Pockets...not just for lint anymore...

I remember VERY distinctly standing in my cheerful yellow laundry room praying that the Lord would bless Bob and I with a family. I actually PRAYED that someday I would have the JOY of folding little, tiny SOCKS!!! Now, FAST FORWARD to the end of August 2007...well, as I matched and folded, and matched and folded and FOLDED (I do NOT believe I am exaggerating here!) I had to LAUGH about the mountain of washing I do each week and be EVER so thankful for the modern conveniences of a washer, dryer and PLENTY of powerful stain remover!

I have learned from experience to ALWAYS check EACH pocket of EVERY pair of shorts and pants before putting them in to wash. My MOMMY TIP jar is looking good...it has lots of coins and even a couple of dollar bills in it. I tell the kids (and Daddy too) that if they leave money in their pockets I get to keep it for my next latte! Mitchell, our resident money saver, has NEVER left a single PENNY in his pocket after I kept a quarter he had left in his jean shorts some years ago! :) It is the things that I pull out of pockets that entertain me the most. When it comes to Nate's jeans I fear putting my hand in there as the threat of something LIVING always exists. I have pulled out goose and other miscellaneous type feathers, bones, COUNTLESS colored and interesting shaped rocks, a Lucust shell (NOT my favorite) springs from pens, pencils sharpened to the tiniest size possible, hair ribbons, scrunchies and all things hair decoration, gum, a crawdad claw, the half Lifesaver stuck in a pocket to enjoy later, a damp sock (YUK!), sequins, beads and pieces of broken jewelry picked up from the street with a plan for recycling them into another creative piece...and the list goes on...what I love about each thing is that the child that picked it up found that particular item to be a treasure of some sort and had big plans for it.

My laundry room is STILL yellow and quite cheerful (most of the time) because of the clothes I have the privilege to wash!!

I like this...

FAITH!!!

Fabulous

Adventure

In

Trusting

Him

In Cedarville ... Football is King

Go Indians! Pee Wee football kicked off this weekend with the preview at East Clinton. Mitchell had some pre-game jitters but put his game face on and had a great time. Ten plays on offense and ten on defense. The Indians look tough. Check out number 76 on the offensive line!

Dad!! YOU ROCK!!!

Happy Birthday to our DAD!!

(The sign says, "Dad! You Rock!")
We grilled delicious steaks at Dad and Mom's tonight for Bob's birthday. He had a great birthday. A group of his friends took him to lunch to celebrate. The kids were excited about Daddy's birthday and for one of his presents helped me put together an arrangement of photos of them for Daddy's new office. They were happy to see how much he liked it. Bob always requests one of Grammy's amazing cherry pies for his birthday and the kids do NOT think pie is a good choice but oh, it is excellent! AND, there is always ice cream! We are thankful for Bob and how hard he works for our family. The kids asked me why Daddy does not get a "Daddy's Day Out" on HIS birthday and I thought that was a VERY good question...next year MOMMY will take Daddy out on a "Daddy's Day Out," JUST THE TWO OF US!!!!

Happy Birthday Bob!

You are WELL-LOVED!!

Killeny Glen in progress

Friday afternoon and this is what Killeny Glen is looking like for the week! Monday we will need some dormers built and we should have windows and doors by the end of next week!

The school's about to ROCK!!!

I really missed this group of kids today!

So! School started this week...HOW could it be that the summer has ended already? The Kinney Kids were up and eager to get out the door. It was a scorcher of a day! The humidity was OVER the top! Nate started 8th grade, his last year in Junior High school and Mitchell is in fifth, Emma in third and Madeleine started Kindergarten! It absolutely amazes us that Madeleine is six and able to attend school...she is SO VERY pleased. They all had good things to say about their first day of school. We celebrated with some sweet treats and I think they all fell asleep a bit faster tonight than the usual. Sam asked about EIGHT times today "Where is_______??" He was a bit lonely without his siblings.

Check THIS out!

That is Nate and Mitchell standing in Emma's room BEFORE the crane came to do the trusses.
The crane is pretty impressive to watch. The framing crew had a very efficient system.
AFTER the trusses were done!
Mitchell peeking out from Emma's room into the foyer.
This is the view from our side yard of the BACK of the house.

Today was an exciting day with LOTS done and major changes to the VIEW of Killeny Glen. We are happy to be able to go out and watch all the daily changes.

HOT! HOT! and HOTTER!!!!!!

Setting up the sprinkler to cool off in this HUMIDTY and HEAT!!!!

We did not have time to get to the pool today but it was SO MISERABLE hot out that there was NO way to be outside without some cool water. So, we pulled out the baby pool and the sprinkler and had a little fun! Buddy and Camden wanted to play too! Camden "attacks" the sprinkler and it is hilarious to watch. She snaps her teeth over and over and the kids giggle until their sides ache! Camden LOVES the water!
Bud was SO HAPPY to cool off and the dogs are always thrilled to have the kids run and play with them.
Jumping the spray was a great game!!! It put Cam and Bud into a FRENZY!
Bud spent the afternoon cooling himself in the pool and he didn't even care that Sam was using him as a seat and pouring buckets of water over his head. Bud just lay there and looked SO CONTENT! Doesn't Sam look like a little stinker in this photo???

Three good friends...

This is Mitchell, Nate and Caleb at Cousin William's eighth birthday party. Tony and Tina hosted a great HIGH ACTION party and I took dozens of photos. THIS is the only picture that is half way decent as NO ONE held still long enough for me to get some good ones! There was the water slide, the pool, the jumper and then a bonfire...they had a great time and even a little bit of rain did not slow them down for one minute. My photos are all these blurry children literally catapaulting through the air!

Happy Birthday William!!!

POOL PARTY!!!

Emma, Grace and Madeleine enjoying the wonderful water!! It is perfect!
Cousin "Beppie" (known to most as Beth but NOT to us!) and Miss Emma!
Present time! Meg made a special gift for Madeleine. I love it when they make something with SO much love! Thanks for all the gifts!
PINATA!!!! Madeleine gearing up for a MEGA HIT!!
Looking cute and ready to go to the pool. Gram and Gramps bought her a new bathing suit for her birthday and Madeleine has hardly taken it off!!!!

Party On Girlfriend!

Happy SIXTH Birthday Madeleine!!!

The theme of Madeleine's special day this year is HIGHSCHOOL MUSICAL...the girl is obsessed! She loves to sing and dance!

Daddy's Day Out started out with a LONG bike ride out to Killeny Glen with special guest, Mitchell, along for the ride. Madeleine requested that Mitchell accompany them on the ride and MItchell was happy to go along...Madeleine got Daddy out of bed nice and EARLY!!
Madeleine asked for a new doll for her birthday. We think this one is pretty special! She is still un-named...Madeleine is contemplating the names very seriously.
Madeleine does not like cake....so, she requsted an M & M icecream cake for her celebrating! Madda is a pretty special gal... she has such a joy in life and such a very sweet spirit. We are so thankful God placed her in our family. Tonight as we tucked her into her sleeping bag, in her tent in the living room she thanked us for her gifts and special activities with Bob...and THEN started planning her list of actitivities for Daddy's Day Out on her SEVENTH birthday! WHEW!

**will post her pool party photos later**

Five crazy kids!

This is the Fab Five trying to look civilized for a group photo...
THIS is the Fab Five the way they all REALLY are!!!!