CATCH UP TIME!!!:)

So, i thought I would give you some summer catch up pictures before I post the boys' party.:)

Here is the SWEET 4th of July shot I got. I LOVE dressing my kids up for the 4th!
Tyson's work gave us FREE tickets to a baseball game...we even had extra to invite some friends:)
I LOVE this! They are predisposition-ed to love Baseball!:)
HEre's a picture of a picture Tysons company did for everyone who went. Turned out awesome!

The couple on the left is who I did engagement pics for while hiding in the bushes..:)
LOTS of sleep overs!
snapped this when I walked into the kitchen and found that Max had put his shoes in his daddy's. blurry, but presh.
We had told the kids we would go visit the putt-putt place before school started..and we did!:) Cassie brought along her friend Sierra. They are GOOFY.
Can't beat em', so join em'.:)
We were able to house 2 OB students for a night while they were in town. The kids LOVED them SO much.
Cassie girl got baptized. She is such a sweet girl. I am loving who she is growing up to be! She loves the Lord and wants to follow his word so badly. I can totally see her as a missionary. LOVE HER.

Tyson got to be the one to baptize her and dad prayed. So special.

I don't get into very many pictures, but here I am!:) Love my girl!
We help mom and Dad pack and load their great big truck..not the best day ever. It's very weird to go to their house and it be empty. It's the only house my kids have ever known..:(
That sucker was FULL. with lots of cards....and furniture.:)
We braved a HUGE sleepover party last weekend.....Aeva had a friend....
Samantha had a friend....
and Cassie had 4. :) The boys' friend couldn't make it that night...but they always have a playmate anyway!:)

This was right before they walked over to the highschool for the 2nd half of the game( free to get in:)..they look WAY to old....sigh,
Well, that's my catch up pictures! Next up: the boys birthday bowling party!!!:)

This is our Aeva the week we met her. She was a chubby, happy 9 month old little girl with

a spunky attitude!:) The cutest little nose, round little cheeks, and beautiful brown eyes... we fell in love.

This is her today. 5 years old. She is a spunky, carefree, loving,crazy, opinionated,daring,full of life 5 yr old.

Man how we love her.

not sure why these are coming up as links...but they're not. :)

Emma! We love you SO much! Wish we could be there for your big party, but we are thinking about you and praying for you, big girl!

Love, Cassie, Sammie, Max, Mitch and Aeva!

Cassie is a joy to my heart.

I love this girl beyond words.

Thank you Lord for her heart, for her love of life and of people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihRmM0aVADU&feature=share

Need to be challenged with your priorities??

This will hit you right where you need it!

A blog I read is doing a give away for a $100 gift card to LEGO!

Go check it out at:

http://thelifeofsuz.blogspot.com/2012/07/reading-books-and-building-blocks.html

Yesterday was Aeva's birthday. We started out with out traditional birthday pancakes! :)Then went to the free movie at the theatre and then to the park for free lunch ( we love free:)

and then stayed at the park and played in the lake. We had alot of friends with us and it was a blast!
Aeva and her cute buddy Sienna. They are so adorable...even if she has a mouth full of cake!:)
A sweet moment between sisters.
CHEESE!
Playing with her new bubbles!
Beautiful chocolate faced 5 yr old!

Aeva, God has blessed us with you. You are funny, crazy and sweet. You like to be the leader and enjoy playing with friends and coloring. We pray as you grow older and older, you continue to choose to follow the Lord! Love, your mommy and daddy.

In case you wanted to see a few pictures of the house for sale, here you go! :)

Since Cassie was missing out of the last post, I thought I would show you what she has been up to this summer...and a little video of her concert...this is only after 2 weeks of lessons ( free lessons, BTW!)

It's all kinds of ridiculous how musical she is..

and she has really good time, which will help with ALL

instruments as well as dance...

and let me tell you, she has moves. :)

I love this girl!

Summertime.

Things I see this Summer:

1. a cute hat for 2$.....

2. Posers...

3. Sun-bleached hair and a tan....

4. Relaxing and Reading

5. these beautiful BROWN...

and CRAZY BLUE (un-edited) eyes....

6. FRECKLES...

7. Sun-kissed cheeks...

8. the occasional time-out..:(

9. lots of these...

10. this sweet little boy...even with some 'tude.

(again, the EYES!)

11. My newly planted flowers...

12. sleepy eyed faces..

13. that my kids are naturally athletic...

14. and FINALLY some landscaping around my house.

DID I SAY HOW MUCH I LOVE SUMMER????

Happy Father's Day to the man who drives me.....to LOVE more deeply.....

to TRUST more fully....

to TEARS with frustration,

to LAUGHTER like I've never laughed before....

to FOLLOW hard after JESUS....

to BELIEVE in the strength and power of an ALMIGHTY GOD..

and hopefully( Lord willing) to CALIFORNIA next year. :)

I love you, Slim Shady.

So, i had a lot of firsts in the past Week.

Number One:

First time to hide in the bushes and take pictures of a proposal.

It was awesome! I felt like...a secret agent or something!

Congrats to you two!

Number Two:

First time I've ever had a child graduate from Preschool.

Not because they weren't smart enough, but because this is the first

one we have put in preschool! :)

She ADORED Mrs. Justice and

will miss her a lot next year.

You cannot help but get teary when your youngest

is wearing an outfit BOTH of her older sister's have worn..

sigh. I wonder who will wear it next? :)

Number Three:

First time walking through " LITTLE ITALY" in Ohio.

It was an adorable few blocks of goodness.

And Caden loved it. :)

Number 4:

First time walking through

the Market in Cleveland.

It was pretty fun!

The kids loved seeing all the fresh foods you

can buy.

Number 5:

First time attending a good-bye party for my sister.

It was a good time with all her friends out there in Ohio.

I just LOVE this little boy. A LOT.

Number 6:

First time my kids have ever had to say goodbye to

their only family they have ever had close.

First time I have had to say goodbye to my best friend/sister

for such a long period of time.

It was not fun, despite the smiles.

I was very weepy all the way home.

The reality that we will be the only family out here in the midwest

has hit me like a ton of bricks. And my oldest too.

I would look over every now and again all day and she would

be crying, saying, " I just can't make it mom. I can't make it here without them."

Oh my daughter, I KNOW exactly how you feel!

BUT GOD. He WILL get us through this, because we KNOW we are in HIS will.

During one of the times in Ohio, I happened to be the only one in my van. ( you become very unpopular when there are Aunts and Uncles to ride with, even to your husband! :)

As I was driving and sobbing, The Lord spoke to me through a song.

http://youtu.be/79055I6o-NQ

"All of my life, in every season, you are still God and I have a reason to sing.

I have a reason to worship."

That is my prayer, that through this season of my life, I will bring Praise and Worship to the only

one who deserves it.

Along with that, my Sis-in-love sent me a link tonight from Beth Moore's blog...oh such goodness.

And SO something I needed to hear, right now. Tonight.

http://blog.lproof.org/2012/06/anybody-get-a-word.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LPMblog+%28LPMblog%29

To quote one of the parts that stood out to me, although ALL of it was perfect for where I am,

"Isn’t that the way it goes? It is only in a season like this that I get what I constantly beg God for: an intense relationship with Him where I can sense His Presence and where His Word is life and breath to me. Where the Cross is so much dearer. Where His Spirit seems much nearer. Where I love Him more than anything I can see or touch. That glorious place of the thinning veil."

I'm begging God.