A Splurge and A Splash!

At the end of last summer, we dreamt of having a pool to help make the summer of 2010 more bearable. And yesterday, we made that dream a reality. We spent the evening mowing and getting the backyard ready for the pool. This morning, we set up the pool. At noon, we started filling the pool. The boys have had so much fun being in the pool while it fills this afternoon.

Russ was smoothing out the bottom here. Well, he was until I requested a photo op.

By six o'clock, I was in the pool, and the water was only up to my thighs! I can't believe how slowly the pool is filling and am slightly concerned with what our water bill will be. The water was freezing cold, but with temps in the high 90s it felt great. I have found my cure to hating summer in Oklahoma.

We are setting strict rules and safety measures in regards to pool use with adults only. The ladder will come up when not in use and there is a debris cover that will make it a little less inviting. I will also have to be a little more watchful now when the boys are playing outside. Prayers are welcome. I think Sam will do fine, but it is Dellen I want to keep an eye on as it will be deeper than him. He will have to wear his floaties. He also has a swimsuit with a little life jacket built into it.

And so we invite our friends and family to bring a swimsuit when you come to visit, and splash around with us.

Russ is My Hero

I am very thankful that Russ works just across the street! I called him quickly yesterday, after discovering a snake slithering in the laundry room bathroom. The boys have these little plastic snakes and I thought that was what was on the floor. I startled the snake as I approached to pick it up, screamed screamed screamed when it started to slither and then thoroughly scared it. All I told the church secretary was that Russ needed to come directly home due to the snake in the house! Russ was able to catch the rather little garter snake, and Sam and Dellen loved having it caught in this little cage. I felt a little sheepish when Russ saw how little the guy was. I was just in total shock when the snake slithered in my house in front of me.

Here is the comparison of the real snake and the toy snake, which we have several of. They all hang out in my bathroom as bath toys.

Mema thought is was cool. Apparently her son had pet snakes when he was growing up. We were on our way to release the snake a block away from the house, as I wouldn't let the boys keep it for a pet.

The release! Sam picked the snake up out of the cage and we were going to take a picture, but my camera wasn't on and the snake really squirmed and wrapped around to bite Sam and he threw it. We shewed it over to the dirt. By that point, it had been jostled inside a cage for a good hour.

We had just eaten lunch with the college students and our neighbors at the cafe, and were still altogether for the release. What excitement.

....unfortunately, Russ may not long stay my hero as I keep finding the little toy snakes and also two larger ones lying around the house. Some do nothing for me, while others (like the one pictured below) are a little more creepy! This was my real view, only littler, when I found the real one.

It does give me the creeps to even see it here. I am left wondering, how did it get inside and how many more of these little babies are slithering around inside my house. Yuck!

Vacation Bible School

During this last week, we've enjoyed Vacation Bible School, aka VBS! The theme was Saddle Ridge Ranch; Rounding Up Questions and Driving Home Answers. It was spectacular fun.

The children learned all about the ABCs of becoming a Christian.

A - Admit to God that you are a sinner. Repent, turn away from your sin.

(Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:9)

B - Believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son and accept God's gift of forgiveness from sin.

(John 3:16; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:11-13)

C - Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

(Romans 10:9-10, 13)

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Enjoy the videos below by clicking on the bottom left play arrow.

Dellen's first time warming up to bat




Dellen's first hit




Dellen as first baseman - first time out in the field
He makes me laugh - notice how he runs into the dugout with his glove on his head!




Dellen's second hit




Dellen running home

Sam at bat (this is the only clip I got of Sam, as I forgot to turn off the camera after one of Dellen's turns and ran down the battery).



Tball won their game, and Machine Pitch got whooped. Fun and well played jobs for the first games of the season. This is my third season for watching a child in sports, but my first having two children playing ball. They do not play at the same time, so that helps. Russ is helping coach both teams, and I therefore, ended up helping the Tballers in the dugout. Yikes - now that was busy! Sam was a year older than Dellen is now, when he first started playing baseball. I don't regret that at all, and can see a big difference. Dellen is more than thrilled to be playing though. He was very shy to go out to get ready to bat the first time, and then was absolutely disengaged by the end of the game and didn't want to stay in the dugout. He is the youngest player on the team. He hit the ball well though, and talked afterwards about how fast he ran.

And so, other than next week because that is our VBS, we will be playing baseball on Tuesdays and Fridays through the end of June. Summer is here!

Marty and Teresa

From the 6th through the morning of the 12th, we had some good friends of ours from Denver here, Marty and Teresa. I used to work with Teresa, attended the same church with them, and were in a wonderful small group with them. Our friendship has been the kind that endures through the years and over many miles separating us. We are grateful for their visit with us and blessed by their friendship.

The boys, especially Sam, just clung to Marty. He played many games with him.

Our schedule was full of events while they were here, but on Monday, we went down to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and enjoyed a very windy day down there. (This was the Monday of the severe tornado outbreak in central Oklahoma, and we were thankful we hadn't chosen to go to OKC instead).

Everything was so green and lush. I love May in Oklahoma.

Dellen is only offering grass to this little fellow, as we explained all the negatives of feeding the prairie dogs. This was the closest they got to one another.

It is an absolute guarantee to see the buffalo herd when we drive through. (knock on wood, of course). We are going to go camping there soon, and look forward to more time exploring everything.

We were about to blow off the top of Mt. Scott! Dellen finally sat down after nearly taking flight!

We concluded the afternoon by eating at Meers. Delicious!

Awana Boat Race

To conclude the Awana activities and Wednesday night activities at church, we had a hot dog cookout and boat race. The boys have been building their boats with Russ over the last month, and anxiously looked forward to the fun evening.

This year was Dellen's second year to race, and Sam's fourth.

Dellen won second for the Cubbies and his best friend, Karson, won first. Dellen was thrilled to have earned his first trophy, and said he now had one of his own to go next to Sam's trophies.

Outside Fun

When there aren't storms, and the wind isn't blowing us away, and when the schedule isn't jammed pack, we are enjoying some time outside. Me in my garden, and the boys playing, playing, playing. These pictures are their idea. I also have to keep these shot up cans now for "their collection". They do have to stay in the garage though.

I have never actually gone with them when they shoot the gun. I figure that is the privilege of having boys, and Daddy can enjoy those rougher tougher moments with them. I can usually enjoy about an hour of peace while everyone is gone. I should encourage this hobby more often.

We were able to fix the trampoline netting with fishing line, but continue to mend when new tears appear. The net is definitely weaker after the ice storms.

Isabella Noelle

Isabella Noelle was born on April 26th, weighing 6 lbs and was 19 1/2 inches long. She is my second precious niece, but the first girl born this generation on my side of the family. My grandma had two sons, they had five daughters, and these women (myself included) have had seven more sons....until now.

We welcomed our newest little niece into the world via a trip to Dodge City. My mom was also able to drive out and we all stayed at my sister's house. The cousins really enjoyed time together, and I loved holding a little newborn.

Kyle and Sam played a lot of video games.

And Dellen, well he loved Bella and has asked for a baby sister.

Bella was so little! My babies were huge compared to her, so I never experienced holding and loving on such a small bundle of joy. It is amazing what a couple of pounds can do at that age.