I know it means that God will never flood the earth again, but surely this rainbow must mean something about the Patriots' Superbowl hopes this year, right?! That's their training camp above.

Monday Morning Riff

A talk show that I sometimes listen to has a feature called "Colin's Monday Morning Riff," where he offers insight/opinions in a sentence or two on a myriad of topics. Here's mine for today.

• Fancy stationery makes me happy.
• My husband is the smartest man I know. 'Nough said.
• Do the Yankees even have a farm system? Or did they do away with that feature once they had enough money to rule the world?
• I found my Italian charm bracelet this weekend, after a six month absence. Where was it? In the jewelery box next to the kitchen sink, where I put my stuff when I am washing dishes. Guess I haven't been doing enough of that lately...taking off my jewelery, not washing dishes...I always do plenty of that.
• E.T. still freaks me out.
• When I wear my "NAVY" t-shirt, I get more respect in stores. Too bad I'm just a poser.

Fun with Rockets

This morning we met some friends at a local Little League field to shoot off some model rockets. The boys were pretty cautious at first, but they warmed up to the idea and eventually they all took a turn shooting one off. The Dads had fun chasing the rockets around as they came down so they wouldn't crash. The Moms had fun laughing at the Dads.

Watching from afar

Ben's turn

Cameron's turn

Totally engrossed by the end!

Thanks, Mr. Kelly for inviting us along to watch your arsenal!

I am a late bloomer...

...when it comes to Tolkien. I started reading this series in high school twice, and couldn't get into it. I had to read it in college for a class (oh, how I wish I could take that class again!), but it was a begrudging reading -- skimming, really. It was a semester when I had so many things going on for my Education major that I couldn't put much time into it. I saw the movies, and yes, they were enjoyable, but not as much as they would've been if I had actually understood all the ins and outs of the story.

Well, I picked it up the other day and I am completely hooked. I might even watch the movies again...though I do HATE the noise that the ringwraiths make. It makes my skin crawl!

"Perhaps the greatest gift any father can bestow upon his children, apart from the covenant blessings of parish life and a comprehension of the doctrines of grace, is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives a knowledge of the world, and it offers experience of a wide kind. Indeed, it is nothing less than a moral illumination."

Thomas Chalmers

(thankful for my bibliophile husband)

More Pooh-sticks

Jonathan was feeling a bit better by this leg of the trip...

Andrew grinning...Cameron in background, throwing his stick in

Ben the ham

 

Also in Knoxville...

...are some dear ladies who used to attend our church, Donna and Jody. We stopped in to visit them and they kindly fed us on both legs of our trip! They have a beautiful spot right on the Clinch River in Powell, TN.

Donna with all the boys (Ben is behind Cameron)

Contemplating the water

Daddy found sticks to play "Pooh-sticks"

No, Andrew, that's not really a stick.

 

More pictures from Knoxville

Staying up late watching the Tour de France


At the American Museum of Science and Energy (Oak Ridge)

Ben's pretending to be a dinosaur

Oak Ridge was an instrumental part of the Manhattan Project. It was one of the "secret cities" that worked for the production of the nuclear bomb.
You can read more about Oak Ridge's history here. I think it's fascinating!

 

Mrs. Young

On our trips to Indiana we frequently stop in Knoxville, since it's a good halfway point between Charlotte and Evansville. On this trip we decided to visit a lady who was instrumental in God's salvific grace towards David.

David was an intern in Oak Ridge, TN (just outside Knoxville) for a time in college, and during part of his stay there, he boarded with a woman named Mrs. Delores Young. He had many questions about faith while he lived there, and she was instrumental in leading him to the Lord. He often speaks of her fondness for her Strong's concordance and her King James Bible. God used her mightily for such a little lady!!

We had a lovely visit with her, and we hope to see her again.

David with Mrs. Young and her daughter, Valerie
(who shrieked with delight when she saw David)

 

More family pictures

Some more vacation pictures...

Daddy with Jonathan (they both had the stomach flu while we were in Indiana, and were nice enough to share it with David's dad, brother, aunt, and uncle)

Storytime with Grandma (to the R is cousin Lindsey)

The last night we were there, we went out for Chinese food, and Cameron told the waitress he wanted spaghetti with peas and carrots. We quickly said, "no no no...you don't need to do that, he just meant he wanted the spaghetti." Well, the waitress was happy to oblige him, and all his brothers and cousins had peas and carrots in their noodles, too.

In the back, cousin Megan with Uncle Phil, and G.G. (Great-Grandmother)

 

Family time

Here are a few pictures from our time in Indiana...

Storytime with Aunt Annie (can you tell she's a teacher?)

Playing Hullaballoo with the whole family (that's Aunt Marianne waving her arms)




Ben being congratulated on his big win




An impromptu harp concert by Grandma Keller

 

Teething stinks!

For the past month or so, Jonathan has not been quite himself. I think the teeth (among other things!) are to blame. In fact, last night was the first night in...I can't remember how long...that he slept through the night with no screaming fit around 11:00.


He is a bit happier these days, since the stomach flu has run its course and he is adjusted to his new room. That makes my life a little easier.
 

What happens when the Keller boys play football.

An unexpectedly good competitor frequently runs circles around his brothers.

Spotted on Charlotte Mommies today...

(thanks to Nicole for pointing this out...)

Hi Ladies: I've seen a couple of threads about Trader Joe's. My nephew works at one and told me yesterday that they plan on signing a lease for a North Charlotte store in late 2006 and they might open another one on charlotte/south charlotte in 2007. Just thought you might like to know.

Doing the dance of joy over here...these are the first details I've heard...so it's now no longer a rumor...

Andrew and Jonathan's new room

So now that Cameron and Ben have moved down the hall, Andrew and Jonathan's new room got a little sprucing up. I would like to re-do their room as well, but I think it will stay like this for a little while at least.

Jonathan's bed

Andrew's bed

Changing table

Playing in their new room


All told, everyone has a little bit more space -- except for Jonathan, who is now sharing a room for the first time. But he certainly didn't need his whole room to himself! The room where the older kids are is brighter (so they can play in there) and the little guys' room is darker (better for daytime naps).

 

Jonathan and Emma

In the nursery yesterday...

She's up....


and she's down....
 

Cameron and Ben's new room

Cameron and Ben moved into their new room over the weekend. It still needs curtains and pictures to be hung, but it's livable! Here are some pictures to give you the idea...

Saying goodnight on their first night...they were so excited!

Stencilling on the wall...space pictures to come

Ta-Da!!!