august pictures

posing for pictures at woodburn hall on campus

woodburn hall and two little people sitting on the stairs

a birthday sign ted hung on john allevato's door on assignment.
that's a zipline in case you couldn't tell.

sweet friends of ours moved to town a couple of weeks ago. i've so enjoyed spending time with my great friend bethany - one of my longest friends! we went to a parade shortly after they moved here. right now, we have a 2 (Hudson), 3 (Sophie), 4 (Ellie) and 5 (Ted) year old.

found them like this the other day on the couch playing with my phone

took ted to the eye doctor last week for headaches he's been having. this was when they dilated his eyes and he borrowed some cool shades. he ended up getting glasses. don't have a picture of that yet.

tears after sophie dropped her after-school-popsicle and millie ate it

watching "free willey" the other saturday morning

waiting for new tires on the van at sam's. this was one of those "surprisingly good behavior times"

the frog's going to walmart

family photo from the river

1st day of kindergarten

Well, we're officially the parents of an elementary school student. It's the start of a new season of life. 

The night before school started we stopped by Ted's school on the way home to pray for it. They both sat in the front seat. It was something real special.

Ted requested Daddy's french toast for breakfast and he even got to help.

I know his bus morning driver, James. He drove the bus this summer at the preschool I worked at in June. It made me feel good. It's so weird - he rides a completely different bus on the way home.

Thankfully, my friend Lauren asked me to watch her two sweet girls right after Ted left. Gave me something to do which I was very grateful for! Aren't they the cutest?!

Ted had great day and said he would go back (until the following morning). We had chicken crescents for dinner - another request of Ted - and topped it off with ice cream with sprinkles at Dairy Queen.

The past 2 days have been another story. But we're getting there. Ted has some anxiety that has really grown over the summer. When we dropped him off at summer camp, it was brutal and would take forever to drop him off. So we think that him riding the bus (approx. 3 minutes up the hill to school) is the best and quickest way to make that transition. Let's just say that yesterday was reminiscent of a certain Sara incident circa 1986.

For the next lot of years of Ted's life he will go to school 5 days a week. Next year (Lord willing) Sophie will go to preschool 4 whole days a week. This is our last year of being home together. I want to really value and cherish this that even though it's hard in lots of different ways.  Even if it means scrimping and saving one more year, more than we actually would have to if I worked full-time.

Welcome to Big Kid World, Ted!

social media

Social media is a funny thing. I love it. I used to have a little bit of an "issue" with facebook. So much so that I gave it up for Lent. I really started using it after Sophie was born. Now I love twitter. Someone once described it as "micro-blogging." I think that's fair. I like it b/c I don't get so lost in it. I only follow people that I really care about what goes on in their life. (If you're offended b/c I don't follow you it's probably b/c I don't know you're out there.) I also feel like I get a lot of information from it.

Like today for instance. Ben came home for lunch and watched a little bit of Cars with Ted. He came into the dining room where I was doing some work and sat down to talk through our schedules the next couple of days. And that's when we felt it - our house started to shake (for lack of a better word). At first I thought it was Millie scratching. She has a mean scratch that can shake the floor. But then it kept going. It was freaky.

I immediately thought it was an earthquake. Or some sort of explosion. Last time we felt something near this it was the explosion that happened at a chemical plant in Charleston. That one rattled our windows. Anyways, Ben immediately got on twitter and there it was - people talking about an earthquake and feeling it in lots of different places. Facebook too. In a weird sort of way, it was nice to know we weren't crazy!

Oh, and hash tags can totally help you when you play Mad Gab.

So, if you don't follow me on twitter, here are some recent ones that may or may not be of interest to you. I'm not really that interesting.

- Sign at a tattoo place: "celebrate august. get a new tattoo." makes perfect sense
- Today Sophie used the word "comfy" to describe Millie's nose and the cheese in her lunchable.
- I'm really, really trying. But coke zero really isn't doing it for me. #imisscoke
- Waiting for a post-assignment massage and pedicure. So glad I saved that giftcard from my birthday. Thanks @BN2L.
- Why is Daddy in jail? Because he took his shirt off in Walmart. - I'm only half way certain my kids know the opera at camp is not real.
- I forgot that coming home from assignment is like Christmas for my kids. It's good to be home.
- 12 hours, 557 miles, 4 states, 2 extra hours of major traffic, 6 pitstops, 4 movies, 4 tv shows, 1 car sick incident and 1 minor meltdown later - we have arrived.
- In the drive thru line thinking of a code word for milkshake so my kids don't know. I don't want to share.
- As Sophie approaches 3 years old, I realize I never her to to show "2" on her fingers.
- I hate the bird that drops the eggs. Makes me so mad. #angrybirds

And one I haven't tweeted yet:
- Sophie is currently narrating life to the tune of "Little Drummer Boy." #interestingchoiceofsongs

the end of summer

Last week I feel like we had a great end to a somewhat hard summer. 

Thursday we went to Summersville to spend the afternoon with the Berg's and Carrie. We put it on our calender several weeks before and I'm so thankful we did. We spent the afternoon at the lake, had dinner on the deck, saw Carrie's new/in progress apartment, and took two very tired kids home. I had lots of good pictures, including a great one of our families. But I LOST my camera. Can you believe that? I've never done such a thing. This post is mostly from my phone or my mom's camera. Don't worry, it's been replaced by a great new one. Thanks, Mom! Our camera had a good 4 year life. Counting multiple camp trips, that would be about an 8 year life!

Summersville Lake

Friday and Saturday I went to Columbus with these lovely ladies to see Beth Moore.
Stacy, Adrienne, Katie, Me, Lisa, Cristin, Carla & Lisa

We had some late night McDonald's and even tagged Beth. We thought she might reply or mention us. Not so much.

Ted finished up a day camp he's been doing through WVU. He had a real love/hate relationship with it. They did lots of fun things and was always happy when we picked him up. But we had the most miserable drop offs. It was based from the Colosseum. That's Jerry West.

Sunday thru Tuesday we went to the River. Andy and Courtney came Sunday evening. The weather was on the cooler side so there wasn't as much swimming and water stuff. But we still had a great time playing lots of games (Sorry, Domino's, Skip-Bo, Ladder Ball and other such things). Courtney and Andy brought Buster (their new dog) and we relaxed a lot. We came back to Morgantown Tuesday afternoon and the four of us went out to dinner. It was so fun to catch up and hear about life.We had a great time!

Gary Pap, Mayor John & Sophie watching for the honey (humming) birds.

The kids had their first bath in the river. They loved it!

Waiting for Uncle Andy & Aunt Courtney to arrive.

Saying "hi!" from her room.

The Tuel's and their dogs

boat ride w/ the mayor

We had some pretty intense (and long) games of Sorry. Ted's current favorite.

Buster

going tubing - thanks for sharing your boat and tube, eugene

ben and ted - they got knocked off w/ a rougher ride. ted loved it.

me & soph

ben & andy

me & the kids - this was way fun!

Wednesday we had a Kindergarten meeting and we had a home visit with Ted's teachers on Friday. WVU students arrived Thursday and Friday and we're back in the swing of things. Ted starts school on Wednesday. I'm not sure how I feel about Kindergarten right now. But I am sure how I feel about traffic in Morgantown right now.

two wheels

Ted learned how to ride his bike tonight in less than 10 minutes.  He's been riding his scooter all summer and is very impressive at balancing. So I think that helped. It was impressive and way too easy.  Maybe this means learning to drive will be horrible.

The lesson started at 6:59.

 

7:02

7:05

7:09

By 7:15ish, he was starting all by himself and riding circles around the parking lot. We're ready for some family bike riding!

Or bike/scooter riding!

one year later

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." - 1 Samuel 7:12

Ted and Sophie,

You may never remember this past year. Or maybe you will. I don't know. But I wanted to put a stone here. An Ebenezer. Saying "Thus far the LORD has helped us."

These are the ways that we have seen Jesus work in the most amazing ways...
- selling our house
- giving us a place to live for the summer
- a wonderful home to live in Morgantown that is near campus and Daddy's office
- personal donors to the area that helped get the area into the black when we arrived
- providing for us to pay for fixing the foundation of our house and paying off every last bit of debt we had before we moved
- a savings account for the mileage and YL stuff we never got reimbursed for, feeding hungry college leaders, 2 sets of tires, multiple car repairs, a root canal and subsequent dental work, medical bills, etc.
- leaders who love Jesus
- you guys adjusting so well and not missing a beat
- free preschool near our house with wonderful teachers for you, Ted
- full paychecks until May (that in and of itself is a miracle!)
- getting rid of the old office and someone paying rent for the office until we did
- a new FREE office and parking right on campus
- going from $1000/month giving to $10,000/month
- interest/committees forming for Clay Battelle High School, Lincoln High School and Morgantown WyldLife
- learning how to cook (one of those expenses of feeding lots of leaders!)
- Cameron and Sarah doing YL College
- being in a home group in Morgantown with friends that introduced Daddy to Jesus in college
- friends for playdates and girls nights out
- my dear friend Bethany moving here 2 weeks ago
- the Teodoro's living down the street for many months and the friendship that was
- getting settled and plugged in at South Ridge Church
- reconnecting/connect with old and new friends
- you, Sophie, getting into a Mom's Day Out preschool this year which helps tremendously with childcare and gives her a little preschool experience.

A couple of months ago, you guys were playing house at Grandma's. You were pretending you were the new neighbors. I asked why you moved to town and you said, "Because Jesus told us to." If you don't remember anything else, please remember that there is great blessing in obedience. And you have been the recipients of more than we could ask or imagine.

coming home

So it was hard coming home from assignment literally . . . 

We stopped for a potty break about 2 hours (of 9) out of camp and this is what we found. A flat on the trailer

And the spare was no good either. It was reminiscent of the "goat having emergency surgery trip to Lake Champion" from 2005. If only I had blogged back then . . . .

This kind, kind man let us use his tools b/c the lug nuts were stuck. He reminded me of my Dad. Helpful, knowledgeable and kind to people who just needed help.

So we drove 4 miles to a tire shop to have a new tire put on. We walked about 1/2 mile to a Subway for lunch. And two hours after the potty stop, got back on the road. It took 13 hours to get home. I believe I'm the curse in this travel b/c Ben has made the trip three times in 9 hours or less. It took me 12 hours to get there in holiday traffic.

This was the van. Alex (one of our leaders) and Sophie rode with me. Sophie was snuggled in with things at her feet and both sides of her. Ben drove the truck with Clinton and Ted. There was not an inch of extra room in their truck either.

 But it was also coming back in general. I had a really hard time coming back to Morgantown. Not real sure why. I just did. I think I mainly felt sad for Ben who worked so hard and had such a long month to come home to an area in deficit, 2 banquets (thankfully b/c of the deficit but that's still a lot of work), and WVU students coming back this week and school starting next week. There's no rest. (But I do want to say we have wonderful people doing the banquet and a great partner in ministry working with the WVU students). It's just a lot to even wrap your brain around sometimes. I think I feel it for Ben more than he feels it for himself. He's just been really quiet. But I'm really proud of him for turning off his computer and coming home to play games, go to the pool and mow the grass.

I quit my job while I was at camp that I had just worked the month of June. It really wasn't working for me or for Sophie. I've never quit a job I worked a month. It was best though. I had something else lined up when I quit or I wouldn't have otherwise. I wasn't real sure what my new job would look like. I've since started and it's going to be great. I just want to do what's best for our family financially and as a mom and wife. It's such a hard line to figure out right now.

And we've been so busy since we've been home. I'm kind of ready for school to start - and routine. We have Kindergarten orientation next week. Crazy to think about. The kids have re-cooperated but it took about a week. We're just back to "life."

The scene most mornings. They're finally figuring out how to share the couch. We got a sweatshirt blanket as an assignment gift. Ben wanted something colorful so I picked pink and brown. I don't think it's quite what he had in mind!

I found this on the couch the other day. Sophie's baby covered up with her inside-out night gown. She loves her babies. Currently, they are all named "baby"

This is Sophie's first coloring without scribbling. She's actually starting to color in general areas. It was a sweet surprise. Coloring, play-doh and water colors have taken up large chunks of our time lately.

And our friends Josh & Bethany moved to town last weekend. I am so, so thrilled to have them here. They have Ellie (4) and Hudson (2). They've been over for dinner and we went to the parade together earlier week. I'm so glad to have them in Morgantown. Lots of fun to come!!

the river

For over 50 years, my mom's family has owned a cottage on the Allegheny River. It is affectionately know as "The River." Not that there aren't 500 other houses around it that share the river. It just is what is it. My mom's uncle bought it when she was a kid. We spent a lot of time there as kids. Now I'm taking my kids there. My uncle owns it now. 

Back in the day it had an outhouse. I remember when we got an "indoor" half bathroom. And it was probably around 10 years ago that we got a shower. As kids, we would always "bathe" in the river. Just in the past 5 or so years has a full indoor bathroom (shower and all) been added. The weekends are always happening. Several of my cousins and my sister live in the Pittsburgh area. So they help keep the place going. I love the generations that we see there. And it's kind of weird that our parents were my age when I have most of my memories there. 

We came home from Timber Wolf late Tuesday (which is a whole other adventure to tell you about). Spent Wednesday in New Martinsville returning trucks, 4-wheelers and trailors. "Rested" on Thursday. And took off for The River Friday morning. We came back Sunday night. The kids were asleep by 7:30 and we were in bed at 8:30. Some serious re-coop time is in order!

This is our weekend in review.

Millie has been with my parents for the last 6 weeks or so. Her stint with them this summer has been shorter than most. They spend most weekends at The River and Millie is a favorite among everyone. She's such a good dog. We brought her home this weekend. She's officially getting old. She has her first lump on her leg. And she's SLOWING down.

Thank goodness Daddy is now around to swim.

Gary Pap and Millie hanging on the hidden rock.

Sophie chilin' in the canoe.

The majority of the kid's time was spent playing Play Doh or swimming.

We went tubing again. In these TINY tubes. Great for kids. Not so much for adults.

Sophie & Mommy

Ted & Daddy

Ben picked up a little too much speed, crashed into Ted and they both took a spill. Ted cried for about a minute and then got right back on.

My cousins have a small brewery going on there. This was a bottling assembly line. According to most, they actually have some pretty good beers.

A little nap action in the camper

And some napping on the chair. Gary Pap actually took a longer nap than Sophie.

More Play Doh.

A little camp fire time after baths. The other little boy is my cousin's son, Charlie. All 3 kids had a great time together.

Most mornings you can find someone sitting here on the porch. Note the trailer on the other side of the yard. That's the other place you go in the mornings.

Playing in the tent

John put his trailer in the back yard several years ago after he lost his river spot down the road. Around these parts, he's known as "Mayor John." He hosts the morning crowd with coffee, folding chairs and good conversation.

The view Ben and Ted had from the tent they slept in.

We all caught up on our reading. Sophie was really behind on People magazine. I think she's ready for the current issue.