In loving memory

This picture was taken last fall at the annual "Uncle Gard's picnic" October 2007. I can just imagine Sally and Gard discussing all their grandchildren together!








Today, September 19, 2008, Tim's mother, Sally Clites, passed away. She fought a long, painful fight with lung/bone/brain cancer. We tried to prepare ourselves for this day, but as one of the boys said tonight, "I never knew it would hurt my heart so bad to hear those words." Isaak has decided that tomorrow, he will score one goal in MeeMa's memory. We have lots to be thankful for and glad for the time we had together. She taught us so much and we will miss her everyday, especially when its time for some homemade chocolate ice cream, it was simply, the best! Her funeral will be on Tuesday in Elliottsburg, PA at 11:00 AM. Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts during the last 2 1/2 years and especially today, it really means a lot.

A long time....

I know, its been a long time since I have posted. I need to get myself either a driver or a laptop to keep up since we are on the road most of the time. Lukas has soccer practice on Tuesday and Thursday nights and Isaak has soccer practice on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. On the weekends, we have games! The boys are all loving school, except for the "stupid" homework! Hope to post some pictures tonight!

I've been tagged - thank you Shelly Howe!

One of my "friends" tagged me for this fun little project. At first I thought I didn't have time for this, but I learned so much about others, I thought it was the least I could do! List 7 facts about yourself and then tag 7 people at the end of the post. Let your 7 tagged friends know by leaving them a comment on their blog!

1. I come from a family of 3 boys and 1 girl, my husband comes from a family of 3 boys and 1 girl. My husband and I have 3 boys and we think that's plenty for this nut house!

2. In 2000, I had half my thyroid removed because of a supposedly cancerous growth. The Doctor told me I would have a permanent smile on my neck for the rest of my life!

3. I love being a full-time Mom, working at Tim's architectural office, and serving as VP of the PTO at the boy's school. It keeps me out of trouble (sometimes!)

4. I love watching soccer, especially when its one of our boys. (I'm what you call a true soccer mom!) However, I love to play softball and walleyball.

5. I love the closeness and spirit of our church meeting, I hate to miss meeting. I wonder where I would be right now if we didn't have such great friends who really care?

6. When I was 16, my lung collapsed after spending a day hunting with Tim. I'll never forget the feeling of that tube being pushed thru my chest. It was supposed to be an overnight stay at the hospital, but because of a mistake, I ended up staying 5 days. (The orderly disconnected my tube when it wasn't the right time.)

7. My mother-in-law has terminal lung/bone/brain cancer. The experience has taught me so much about love, patience, and being ready. "Oh for the peace of a perfect trust."

I'll tag Sue, Holly, Deb, Stephanie, Jami, Mamie, and Jody.

Mocha - Chino

The day came, after 13 years, that our chocolate lab had to be put down. She had been in a steady decline of health the past few weeks and the vet confirmed yesterday that her kidney's had shut down. Tim bought Mocha for me while he was attending college every night, she was only 7 weeks old when we got her. Everyday until she was a year old, she went to work with me at Leggett & Platt. She was my best friend and patient companion, I told her everything, even how mad I was when she got into the trash! It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, my eye's were really green driving home from the vet from all the crying. Today is a new day and I hope to get all the dog hair vacuumed up!

And a few more!

Location - Corolla, NC
Weather - HOT
July 19 - 26, 2008

Robert, Tyler, Isaak and Lukas jumping off their cliff into the waves









Isaak out in the strong waves









Tyler









Stephanie & Lukas watching the sights!













Tyler and I hiding from the sun!








Tim and Toot coming in!








Isaak








Tyler AKA Toot!












Lukas - the toothless one!








Kalyn, Isaak, Tyler, Lukas, and Robert all digging!

pictures from the beach!

We only took 426 pictures during the week, I had just a bit of trouble deciding which ones I should post!!!

Isaak with his board









I love the expression!









Lukas riding a wave in!

















Alexis, Tyler, Ian, Kalyn, Robert Isaak and Lukas all in our hottub!

Isaak, Lukas and singing Tyler!

Protesting....

Here we are on the way home from our week at the beach and no one is happy about this trip North. We're taking a slight detour and having dinner with Mark and Summer Bolt, that will be a bright spot for us! We all had a great time together and dinner last night was totally awesome. We had steak, crab legs, and shrimp and more steak and shrimp and a few more shrimp, another crab leg tossed in. There was other things to eat on the table, but no one seemed to want much of that! Then we had a cake to celebrate Kalyn's 7th birthday.
Friday we spent most of the day on the beach, the waves were very strong and not a lot of fun to play in, but we had fun playing in the sand and sitting under the umbrella visiting. No one complained too bad of a sunburn last night so the sun screen must have worked. The boys took a trip to the 4 x 4 area and saw some wild horses. I bet they're glad I still have my 4 wheel drive vehicle! We're getting close to Summer and Mark's so I better stop. I promise to update later with pictures, between Tim and I, we took about 400 pictures so it might take a bit of my time!