Enjoying Nature

Still Smiling

More Legos

The kids save up their Lego Bucks for new sets they want...we did some Amazon ordering the other week. :) It's always exciting when the packages come!

Reading

Grandma helped get the kids off to a great start with their language-arts and math school work. ["Thanks again, Mom for everything!!!!"] 

Play Wedding

Well, the kids heard the great news about Auntie Renee and Uncle Craig being engaged, and...  Now they have "wedding on the brain"! 

They came up with their own outfits here for their pretend weddings. It was cute and quite hilarious! 

Aunt Renee is Engaged!

We are really excited that Craig will be joining the family soon!! Renee and Craig got engaged over Labor Day weekend. :-D

Naomi: 6 Weeks Post-Op

I really can feel myself getting stronger! God is SO good! I almost don't even think about how I turn my neck anymore, and I'm on less daily ibuprofen. I have had some headaches and dizziness the past 2 weeks, but they are less in severity than before my surgery. I'm praying that God would mercifully lift the last of these symptoms as I start back into my mommy/homeschooling roles this week. Please pray with me.

This past week was big for me!...
My follow-up brain and neck MRI: 

Started driving again:

Signing "I Love You" out the window:

Overall, laughing more: 

Future Divers

Lucas Diving in a Quarry

Lucas is trying to keep up his Scuba certification, but no tropical waters nearby this time. He joined some other guys for a quarry dive. OK!

Date Nights

Friday is always "Family Date Night" where we go somewhere simple,... this past week, CostCo! ;-D

Then G'ma babysat the kids another night so that Lucas and I could go out. First date since surgery! It was nice (though I did have a headache). 

Learning with Dad and G'ma

Fixing the Subaru

Replacing the oxygen sensor. 

Fun at Friend's Farm

We've been blessed to start making friends through our CC homeschool coop. One family lives on a little farm and they've let the kids come out to see the animals and help in the garden, etc. 

Amber LOVES this chicken, Snuggly.  Now she wants to save up for her own chicken (instead of an iPad)!

September is "Chiari Malformation Awareness" Month!

Next Saturday (Sept. 19th) is "Conquer Chiari Walk Across America." Walks will be held in most of  the 50 United States to raise awareness. I'm hoping to do one in VA, but...not quite sure if I will be able to make a 5K distance at 6 weeks post-op. But I think it would be so neat to meet people who are in the same medical boat as I am. :)
Here is the cities/walk list if you are interested. For most of the walks, participation is free!
http://www.conquerchiari.org/ccwaa/sites-2015.html

Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar!

Lucas found this guy down by our mailboxes. He actually HEARD it chewing leaves before he even saw it! This giant caterpillar will turn into a Royal Walnut Moth, one of the largest moths in North America.

We only kept him for one day and then released him behind our house. 

First Day of Homeschool Coop!

CC started last week. Lucas is beginning the school year with the kids as he has a "leave of absence" while I still recover. 

The kids were SO excited!