Philip's Birthday

No, this picture doesn't make sense. It's obvious I haven't done this in awhile. I can't get the pictures to move around and I uploaded some in the wrong order. With dial-up, I'm not about to redo all these uploads to get it right. Sorry. OK....
Philip chose to go to Wonder Works in Pigeon Forge for his birthday. That WAS his birthday gift and he was very pleased with it.






Yes, this picture is correct, WonderWorks is made to look like a building that's been turned upside down due to an earthquake or such. In the first two pictures listed you can see that the entry is made to look upside down too. The place is full of fun things to do.

Philip and Karrigan gearing up in the roller coaster simulator. This was the biggest hit of all. The thing spins, tips and dives while you watch a video.



It's amazing that this is indoors. I call it an air bike. The faster you peddle the faster you spin.

Steve, Philip and Silas preparing to go.

Abigail testing her grip, something she's very proud of.

This is really what it looks like it is.

The puck for this game is virtual, it's a bouncing light that you control.

Philip on the climbing wall.

Philip isn't mad, he's concentrating very hard while he control a robotic arm that is like the one used at the Space Station.

There was lots more to do and with coupons I found, we were able to enjoy a game of laser tag at no extra cost. Everyone thought it was a blast and to top it all off, Philip won.

If you should choose to go, take a pair of earplugs, the background noise is very loud and gave us a headache after being there all evening. A positive thing is they are open until midnight and the ticket price gets you in for a whole day.

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.