Summer....

This is going to be a fun summer. The kids are loving the outdoors.  This was today after our swim in the kiddy pool. 

This morning we started the day with play group and a picnic at Elsa's house. 

This was last week when Green Bean was learning how to squirt a hose.  

Pink Bean thought she would give lessons to Green Bean. 

The kids watching daddy put together a table from our day trip to Cincinnati to Ikea and to visit the Butlers. 

The kids didn't want to leave.  We had a great time catching up and watching the kids run around the back yard all dressed up for play. 

Pumpkin Fun....

Kids had a blast watching the pumpkins all summer that we accidentally grew. They were not very big, but the kids had a great time with them.  

Zoo. .... Dry Day

Since it poured down rain at the company zoo day.... They gave everyone another set of tickets to go another day. We had a really fun group planning on going and pinkbean got the Flu. So we planned another group to go and spent the whole day at the water park. Most schools had started so it was empty once again with no lines and lots of places to sit. 

Isabell, Meg's, Emerald, Molly, Cooper and Kora. 

Pink Bean loved this pool area. 

The slides were just her size. 

She was afraid of this area until it was time to go home. Then I could not get her off of the pirate ship. 

This area was attached to the pirate ship. It looked like a blast. 

However..... This is what happen every couple of minutes and pink bean was NOT impressed.  Yes. That is the same place as pictures above. 

Pink bean also got her first ever pop can. She was cracking us all up with her drinking position. 

Here is the group in the cooler cave.  Enjoying some pop. 

We had a great day.  Special thanks to my mom who kept green bean.  It made the day so nice not to have to chase after him all day.  

Time....

Where does the time go???  This lil guy is  just over two months old.  I had to pull out all the 3 to 6 month clothes today for him. 

His siblings love giving him attention.

He is always looking around for them. 

Pink bean enjoys singing to him and is an amazing little helper.   She loves to hold him and sing in such a soft loving voice. 

Hoping to get back on some kind of track with editing.  Thanks to all who still stop by our family blog. 

Daddy Day....Flag Day.... and Everyday....

What an amazing almost 7 year Journey it has been with Daddy and I.  The kids and I are so thankful for a loving, VERY patient, hard working daddy - who loves us and provides for us all in so many ways. 

We love you Daddy!  Happy Daddy Day!

Also to my Dad...  God has put our family in a new place this year with Dad becoming an Elder of our local church.  (Which for those who follow along ...this is a voted position by the church... not one that a man chooses to do as a career for his life)  One place that we would rather sit back and watch someone else's family be in.  But by God's grace we pray that we can become stronger as a family and be who God needs us to be.  Thank you Dad for being an amazing father who taught us right from wrong.  "Be Positive"  is the biggest thing you have ingrained in our head over our life time.  I am so THANKFUL for your positive example over so many years of my life.  Have a great fathers day...

Also to Sam's dad... who passed away a couple months after we were married.  I never really knew you.  But the one thing I know is that you have an AMAZING son - that we are so proud and thankful for.  In respects... we thank you for molding him into a man. 

I should have broke this into a couple post...

But here was to Flag day this past week....

 I never like to be on this end of the camera...

especially when I am nine months pregnant...

39 weeks as I type... with my scheduled date on Thursday...

but I also realize I have NO photos with me and the kids...

so I took one for the team... (Ha)

 My lil cuddle bug.

 My lil' BIG girl...

 Pink Bean did a great job with getting a picture of Daddy and I.

 No crying pictures for this photo op... which is a first....

 But the kids had lots of giggles and MOVEMENT for the pictures....

 I pray all of you all have a WONDERFUL week.   

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want:

for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.



Easter Hop Along

Long lost update from Easter Good Friday hop along day with the Hartzler cousins. Last year we did a hop along event day for the kids at Easter time.    So again on Good Friday we planned a hop along day for the kids. The theme this year was "JESUS".  Each stop we did a letter and had a game or activity for the kids.

You can click on this link to view last years...

http://sjgardner.blogspot.com/2012/04/good-friday-040611.html

First stop was "J" at Grandma Hartzler house.  This was J for Jesus. Grandma served the kids a bag of gold fish, had the kids sing songs about Fishers of men, then she had a pool full of fish for the kids to go fishing in. 

Here is the Hartzler Cousins at the First stop...

Being Fishers of Men....

Lil Green Bean just wanted to sit in the pool... he wasn't sure about all the fishing...

Next Stop was the Steiners.  Julie had the letter "E" for teaching the kids about Easter.  Julie hid the resurrections eggs in her basement.  The kids had to find the eggs and then pieces from inside the egg in order of the how the story went.  This was a great game for ALL the ages of kids.  Julie served the kids fresh squeezed GRAPE juice.  It was amazing! 

The kids putting the story in order...

Green Bean had a little tea party with Grandma H. while the kids play the game. 

Next stop was at Grandma Bonnie house.  We provided an Easter Lunch pale and have the letter "S" for stone and we talked about the stone being rolled away and Jesus resurrection. 

Here are all the girl cousins...

Here were all the boy cousins...

had to share of us always trying to take pictures of everything :"o)

Grandma Bonnie made ham and cheese sandwiches made out of tie die Easter bread, then we filled plastic eggs with food.  One with Grapes, One with Pretzels and One with M&M's, Yogurt Stick and a water bottle.  Grandma Bonnie even made cute little chicks with everyone names on them for each seat. 

Here is another picture of the group..

Then we had the kids roll a stone across the floor and have a race to who could roll the stone away the fastest.  This was funny to watch... but the kids did great.

Next stop was Aunt Joanna's.  Here the letter was "U" for U can teach others about Jesus.  Joanna had the kids play "Jesus" just like Bingo.  She had lots of facts to teach the kids about Jesus and how they can share with other.  The playing pieces were M&M's and the kids enjoyed EATING and playing. 

Another picture of the game and group...

Last stop was at the Baltic's.  The letter here was "S" for know your Scriptures.  Here Aunt Amy taught us a song to help us memorize a verse.  The kids did a great job at singing and learning along. 

Then we finished up with Yummy ICE-CREAM sundaes...

and... the kids got to go outside and walk around the baby sheep.  Which is always a hit with the kids.

Here is lil Walter.  He didn't play to many games... but he did get to come along the Hop Along.  His mommy said he wasn't rolling over and when we looked up.. he had rolled over on the table.  Always a first for everything! 

Here are some of the kids with the baby ba-ba. 

We had a great day with the kids and hope that each year they will at least remember one thing about Jesus and how important he is in all of our lives.