Email from Theresa.....

Aren't these the cutest?

And in my sister's words:

Both boys started ball games this week. Mason is enjoying wee-ball now that he understands that it's okay if his teammates catch the ball instead of him. He was worried that if he didn't catch them all he wouldn't get a trophy. For Mason, it's all about the trophy. Brennen has 1 for basketball and he doesn't have any. Brennen is really getting into T-ball as well and loves having daddy as a coach (well...most of the time). They had their first game yesterday and Brennen hit a single and a double in their 2 inning game. He plays 1st base and had 2 outs, which they say is good for t-ball. They won the game so they are officially "undefeated". Go Gambrell's !!

"Hey Baby!"

My son addressed me this way tonight! He's cute. Have mercy.

Ty and Cameron working on an escape route! Cameron's newly found mobility keeps me busy...as if I already wasn't!

It's been a week with mixed news and long days. First, the fun news......we found out we will be having another niece! Greg's brother and his wife are expecting another little girl the end of September! Lizzie, their first little one has decided she likes the names Jesus and Hello Kitty! It looks like Hello Kitty has more promise now!

Secondly, my grandma was admitted to start her laser knife procedure on Tuesday only to have the radiologist declare that he isn't comfortable proceeding because it is his opinion that my grandma has been fighting pneumonia and not cancer all along. I honestly can't wrap my head around it. After x-rays, cat scans and level four cat scans with two doctors and a phone consultation with an oncologist, how on earth was she told "terminal cancer", then told, "oops, we gave you the wrong report, your cancer isn't that bad" and now be told, "you don't have cancer after all"! I pray this guy knows what the heck he's talking about but I am afraid by waiting his recommended two months for a follow-up scan, cancer could be spreading. I don't want games played with my grandma's health. She deserves the best.

Little man is "riding" a bike now!

This is the distance he "rode" and Kate loved demonstrating her ride down hill for the camera. She is such a backward, shy child!


After standing us up yesterday, the insurance adjuster arrived today to evaluate the damage to our house from a few weeks ago. We won't get the report for a few more weeks. Greg was able to patch things well enough to stop immediate leaking so we will wait to see if it is worthwhile to file a claim or have it repaired on our own.
Remember Jeff? Our fridge repair man from last Spring?? Well, we had him back and he immediately delivered the bad news, "the freezer cannot be repaired" so we are quickly shopping for a replacement as our beef order is scheduled to arrive next week. That little investment just grew!

So, with all the "fun" news and cooler rainy weather, my baking mood has resurfaced. This does not go well with my loss of a walking partner this week! Anne, I need you back! Anyway, I've made homemade graham crackers, hamburger buns, our regular bread and no bake cookies so far this week! YIKES! It was all so good! I may have to start talking to that darn Wii Fit again. We had a falling out a few months ago and I've not spoken to it since! I'm mature like that.

Wordless Wednesday

"A little Monkey Business"

Our friends, Jennifer and Shelby gave us complimentary tickets to see Junie B. Jones, A Little Monkey Business at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. It was pretty cute and since Kate LOVES those chapter books and our friends, the day was a success.

I heard Shelby telling Kate that when she grows up, she wants to have one baby girl. Kate responded, "well, if you wanted a boy, I'd just give you Ty".

I was shocked to see all the water in downtown Louisville though.....this was part of the parking garage behind the theatre. We saw multiple businesses under water as well as exit ramps still closed because they were also still flooded....crazy stuff.

Along the planters, you can barely see the fence that typically sets well above the river's edge.

We woke to a dry attic but broken freezer. "Apparently", to quote Junie B. Jones, we are back in our if we touch it, we will break it phase. Good times.

Productive Fun?

The yard was finally dry enough to be mowed. It was beyond time as we had to wait out an incredible amount of rain. The shrubs were trimmed and the roof has been somewhat repaired, or at least patched to the point that we pray it no longer leaks! It is supposed to rain again tonight so we'll have to see what the morning reveals.

Testing gravity! Yikes.

Daddy's little helper loves the lawn mower and he says that word really clearly.

Ty's lawn mower needs a lot of adjustments throughout the job....

and uses a lot of gas too! He is just so stinking cute imitating his daddy.

Kate spent the morning looking for more bag worms, which she calls caterpillars. She found families of them and reunited them in a yogurt container with leaves she enjoyed watching them eat. She lets those things crawl all over her hands and arms while she determines their gender and role in their newly assigned family. It was quite a process she talked her way through! This girl can talk and talk and talk and talk.....you get the idea.

We played some too......

And needed baths....

Because Ty was upset about his dirty feet!

And I love clean baby scents!

Besides, he looks so handsome cleaned up for church. He strongly objects to his new sandles. He acted as though he couldn't walk when I first put them on his feet but that act wore off when he took off at church during our picnic dinner! He had the orneriest grin on his face as he ran as fast as he could away from me!

Out and About

It was beautiful today so we took off for the zoo. My membership expires tomorrow so I wanted to take advantage of one last trip before we take a break from visiting. It is a lot of work with extra babies in tow, not that Colby minded the sling one bit!

He just chewed on his toes which just happens to be one of his favorite pass times.

Lauren says we look like the Duggars, only we wear pants. We do get a lot of looks parading around with multiple little ones.

We saw sea lions, a polar bear, giraffes, rhinos, and a million people.....dear heaven we could barely park! It was wild.

Ty is excited as the bear "takes a bath"!

The sea lions were swimming right in front of the kids. Ty was captivated. I have mentioned that Kate chooses her own clothes??? We have different ideas about wardrobe!

On the way home we noted the Ohio river......and where the park used to be! The flooding is surreal.

The amphitheater is mostly under water and it typically sits a few feet above the water's edge.

These are large, full-size trees under water on the other side of the walk way that lines the river's edge.

If you look closely, you can see the light posts that also line the river walk area.

After our little site seeing excursion, we stopped for lunch at a locally owned Mexican restaurant in downtown New Albany. It was the best Mexican food I've found since moving away from San Antonio, Texas a LONG time ago! Locals must try La Rosita!

Little Big shot loves drinking out of a straw. He dropped his water cup and it spilled all over the floor. A little yellow caution sign was placed next to our table while the water was cleaned up and dried. I noted that I should probably have one of those signs available at all times.

 Back on the homestead, Kate and her friends captured a caterpillar named Gracie. I suggested Stinky but Grady and I lost to the dirt covered divas in that vote!

Last night's rainbow....God's promise.

Oh, Go Fly A Kite!

So we did!

Let's just say this wasn't my day and my frustration level was mounting. So, I put the kid's Easter gifts from my parents together and took them out into the wind to fly kites. Kate and Makenna have never done it and Kate was immediately impressed. She loved it!

As grateful as I am to have made it home safely from Ohio, and I am grateful, the $900 and counting repair bill is not welcomed. And just as I got that call, I walked into my laundry room and found this.....

The ceiling has water marks. Further investigation shows water in the attic started in the roof. Good times. Poor Greg was up for the last 24 hours and is only getting a few hours sleep today before waking up to this mess and heading off to early meetings at work.

Another storm's a brewing....

I love stormy nights. Although I don't particularly want damage to my house, I do appreciate lightening and watching trees bend and sway in wind. I admire the way raindrops land in puddles and how water beads up on flowers. Greg and I sleep with the blinds in our bedroom open (since we have no neighbors behind us!) when lightening storms take place at night. There is nothing like falling asleep to the sound of rain and seeing God's light show. However, this is getting a little crazy! We have water everywhere! The Ohio river is so far out of its banks that expressway ramps are closed! This was our view tonight and storms are brewing....every day for the next five days!

Isn't it awesome to look back over a situation and see God's hand on some aspect of your life? I took the kids to Ohio this weekend to see my Grandma and enjoy Easter egg activities with nephews and our niece. It was a good weekend despite Erin's health and Ty's unwillingness to sleep without his own bed. On the way home (in the rain!) I noted that the van was a little "off". It just seemed to be running a little rough. It wasn't a challenge or nerve racking for me so by the time I was in the garage, unloading a very packed van, I forgot to mention it to Greg. This morning; however, I asked Greg to drive it to his dental appointment to see what he thought about it. He backed it out of the driveway and then pulled it right back in. My van is a mess! By all calculations, I should not have been able to drive it home yesterday and yet, by God's grace, we are all home and safe while the van is now at the repair shop seeking repairs and maintenance! God is good and I appreciate the reminder.

Happy Easter!

Kristin's tulips...have I mentioned my love for them?

A few of my cousins visiting Grandma. We are quite a crew!

Ty needed a larger canvas.

It took a very long soak in the tub to remove all that color from his hands!

Brennen and that awesome six year old grin!

Mason showing off his favorite egg.

Makenna enjoyed the decorating process, especially once the paints were brought out.

Kate's #5 egg. She was at the table long after everyone else was finished.

The results are in......it was fun!

cousins are friends too

Kate and Grandpa on his new tractor

Kate and Lizzie were ready for their wagon ride behind the tractor. Lizzie called her "Cousin Kate" and she was pretty interested in "Baby Ty" too. We loved seeing Little Miss Personality.

Jessica, Brad, Lizzie and teeny tiny baby bump....the latest little Baughman is due September 29!

Ty wasn't that interested in hunting eggs but liked the chocolate inside! I suspect he'll be disappointed in the real eggs he gets after this weekend!

Makenna says she's ready to drive!

Have you heard the good news? Christ is risen.