CC Lost another tooth

Tonight Sierra went downstairs with her daddy for a bedtime story (actually 3 of them that she read herself) and before you know it she was headed up stairs to pull her tooth. Daddy promised her she could stay up for an extra half hour if she would pull her tooth. After another 15 minutes or so she had success. We tied a heavy piece of floss around it, applied a bit of oragel and she began the yanking. She yanked so hard the tooth popped out and we lost it. Seriously! We (Sierra, Mommy and Daddy) were on our hands and knees for about 10 minutes but we couldn't find it. Sierra wants you to know she is kinda sad about it but she is happy to have it out anyway and I think the tooth fairy will probably understand.

Fun in the Sun

Who has time to post when there is a beach just waiting to be occupied. Today, after Sierra's doctor's apt. the kids and I went to the beach at Miss Leone's house on Silver Lake. We soaked up the sun with Miss Tammy Stricker, Michele Clark and the kids and Rebecca & Isaac until the first roar of thunder around 2:30. We thought about waiting it out but a few minutes later we saw a crack of lighting so we packed up and went home. Our house never saw a speck of the rain but I did get my flower garden weeded and enjoyed the remainder of our afternoon at home. Better luck tomorrow. Every day this week has been forcasted for thunderstorms but I will expect sunshine just like my friend Tammy (a true sun goddess).

107 and Great Grandma Unsworth is now enjoying heaven

Emily Maude Blanch Unsworth, Born May 29, 1899 and died June 12, 2006 in Dresden, Ontario, Canada. My Great Grandma Unsworth lived a life spent on others. My mom says she was truely a Proverbs 31 woman. She was a strong confident woman who wasn't afraid to try something new. She could sew, knit, crochet, hang wallpaper, cook "burnt offerings" for a housefull and garden like nobody. She had a special fondness for green onions. She passed on some good genetics for teeth. She had all her own teeth at 107 years. She also had a deep and abiding faith in the Lord. She loved to sing the old hymns and enjoyed plunking them out on a keyboard even up to the end. She enjoyed playing games. A few days before she died she played my Aunt Margaret in Checkers and Connect Four and won. When Margaret asked if she wanted to play again Grandma replied, "I would if I could figure out how." It's pretty bad when you are getting slammed by your 107 year old Grandma. A couple other interesting things about her; she could say her alphabet backwards and she was a shutter bug with her camera. If you came to visit her she would always want to take your picture. We will miss her but we are confident we will see her again someday.

Spring Photos

Shawn is 4 1/2 & Sierra is 6

A Visit from Great Grandma Black

Last Tuesday Great Grandma Black came to stay with us for a week. We had a busy week but I think she enjoyed herself. She went home this past Tuesday and I'm sure she was ready for some peace and quiet.

Grandma has aways enjoyed drawing and she joined the kids at the island with their markers. She was trying to help Shawny learn to not get upset when he had trouble drawing certain things. He was having trouble drawing a man and threw a little fit. Grandma told him throughing a fit wouldn't help anything but to keep trying. Eventually he succeeded. CC was busy writing words. She is getting very good at her penmanship.

Grandma has always enjoyed playing the organ so I put my keyboard on an organ setting and Grandma played. She played a hymn, "The Love of God" beautifully. We sang together as well and Grandma sang a clear alto. Shawny and Sierra just had to get in on the act as well.

On Saturday Grandma went to Sierra & Shawny's soccer game. It was a little chilly but that didn't stop the kids. I think Grandma was our lucky charm, our team won 5 to 0 and Shawny scored one of the goals. Grandpa Mel was able to see the first half of the game. It was hard for him to pull himself away.

On Monday, Grandma was able to attend Grandparents day at Sierra's school. Sierra took her Grandmas on a mini tour of the school, she served them a snack, she read to them in the reading center, made a bookmark in the creation station and did an activity page in the activity center. It was a lot of fun. I'm glad my children will feel like they know their Great Grandma.











I enjoyed having my grandma visit but I think the best parts of her visit were the times I was able to just sit and talk with her. After all she has made a huge impact on me. She is part of who I am. She is so creative and I love that about her. She has played the organ and accordian, crocheted, sewn, gardened, arranged flowers, painted and tried about any other creative thing there is, but best of all she has loved me and shown me Jesus.

Dan, Dan the Yo Yo Man

Dan is doing a great trick where is pretends to eat spaghetti (the string of his yo yo).
Last week my "little" brother Dan and his family came for a visit. Well it wasn't actually just for fun, my brother was doing a yo yo tour in the Traverse City area. Dan travels throughout Michigan, England and Australia putting on Yo Yo shows in schools. He teaches kids to Never give up, Encourage others and Do your best, and the vehicle for this message is his yo. I was surprised at how great his performance was. Not really surprised at Dan because I always knew he was amazing, but at the assembly it's self. He held the kids attentions for a good hour and there has been such a buzz around Traverse City since he came. Kids all over are learning how to yo yo. Even kids that I have spoken to who have attended this assembly in past years can still remember what the word NED stands for. Dan is truely amazing with his yo yo. I am so happy that he has found a job that fits him and where he can feel a sense of accomplishment in knowing he is making kids lives better. I'm so proud of him.
He made a crazy balloon hat for the girl that remembered the "Encourage Others" part of NED.

Wrong Way Sierra!!!!!

Shawn and Sierra enjoyed their first soccer game on Saturday. They both did great, however Sierra had trouble remembering which way to run. I knew this would be a potential problem. No matter how many times her coach and parents would holler, turn around, she just kept going. She has some legs on her. She can go! Thankfully she never scored a goal for the other team but she did give them a distinct advantage. She is an aggresive player. Shawny did great for a four year old. He held back a bit. I think he is just taking some time to figure out the game before he shows his stuff.

Wrong Way Sierra!!!!!!!!!!

As for mom and dad, we came home with sunburns. I dressed the kids warm thinking it was kinda cold. Unfortunate for them, the sun came out and I felt like a terrible mom as Shawn was sweating to death in his long sleaved sweatshirt. I have learned my lesson in layering.

Kindergarten Soccer

Shawny and CC got to go to their first soccer practice. They were pumped! The coach did a great job with the kids and they are already learning the ins and outs of the game. Their first game is Saturday at 12:45. We can't wait! I'm not sure how they will do as they have only had one practice. This should be interesting!

A Visit from Aunt Judy, Kim & Melissa

Last Tuesday & Wednesday we received a visit from Lyle's brother Chip's wife, Judy, and their two grown girls and their children. Kim has twin girls and Melissa has a little boy, Ezra, and one on the way. Shawny had a blast with Ezra. Sierra and Shawny are so good with children younger than themselves. Shawny crawled around the room with Ezra and fed him his bottle. It was really precious. We will look forward to their next visit and a chance to see Melissa and Mark's new baby.

Shawny's House

Last night Shawny spent about 30 minutes drawing a picture. When he was done he told Lyle and I to keep it so we could find he and Kyla's house. He drew Sierra on top of the house, mommy in orange next to the house with daddy beside her. Kyle is below me in blue and Shawny is in green next to her. The way you can tell boys from girls is the pony tail on the left sides of our heads. He wrote all of our names including the words, bed and Patty. I think this is amazing for a 4 and a half year old. What a sweet boy!

Shawny's House

Last night Shawny spent about 30 minutes drawing a picture. When he was done he told Lyle and I to keep it so we could find he and Kyla's house. He drew Sierra on top of the house, mommy in orange next to the house with daddy beside her. Kyle is below me in blue and Shawny is in green next to her. The way you can tell boys from girls is the pony tail on the left sides of our heads. He wrote all of our names including the words, bed and Patty. I think this is amazing for a 4 and a half year old. What a sweet boy!

Rest for the weary

We had a great service at church. After church we went to the Olive Garden with Steve, Dawn and Jordan Hall, Kim Lindley and Dawn McConnell. We got home around 2:30 hoping for naps and within 5 minutes of being home Sierra spilled a whole glass of Orange pop all over the floor, walls and bar stools. Why does this happen? If I let her clean it up there is just more work for me in the long run. Parenting is more work than I originally signed up for. I know they are growing fast but sometimes it can make you crazy!!!!!

Speaking of the kids, I had started to publish some pictures of Sierra's 6th birthday party. It was late and I was getting tired so I gave up. I'll try again now.

Cousin Patty, Sierra, friend Sophie, friend Alyssa, Shawny and friend Jacob.

The kids played the Princess and the pea. After we read the story of the Princess and the Pea the children took turns sitting on pillows and trying to decide which had the pea (ball) under it.

Sierra was given wonderful gifts. She opened each with wonder and amazement.

Our Family

Twas the night before Sunday

We are going through our routine of preparing for Sunday. Lyle is packing tubs into the back of our van to haul to church in the morning. He fills his truck with gas and loads the church signs into the back of it then he lays out his clothes and makes last minute copies and signs for use the next day. I lay out the kids clothes, make sure they are bathed and get the kids in bed before 9pm. After they are in bed I polish the kitchen sink and finish up any compter work I need to do.

Tomorrow will be a light day for me. I have a week off. I won't have to leave for church untill 9:15. I really enjoy being actively involved in the life of our church however it is healthy to just attend every once and a while.

Our church just hosted a giant Easter Egg Hunt last weekend on our church property, M-72 West of Traverse City. It we so fun. Lyle and his crew did a great job pulling it all together. We had around 450-500 kids in attendance. Most of the kids were able to get at least 10 eggs. We had a big hotdog roast as well and it was all free for those who attended.

Here are some of the pictures I took that day.

And They're Off!!!!

Shawny did pretty well however Sierra must have gotten about 20 eggs, at least double the amount Shawny got. Shawny was fine with it. In fact he ended up giving away half of the candy he did get. He is so afriad of trying anything new. He only likes plain Hershey's Chocolate and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. Crazy kid!

Julia Jones, a little girl in our church was sure enjoying her eggs.

Sierra turned 6 March 31st. She had a princess party and even the boys got in on the act.

Well this will do for my first attempt at bloging. I'll do better next time.