Cheetahs

This fall Kacie is playing in a local Upward Soccer League. The league is structured to use the sport to teach the kids about Christ and to help them build character such as sportsmanship. Kacie's team name is the Cheetahs.

Before each game the two teams gather together to pray.

Waiting for the game to start.

Kacie is more aggressive to the ball this year...always good to see improvements!

I posted this picture because for some reason it reminds me of me.

Don't Forget the Rice

These are our new friends Leah and Matthew. Leah was a bundle of energy and loved to be a helper. Matthew was a chill pill. We had a great weekend with them!

Both nights Matthew woke up around 2am because he was hungry. I couldn't figure out why when I fed him right before bed. It has been awhile since I have done the bottle thing...I totally forgot to put rice in with his formula to make him good and full. Just like a "new" mom all over again :).

Meet Cali

After the kids and I returned from TX. Ben and I talked about getting another dog. With Sadie not being too fond of him, he didn't really feel like he had a dog anymore. We decided not to get a boxer, we didn't want to try and replace Matsu. We did decide to look at the local shelters. I found this sweet face online. She was found in the middle of a two-lane highway.

We adopted her on August 14th. She weighed about 4 to 5 pounds. We were told she is some kind of spaniel mix.

Kacie cannot keep her hands off of her...OK me either!!

The first 3 weeks Cali would chase Sadie and then Sadie would run down into her kennel. The last week or so Sadie has figured out that Cali just wants to play. Here is a recent picture of Cali climbing on Sadie.





Cali has put on about one pound per week. She weighs about 8.5 pounds now. She has grown taller too. We are not sure how big she will get, probably no bigger than 20 pounds. Now that she is a little bigger the vet thinks she might be a long-haired chihuahua mix. Never thought we would have one of those!



Having a puppy has brought a lot of joy to our family. In the last month we have not turned on the TV much because we like to watch and play with Cali. She is pretty awesome!!

A New School: Tanglewood

Most of you know by now that the kids are going to a new school this fall. It was a decision that was very difficult for us to make. We had been a part of the Rose Hill community for six years. Jacob and Kacie both enjoyed school and life there as well. However after much prayer and talking it over, we told the kids in early July that they would be going to Tanglewood. Jacob at first was pretty mad at us. Kacie was sad as her thoughts went to missing her friends.

We are now almost finished with our first month of school. The kids are doing great! They are making new friends and they trust that God is there with them.

These are pictures the morning of the first day of school...Jake 4th grade and Kacie 1st grade.

Visiting TX Family

The kids and me went and spent 2 days with the Gullett side of the family. And 2 days with the Gary side of the family. As always we had a terrific time! All of my family are always so gracious in how they make time to visit with us!! We love you all so very much!

Kacie is always smiles when we go to TX. There is something about family that is so special!

Eating dinner at my Dad's house. Yummy Mexican food! This is Jake and Kacie with their great grandparents.





Kacie got to drive the tractor all by herself. She was soooo excited. Jake also drove it but it wasn't his first time. However the kids went with my Dad to check on one of his fields. On the way home Jacob got to drive the Chevy pick-up for about 10 miles. He was all smiles when he walked in the door!

Kids with their Grandad...Jodie's Dad.

It was Olton's (the town the Gullett side lives in) yearly festival when we were there. My Aunt and Uncle and cousins were in the parade. They are very involved with the Boyscouts.

Kids waiting to catch candy. I like this picture because here in KS where we live you won't see a modular truck. These trucks haul the big cotton bales.






After we left Olton, we went to Lubbock and met my Aunt Twyla and cousin Brandy for lunch. Later that evening my cousin Kai came over to Papa's house to hang out for awhile. It was so wonderful to catch up with all of them!

Papa is always taking in animals. Kacie really liked this cat!

Last summer Murr's headstone had not been made. We went out to visit Murr's grave. The headstone was beautiful! We also brought jugs of water for the flowers.

Papa was getting ready to get on one knee and kiss Murr's picture on the headstone. He says that he gives her a kiss every time he comes out to visit her grave. It was a very touching moment...He misses his life partner so, so much. We sure miss Murr too!





Papa, Uncle Billy, the kids and me all went to church on Sunday morning. Aunt Gale slaved away in the kitchen and after church my cousins Amber and Brandy and their families came for lunch. My Uncle Les also stopped by for awhile. I love these times. They only happen once or twice a year so I cherish them greatly!

Kacie and Graham went to look at the pumpkins.

Jake ended up getting really sick. He had a super high temperature and his throat was very sore. We left Monday morning and drove all the way to the Dr.'s office in Wichita. I wasn't sure if we were going to make it. I am so thankful the speed limit just increased to 75mph!!!

Matsu: Our Fur Baby

On July 14, 2011 our ten and a half year old boxer died. Many of you understand that happiness often comes with a tail, so as you can imagine it was a hard day for our family. We had been preparing ourselves for this though. Matsu had an enlarged heart on one side. Last May she started having some fainting spells. The vet said that Matsu would probably pass out and not wake up some time in the near future.

On this particular Thursday, Matsu had come into the kitchen because she heard Ben making a sandwich before work and knew she would get a treat. After she got her piece of meat she wouldn't leave Ben's side. He gave her some quick lovens and then left for work. This was about 6:30am. I woke up around 8am and didn't see Matsu on her pillow in our bedroom. I immediately had a terrible feeling. I ran downstairs to her kennel calling her name. When I got to her she was lying in her kennel already lifeless.

There has not been a day gone by that she hasn't come to my mind...we sure miss her! She really was the perfect pooch!! There aren't many dogs that people ask to watch her when we go out of town. But she was just that kind of dog...many people enjoyed her. And two families we know got their own boxer dog because they enjoyed Matsu so much.

That afternoon I decided to look through all of our pictures and find the ones with Matsu. If you click on the collage you can enlarge it. You will see that Matsu had a wonderful life! She made our life more wonderful too!!

A Trip to the Zoo

We gave up our zoo passes about 4 years ago. So we don't make it to the zoo like we used to. We had some new friends stay with us for 5 days so we decided one of the days to go to the zoo.

Max and Lucas

Kacie wanted to pose with every animal statue she saw. Here is the one with the penguin.

Jake and Kacie being wonderful servants and friends...They are such great help when we have extra little ones around!!

God's design and creation never fails to AMAZE me...that is one bright yellow thingy!

The tiger up close and personal.

I hope to never have a dog with a paw this size.

Fun with Fireworks!

We are usually out of town for the 4th of July. However this year we stayed home. We had Addi and Logan (Ben's brothers kids) over to spend the night...of course all of the kids wanted to light fireworks. So we bought some and called Ben's parents and grandma to come over. It was a lot of fun!

I love this picture...Logan is getting out of there!

Kacie's Bedroom

We finished Kacie's bedroom this summer. She is very pleased with how it turned out!

This is the verse she and I picked out to go over her closet...it is a good reminder for me too!

The bedspread was our inspiration. We painted two walls blue and two walls green.





It was a lot of fun to do. Ben did all of the painting. Kacie and I did all of the decorating.