Iphone Dump / Random Happenings

Every now and again, I clean off the random pictures that have accumulated on my phone.  Some of them are from just a day or two ago and some of them are a few weeks or even months old by now.  So that's why they fall as part of my "I phone dump".

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I found this picture from a screenshot I saved when Melayna went to Ag Days at our Local Fairgrounds.  Despite the fact that they are wearing coats,   I think this picture was actually taken in April.

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Here is another picture from my nephew's senior photoshoot.  Although we didn't know the family where we took my nephew's pictures, they said it would be great if Nolan played on their playset.  

He loved it!

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I found a few selfies....

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I only got two blooms off my peony bush this year.  I cut them both and brought them inside to enjoy them for a couple of days.  They always have one or two HUGE flowers but then unfortunately, that's it.

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"Miss Kathy" works during open swim at our high school pool so we have gotten to know her better over the years.  Now, with the girls swimming club swim at the pool four nights a week, her and Nolan have really struck up a friendship.  She usually lets him "help" her set up and then pays him with candy and other sweets.

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This is from a concert that the girls played for us last week.  They are getting so good at their instruments and I love it when they bless us by playing songs together.

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Before heading to the beach last week, we stopped at Meijers to pick up a few things.  Needless to say, we got a little "sidetracked" by the comfy chairs and accessories!  LOL

We did eventually make it to the beach where it promptly started raining after about five minutes and we had to load back up and head home.

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Noel headed back to the state track and field finals down at Indiana University with the other coaches and a few of our runners.

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I found this extra of Morgan from our recent photoshoot.  This was one of her favorites taken on the night that she was inducted into the middle school honor society.

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Someone just might have discovered new filters on my instagram account and so we had to have some fun with them, right?

The kids decided that this was NOT a good look for me!!  LOL

And I decided that this was NOT a good look for Nolan!!

This "Top Gun" filter looks better!  LOL

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Another day.

Another stop at Meijers.

Another distraction.

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And finally... saving the best for last!  The kids were playing in the sprinkler the other day to cool off and they obviously got really soaked.  To dry off, they all decided to lay in the sun on our back deck.  When I looked out the window, all three girls were laying there in their clothes -- but Nolan decided to take it one step farther.

(Don't tell him that you saw these pictures here though.  He looked up and caught me with the camera and made me delete them.  Course, he doesn't know that you can "restore" pictures back to your camera roll)  LOL

And now I finally have all of the pictures off of my camera and you're caught up on the day to day in our house.  

Random Reasons for Our Absence

Oh my goodness!  Where has the last week (or two) gone?  

I guess we're just living life.  'Trying to enjoy family time in our evenings without swim team or meetings.  We are slowly making the switch from swimming to track and we've been trying to enjoy warmer weather to run or bike ride as a family.  'Not always things that make the blog or even a camera - but refreshing all the same.

We have made sure to enjoy open swim at our local community pool a couple of nights.  Last week we went two different nights and both times I jumped in (to the cold water) with the kids and while Morgan and Marissa swam laps and tried to do a work-out of some sort, I convinced Nolan to take off his life jacket so he could practice swimming.  He's slowly getting the hang of the dog paddle and just might be able to keep himself above the water for a short while.  Maybe this will be the summer that he learns to swim!!

Last Tuesday night in honor of "March is Music in our Schools Month", Morgan had a band concert along with the choir and orchestra.  They only performed three songs but all of them sounded great!  I cannot believe how good our middle school band can be.  We really enjoyed the concert!!

Well, at least most of us....

... Some were too tired to enjoy it and ended up having a good quick nap instead!

I got my new washing machine this week.  Yay!

After three or four weeks without one, I was really excited for sure!!

And then on Friday night, Morgan went up with her band to compete in a band competition.  They had an interesting night with the bus getting them there late and then finding out that their percussion had forgotten some of their drumsticks, etc.  but overall they did another great job and brought home a gold!

Can you find Morgan in the picture below?

Random Updates & an iPhone dump

Earlier in the school year, Melayna designed her own notecards for an art project.  The art teacher chose her design and had them printed up into notecards that we could buy as a fund-raiser for her school.  Here is her design:

I received a postcard from my parents latest adventure:

Can you see the postmark?  Apparently the postcard was sent from "Hell".

I have to admit, that's a first for me!!

And Nolan lost his sock hat last week at the girls' swim meet.  (It was left on the bleachers actually).  So when we were at Menards running errands with Noel last week, I asked him to look for another one.  He responded with, "Found one!"  I don't know... maybe this one just isn't the right color!!

He did try this hat on and pretended to be a ninja for about five minutes sneaking around corners and jumping out in front of people.  But then he decided that he didn't want to "wear it in public" so we picked a regular sock hat instead.

Oh, and then he was happy to find that unicorns do really exist!!

Finally, in another update....  Marissa had one of her conservation projects chosen to be presented before the school board so she will have the opportunity to do that this coming Thursday.  Between the conservation project, designing roller coasters, or participating in Cyber Patriot contests, Marissa really seems to be thriving in school these days and we are super grateful for this.

And now you are updated on some random day to day happenings in our house!

Just Pictures I Want to Remember ~ An iPod Dump

I got to drive a construction worker all around town the other day.  

Does that make you jealous?

Then, when I was trying to take Melayna's pictures later that week, he followed us around with clumps of grass in his hands...

...and provided his own backdrop.  LOL  

Oh that boy!  What am I going to do with him?

Last Thursday night Melayna had a friend home from school with her.  They were playing outside and the sun started to go down.  It was the most magical light ever!!

Catching Up Through the Random Photos

Our days are full if you haven't figured that out yet.  But in the midst of swimming lessons and swim meets and doctor visits and eye drops, we also have the ordinary moments that we don't want to forget.  Like some of these gems that I found on my iPod:

1.  How about the time Nolan wanted to be Daddy?

2.  Or when the girls made the crafts that Shelby brought for them?

3.  Seeing Noel in his "rec specs" is a common sight these days.  We are so glad that he doesn't have to wear the eye patch during the day anymore.

4.  We got a surprise delivery of pizza for dinner one night last week, which Nolan really enjoyed!

5.  And then two days later, we got a Chinese delivery.  

That meant we all had to practice using chopsticks!!

6.  Some serious homeschooling has been going on as well.  Last week the girls studied an artist named 'Degas'.  He was known for making art that looked like it was moving.  Both girls practiced making their own "moving art".  Below their pieces, you can see another picture that Marissa recently completed.  

7.  We are studying the Middle East so our wall is going to be covered in flags soon.  So far we have enjoyed talking about the cultures and traditions of these countries that are so rich in History.  We have studied where King Xerxes and Esther probably lived and where Noah's Ark was found and also where Jesus walked when he lived on the Earth.  It's neat to put pictures to the stories that the girls have grown up listening to.  We are excited to continue making our way through the Middle East once again next week.

8.  Our week was full of science experiments, like the day we stuck a tissue inside a glass and then submerged it in water.   Do you think the tissue got wet?  If you don't know, you can ask my girls for the results.

9.  Daddy has gotten involved with our schooling a couple of times now.  On Thursday he helped us hotglue our art projects and last week he taught a math lesson or two.  We could really get use to that!!

10.  Nolan likes to get involved in school.  Whether it's doing math games on the Kindle, putting puzzle pieces together, or confiscating Morgan's art project.... he's always right there!

'Reminds me of a story that happened last week.

Melayna and Nolan were working on shapes.  He was doing really well, even recognizing a pentagon and a hexagon.  After they were done, Morgan said "Nolan, you should tell Laynie 'thank you' because she's a really good teacher and you are a really good student".  Without missing a beat, Nolan said "You're welcome!!"