Thirteen Years

Wasn't he the cutest baby ever?

After six years of infertility I couldn't believe that I finally had a baby.

Jamison Carl

Our first teenager

Should we run?  Should we hide?

I hope not because we've been looking forward to this.

Loves soccer, running, hunting, and climbing

Drives tractor, helps on the farm, and 

FINALLY!

is old enough to babysit.

HOORAY!

Responsible, sincere, helpful

  

Very good at math

World's best big brother

 Legos, traps, inventions, woodworking, forts, tea plantations, unlimited plans

Desire to please God 

It's hard work being the oldest.  It means you're the guinea pig in the family.  We've (I've) been the hardest on you.  The most expectations, the most math curricula (Five or six - sorry, bud!), the most frustrations...let's face it, you take the brunt of your parents' inexperience.  We could not love you more or be more proud of the young man you've become.  God has worked in your life (inspite of your crazy parents).  Please never forget that you are not limited by what you can do.  God will enable you to accomplish ANYTHING He asks you to do. Continue to put your trust in Him.  We're looking forward to enjoying your teens.

In the Good Old Summertime

Lots of visits to the park.

Grandma came for a visit.

I figured I could either pay someone to come and clean

OR

invite mom to come and clean for free.

I'd love to report that the place is immaculate...

but I should have invited her for the summer if I wanted that to happen.

The kids enjoyed some extra spoilin'

We spent quite a bit of time in the flowerbeds.

(I got a little carried away with the purple)

Kenton loves when this kind of thing gets left right in front of the door.

But the girls had a ton of fun...

so that kind of justifies the mess, right?

 Lots of fun in the sunshine.

We're in our last month of "birthday season".

Emily made a birthday cake out of sand with stick candles.

Naturally the Center of Attention needed to put it right in the middle of the sidewalk.

We've gone through a ton of cookies between soccer game snacks and other things.

Emily had her last speech lesson with "Miss Amy" Yoder-Yutzy.  

We've been so blessed by her enthusiasm and encouragement.

She's still a year behind in speech, but since she'll turn four this week she'll start going to the elementary school for weekly speech with Miss Pam.

Remember those carefully done flowerbeds...

I think I'll give up!

Dennis and Lydia may arrive from Mexico on Monday.  Machelle and the other girls will be heading for Washington state.  Prayers for safe travel would be appreciated.

Milk Dud Report: 310 acres of corn planted.  Four more acres to go.  Chopping first crop.  Corn is all sprayed except for that four acres.  Soybeans need to be sprayed.  Money  manure pit is almost done.