Kicking off the Summer

We set up a small waterslide for the kids utilizing the playset, their pool, and a garden hose. Needless to say, they had a blast!! This is a video montage of the summer fun. Notice how cautious Dakota is about sliding and how Ali just lets go!

Jammin with the Fam!!

A few saturdays ago Paul and I and my sibs converged at Kayla and Aarons for Rockband night! Some of you may be familiar with the xbox 360 game. For those of you that aren't - it has a drum set, 2 quitars and a microphone and you play/sing the "notes" on the screen and it gives you a rating!! We took turns being lead guitarist, bass guitarist, drummer, and vocalist. It was really an exercise in teamwork, because if one band member was failing, the other band members had an opportunity to rescue them and continue the song. If the entire band was performing poorly, then the fans would boo us off the stage, so we had to focus and work together for a stellar performance. We had a great time with lots of laughs!

Aaron figures out the drumming while I give the guitar a try

Danielle seems to be concentrating really hard!

Jess is quite the singer! Even when he doesn't know the words!

Interesting camera angle here - notice Jess in the background REALLY letting loose! Kayla is also showing some love to the camera...

This view may give you a better idea of how the game works.

Nice Jess!! I think that Jesse gets the award for “Most Entertaining to Watch”.

Umm.... interesting pose

A little family love

Dani takes her rockin' out seriously

I really don't know what to say about this pic!

I discovered Kayla and Aaron are quite the Jimmy Buffett fans

Riley was quite irritated that we were making so much racket and interrupting his usually quiet and peaceful evening time. And that is Kayla on the guitar in the background - notice she lays it on her lap and plays it like a piano! Very creative!

A Belated Father's Day Post

In honor of Father's Day I wanted to post a few pictures of Paul and our kids. I think he is an amazing Dad but, then again, I am a little biased! There are no pics of him with Ali as a newborn tho, because at that time we didn't have a digital camera!

My two tired boys!

Watching Jesse play at the dome in Indy - we didn't realize until we got there that Dakota had a fever. So he spent most of the time cuddling on Daddy's lap.

When Ali was hospitalized with RSV (a viral respritory tract infection) he squeezed into her small croup tent to keep her company!


Helping to give them a pony ride

I love you babe! Thanks for being such an involved Dad!

Good Relaxing Times!

I had a rare opportunity to spend a day with my sis-in-law Natalie on Tuesday! Just the two of us and our kiddos doing nothing but relaxing and chatting.(we were at our mother-in-law's house but she was gone for the day). We live far enough apart that this really never happens so that made it that much more fun! The next day Ali was begging to go to Portia's house! I promised her we would try sometime soon.

Natalie - it was great spending time with you!

My kids absolutely love to play with this little landscape stream that their Uncle Tim put in the backyard at my In-laws!

Natalie and Ali playing a game of tag with Portia.

Dakota enjoys a snack.

What If......

I am sure that those of you reading this who also have children will agree with me.....

PARENTING IS TOUGH!

As I have been pondering this recently I have been struck by a thought over and over.


My children aren't mine. They belong to God.


For some of you this might be a no-brainer and I admit that I really have known this before but it has only recently been something that has really been on my mind. God gave me these precious gifts to raise for him. Do I treat them as if this is the case? Disciplining them and teaching them right and wrong isn't really for my benefit. Sure, having well behaved children who listen makes for a generally more enjoyable day, week, month, etc.... But that isn't why I am called to train them up in the way they should go! I am called to do these things so that in learning to obey their parent(s), they are prepared to learn to obey CHRIST!


How am I doing in this area? When my child asks the same question for what feels like the 300th time, do I still patiently answer it or do I snap at them? When I see an opportunity to train them, do I brush it aside because I am to tired or I have dishes to do or I FINALLY found a moment to do something for myself? Or do I pray that God will give me the strength to continue? Am I encouraging my children in doing right or only coming down on the wrong? Am I truly parenting in a way that I believe God wants me to?


What if I kept this thought in my heart as I parented? Would it change how I am training my children?