Growing Up!

On March 15, 2004, I was a surprised and elated momma. My first little princess had made her appearance, and I had been certain that she would be a prince. We were doing just fine with a house full of boys, and I just figured we would continue the tradition. On that day, though, my world changed. You have to have boys first to completely understand the emotion of it! Anyway, the last five years have flown by, and the time has come for my first baby girl to go to school. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to be her teacher this year. I have taught all of my kids to read, and that has been a neat experience. Kaitlynn has been waiting for school with great anticipation. Most people wouldn't think her life would change that drastically, since school has been a part of her life all along, but now she is a student, a learner, and she is thrilled!


Her favorite part was her lunch pail and uniform, I think!

With her friend, Emilee...

Old Friends...New Additions...

Congratulations to Phil & Stephenie Brugger and the little guys: Blake, Kade, & Chase on the birth of...
PAIGE ELIZABETH BRUGGER

Greg and I were able leave our kids for a few hours and visit with 2-day-old baby Paige and her family for a little while. She is sooo tiny and cuddly!

Paige will soon be learning to wrestle and play football :)

Learning how to hold a baby sister...


Big boy Blake, already in kindergarten!

I feel so blessed to have so many friends who have common goals and interests! Stephenie is one of those...

1st Day of School 09-10!

This summer seemed to be an unusual one for me. Temperatures were perfect most days, making the outdoors much more appealing. Greg played softball from late May through early August. His team did well, and I made it to every game except the one that was played during camp. We had lots of fun at the ballfield, especially when Valerie and Aubrey were able to join us! I don't recall hearing the boys say, "I'm bored!", and Evan even mentioned that the summer had flown for him. My kids love to ride their bikes (Ryan taught Kailynn to ride without her training wheels), so they spent lots of time just hanging out, riding around, doing yard work, playing ball, and taking care of their pets. Ryan also did a paper route with a friend many days this summer.
Now it is time for school, and they are excited about that! Ryan is in 5th grade, and Evan is in 3rd. Kaitlynn starts kindergarten this year. Marea Pouzar is still the boy's teacher (thank goodness for her!), and Kaitlynn will be in my class. The boys classroom is done in a construction theme this month. Enjoy the pics!

LETTER FROM AN EXCELLENT BOSS




Dear Employees:

As the CEO of this organization, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barrack Obama is our President and that our taxes and government fees will increase in a B IG way. To compensate for these increases, our prices would have to increase by about 10%. B ut since we cannot increase our prices right now due to the dismal state of the economy, we will have to lay off sixty of our employees instead. This has really been bothering me since I believe we are family here and I didn't know how to choose who would have to go.

So, this is what I did. I walked through our parking lots and found sixty 'Obama' bumper stickers on our employees' cars and have decided these folks will be the ones to let go. I can't think of a more fair way to approach this problem. They voted for change...... I gave it to them.


I will see the rest of you at the annual company picnic.


THE BOSS

Good Times, Great Friends...

A few Fridays ago, our long-lost cousins Mike and Beth Dickinson called to see if we could have dinner with them (they seem long-lost, but the fact is they only live about an hour away). We were able to pull it together quickly, and met at a mexican place just down I-75 a few miles. The food was great, the service not so much. We wrapped it up with ice cream, cookies, and coffee at McD's (it was really for the playland...whenever we get together with friends at a restaurant, we usually wear out our welcome and have to move on to another. Really now, what waitress wouldn't want to deal with a dozen kids for 3 or 4 hours anyway? Ha!)
Hopefully we can do it again soon!

Michael trying to convince us that he loves Beth more than his coffee...I don't think he could live without either of them!


Isaiah enjoying his chocolate chip cookies...


My first time to see Sophia...


You don't even want to know the stories these two could tell...at least I don't want my boys to know!


I guess we know whose side of the family is responsible for these two nutcases, right Beth? :)