Back to School, Back to Blogging.

I do believe this has been my longest absence from the blog.

80 days.
I guess I needed the break, and now I am ready to remember and record. Get cozy, you may or may not have asked for this...

In the spirit of Back to Schoolers everywhere, I humbly submit my childlike essay:

What I did on my Summer Vacation. by Chelle

The goofy weather this season left me waiting and wondering when Summer 2009 would begin. While I was waiting, we made good use of the time. First we went to the Brummel family cottage. The weather was a little chilly but you can see, we made our own fun.

selling shells for profit

Mac nerds unite!

troublemakers.

a bike ride to cool my jets...

Next up was our weekly outdoor event. With the purpose of exploring our community and getting to know friends both new and old we attended Picnic in the Park Thursdays.
For 11 weeks we had fun whether it was rainy, cloudy, humid, or sunshine-y. (photo props to Cara VD & Nat)

Pokemon cards may or may not have been traded in this photo.

refreshing.

looks like a nice Autumn day in mid June

The good times kept rolling along with our annual week out at Payne Lake. Grandpa H. was on the other side of the earth (So. Africa) so it was Mother, me and the kids. Highlights included mini-golfing, corn-hole tourneys, and ice cream getting. Not much swimming this trip. Again, too cold.

a friendly game.

Grandma takes some of the grandkids for a walk.

After all this family fun, I looked forward to a bit of adult convo. July allowed me two nights out with the girlz!

high school hotties

this group sure can attract a crowd (wink,wink)

4th of July @ Payne Lake

the rooster firecrackers seemed especially appropriate.

Wow, so much activity away from home! Not only was there happenings away from the Hill, much was taking place literally IN OUR BACK YARD!

you guessed it, the first egg!

This photo, taken by Katie, catches Dan deep in thought about whether the first batch of chickens were Roosters or Hens. (sometimes it is hard to tell, people) You see, hens were what we were interested in, 5 roosters is what we had. When it was all said and done, a quick and easy exchange gave us 5 egg layers and we were back in business!

Camping. A third attempt at the perfect vacation. Oh, how we all looked forward to this week. We booked the campsites sometime back in March. We planned, we prepared-- it rained. Having whined that, personally speaking, I enjoyed all moments of our small group camping '09 adventure. A few pix:


Bike time.


Food time.


Sleepy time.


Craft time.


fire time.


Messing around in the trailer in our pajamas time.

To put an exclamation point on an unusual but jam packed summer vacation we had one more event left in us-- the Luau. Brad and Stacey hosted a celebratory gathering and we enjoyed the company of family, friends and Erik's mad DJ skillz...

It appears that while I was waiting for summer to begin, summer was happening all around me. It was a memorable one. So much so that I just didn't want to let it go when school time came a knocking. But that is a different post for another day.

Farewell Summer '09, we enjoyed you.

Mini-Van Mega-Fun -- now Low in Carbohydrate.

22 cans of diet soda a day and all the sugar free jello that money can buy.

Oh, the delicious-ness of it all.

This post is contains long overdue props to my husband for the incredible changes he has made to his diet and lifestyle!! Recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, Dan and I took a crash course in all things Carbohydrate. Veggies are in, Dinner Rolls are out. Fruit in moderation, doughnuts--let's face it-- those things serve no nutritional purpose for anyone. Portion size, test strips, sugar alcohols. New terms and new practices we needed to learn and live.

If you know my husband, you know this was one of the most difficult things he has faced in his young life. He committed to the changes, he is committing to his health. I am so proud of him!

Diabetes has also brought about some new activities here on the hill. In order to keep busy, Dan and Mom D. have started a garden. We greatly anticipate the harvest it may yield!

First Day/Last Day

and 178 days in between.

First Day of School
White Hair, Tan Skin

Last Day of School
Tan Hair, White Skin

Yes, summer is rolling along quite splendidly now, but I wanted to post a photo of my sons in all their Star Wars glory.

The last day of school is magical, sad, exciting all at once. The anticipation of the ENTIRE summer break ahead of us coupled with the realization that my children are another year older.

I have not quite figured out why I really don't want them to age. I have heard more times than I can count, how a mom wants to just freeze the stage or age that their kids are at. I have to admit, I might have frozen last summer if I could have. Does anyone ever want to freeze time when their kids are in teenage years?

Congratulations to all the students, teachers, and parents on another completed school year. Happy Summer!

In a matter of 10 weeks we will start it all over again. More than likely, my boys will don the same exact shirts!

With this 42 Dollar Ring, I Thee Wed.

Well, looky here, a few candid pix from May 23, 1997

My husband did not marry me for my money. Or my money saving abilities for that matter.

He first learned I was broke when I asked him for money to buy school books. He might have scratched his head a bit when I bought him an el-cheapo wedding ring from Witmark.

Perhaps he wondered why I had this, that, and the other credit card in my wallet while he had 2 or 3 paychecks sitting on his dresser collecting dust.

We laugh when we think about it. Just how unprepared I was to take on the responsibility of marriage, homekeeping, budgeting. You see, Dan and I decided that I would pay the bills, goto the bank, pretty much make sure we survived, financially speaking. If Dan never took the time to even go to the bank and deposit his paycheck, how would he ever remember to pay bills on time, right? I guess I was the obvious choice for the chief financial officer. And how well did I handle this? By delighting the Rainbow Vacuum salesman that showed up to our newlywed home and buying a Rainbow, of course.

Getting to the point. Our marriage was a leap of faith and trust. In each other, in our future and in God. Dan knew I was not the most frugal money manager in town, but he trusted, (trusts) me with it. I knew that he would work, and work a lot, so I have to try every week to be mindful of his physical and mental exhaustion level and not push him to do much in the home.

Of course we are not perfect, of course we fail, and often.

Of course we are different people than we were in 1997.

Of course he has wanted to duct tape my mouth closed at times, and me want to make him sleep on the sofa.

But God has preserved our love, and for that I am so thankful.
Happy 12th Anniversary Dan!

May our marriage and the Rainbow vacuum last a lifetime!

enjoy a few old pix. one for each year we've been Dan & Chelle


1995 and so in love.

Dan's first coat and tie. 1996

From this day forward 1997

1998 Steve and Dana's wedding

1999 Expecting Chase.

2000, Our firstborn son

2001 Awaiting # 2 (What is going on with my hair?!)


2002 Are we having fun yet?

2003 dreaming of # 3


Joy's Baptism Day 2004 (what is going on with Dan's hair!?)

2005 Everyone smile!


2006 summer daze.


NYC for our 10th anniversary

2007 The quiver is getting full.

2008 Juliet is here!

Christmas 2008

2009 Dan's face says it all.


Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
1 Corinthians 9:15

Growing Up and Moving Out.

I don't care what you say, somehow the baby of the family has a different experience than that of her predecessors.

Juliet Lynne, moved from her rolling hospital cart/crib to her crib in the corner of our bedroom when she was 3 days old. At the time it was prudent to keep her in our room as to not disturb the older kids with her middle of the night crying and feedings. Each and every night we gazed upon her as she slept. We listened to her little baby sounds and toots while we fell asleep.

She was such a good baby, sleeping through the night at 7 weeks; she was cozy in that corner as weeks turned into months. We would often ask ourselves why she was still in our room. Why hadn't we moved her to share the Pepto-Bismol pink bedroom of Joy's?

Perhaps we were lazy?
Maybe we were still afeared of a middle of the night crying episode that would wake up Joy too?
Why was it that every time the move was mentioned Dan answered me with a solid "not yet"

I set a deadline for the big move. Her first birthday.
It came, it passed. She was still snoring in the corner.

And then, suddenly last weekend I decided it was time. I was already in a crabby place so moving her out did not have the emotional undertone that I thought it might.

Her daddy was a different story.

It is no big secret that Dan was a bit uninterested in having a 4th child. When I told him I was pregnant way back then, he gave me more than one scowling face and quickly concocted a story about how I "tricked" him.
Oh. Brother.

Oh, his feelings how they changed the moment he placed her in her crib for the first time.

He was at that point--
Wrapped.
Around.
Her Finger.

The move is complete. And Joy could not be happier.

high hopes for wood, plastic, and just the right amount of lead.

The pinnacle event of the year; the Pinewood Derby Race.

His first handcrafted derby car of which he was very proud.

We gathered up the family, found our seats, and waited for the race to begin. Triple elimination was the rule so we were hopeful that we would see our precious young son win a few, lose a few.

Although I have a younger brother and a father that were involved in many a Pinewood Derby Race back in the day, I never paid any attention. I did not know the speed at which those little wooden cars zoomed by. I did not know that the older kids tend to win. I did not know that it would take 2 hours and church coffee would be served.

Having no experience with this type of event, I never though that our boy's car would be first up, first to lose a raise, and in time. . . first to be thrice eliminated.
Alphabetically and mathematically I can account for the finish of his little orange car, but emotionally I just wanted the young fella to win a race, ya know?

My loving mother hen moment was duplicated by our son Drew who was so saddened that his Big brother didn't win. He was concerned the entire evening about what would happen if Chase did not win the entire event. On a side note, I LOVE that Drew thinks Chase hung the moon, I also wonder how long that feeling will last.

We were proud that Chase had fun, that he did not seem to be devastated at the loss(es). In fact he stayed at the finish line and watched every last car race down the ramp.

A fun night indeed; however, I am taking tips and tricks for increased velocity.

March Madness. and April too.

I share a birthday with my daughter. My son shares a birthday with his sister. 5 out of the 6 of us have birthdays in March and April so it was a busy couple of months celebrating and remembering the year that had gone by extremely too quickly.

The countdown to summer begins!