~2nds and 3rds~

We enjoyed another beautiful hot summer day at the track!

We had a little mishap on the hour drive to the track... one of the cars fell off the pit cart in the trailer. The fiberglass frame was damaged but, thankfully, nothing bad enough to stop Aaron from racing.

All four boys placed in either 2nd or 3rd... and they did great!

~July Update~

I haven't been online much because I started panicking when we hid mid July. I took a week off of life (thankfully my ear is all better!) and we had Bible School... we are only a few weeks away from school and I still had a huge list I wanted to get to before school!

Lets see if I can remember some of our recent happenings...

The weather the last two weeks was really hot. The chickens found relief from the heat beside the house in the mulch. Our little peeps sure have grown!

We enjoyed our week of VBS. Jordan helped with the puppets this year! We always have a pie in the face contest.... boys vs girls. It is based on the weight of their pennies for the night. This year the girls won!

One night while the boys and I were at VBS, Gregg and Kiersten went to visit an older couple from our church. They had a great visit and Kiersten picked these flowers.

Kiersten got her cast off! The doctor said her elbow may be stiff for a few days... nope... not even an hour. She was moving it fine in no time. She did have a rash on her arm but didn't seem too bothered by it.

Here are some of our puppets. The stage was a big submarine with portholes for the puppets to come out of. It was very well done.

I took Aaron to his first Orthodontic appointment. I dropped the rest of the kids off with my mom and they enjoyed some swimming and wii. Aaron and I brought lunch back and joined in the fun.

We have a busy weekend coming up, I have just about finished Kiersten's Christmas doll, and I finished another two books!

~2 Hot 2 Race~

The temp at the track was 103!

We received an email early in the week asking the parents what they thought about racing in the high heat. Most families said they would... I said they were crazy!

I stayed home with Nathan and Kiersten. I packed 5 gallons of water for the boys and a bunch of Gatorade. They took two canopies to try to keep out of the sun. One of the moms explained the dangers of being in the heat and what to look for in someone that may be getting sick. As far as we know, every one at the track stayed hydrated.

It wasn't the best day for us race wise, but the boys said the heat really made it not fun. I think next time they would vote to cancel.

Aaron was my photographer and Gregg shared the video camera with the boys... they missed me:0)

~36 Sandwiches and 4 Gallons of Water~

We packed up the gang and a young friend this week to head to the track. The boys did very well again... three came in 1st and two in 3rd. There was one flip this week but no one was hurt. The track was probably more dusty than I've ever seen it... meaning we were a dirty mess! We ended the night going to a local town's anniversary celebration... fireworks!

The boys can sure eat a lot on these hot summer race days. I think we only had 4 sandwiches leftover!

~My Sick Buddy~

I thought I was feeling better yesterday so I tried catching up on cleaning and laundry. I'm not doing so well today. Still have those body aches, sore throat and swollen glands. I wonder what kind of bug I caught?!?!? Even if it takes me family a week to get over something I normally throw it after 24 hours so this is unusual for me.

Gregg thinks I should go to the doctor... I guess he thinks it is odd for me to sleep 12+ hours a day, not cook or clean, and stay snuggled in the recliner all day. I was thinking about letting the kids watch all 9 hours of Ann of Green Gables today. I sent them outside instead. I feel more achy & tired than anything... so, I'm not doing too bad.

Maybe I'll hold out one more day to go see what the doctor has to say. This is as close to a vacation as I'll be getting this year... I might as well enjoy it!

Poor Nathan woke up with a fever this morning. So, whatever it is... it's catchy!

~Crafting for Christmas~

I have started working on Kiersten's Christmas doll. She will receive a cradle (that I found at a yard sale!) for all her doll stuff, a doll, some clothes and blankets.

I have the first blanket done!

I have been crocheting this here and there and was surprised how quickly it came together. I really like the design the yarn made! I also learned a new edge to put on it! I really like it! She does too! Now I have to tie in the ends and hide it!!!

~Blessings from the Sick Bed~

I have put myself on the couch for the rest of the day. I was exhausted from being out in the sun on Saturday and just thought I needed a good nights sleep... I was freezing in church and thought I just needed a sweater... I didn't even fix my family lunch but went straight to bed thinking I only needed a nap...

It turns out I woke up this morning with a major sore throat, swollen glands and a fever. UGH!

I had volunteered to clean the church this morning for a funeral service tomorrow. Thankfully, the boys do a lot of it. By the time I got the bathrooms done they were done with the rest.

So, as I rest with blanket, fan and ice water... the list continues...

#423 - 441

A good time going door to door raising money for cancer. Our quarter midget group works with the American Cancer Society and raises money once a year.

Finishing a baby doll crochet blanket

Starting to sew a baby doll
A verse in devotions that gives strength

More door to door. This time we are inviting children out to VBS!

Finishing the Objectives for the 2011/2012 school year

A family that goes along with my idea of fun... dressing like cows for a free meal! (Jared really wasn't upset... he just didn't know she was going to take the picture right then and didn't want to stand there smiling forever:0)A computer that is finally fixed!

Big brother who jumps out of his car to get his younger brother started

Youngest brother who entertains himself at the track

Shade

A husband who tells me to go to bed before I even start lunch

And he even makes sandwiches for supper

Hearing from the teens that went to camp

Working with some of the teens... I'm in charge of the VBS puppets and have 5 teens helping me!

A friend that notarizes my affidavit without charge every year.

Being invited over for ice cream after church

Aches and pains that will most likely go away within a day or two

Boys that chip in when they need to


Now, I'm off to sneak a nap before Kiersten wakes up!

~Dress Like a Cow Day~

Yum!

We even got our family photo put up on the wall!

Did anybody else go!??!?!

~Encouragment for this Exhausted Mom~

I've been running low on cheerful strength and high on discouragement the last few days... not a good combination! I occasionally grow weary of all the toiling that goes on around here. Cooking, cleaning, training... repeat! I came across this encouraging verse in my devotions today and thought it might encourage someone else!

2 Corinthians 12:15

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

And I will very gladly - My toil should be cheerful and willing... not begrudging

spend - I am willing to spend my strength, time, life and all that I have for your welfare... at any expense.

and be spent - Greek work means be exhausted and worn out in my labors... sounds like a mom to me!

for you; - Greek work actually means their soul - so I'm laboring for their souls

though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved - love that is willing to toil no matter whether the other person is grateful or not (sounds like children:0).

Do not be discouraged!

In case you are like me and you'd like this on a 4x6 card to put in your purse or hang by the sink...

~Week Review~

Another week has flown by!

I did manage a little July crafting! I took this craft outside and did the folding while the kids played.

Our fun activity this week was going to our local dairy farm. I had to drop paperwork off at the school district and this farm isn't too far from there. They have the best chocolate milk! They also allow you to wonder around the farm. We saw some dogs, peacocks, cows, cats and birds. We bought two gallons of chocolate milk home... one for that night, and one for the holiday weekend!
I spent a good amount of time at the hospital and doctors office with Kiersten on Thursday and Friday. Eric & Nathan were able to go play with a friend on Friday when I went for Kiersten's cast. She is doing just fine now!

We started our holiday weekend with just hanging out at home. The guys were getting a micro sprint running. Trever (the young man who went with us to the races last week) came over on Saturday to help get it running... he would love to race it. They got it going but something is still wrong with the fuel line.
I did some shopping on Saturday morning, made lunch for the hungry bunch, and then packed their supper. Gregg, Jordan, Jared and Aaron went to watch some racing.

I was home with the younger three trying to catch up on everything I was running behind in! We did manage to walk across the street to give "Ginger" her weekly apple (our neighbors horse). I was happy to get all three kids washed and to bed. I wanted to start working on some sewing for Kiersten for Christmas. Her Christmas doll is going to have clothes this year!

I stayed up a little too late, but I am happy with how much I accomplished! She is going to love it!

~Happy July~