HALLOWEEN PICS....

My sister Amanda has been asking for photos of the kids in their costumes. So naturally I will oblige :-) Asher was a duck...and not happy about the hat...

I put a warm hat on him instead and he didn't like it any better....oh well.

Esther was a whoopie cushion....

Isaac was a prisoner...(he looks like the guilty type :-)

MORE COSTUMES!

The shoes give it away....Gayle is Dorothy.

Elijah was a warm and snuggly dinosaur...also very cute.

The kids all had a fun time at their Halloween Parties at school...Eli was the snack boy at his and got to bring donuts and cider:-)

FOR SALE...?

Anyone out there interested in a 35 mm Canon EOS 30/ELAN 7E ? It comes with a Sigma Zoom Lens. It is NOT DIGITAL. I bought it from my friend who paid well for it :-) Does anyone out there still do Film Photography? Hmmm....Somehow I doubt it.

SCOUT CUPCAKES..

I made these Halloween cupcakes for Isaacs Scout party. I used just what I had on hand so it was nothing fancy. Looking back...I wish I would have made some of the frosting orange. Either way--it was festive enough :-)

ISAAC...

My guy Isaac...

A MILESTONE...

Here is Isaac before his dental work...

The orthodontist said that he was more severe than they usually see...and that even with the work he still might have to have surgery.

With lots and lots of days and nights with a head gear...all of the tiny little rubber bands we found *everywhere*...he persevered....

FREEDOM...FOR NOW.

All of this has paid off rather well I think. He had his braces taken off in order to allow other teeth to come in. He has to wear a retainer to make sure all of the work that has been done...*stays* that way. If he wears it faithfully...there is a chance he may not have to get them back on again :-)

Well Hellooo Handsome!

*PRAYING*

Say a prayer for my hard working honey if you think about it....today he starts his 5th class. It is time consuming work obviously, and he has found the time to fit it in so far. Pray that he can continue this and also keep up his great spirit...its a lot of work to do, and statistics can be pretty boring...unless you are really into that kind of thing :-)

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us...we really appreciate it!

MILESTONES...

This little guy is so precious...He is now 15 months, and we are finished nursing. He is doing well with it most of the time. He misses it when he is tired. He wakes up at night and asks to nurse...then cries when I snuggle him instead...which is fairly short lived, and gets better each night :-)

Still...a very snuggly mamas boy....who LOVES to play ball...eat ANYTHING!....He is precious for sure!

This smile says it all....Happiness that "I lost my first tooth" Of course I always feel a little twinge when these things happen. Slowly each little milestone steals away my babies...I know it is silly...but I can't help it...I was born a sap I suppose. I suppose with it....Each milestone allows me small glimpses into the child they will become...and that makes me smile.

FUN AND EDUCATIONAL !

I thought that I would share this site with all of you homeschooling families...or perhaps folks with children needing extra practice. Isaac needed to study the 50 states, and Cory had a website that he has used before with his students. It is at www.sheppardsoftware.com Apparently it is more than just geography...check it out!

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN....

GENEVA COLLEGE ALMA MATER

Come now to the campus true sons of Geneva; With one accord in song your voices raise. Proclaim loud the glory, those walls old and hoary; The college where I spent such happy days.

Chorus:

Then come Geneva sons; Ne'er let the proud chorus fail, That tell in proud measure how fondly we treasure The college beside the Beaver vale.

It's true sons are jewels, a mother adorning, Resplendent alma mater's brow with light. Her children wide scattered are ev'rywhere loyal to Geneva, our country and the right.

FUTURE ALUMNI !

HAVING FUN!!

We had such a great time at Homecoming. The kids were so excited! We gave them the full experience by eating in the dining hall...they loved it! We were able to see some good friends, take in a football game, and eat at the campus favorite--Pizza Joes!

PRESCHOOL FIELD TRIP!!!

Our first field trip with Elijah was to the apple farm. It was rainy...so no hayride...but it was fun to do a little something inside.

The kids learned about apples (obviously)...but more importantly about seeds...germination...pollination...things like that. We got to eat one of their fabulous donuts too...they were great

I love this little guy!

DRESSED UP AGAIN....WITH SOMEWHERE TO GO....AGAIN!!

Cory and I had the pleasure of attending one of his friends from highschools wedding. His friend Brad was actually a groomsman in our wedding. The ceremony was held at his property. We were shuttled up to the property on a bus...and then upon arrival we were driven by horse and carriage up to the field. It was amazingly beautiful! Afterwards they had an outdoor cocktail hour.

One of the highlights of the wedding was the reception was held in the old barn. Yes--thats right..the BARN! They had it all beautifully cleaned out...and had fancy chandeliers hanging. The tables and chairs were white, and had fancy decor. It was catered by Gances...and the food was really amazing. The band was from Philly and they did an amazing job...it was really large too...complete with all the instruments...not dj style at all. We could have danced all night long...but since we had little ones at home with a sitter...we had to come home.

All in all it was such a fabulous time! Every time I attend a wedding I am always reminded of my choice to marry my husband...man Im glad I didnt let him get away!

JUST NOTHING...

I need energy. I am tired. I collapse into bed every night...I don't even remember eating lunch yesterday...oh well...I will strive to do better.

Tomorrow Cory and I get the pleasure of going to a friends wedding...Yippee! That means dressing up...make-up...shoes...am I really that vain? I don't care...I like dressing up and looking nice :-) Thanks to our friend Terri for watching 5 kiddos for us so that we can enjoy ourselves!

I took the two little boys to Dunkin Donuts for a ...Donut....They enjoyed it...I wanted to get a coffee...so I enjoyed it too. I like to have special moments with each of the kids...a donut might not be much...but it is the idea of doing something out of the ordinary that makes it special.

I love Fall...the temperature is more bearable...don't get me wrong...I love to go to the pool...but there is an excitement about Fall. Maybe it is the pumpkins, brightly colored leaves, mums....apples...and the smells of the oven again...I love it. Have you ever been to Robas Pumpkin Farm? If not...GO! You wont be sorry.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week! I need another cup of coffee...

Ebony and Ivory....

These are a few shots of us playing piano. Esther is playing "Soaring"....Cory is playing his own version of "Just a closer walk with Thee"...and I am playing a song though not as well as the others. It was fun!

Piano Playing

I FOUND MY POWER CORD!!!!

I finally found the power cord for my laptop...which is where I keep all of my pictures! Hooray....so if you do not want to see a ton of photos then stop here...

Most of them were summer kind of winding down...getting ready for school...and misc.

Cory is over half-way through with his 4th class...he is doing fabulous! Im so proud of him. He is practicing his archery for when he goes to Ohio with his buddies.

I am excited to have come back from a girls weekend at the cottage...it was a great time of fellowship, and encouragement!

Isaac is playing piano and drums, and involved in scouts....he loves his new classroom teacher, and is doing well in school so far!

Esther is also playing piano. I love to sit and listen to her play after supper...she is so relaxing! She also loves her classroom teacher and is looking forward to a fun 3rd grade year!

Gayle is in 1st grade...and is excited to have her classroom teacher too! She is learning a lot so far, and is happy to have a chrysilis to watch in her room. Every day when she comes home from school she asks if she can put lipstick on...and she does.

Elijah just started preschool and loves it! There is so much to do...and it is so exciting for him! I am enjoying sharing in this special time with him. They are planning a field trip to the apple farm...I have been to this 3 other times...but it will be just as special with my little guy. Elijah had his 1st trip to the dentist today...he did so well! When did he start growing up?

Asher...what can I say...he is rapidly growing before my eyes....he is so loving...and snuggly! We are almost done nursing...and then he will appear even more grown up. He loves balls...and FOOD! That kid can eat!

We are certainly blessed. That is the update in a nutshell...Hope you all are doing well.