The Marshall Family Adventures: 2017

Monday, September 11, 2017

Colorado with Papa

In June we went to Colorado with Papa. It was the kids' first time in the mountains.

We rode around in the mountains in these atv's

Papa took us to a store that had tons of stuffed animals. REAL stuffed animals.

Oh no! Watch out!

The cousins had fun playing together at a park.

Ben was a good little baby.

Chloe snuck in some daddy daughter time.

First year as a Shockdawg!

Luke played on a competitive baseball team this year. The whole family had a blast at his games and he learned so much!

Before the season they took team pictures.

Here is one of Luke's at bats. Didn't do a very good job with the video camera, but I was holding the camera up over the fence and couldn't see what I was taping very well.

This video clip is the whole inning. This was at the end of the game. Luke was up to bat first and got a double. Next kid strikes out, next kid grounds out. Luke is on third with 2 outs, 2 strikes, and his teammate hits a dribbler to pitcher. It would have been an easy out at first, but the kid throws home and Luke slides under the tag. SAFE! We win! After the game Luke said, "That was the best moment of my life."

Luke's team was the regular season champions. They lost in the tournament, but they still had a great season!

Coach Gray made practices extra fun by including an ice cream break. Great for team bonding on those hot summer days.

His teammates voted him MVP! He was so excited! His coaches gave him the speed demon award.

Luke won't be able to play with this same team next year. They were a variety of ages and with more kids trying out this year they are splitting them into teams that best fit their age and level. Luke turned 9 during the season and was the oldest one on the team. He had a couple teammates that turned 6 during the season! Luke will be jumping up a few age levels and playing on a U11/12 team next year. It will be a challenge for him, but with the way he is improving and his love for the game, the coaches think he is up for the challenge.

Solar Eclipse

We drove up north a ways to see the total solar eclipse. We found a nice little spot and camped out and waited for the big event. It was a VERY cloudy day and that made it a little disappointing, but there were a few breaks in the clouds so we still had a very good experience.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

First Piano Recital

The kids took piano lessons this summer. At the end of the summer they had their first recital. They did a great job!

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Baby BEN!

I literally forgot about the blog for awhile. I had trouble uploading photos and this mama doesn't have time for technology troubles, so the blog was on the back burner for awhile. I'll blame it on having a baby. BUT I got the problems figured out, so I'll try to do a little catching up!

I had a baby in March! Little Benjamin. This guy surprised us! I totally thought I was having a girl. We didn't find out he was a boy until he was born. That was the most exciting moment of my life. I am so glad we didn't find out. It made the suspense in the delivery room incredible! We also didn't find out Addy was a girl. That was exciting too, but it was a different excitement. I think the difference was that when we didn't have any kids, the excitement of a baby was more exciting than if it was a boy or a girl. #5 was different because when you have 3 girls and 1 boy I think it's natural to kind of hope for a boy to even things out. I was really trying to not hope for a boy because I love my girls so much and I knew another girl would be fun and fine and awesome too. The moment of finding out and seeing the little guy when I thought it was a gal was just so fun!

Here's the proud Daddy meeting his second son. He's such a good daddy, I'm so glad that 5 little kids get him!

I was pretty proud too. It was hard to take my eyes off of him.

To find out if they had a brother or sister, the kids came into the room and saw what he was wearing.

They were so excited! We didn't want to tell them on the phone because we wanted to see their reaction.

My little tribe.

Full hands=full heart.

From the mouths of babes.

It was a 7 Up kind of week at our house and Luke asked Brooke if she wanted some. Brooke promptly replied, "I can't! It says 7 and Up and I'm only 5!"

Chloe(age 2), was jabbering after dinner. We turned on Wheel of Fortune and a commercial came on so we muted the tv. It was a commercial about cars, and Chloe proceeded to describe everything that was happening. "There's a red tar and another red tar and it's going fast and it's turning..." Scott says, "We've got a commentary!" Immediately Chloe replies,"TOM AND JERRY! I WANT TO WATCH TOM AND JERRY!" Scott didn't understand why she was suddenly talking about Tom and Jerry. I said, "She thought you said Tom and Jerry, not commentary!" As we were getting ready for bed she said, "Why didn't we watch Tom and Jerry?"

Brooke, age 2, was getting ready for bed. Her diapers were on the top of the dresser. When I went in to help her, she already had her pajamas and diaper ready to put on. I said, "Brooke, how did you get your diaper down?" Without missin a beat she replied, "It was magic!"

While riding in the van Luke said, "Mama, I won't get married until you die. I want to live with you until you die and then I'll get married. That's what I'm gonna do.
Addy: I want to get married before you die because I want you to see my kids.
Luke: Oh...Well, I'll get married before you die, but I still love you more than anyone else.

Grandma Sharon took the kids to a carnival they were having at the school while Scott and I went to Topeka for a Dr. appointment. While they were there they went to look at a bunny in one of the classrooms. Brooke looked at the bunny for a while, then pointed into the cage and said, "There's chocolate chips in there!"

Luke asked why I don't just take the baby out if I'm ready? I told him I was going to let the baby decide when to come out. Then Addy said, "If you're going to let the baby decide that, then why don't you let us decide whatever we want to do?"

One of Luke's favorite books is "The Prince's Poison Cup." It's a book that portrays Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. I was having bad heartburn and he comes and whispers in my ear, "Mama, just think about the Prince's Poison Cup. That was way worser."

While tucking Brooke into bed the other night I said, "Brooke, you're getting so big! What happened to my little baby?" She immediately sat up, lifted up my shirt, pointed to my belly button and said, "Baby in tummy!"

Scott is reading Proverbs with the kids for bible time. He read Proverbs 12:1 - Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. Scott asked, "What does that mean?" Luke said, "Well, it means I'm stupid." Then he said, "I guess I love spankings."

Brooke and Addison were talking. Brooke just babbles now, but Addy was babbling back. Then Addy stopped and said, "Brookie, sometimes we speak English."

While holding Luke's hand and walking down the street I told him, "Luke you have strong hands." To which he replied, "I know. That's so I can drive big green tractors."

Tonight before bed Addy said, "What's the difference between self-esistent (existent) and self-sufficient?" Scott explained it and then said, "they're kind of alike." She laughed and said, "They even kinda sound alike." The whole time I'm shocked that she can even pronounce those words!

Scott told Addy he was going to take her on a daddy daughter date. She got really excited and went up to her room to get ready. She not only got herself ready but she laid out clothes for him to wear! Black windpants, blue shirt, and running shoes. Not bad for a date to Claires and Braums.

On Luke's date with daddy they went to Braums for breakfast. As he was eating his pancakes he briefly paused and said, "We have GOT to do this again."

Addy says, "There's 3 things I want for Christmas, 3 things, only 3." I say, "Ok, what are they?" She says, "I want those things that you look through and see things. (binoculars) I want to be in the Sound of Music, and I want to spend the night at grandma and grandpa's whenever I want."

While riding in the car Addison asks, "Mommy, do the neighbor kids know Yahweh?"

Addy says to Luke out of the blue while riding in the car. "Lukey if mama gets fat it means she has a baby in her tummy."

Luke is in the habit of telling me, "Thank you for the yummy food." at dinner. One night he was really enjoying his meal when he let out a really big burp. Scott looked at him and said, "Luke, what do you say?" Luke replied, "Thank you for the yummy food!"

I asked Luke to pick up the living room and as he was picking up he started singing the song from Annie, "It's a hard knock life, for us!" Yeah, he has a really hard life...

After cleaning her room Addison proudly announced that she "cleaned it like a mother would clean it."

Luke was walking around with his shirt off and a post it note stuck to his chest saying, "Here's the good news! I have some good news!" I said, "What's the good news Luke?" He said, "JESUS!!!"

Someone asked Addison how old she was and she said, "I'm five. I'm a whole hand."

Every night at dinner Addison asks Scott if he is going anywhere or doing anything tonight. If the answer is he is staying home she always says, "Can we go on a daddy daughter date?" Then Luke says, "No I want to go on a daddy daughter date...without Addy." They love time with their daddy.