11 is great

Emma is super excited to be 11!!

For her birthday she asked for

a desk chair and and lamp.

She is such a practical girl.

Emma loves school. 

She plays the viola and the piano.

Her favorite class in German.

She is very dependable.

She is amazing with little kids.

We are so luck to have her often calm the storms at home!!

Back to School 2011

Allie: 7th Grade

Emma: 6th Grade

Jackson: 2nd Grade

Reuben: 1st Grade

Nora: Children's Institute

Everyone is back in school. 

The older girls at Tappan Middle School.

The boys at Bryant Elementary.

Nora goes to the Children's Institute 

while Mom goes to school at Eastern.

Crazy times....much of it in the car

at least this year we have one less stop 

and all of the kids in the same school district. :)

Tubes

Nora had her speech development tested in March.

She was 2 yrs 8 mo. and speaking at about what you  would 

expect to hear from an 18 mo. old.

We thought is was just because she is the 5th child and

everyone talks for her.

We were WRONG!!

She failed a hearing test back in May.

 When we went to the Otolaryngologist

there was fluid behind her ear drum.

July 29, Nora got tubes in her ears.

 At her follow-up visit she passed her hearing test.

Now we wait to see if her speech improves....

  Weighing in....

 Nice and tall...

 Surgery marks on both ears...

Pre-general anesthetic kicked in and she was quite sleepy :)

Baptism

Jackson was able to be Baptized on July 23, 2011

a member of 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Lloyd performed the baptism and confirmation.

Grandma & Grandpa Brumbaugh and Aunt Leslie were

able to be in town for the big day.

Our adopted Grandma Bailey was able to give a

talk on Baptism and the Holy Ghost.

Allie and Emma sang the song "Baptism"

A couple July Birthdays

 This little girl turn 3 year old...

We are so lucky to have Nora in our home.

Nora loves her blankets....all of them.

She refuses to potty train :(

She loves to sing I am a Child of God.

She has her dad wrapped around her little finger.

Everyday she asks to wear her Pink dress.

She loved going to the Children's Institute while Mom went to school.

She is a social butterfly and is sure everyone loves her....which we do!!

It is official Jackson turned 8!!

Jackson loves superheroes,

Badeblades, and Power Rangers.

He can often be found riding his bike

and escaping to the neighbors.

He loves playing with his friends.

Jackson loves to give hugs.

Jackson informed Mom now that he is 8 

he doesn't need to be tucked in but

he still wants a hug and a kiss goodnight.

July 4th

We decided to go visit friends for July 4th weekend. We met-up at the beach on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Thanks  Janette for sending me for all the pictures as I forgot our camera. ooops :)

We also had cul-de-sac races and did some fireworks.

Thanks Boyd's for letting us stay!! We had a great time.

June Staycation

Splash Universe

We found 1/2 price tickets (thanks Julie)  to an indoor water park fairly close to our house. The kids were so excited to go!! 

Lunch Break at Cabelas 

We packed a picnic lunch then headed to Cabelas. After our lunch break we headed back for more swimming.

Dinner at Lonestar

When everyone was done swimming they were very hungry. We were able to score another deal when we learned kids eat free on Tuesdays!! ALL the kids ate free :)

  

P.S. Nora was so tired she fell asleep during dinner (about 5:30 p.m.) and woke up the next morning at 6:30 a.m..