March 4: Today was the first Sunday that we had new Grace Church programs and heard a sermon from Pastor Jeff (previously recorded). Big changes ahead for our campus. God is really, really BIG.

March 5: Miss M and I journeyed down to Hamilton Ohio to attend the service for my dear friend Melissa’s grandpa. I was glad I was able to support her during this time. She loved her grandpa dearly and I have heard many fun stories about him and the fun times they shared.

March 6: Joe was home this morning because he went into work late in order to stay through what is called “down time” at Aultman. Unfortunately, this “down time” lasted entirely through the night and Joe didn’t get home until Wednesday afternoon. However, we had some fun prior to his departure. Large remote control truck+ 3 kids (Aiden was over this morning, well technically, 4 kids then, but one is too little to get excited just yet)+snow=a good time.

March 7: We went to the zoo today! The weather was great. A little breezy, but still great! We are so happy to have such good friends to go with

March 8: This is J’s drawing of our dog. We have a budding artist!

March 9: We were finally able get together with some friends that we have talked about getting together with for awhile. It is a small world-my friend from childhood, we grew up on the same street, married a guy that Joe knows from MCA. Jessica and I and the kids have gotten together several times, but we had yet to get our families together, so finally this friday worked out. Our families hit it off and we look forward to getting together more often.

March 10: Back to work I go! Well, I just filled in this Saturday, but it was a real treat. I truly enjoy the kids I work with. They are smart, funny, and capable of so, so much! I have missed them. ‘Sorry’ is the beloved game of the boy I worked with today. It is very rare that I have a session with him in which we don’t play this game.

Recently I have ventured out with all three girls. It is a bit of a process to get everyone in the van and then once we arrive at our destination, to get everyone out and situated (most of the time in a shopping cart). We have tried a few different methods to shopping cart seating and will soon find the one the works best-often it depends on the store and their carts. Anyway, I have been surprised at how many people have offered to help me! I don’t think I appear as if I am struggling a ton, I think I have run into some genuinely nice folks. I am encouraged by this.

I haven’t always needed the help, but a couple times I was very grateful for an extra hand out to the van. Especially the other day as I left the check out lane with two carts-one with kids and one with the things we bought, because I was NOT leaving the store without dog food and having to make another trip at a later time. So picture this-a cart full of kids, one in the carseat in the front and two in the back, and another cart with a few bags and a 48 pound bag a dog food, yes, it’s ok to think I am a little nuts I was pushing the kids and pulling the other cart, maybe I am a little nuts, no, I’d like to think more adventurous. Anyway, a nice lady pushed the cart with our stuff to the van, and for that I am grateful. I hope to be able to offer assistance to others when they are in need. This simple act has left an impression-pay it forward-spread joy, care, compassion.

Happy 2012! We had a good 2011, especially since we ended it with the birth of our third daughter. 2011 was filled with much joy, some challenges and struggles, but also a lot of growth. I can fondly look back on 2011 and also look forward to 2012.

I was tired of our old blog look, so I am trying to freshen it up. We’ll see what happens. Here it is, new color scheme and since it is 2am, this is how it will stay for now. What the blog really needs is some catchy title-I’ll work on that, or better yet, I’ll have Joe work on that, he is better at that than I am. 

I hope to post more this year. We got in a rut last year, posting here and there, perhaps on average once a month. It is a matter of finding time, and with three kiddos that time is hard to find unless it is 2 in the morning. However, like I mentioned in a previous post, no need to stress over the blog. I don’t really know who reads it anyway and or if anyone really cares all that much about reading it. 

One thing I will be posting is Project 365 (this year 366 since it is a leap year). I will choose a picture a day and by the end of 2012 we will have a picture to represent each day of the year. It has already been tough on some days to decide which picture to choose, but I am up for this fun challenge and think it will be fun to look back on. Check back for that post tomorrow, as it is my plan to post a weeks worth of the project at a time so that I don’t have to post daily. 

Again, HAPPY 2012! Enjoy it!

It is already part way through November! Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, then baby three, then Christmas (hopefully in that order). I keep meaning to post more, but it just isn’t happening. I don’t like spending time in front of the computer these days. There is too much to do, more important stuff. I want to edit pictures, post our activities, keep things updated, but I realize that it is simply important that my family has those memories to look back on, and if I don’t get things posted, oh well. With that said, we’ll see when the next post happens, I am not putting pressure on myself.

Until next time, enjoy this nice fall scape taken while my friends Melissa, Trish and I ventured around on a surrey in Indianapolis around the canal (a story for another post).

                                                                      …God is really cool. His creation is beautiful…

A few weekends ago, Clarkes and Vollers went to Bauman Orchard for their Fall Festival. It was GREAT! We went on a hayride-twice!, saw some animals and briefly explored the hay maze, got a tour of the apple sorting/packing and where they make cider, had some lunch, bought some cider, and just enjoyed hanging out together.

We have been having lots of fun around here! The girls and I have been enjoying a couple mornings a week with Ally and Aiden doing homeschool. We are focused on playing and learning together. Ally has many fun things all planned out, she’s great! The kids don’t always want to do what is planned, but we try to get in an activity or two and just let them play. Just playing is so important. The kids get along well and are exploring, creating, and being imaginative.

We have done many apple things-going apple picking, painting with apples, making apple bread, apple tree crafts, making apple cinnamon play dough. We have done also just fun Fall stuff-taking walks at the park and around the block (Finally, after all the rain we had!), talking about leaves, exploring in the creek, jumping in the leaves (the kids weren’t big fans-surprising, I know!), making salt dough pumpkins, going to the pumpkin patch. I really should be writing down more of what we have been doing, Jillian and Lynnsey have been having so much fun! Fortunately, I have lots of pictures to remind us of our fun!

                                                                                                                    …more posts to come…

We had a lovely time picking apples with Ally and Aiden this week. I had never picked apples before, or at least I don’t recall ever doing so. I have certainly been to apple orchards for fall festivals and such, but have not actually picked apples while there.  So, this was a first for me and the girlies. It was a cloudy day to start, but the sun peaked through just as we finished picking. I must say, the apples are DELICIOUS! I am totally all about picking apples now, so much for buying them at the store, it is definitely worth the little drive to Bauman Orchard. Though, I did find out that Buehlars gets their apples from them, which is cool, but picking them yourself is fun and costs less.

The girls had a good time. Both ate an apple while we ventured along picking. It was quite amusing watching Lynnsey eat an apple. It was such a tiny one, not much bigger than her palm and she sure did gnaw on it for quite awhile.  Jillian also ate her first whole apple,  pervious to this day they have always been cut up with no skin on them. Go, little girlies! Aiden showed his strength pulling Jillian along in the wagon, it was cute and I am glad Ally got a video of  it. 

Apple picking with friends = a good time for all- and lots of pictures

It has been over a month since our last post. We have been busy living life. One day soon I hope to post a better update, but for now, know that we are well and loving experiencing life together as a growing family. July and August have been busy, challenging and growing. As we approach September, we are continuing to grow in our relationship with God, grow together as a family seeking the Lord and simply trying to enjoy all the moments-small and big, fun and challenging, each moment we have is one to be grateful for and one in which we can glorify God.

Last weekend we had the pleasure to spend some time with a good friend, Melissa. We ventured to the zoo, met friends at a park and went to dinner, splashed at the Splash Pad, and went to Blossom. We kept busy and had lots of fun. It is always nice to catch up with good friends and have a good visit! It is shame it cannot happen more often, but that just makes the time we do get to spend together more special. Thanks for a fun visit, Melissa!

June has equaled: work, end of school-which means new schedule for me, birthdays, graduation parties, zoo, friends, meetings, Father’s Day, autism conference, Joe being on call (glad that is over for now), more meetings, church, sun, rain, studying God’s word, going on walks, cleaning, garage sales, the usual day to day busyness, oh, and my new favorite thing-digital scrapbooking!