Pokagan State Park: Camping Trip 2009

For the last 3 years, we have been going on a camping trip with other couples. It has really been a great time to strengthen relationships for us as adults, and also for our children. This year, the group consisted of Erin & Joel, Andy & Jenna, Blare & Janel, Grayson & Tara, and us. (If you're counting - that's 10 adults and 11 children!!! AHHHH!!)

Once again, we had a fabulous time! (minus the spider bites on Nick's feet, Jessica's sudden headache and 2 boys with diarrhea.) We enjoyed lots of yummy campfire food, a hayride, about 30 minutes at the beach (before it rained), more food, a pony ride, food, bike rides, s'mores, HUGE fires (thanks to Nick, Joel, and Andy), a little outlet shopping, more food, ladder golf, and just plain good talks!

Thanks again for organizing this trip, Blare and Janel!

Enjoy the pics!

An attempt at a group pic....

The 2 "big boys". They had such a good time together!

Carter and "his girls"

Mason and I

Again, Carter and the girls....where's Brett?

The "little kid" wagon - so cute! How many children can fit in a wagon? Ask Nick or Andy - they should know!

Here's all the kids "planting their seeds"...Thanks for keeping them occupied, honey!

Oops, this isn't the camping trip. This was August's playgroup. SO fun!

Looking forward to Camping Trip 2010!! Maybe Group Camp?? We'll see!

State Fair

A couple of Fridays ago (I know...a little late posting on this...o well) We decided to visit the State Fair in Indianapolis. Grandma Fiechter, Lynn, Darla, Jalen, Gabe, me, Carter, and Mason all went. (Joni & Kinzie couldn't make it b/c of a shower in Ohio, and Kara had to work) We went (partly) to watch Chase's girlfriend, Lindsey compete in the horse show. We had a great time!

Lindsey getting ready for the first round!

Mason enjoying his first ever state fair hot dog! (Yuck!)

After we stayed at the State fair for most of the day, we went over to our hotel, The Renassaince Inn. It was a gorgeous hotel, (purchased at priceline.com - highly recommmended).

We ordered pizza in and ate it in the lobby at this super cool table. Our entertainment for the night was a Pakistani wedding going on the the next room. So interesting to see their attire and how cultural the wedding was even though the are living in America. We were down there for at least an hour and many, many, many guests had arrived and the groom was already mingling with them but the bride had not yet arrived...strange, huh?

After indulging in our Monical's pizza (yum!) We got suited up to swim!

This is the face I'd get when I asked Mason to smile...argh....

Gabe and Carter

This is what Mason wanted in the morning...not mommy, not Lynn, or Gma...Just Car-Car ;)

This is Lynn on her favorite couch. Brad - you should buy her one! Especially with the polka dot pillows! :)

We had such a wonderful time together. God blessed me enormously with such a loving, caring, helpful, and fun family-in-law!

(I'm going to be catching up here on our many outings from the end of this summer...stay tuned!)

Basement Progress Update #3??

It has been a while since I've updated about our basement! I guess I'd call it: pure laziness! (and a lost camera for a little over a week!!!!)

Well, Steve has been working extremely hard and.............the basement is completely drywalled!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY! We hired a crew to come in and finish the drywall (as in mud and tape it) b/c if Steve did it all on his own it would take weeks! So we got a few estimates and decided to go with JDH construction. (I think that's what they call themselves...)

So here are a few updated pics...

Steve is working on the closet and the view is into the unfinished room

This is the closet again all framed up and 1/2 drywalled

This is the large room all drywalled

This is looking into the living room. That beam was supposed to be really skinny, but we didn't like it so Gma Fiechter suggested making it into a small wall - LOVE IT!

Well, this is it for now. Hopefully there will be another post of primed walls and paint colors soon! Also, check out my side bar and vote on our poll!!!!! We can't decide whether to do rounded drywall corners or square corners. The price is the same.

Get 'em while they're HOT!

The Dutch Delight 4 cookbooks are HERE!

Aren't they beautiful? Great job, Jenna & Brooke!

The cookbooks are $15 apiece and all of the profit goes directly to the
World Relief Sewing Group.

We are soooooooooooo extremely excited! Here are some exciting pics from the "delivery day".

These pics are fuzzy...I think Carter has been touching the lens...Argh...

Jane and I were so excited to break open that first box! All of our work - pd. off! ;)

I have personally tried several of the recipes and we've LOVED most of them! Thanks again to everyone who helped make it possible, either by submitting recipes, or helping with the production! We hope to make a nice profit for the World Relief Sewing Group.

It was great working with Fast Print, Inc. in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They did a great job helping us along the way, and the finished product looks fabulous! Thanks Dan and Dawn!

I know I have sooooooo many people to thank for helping us with this, but as I look at these pics I remember Sarah from Salt & Light for arranging someone to pick our books up (saved us $500 buckaroos!) Also, to Jim Fiechter, Gene Reinhard, and Eric Tonner Sr. for picking them up! Then to Brad & Josh Fiechter for "filling in" for our husbands when we were unloading! We thank you all and God Bless!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is Nick and I's 4th wedding anniversary! But this really means that we have been together for 5 1/2 years! I love you so much, honey! God has surely blessed our marraige ~ and I pray that He continues to bless us! You are an amazing Godly husband and father. Much love!

A pointless post...

Carter & Mason LOVE Blueberries!!!

Joni picked up a 10 lb. box for us from Troyers, and we are lovin 'em! This was a picture of the boys when I brought them home! You wouldn't believe how many of these they could eat before we see any "after effects" :-)

A loaf of bread.

Sunday, the William Fiechter family is getting together for a reunion. I was asked to bring bread. All week long I planned to make yeast rolls, but never got around to it. This morning, I got motivated to make them, but only have time for one batch in the bread machine. So I thought, well better some than none...So I started my batch - then explained to Nick that I don't know what to do b/c I only have 24 rolls.

His answer: "So...bring a loaf of bread."

There ya have it. Wisdom from a man. Why do I go through the work to make yeast bread!?! (Oh, yeah...b/c I like it!!!!!) And he appreciates it too, he just has that "fix it quick" mindset when I bring him problems ~ and I can appreciate that!

Love you, honey!

A new experience...

EDITED TO ADD:
Okay so is this cool, or what!!!!I just got an email from Sierra. This is what it said:

Hey Jessica!

I just wanted to tell you a quick little story that I forgot to mention when you and Nick came home. This is the conversation me and Carter had while he was setting up the memory cards:

Carter: "So did Jonah dissobey God?"

Me: "Yes he did. But we need to obey and listen to what God tells us to do."

Carter: "I listen to Him and I uh..I diss..no..I.. (wasn't quite sure what the word was that he wanted to use :)

Me: "Behave?"

Carter: "Yeah. I behave Him".....(silence)....... "I am a good guy right?"

Me: "Yes Carter. You are a good guy!"

How cool! Love it......

BAck to the original post:

Well, last night our family had a new experience. We hired a babysitter for the first time EVER! Now, we've had several babysitters, but we knew them well (mostly all family).

I almost hesitate to tell you who she is b/c I don't want her stolen! ;) She is a girl from our church named Sierra. When we moved in to our new house she wrote us a very sweet letter offering to babysit for us if needed (she lives in the neighborhood). Nick was SO impressed and we were all excited to meet her. She came over last week to meet us all and babysat for 3 hours last night!

It went GREAT! Carter had talked all day long about what all he was going to do that evening with his new friend Sierra. I think he fulfilled most of his tasks...I hope they didn't ware her out too much! They played outside and in the basement, and when we got home they were in the middle of a game of Memory (of course, Mason doesn't play - so she was reading him a book and playing at the same time!) Carter says he had "lots and lots of fun!" and can't wait for her to come back!

Thanks, Sierra!

What a Blessing...

This afternoon Carter, Mason, and I were reading on of our favorite books together, "Why I love you, God".

It goes through lots of things we are thankful for like smelling roses, eating chocolate, etc. then goes on to being thankful to God for sending His son, and dying on the cross.

When we got to this page, Carter said, "Look mommy, its like the song (as he begins singing) 'Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin, everybody ought to love Jesus!' ".

It was just so neat for me to see that he can connect the words in the song to the picture of Jesus on the cross. I just always kinda wondered if he actually knew what the words on the radio were saying or if it was just words that sounded catchy. Ya know? Now, I know that he kinda understands what the words in the song are saying. Now, I know he doesn't really, really, understand but we are making progress! It was so special. Made my mommy heart melt!

A few pages later, this page came up:

This is the conversation that took place next:

Carter: Pointed to the biggest red heart and said, "Look mommy! I have a heart like this in here (pointing to his chest)."

Me: "Yeah, that's right!" and thinking he'd say something like love, happiness, etc. I asked him, "and what is in your heart?"

His Replay:

"Jesus."

Basement Progress #2

The bedroom is coming right along - and so is the living room!

Wednesday: Steve glued/screwed these strips onto the wall so that the drywall can be hung.


Thursday: He took a day off to be with his other grandchildren. :)

Friday: Steve brought my nieces and nephew with him to work all day. Nick was supposed to be off of work too for 4th of July, but he had to go in to finish a project. :( We had fun anyway and got lots of work done.


Steve did the ceiling in the bedroom - which was quite a process. Can't explain it in words... Then he drywalled the whole room/closet! WOW! It really made a difference!



Saturday - Sunday: We all took off! :)

Monday: Back to work. Steve and I met at Lowe's to pick out lighting for the living room, more drywall, doors, nails, electrical wiring, outlets, light switches, insulation, etc. This took so long! (and sooooo much $$! eek!)

Tues - Saturday: We worked on the living room. Here are some pics from the process. Oh and by the way - I've added one more job title for myself: electrician. I now know how to wire a can light! Woo hoo! (call me if you need a can light in your home, I'm sure to "screw" something up!)

THis is me nailing the wires to the frame...and a very sad Mason who wants mommy to stop working!

Here is my handy-man Hubby wiring up the box for our can lights!

THis is an upclose picture of one of our can lights after Nick and I wired them up!

Whew, they work! :o)

And this is where we are now! Hopefully, tonight I Steve will drywall the ceiling and finish preping the walls!