Sleep over with Maya

We were given the opportunity a few weeks ago to have our sweet 4 year old niece Maya spend the night with us. She is such a joy to have around.

She was so very excited to go to our pool. We picked her up and she was all dressed and ready with her squishy ball in hand. Our pool is just down the street from her house so the drive was very short. As you enter our pool there are a few speed bumps that can be very dangerous to a van with a hitch attached to it. Greg slowed down as he approached the first speed bump and carefully drove over it. As the second speed bumped approached he again began to slow down and Maya loudly says from the back seat.... "MY GOSH GREG, JUST DRIVE". We laughed hysterically and continued on into the pool; she had a great time even though it was terribly cold out ( cold in July... seriously?)

After the pool we came home to make brownies. She struggled at first with the way I make my brownies since I replace the oil with applesauce. Maya doesn't like change and she likes things to be the way they are SUPPOSED to be. After explaining why I do what I do to the brownies she was ok with it and we moved on.

Licking the spoon is yummy!

But eating the finished product is even better.

Maya thought it was really cool to play with some of Leslie's old toys.

After a lot of play time, a visit to the library, movie watching and book reading it was time for bed. She chose to sleep in Nick's room this time since she slept in Leslie's room the last time she spent the night. Have to be fair. :)

Isn't she sweet?

She moved around a lot. :)


In the morning it was time for a bath.... we didn't have any bath toys but she had a great time playing with a few toys we had recently purchased for our parrot Doby. :)

Maya was a lot of fun and we look forward to the next time she gets to spend the night with us. :)

The Ring of Death

Nick's Xbox contracted the "RED RING OF DEATH" last week. Apparently the ring is pretty bad and it is the fear of every young Xbox owner. Once you have the red ring of death your Xbox is useless and you have to hope your Xbox is still in warranty so you can get a new one.

So Why Does the Red Ring of Death Happen in the First Place?

Causes for the Red Ring of Death

Well it seems that Microsoft's 'get the product to market first, deal with the bugs later' approach has left the consumer with a product full of design mistakes. These bugs can either act alone or work together to shut your Xbox down.

Six of these are explained below.

1. Heat ;Xbox 360 heat is excessive.

2. Lead free solder; Xbox 360 solder is brittle.

3. Flawed heat sink clamp design; Xbox 360 heatsink causes motherboard to flex.

4. Left over foil on the heat sink; Xbox 360 heat sink has foil attached.

5. Deficient Manufacturing Process: soldering Temperature Was Too Low

6. The Graphics Chip Puts Out Too Much Heat; graphics Chip Was Designed on the Cheap by Microsoft.

Nick handled things very well; he immediately called Microsoft and spoke to a foreign lady (whom he could barely understand) who proceeded to give him instructions on how to ship his Xbox.

I was very proud of Nick. He was on the phone for over an hour speaking to this lady and he handled it better than most adults. He now is in waiting.... or in mourning for his Xbox. He will get it back in four days but it will have been gone for over 2 weeks. 2 weeks to a 14 year old boy without his Xbox is like an eternity.

I, on the other hand, have enjoyed the Xbox not being around. I have watched Nick participate in activities that engaged his mind so much more than the Xbox ever dared to.

Here are two videos he has been working on.......





Greg got in on some of the fun too. This song is the song Nick learned to dance to in 5th grade for a school play..... the Halo dude is dancing the dance too (minus the break dancing). Pretty cute.



This Xbox scenario has reminded me of my walk with Christ. I am much more in tuned to him when I s-l-o-w down. At times, when my heart contracts it's own "red ring of death", I need to remove all distractions and focus on Him. When I do this my heart feels lighter and renewed. I feel myself thinking clearly, behaving in a way I know I am supposed to as a Christian.

For the life of me I do not understand why I struggle to do this at times. I guess it is a lot like eating healthy and exercising; we KNOW it is good for us and we KNOW it will make us feel better yet we still do not do it as often as we should.

I am so thankful I have a Heavenly Father who gives out life time warranties. He will take back my heart when it is broken and spoiled and return it to me good as new as many times as I need Him to.

Each time Nick talks about his red ring of death I keep singing the song Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash.... I can't help it (click HERE if you didn't read earlier post about my singing).

AND if you have never heard the song by Johnny Cash, first of all what rock have you been living under?....BUT if you seriously haven't.... click HERE.

I hope the creative activities continue post ring of death.... time will tell.

Finally, the 4th of July

I am lagging behind on my blogging... not enough time in the day. I figured I had better write about the 4th of July before we are no longer in the month of July.

We have had a family cook out every year on the 4th of July since we moved into our house 12 years ago. The Centerville Parade marches right past our house and we sit in our yard to watch. It has been a great tradition.

Nick had a great seat to watch the parade.

Leslie's boyfriend Anthony marched in the parade for the Centerville band.

This is Nick's favorite part too.....

We take this same picture every year.

We have had over 40 people at our house in the past to cook out, which is always a lot of fun. I love having a house full of people... especially those I love. This year however, it ended up being a rather small grouping of mostly family and a few friends and that was nice too. It rained again this year so it was a blessing to have a small group....everyone could fit comfortably inside when it began to rain.

Father daughter picture... Les was all decked out in her red, white and blue prior to the picture being taken, but it was chilly and she had on a cute little dress so she changed.

Keith and Elizabeth... good friends and neighbors... it took three tries to get a normal expression on Keith's face. He always likes to make silly faces.

Grandma and Robert

Dad and Courtney

Chris and Diane (not sure what Chris is trying to say) :)

Walt and his new love Angie... she is really sweet.

My Nick man..

Ummmmmmm, yea, .... speechless on this one.... Greg and Joe in the love seat.

Baseball in the baked beans.... yummmmmmm! Results of a little Monkey Ball game (click Here if you don't know what Monkey ball is).


The Americana Festival is also a good time. The city shuts down a large portion of 48 and vendors set up along side the street. You can find almost anything....crafts, food, pet items, jewelry, corn hole, clothing... you name it they sell it.

There is also a large children's section at the festival where you and your child can have your face painted, ride a pony, climb a rock wall, visit a petting zoo and the list goes on and on.

Usually it is very hot in July; and typically by the time the cook out is over, and everyone has eaten, I am tired and don't feel like walking down to the festival. This year however there was a slight drizzle and the temperature was a little cooler so I walked down with Greg, the kids and some friends.

Les and I of course ended up at the petting zoo while everyone else checked out the hot rods.


We think this one is pregnant... could she be any cuter? I was trying to figure out how to sneak her under my jacket so I could take her home with me. We need a new lawn mower too.


Someone needs an orthodontist...... I'm just sayin.... he growled at me so apparently he needs some manners too. You are in a PETTING ZOO my friend. Who knew Llamas could growl?


We typically end our day with standing in a neighbor's yard to watch the fireworks. We can see Centerville's fireworks just over the trees and we don't leave our house. We see the REAL fireworks at the Base during Tattoo so these are just an added bonus.

It was my sister-in-laws birthday too, which she loves. Especially if you buy her something red, white and blue for her birthday. :) Sorry Amy, couldn't resist. :)

Hope you had a firecracker of a day too on your fourth of July...

I plan to blog each day while on vacation next week, notice I said PLAN. But I will do my best!

Have a great weekend!

Pretty toes

1 Cloudy day +2 bored girls left alone in the house with the dog = very pretty toes!

God is With Me...

Who are we, that You would be mindful of us?
What do You see, that's worth looking our way?
We are free, in ways that we never should be.
Sweet release, from the grip of these chains.
Like hinges straining from the weight, my heart no longer can keep from singing.

[chorus]
All that is within me cries.
For You alone be glorified Emmanuel, God with us.
My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Lord You know, our hearts don't deserve Your glory.
Still You show, a love we cannot afford.
Like hinges straining from the weight, my heart no longer can keep from singing.

I know I said I would write about the 4th of July, however my heart keeps coming back to this song and my mind has been singing it all day. It is the song God With Us by Mercy Me.

Recently I have been feeling so undeserving of God's love. I have not been an obedient child nor have I been seeking Him the way I should, hence the path my mind has been leading me.

I know Satan has been whispering in my ear telling me how undeserving I am, telling me I am a horrible person and no earthly person could love someone like me much less than my Heavenly Father.

I also know the best way to beat Satan at his game is to quote scripture and tell Satan to "get thee behind me". So here it goes......


2Corinthians 4: 16-18...Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Romans 8: 38-39.... For I am persuaded beyond doubt that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 36:7.... How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge and put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9....We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

James 4:7,8...Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.

Paul said it the best when he pleaded to the Lord 3 times to take away the messenger of Satan that was there to torment him. Although we are lead to believe Paul had a physical affliction which was Satan's messenger, I think this scripture can also be used for any affliction we may have whether it be physical, mental or circumstantial.

2Corinthians 12:9-10.... But the Lord said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Chris's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, than I am strong.

I do know I am loved by God and He is my refuge and my strength...... another song I sing quite often is You Never Let Go by Matt Redman ( I quoted this song in an earlier blog)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

I feel better already and plan to have a great day. Hope you do too.

Tattoo and Dancing Cowboys

Our celebration of good ol USA started last weekend at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. We attended Tattoo again for the 10th year in a row. Tattoo has grown tremendously and is quite a big deal these days. It used to be a few vendors and some corn on a stick but now we have famous artists showing up to sing and over 75,000 people attending.

We have this evening down to a science now; we know when to arrive to avoid the huge lines on and off base and we plan to "sit for a bit" before trying to leave in the sea of cars. It was an amazing evening and nothing makes me feel more patriotic than witnessing air men being sworn in, watching jets fly over while my insides vibrate from the after burners and listening to the band play while the fireworks shoot into the air. If you have never been you should get it on your calendar for next year for sure.


Our Aunt Robin and Uncle Dan were in town and it was nice to spend the evening with them too.

Leslie invited her boyfriend Anthony this year.... we did our best to make him feel like part of the family. :)


The fly overs were amazing!

And where else can you go to see a cowboy doing the 2 step to the song Love Shack?? Seriously people .... entertainment at its best. :)

My family teased me about being a creeper or a stalker while taking these next pictures... I however, see these pictures as the essence of Tattoo and America! So there!

We listened to a wonderful band play prior to the United States Air Force band and then Aaron Tippin came on stage and sang a few songs for us.... it was dark so you can't see him in my videos. He sang Stars and Stripes and Kiss This.

Greg ran into his good buddy Pat too.....

Then there were the fire works.... they were amazing!

The wait in the parking lot was not as amazing, but we had fun looking at our pictures and videos of the evening.


Sea of cars.... notice there is NO organization to these paths.

Nick turned the back of the van into a disco by decorating the van with all the flashing necklaces we bought and then jammed to his mp3 player. We did a great job entertaining ourselves. Greg had loads of fun looking at the past pictures of my scar on my face. We laughed pretty hard for awhile with these....

Greg would flip to this picture on the camera and say "Rachael would you like some ice cream?" and then show this picture and say in a bummed voice "No, not really".....

Then he would flip to this one on the camera and say "Rachael, they have Chocolate ice cream... do you want some now?" and then in a high voice say "Oh, Chocolate? OK".

He did this at LEAST 20 times flipping back and forth between the pictures and had everyone in the van almost in tears. Now first of all... I didn't smile while taking a picture of my scar after having cancer removed. Who smiles? Here is a picture of my stitches.... aren't they pretty? *smile* No! They made for great entertainment though. :)

The evening was wrapped up by driving all over the city of Dayton trying to avoid the lines on the high way and when we finally did get on the high way the ramp we needed was closed. :) Poor Anthony finally arrived at home around 1:00 am after a lengthy wait for ice cream at McDonald's. :) He is still dating our daughter so I guess we didn't scare him too badly.

Next I will blog about the actual 4th of July since Tattoo was June 26th.

Monkey Ball

Monkey Ball is a game Greg created years ago when the kids were much younger. It used to be played with a tiny wooden bat and a tiny ball... today it is played with a soft bat and ball. It has continued to grow and change through the years; new rules are constantly being made and old rules are challenged. It makes for a great game of arguing and rough housing. I obviously do not play!



No way... it is out Dad.... it is on the curb and it is out! Greg: No.. it is still touching the grass.. it is IN!.

Oh, I love the rainy nights.....

I promise not all my blog titles are going to be titles of songs from now on... just happened the past two posts fit perfectly with songs. :)

Last night we had the most fun with our kids. Our cousins from out of town had just left our house after spending the day with us (which made for a great day too) and it started to rain.

Not just a little rain... it started to pour. Leslie walked into the front room and said.." It isn't lightening can I go out and run in the rain? It looks so inviting." I looked at her and said "Sure, go for it." She ran out into the other room and shortly later she and her brother were running out the front door. Greg and I walked outside onto the porch and we looked at each other and Greg said "Let's do it."

On the count of three we all ran out into the cold pouring rain. It was a shock at first because it was 10:00 at night and it was kinda chilly when we were wet. ( could I put a few more "w" words together in a row?)

Because it was raining so hard the water was building up in the streets, which gave us an avenue for splash wars.


Murphy thought it was great because he was allowed to run in the street, which he is never allowed to do.

Our neighbors thought we had lost our minds.... maybe we had, but it sure was fun. There is nothing like family unity when you are doing something out of the ordinary.... Kinda like dancing while no one is watching. It was late at night, no one was around and it was just the four (5 if you count Murphy) of us running around in the street while the rain fell from the sky. Spontaneous fun is the best!


It was kinda like we were breaking the rules but not really. I mean it isn't against the law to run in the street or to run in the street when it is raining. However, typically people try to stay out of the middle of the street and out of the pouring rain. We were purposefully running in both and it was great.

I had just said earlier that day that it didn't feel like summer yet for some reason. Last night, after our first run in a summer rain storm, I now feel summer has arrived. Time for lemonade and lightning bugs. Now, if this were a movie I would queue the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Have a great day and don't forget to pause in YOUR day to smell the roses or to dance while no one is watching...... even if it is in the middle of the night, in the middle of the street and in the rain. :)

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain."