The Pictures I Promised

...are finally here! Enjoy! =)

Here is Isaiah, at my parents house. They have a couple acres, with plenty of run and play room for the kiddos. Isaiah looks like a "mini papa" here, "mowing" the grass with his hat on....just like papa does!

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!!!SwImMiNg LeSsOnS!!!!

Matthew (my nephew) and Lilly are taking swimming lessons this year, from a friend, Jenni, at her pool. It's every Thursday night for 30-40 minutes, and the kids just LOVE it. Lilly would seriously live in the pool this summer, if I let her! Above, they are practicing kicking, with their kickboards.

Lilly is learning to "walk" along the side of the pool with her hands

The teacher, Ms Jenni, talking to the kids. This was the first week of lessons, and there were only 4 kids. There was more the second week (which I couldn't go to- I have ladies bible study). And I forgot my camera the first week, so these pics are courtesy of Verna- Jenni's mom. =)


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Vacation Bible School!!!!

The theme for the kids' vacation bible school this year was a cowboy/western theme. My sister and brother-in-law took the kids to it the first night, so I didn't get any pictures. These were taken the 2nd night. The kids all got cowboy hats, a sheriffs badge and a bandana.

For craft the 2nd night, the kids colored and decorated their own cowboy vests', made of paper bags. Pretty cute.

After VBS, Isaiah was wiped out.

goal accomplished. =)

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Swimming at MeMa and PaPa's House!

Two days this past week, my mom and I went out for lunch, then went over to my sisters house, and we dropped off Isaiah, and got Matthew, and we took Matthew and Lilly to moms to go swimming, and left Isaiah and Jonathan at Valeries house. The younger 2 have never much been in to the pool or swimming, and they don't like wearing their life vests.....so it's much more work for us, the adults, when we take them. Matthew and Lilly will get in the pool, and are pretty self sufficient with their floaties on. And they seem to have much more fun. Although recently, Isaiah has gotten in to the pool more than usual.....so this may change!

Oh, and when swimming at MeMa's house.......according to Lilly.....we MUST stop for an ice cream break half way thru!

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Vacation Bible School---- Day 5

On Friday evening, we took the kids to VBS again. And along with the whole cowboy/western theme, they brought out a live horse, for all the kids to sit on! My kids did fairly well......better than I expected.

Lilly got on the horse okay, but had a frown and pout the whole time. I asked her if she liked the horse, and she shook her head 'no'. Guess we won't be making a cowgirl outta her any time soon!

After much screaming and throwing of fits, Jonathan finally got on the horse, only after his daddy got on it first and held him. Not much of a cowboy for him either, I guess.

Lilly getting her hand painted.......

and what did she get? Why, Dora, of course!!! =)

The face painting lady had it easy......she just copied Lillys shirt- lol

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and.......MORE Swimming!!!!!!!!!!!!

These were just taken yesterday. After church, Jen and her family came over to our house and we went to our neighborhood pool for 3 hours or so. I just love summertime!!!!!!! =)

.....and today..........(surprise surprise) Lilly asked if we could go to MeMa's house and go swimming. (I told ya she could live in the pool!). I would have, but my house is paying the consequenses for us being gone swimming nearly every day last week. Laundry is piled high and we have milk, apple juice and freezer pop stains on our kitchen table and floor from the past week. Must get something done!

So when I told Lilly we were not going swimming today, she was very disappointed. So she put on her swimsuit and made her own "pool" in our kitchen....

No swimming for us today............

.....but tomorrow however...... ;)

Summer has hit full swing.....

Yes, I realize that I have just disappeared from the blogging world for awhile. It's summer. Need I say more? It's summer, it's HOT, there is no school, we are bored at home, my parents have a pool. You can just imagine where I've been spending my time. :)

However, I do have much to catch up on. Lots of fun summer pics have been taken. Don't get too excited though. I left my camera and memory card downstairs, and I am just too plum tuckered out from swimming to go get it. So you will have to wait until tomorrow. Or maybe next week. Or sometime. ;) But there are coming!

In the meantime.......some stuff we've been up to over here......

*I finally, after 4 years got me a new cell phone! It's a G1. Doesn't really mean much to me, but some of you might know what that means- lol. In lamens terms (haha), it has a full keyboard, and has internet and ability to check my email, along with a camera and video camera, and calender and a bazillion games. I'm still figuring out the phone.....I'll get to the games later. I love it though. I'm obsessed. My newest fave. :)

*My kids are in their 2nd week of taking swimming lessons. Actually, it's more just Lilly than Isaiah. Isaiah is, um, not so fond of the pool. ;) Lilly LOVES it though, and has worn her swimsuit for the past 2 weeks straight it seems like. She loves her lessons taught by Ms Jenni. I'll have to take some pics and share them :)

* The kids participated in their first ever Vacation Bible School this week. I think they liked it. They were only able to go Mon, Tues, (Isaiah went Thurs) and Fri. It was a cowboy/western theme....very cute. Again, pictures coming. Sorry.

* I have officially hired a 'interior decorator' to help me decorate and accessorize my living room/kitchen area. Since we have painted it, none of the stuff I used to have on the walls look good anymore. I need some help. I'm sooooo excited by Jonae and the accesorizing magic she is working on my house. I must take pictures when it is complete and share!

*I am also terribly late in my 'show us where you live friday' editions. Today is Master rooms.....but of course, I don't yet have pictures.

*I have been away from my home for about 11 hours today. Seriously. Went and picked up mom, dropped off some dry cleaning, went to lunch, went to Wal Mart, went to my sisters and waited for Matthew to get home from summer school, went back to my moms with Lilly and Matthew, went swimming for 3 hours, took the kids back to my sisters, went to Childrens Orchard to shop, met Jer at Applebees for dinner, met the kids at VBS, took Matthew to Target and to Dairy Queen with me, went back to my sisters to take Matthew home, then finally pulled in to my driveway at 9:50pm. Shew. I'm pooped. I think I'll go to bed now.

I promise.....pictures coming soon!

Fathers Day Re-cap

* It's Monday at 3:27. The kids aren't napping (what else is new?). And I have a splittin headache. Lets make this short and sweet, shall we? :)

FYI.....yesterday was Fathers Day (just in case you haven't noticed or heard....). Jer had a good Fathers Day. I must say that he is THE BEST husband and father any one could ask for. seriously. He's awesome. The kids and I are so blessed to have him and call him 'ours'!!!!

We were out with some friends on Sat night, and the guys (2 of them that were there- not including Jeremy) were talking, about one of their guy friends, whose wife had just had their first baby. And they were all dissing on the guy, saying how he was getting up with the wife and baby in the middle of the night, and he was helping his wife change and care for the baby. They were calling him a loser and making fun of him. One of the guys said, 'that's exactly why I promote breastfeeding!' (implying that it would be up to the WIFE to get up with the child, and not him). So maybe I'm weird, but "loser" is not what came to my mind when they were talking about this. I thought, 'awww....what a great husband and daddy, helping with their child. That is exactly what Jeremy did'!!!! Of course, I didn't say anything, I knew it would embarrass Jeremy, considering how they were making fun of him. But you know, that is what Jeremy did. I remember when Lilly was a baby, I would be sick and not feel like getting up to nurse, and he would get up and change her and bring her to me in bed. Or even if I was just sleepy, he would get up at her 3 am feedings and help out with her. That's just the kind of guy Jeremy is. He helps me out around the house. He will vaccuum and clean the kitchen and do the dishes.....pick up toys.....help with laundry.....we are a team and he helps me out. How many women can brag on their husbands like that? :)

Happy Fathers Day Jeremy, to THE greatest Husband and Father Ever!!!!! We love you!!!!

My dad with my kids and my sisters kids after church. My parents joined us at church for Fathers day. :)

Three Generations of Haines Men :)

After a Fathers Day lunch at our house, the kids (my kids and Jeremy's sisters kids) went outside and played on our double long slip n slide.

Oh yea, and for Fathers Day, from me and the kids, Jer received a ticked to Worlds of Fun (so did our brother in law, Gerald) so they can go have a "guys day out" together. No, I don't like roller coasters. ('hate' might be a better word for it....) or theme parks, so I will pass on this, and let Jer have all the twisy turvy upside down fun he wants!

a bunch of randomness :)

Yes, so it's been awhile since I've been on here. I've recently had a love/hate relationship with my blog. Thinking about just deleting it, but then sad, to think of it ending, but then thinking, 'who actually reads this anyways'? back and forth.....you know how it goes. And well....here I am. Writing another blog, so you can see which of "me" won- lol. Let's see.....my mind is jumbled. Randomness is all ya get for today- sorry.

~I had a not so pleasant experience on Friday. Felt fine, was out garage saling with my mom, when all of a sudden, my stomach started hurting and my head began to feel like I was in a 'cloud' or fog, and felt like I could pass out. Pulled into a parking lot, hopped out of the car, to go try to use the restroom, when, the next thing I knew, I was lying on the concrete- passed out cold. Thankfully, my mom was right there with me. She got me to wake up, and I told her to call Jeremy. Jer was there in 10 minutes (he was working from home that day- PTL). To make a long story short, I went home and took a 2 hour nap, and felt much better when I woke up. I have no idea what happened, or why I passed out. It's a mystery. A lady who helped me asked if I was pregnant. "no" I said. She asked if I was diabetic. "no" I said. hmmmm......The rest of the weekend I have felt fine. But I would be amiss if I did not give God praise and glory for being there with me. 1) jeremy was working from home that day (which he hardly ever does), so he was able to come to my rescue in 10 minutes, 2) my mom was with me, so I was not alone at all, and 3) my sister was babysitting my kids for the day, so we did not have to worry about them. Thank you Jesus for protecting me!

~Saturday was a casual day. Gotta love those days. I mowed the yard and Jer started painting the entry way. We babysat my nephews Sat night and took them to Paradise Park for dinner and to play. That's always a big hit.

~Sunday was a great day in the Lords house. I sat with my friend, Jenni, who is visiting here from Guatemala. She went there on a missions trip, and met her then would-be husband, and got married there. They now live there and have a 9 month old baby girl. I got to hold her during church. She is a cutie. Jenni and her family is leaving this week back for Guatemala though. :(

~This is a pretty low key kind of week. Not a whole lot going on. Had lunch with mom and the kids today. Taco Via. =) Hope your week is lookin good as well!

Show Us Where You live Friday

Welcome to another edition of Show Us Where You Live Friday!!! This week we are touring offices. In our home, the office usually translates into "that-room-where-we-throw-all-our-junk-and-don't-know-where-else-to-put-it." But "office" is easier to say. So we'll just call it that. K? :)

Now, we sorta have 2 offices in our home. My office, upstairs, and what used to be Jeremy's office, but I have not claimed as my office, downstairs. :) First, my (original) office.....

Here is my always messy desk. Usually full of pictures, notes, bills, kids' papers, and whatever else we don't know what to do with. Found this desk off of Craigslist and love it.

This is the photo collage that is hanging above my desk. My memories of our time we lived in Michigan. The only thing, really, that we have to remember Michigan by. Well, except for Lilly. ;)

My wall of fam. (get it, not 'wall of fame', but wall of fam) I crack myself up sometimes....lol :)




The other corner of my office. Just another messy desk to pile stuff on. really. This used to be my scrapbooking corner, but that got moved to my 2nd office downstairs. So I don't really use this area much anymore.

And now on, to the second office, in the basement. This used to be Jeremy's office, when he worked from home a lot, but now he hardly ever works from home, so I have sort of....taken over. :) My scrapbook supplies have slowly made their way to this room.

This is my "Cricut Corner". :) This sets my lovely cricut machine I got for my bday.

And here is my extremely messy scrapbook staion. Don't look too close. :) Eventually I would like to go digital with my scrapbooking, but until then, I have a TON of supplies to use or sell!

Also, the 5 pictures on the wall, are Jer's fraternity house pictures from college, that we hung up when it was suppose to be his office.

And this is the other corner of the office.....where my scrapbook station faces. I watch TV or DVD's when I'm scrappin' usually. :)

Thanks for stoppin by! I have some cute/fun summer shots of the kids that I hope to post the beginning of next week. Just some fun stuff we've been doing this week. Jer is in Mexico City, so my sister and nephews have graciously been entertaining me this week with all kinds of fun activities for our kiddos! In the meantime, Jer returns home tomorrow night (YEAHHHHHH!!!!!), so I will be MIA until Monday. :) Love ya!