday we have a big circut wide Reformation service at our church at 3:00 in the PM. We are playing some awesome handbell/choir pieces. One has brass, choir, organ, and handbells & the other has handbells, strings & choir.

We are heading up to Brown County after that gets over & Doug and the kids are camping for the kids fall break. This is good as we only got the camper out once recently. I will get picked up at the exit on Monday morning to head to Indy for the conference. I guess my break consists of being at a camp ground for about 15 hours or so.

Well, I am just about off to conferences for the day. Emily & Michael are going over to a friend's house to play. It is a new student that I have in my class. They have a menagerie of animals - so it should be interesting to hear stories. They have lizards, crabs, snakes, fish, crickets, turtles, and 2 dogs - all in one house.

posts updated

check out previous posts as I have updated them with pictures. Check them out.

Trick or Treat at the Zoo

Outside the zoo
all the kids from our Christ Care group ready to trick or treat at the zoo
Michael with Batman and Batwoman
Pirate trick or treaters
Emily and Micael on the train

On Friday night we went trick or treating at the zoo with our Christ Care group. It was a fun time to be together and get some treats. Michael was a baseball player, Emily was a green m&m, I was an asian woman and Doug was an umpire.

American Girl Fashion Show

Madisen, Lilly, Hannah & Emily with thier dolls before the fashion show
Samantha getting her hair done
Hannah, Lilly, Madisen, & Emily posing with their dolls
Emily outside Millionaires Row at Churchill Downs

Last Sunday afternoon the girls from our Christ Care group attended the American Girl Fashion Show. It was at Churchill Downs - in Millionares Row. What an awesome setting. The girls got to see fashions for girls & dolls, featuring girls dressed as the American Girl dolls. The show was to benefit the neonatal intensive care unit of Cosair's Hospital. We had a good time with out daughters. Emily has been to three of these fashion shows now (3 years in a row) and although she is not really into playing with her dolls (she dresses them and does fashion shows now) she wants to go again next year.

Fall Festival & ballgame

Waiting to bat
Shaking hands after the game.
Abbie, Julie & Emily at the fall festival

Last weekend we had the fall festival and a ballgame for Michael. After both of those things we headed over to the Francik's house for Ben's 5th birthday. It was a busy but fun day.

Pumpkin Patch

On October 5th we headed out to the pumpkin patch. The kids enjoyed picking out their pumpkins, riding on the tractor trailer to the patch, feeding ducks, launching pumpkins into a field using a large slingshot, and taking their annual fall pictures.

sports

The OSL Volleyball team before the tournament
some of the volleyball players enjoying the new playground before the game
Emily & Hali - the two 5th grade volleyball players

Well, volleyball is over for the year as of Saturday. Now basketball begins. Emily had practice on Monday & she will have another today. Never a dull moment. Michael has this week of fall baseball & then will be over until intermural basketball later in the winter.

Of course there is always Soap Box Derby. We will be headed to Bowling Green Nov. 1 for a race with both kids. Michael is excited and so is Emily! Just hope they don't have to race against themselves. If they do - it will be very interesting to see what happens.

pictures

I took quite a few pictures in St. LOuis, at the volleyball tournament & Doug took some at the soap box race. I will put them on my blog after I make room on the computer. The memory is filled up - and I need to burn some CD's with pictures so I can put the new ones onto the computer. Be watcing for pictures in the near future.

Soap Box Derby

Michael in his car
Michael and his two trophies
Hey, what hapened over there?

On Saturday Micahel and Doug headed down to Bowling Green for a Soap Box Derby. There was a single elimination race in the PM and a double elimination race in the AM. After a mechanical problem with Michael's car, he raced well and got 7th place in the AM and 6th place in the PM. He came home with 2 trophies. He was psyched. He enjoyed the day with daddy as well as getting the chance to race :)

Both kids are going back on Nov. 1 for a double & single elimination race. Hopefully they will not have to race against eachother.

volleyball tournament

On Saturday the OSL Panthers hosted a Volleyball tournament. The girls were all psyched. They spray painted their hair with neon colors. They played well and won 2 games out of 3 in the "pool play". Then they lost their first game in the single elimination part. Thus, they were 2 & 2 on Saturday. It was a good way to end the season, they would have loved to do better in the tournament - but there is always next year. They are a young team - 1 8th grader, 1 7th grader, 4 6th graders & 2 5th graders. I am sure we will do much better next year.

Weekend in St. Louis

Emily in front of the sand sculpture on the Arch grounds
Emily getting autographs
Michael getting autographs

Emily playing down by the river. She enjoyed writing in the sand.

In St. Louis we enjoyed our baseball game & the kid's crew party. Michael got 4 autographs & Emily got 3. Both kids enjoyed a festival on the Arch grounds - Michael did a little bit also, but did not get to take in as much as he went to the baseball game early with Doug. He did not get any autographs before the game, but did get a ball.

We wondered if we were going to get off for the weekend. On Thursday night Doug realized the lights on the camper were not working. He ended up wiring up some battery powered lights that were magnetic. Then he got a flat tire on the camper while driving it to work (he hooked it up on Thursday evening so we did not have to do it on Friday). He got that changed and we thought we were good. Then, when we pulled into the campground and started setting up the camper - a cable on the camper snapped. So - it was a trip to Walmart at 9:00 St. LOuis time (10:00 our time) to get a new cable so he could put the camper. We got it up and all things set up around 10:00 St. Louis time.

Then on Sunday we headed out so we could worship at Aunt Dawn's church. They had an outdoor service on Sunday, so we were ready - even had our camping chairs along & needed them. It was a fun service. The kids enjoyed running around with Leyna for a little bit after Church & Doug even helped take down a screen they had made.

It was a wonderful weekend! The kid's crew party & game along with the Arch festival (and a parade we happened to catch the end of) all made for a fun time! Emily even cheered for the Cardinals at appropriate times :) We decided that if she did not have to go to as many games, she could handle 1 game :)

Weekend Fun

I am starting off by saying, I had posted this already, and then realized I put it on Michael's blog instead of mine. So, here I go again.

We are heading to St. Louis today after school/work for a weekend of Cardinal games. We are camping tonight and then will head to the stadium on Saturday morning. They have the Cardinal Kids Crew party. It is a time for the kids to get autographs and have fun in the stadium. Then we also have tickets for the game that evening.

Kind of neat that Doug and Micahel started out the season (or tried to) and then are there for the closing weekend of the season at home.

We are going to Dawn & Craig's church on Sunday, and then will head back after eating lunch. Doug had wanted to go to Sunday's game (hinted around quite a bit) but I did not want to get back so late on Sunday. I have way too much coming up in October.

Should be a fun weekend. I pray for good weather and a winning game for the Cardinals.

Volleyball Game

Emily had a home volleyball game last night. She got two good bumps over the net :) She did have the chance of serving last night, and did not get it over. But, she has been getting some over in practice. It will come with time. They won both games - the 2nd one was very exciting. They won 29 - 27. Wow!

magazine sales update

Right now the kids each have 9 magazines sold. Our goal is to get to 24 (12 for each). They are taking a trip to Doug's work tomorrow after school. Hopefully they will get a lot sold so they can earn their Limo trip.

extra orthodontist visit

Today I had to take Michael to Indiana to visit the orthodontist. His wire had come loose and was poking him in his cheek. thus, it was an emergency visit. It took about 30 min. to get there since he was in New Albany and then it took about 30 minutes to get back to school. What fun! At least he was able to get it fixed quickly. Emily goes to the ortho. on Thursday. Will see what they do to her bottom jaw. We ahve been turning her appliance, and are out of turning room. I am guessing they will get ready to do braces on the bottom.

Her top smile is amazing. I compared school pictures with the ones Doug took 1 1/2 years ago for our anniversary. The difference is amazing! She has a beautiful smile now. Once she gets the top fixed it will be even better. Right now I would say she may not have to have a 2nd set of braces (that is what I say - not the ortho).

Gattiland & movie night

Tonight the kids and I went ot Gattiland for dinner. We had pizza, salad & pasta at their buffet. Then the kids played games in the arcade. They had a good time and each earned tickets for prizes. Now we are sitting down to watch a movie - College Road Trip. The work will begin tomorrow - cleaning the house. I told the kids that if we relaxed tonight we would have to work tomorrow. will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

busy week

This week is another busy week. Although it is just a 4 day week of school, we have had a baseball game & volleyball practice last night (after I had Bible Study), a volleyball game tonight, and a volleyball game tomorrow night. In addition tomorrow we had homework and magazine sales (phone calls & the time to fill out order forms).

This weekend will be just as busy. Doug is going on the men's retreat on Friday & Saturday. Must be the time for that, as Jamie is going on a women's retreat this weekend also :) The kids and I have to clean up the house & get the yard straightened up the rest of the way, as on Sunday we have Christ Care at our house.

Although this week is busy, it seems like every week is busy right now. With both kids playing a sport and both kids getting older (more homework) it seems each day is very hectic. It is fun, but hectic. It won't get much better though, as after baseball and volleyball both kids will begin basketball.

magazine sales

The kids began magazine sales today. Doug and I filled out orders tonight, as if the kids brought back 4 orders tomorrow they would get to attend a BMX bike racing team show next week Thursday. Relatives be ready for a call. Be thinking of what you would like to renew.

back to school

We are back to school tomorrow, as we have power. There are 200,000 without power and many traffic lights are out around town, so it will be interesting to see when kids arrive in the morning. Hopefully they will arrive close to the beginning of the day. I called all of them today - got ahold of some, and left messages with some. I tried home & cell numbers before I reached many of them, due to their home phone being out. Others were reached at home, but their cell # was not working.

They say it will be 10 - 14 days before power is restored to all. I prasie the Lord for our power.

soap box derby racing

Daddy and Micael working on his car
Michael carrying his car - it does not have any extra weights in it so he is able to carry it. With weights he is not able to move it.
Emily is ready to race.

One, two, three, go - and then they let them go!

Michael racing down the road.
Michael was very proud of his participation award.

On Saturday we had both kids participate in a soap box derby race. Michael was able to rent a car to try out racing. Doug had to really give the car an overhaul - as it was in pretty rough shape. He and Michael enjoyed working on it - Emily helped some too. Of course, at the end of the day it was difficult for Michael to leave the car there and not bring it home.



Both kids got a participation plaque. Neither placed in the 1st race - a double elimination race. Emily got 4th place in the 2nd race - a single elimination race. They both had run and earned some rally points.

fall baseball

Michael has enjoyed playing baseball this fall. He was supposed to have practice yesterday, but due to the windstorm it was cancelled. He was bummed about it, but understood why when he saw all the branches and limbs down. He has a game tomorrow as well as Saturday. He is #5 which he thinks is great!

volleyball pictures

Emily is one of 7 players on the volleyball team at school. She is the only 5th grader, so is not getting lots of playing time, but she is improving. I am very proud of her - she has come home from practice and games saying she is loving it. Wow!

She was supposed to have a game tonight, but since we did not have school it was cancelled. She has one on Wednesday and Thursday. She has practice tomorrow so hopefully that will get her back into things.

wind storm

Yesterday we were hit with the wind connected with hurricane Ike. We had 75 - 80 mph winds for around 5 hours. From around 11:00 - 4:00. Wow! It sounded awful and I was afraid we would have some damage. We only had a few small limbs down. It is a good thing we cut down two trees a few weeks ago - otherwise the one would have likely been blown over the way it was leaning.

We do not have school today as 300,000 people were without power, and over 3,000 powerlines are down around town. They said it was worse that a huge tornado that went through in the 70's. Doug drove to the new store last night and he said it eerie. The traffic lights were out on the highway in many places as well as stop lights being out. Whole areas of town were dark.

17 hours

Michael slept for 17 hours on Saturday. He had a sleep over on Friday night. It was for a friend's birthday. They swam & swam on Friday night, as well as Saturday morning. Then, when I picked him up, we went to a little league game (fall ball). He was very tired - did not move much on the field. He even walked to his position, instead of running like he usually does. Then we grabbed some lunch and went to school for Emily to practice serving. We got home around 2:00 and he went to bed. He did not wake up until 7:10 on Sunday morning. Wow! I wish i could sleep for 17 hours straight :)

1st volleyball game

Emily had her 1st volleyball game on Tuesday night. They won two of the games (they play best 2 out of 3) so they won the set. Emily played just a short bit in the 1st game, and that is the game that I was able to see.

Emily's second game was last night. They ended up playing 6 games - two sets, as they played the JV and Varsity team. Emily's team has only 7 girls, so the other girls got lots of playing time. Emily was in for only a short time, as she is the only 5th grader, and she is playing for the 1st time. Hopefully she will play more in the future, she was kind of bummed that she did not play much.

We are going over the school tomorrow to practice serving & playing. Hopefully that will help give her more confidence. She was not able to be at the last 2 practices, due to her foot surgery.

She is enjoying it though. It is great to see her finally enjoy a sport :) I will post pictures later.