off to a great start...

We are having a great summer! Although I've been trying to start the summer off by enjoying a lot of time at home, we did get to do some fun stuff last week and...I've already taken lots of pictures. I've been meaning to post and I can't believe it's already been a week!

Usually the first week out of school is a bit rowdy with the kids getting used to being together ALL the time. I am so thankful to God that this has not been the case. We really enjoyed our first week and the kids have done a great job! One day last week, everything was quiet and I went searching the house to see what they were up to (you know it's not good when you can't hear noise!), and when I walked into our room, this is what I saw...



...Braden reading Oliver Twist to Bella! It was so sweet to see them being sweet...it doesn't happen all that often, so I grabbed the camera and here's the proof! :o) Actually Evan was in there too, but by the time I got the camera out, he had escaped.

I have many more pictures to post, but I don't want to overkill here. I hope to post again in a few days, so check back if you can!

ap

soccer season comes to an end...

I can't believe it, but I love soccer! I had never even watched a game until last fall, and I really didn't think I would care for it...I'm just surprised that I enjoyed it so much. Of course Braden loves to play...we had a great year with a pretty good coach (haha), and Braden made a whole new set of friends.

A couple of Saturdays ago, we played the one team that had beaten us earlier in the season...we lost again! Those were our two losses. I think they had their whole team on Braden...he is now trying to learn ways of getting out of that situation should it ever happen again. (I keep getting called out to the back yard so see his new tricks. :o)

At the last game, we won 8-1...Braden scored 3 goals. Ringo and Braden added up the goals and Braden scored 29 for the season. When school starts again, he's so excited because he'll be old enough to play soccer intramurally.

Here are some shots of Braden in action...






Last time through the tunnel...


And some pics of the other two...

happy summer break...

We have been extremely busy the last few weeks with a lot going on at school. Braden got out of school at noon on Friday...yeah!!! Last week there was also a skating trip and the elementary awards ceremony; Braden also went to his first Cub Scout meeting. Oh, and Saturday was his last soccer game. We also had a cookout/BBQ thing with our Sunday school class Saturday night...remind me not to wait 15 years before I play volleyball again! I thought I was sore yesterday...today I can barely move!

Here are some pictures from some of Braden's recent events...

The 2nd grade class reciting the entire chapter of I Corinthians...


Braden tied with another boy for highest GPA in the 2nd grade!


Braden with his plaque...(I promise his tie was long enough
when school started last fall!) :o)


I love this one of Braden and Miss Henschen...


Going home...


Bella and her sweet little friend Autumn...this time next year
they will be graduating from kindergarten!


Yeah...school's out!!!


Field trip to the skating rink...


So today is the first day out of school. It was so quiet until they all got up around 8:00...how nice! It usually takes a week or two for the kids to become adjusted to being together all day every day; so far, so good. Pray for us! :o) Funny story...on the way home from school Friday, Braden wanted to know what special thing we were planning for Monday. We're all still in our pajamas...now that's special!

We are looking forward to doing some special things and having a big summer. Hope you all have a good week and a great summer! More pictures from the end of soccer season coming soon...

ap

one more wedding shot...

I am still working on wedding pictures for Jaclyn and Matt...this is one of my favorites so I wanted to share it. Enjoy!

happy mother's day...

In honor of Mother's Day, we decided to post some pictures of our mothers. Ringo and I both have wonderful mothers who have lived exemplary, God-honoring lives. We are grateful to God for their love and influence. By the way, they are both not only great mothers, they are also great mothers-in-law. We love you both and hope you have a wonderful day!

Guess whose mom this is...this was taken around
25 years ago (almost the same age I am now)!


Still beautiful...


Angela with Papa and Nana (September 2006)


"What do girls do who haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?"
- Louisa May Alcott


Grandma with Braden, age 4 (March 2002)


Ringo with Mom (March 2002)


Grandma with her two granddaughters, Nikki & Bella
(December 2006)


"A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest."
-Author Unknown

Don't we both have beautiful mothers? HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all our friends and family who are MOTHERS!!!

Ringo & Angela

the billboard...

I just thought I would share a fun piece of design work with you all. I made this sign for a friend in the real estate business. It feels weird to have a 10' by 20' sign I made displayed for the public to see. I hope he gets a lot of business from it.

Thanks for checking in.

rp

ancient relics unearthed...

A while back, my cousin Cassie found these "treasures" in some of her mom's old stuff. I was around 5 years old. The other two kids are my sister Alarra and my cousin Scott...they were born on the same day and are 13 months younger than I am, so they would have been about 4 years old. Too bad Cassie isn't in the picture...I don't think she was even born yet! Thanks, Cassie, for passing these along! ;O)

Angela, Scott, Alarra...we lived right across the street from each
other, so we were always together!


I guess someone told us to strike a pose?


Very funny...


My sister and me with our mom...looks like we were around
8 and 9 years old. We must have been at Granny's house...
I recognize the red carpet! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!


Thanks for stopping by...we love hearing from you. Have a great weekend!

ap

PS...Braden's soccer team is playing on Saturday against the only team who has beat them this year, and one of our better players will be out of town. I guess we'll see... :o)

rained out...

Soccer was rained out for Saturday, so Braden's game was canceled. It's kind of nice to have the day to ourselves. We have certainly enjoyed the season, but thankfully soccer will be over in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to next spring when Braden will be on an older team...it should be more challenging, more exciting, and a little more like watching a real soccer game! ;-)

Last Saturday it was raining too, and I didn't take my camera out of the van because I didn't want it to get wet. It drizzled on us the whole time. Braden scored five goals and we won 8-2. I think the only week it was sunny AND warm was the week the other team canceled on us because of sickness. Every other week, we have either gotten rained on or it's been cold and windy. So we just bundle up and enjoy it anyway.

Here is a team picture of the "Sharks" minus one player...click on the picture for a larger view.


Top: Joshua, Coach Ringo, Braden
Bottom: Jarrett, Trey, Andrew, Matthew

Have a great week!

ap

field trip slideshow...

Here are some more random shots from the field trip yesterday, in the form of a slideshow. This program only comes with so much music and we are still working on importing our own music. Something a little more fun would be nice. Oh well...

field trip...

I just have to quickly post a picture from Braden's field trip today. We went to the fire station downtown for a tour...I love detail shots and I got several there. We then had a picnic lunch, then the best part...Baskin Robbins. Bella and Evan were also able to go...their favorite part? Riding the school bus! The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather and the kids had a great time.

I have many more, but here is one of the entire class along with Miss Henschen and her aides.



Thanks for looking...

ap

more of the wedding...

Here are few more of the wedding shots from Jaclyn and Matt's big day. It was difficult to choose which ones to put on here because there are so many I just love! When I get the slideshow done, I'd be glad to email the link to anyone who wishes to see it. Click on the pictures for a larger view.

This is one of my personal favorites...




The moment they first saw each other...


One of Ringo's personal favorites...


Congratulations to Jaclyn and Matt! It was great to see you back...I'm so excited for you as you begin your life together. I'm also very excited about your pictures and can't wait for you to see them...they'll be coming soon!

ap