Fulty's new toy...

So here's what I've been up to. I am the proud new owner of a brand new Ruger .380. It's Ruger's newest handgun that just came out last month. It's very small and easy to conceal. It weighs 9.4 oz when unloaded and is just right for me. Steve and I are taking our conceal/carry classes and tests next month, and now we both have handguns officially. (He bought a Glock 9mm from a deacon at my dad's church over Easter.) You knew it was only a matter of time, and now it's happened. Fulty's packin' heat. My kids at church just love having a tatooed, nose-pierced, gun-toting children's minister.
Good to hear what you all are up to. Sounds like everyone is keeping busy. We are doing well, the babies are 8 months old now and they are the most fun I've ever had. I am now officially in my second trimester, and other than showing early, I really don't even feel pregnant this time. I have had some bleeding off and on, so they are monitoring me closely and I have ultrasounds all the time, but everything looks fine so far. My doctor's not really worried about it, so neither am I.
I am going to visit my extended family in Canton this weekend for my grandparents' birthdays, and my folks and siblings are coming up as well. Steve will be in Buffalo, NY for a worship conference.
That's about it for me. I need to get ready to go before Steve gets home, so I'll close it up. Love you all!
Fulty

Berry Pickin'

Yesterday we went berry pickin'! I wanted to give the kids' teachers something that they could participate in giving them so this was a good option. We had a lot of fun. As you can see they ate as many as we picked. I kept telling Ava to stop eating them and wait until we washed them so then she started sneaking and eating them. At one point i turned around to see her with just the stem hanging out of her mouth. She was eating the tops and the stems! Ridiculous. From there we stopped at Shoneys on the way home b/c Atley asked if he could have Pancakes for dinner. Kids eat free on the breakfast bar so we thought we would treat them. Atley ate all his pancakes but the highlight of the meal was when we were leaving. I got up behind him after sitting the tip on the table and turned around to see him layin on the the floor by the salad bar licking a lemon that had fallen on the floor. He wasn't even holding it he was just laying on the ground licking the lemon on the ground. The cowboyish character that saw the whole thing laughed hysterically at him. We always manage to leave an imprint.

Well i hope everyone is doing well. Bets sounds like the pool is coming around. Lizzy, congratulations again on your accomplishments. Ness, only a few more days of school! Fulton, how are you? Jenney, i suppose is living in the world of Mary Kay.

Meow.
Mandycat

The adventurous 29 year old Cat

Dearest Catty-Cats
Just thought I'd fill you in on my past few days. Eli and I competed in our adventure race on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. The race consisted of three segments: canoing, mountain biking and orienteering. We were only able to complete the first two segments before the cut off time--which in my mind isn't that big of a deal because no one else completed all three either. The mountain bike track was so muddy that it slowed everyone down quite a bit. But I felt really good after finishing the our part. A surprising bit of news came when we found out that we placed second in our division--the 2 person co-ed division. There were 8 other teams in this division. Overall the race was hard and really tested my patience and my ability to filter words (one really nasty curse word slipped out at a very trying time I'm ashamed to say). And it was also a great experience for Eli and I to do together. Eli only called me 'bull-headed' once--and I probably deserved it. We had fun together and look forward to more events this summer. In July we hope to do an off-road triathlon. I have my work cut out for me.

Let's see...I'm officially 29. I don't feel any different but I do think that I'll need every single one of the next 365 days to get ready for 30. I got some money so I plan on buying a swim suit--hopefully I can find a cute sassy one and that will help me feel a little younger.

Kenna is currently singing "He is the vine and we are the branches...his banner over me is love". It's very cute and makes me joyful that my children are growing up hearing and singing these songs--unlike my own childhood. I rented David Crowder's newest cd from the library, Remedy, and Kenna loves it. It's kind of techno and groves at times and she loves to sing to it. Eli got me the newest Waterdeep cd for my birthday. It's pretty good too.

BSF finished for the year today and I am so glad that Kenna and I have had the opportunity to be in such a great study of the Bible. We have both learned so much and I look forward to next year when we study Moses. Eli and I are gearing up for our trip to New Orleans. It is probably only about 6 weeks away. Duncan is officially weaned and I think I'll do alright leaving them with my parents. But probably on the way back I'll be desperate to get home as quick as possible. Right now the kids won't even give me a moments peace to type this silly post so needless to say I may be ready for a nice kid-free break.

Well, I better do dinner.
Keep posted yourselves
Liz

Happy Days

Just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to all you cats out there with kittens and Happy Birthday to Liz. I hope you all have a great day.

In other news, I met with a specialist on Monday and she seems to think I just need some "fine-tuning" she is going to start me on femara next month along with metformin and she seemed pretty hopeful that it would work. If not, she will go in and check my tubes to make sure they are not blocked. So good news overall and hopefully she is right!
-Betsy

We are not the only ones...

Okay, most of you shoudl know my friends Greg and Jessica Adkins. They have a four year old son, Connor who is best buds with Atley and Ava. Today he posted this story on his blog and i just HAVE to share it with you. Enjoy!

1) Yesterday I took him to the Fountain City Duck Pond to feed the ducks. We've been many times and it's always a lot of fun... the ducks swim around and swarm to eat the bread we throw in the nasty pond. Anyway, on this day the ducks weren't hungry and we saw four big geese over in a grassy area. I told Connor we should go try to feed them and Connor took off towards them. I think the geese saw this as a threat because one of them went into full on attack mode. It was one of those "I wish I had my video camera" moments... that goose went absolutely berserk on Connor. It started hissing and squawking and charged straight into Connor knocking him to the ground. The goose then started pecking Connor in the stomach... it happened so fast I didn't know whether to laugh or scream. I swung my big garbage bag full of bread around my head slingshot style and slapped the goose gone wild right in the neck. It knocked him down and I was able to scoop Connor up and we ran back to safety. That probably sounds more heroic than it looked... I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to hit the ducks but I'm also pretty sure they're not supposed to eat your children... as Ben would say on Lost "They changed the rules".

Connor was obviously completely freaked out and was crying pretty hard... he threw his bread in the direction of the ducks and screamed "You ducks are mean! I'm not a snack!" Traumatic, but also completely hilarious.


Let me know how hard you laughed! Love you cats!
Meow
Mandycat

victory in Jesus

Hello Kitties!
Meow! Eliana is a different child since her ear tubes. She sleeps better and is definitely a much happier eater, although she definitely was not lacking in the weight department. Gabe goes tomorrow for his second set of tubes! Scott and I have spent the past two days deathly ill due to contracting a deathly virus from ever so infectious children! Nonetheless, school is out in about 14 days, and all I can say is when the crap is Jesus coming back for me!!!
Liz, you are the coolest mamacat ever! tye-dye shirts!! Bets, I will keep you in my prayers! Mandy, I did receive your phone message and I appreciate your concern! I will be fine, God always digs me up out of the pit all covered in mud and washes me clean again!! Anyway, I love you all and miss you! By the way, Gabe told his pre-school teacher that he loves me because I give him diet coke. Couldn't get more redneck except if I put it in a baby bottle!!

New blog

Ladies,
Just wanted to let you all know that I started a blog of our own- mostly for family that lives far away to keep in touch, but you are welcome to check it out.
http://theswartzfamily3.blogspot.com

Love the t-shirts Liz! Maybe Eli could give you a little tase in the neck to help loosen it up.