Git er done...

Matthew's surgery date has been moved to the end of October. We knew he needed a few other procedures and we asked if we could combine them all at once.  The doctors thought this was a good idea too and we were able to find a new surgery date to put it all together.  It the words of Larry the cable guy - git er done!  Matt will now miss Halloween (our local trick or treating is on the actual day).  You don't tend to miss what you don't know about, but he is not one to ever miss candy :)  We will have to tag on to another community's earlier trick or treating.  He loves his new football uniform/halloween costume.  He religiously puts it on every time Robbie puts his on and takes it off when Ro gets home.  Unfortunately he also sticks it in the same stinky pile with Robbie's uniform...

                         

Matt Baptized!

We crowned this crazy busy week off with the best - Matthew's baptism!  

 

 

 

Homecoming 2013

Shelby had such a fun week.  Even though she didn't obtain that elusive ultimate grand supreme title (aka homecoming queen) unfortunately I have seen 1 too many Toddler and Tiara episodes), what a great time! After Monday's court announcements, all the kids on court had pictures taken for the football program on Tuesday.  There was a terrible weather forecast for Friday's night game, but thankfully the lightning  held off just until after halftime where we got to walk out her across the field.  Shelby wanted both her brothers included to walk her out - Robbie was the good brother and took one for the team.  We even heard lots of reports from the stands of the "sweet" little Asian boy who kicked the good big brother the whole time on the field. 

 

Ready for the dance

Senior girls!

Shelby and her escort Rob

Jeff and I got to dress up, too.  Parents got to attend the dance to see the kids announced and Jeff even got to dance with Shelby. 

 

no this isn't an ad for summa health...

Shelby was also the good sport and wore her fabulous band uniform

Jeff made an exception on his original promise to not dance again till his daughter's wedding

 

Escaped the rain at the football game
 

Mum to Royalty

It has certainly been a year of firsts for us this year and it keeps on going! I have been sitting on a secret all this past week- Shelby made it on homecoming court!  We are so excited for her!  The school had us submit baby pictures of her and  they showed the pictures at today's announcement assembly.  The kids didn't know they were on court until they saw their baby pictures go across the screen.  So thankful they included the parents to be a part of it.    Shelby tends to be on the quiet reflective side in a large group of people (don't know where she got that from - haha).  Even though she has gone to school with the same kids her whole life, people still ask "who's Shelby?"  Oh how I remember what that is like... So this is extra special for us.  Yay introverted people!!! And yay band geeks!! 

Her rise to fame and thrown us is a frenzy.  As the parents, we get to escort across the football field on Friday, we get to see her announced at the dance and Jeff gets to dance with at the dance, too.   Since Jeff's only suit is almost 20 years old and we are really strapped for time, we actually took Matthew and Robbie shopping with us tonight. Matt has had a huge day with a two hour doctor's appointment followed by Shelby's assembly and 3 small car naps - we were desperate people, but we lived to tell about it.  Jeff and his suit are now a part of the 21st century.  

Little miss introverted also spoke at all three church services on Sunday about her trip to Guatemala.  So proud of this girl and the adult she is becoming.  This is a tough year for this mom to watch her baby's "lasts" but its makes it a little easier when it's sprinkled with a some pretty cool "firsts".  

Homecoming Court

Pictures from her slide show...

Bringing up the rear to summer

Settling into the second fourth week of school (it's taking me forever to finish a blog post) and its finally allowing some time to blog.  This post will probably have a bunch of unrelated stuff, but crazy post better than no post??

First Day of School for the Big Kids

 

Robbie turned 12, started middle school this month and went to his first school dance.  Since we were camping for his actual birthday and he and Jeff got to go white water rafting while we camped in Pennsylvania.  I would say his best birthday thing to do was playing paint ball - since he hasn't spoke of anything else since...  They came home stinky sweaty and full of welts but with the biggest smiles across their faces. So far Robbie likes middle school and particularly likes catching a ride with his sister - don't get used to it, it's back to the bus next year!! 

Birthday boy

 

We have been doing a lot of camping this year and Matt seems to really like it, besides not wanting to go to bed on time  or sleep alone in his bed.  We have been to Mohican, West Branch, Ohio Pyle, East Harbor and Amish country.

Camping With cousins Wesley and Leland

 

This would have been a great picture - but Shelby had to work :(

Braving the water slide at East Harbor - Matt told us "more please" after he got off

Driving Papa's boat

 

 About a 1/2 hour into our trip to Ohio Pyle  in Pennsylvania - I started to notice the truck was starting to get kinda loud.  It just kept getting louder and louder.  As pulled more hills, we kept blowing out more pieces of our muffler.  It was early evening and I attempted to make phone calls on our route to see if we could have it looked at.  After awhile, it was just so loud we bust out laughing as each new chunk blew and we had to eventually accept that it couldn't be looked at till the next day.  I am sure if you were within 100 miles, you might have heard us - a Hemi with no muffler is hard not to notice.  Thankfully we reached the park and the staff directed us to a local - who we affectionately nicknamed as "cussword Larry".  Even though the kind hearted man  spewed strings of obscenities (but still called me "dear"??)- he worked on Saturday to fix our truck and charged us a 1/3 of what anyone else would have to fix it.  We are contemplating making the 4 four drive to have all our future truck repairs done with ol Larry.