Full Life

A favorite game here- dwarfs or dorfs as Ellie says

We've been so busy the last 4 months that I haven't had time to journal it. More for our family's journal sake, because I'd say my readers have given up on me, I'll recount some of our adventures. Sadly, I can't include many pictures right now, because they disappeared on me. I'm trying to not freak out!

Here's a few sneak peeks of our summer so far:

We've been to NC once a month for the last four months. This last time the girls and I stayed home and let the fellows make the trip. We had nice trips but I've become a hermit over the past few weeks, trying to recover. I know some of you go all the time, but we have melt downs, me included, if we are constantly on the go.

Trip 1 Birthday Surprise for Aunt Lib

Trip 2 Sister in law's birthday

Trip 3 Family reunion

Trip 4 Altapass Campmeeting

I've been wrapping up our Keeper's of The Faith club, because I was sick last year but the dear girl's were very patient with me until I was well. I taught them cake decorating and we all had lots of fun, in spite of me having to make 12 identical cakes for one meeting and pounds of icing for another. Then we did a cupcake benefit for our local homeschool chapter. I hope the pictures can be retrieved because the girls really did an awesome job.

One day Ellie and Philip were playing on top of the playhouse. Philip jumped off but when Ellie went to jump, she fell. She dislocated her elbow and broke it at the growth plate. After several weeks in a soft cast, the results didn't look hopeful. Her arm wouldn't straighten out and the Dr. gave us no hope of it doing so, but wouldn't order physical therapy for it (said pt wasn't good for children). The only thing he gave permission for was swimming. Swim lessons were the following 2 weeks for them (every day for 2 weeks, with us being gone at least 4 hours every day! But a really great program) and with prayer, Ellie's arm is now straight!! Praise you Lord!! Her Dr. is skeptical and wants to see her in Aug. because he says elbows like to freeze up, but we're not worried.

We've enjoyed 3 great camping trips so far this year. We had bought our tent last year, almost two days before I became ill. So, the children didn't get to do any camping in '09, except for in our back yard. For Mother's Day I requested a camping trip, not because I love it so much, but because it makes great family memories and I've determined to spend that special day each year enjoying my 5 blessings. Our second trip was during the reunion, because there was no place for us to stay, and the last time was with Aunt S, Uncle S and the boys. It was a lot of fun!!

Back to swimming. Abigail is such a beautiful swimmer. She graduated the swimming program this year. She wants to do a refresher course next year and then see about getting her life guard certification after that. I think it would be wonderful to have a modestly dressed life guard! We've found that lifeguards are required at more places than pools, and then she could always teach later in life if she chose.

Everyone in our house, except for me, has adopted the stray that showed up here. They think he's beautiful. I still have Cody in my mind and heart and this dog doesn't come close. I'll be walking to the clothes line and suddenly feel something wet and warm on my hand at my side. He licks me, Yuck!!!!!!!! And he must be tied up when we leave or he, oh I keep forgetting, she wanders. OK, I'll be nice and stop at that, but I want to state for history I'm afraid she'll be trouble and I voted no, more than once!!

Silas is growing daily, I mean it!! We have to keep a stash of pants because he constantly needs a new size when we head out somewhere. He would eat constantly, if allowed, and claims rarely to feel full. The current height ranking here is Steve at 5'11", Abigail at 5'4", Silas at 5'3" and then me at 5'1" with the others still staying in there place behind me.