CHEESE!!

We were surprised to learn last week that Kaia was getting braces this week! She had been wearing an appliance on the roof of her mouth (I'll save you the photos, but it spreads the top teeth apart), and we thought she would be wearing it until her surgery, but I think the fact that she broke it twice in five weeks made the orthodontist go to plan B! Also, her cross bite was grinding down the crooked tooth that is growing sideways in her cleft, which we want to save, so he decided to change course to save that tooth from getting ruined. Thus the braces to start turning that tooth, which is coming in sideways. It has to happen slowly though, as there is no bone for it to turn into before the surgery, so it has to be perfect timing. Like the eye patch she wore earlier last year, the braces are still a novelty that I'm afraid may wear off. But for now I'll enjoy her smile...CHEESE!

Climbing Course Two...

If you read my blog regularly you will remember Josh and I rock climbing back in August. I had also posted earlier about earning a free class due to a no-show by the instructor. Well today Josh, Mike, and I cashed in on that free class and took the Level II Rock Climbing Class.  This time there were only five of us in the class, as opposed to 13 the first time, so we got more practice in. We learned more technical skills, how to be a lead climber and use more specific climbing tools, and we also made more difficult climbs. I am definitely going to be sore tomorrow, but let's just say I was not outdone by any male in my family! I felt like the tortoise of the group; I wasn't the fastest up and down, but I got the job done!  The climb was again on Mt. Erie, but at a different set of rocks. It was another gorgeous day with a gorgeous view.  Thanks Kellen for watching your sisters while we played:)

Josh was often the guinea pig in going first. Here he was practicing repelling.

My honey on his way down.

Josh flying up the wall like Spiderman!

Me as the tortoise on my way up.

Josh made this as a closeup, but I really am at the top!

Mike belaying Josh. You can't tell by this angle, but this was the toughest of all the climbs.

Friday Night Live...

One of the reasons why I love living in a military town! Not many high school football teams can say they got a flyover as part of their pre-game....

Another Man in the House...

Now that I have your attention, I can tell you no, we have not added any more members to our family, not even a puppy. However, Josh turned 18 yesterday, so technically we now have another man in the house, but he will always be my baby boy!

Josh wanted the day to be low key, so nothing fancy. His girlfriend Rebecca and Kellen came over for an early bbq dinner, and he opened some gifts.  A few friends came over for cake and movies later that evening.  Not much else to say except that I am really proud of the fine young man that Joshua is, and I am looking forward to seeing the path he allows the Lord to take him down.

The girls gave Josh a glow-in-the-dark shirt from our local drive-in

There were so many candles on Josh's cake that it was like an extra flash for the camera!

I share my young man with someone else:)

 And for those of you (unnamed) who have anxiously been awaiting the first day of school shot, here it is from Thursday. I have been a bit busy this last week with my own start of school, and an out of town volleyball trip on their first day of school. Friday night we attended Josh's first away game, Kaia had her first tumbling practice at an off-island gym, and Jaelyn's first U-10 soccer game (much bigger field) was Saturday morning. No wonder I'm so tired...

Poor Baby...

Today we had Cocoa spayed, and now looking at the poor girl, I can't help but feel guilty. Of course, it was the right decision, because we hardly have time for puppies, nor do I want a pack of wild dogs howling at my fence, trying to get to my sweet Cocoa. However, as I see her sprawled out on the floor, shaved belly and foot (where her IV was), I can't help but feel bad for not being able to explain it all to her. To make it worse, the poor baby has to go around looking like this...

Who knew they had such a fancy name for the collar though. It's called an elizabethan collar. I do think it is pretty funny that someone at the vet's office personalized it for her though. That way if it ever gets lost, the neighbors know who it belongs to!

And just in case going under the knife wasn't enough to make me feel bad, guess what they found in her system when she threw up from the anesthesia? 

That's right, she had swallowed one of the girls footies. I think it was originally like the pink one in the photo above! I guess she was hungry since she couldn't eat breakfast before the surgery! Hopefully the girls learn a lesson about leaving their belongings lying around.

Despite all this, she still looks adorable as ever, and she even shows her sweet personality every once in awhile, that is, when she's awake. After my first day back with students though, I think I'm feeling as exhausted as she is.

Two Week Recap...

Yes, volleyball and teacher prepping have taken over my life, thus the need to recap the past two weeks. A lot has happened, but I will try to keep it brief so that I don't bore you with the details.

While Josh and I were back to football and volleyball, Mike and the girls were enjoying family and the beautiful weather in Sun River. Along with seeing their grandma, cousins, and an uncle, the new water park was the highlight! When I spoke with the girls on the phone, I was thoroughly confused by the "shark" that they kept referencing in the conversation. Turns out they were meaning "SHARC," Sun River Homeowners Aquatic & Recreation Center" (I like the sound of shark better). Mike and the girls would ride their bikes there a couple times each day, and brought Uncle Pat along one day too.

Two peas in a pod that really seem to become more alike as they grow older.

Fun times with Mame!

I had my annual volleyball party for this year's varsity squad. We continued the tradition of personalizing and decorating our volleyballs, and got a lot of laughs in playing Apples to Apples.

It's hard to believe, but our first born turned twenty-one this week! The family took Kellen and his girlfriend out to Rockfish Grill to celebrate.

You know your child's getting old when they ask for a set of dining table chairs for their birthday, but that's what he did, and that's what he got! He also wanted a Sunday paper delivered, so that's what his siblings got him. So funny. His girlfriend got him a much more fun gift, a pair of converse shoes with one of his favorite comics hand drawn on the toes.

Lastly, our new puppy Cocoa is growing by leaps and bounds. She and Romeo are getting along much better these days. Every time I try to get a picture of them snuggling together they get up and move, so when I can hone my sneakiness skills I can capture the moment. For now though, I am sharing one that Jaelyn snapped of Cocoa snuggling with a toy. And boy, can she snore! We considered not having her spayed and breeding her someday, but we don't think we will have the time or energy, so the poor girl is having surgery on Tuesday.

School begins Tuesday for me, and Thursday for everyone else, so you may not hear from me for awhile:) Don't worry though, I'll come up for air when I need it!