First Day of School

Third Grade - Age 8 1/2

 This year Joshua has moved up to 3rd grade which means a new school building with 2 floors and a new teacher.  He has had the same teacher for the past 2 years so this year brought a lot of changes.  He was really ready to start this past week and had a great first few days.  He has one past friend in his class but is starting to make some new ones.    I think that he is going to have a great year!

First Grade - Age 6

 Matthew moved on to 1st grade this year and was excited to be going back to the same class of children that he was with last year and the same teacher.  She was so sweet and gave huge hugs when we saw her this week.  You could just tell that the kids were all so glad to be back together again and picked up right where they ended last June.  We are excited to see Mac learn lots this year.  He already mastered being able to tie his shoes in 2 days so he is on a roll!

Brenna - Age 3

 Brenna is not going to school yet - she still stays home with mommy BUT she would have been glad to go and readily posed for some pictures with her brothers.  She is my helper taking them to school in the morning and picking up in the afternoon.  We are starting some learning at home this year also - so I am sure we will be amazed at how much she learns this year.

September 6th, 2012

Joshua, Matthew and Brenna

Summer Trips Part 2

The farm house where I grew up till the age of 8.  

Th next trip of the summer took us to the heart of Indiana.  I took the kids to visit grandparents before the summer was over.  Brett's mom, Theresa, also joined me and we made a fun trip of it.    

Here are some pictures that I took of where I used to live.

This was my first elementary school.  It looks exactly the same 32 years later!

Frozen Custard across from Colombia Park!  Yumm we always like some ice cream.

Then we met up with my cousin Jill and her 3 wonderful children.  The kids had a great time together playing all kids of games.  Brenna adored her big second cousin Caroline!

Finally we were able to spend the morning with Grandma and Grandpa DeSutter.  Thankfully they are looking just wonderful and we had such a special time sitting around the kitchen table visiting.

After our visit with the DeSutter family we drove to Northern Indiana to Amish country to visit with my other grandparents.  The children always love this hotel that we go to and were ready for some pictures together.

Mom Long with her 3 grandchildren.

Christina and Grandma Mary Cripe - she looks so wonderful and we had a wonderful day together!

Summer Trips Part 1

Breckenridge Colorado  Summer 2012

We had such a great time this summer meeting all of Christina's Family in CO this summer.  We have just fallen in love with this beautiful state and once again out kids were just thrilled to jump on the plane and head our west.  It was a wonderful time, that went by way to quickly, of lots of activities.  Here is a quick snapshot of what we did and who we were with for our great adventure in the mountains!

There was Lots and Lots of Hiking

Brett and Joshua hight up by Mohawk Lake

The summit of Mt Democrat - Brent and Cate with Stephanie and Brett.
14,154 Feet

Jon and Steph at Continental Falls

The girls up at Boreas Pass
Mom, Christina, Stephanie, Amy, Lauren and Emily

Dan and Renee with Lydia, Henry and Mabel and Jeremy with Colden and Blakely

Joshua and Matthew at Continental Falls

Jeremy with Blake in the Pak

Nana with Henry, Ryan and Emily

Amy with her Boys - Colden and Blakely

Christina with Brenna and Matthew

 Exploring the Fire Station

Lydia up on the firetruck

Attending the 4the of July Parade

Hanging as a big family

Brent and Cate

Joshua and Emily - cousin time

Lydia with her bro Henry

Brenna with cousin Colden and brother Matthew

Aunt Steph with Brenna

Big cousin Emily with Lydia, Colden and Brenna

Josua and Colden playing army guys 

                                                                   













                                                                   
                                                                        Golfing

Dan and Lydia with Dad and Jon

Fishing

Brett with a Rainbow

Brent out Fly Fishing for the first time

The little Fishermen - Brenna, Lydia and Matthew

                                                             Loving New Baby Mabel

Playing up at Peak 8 

Josh Jumping

Uncle Brian taking Lydia for a mountain roller coaster ride

Rope Climbing

Lydia gearing up

Playing in the Water

Emily and Ryan rock jumping

Uncle Dan taking Josh swimming in very cold water

Spending the Evening at the Chuck Wagon Show

Paca - with Brenna

Jeremy and Colden

Jeremy Amy and Colden - all tied up!

Brian, Lauren with Emily and Ryan

Ryan and Brenna roping

Oh No--the kids captured Aunt Stephanie

Dan, Lydia and Henry grab a wagon ride with Nana

This may be the first picture ever of the Hula-Hooping grandpa!

Brett and Christina with their gang - Joshua, Matthew, Brenna

Sisters!

Horseback Riding

Always a favorite day!

The Injury

So sorry Stephanie for the bike accident!