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Batesville visit

This weekend while Brad was braving the heat in a Frisbee tournament, we headed to Batesville. Our family friends , the Males, were also there visiting. We had SO much fun catching up and playing. The highlight was jumping hay bales in a pasture behind my parents house. I even got in on the action (sorry no pics of that!). This pic is priceless - collins and garrison

Jumping the hay bales (is that spelled right?)

Seth, Joseph, Collins, Mary Blake and Kate

Mary Blake and Kate

Granma's Birthday

Last week we had an 85th birthday party for my Grandmother. As usual, the cousins had a lot of fun, with minimal meltdowns (gotta have one or two for good measure). Isaac and Ashley

The cousins

Lis and Rebekah

Granma and Crook

Landry (my cousin Sam and Dara's second child)
Sorry I didn't get a pic of Reid - he is an older version of Landry!

Kuiper Camp

Last week, our pastor's son Luke, hosted a "camp" for boys to teach them about football, swimming, etc. He even included a Bible story each day - which Collins relayed to me as the story of Moses and the Ark! I guess those names can be confusing! Basically Collins got to hang out with his best buds for a whole week!! Thank you Luke!Watch out Olympics here we come!

Look at that form

Not a bit proud, are we?

Collins and Luke

Sunday Morning

This Sunday morning, I was fixing breakfast, thinking to myself how nice and quiet the house was. . . . Whoa! All mothers know that too quiet for too long is probably not a good thing! I found the kids in MB's room "in jail". They had taken Mary Blake's drawers out and were playing - quite creatively I might add. This is when you think - do I laugh? do I look sternly and discipline? is it really that big of deal?? I decided it was no big deal - they were having a blast and made them promise to clean it up once they were released from jail.

Night Night and cap

For some reason bedtime + Collins = something funny! This is how we found him 3 nights ago! I would have funny pics of Mary Blake at bedtime, but she is so tired at bedtime, it is all business! She is usually asleep in 15 minutes!

Play ball!

Monday night, we had the Sanders and Thompsons over after supper for a game of t-ball. It was funny that we assumed everyone would know what 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base were! Emma Claire had no idea where to run or when, and ended up in tears over all the screaming and yelling! By the end of the night, she decided she liked and would come play again!

Two days ago, Collins got some new shoes. He loved them so much, he asked to wear them to bed. So after his bath, he put his new kicks on with his t-shirt and boxers (love the t-shirt and boxer look on my little man!). Anyway, around 8:45 or so, I was doing my nightly rounds and I found Collins wide awake. He had completely made his bed up! Not only had he made his bed perfectly, (which he has previously claimed he can't) but he had lined up every one of his lovies . He said, "I am not tired and I am ready to wake up!" Oh my! We then had to make him a pallet on the floor b/c he didn't want to mess up his bed!

Visit with JJ and Pops

We spent this weekend with JJ and Pops. The kids light up when they see them! They got to play games, wrestle with Pops (hope your back is ok Pops!), and they even got to go to the movies! We saw Wall-E and they loved it!!! Thanks again JJ and Pops for your hospitality! We look forward to seeing you soon!Playing Hi Ho Cherry-O

It's my turn!

Chic fil a

Friday we joined the Sanders at Chic fil a for lunch. It was customer appreciation day and if you dressed up like a cow (of some sort) you got a free meal. Mary Blake and Collins were way more excited about being a cow than getting a meal! These were my "let me use what I have costumes" that turned out not too shabby!

They were most impressed with my ric rac and construction paper tails!

Before and After

This post may be boring to most of you, but I do have a feeling of accomplishment by officially posting "before and after " shots of our house. While we do have more to go, I am relieved to have this much behind us! Sometimes you have to look at how far you have come to appreciate where you are. . .

Front of house before

Front of house after

Backyard before

Backyard after (hallelujah!)

Bedroom beforeBedroom after

Front porch before

Front porch after

Jesus and Wal-Mart

As you know Collins can say some random things! Today he proclaimed (very confidently) that Jesus was in his heart telling him that we need to go to Wal-Mart. He confirmed this revelation with a nod, then continued with, "we need to go to Wal-Mart to get Mary Blake and me more toys - Jesus told me." Oh my. . .I've got some work to do . . .

Monday night, we braved the hard rain in Oxford and went to the movies! It was an all girls night! Aunt Ashley, Aunt Lis, Me, and Mary Blake went together. (poor) Rebekah missed it because she was at the beach! Mama kept the boys and they all hung out at Uncle Daniel's house. Collins would move in there if he could! The movie was so great and yes, dog dog came to the movies too. Can you guess what Mary Blake wants for Christmas now?? I wonder how many of these dolls they have sold. . .I kinda want one too! In one suspenseful part of the movie, I looked over and Mary Blake's knees were pulled tightly to her chest and she was so nervous! The ending turned out great and the message of the movie was wonderful.

The Wren Family 4th! continued . . scroll down for the beginning

We hung out under a huge oak tree while it rained. Here's Daniel - Come to think of it Daniel, were you resting up for your "Lion sleeps tonight" performance in this picture? I thought you were about to show us how Isaac could sing it, but whoa nelly - Daniel sung along in falsetto! I think I pulled something I laughed so hard. Don't get me started on the air guitar performance I witnessed last night. . . .

Isaac and Elliott getting into Lis' jewelry. I don't think I saw Elliott without a bracelet or necklace on the entire weekend!

Paw Paw after he got in trouble for spraying everyone!

Jay and Lis - such a good-looking couple!

Sweet cousin time! Collins and Elliott

The Wren Family 4th!

The day got kicked off by me suggesting that we get the kid's picture first (you know before they get dirty, sweaty, and wet - which they did). Well , this is the best one - please teach me how to cut and paste heads and I will have an award winning picture of the cousins!This one actually turned out pretty good. . .what you don't see to the left is Elliott crying his eyes out - bless him - we couldn't get a smile out of him!

Jay and Mary Blake. Jay is Lis' boyfriend and is an extremely good sport. The kid's can't get enough of him! Either he is really good at pretending or I think he really likes the crazy kiddos!

Collins and Isaac - we have some cousin love in our family. They are SO excited to see each other!

Here is paw paw thinking it was fun to spray everybody - I mean come on daddy - I had just washed the hair and here you go with water hose?