First 3D Movie

Summer of 2009
Little Rock, Arkansas
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs



You see all my brood with Ava in Logan Adcock's lap. The "Nuddah Mckena" in the middle.





I wish I had pics of the next time we went to a 3D movie last summer. We took Grandaddy to see Toy Story 3. He said he didn't really understand the beginning (that would be the previews,) but he liked it once it got going. Anything with cowboys you know....

Long Hair, Big Heart

Sammie has been growing her hair for some time now, so she could donate it to a company that makes wigs for cancer patients.







Pantene will take 8 inches and Locks of Love will take 10 inches. It's easy. It's free. And, it could add some smiles to an otherwise crazy hard place in life.

I'm proud of my girl. And, I'm praying she's always on the giving end of this gift.

Ava Turns 4

Ava turned 4 on September 30th.



She helped make her own cake. White cake with strawberry jam between layers and pink frosting.




You can always tell the favorite gift by whether or not they sleep with it. This was a Playskool digital camera -- virtually indestructible -- from Grandaddy.



Grandma and Grandpa Scheurich came over the weekend to celebrate again and brought this beautiful cake.


Much loved by her sibs...

A Roundoff from Sam, and A Dive from Chase

We bought a new Canon digital camera that also shoots high-definition video, which is ideal for occasions like Sammie's final day of gymnastics camp. Of course, a camera is only good if the battery is charged. On this day, unfortunately it wasn't, but I didn't realize it until it was too late. I missed her demonstration, but was able to get this post-show roundoff thanks to my handy Droid...

A week or so later, while Dad was staying with us for a while, Kristin took the kids to Bryan Park pool on a weekday. The kids had taken swim lessons earlier in the summer, and Sam and Chase were ready to swim on their own...in the deep end. They wanted to go down the slide, and jump off the diving board, but they needed to pass the lifeguard's swim test first. They both passed with flying colors. Here's what happened next. Thank the Lord that Dad's new smartphone doubles as video camera, too. Listen to Kristin's commentary. Priceless.

"It's A Small World" by Sam, Chase & Ava

Here's an impromptu performance by the kids as we drove to town yesterday to run some errands.

Tubing at Lake Monroe

Some good friends of ours invited us to go to the lake the day after the 4th of July. Here are a few pictures and videos of the kids tubing for the first time in their lives. What a day...

Original American Girls

To celebrate our sweet niece's birthday and the special friendship that Samantha and Lilly share, my sister-in-law Kate and I set out on an adventure to the American Girl Doll Store in Chicago.




















One of the many reasons for this adventure was to show Sam Chicago. To show her you can serve yogurt and granola in something other than paper bowls! Dream big, baby! And, yes, by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin, I rode the giant ferris wheel. We all were challenged in our own ways!




See the photo of Sam next to a poster of Lanie? She really wanted that doll! Now, look at the photo below of Sam with her own "Just Like You" doll (in the hand-made dress from Shipshewana -- thanks Grandma!) I told her we were not going to spend $100 on a doll that looked just like the one she already has.















































After we made all the necessary purchases, we had lunch at the AG Cafe. Since Samantha's doll had an appointment at the salon to have her hair done, she was able to borrow Felicity to join us for lunch. We thought the desserts were precious -- butterfly cookies and dirt cups with daisies.

You'll notice that Sammie wanted her hair done like her doll's. Thank God for Aunt Kate -- because dear Mommy couldn't figure it out! The girls were so excited about the fancy bathroom that their heads were literally spinning!