Positive+

On Valentine's Day, Philly suggested that we go shopping for an engagment ring! No way? Yep. Ely and I both got teary eyed. How exciting. So, the following Saturday we went on a ring shopping adventure. Of course I naturallly picked the most expensive ring in the store. We immediately began planning a wedding. We choose our location, guest list, flowers, even booked the day and time. Ready to inform everyone of the big plans...
Then on March 15th there was a pink plus sign. A plus sign means positive... right? All I could think was, "What ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall recieve." We got just what we had been praying for. With a baby on board our plans switched from wedding dresses and reception sites, to prenatal appointments and clearing out a bedroom for baby.

So here's baby... the size of a peice of rice in this ultrasound photo. Amazing!

'Daddy to be' bought baby's first item on his trip to the annual golf tournament....a Masters onsie! How appropriate.

 Of course this is only the begining of many pictures to come.
Love, peace, and joy,
Jen, Phil, Amaya, Ely, and Baby

2012-So Much To Celebrate!

A new year always feels fresh. A new beginning, a new chance to change things, and the feeling of wanting to accomplish.
In April of 2008, Philly and I began looking for a home that would fit our family and our lifestyle. At times it was extremely frustrating to continue our hunt because we kept hitting a dead end. Finally, we gave up and decided that we would stay in Edgewood and build on. I was ready to put down roots and feel stable.
Then, in November 2011 we found out that a house we had previously looked at (a year ago) had been reduced to a price that we felt comfortable with. So, we called our Realtor right away (only to hit another dead end) to be informed that the house had sold just two days before.  In the same conversation our Realtor told us that the couple who bought the house had decided that the historic home would be more work then what they wanted. She offered to call the couple and ask them if they would be willing to sell the home to us but, only if we were serious. We were so serious that we not only had our Realtor call the home owner's but, I drug Phil out on an escapade to the house to meet this couple immediately. I had Philly accompany me while I knocked on the door and explained the situation to the home owners. Shocked is what they were. I told them that we wanted to buy the house from them and to contact us if they decided to sell. One week later we received the phone call that we had prayed for. We got the ball rolling to make a new home purchase! The soon to be "old home owners" felt as though it was heaven sent for us to take the home off of their hands. The feelings were mutual.

We knew we would be closing on the house within days. As the excitement continued to build, I decided to ask a friend (who happens to be an excellent photographer) if she would be available for a photo shoot at the new house. I made arrangements with the homeowners and they graciously allowed us in for some photo time and only days away from moving. It happened to be New Years Eve! That just shows you how wonderful people around us are...to take time for us on a holiday? Wow! Thanks guys.

 Check out how we celebrated in our soon to be, new dining room!

Love the bent knee....Philly's gettin' down!

And when we returned to our little house on Westwood Drive, the celebration continued!
Finger foods and pajamas are a rule at our house on New Years (just in case you are ever present for the festivities.) It gets better every year!

Isn't this picture the best? We love you Sissy!

Merry Christmas-2011!

                                                                              

Christmas Eve 2011-Jen's Parent's House
Philly went to Logansport to be with his family this Christmas Eve. So we spent our first Christmas holiday apart. My whole family was bummed of course but, we knew Phil was where he needed to be. Much to my amazement, by the time Ely and I arrived for dinner, Philly was present!

You got it... that's Phil standing there in the red shirt and blue pants. They just couldn't celebrate Christmas without him. You know that you are very loved when you parents take time to make a dumby to represent the one you miss. Thanks family!
And Philly... I love you from your head...

                                              down to your toes!                                                                                                                                                                       

As if there wasn't enough excitement with Phil being present but, to discover that one of Santa's elf's stayed behind just to celebrate Christmas with our family... Thrilling!
A right jolly ol' elf...

A very happy 9 year old boy....

(Who couldn't keep his eyes off all of that army stuff in the box he is starring at...)

   A joyful Christmas hug...                                                                                                                           

And a special picture frame tradition carried on one more year. Santa we are glad your elf stayed behind!                                             

You know we couldn't end the night without a Photo of the girls! Jen, Krista, Mom (Diane), and Oma (Mamaw Lisa.) Amaya wasn't able to attend the party this year. She was missed very much.

Happy Holidays,
Jen and Ely

Christmas Eve Morning-2011
Our Christmas tradition rests on the morning of Christmas Eve. When the kids wake up and find that they were on the "good list" (Santa stopped again this year!) they dart in to our bedroom, jump on our bed shouting something that sounds like..." Get Santa, Up came, gifts stockings, up get..." If you have children you know exactly what we hear! So as fast as we can possibly fumble around for house shoes, the camera, praying we make in and out of the bathroom before all gifts are open, Philly and I miraculously make it down the hall and into a Christmas explosion! And every year the same.

Santa always knows exactly what is wanted most.
This years most wanted gift was a cupcake making machine.

Some cupcake pajamas to boot! How sweet!
A couple 'do it yourself'' robots for one fun loving boy.

A three foot nutcracker for the nutcracker collector and a Snowbabies collectible for the princess.

Yes, Ely is in his underwear again this Christmas morning. He seems to loose his pants in the middle of the night. Getting a little old for the underwear shots Ely. Maybe by next year I will have him trained;)

One very happy Christmas morning has come and gone. Always to fast.

Up Goes the Tree
The dance with the lights ... it happens every year. Amaya and I have it down to an art. Perfected like synchronized swimming. Ha! She gets on the back side of the tree. I'm always to the front. She hands it to me, I wrap it round, Maya grabs the strand just right and begins to place each light perfectly while I get in position to grab the lights again. Nobody can replace our lighting of the tree operation! Nobody!

And it is always required to use the furniture in place of a ladder. Hehe!

Amaya didn't leave me, (she wouldn't do that to me) she is just hidden by the tree in preparation for the next light exchange.

It's the girls job to decorate the tree. So this year, as a tree went up in the house, the boys cut a tree down in the yard.

Our plan was to turn this area into a parking space until we got news of a house for sale that we are interested in. More info. on the house soon to come. Shhhh.... the kids don't know about the it yet.

Love and Laughter, Jen, Phil, Amaya, and Ely

Speed Freaks!!

Cedar Point, Ohio

August 4th

 Possibly my favorite ride-The Skyhawk! Two arms going in different directions that hyerextend past horizontal...OMGoodness...   Phil is right, you come down at speeds of 60 miles per hour, starring straight down at asphalt!! Why no grass? I guess that is part of the thrill. They give you a number (which is on the pavement so that you know where to sit) and then you are way to many feet in the air looking straight down at that number (10 and 11 for us) and I was thinking, "Am I just another number?" Super crazy & extremely thrilling! WOW It was great!!

 Yes... we are crazy! We waited until the last minute to get on the coaster you see behind me in the picture above. I promise you it is only for the 'insane.' We both wanted to get right back on and ride again.

The picture below is another fun one. Nice and smooth to ride.

 

You can't be a weiner and go to Cedar Point but, you can eat some really good weiners at PINKS! And that is just what we did!

It was a perfect day. The weather was fabulous, the lines were fairly short, good spirits all around us and then Snoopy wouldn't let go of me! Phil and I got our pic. taken and Snoopy turned to me for an extra long hug. How sweet! Question... do you think Snoopy was male or female that day? Oh boy.....

  Put-In-Bay, Ohio.

August 5th and 6th

Great friends, great times!

                                               

All 16 of us got to witness this terrific sun set on Friday night!!
Hopefully I will have more PIB pics. soon.

Another quick weekend trip!

Troy's house- Kokomo

Hercules! Hercules! Hercules!!

Why are Amaya's hands behind her head? This is the signal that tells the ginormous dog that you do not want to play. Ely does the opposite. He tries to get Herc to play every chance he gets (and it works.)

We love to stay with Troy!! When the kids hear Troy's name they get so excited so Phil and I have to keep Troy's house a secret until the last minute or that's all we hear about! Let me tell you, I do not blame the kids one bit! Troy always plans something special. Friday night we got to his house around 10pm but that didn't stop him. We got in the car and drove a short distance to a hill. Most people sled down it in the winter however, we rolled down it at 10:30 at night. We got to see Stevie for a moment after waking him up with some shaving cream on his face. Hilarious! Don't worry it sounds mean but Stevie got the kids back. At 5ish on Saturday morning Phil and I woke up to the sound of the kids laughing hysterically in their bed. Steve had put shaving cream on both Amaya and Ely!!! Way to funny! Troy got up to go to the bathroom and Ely stole Troy's favorite place to sleep, "the couch." We got back to sleep to wake up a bit later to the incredible smell of breakfast cooking. Now that's what I call a slumber party! Thanks Troy, you are the best!
"We are planning our revenge... coming after you Stevie. Prepare yourself! Love, Amaya and Ely"

The Styrcker Open-New Lothorp, Michigan

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

John Strycker is one of Philly's best buds from Ball State College. He invited us up for a golf tournament, trophies and all! He has put a three hole golf course on his five acre property and we all had a ball! (as in a really great time though there were tons of golf balls, haha!)

The kids had a great time lounging in front of the TV! Ely's favorite part was wrestling with Larry, Ely's new found best friend. He is already wishing for next year to come so he can see Larry again.

This is the whole tournament crew. That is Stryker in the middle surrounded by a bunch of fun loving adults finding crazy ways to use a Saturday afternoon!

What is a tournament without a grand finale?
Well we did it right. Not that golfing is crazy for a Saturday afternoon but check out the pic. below.

Yes....that is a fire truck cruising through the front lawn! It was a parade...sirens, horns, lights, and all.
Styckers friends, the Burger's, purchased this awesome fire truck and we all got to enjoy some good laughs.

There goes Philly just waving  proud as can be. That's because out of four teams, Phil's team placed fourth!!! Don't worry, I am proud of you baby! I am your biggest fan! Yahoo!!!!

Strycker is driving, Amaya is in the middle though you can't see her and Ely is on the passenger side and some good friends on the back. You just had to be there to feel all of the excitement. Great times!

We went to breakfast Sunday morning before heading back to Bedford. Some how we got on the conversation about a hornets nest that we had outside our bedroom window a couple years ago. I went into full descriptions of Philly's outfit that he put together for the special event of taking out these hornets. Though I tried to get my point across, words just can't describe the laughter that has heard all through our neighborhood when Phil was finally prepared and ready.

Just look at his face... "Game On Hornets! Bring It!!"

Yes...those are my pantie hose with roses down the sides, some green fire retardant coveralls given to him by Tim Houk (thanks Tim, you never know how others will use the items that you give to them), socks up over the coveralls, and Ely's baseball helmet to hold the pantie hose anyway from his face... now in full gear for irradiating some fierce hornets that had stung a number of people. I told John that I would post these pics. so that he could see if my description was accurate.

I sure am glad that this conversation came up because everyone deserves a good laugh! Thanks Strycker!

2011 Summer time fun! Just wanted to catch everyone up on how we've spent our days.



I am super excited about our new form of communication!! We hope that you have fun checking in on us from time to time. I wish that I could start from the beginning of our relationship but, four years of pictures would take me 5 years to blog. Instead you get a clip of our first family pic ever taken.
Pumpkin Patch~ October 2007

 Notice the excitement on mine and Philly's faces.
We were there for our enjoyment and thought the kids may have some fun too! hehe!


Just look at this sweet little girl wearing Mommies huge shades. We had been tubing on the lake.
(Amaya=7 years young)



Kenray Lake beach...Philly and Ely
 (Ely=5 years young)

On with our lives currently....                                    

Otis Park~ Just hang out down at the creek for the evening.

Brown County State Park



June 24th and 25th 2011

Philly and I left it all behind for a couple days and ventured up to Brown County State Park. Beautiful place to be! We went hiking, horse back riding, and down the slide at the indoor water park. All I could think was, "Without the kids?" Thanks for the quick get a way Philly!!



Yes, I am wearing some weird green shorts. For those of you that have been privileged enough to have seen me in these before....Ha! For those of you who have not, they are my outdoor work shorts. Kenray Lake needed some maintenance. Now move past the outfit and notice the swing!!!
Yippee! I talked Philly into constructing a swing after falling in love with the one at Story Inn Restaurant in Story IN. I had to have one.

Can all moments be like this?

Sea Doo = See and shoot

This totally awesome, battery operated, water squirting, machine reaches speeds of two feet per second... wide open!

See and shoot? Yes. What you see you shoot. Dragon flies, turtles, the water, and when you have the opportunity... your little brother!

     

The canoe.... an inflatable, $25 score from our in town Aldi grocery. It brought much joy to all of us!                                                  

                                              

Ely is not always high energy. Don't worry Maya, this picture is proof for you!!! Ely, oh Ely. Hands behind your head and all. Amaya is doing all the work.

                                                                                              

Well, this is how we should look while hanging out at the lake. Just enjoy yourself Philip...take a deep breath, watch the boats cruise by, and move whenever you are ready!!!

The next photo is so contrary to the one above taken just minutes before. Philly left the smoke, took off his shirt, and took a seat to cool down.

Look closely. Your eyes are not tricking you. The four of us built a fire on the water!!! FIRE ON THE WATER!!!

Why all of those sticks? You guessed it. BEAVER!! MUSKRAT?? Probably both. All we know is that we saw the beaver. Not to mention the 2 water snacks that we all witnessed.

We changed the lyrics of  the song "Fire on the Mountain" that day to "Fire on the Water." As night approached we began to sing, "Sittin' on the dock at Kenray, wastin' time...." Go ahead and give it a try! It's a pretty catchy tune.

Needless to say, "that is a lot of sticks." We still have half of the damn to get rid of. I promise when the new dock is built we will have a sign hanging on it somewhere that says, "Damned Ol' Beaver Dock!"

We rented a family cabin and spent four nights at McCormicks Creek State Park. Check in was on July 4th. We ventured back to Monroe County Fair Grounds to see the fireworks show. Let me tell you, I am so glad that we did! Not only were the fireworks great but, they had a band playing! Fabulous!!!
After the fireworks were over,  we got ice cream and a funnel cake then hung around to checkout the band while the parking lot cleared out some. What a geat set up! It was a fantastic 4th for us.

Nothing like team work.

Happy Birthday America!! This cake is for you!!

Amaya's side~ Ely's side.

We stopped in front of the Canyon Inn to take a couple of pictures. This one is my fav. Amaya has decided that she is going back to that exact spot to have her senior pictures taken. Only seven years away... we are true planners I tell you!

We scheduled some time to go horse back riding.

We were so happy to have my parents pop up to be with us for two evenings. My step-dad, Andy, went on the horse trail with us.

Ready to saddle up and ride. Our horses names seemed to fit us well. Philly rode the biggest horse they had, Thunder. Ely was next in line. He rode Jessie which is his step-moms name. Papaw Andy rode Moe which was great because it's always good to have a Mo on your side. (We love you MoLuv and hope to see you soon.) I rode Molly, she was sweet and gentle in the begin but something spooked her near the end and WOW!!! She frightened Amaya and I. Amaya was pretty freaked out when Molly galloped. I sure wasn't expecting it. Amaya rode Pal. After Molly's little spook Amaya was happy that he was such a pal and followed Molly gently to keep in line with the others. Amaya kept saying, "You're my pal aren't you Pal? Easy...easy boy."

Wednesday we hiked. The trails are beautiful. There is nothing better than having water right beside you when you are hiking and it is hot. We stopped several times to wade in the creek.

This is the falls. We had a lot of fun swimming around in this cool water. Isn't this a great picture?

 Ok, I promise I will get a phone call when my mom sees this picture. She tries so hard to avoid pictures at all cost. Well, they are to sweet to leave out so here you are... Andy and Diane Batchelor, my parents. Aren't they cute?

We saw a couple trees that were like this. If I could have fit, I would have been inside one also.
Just some extra pictures of how we spent our time.

Amaya enjoyed a good book at waters edge.

McCormicks Creek Pool- Thursday, July7th.

 Check out the diving boards. That's our boy in mid flip! Love it! He has always been a water bug.

 The famous colors game. Philly tells Amaya a color and Ely has to guess it. If he guesses the wrong color, he gets dunked. Amaya doesn't like to get dunked. Ely on the other hand could do it all day long.

Thanks for a fun filled summer so far Philly, Amaya, and Ely!! Just think...there is still more to come.