Murlin Heights Fun Day 2010

Friday the 28th was Murlins Heights fun day. The school set up 14 different stations and the kids were divided into 14 different groups. Each group had a mix of all the classes k - 4. The fourth graders were the team leaders and had to lead their groups to each different booth. The kids got 15 minutes at each booth and then a half an hour for lunch. It was a hot day but the kids had a blast. Meegan and I helped with the 3 legged race. It was so much fun watching the kids attempt this race. We tried to pair them up by size as best as we could. The kids had a blast some ran ( and fell) and some just wanted to walk. They had fun and that is all that matters!

Memorial Day BBQ

We had a Memorial Day BBQ with some great friends @ our neighbors house. It is was great time. We had some great food and the kids played all day. They had volleyball tournaments, the kids swam or played in the sand box and snacked all day. The men played volley ball with the kids while us ladies hung out on the deck drinking and yacking away! There were no injuries and no fights so it was a perfect day!

Aunt Amber & Uncle Landon Visit

Ashton Riley & Owen swimming in the pool

Ashton, Aunt Amber, & Ashley. The kids are hiding on the pregnant lady so that Justin won't get them with the squirt gun. They eventually had to let Amber get out and then Justin hit them with a ton of water :)

Aunt Amber and Ashton having a race

Ashton, Aunt Amber, Lily, & Owen posing for a picture for me

Audo and Uncle Landon playing frisbee.

The Dogs....

This is Steve and Jake running around playing in the back yard. Steve is so playful because he is still a puppy. So he is constantly trying to get Jake to play with him. Jake does for a bit then he is like I am getting in the pool so you will leave me alone. Jake is a great swimmer and Steve absolutely hates the water. Justin has tried to put him in the water but Steve swims to the side instead of going to the stairs and then he starts to panic because he can't get out so we have to watch him so he doesn't fall in! They are quite the pair though.

This is my dog Harley. He is finally opening up to me. Justin rescued him for me because I was missing Chainsaw. He didn't take her place in my heart but I have made room for him. He is a puppy as well and is best buds with Steve. They chase each other around the yard and fight over toys. Now if I could get the 2 of them to stop chewing things up that would be great. Between the boys and the dogs I stay pretty busy but I wouldn't change a thing.

Me & My boys

It is officially summer for us! We have the pool opened and almost totally cleaned. The boys go to school during the day (1 week left) and then come home and swim until they are ready for dinner! The boys are counting down the days until school is over. No summer school this year so I am happy about that. We all have a start of a great tan and we have been using tons of sun block. We have also been bbqing on the weekends a lot more which a wonderful sign that summer has officially started for us. It is just so easy to throw something on the smoker or grill during the summer since we are usually outside.

The 3 Stooges

Riley, Owen, & Ashton are inseparable friends. The boys act so much like brother it is not funny. One minute they are playing that ends up turning into a fight then the next minute they are back to playing like nothing happened :0) It is mostly between Owen & Riley. We let just let them sort it out if it is not too out of hand and they usually do. I am just glad that they found someone to play with!

Lowes workshop

Last weekend Meegan and I took the kids to Lowes for another building workshop while Justin and Zane went out fishing. This time the kids earned the catapult patch. Owen & Ashton did their whole projects with little help from me. They carefully read the directions and the only thing I had to was hold it while they hammered the nails in. I was so proud of the both of them. Owen colored his with markers and took his to school for Show and Tell. Ashton left his as is and displayed his with his trophies :) They are growing up so fast.

Last Flag football game

The boys won their last flag football game. It was so wonderful that they won 2 games! The boys didn't make any touchdowns but they were excellent at defense. They stopped quite a few plays!

Happy Birthday Meegan & Aunt Bev

WE would like to wish a very happy birthday to my Aunt Bev! Even though we can't be with you on your special day we are thinking about you! Also we want to wish Meegan a very happy birthday! Today we got together for lunch at the Cheesecake factory to help her celebrate another wonderful year! We always have a wonderful time when we are all together and we look forward to many many many more! Have a great ladies!


What a wonderful group of friends!

Ravens Double Header

Sunday the boys played two flag football games. They won the first game, Yay!!! We were so excited! They have improved so much since the beginning of the season! We are so proud of them. They lost the second game but not by much! Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and it was chilly and drizzling at the beginning of their first game. It was suppose to be nice and sunny instead it was yucky. We were hoping to get at least one more decent weathered game.

So this little guy has not been feeling well the past few days so it was such a treat to see him out and playing this afternoon. He finally kicked his fever but is a little horse and complaining of a tender throat when he coughs. I just hope he feels 100% before Sunday since it will be his last 2 flag football games that day!

So here is my little man with an attitude. I am not sure what it is about the end of the week but he sure is grumpy. God help us as he gets older :) This picture captured the one moment today when he was not being crabby at everyone or crying because someone hurt his feelings. I love Owen but he is going to be the death of me i am sure!

Eastwood Metro Park

I love this preset! It is just funky and retro in color! I love playing around with the photos!

Parts of downtown Dayton have some great buildings or whats left of building for taking photos. During part of our walk today it looked as if it was just going to pour down on us but luckily by the end of our 3.6 miles the sun came out and stayed out for the rest of the day!

Just trying this photo out in Sepia! I love fiddling with all the presets Justin downloaded for me to use with our Photoshop lightroom program. I am trying to teach myself to use these programs. Might even look into taking some photography courses!

I love these stone bridges. Justin and I are looking to paint our living room but we want some of our own photographs to hang up so I am trying to hit up all the Metro parks to take an assortment of pictures so when we finally get down to painting we should have plenty of pictures to choose from!

Jane, Meegan, & I have done so well with our walking. Today our walk took us through Eastwood Metro Park. We got some wonderful pictures but I think so far my favorite place has been Charleston Falls Preserve minus the snakes of course :) It is just nice to get out of the house get some exercise and take some great photos!

Englewood Metro Park

Me, Jane, & Meegan in front of the sign that should have been on the other end of the trail where we started! apparently we are the only idiots that have done that whole trail!

Justin & I

Me & Meegan

Jane, Meegan, Justin, & I headed out for our Monday walk @ Englewood Metro Park. We decided to do the 3.5 mile trail (which by the way apparently no one does) to add on to our normal walk. Well we get half way through it looks like the trail just died off. We kept trekking along the water and on this hint of a path through weeds just about as tall as Justin until we come upon a bridge that is closed off at the other end. So we walk across this bridge step over the gate and read the sign that says trail closed area is resting. Hint to Englewood Metro Park.... You should block off all parts of the trail you don't want people on! Needless to say our normal hour walk turned into a 4 hour walk. I must say we did it very well even though we like to stop and take pictures of the scenery!

Happy Mothers Day!

Ashton & Owen tripping over each other trying to get the boys flag!

Ashton passing the ball to Riley. They dropped it but I think they both were in a hurry and wanted to make the pass but ended up dropping the ball. Oh well they tried and that is what matters!

Owen has some pretty good moves!

Hope all you Mothers out there had a wonderful Mothers Day. Unfortunately it was a busy day here for us. We had flag football and yard stuff to get caught up on. The boys team lost 31 to 13 but they are getting a lot better and playing more as a team now!

Wacky Friday

Ashton wore two different socks, two different shoes, and his shirt backwards. He loved wacky friday the best out of all the days this week!

Owen wore his soccer socks one up and one down and his shirt backwards. That was all he wanted to do as far as being wacky! He really enjoyed teacher appreciation week!

Hat day Thursday

Owen wanted to be like his dad so he wore his uniform hat. Owen says he is going to up and be just like his dad. He wants to be in the military, be a fireman, and be a teacher. So we will see what the future holds for this little guy!

Ashton took Justin's other favorite hat to school. Probably not the most appropriate hat to wear to school but after 20 minutes of arguing and almost missing the bus I said forget it. He is definitely stubborn like his dad! He also wants to be in the military like his daddy was, he wants to be a doctor, and a policeman. We told both of them that they could be whatever they wanted to be as long as they set their minds to it and studied really hard!

Summer is in the air

Its the six million dollar man.... No it is just Owen pretending to run in slow motion. You gotta love kids and their active imaginations! He had such a blast today running thru the sprinkler

In between the water droplets is Ashton! He had a great time running through the sprinkler only he didn't last quite as long as everyone else before he decided to go inside and change. Instead he threw the frisbee from tree to tree :0)

It was so warm today that the kids came home from school and changed into swim trunks so that they could play in the sprinkler at the neighbors house. They had a blast and I believe that is the first true sign that summer is almost here.

Flowers for teachers

The boys had to take a flower into school today to show their appreciation for their teachers. Each one of them took a sunflower in a little pot for their teachers. Then they each wrote a note to their Speech and Title 1 teachers to thank them for all the extra help and support they gave to them throughout this year. I also would like to Thank all the staff that helps my boys out. Each one of the boys have made great improvements this year and it wouldn't be possible without their teachers and specials teachers!! Thanks again to Mrs. Burns, Mrs. Batts, Mrs. Clark & Mrs. Vicars!

School pride day

Today is school pride for their Teacher appreciation week! The boys wore their fun day shirts from last year because the shirts are their school colors. I am happy to report that they both are doing well at school and that they both are reading at that grade level now. Ashton has made drastic improvements since starting Title 1 & Speech. Yay! Ashy we are so proud of you. Owen has improved so much this year as well. I think he got the boost of self confidence he needed and now he is thriving at school. We are so proud of both of them!

terrible storm coming thru Dayton

Monday night @ about 8:30 we had a storm front roll in. It was amazing to see the the clouds just sweep in over our neighborhood. The pictures are taken about our neighbors house. The clouds were moving so fast and it dropped a good 10 degrees in a matter of minutes. We got a lot of heavy winds, little bit of rain, and it lightning & thundered twice but that was it. It was amazing to just stand in the driveway and watch the storm roll in. Justin got a video and posted it to face book so check it out. The boys didn't like all the wind and how dark it got so they ended up sleeping in Owens room together. I am sorry to say that they take after me in that area. Growing up I was terrified of storms. Now after going through the worst hurricane season Florida had, the worse typhoon Guam had in 10 yrs, and snow storms in Texas & Ohio the weather doesn't bother me as much!