WE are still using Savannah's computer, so I am not sure how to load pix on it. Her software is different than ours. HELP, SAVANNAH! I tried to go to my "myspace" site, but, for a week kept clicking on "start membership" instead of log in! Can you say seriously sleep deprived? At least I figured it out without tech support.
This week, Michael went the extra mile and arranged for someone to help with the driving and/or watching the kids while I drive. What a blessing. As you may or may not know, Ivy and Joel joined the school sports scene, and since our great rental house is out of district, they have to take one class to stay with the teams they trained with. They are in "intro to Spanish", which means they have to be driven to school everyday, then picked up after sports. Of course, they all( to include Ben) finish at different times! This makes for a LOT of driving around. Did I mention our van has no air? it gave up inMay, and the cost for repair is staggering. So, we drive around in our oven, and the last couple of weeks the temperatures have soared to new records. Now you know how truly thankful I am not to have to drive around with all the kids to do drop-offs and pick ups.
WE attended Joel's first official tackle football game Thursday. They won 30-0! He is a wide receiver. While we have no real plans for Labor day, this week we look forward to Evan and Liz meeting Liberty for the first time. We also get to meet Matt, Cassie's fiance for the first time, and attend their wedding! Jeanette and Trinity will be flower girls, on the beach. Ivy has her first cross country meet of the season, and was elected a team captain.
So, I am taking a survey, is anybody reading this?(ok, Melinda, I know you are!)


the answer to last week's question is: Ben, 16, b-day 8/22/91, Trinity, 5, 8/27/02, Grant, 2, 8/19/05

well, we lost the main computer, and I am clueless as to how to load pix to a laptop. If you were following the birthday thread, Melinda guessed the ages correctly, and Amanda got one date right. This past Sunday wqs Grant's 2nd birthday. We had cake, but no party. just too much right now. As i type this, children are devouring german chocolate cake in the next room. Ben had some friends meet him to play paintball a while ago, but today was his big day. We were discussing Savannah's sweet sixteen birthday party, he is glad he did not choose a father/daughter(or in his case, mother/son)dance. Let me know if and what you remember about that occaision.

3 birthdays this month. Grant, Trinity and Ben. Anyone care to guess dates and /or ages? the one with the most correct gets their name published in this blog. immediate family members need not apply.

networking

So These past 2 weeks we have expanded our networks to include myspace and facebook. Why did I do this? Mostly too see pix and blogs of other people who are on these networks. So, if I fall behind on this blog(which is often), check the myspace, in Michael's name or facebook in my name. Savannah is taking lots of pictures and having an awesome time in Australia. She tries to blog about once a week, but there are far more pix on her facebook. I find facebook easier than this blogsite, and myspace more difficult. opinions?

Ivy and her "mini me"

some pix of the rest. just for fun.

Announcing:
Liberty Grace Chastain
July 3, 2007
6lb. 6 oz.
18inches

Life got really busy, with the kids coming home from college, constant track meets and our spring break tour. Meanwhile the kids keep growing and Grant needed a haircut! He took a tumble at Grandma's house and scraped his face. The nose wrinkle is his version of "cheese"!

Happy Birthday Evan!





I am just not very good at keeping this updated. We enjoyed a warm day on the MLK holiday and went down to the beach with some friends and neighbors. Last week we finished our Trojan horses, then Papa Evan and Grandma Gwynne came down to attend a funeral and, as a bonus, got to spend some time with us.

This year we went to the same beach as last New Year's with our friends the Wades and some of the Roshetko's with some amusing results! The scary thing is................we really are made from the dust of the earth, the same as these sandmen(and women). Our lives are very definitely formed by the creator, and just as surely do not last. What kind of a sand(snow)person(?) would each of us be if we did not acknowledge our creator, or denied the eventual coming of the tide? I, for one, am thankful that MY creator is a little more skilled than today's sand sculptor's. Certainly, He loves us more. He became a sandman! Just as vulnerable! Amazing!

Ok, I will quit! It just struck me as I sat down to write it! Thanks, GOD!

What Happened? There are NO pictures of Savannah!


It is a brand New year, and I have nothing profound to say about that! Here are a few pix from the crazy December days. We had Anna-Laura's birthday, Christmas, a trip to the zoo(Savannah, Evan and Lizs' present to us) how do you punctuate that? and The Christmas pageant and a New Year's party. Enjoy!

I suppose I should have taken pictures this weekend when we were overflowing with company for Thanksgiving. Of course I forgot! But I took a few cute ones just before. Grant really took off walking this week. Since it is new, he RUNS everywhere, so he was hard to catch on camera. Mike, Nancy and Kristin(and Cassie, not pictured) were here, and yes, it was warm enough to be at the beach.

I'll call this next bit:

Trinity Hits the Road

Trin road tested her bicycle helmet, literally, causing A large goose egg, completely road-rashed.

Well, Cross country season is finally over! Ivy continued to race with the high school junior varsity in the open races(and winning). And indeed, Ivy DID make the soccer team. Now I am committed to driving for that. Ben DID acheive his goal, infact went under it and ran his last 5K in 16:52. It wasn't enough to go to State Competition, largely because Our district has some great runners. He also ripped an abdominal muscle in the last yards of the race.

Joel and Anna-Laura wrap up their flag football and soccer seasons this week. I am so THANKFUL. I am dropping dance and piano after Christmas, and wonder what I will do with all that free time.

Grant is taking some steps now, and it won't be long before he is running, too. Yes, he is almost 15 months old. But, about half my children waited that long to walk. I always say, they may walk late, but my kids usually potty-train early. Which would you rather?

Ivy went for a run the other day and came back telling me there was a wonderful puddle just perfect for floating paper boats in, down the path a ways. I had a LOT of other things I could be doing, but I decided to go with it. First I had to teach them how to make paper boats out of newspaper. Ivy made one out of a tissue box, even fashioning pipcleaner mast and notebook paper sail. I honestly did not have faith that it would float.

Well, we all trouped down to the very large puddle. There was a light breeze blowing that made it perfect for "racing" the boats. Of course, I brought my camera! As I watched, I began to wax philosophic. Not sure why, but some of the boats drifted into the curb, others beached themselves on the parking lot. At first, the girls just watched, but could not resist helping the boats. Of course, then they got wetter and wetter until they became a mass of pulp. It made me think of how we sail along in this world, sometimes mindlessly. If we are not careful, we become saturated with the "things" of the world until we cannot sail any longer.

Ivy's boat sailed above these disasters, mostly because it was cardboard, and did not soak as easily. It was beautiful to watch, right up until Trinity sideswiped it as she ran wildly through the puddle, for no reason but sheer enjoyment. The carefully crafted sail was soaked and ripped right off it's pipecleaner support. Fortunately, Ivy herself is made of stern stuff and was very upbeat about it, as she had figured out the "secret" of construsting a sturdy boat, and could certainly duplicate her efforts, if not improve on them in a future endeavor. Again, a reminder of our own fragile lives, and where we would be without dependence on Christ.

I will stop my mini sermon at this point. But on a side note, you might enjoy the finish to this tale. Since Trinity had been reminded several times to walk slowly in the water, and the temperature was mild, and she was dripping, I decreed that she must walk home. It was down one street, tuning once; less than a quarter mile. Ivy was elected to accompany her, as no one els could drive. NO one would ask Anna-Laura to take on such a responsibility, and Jeanette just cannot maintain control of Trinity(and no one would expect her to). I drove slowly, stopping to make sure they crossed the street safely and only left them on the turn. Remember, I DId have things to do! Ivy and Trinity ran in the door scant minutes after I had downloaded Grant and shooed in Anna-Laura and Jeanette. "Did you drag Trinity home at a dead run?" Ivy explained that a police car had stopped them and questioned them as to their ages(Ivy is only 11, not legal for baby sitting), where they lived, etc. Ivy explained that Trinity was wet, but they continued to insist that the girls get in the police cruiser. Finally Ivy agreed, and the security police had to MOVE THEIR GUNS! Then, they did not even speak to me at all. how crazy is that?

You can keep up with Ben at: http://www.milesplit.com/athletes/7315

Wow! HAs it really been almost a month since we posted last? I guess we have been busier than we thought. I know I have purposefully avoided sitting down at the computer, knowing I would get SUCKED in. So, what has been going on? Joel is now OFFICIALLY a teenager, even though in his mind he hit that long ago. Ben has gotten better times 4 out of 5 runs, and now merits his own page on FLrunners.com ! Ivy finished her season and announced she wants to try out for soccer. Watch out, Savannah! Evan has taken on a swim team, and Liz toyed with changing jobs. Grant is still not walking, but likes to tease us by standing alone and clapping for himself. He is signing to let us know what he wants and trying to talk. I'm sure there is more, but it is a blur!