Ian Louganis

Ian decided to learn how to dive yesterday at Uncle David's pool and perfected it today at the Sharkey's.

More House...

Mudroom shelves, built by Larry, behind the 3/4 walls in the dining room

Mudroom shelves

Boy's room

Living room (my girlie chair)

Boy's room (on an unusually clean day)

Our house (is a very, very, very fine house)

This one is just for JoElla. I've been promising her pictures for a long, long time...


Laughing room (otherwise known as bathroom)

Living room into hallway

Living Room

My bedroom

Dining room

So I found a few of them...

We love hiking! Especially on a beautiful day in the green, green woods. Throw in a stream for exploring and we're hooked!

Orange Crush

Ian and Isaac both played coach pitch baseball this year. It was a fun season to watch as they steadily improved and really enjoyed learning some of the finer points of the game. My brother in law Larry stepped up to the coaching plate in a big way this year, coaching both their team and Christopher's. That meant that the Strong family was at the ballfield 5 days a week. We are thankful for their dedication and for making it fun to learn baseball. Both Isaac and Ian are excellent players and really give their all when they're out there on the diamond (that's a lot of homonymns in one sentence!). Isaac is very intense and focused. Ian is a great encourager to all his teammates. I already can't wait for next season!

Camping at John Bryan State Park

I posted a brief bit earlier about our camping trip this spring to John Bryan State Park. Here are a few more shots from our time there. For some reason, my computer is not letting me post my favorite shots of our hiking but hopefully I'll get that figured out. We spent a lot of time hiking in the woods. Ian was my official fire starter (I've decided that's a guy thing!) and he was so proud of himself for getting our fire started each evening. Our site was adjacent to the camp playground, which was right up Isaac's alley. Something about being outside just makes me feel more alive. Can't wait for our next camping adventure this weekend!

Negligent

Ok, so I know I'm not the best at keeping up with this blog, or keeping up with many other aspects of my life, truth be told. But I downloaded a lot of summer pictures today, so I'm going to try to hit some of the highlights before it's no longer summer any more. Who gave August permission to come around anyway?

(and for all of you perfectionists out there, this may not be in any particular order...you've been warned)

Tired...

It's 11 o'clock in the morning and Isaac's already fast asleep. This is what happens when you play too hard at your Aunt Julie and Uncle David's house all weekend! And now Ian just headed to bed too! Time for me to go do some homeschool organizing, I guess...
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Relaxin' by the pool with my dudes

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Nothing says "back to school" like new desks!

You have to love a day that includes trips to Bruster's and Ikea and ends with the office looking like this!
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What a smile!

Could there be anything happier than a kid riding a carousel with his mom?
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Home sweet home

We have thoroughly enjoyed our two night stay at John Bryan State Park. It is very peaceful here. We nearly have the campground to ourselves! Yesterday we spent most of the day hiking in Clifton gorge. It was amazing. Perfect trails for my boys with lots of streams to cross. The skies have been perfectly clear blue and everything is brilliantly green in this early summer season. And the fact that I finally caved and bought myself an air matress makes me want to camp often this summer! Time to go pack up...
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Ian: preparing to catch

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Ian's Highwire Act

Somehow I missed these pictures with that last post!

Spontaneous Science!

To say that spring fever has hit teacher and students alike here would be an understatement, so today I awoke and decided to leave behind desks and books in favor of a trip to C.O.S.I. in Columbus. The drive and cost were well worth the fun we had exploring science! We watched rats play basketball, saw a 3D "extreme screen" movie about dolphins and whales that was breathtaking, experimented with vinegar and baking soda, watched a fun chemistry exhibit, explored underwater worlds, lifted a car with a giant lever, shot balls through the air with air, and much, much more. The highlight for Ian was his ride across the high wire on a unicycle. I'm still amazed he was brave enough to do it (I wasn't!). He also got to help turn a banana into a hammer with a little help from liquid nitrogen. Isaac loved the space exhibit, and we all got a kick out of "grossology" (the science of farts and burps and all things "boy"). We'll have to go again, as I feel like we barely scratched the surface.

Mudroom shelves

My brother-in -law Larry custom built shelves in each end of my new mudroom. They turned out just perfect! A place for everything--now if we can just get into the habit of putting everything in its place!
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Isaac's Birthday Purchase

Since the boys have a shortage of Legos (NOT!), Isaac decided he needed to use his birthday money to purchase this incredible power miners set. For the record, I cleaned the living room while the boys tackled this one alone. Looks pretty complicated, but they did it! Isaac asked that I title this "how to torture a rock monster."
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To infinity...and beyond!

Hopefully he can man a spaceship better than he skates!
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The Birthday Party!

We celebrated Isaac's birthday with the cousins at a nearby park/skate park. Isaac requested an "I Spy" cake this year, which we turned into a game. In the frosting were hidden various items which each guest had to find--things like: a yellow button, a Lego wheel, a blue jelly bean, a pink shoelace, a black Lego brick, a Mars Mission alien, or a piece of carrot. Can you spot them?

In honor of Isaac...

...We rode 7 miles on the bike path today!
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Happy Birthday to Isaac!

What a precious son I've been blessed with! I remember hearing the doctor say "It's a boy!" And feeling so grateful that Ian would have a little brother. And he is so appropriately named--he sure keeps us laughing! He is the king of funny faces and all things speedy! He has become quite the baseball player. He is playing coach pitch this year and today was their first chance at batting practice. He hit all three pitches the coach threw at him! Isaac is technically in first grade, but does some second grade work along with Ian. He is a great reader and loves art. He is also still the one who loves to snuggle up in my lap for some "huggles." I am blessed! I love you so much, my "sweetness wrapped in baby skin!" Not so much of a baby anymore...
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Inaugural bike ride of 2010

We dusted off the winter's dust and pulled out our bikes today! Such beautiful spring weather we're having. It always feels good to breathe the fresh air and work these muscles God gave us. The trees are blooming and the skies are blue. Perfect! I'm glad we live so close to this great bike path. Makes riding with kids much less stressfull!
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They clean up nicely...

...Every once in a while!
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