May 2015

 What a fun month this was!  Jenna got her first driving lesson with Daddy.

Charlie loves baking.

 Sisters!

 Oh, boy!  Jacob got his driver's permit!

 Once we got out of the Peoria road traffic, I turned the keys over to him in a bank parking lot on War Memorial.  He was nervous, but did a great job driving us home.

 Charlie robbed the tooth fairy...

 and he made sure Mrs. Linda got her share of the cookies.

 Laura loved giving baby Kayden kisses.

 Mother's Day lunch at Hokkaido.  So much fun watching the chef!

 My sweet Laura.

 Laura made me a photo frame at school.

 Mom and dad sent this delicious treat.

 I love being a mom!

 Forget school!  Let's go to Starbucks, get treats, and play Uno!

 Homeschool field trip to the Air National Guard base in Peoria.

Charlie took it very, very seriously that we were to walk in a single-file line, behind this airman.

 They loved the fire truck demo!

 Fellowship evening with the Hoyle and Stump families.  Guys got into an arm-wrestling competition.

 We think Charlie won.  ;)

 Gabe & Jackson wait while Amarin & Jacob battle it out.

 Beautiful Laura.

More April 2015

 Daddy and the boys hit the course on a beautiful, spring day.

AWANA Awards night.

 CIYS Orchestral Concert and Percussion Ensemble.

 So glad Pink Grandma and Papa could come to their concert!

 Followed by dinner out at Biaggi's...one of Pink Grandma's favorites.

April 2015

 Catching up from 2015!!

Celebrating Daddy's birthday...

Driving home with Jacob & Clay Meffert after standardized testing, 

and a stop at McDonalds!

 Easter Sunday in Port Huron, MI at Colonial Woods Missionary Church.

 Surprise birthday dinner with Matt, Margaret, and Jamie at one of our favorite

restaurants, Blue Margaritas!

 Happy 15th birthday, Jacob!

 Teen activity with Cedar Hills Baptist Church.  We held it at the Hellige's barn.

Jenna, Erin Placher, Addy Garner, & Taylor Webster.

Charlie hung on tightly to John Stump.

 Hannah Meffert, her friends, John & Tim Stump.

 Tug-of-war!

 We ended with a birthday celebration for Jacob!  

I didn't have a "5" candle, so it's 17 - 2!

Magnificent March

 Where there are boys...there's mud.  And lots of it.

Charlie "fell" in the mud.  He was covered head-to-toe and looked like a little tar baby.  I should have taken a photo of his whole, muddy body...but I was a little overwhelmed on how to even begin de-mudding him!  To give you an idea...take a look at his shoes!

This is how Laura feels after working hard at school.  She crawled over to her bed and put herself down for a nap!

Oh, Gus looks so tough.  He's such a big baby...but loves his girl.

Look who won the chili cook-off at church!!  Char's "White Lightening" took the Best Chili award, and Best Overall soup.  Way to go buddy...with a little help from Daddy!

He was still mighty happy the next morning about winning the contest!

I took Jamie to see the Gaithers for his birthday. Great show!

It was Bill Gaither's 79th birthday.  Still going strong!

Jamie returned to the same location the next night with the boys. This time it was for WinterJam 2015...a contemporary Christian concert with various artists.  Let's just say the crowd of 11,000 was slightly younger, and a bit more energetic than for the Gaithers!

A photo of the cutest spectator at the concert!

We also took Jamie out for a birthday breakfast.

We have another sausage/biscuit/gravy fan!

March also brought Jacob's final brass ensemble concert for the year.  He has thoroughly enjoyed the orchestra this year, and still loves playing tuba.

For the first time, we had the three younger kids take standardized tests.  How on earth did Charlie get placed at the same table as his two best buddies???

After 5 hours of testing, it was time to burn off some energy with a game of street hockey...or broom hockey for Jacob since we ran short on sticks! I now need a new broom.

Laura thought she would help Jacob in the kitchen.  She loves her big brother.

Then March went out like a lamb...