Charlie

I took these pictures after Charlie and I took a walk this afternoon.

HEART SECRET - 7 Years!

An Anniversary Note!  (Below is my original blog post from day number 1)

 

 

I've enjoyed reading other people's blogs and wish I had started one of my own for several years now. I wish I had documented these past few years and had a written record of how my family has grown. So, today, finally I am starting my own blog! My name is Rachel. My husband is Dave and our kids are Andrew, Amelia and Ava. Our family picture from May 2008 is to the left.

To start things off....my husband and I recently found out I am pregnant. With this blog I hope to document our family's ups and downs. I also hope to document this pregnancy. To give birth to a healthy baby would be a dream come true.

Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster, PA

We spent the day at Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, PA.  Here is the dinosaur part of the park.  Seems to me at one time, Amelia would have loved seeing this.  Now.. middle school... teenager.. Nope!  No Way!

Ava & Jenna thought this was fun.

 We watched a diving dragons and princess show.  Yes.  Men dove off of very high diving boards.

Dave took Ava & Jenna on this mini roller coaster.  Fun times.

 Jenna and Dave were the only brave ones to ride the biggest coaster at the park.. "Kingdom Coaster".  This is afterwards.  I couldn't get a good photo while they were on the ride.

I rode a ride!  I did! 

Labor Day Weekend Fun

Grandma and her 75th Birthday!

We celebrated Grandma today at Positanos!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

 

Andrew and Amelia are the first ones off in the morning.  Andrew's teacher is Mr. Peter again for "11th grade" and Amelia started Middle School this morning -entering 6th grade!

 

Ava and Jenna headed out the door for their 8:30am bus pick up.  Ava has Mrs. Baer for 4th grade and Jenna has Mrs. Weihler for 1st.  Everyone was happy to start their school year!

Family Adventure! - Bonclarken II, Flat Rock, NC

 

Happy Drew - On the road to Kingsport, TN.

 

Jenna resting in the car.

 

We stopped in Kingsport, TN for the night at our favorite hotel.  We visited this park in Kingsport the next morning.  THE BEST Playground we have seen!  This picture shows a really cool rocking boat that Drew's wheelchair fits into.  Next stop - Joni & Friends Family Retreat in Flat Rock, TN.  This will be our 3rd year!

 

Date Night for us.  Kids with their helpers for dinner.  We enjoyed a Christmas dinner and a walk around campus with our friends.

 Here is our group.  We are on the way to party.

 

This is actually the last night.  The girls all had to share their friend Meredith this year.

 

This was the tough part of being Jenna's helper.  Getting her to eat.

 

Here is Drew petting the mini horse.  He actually enjoys it and is a willing participant.

 

Here are Drew and his STM, Lori.  Turns out Lori was a private nurse for Ronald Reagan in his final years.  I guess that means Drew was in good hands for the week!

 

We had many, many snow cones.

 Dad and Drew resting. Both are happy!

 Here are Amelia and Dave after their rock wall climb.  Unfortunately, I missed it!  No pictures...

 I was there for this though...

 and this....

 and this....

 I did get pictures of Amelia on the horse.

 Here are my girls helping their new friend out with his dance for the talent show.

 A very, very tired and wiped out Jenna on the last morning.  She was the last one up and it was very hard to wake her!

Our 3rd year at Joni & Friends family retreat was just as fun as all the others!  We are wiped out!  We have a week off to recoup and them SCHOOL!