Seven and Three...

So, yet another year has passed and this obviously is not truly a blog. I logged on because I posted a comment on someone's blog and realized I still had a picture of one our local squirrels as my profile picture. Life is about the same, only everyone is getting older! I am still teaching at Head Start and loving it. Nate is still at the mine and still loves his job more than any other job he has had. Our kids are typical, sweet as can be one minute and giving us a run for our money the next. Faith has excelled in school. We were a bit concerned at the beginning of the year, because she required extra reading help. We gladly took the help, but were still relieved when she passed her silly old "Dibbles." Brady loves all things boy: trucks, football, baseball, tractors, etc., etc. But, the great thing is, his sister has influenced him some and he is not afraid to dance or carry a baby doll around the house. His vocabulary keeps growing every day and he is no longer a baby. :( Well, I'm not sure if anyone is reading this, but it feels good to get it out there just in case!

Six and Two!

It is so hard to believe that our kids are already six- and two-years-old! Where has the time gone? I have been trying my best to cherish every moment!

How long has it been

As I have mentioned several times, I am not very good at this blogging thing. I should really make an effort, but I think my brain is slowly being numbed by Facebook. :)
So, Faith is going to be 6-years-old and Brady will be 2-years-old in a matter of weeks. It is so hard to believe. I am so thankful for the beautiful children that God allows me to call my own. Faith is doing well in school and is a bundle of giggles and make-believe. Brady's vocabulary grows every day. He is still talking in mostly two and three word sentences, but every once in a while, he squeaks a four-word ramble out. He is such a happy boy, which, if you would have told me that about two-years ago, when he cried sooo much more than Faith, I would have said, "No way!"
Nathan's job has been spared (so far) at the mine. I don't think much more than an hour goes by that I don't thank God. We are praying for his mercy every day! I sat down to dinner tonight with the family and thought, "God, thank you that we have enough food and that we have good food. Thank you that we are warm and that we can get to the places we need to go." I cannot remember ever feeling such a feeling of grattitude to Him for the simple things in life.

Some quick pictures....

Of course...Notre Dame

Ice Cream...Yum!

Loves to pose!

Nate's Work

Blog...Facebook...Blog...Facebook

Okay, so Facebook usually wins out before my blog. It is so funny, because once school starts back up again, ALL of this is going to be cut to a minimum. I keep thinking of the lunches to pack, the clothes to lay out, the bedtimes to meet. Gosh, I wish I could lay out all the outfits ahead of time for the whole month of September.
I am off to work next week for a couple of days. Not that I haven't been working. I have been working, but from home, contracted, and flexible. Right now, my biggest problem is helping Faith get the art bin down from the closet. Not like during the school year when we are running out the door with a piece of toast hanging out of one child's mouth and the other child crying because she can't find her "must-have-something" that she wanted to bring with for the day.
Anyway...enough about that. Other than the fear of the new school year, things are absolutely summerish around her (yes, I know that's not a word, my teacher friend). I have been enjoying the freedom of no schedule and no school.
I call my car the "beach car" right now, because I am so embarrassed at the state of disaster the hatch is in. I would post a picture, but my dad might never forgive me...He did raise me better than that. :) We have two strollers (yes, only one child needs a stroller in my family), a pack-n-play on some days, a booster seat, a bag full of beach clothes that need to come in to be laundered (didn't want it to clutter the house for any company that may stop by), and a plethora of buckets, cars, and anything else a mother may need when stopping at the beach, park, or grandma's house.
Nate is doing great at work. Training on a new job...Praying for a contract WITHOUT a strike (please pray with us). Faith is getting ready for school and especially loves the shopping part of that. And, Brady...well, he's Brady. Tonight went to bed with a scratch on his head and a scrape on his knee. Nothing new.
To anyone actually taking time to read this, I hope all is well with you! I will post pictures as soon as I can find my camera in the "beach car."
Better go, it is 40-something degrees outside and I think I hear the air conditioner running upstairs. Not very green of us, is it!?
HUGS to all!

Fireworks and a little time at the beach

We didn't spend a lot of time at the beach today, but we had fun. I needed to grocery shop, so we went to the beach for about an hour before the power shopping began!
As you can see, the kids were very tired on the way home! :) They went down like ANGELS tonight!
Everyone, except for Nate is going for hair cuts tomorrow. Afterwards, the three of us are heading out to camp for the night and to visit with our relatives from Canada. It should be fun! :) I must say, I sure like having summer off!!!!

Sad Day

We felt so great adopting a dog for our home, but have found out the hard way that it isn't always the best. We had to surrender Jacob this afternoon. His behavior was unpredictable this week and my worst nightmare came true...he bit my friend's little girl. Thank God he didn't break her skin, but it doesn't truly make me feel any better. My love for children far outweighs my love for a dog. I want all children to feel safe and secure when entering our home.
Needless to say, we hope he can find a better home. We loved him while we had him, but we weren't the right home for him.
I'm so grateful to Nathan for being so wonderful about brining him in and not showing regret for the choice. I am also just as grateful to my wonderful friend for being so understanding when her daughter was hurt.