Spending Sunday Smiling, Sliding and Squinting

It Must Be A Saturday In The Fall

The only thing that has changed is the number on their jerseys!



Trent 2008



Reed 2008



Trent 2009



Reed 2009



Trent 2010



Reed 2010

You Know What They Say About Playing With Fire

It will...



make



you



wet the bed.



You will have to ask Reed if the expression is true or not!

Kings Island

When Cole and Trent were small, we had season passes to Kings Island for two years in a row. We always enjoyed going together,and it was something for me to do with the boys when Steve was working on the weekends. After Reed came along, I worried that the age span was too great to be able to go to Kings Island with them alone and keep them all entertained. For the last few years, we have had season passes to The Beach Waterpark. The Beach is a little smaller and easier to have the older ones ride a couple of things and meet us afterward. We have definitely loved The Beach. Almost every time we go to The Beach, one of the kids will point to the rides at Kings Island and ask if we can go sometime. We hadn't been, even for a day, in all those years. Because the kids are getting older, Steve and I decided that next year we would get season passes to Kings Island again instead of The Beach. The season passes went on sale over Labor Day weekend. Besides getting a lower price and free parking, you could get a one day admission to the park for this season. We went on Sunday. The weather was a perfect high of 75 and sunny. The combination of the holiday weekend and nice weather led to a big crowd and some long lines. We still had fun though and got to do pretty much over the course of the day. Riley had not really been on rides before but took to it like a pro. She loved the Planet Snoopy area. Reed is at a nice age where he can still have fun on the smaller rides with Riley but also enjoy riding some of the inbetween rides with Trent. Trent is just starting to test his courage. He enjoyed the Racers, Adventure Express, and some of the tamer coasters but wouldn't even consider the Vortex or the Beast. Cole is definitely like his mama-the bigger and faster the coaster, the better. Cole and I were able to go on Diamondback together. It was built last year and is the highest and fastest roller coaster that Kings Island has ever had. It makes the roller coasters when I was a kid seem like kiddie rides. I told Cole I would do it once but couldn't promise I would ever go again. As soon as we got off, I was ready to go back on. It was just the 60 minute wait that stopped us. We are all excited for next Spring. Kings Island here we come!

Thirteen

On August 17th, Cole turned thirteen. Steve and I will now be parents of at least one teenager for the next sixteen years. Wow! We did several things to celebrate Cole's birthday.

On Sunday, August 15th, Grandma and Grandma Suchland, Cory, Braeden, Rene and Tom came over for dinner. Cole picked Marion's pizza and cheesecake (which Reed proudly proclaimed was his favorite kind of cheese). At his request, Cole received money instead of a gift from his grandparents and godparents. Steve and I wanted to do something special for Cole since it was his 13th birthday. We talked about several things but settled on having Steve take him to his first concert. Cole has been asking to go to a concert for a while.

On Tuesday, August 17th, I took off work early and took Cole and Trent to The Greene to go to the movies. We also browsed in a few stores. That evening, we all celebrated Cole's birthday by having dinner at Frickers.

Steve and Cole went to see Rush at Nationwide Arena on Sunday, August 29th. They both said it was an awesome show.

Thirteen. Wow! Where does the time go? I look back at pictures of Cole as a little boy and just wish I could see him again as a newborn, at one year old, two years old and so on. I wonder if I will end up wishing I could repeat thirteen years old, and fourteen and fifteen...

Happy Birthday Cole! You made me a mom thirteen years ago and left me forever changed. When they placed you in my arms, I thought I could never love you more. But somehow, I do.

Our Garden-The Grand Finale

All in all, our first year of gardening was a success. For a while, we had more cucumbers, tomatoes, and zucchini than we knew what to do with. Our peppers and melons also did pretty well. Late in the summer, the plants began to die. Although it was a hot and dry summer, I don't think the heat was to blame. We watered once or twice a day. We weren't sure what went wrong. The spot of our first garden is now going to be home to our new shed. Where and what we plant next year remains to be seen. But this summer, my girl and I had fun gardening together. On most days, she would meet me at the door after work and ask to check the garden and gather "our harvest". She was so proud. Growing our own vegetables was a rewarding experience for both of us, but the thing I will remember most is the memories Riley and I grew together.

cucumbers

making zucchini bread

zucchini bread

first canteloupe

Hilton Head Island-Family Fun

Our vacation to Hilton Head Island was perfect! There were so many things that we enjoyed. The best part-being together as a family!

Hilton Head Island-Night Swimming

After evenings spent on the beach, the kids loved to head back to the swimming pool to swim in the dark under the lights.

Hilton Head Island-The Beach

Ahh, the beach. I swear it speaks to my soul. I just cannot get enough of it. Although I love walking on the beach at sunrise and playing in the waves during the heat of the day, my FAVORITE time on the beach is the hour or two before sunset. The temperatures are cooler and the lighting is gorgeous. Perfect conditions for building sand castles, searching for sea shells, taking pictures or just sitting back and appreciating the beauty that God has made.

Hilton Head Island-Pool Party

With 95-100 degree temperatures every day, we spent A LOT of time in the resorts three swimming pools. Luckily, the kids all LOVE the water.