Shipshewana

My friend, Teresa, and I spent the day in Shipshewana enjoying a beautiful Fall day in amish country. As usual our trip revolved around food. Our first stop was at the bulk foods grocery store, where we had fun sampling different items. We then headed for lunch where we enjoyed some good down home cooking. I had beef and noodles with mashed potatoes and gravy. It was delicious. After lunch, we went shopping and then stopped at a bakery on our way out of town. It was a great way to spend my day off!

Ninja Challenge

The kids all enjoy watching the American Ninja Warrior TV show, so imagine their excitement when The Centre decided to host their first ever Ninja Challenge for kids. The course took place outside at The Corner Park. It was a timed course that began with a sprint across the jumping pillow, followed by touching all the flags on the ropes course, then filling up a beaker to the line with cups at the splash pad and finally a swim in the pool. The kids all did amazing. Kaylee and Kianna got 2nd place in their age groups and Trace got first place in his age group. Way to go kids!

The Girls Learned How to Sew

Kaylee's recorder case

Kianna's Quilt Design
 

Two pieces down a few to go

The girls have both been wanting to learn how to sew for quite some time and I finally got around to teaching them. I taught Kianna how to sew by hand over the summer and she decided to make a quilt. I figured I better teach her how to use my sewing machine, so her project would go faster.

Then Kaylee came home from school determined to sew a case for her new recorder. So I got out my sewing machine, dusted it off and the lessons began. Kianna started her quilt and Kaylee is thrilled with the recorder case she made. Way to go girls!

Labor Day Weekend

There haven't been many, if any, weekends this summer that we weren't gone or had company; that is until this weekend. We love having company, but there is something to be said about having a weekend at home with nothing on the calendar. This was our weekend to do as we pleased. We went for a family bike ride. We introduced the kids to "The Karate Kid". We took the kids to the driving range to hit golf balls for the first time. Trace was a natural. The kids played with legos and made there own restaurant and store. Kaylee and I read our books while sitting next to each other. It was a GREAT weekend of just relaxing and doing whatever we wanted. Ahhhhhh...

First Day of School 2014-15

Trace's first day of Kindergarten

Our 2nd grader

Our 4th grader

Our cuties

Trace and Abram Marlatt

Trace at his desk

The summer went way too fast and here we are the first day of school. Kaylee is in 4th grade and has Mrs. Johnson as her teacher. She is super excited since The Johnson's are good friends of ours. Kianna is in 2nd grade and has Mrs. Hartwig. She too is thrilled with her teacher, since she already knows her from Kaylee having her two years ago. Trace is in Kindergarten and has Mrs. Tanner, who was Kianna's student teacher last year. The kids are all excited for the start of a new school year. I wanted to be sad that my baby boy is starting Kindergarten, but he acted like it was no big deal, so I'm trying to too.

Today also happens to be my first day starting a new job. I lost my job working with the sisters in June. They decided not to renew my company's contract, so we all lost our jobs. I found this out one week into the kids' summer break and right before we went on our vacation to Colorado and Iowa. The timing was perfect as it let me be home with the kids all summer. My new job is at 3DPT, which is a physical therapy clinic located inside The Centre. The location couldn't be better as I am now working in the same building as Trevor and the kids. The kids are excited to be able to walk through the school and meet me at work at the end of the day. It makes them feel grown up.

This job is a BIG change for me. It is an outpatient/sports medicine clinic and all my experience is inpatient and a nursing home setting with a hint of outpatient at my last job. I have decided I am up for the new challenge. I will be dusting off my outpatient books and doing some studying until I get up to speed. I will be working three days a week with my hours being from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Essentially, I will be working while the kids are in school. This job also gives me lots of continuing education opportunities that the company pays for. They are already planning on sending me to a conference in Chicago in late October. I'm excited for this new opportunity!

Broderick and Kristin's Visit

Kianna bouldering

Trace

Kianna climbing

Trace

Kaylee and Trace

Kianna up high

Auto-belay area

Climbers

Nana Bear

Kaylee and Broderick bouldering

Six-packs

Our Family- Kianna and Mommy are climbing in the background

We surprised the kids by having Broderick and his girlfriend, Kristin, come visit for the weekend. We kept it a secret, so the kids didn't even know we were having company, although it was suspected due to the cleaning spree. When the kids woke up the next morning they were trying to guess who was asleep in the guest room and in Kianna's bed. What a fun surprise!!!

The surprise continued with a trip up to Ann Arbor for some Chicago-style pizza at The Pizza House and rock climbing at Planet Rock. We all had a great time climbing (minus Daddy), especially Kianna. She is a really good climber and is totally in her element there. Planet Rock has a great auto-belay system where all the kids could climb simultaneously, rappel down and then climb up again repeatedly. It was great! We also enjoyed some pool time, disc golf, basketball, frozen yogurt, and the movie "God's Not Dead" while they were here. Fun times!

Kianna's Friend Party

Lexie and Kianna

Chloe, Kianna and Ada

This year Kianna invited Chloe Grupp, Lexie Johnson, and Ada Marlatt over to celebrate her birthday. We served spaghetti and meatballs, fruit salad, relish tray and buster bar with sprinkles per Kianna's request. The girls did a night swim and had a slumber party. It was a fun party!