We had so much fun this 4th! (As always!!) This year we started at Christine's house on the afternoon of the 4th. We had a lot of fun playing backyard games of volleyball and water balloon dodge-ball. And enjoyed a fabulous spread of traditional Independence Day foods. Hannah was not able to be with us, and she sure was missed!
After we left Christine's house we went home for a short while. Then left again, this time to go see fireworks!! We went to Massillon's Great Escape movie theater parking lot to meet Nate & Sonia and their kids and Sarah & Matt. Nate had his kids piled up on his van, and of coarse, my kids wanted to join them! They all had so much fun!! They were clapping and squealing nonstop with excitement! It was hard to get a picture with all of them in it, they were moving so much! It was so fun to watch their excitement! I love seeing them happy! After the fireworks were over we hung out for a little bit to let the crowd disperse. While we waited the kids enjoyed some candy and sparklers while they watched their uncles set off smoke bombs! (Thanks guys!!)
Craig was working at the PD, so we were missing Hannah and Craig!

*Craig said Spencer looks like a girl because he has a jacket with a hood on. just in case you wondered who the homely looking girl was!* (above picture)

-I acknowledge that I am blessed to have such a wonderful family that is so close, in every sense of the word! We all love each other so much, and are the best of friends. We are able to all get together at least once a month. I know that someday that will change, but for now it is awesome!-


Then, the next day we met Sarah, Mark and Anna and Rachel and John for fireworks at Tuscora park in New Philadelphia. (A long-time family tradition I am happy to see still going on!)

We had a lot of fun! Aunt Sarah blew her money on the kids, getting face paintings, jewelry and characters for the kids. Thanks Aunt Sarah!!!
Uncle Mark and Aunt Anna brought glow-stick necklaces and bracelets for the kids. They loved them!! (Lauren thought she would sneak in a bite while Mommy was taking the picture!)
Thanks Uncle Mark and Aunt Anna!
Aunt Rachel and Uncle John saved us a spot, brought all the blankets and even brought a bunch of snacks!! Yummy, Thanks guys!!

The Fireworks were amazing, as usual for Tuscora Park! Their show is always really good and always lasts 30 minutes. Craig was working again at the PD, so we missed him again! (Maybe next year!)

Okay, there you go... our fourth in a nutshell.

One day this week I had four bored children stuck in the house, because of a summer rain. I went upstairs to grab a large piece of silky butterfly fabric I had in my stash. I thought we could play the parachute game with it. (Two people lift it up while others run under it...) They got a kick out of that game, and played it for awhile. Once we were done with that game I tied the fabric around a step, making a hammock. They had so much fun they wanted me to make another one, so I just used an old twin bed sheet! They all had a blast!
The hammocks are still hanging, I'll give it a week or so, or until they stop using them!
They swing, they spin, they just hang and watch movies! It has been fun to watch! :)

Okay, so there I was, in the house just hanging out with the children, when I spot Craig awkwardly trotting through the yard. When I go to the window to get a better look at him I see that he is suited up in his skis! A blend of emotions rushed me. I thought it was funny, I laughed so hard I could barely breathe. Then I felt embarrassed when I realized how ridiculous he looked in our FRONT yard. I told Craig that our neighbors just might think it odd to see him ski down a pile of snow. Then, after he moved his adventures to the back yard, I felt some fear as I watched him try to ski down our swing-set slide. (Mind you, this took several attempts. He had a very hard time getting both skis in position.) He did eventually get mounted on top of the slide, only to take a spill at the bottom! :) Oh man, I laughed so hard that day! I am not even able to write this post without laughing! He sure does miss Utah!

He told me that going down the slide is just like going to any ski resort Ohio has to offer.




I'm sure he was specially made in heaven, just for me!
Sorry ladies, this one is all mine! :)

If only his skiing buddies could see him now!

Are you proud of him Nick?

Look to the right side for another picture example of Craig missing Utah!

*The first picture is of a frame I made for my Grandmother for a Christmas gift exchange. It would turn out to be our last Christmas with her.*


Last Mother’s Day we, as a family, lost a wonderful mother. She was an amazing wife, and mother as well as an instrumental grand and great-grandmother. Arlene Halsey, my grandmother. I’m sure her death was just as deeply rejoiced on the other side as it was grieved here. Actually, I’m sure it was more deeply rejoiced as she was welcomed back into the arms of those she had missed for far too long, mainly, her husband Loren. Grandpa had passed away the year before on Thanksgiving Day. What a heart wrenching loss it was. My heart broke. I could go on and on about the amazing people my grandparents were, as could many others, but I wish you all could have met them. (Remind me when we get to the other side, and I’ll introduce you.) My grandparents were instrumental to me. As a child they lived down the alley from us, in fact depending on how the bunk beds were arranged, I could see there house from my bed. There were many nights I would watch them walk around the house, I could even see their bedroom and knew when they went to sleep. I would just watch and wish I could be there with them. Not because my house was not a happy place, but because I loved them so much. I grew up seeing them on a daily basis, and spent the night often. Buttered white bread toast, and hot chocolate still remind me of those happy mornings waking up with them.

I fear I am straying from the point I want to make with this post. I just want to share with you my example of true love. They loved each other so much, and were so blessed because of it. They fell in love during a time when perhaps it was easier to stay true to each other. During a time when a good man held a door for a lady and a lady was just that… a lady. Promiscuity was there, I’m sure, but it was not flaunted around all day long. Women, for the most part, covered themselves up and did not walk around town tempting and taunting men. Maybe it was easier during their time, but the lesson they teach is worth learning. Love is powerful, and should stay pure and true and can bring forth a lifetime of happiness. Had either of my grandparents given in to a moment of promiscuous temptation, I might not be here now. When my Grandfather died, and left my Grandmother alone, it was the saddest thing I ever saw in my life. It is such a blessing to be loved like that. What a wonderful husband he must have been to her, for her to feel the way she did. I hope that Craig and I will be an example of love to our posterity as well.
I also learned that being a Grandparent is an amazing role. I was so blessed to have had them in my life. I still think of them often and cry. I miss them so terribly much. They are still in my list of contacts in my cell-phone and my email accounts. (Just can’t delete them.) I remember when they died everyone wanted something from them, anything, just something to hold on to, something to help feel close to them. I have learned that I feel the closest to them when I look at pictures, and letters, and remember what I have learned from them.
Keep your relationships pure, and love each other more each and everyday. No moment of temptation is worth throwing all hope away. I look at what my grandparents achieved, and I hope to someday achieve the same. My grandparents’ legacy will live forever in all of us who were blessed to have known them, and in those we teach what we have learned from them.

I loved the picture of my Grandmother looking in the mirror at herself while the other women prepare her for her wedding. I was able to zoom in and get a good look at her eyes, I wonder if she had any idea she would grow to be so happy and so blessed.

~Emily
P.S. In case you didn't know, our youngest daughter is named after them, Lauren Arlene.

Nathan is my little artist. He has loved it ever since he was just a tiny toddler. He is good at it because he is creative, and patient. Here he is using a step-by-step drawing book he got last year.
And here is his latest work...
It will definitely be on the dinning room/ art gallery wall!

*By the way, this is a dragon that is trying to eat a purple Popsicle, but is just melting it with his fire.

He are some pictures from last night as Craig swears in with Jackson Township during the town hall meeting.

We are very excited to be with Jackson. We love this community. As residents of five years, it will be nice for him to serve in the community in which we live.

It is sad to leave such a wonderful department. Everyone was so nice to us. We were made to feel very welcome, right off the bat. Craig will miss seeing those guys every week. (At least he just moved in next door!)

Nathan loves his Nintendo DS, so... His birthday cake had one on top. (One he could eat!) It read, "You made it to level 8". He really loved it!

Nathan (Right) with his buddy Garret at Tuscora Park.

He had so much fun!

I recently spoke with a good friend that has moved away, at the end of our conversation she gave me her blog address, then asked me why I don't have a blog. So, Jodi... Here it is!! Now you can't say you don't inspire others! I am grateful that I have started this. We have family and friends all over the country, so maybe this is a good way to stay in touch. Plus, I love to talk, a little known secret about me, and maybe this will be a good outlet for my loquacious tendencies.

I will try to keep up on this, hopefully it is more successful than my journals! I find myself making huge entries, in my journal, every six months or so to trying to catch up! Typing is faster though, so I am optimistic!

Today is going to be beautiful, sunny and 78. I am going take the children to the beach. (In Ohio that means we are going to play at a lake!) So, until next time...