My neices

Ohio

A few hours ago we returned from a trip out to Columbus to visit my brother and his family.  We had a great time hanging together.  It is fun to see the kids enjoy each other and build their relationship as cousins. I've got more pics to post, but wanted to do a few quick ones.
We celebrated Morgan's birthday on Thursday.  More to come on that.  Here is my favorite 9 year old.

I don't think I have laughed this hard in a long time.  We were finishing up supper and getting ready to open presents and have cake for Morgan's b-day.  Mealtime is obviously a chaotic time with 7 kids.  I kept hearing this really loud music and hollered over to the kids to turn the tv off.  Claudia informed me that the tv was not on.  I though nothing of it and kept on cleaning up.  I kept hearing the music and it seemed to be getting louder.  I finally went to investigate and looked into Avery's room and here was Drew, perched up on top of the dresser, music BLARING.  He was smiling and jamming to Prince, "When Doves Cry."  I ran and got my camera and we laughed so hard at him.  He was obviously enjoying the attention.  Who knows how the kid figured out how to turn the radio on AND find a jammin' Prince song.

All the kids in the woods behind their house.  Even though half are not smiling, I think this is the best one of all of their faces.  I'm not sure who/what they are all looking at!!

A bit of a happier one.

Upgrade

If you have seen my husband's car in the last 10 years, you know that as soon as he got it, he was in need of an upgrade.  He has gotten much ribbing about his car over the years.  Many nicknames and teasing.  He's been driving a '96 Ford Aspire.  It's a fine little car, but not really build for a man who is 6'2.  The great thing about the car was that he got it really cheap and it got really, really good gas mileage.  He has put tons of miles on that car over the years and we really haven't had to put much money into it.  So, though it's been ugly and small, it's served us well.
This last year the poor little Aspire has gone downhill quickly.  I know nothing about cars, but it made all kinds of weird noises and the last 2 months it's been leaving a lake of oil on the garage floor.  So my dear husband has finally gotten an upgrade.  When we were first dating, he had a cool little Mazda pickup truck.  At the core, my husband really is a pickup kind of guy.  It just suits him.  He was very drawn to them again in thinking about getting another vehicle, but we agreed that it's really not a family vehicle, esp. if there was no extended cab.  I told him maybe he can get his truck when it's time for the next upgrade??
So enter the upgrade.  We have gone with another Toyota, he got an '02 Camry.  It had high miles but seems like it will be a great car for him.
Here's one last look the the Aspire

Not sure how the hood of his car got to look like this

About 2 years ago, I did this little number to the front when I slid on the ice and hit a fence.  Less than a mile from home, mind you.

The Aspire, in all it's full length beauty.

This was Steve driving away the morning he was getting his car.  All the kids came out to say goodbye to it.

Hello, new wheels.

The rest of camping

Sad face

Happy face

Ever since I was a kid, my dad was challenging us to be able to eat a whole powdered donut without licking our lips.  I think Morgan did it.

Every year we go camping, this same old green Ford is there.  Last year Aaron refused to get his picture taken by it.  He remembered that last year G-pa bribed him if he stood by it he would get a treat.  He did it right away this time!

G-pa was in the van jamming to his gospel tunes and Greta was a bit fascinated by the music.

Greta enjoyed getting a lotion rub from G-ma.

The "Angry Birds" craze has finally caught on in our house.  One night I couldn't sleep and found myself playing on the porch of our cabin for an hour and a half.  Now I'm addicted.

Supper.  So yummy.

Dirtball

Greta loved the sweet smelling lotion

Tired, swimming boy

Greta was very friendly to all the dogs at the campground

The kids loved these paintbrush lollipops from the camp store.

Night and Day

Last night I took the kids to see "Charlotte's Web".  Claudia's very close friend played Charlotte (way to go, Rachel, you did an amazing job!!) and they were all very excited to go.  Anyway, a few things happened as we were getting ready that cracked me up and I just wanted to write them down.

At first glance, my older 2 girls seem similar.  They are both social, love to learn and read, be active, adore their younger siblings, etc.  But other than those basic interests, they are so completely different from the core, it often fascinates me that they came from the same place.

*I had taken an afternoon nap and after waking, Claudia had already showered and was drying her hair (w/out being told to do that).  Says to me, "Don't you think Morgan should take a shower?"  Morgan on the other hand, would never shower unless told.
*The girls are upstairs getting dressed.  Claudia comes down and says, "Mom, please tell Morgan to stop teasing me about wearing a dress to the play."
*A few moments later, Morgan comes down and says, "Mom, please tell Claudia to stop bugging me that I should wear a dress to the show."
*Morgan and I are in the bathroom and I'm trying to make order of her stringy, knotty hair.  She sees me grab the curling iron and groans, "Mom, please don't curl my hair."
*Soon to leave and Claudia says to me, "Mom, can you please curl my hair before we leave?"
*Claudia says to Morgan, "I have some lip gloss if you want to borrow it."  Morgan responds, "Uh, no thanks."

This is only one small example of how I see them being different, but it just made me laugh at how pronounced it was in that 10 minute time frame yesterday.
I opened up my photos to get a picture of the 2 of them and saw these from 2005.  My, how they have grown!!

Splitting Wood

Morgan was very into helping my dad split wood while we were camping.  She's so funny to me...she loves all things manual labor.
P.S.  She did not inherit that trait from her mother.

I love the expression change on my dad's face from this picture to the next.  Here he's wondering if he's gonna loose a finger.  Next shot, clearly relieved.

Dear Daddy

Most days either Aaron or Greta is in a "missing daddy" mood.  Numerous times throughout the day they are saying how much they miss daddy.  Sometimes I will have Aaron send daddy an e-mail.  This was from yesterday, word-for-word from him:

I love you.  I love to play with you.  I love to snuggle with you.  And I like to run behind you when you are doing the lawn mower.  And I like to play with you.  I like to go out for breakfast.  I am done.

Aaron.