Aren't they cute!!!

As I was going through pictures trying to find Grandma Swank the ones she wanted I found all of these cute ones that Devan did lately of the kids...

They look like they actually like each other!

Devan...WORKING???

She actually looks like she knows what she's doing!

Rd 1 - Boys...posing for Grandma set 1

Grandma...the following are the pitures that we took for you today. Let me know if you like any of thses. They had a good time being a little silly. I have posted them all for you cuz....well hey why not!

Love you guys...

Rd 1 - Boys..posing for Grandma (set 2)

Devan: Northstars vs TSCA Wild Wings (Won 5 - 2)

Devan's game on Sunday was not quite as physically taxing as the last game. They did win 5 - 2 and continue leading the league.
I did not go but Matt did and both Devan and Matt said that she played a low energy game. However, he did manage to get one action video...

Carsyn this is for you!

If you want to keep up with the scores etc go to:

http://www.iwsl.com/fallscore.php?title=Scores/Schedule-Fall%202008#U19

and click on scores and/or standings under U19CE

They are Northstars S.C.

I just looked and it has not been updated with yesterday's socres yet.

Havin Fun after the Meet!

9-20-2008

Jim and the boys are playing after Karen's meet. We are on the way to the park.

Eli had fun discovering how to make the marbel go around the maze.

Samuel climbed an dclimbed and climbed every thing he could.
He is getting so big and if you can believe it even more adventurous.

Karen's Cross Country Meet

Karen ran on Saturday in her 3rd cross country meet. She ran an open 2 mile event and came in at about 17:45, which is 3 min off her previous 2 mile time...Go Karen!!!

Eli - Self-Portrait

9/18/2008

Awwwww...

Snacking or Napping??

9/18/2008

I came down from my shower yesterday to get dinner on the table and this is what I found.

How Cute!!!

We had to go get Karen from school so I moved him from the couch to the car.

He woke up briefly but when we got home he was sound asleep again.

I actually moved him back to the couch and he slept there for another 45 min before I got him dressed and moved him back to the car...YES STILL SLEEPING!!!

He finally woke up when we got to the school for Karen's meeting.
He must have been tired!! Good thing there is no school today.

Jim: Update

9-18-2008

Looking good!

9/19/2008

It is looking a little pinker but in general it is doing much better.

The burned skin is starting to give way and new skin is emerging

He did have an issue with his ear, it may be gettning infected.

Pray that it does not.

Say Cheese!!!

Ok...so I was cleaning up my pictures and video's today (becuase I don't keep up with that kind of thing) and I ran across some video clips that I had never seen. Apparently Samuel learned how to use the video aspect of our camera...I don't know when this was from but it was too cute not to share.

Tuesday 9-16 Update on Jim

Thank you for your prayers. God's provision has been evident through all of this. There is presently little pain, but I am very protective of that area because of its sensitivity. I have been following the doctor's instructions, there have not been many. The doctor's all seem to agree that this should heal up quite well. The only mystery is my ear. They are not quite as confident about the upper part of my ear. Time will tell. The surgeon wants to see me again in a week.

Now if we could just see so clearly God's hand in other matters as well.

Please pray for this, too.

Jim's Ear Update

These are from last night...it shows the contrast from his normal ear to the burned one....Amy if you're looking you might want to close our eyes this material could be inappropriate for all viewers...lol.

Soccer Video Clip Northstars vs Chicago Wind

Ok I finally got throught the video clips from yesterday's games. Here is one that represents the kind of game it was...

Devan: Soccer Game vs Chicago Wind

The Chicago Wind is one of the top teams in the Chicagoland area and Devan's team won against them today with a score of 3 - 1. Congratulations Northstars!!!

Devan...center action shot! They played despite the pouring rain and the fact that the field was mostly underwater. It was a very tough game physically. The ball would hit the water and dead stop like a rock droping out of the air. The direction and distance of the ball was completly unpredictable.

Devan..center in action and yes that's water splashing all over! It was hilarious to watch. They played the whole game 1 hour 45 min. Excrutiating...Yes I was at the game, cold and wet. It was worth it, I got some good footage of Devan. I will post some, maybe all. In my opinion it is worth watching...

Devan...waiting for the ball!

Number 21...that's my girl!

Carsyn: I hope you never have to play in this kind of weather! It was hard and cold. Devan was so tired and wet by 1/2 time.

Jim...Day #2

For those interested this is day #2 of Jim's recovery...again the pictures do not really make the statement that seeing it in person would. However, his face is looking much better, but his ear coninues to grow due to the blistering even the inside of his ear is swollen and blistering. Everywhere on his face that is dark is where the skin will likely peel off leaving his face raw and ozzing...NICE Huh??

Anyway.... he will survive! Thanks for the prayers and phone calls checking in!

Eli...loves his High 5

Eli fell asleep last night while reading his favorite magazine...isn't he cute?

Now by contrast here is Samuel "take my picutre too"... he made many "faces" at the camera. What a cheese!





That look spells TROUBLE!

He was awake until after 10 pm!

But still no pacifier :)

ER Visit

We had a surprise visit to the ER. Jim was cleaning out his chainsaws, dumped the gas/oil mix that was suspected to be bad into a coffee can and stumbled while carrying it. There was a flame and in a fraction of a second.....

His face caught on fire...1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns.

Needless to say he came running in the house and after a cool, quick shower determined it was an ER visit. While at the ER they had him clean up the wound becuase it had dirt in it. When patting his face dry the skin just started melting away.

These pictures were taken after the ER and we had been home for an hour or two. It already looks % better.
Honestly these pictures do not do justice to the damage. His ear is really the biggest concern. It is swollen at least double it's size and white, starting to turn black in some places. He has to see a plactic surgeon on Monday to determine the extent of the damage to his ear.

They have given him vicoden so he is comfortable and it seems to be working well. Also he has to put bacitracin on it 2 times a day. We put it on at the hospital and it just seemed to melt and run off his face...GROSS!!!

Washer and Dryer

Congratulate me!!! My washer and dryer are in working order. They are AWSOME!!!

I love them stacked and I can't wait for my shelves.

Samuel Friday 9-12-08

Finally...Samuel was excited to go to school. The entire way to school he was bouncing in his seat. When we got into carpool lane he was out of his car seat in in the front trying to get out and go to his class. He didn't want to wait till we got to the front of the line. I did make him wait and when it was his turn he opened the door and ran to his class without waiting for Miss Kim (teacher's aid). What an amazing transformation!



Here is a video of him after school on Friday...in the middle there is some ground footage but hang in there...

School Tuesday 9-9-08

The last happy morning...

The Park!

After school today, we didn't even go into the house. We changed into play cloths and headed to the park for a picnic and play time...the picnic was a bust...the bees were awful but the play time was fantastic!

Samuel...

Samuel had a really rough morning. The school has drop off program that has him SCREAMING when he goes to school. You pull up in the car pool line and the teacher's aid comes out to each car and takes the child out of the car and into the school. Today he hid in the trunk of the van and when I got him out he had to be pried out of my arms screaming all the way into the building. VERY SAD!!! especially since he was loving going.

When I picked him up he said it was a GREAT day, as he was holding a little girls hand. So it wasn't all bad.

I wanted to take pictures but I was afraid they would think I was strange taking pictures of my screaming kid!

Eli's Teacher...

Eli's teacher is Mrs. Liz.
Mrs. Liz had emergency surgery this weekend and will not be there for a couple of weeks.
I am not sure what they told the kids if anything but Eli was very concernd that Mrs. Liz was "gone".
Please pray for a speedy recovery for Mrs. Liz.

Samuel's first day of school!

He was so excited to go to school this am. However, when the bus came both he and Eli were sad because Samuel was not getting on the bus.

Samuel and mommy followed Eli's bus most of the way to school, but the bus had to go to another school first. When the bus turned and we did not Samuel "freaked" out. "No mommy, we have to go to school to! Eli went that way! Follow the bus! I want to go to school!" It was really hard not to laugh. I explained that Eli would be coming after they dropped some kids off at another school. When we got to school Samuel watched very intently for his brother's bus. Thankfully it came before the doors opened to go into class.

His teacher's name is Mrs. Jori. He had a "gweat day".

The first thing he said to me was "mommy I have a paper in my backpack for you"

My little soldier....

Doesn't he look cute in his camo outfit and hair cut?

Too Bad it's Friday!!!

Sorry, no pictures!!

Eli is sad that it is friday and he can not go to school tomorrow.
He has had a GREAT week. He says "school is so much fun I don't even miss sam"

YIKES...don't tell Samuel.

Samuel starts school on Monday, he is happy about that and so am I but he is sad because he can not ride the bus :(

He will also go 5 days a week from 8:45 to 11:15, 2.5 hours no kids...what will I do?

Eli is Home Again!!

Tucker is waiting for the bus....he is so cute (for a cat). He came out to the bus with us this am when Eli left and then later stayed with me until Eli got off the bus.

School Day #2...It's Raining!

It is barely raning but Eli insists on the unbrella in order to go to the bus! He was so cute he gets right on and buckles his own seat belt...what a big boy!

Samuel is not so happy...being left behind again but once brother is gone he gets the unbrella!