Pierce turned 4!

I can't believe Pierce is already 4 years old! Here are a few shots from his birthday party at Aunt Jo Jo's. Happy Birthday, Pierce!! We love you!!

Gretchen & Hopie (Hope was being all girl and as cute as always.)

Levi going to town on his tricycle. (Well not really...he just went to the end of the driveway and back!)

Steve, Jami & Cooper...Steve, seriously, get some sleep!

Gretchen & Tracey - can we say cute, cute, cute?!

Gretchen & Paul...not as cute as Gretchen & Tracey!

Tracey & Eric...again, not as cute as Gretchen & Tracey! LOL

Pierce & Levi riding their bikes outside. It was a little chilly, but they didn't seem to mind!

Levi running around the house again and again and again...

I've been tagged

-Link to the person who tagged you

-Post the rules on your blog

-Write six random things about yourself

-Leave comments on their blogs, letting them know they've been tagged

-Let the person who tagged you know when you've written the post



1) I really, really wish I could dance. I mean, I'm so white, it hurts! I have no rhythm when it comes to dancing. My husband teases me because at church, sometimes I have trouble clapping and singing at the same time. Secretly, I sometimes wish I was J. Lo. :)



2) I am addicted to shopping. I like to shop when I'm sad, mad, happy, tired...I like to shop to complete an outfit or to start a new one. If I am near a store or mall, I will make up something we "have to have" just so I can go in and shop.



3) There is nothing in this world like a Sunday afternoon nap. Nothing. I love them. Almost as much as shopping. Almost.



4) Hospitals weird me out. I don't like the smell. I don't like to think about people in them that are sick. It makes me feel so sad to think of people hurting.



5) In high school, some friends and I went horseback riding. I didn't know that you had to step in the stirrup and hike your leg up over the horse. I guess I never really thought about how you get on the horse. I asked the guide if they had a ladder. Everyone looked at me like I was insane. I played along like I was "just joking", but I really didn't know!!



6) I don't make my bed unless we have company over. We're getting right back in it the next night, so what's the use??



I'm tagging Jenny, Tricia, Jill, Elizabeth and Melanie. :)

Family Fun Festival

Tonight was the annual Family Fun Festival at my parent's house. Each year they host a church-wide party that is a lot of fun for all ages. They have a chili cook-off, dessert contest, roast hot dogs, play football, have hayrides, roast marshmallows, enjoy Dad's big bonfire, and overall, just have lots of fun! This year, my family came in from Indy. I'm glad they traveled in to hang out with us!! Here are some pictures of the evening! Enjoy.

Levi riding the horse in Papa's pole barn before the big party started.

Levi preparing for the big football game with all the boys.

Here's one of the big blow up jumper thingys that Mom and Dad rent for the kids.

Here's the other blow up thingy...a big polar slide.

My cousin, Robin and me before the bonfire.

See Levi? He's the little guy on the left. Daddy is in the middle. The guys all played a fun game of touch football before the chili dinner started.

Here's a picture of some of the crowd. I think this year has been one of the best turn outs yet! The weather was perfect - cool and sunny.

Travis, Griffin & Emmy

Abigail, Levi & Griffin chowing on some hot dogs, chips and yummy desserts!

Brigette took Levi on his 3rd tractor ride of the night!

Tracey & Jenny, my sister-in-law

The big bonfire towards the end of the evening. It puts off some good heat!!

Levi, Noah, Griffin & Nicholas all watching a movie that Papa put on in the pole barn.

Levi & Nicholas being cutie pies!

Cousin Dan & Eric going down the polar slide!

Eric is ready for lights out!!

The Great Wall of CHOCOLATE!

Eric and I met Matt & Melanie at PF Changs for dinner on Monday. Um, can I just say "holy camoli"!!! It was really good! We sat there for two hours just talking (or as us Baptists' would say...fellowshippin'!) :) Eric ordered salmon (his norm!), I got sweet n sour chicken, Mel got kung pow chicken and Matt got some kind of lamb. We all split a big order of fried rice, too. We were laughing b/c there wasn't an open space on the table! Then, for dessert, Eric & Matt (yes, you read that correctly) split a piece of cheesecake and Melanie & I split the "Great Wall of Chocolate". Fabulous. Maybe even the best chocolate cake I've ever had.

Sunday afternoon fun

Sunday afternoon, we went to Steve & Jami's to watch the Colts get stomped by the Packers. It was a horrible game...horrible, horrible! Even through the yelling, frustration and stomping around, we had a good time! The kids played so well together. Levi liked playing with all of Cooper's little toys and he liked showing Cooper how to use them! LOL

Here are a few pictures of the boys playing together. Enjoy!

2nd Annual Family Camping Weekend

This weekend was our second annual Family Camping Weekend with our church. It was great to see how many people turned out. On Saturday, there were fun things planned like a marshmallow toss, a pumpkin seed spitting contest, a mummy wrap, pumpkin carving contests, and much more. That evening, we had a worship service with music and a message from Pastor Scott. Thanks to Dan and Cyndee who work so hard to make this a fun weekend for families. :)

Janna helps Ian on Levi's little bicycle. Go Ian!!

Brandon and Levi take a break from the cold and watch CARS inside the camper.

Levi loved being outside all weekend! He was a big helper to daddy!

Levi "hanging out" with the big kids, Brandon, Andrew and Megan. They were great helpers with Levi and he loved feeling like a part of their group. Thanks guys for letting him tag along all the time!!

Dan and his kids Caleb, J'Dyn & Joshua. Dan and his wife Cyndee organize the camping trip every year. Thanks for doing such a great job and having a heart for families!!!

Brigette and her boys Brandon and Andrew...they are like our second family!!

Eric & Levi making goofy faces!

Levi loved walking Katie all weekend. I am surprised he could hold on to her leash that well!


This weekend was the first time Levi rode his bike. He's scooted along on it before, but this weekend is when he actually started peddling and not relying on mommy and daddy to push him along. He LOVED bike riding. It's what he wanted to do from sun up to sun down!

Go Jill! She's a pro at catching marshmallows!

More silly faces with Levi and Daddy!

Goofy pictures of the marshmallow toss. Dan is really getting into it!!

The Mummy wrap. Look at all the fancy mommies!!

The cake eating contest...Go Andrew, Josh & Tom!! Looks good!

Janna leads in worship...

Mommy & Levi at the worship service.

Pastor Scott came to deliver a message at the worship service about bringing people to Jesus.

Happy Fall Ya'll - kind of...

Usually when I think of Fall, I think of hot chocolate or cider, pumpkin patches, changing leaves, corn mazes, a chill in the air...

However, this year, our first "fall" event was more like 90 degree weather, sweaty kids running around with runny noses from allergies, and an evening ending with ice cream instead of hot chocolate! We went to a place called Deere Farms that had fun stuff for smaller kids to do. There was a hay maze, a big bouncer, a hay ride and pumpkin picking. It was a lot of fun despite the hot weather.

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(Disclaimer: You'll notice there are no pictures of the Bush's even though they were there. Gretchen kept covering her face and making horrible moaning sounds when I'd try to take her picture. She had a cold!)

Jami posing in front of the entrance.

Levi & Corbin playing on the hay stack maze.

Levi & Hope in the maze. This will be an adorable picture one day for the slideshow at their wedding! LOL
The kids all enjoyed sliding down the hill in a big tube.

Steve, Jami and their little cutie, Cooper

Levi and Corbin enjoyed throwing walnuts down the hill.

Daddy & Levi on the hayride out to the pumpkin patch.

Mommy & Levi on the hayride back to the farm. Levi is carrying his prize pumpkin!
Jami & Cooper...Cooper wants to get down and find a pumpkin!

Daddy & Levi showing off our pumpkins!

Matt, Melanie & Corbin on the hayride.

Here is our tractor driver. Levi kept calling him Papa. Maybe we should get Papa some bib overalls!