KU Football

This afternoon after all 3 boys had played they loaded into the van for a roadtrip. The boys, including Rod, all got to go to the KU game today. Rod sent me some pictures with his new phone. I tried to get him to take the real camera; but as wet as it looks I am glad that he didn't. KU had no problem with a victory and Josh and Andrew got to enjoy their first college football game.





Yes, that is dirt on Joshua's nose. Looks a little wet and chilly for the girls not too disappointed that Liz and I opted out.

Football is Beginning

Last weekend the boys had their first scrimmages. Unfortunately that meant I took Jerod one way and Rod took the other 2 the other way. It was very fun and Papa and Grandma got to come up and catch Jerod and Andrew play. Looking forward to a fun season.

Wedding Fun

On August 7, Cassie Meyer and Daniel Reif were married. That is special in and of itself, since they were former youth group kids; but the story is even sweeter when it was Rod that did the wedding and Liz was the flower girl. We had a great and busy weekend. Rod and Liz both did a great job and it was so exciting to see some old faces and be together with old friends.

In the morning, I'm making Waffles!

For any Shrek fans you know this title as Donkey's line in the Shrek movie. However, I love real waffles. However, I always Leggo my Eggo. So I have been looking at Belgium Waffle Makers for a while and Kohls had a good deal this week so I bought one. We had waffles this morning and they were awesome. I am so excited.

Purity

Rod and I had the opportunity to attend a wedding recently where the bride and groom shared their first kiss at the altar. It was very cool and wonderful to see how God blesses a commitment to purity so outside the norm of this world.

I came across another such story today. Although, I don't know this couple I have bought some wonderful products from Doorposts. Enjoy.

http://www.doorposts.com/jhforsterwedding.aspx

Next week Rod will wed another couple who took a vow to save themselves for their wedding day and they are absolutely giddy with anticipation. Rod and I can't wait to celebrate the beauty of this marriage as well.

How does a young man (woman)keep his way pure by obeying God's word.

God Blessings.

Catching Up

Okay. It has been a while. Baseball finished this week. Football starts next week. Basketball is happening in the mix of it all. Just a laid back summer league. Rod's work is crazy. Praying he can accomplish all he needs to without losing the rest of his hair or his mind. School starts in a 1 1/2 weeks. Thought I would let the boys get one week of Football under their belts before we hit the books.

We had a great vacation in Breckenridge. We stayed in a beautiful house with Rod's family and cousins. Weather was incredible and so were the mountains. Josh, Andrew and I went white water rafting for the first time. We had the best guide. He wanted to win and was more competitive than the Martins. I know hard to believe. Only one injury by Jerod; but some Superglue and Seri-strips and he was back at it. Looks like he will have a good scar to remember it by.



Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Cleaning Up

This weekend we will host the annual Love Reunion. Usually the whole family chips in to do the yard, garage and house clean-up that I so desperately think needs to be done. However, Rod left town on Monday and has been gone all week. He will get home in time for the baseball game on Friday giving us a few hours before Saturday guests arrived.

So far we have mowed and weedeated the yard, totally overhauled the garage, cleaned out the toy room (removed 2 black trash bags), dropped off 5 bags at the Goodwill, trimmed trees, laundry is almost caught up, made cake balls and pasta salad, and no one has physically hurt each other.

But the week has not been all work. 4 nights at the ball park, bowling with friends, playing the Wii. We still have some clean up work to do. I so wish I had before and after pictures to show you. This wordy post does not do it justice.

This post is for Grandma Pam and Grandpa Scott

Kamen pitched tonight. I caught a few shots. Here they are.

Baseball, AIC, Turtles, and Tractors

We have been searching for Pam Martin's new blog post.








Wow summer is flying by and I realized I have not blog in a very long time. We are having a busy baseballing summer. We have also gone bowling twice, Laser Quest for youth, and swimming a few times. Hope all of you are enjoying your summer. Here are a few pictures to share.









With all three boys playing baseball it means pretty much 5 nights a week at baseball.








Jerod had a lot of fun driving the tractor we rented to do some yard work and rental work. This was a cool snapping turtle that the neighbors had rescued from the road.









All the kids were patiently waiting for their final scores at Laser Quest. We had a fun kick off to the summer youth group.

A Day I Have Waited For

Last night we went to the Skillet concert. I love Skillet. I have been a Skillet fan for a while. However, when they come in concert it is never to Wichita. They have come to KC and to Dodge City; but it has never worked for us to go. Since they were coming to Wichita we did some rearranging of baseball and off we went to the concert. David and Valerie took care of Liz and the rest of us headed out. We had a great time. There were 3 bands. The Letter Black, Red and Skillet all played. It was a pretty loud concert; but when Skillet came out and played it was so worth it. We had 15 of us all together that went. Brett, Kim, Nolan, Nathan, Molly, Noah, Elijah, Kamen, Kaulin, Cale, Jerod, Joshua, Andrew, Rod and me. Kim and I were laughing cause no one at Kim's work could believe she was going to Skillet. She just doesn't look like a "Rocker Chick". When The Letter Black threw in a little screamo at the beginning I think she saw why people were a bit surprised. What a great night.

Fly Fly Away

My 4 boys (Rod included) all got a really cool experience today. Thank you so much to the ICM crew. What a great bunch of men they are. They got to go up in a 6 seater plane. They really had a great time. One of the cool things was that a friend of Jerod's was in the cockpit and the pilot actually let him fly the plane almost the whole time including landing. Jerod was a bit jealous and wished he hadn't just given that cool spot up; but it all worked out.

Here are just a few photos from up in the plane.

Sunny Days

Yes, spring has finally sprung. 2 days worth celebrating. Yesterday we headed to the zoo except Rod and Jerod. Jerod is doing a dissection class on the west side of town so we dropped him off and headed to the zoo. It was very fun.

Today we are outside just hanging out. I am updating the blog and the kids are jumping on the trampoline. We still have some book work today and alot of "educators" would say I am neglecting my teaching duties. I say we are exercising our bodies and learning to be a better brother and friend. Lizzie is learning how "dandylions" roar and cars go.

Hope you all get a little sunshine break today.

Comfort Food

Tonight I made bread pudding. I don't know if I have ever made bread pudding before; but I saw a recipe for it on a friend's menu blog. Truth be told it reminds me of my mom and dad. Mom use to make it and dad loved it. I even bought half and half to go on it. Funny, lately I have thought alot of my parents in connection to food. Any of you that knew them would understand since mom loved to cook and dad loved to eat and it showed. I really miss them.

So today if your mom and dad are still around to chat with do that soon.

God Bless.

Homeschooling Lunch

Andrew's creation!

Build A Bear Trip

After waiting "patiently" for almost 2 months we finally made a trip to Build-A-Bear. Joshua had a gift card from Christmas he has been wanting to use. We have had to reschedule three times; but this time we made it. They all had a great time and Josh even shared a little of his card with his brother and sister. They each got an animal and an outfit. We had to order Andrew's cause they don't carry Anakin outfits in the store; but it is on the way. Liz and Andrew had some Valentine money that they used towards theirs. It was a good time and the crowd was just our size, one other family and us.

Thanks Papa and Grandma for the gift card and the Valentine Money.

Kid's opinion of the trip: "Too cool and fun. I love my new guy."

Mom's opinion: What a keen marketing scheme so moms, dads and grandparents can spend crazy amounts of money. Seriously, I could buy Liz an outfit for as much as her kitty's outfit cost. Actually we don't go that often and we usually don't do outfits. It was "fun".

Friends Make it Better

Yesterday morning I received a call that the tenant at the rental we own had passed away. That in and of it itself would not be that significant; but this tenant actually rented the house from my parents when I was in high school. When my mom passed away 12 years ago I told him he would be able to live in the house until he was ready to leave. That was his home and had been for probably 25 or more years. In addition, this was the last of the rental properties we had that were my parents. Now we will look to sell this one as well. So it feels like a piece of my life has passed on and reminds me how much I miss my parents.

Anyway, I was a little depressed yesterday just thinking about it. So my friend Shelley told me she might show up on my door step this morning. She did call at least before she showed up. Funny thing was the postman knocked around 10:00ish and I thought for a minute it was her:). We had a great day scrapbooking. Actually I scrapbooked and she organized. It is just nice to have someone that listens to my woes even if they seem a little crazy and in truth I can't even totally explain the sadness I feel.

Thanks Shelley. In addition to that, I also got Joshua's album finished for the year 2009.

Jerod got a new smile

Today Jerod got the start of his braces. He is not sore yet; but the doctor said soon he would be. Sure is weird to see him with his new smile.

A Day with Papa.

We had a fun surprise last night. Papa and Grandma came up for the game last night. First we came out with a win. Then Papa got to stay with us last night and today cause he is flying out to see his parents in California. We always love to have Papa come visit us. The kids were totally excited to have him plus they got the day off of school. We played Wii and hung out. It was a great day.