Last day of summer vacation...

School starts tomorrow. We go to meet the teacher this afternoon and meet the new principal at Aidan's school. I am happy about that because the new principal goes to our church! Anyway, otherwise I am a bit sad to see them go back. Lots to do this week, B will be out entertaining, school starts tomorrow, B's sister comes in for a long Labor Day weekend visit. During her visit, B will have a few days off then heads to Michigan to conduct some interviews for a new plant manager for the Michigan plant. That week also is the start of flag football and the following week we start swimming lessons. Not sure if and when scouts is going to fit into this equation. Need to get B to make some calls about that. The school year gets us into high gear for the fall. Not sure if Mommy is ready.

A boy...

and his first fish. Enough said.

I am working on pictures yet again. I have also not had very much time to sit down and collect my thoughts. Feeling very scattered these days as we get ready for school. School starts Tuesday. Say some prayers for a good school year.

My latest creation...

I have finished my latest cross-stitch project. This pattern was originally intended to be stitched onto a sweatshirt, but I was concerned what regular washing would do to the stitching. I also had concerns about the red bleeding onto the shirt and other colors. So, I bought this little bag at Hobby Lobby and decorated it. I think it turned out pretty well. I think I am going to be a bit selfish and keep this one for myself. It will be a great little bag to tote my things to craft night or to carry my books for bible study. By the way, this project only cost me $5.50! $3.00 for the bag and $2.50 for the pattern that I found years ago in a craft store sale bin. Cute! Have a great and crafty Sunday everyone! We have a babysitter this afternoon so that B and I can head out for a date dinner. Tomorrow is our 13th anniversary! I am taking my honey to a fondue place in Appleton. I have been with some girlfriends before, but B has not been so I thought it would be a nice change of pace for us. Early evening though as he has to work in the morning. Either way it will be a nice evening I hope.

Zoo trip...

Last week Ainsley and I made our big trip for the weekend to the Milwaukee County Zoo with a good friend of mine and her family. We have been trying to plan a trip to the zoo with them all summer, but as it turns out when they were free we were busy and when we were busy they were free. Finally, I just told her that Ainsley and I were going to need an outing this weekend and if they were interested in going with just the 2 of us then we would be happy to have the company. The nice thing was they have a mini-van so we just loaded in and went. It was great to let someone else drive!

This was Ainsley's favorite animal of the day. When we came across this chimp, he was laying on this log using straw as a blanket. Ainsley thought he was the cutest and funniest thing around.

To wrap up our visit we let the kids ride on the train. The little train makes a nice loop of the zoo. The kids were all hot and tired at this point and enjoyed the ride.

Ainsley giraffe. What more can I say!

Distance makes the heart grow fonder...

I think they missed each other. What do you think? I will post more soon. I am always saying that, but I need to work on the pictures from the girls adventures we had this week. I am sure we will post some of the more memorable boys adventures as well.

Aidan is eating his "Greens"

I check my e-mail yesterday afternoon and this is what I find peering back at me. B says Aidan was eating his "vegetables". Some vegetables. Lord knows what my in-laws and hubby are feeding my child. I am definitely going to have some serious damage control to do when they get back next week. Not sure what Ainsley and I are going to do today. Ainsley has 4K orientation late this afternoon and I have to get the yard cleaned up a bit for the guys who are going to mow this week since B could not get to it before he left. I will get something on the plans this morning though. Off to watch Sesame with Ainsley.

Too quiet on the lakeshore..

I took my boys to the airport bright and early this morning. As I write this they are in a car with my in-laws and headed from Denver to Lake City Colorado. They will be gone a week. My house is already too quiet. I am used to B being away as he travels for work. I am not used to my boy being away. He will be gone until next Tuesday. I will miss them both so!

Rhonda...

B's cousin Rhonda called early early this morning to let us know she is in the hospital with appendicitis. Her friends took her to the ER last night with abdominal pain. She called because her parents went out of town yesterday and she wanted to get a hold of her Aunt and Uncle, B's parents. Unfortunately I had to tell her that they were out of town too. I gave her their phone numbers but I am not sure how much cell service they actually get where they are staying. So I made the round of calls this morning passing the message along to other family members in Texas and the hubs at his office. I feel badly that I can't do anything for her other than pray. I am asking my prayerful friends to pray along with me this morning as her surgery should be this morning before noon. One consolation I have is that her brother and his family are in town with her helping out with her children. Thanks everyone!

Our News...

Last week B went for an overnight trip to Cleveland. I was very stressed about this trip as he was headed there for a job interview. We had our concerns about potentially getting this job as it would mean more travel and later hours for my hubby. He is in a position where he is expected to show interest in higher level positions even if we are not neccessarily interested in moving. Needless to say, B did not get the job and we will be staying right where we are. I think B is a bit disappointed about not getting the job, but happy that he will get to stay in his current job as well. How torn he was makes me think that God hasn't finished with us right where we are quite yet. His current position, even though it does require travel, fits our family very well. We are very happy that we will be able to stay. Now I can continue making plans for the start of the school year! A big weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

On another note, Aidan lost his second tooth this morning. B tried to help him out a bit yesterday by tying a piece of dental floss to his tooth and pulling. Aidan bled a ton and I think it scared him so they left it alone. This morning Aidan worked it out all by himself. I am so glad because the new tooth once again already coming in. This morning he also tells me that his top teeth are loose. I think we are going to have school pictures with top teeth missing at this rate!

A week of playing catch up...

My in-laws left on Monday. I have since spent my week playing catch up and trying to get things done while my kiddos have been enjoying VBS in the mornings. B has been out of pocket most of this week. He was actually home yesterday and we spent the evening getting the boys hair cuts. Today he leaves for Cleveland for an overnight.

I will have more news to post next week I think. But for now I will leave you with some photos from our trip to the EAA Airventure Airshow we visited with the in-laws last week. The airshow is not my thing really and the kids got bored after a little while of sitting, but the most impressive thing was getting to see the new Airbus. That plane is huge and takes of at the most amazing angle I have ever seen. No need for a long runway there.

Ainsley posing for Aidan to take her picture.
The kiddos and I sharing a chair. I don't usually take the stroller for Ainsley anywhere anymore, but I am sure glad it was in the car for me to use on this day. I think we walked about 2 miles to get from parking to the actual venue. Seriously, I wasn't sure the kids were going to make it.

This picture just turned out cool. The C-5M was open while they were setting up to be towed and the other planes just happened to fly by.

Big goings on around here this week. I hope I will be able to post more info soon.