a & c

Andy & Courtney moved to Hurricane while we were at camp. It is awesome having them back in our neck of the woods. Hurricane is half way between Charleston and Huntington. Courtney is going to grad school at Marshall in Huntington and Andy is working in Charleston. So it's a great place to be. Welcome home to the great state of West Virginia!




In between camp and vacation, Andy and Courtney came to help us celebrate our new backyard. While we were at camp, Mom & Dad worked tirelessly to make our backyard kid friendly. Thank you!

Last weekend, Doh & Pap came for the weekend. Saturday morning, we went swimming at their hotel pool and went out to lunch. Then we spent the afternoon and evening at Andy & Courtney's. Andy grilled us a spectacular dinner and even introduced us to what might be my new favorite dessert


Pictures with Doh & Pap. After awhile, it was all just funny.

Ted & Aunt Courtney

Doh & her boys - some of you know what a great picture this is for all of them to be smiling. Usually there's two making one mad.

Sophie not impressed with Andy. This was after the poop on the carpet incident. Sophie's had some killer diapers this week!! Ted has been invited for a sleepover with A & C - but not Sophie. Wonder why!?

everything is still here

My kids are THRILLED to be home. It's like they've turned into new little people. Since we've been home, Ted has rediscovered pretty much every toy and book he's had for years but not played with. He continues to tell me that "everything is still here, Mommy." I guess he didn't understand that we were coming back home. He has been so polite, kind, cordial and content. Ted has also learned the use of the word "may." May I do this, may I do that. But he also says, "Mommy, may you untie my shoes? May you get me some milk?" I've tried saying, "It's may I, will you" but he really doesn't care. At least he's being polite.

Sophie is happy as a lark and perfectly content to toddle around the house. We close the doors of the rooms we don't want her in and she's free to roam. She pushes her baby stroller around a lot and basically just walks around all day. I think she gets in several miles in our small little house. It's so darling!

And both of them are sleeping like crazy! After six weeks of getting up between 6:00-6:30 (which is not normal for them), they've been sleeping till at least 8:30 everyday. Yesterday, Sophie got up at 9:15! That's a lifetime record for her. It has changed the way my day works and I think this will be the start of dropping Sophie's morning nap. I'm really ready for that.

So, everything is still here, everyone is chipper and content, and we're SO THANKFUL to be home!

east brady

We got home from camp on Thursday and left again on Sunday. We went to East Brady, PA where my mom's family has a cottage on the Allegheny River. We had a great time. We played musical beds, tents and campers, and got up early every morning. Joanna and Wyatt came to visit. Charlie and Val came Wednesday-Saturday. My parents were there all week. Ben ad I went to the Grove City outlets one day. It was nice to get away together. The weather was great and it was great to spend time as a family.



Sophie obviously relaxed a bit.


Ted was reunited with Millie. He has missed her a lot.



Ted also tattooed himself.

Sophie has all but given up her nature eating habit. Just felt like a sligh relapse.

Sophie liked to play on and in the beer boxes!

Only a shower at the cottage. So we bathed Sophie in the dish tub. She didn't quite fit but it's actually easier than bathing her in the bathtub where she has plenty of room to wrestle!

Playing in the sprinkler. I'm so proud of Ted. He has really grown in his tolerance for bugs, water, barefeet, dirt - the outdoors in general. He's a new kid in that regard.

Joanna and Wyatt came to hang for a couple days. The boys enjoyed peeing in the bushes and the outhouse. Easy entertainment.

Silly faces.

A big game of "Brown Bear, Brown Bear." Boys only.

week 5

Well, we're home. Finally. Week 5 was a good week at camp. It was Capernum - Young Life's ministry to special needs kids. To say that it was amazing is an understatment. There were about 200 special needs kids at camp with their buddies and leaders. The entire spectrum of "special needs." What an incredible ministry. We were able to spend a little more time with Ben which was much needed. Sophie started using walking as her main mode of transportation and went cold turkey on the mulch and rocks. Ted "went down" the water slides. We even got to have some family time at the pool.


Riding the golf cart around camp with some time with Daddy.


Picking out their favorite flavors of ice cream for special milk shakes.



Our assignment team. Chris (speaker) & Cyndi Buda with their 2 youngest boys, Trevor and Mark. Kirk (program) & Sarah Wilson. Brooke (Head Leader) & Tate Johnston with Asher & Reuel. John (head leader) & Paige Bagen. JB (Work Crew Boss) & Bethany Ward. Ben (WC boss) & Liz Allen. Adrienne Sommerville & Kerry Guikema (WC Bosses). RD Wilkes & Melissa Noble (Summer Staff Coordinators). Some steller people!