Ben walking!

The pool is OPEN!!

Yay!!!

It's been a long time coming but I'm glad to say the pool is finally open! ANYONE is welcome to come swim. Please just call ahead.

(p.s. - next week we should be having a contractor installing a fence but I've learned, through this process, to not hold my breath waiting for contractors... so I'm just saying COME SWIM!!!... and if the fence guy really does show up, then we'll reschedule) :)

I just loved this picture... my three big boys fishing together. :)

I'll just say it right here since the chatbox will be filled with it soon anyway ;) ---- he's so CUUUUTE!!!! (if I do say so myself) I love you, baby boy...

I couldn't decide which of these two pictures was cutest, so I'm posting them both...

Jesse caught another one - this time with his own pole and not Kate's "Lucky Barbie Fishing Pole." ;)

Crazy mutt! At one point we looked over and there she is - literally swimming around in the pond. Man, was she dirty!!

Molly was VERY interested in the fish too. Ugh, she was FILTHY!!!! by the time we came in. And poor dog... she just kind of sat at the door and gave me the sad-puppy eyes wondering why she couldn't come in the house. Needless to say, she got a bath last night.

Here he is teaching her how to cast her own line (which she is now pretty good at!... though she's not as careful as I'd like her to be about watching where that hook is swinging!)

This was so sweet -- Sam being a big brother and helping Kate bait her hook. Though, I do have to mention... Kate is NOT a priss. She has no problem picking up those nasty, slimey, wiggly worms with her own hands.

Isaac enjoyed trying all the different colorful lures. But we found out that the fish like real live worms the best.

Jesse catches the second one. Good job, Jess. :)

Aaaaaand guess who caught the first fish!! Yep... Katie Mae! (she's very proud of herself, can you tell?) :)

Woo-hoo!! FISHING POLES!!! Thank you, Daddy...

This is the drawback of having the older brother, Isaac, get the baby ready for the day... he ends up with a fauxhawk... AND a cereal-box-tattoo on his back!! (Mama was not happy about that one) Doesn't Ben's face look like he's saying "Uh-oh... you're in trouble."

:)

Sam did this with almost NO help at all!

Look at my boy wield that sledgehammer!!

This is my Sam doing what Isaac calls "DESTRUCTION!" at Gma and Gpa's house. He's got a sledgehammer and is breaking apart the stone fireplace. Go Sam!!

This is another way our youngest son chooses to unwind after a long, stressful day. ;)

Ben's got it made -- just chillin' in the pool... floatin'... ahhhhhhh... :) (and yes, there's someone RIGHT beside him - don't worry)

Yay!! The pool is "swimmable"!

Awww, poor Ben. Your brothers are laughing at you!

Here's Sam in the VBS program this past Friday night. He was King Nebuchadnezzar, the proud king. :) (and Nesie is the wonderful narrator) -- you guys did a GREAT job!!

Awwww....

Happy Anniversary to us (tomorrow). :) 15 YEARS! (I canNOT be that old!!!) And can my husband pick a beautiful arrangement, or what?

THANK YOU for the flowers, honey. Can't wait till our date! :)

I didn't even ask this time, did I, Kay? (I'm stealing a quote from her blog again) ;) This one struck me b/c I've been convicted about this lately in my own life...

"It doesn't matter how strong your opinions are. If you don't use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem." -- Coretta Scott King

Hmmmm.....

And speaking of Mom A..... :) here she is on a picnic with Kate. Thanks for the visit, Grandma! We love you! :)

If I could crop myself out of this picture, I would (ugh!)... but then Ben would be just hanging there... suspended by the mystery-arm. :) But... it's a great picture of everyone else. Thanks for this pic too, Mom A. (well... sorta. It would have been nice if you could have taken it when I looked just a little less skanky) ;)

I love this picture (thanks, Mom A., for sharing it!) :)

Psalm 51: 10, 12

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me...

Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation

and sustain me with a willing spirit.