Happy July!!!!!!

July has been a fantastic month for our family. We had a wonderful fourth of July weekend at Lake Latonka. Then we celebrated Daniel's fourth birthday, going to Camp Pioneer for a week. Scott was the camp nurse for the week and the rest of the family had a blast. We returned home for a family birthday party for Daniel and Andrew (on Scott's birthday!!!) The next day was Andrew's 10th birthday. Celebrating with a lunch at chick fil A and dinner at the baseball coaches' house for his team. We had a blast. Five days later we left for Myrtle Beach for a week's vacation with some of Scott's family. We are there now in a beach house on Pawley's Island....so this blog is done....................have a wave to catch!!!!!!

Bubble Wrap!!???!!!

Interesting title I know.......

Someone just suggested we wrap Daniel in it!!! Not because he is crazy active, running, jumping, etc. but because as of last week, we had the second child in this family with a broken bone.....We go almost 10 years with none and then Emily broke her wrist in May and last week Andrew broke his left index finger during Basketball camp!!!

Another reason for the bubble wrap title is because we recently got lots of it when Scott's Father's Day/Birthday present arrived. He finally got his 5 bike carrier for the back of the van. He is so happy. I guess that means Mom has to get back to bike riding, hasn't happened since pregnancy of Andrew!!!!

Third reason for bubble wrap title-----What could be easier to entertain your kids than bubble wrap. You can jump, stomp, ride bikes on it, all for free and nobody gets hurt!!!! Other fun summer things-silly string, splashing in the pool, chalk drawings on the driveway, and melting popsicles down your shirt!!!!!

Happy summer to all.....and pray we do not have to visit the x-ray dept. for a while!!!!

Is it summer yet????

By looking at my last blog in March about the beginning of spring, it seems like I may post once a season!!!!!!!! Not really, just time passing so fast and every day bringing us another reason to be busy and not at the computer (not so bad!!!!)

Spring does bring an additional series of responsibilites and time consumers-----yard work, grass cutting, planting, weeding and general outside time. Add in soccer season, baseball season, end of scouting events, etc. etc. summer in knocking on the door!!!!

Kids are all doing well and bringing joy and excitement to every day.......Andrew is nearing end of 3rd grade and has excelled in his reading....He has earned so many rewards it is unbelievable. Hope to keep the reading and math excitement up during the summer, between bike rides and trampouline jumping!!!!!

Emily loved 1st grade. She recently moved over from Daisies to Brownies and had our first mother/daughter sleep over. It was so much fun. About a week later, she fell off the monkey bars at school recess and broke her right wrist. Thankful for no other injuries and seems to be healing.

And then there's Daniel......active, funny, spirited Daniel!!!! I know he loves the Steelers but he is rooting for the Penguins now.....He is such a sports fan it is unbelievable .......He is done with preschool and will go to Mt. Olive's Pre-K class this fall. His speech has improved dramatically from a 26 month old level last May to a 50 month old level this May!!!! As he would say....Purrrrrrfect!!!!! He's been fishing as much as he can and just runs, runs, runs all over the place.

Life is good, always interesting......I promise to post again before the first leaf falls!!!!

We'll it is spring and I think we are being defined by the things that keep us busy in the spring.....yardwork and sports......

Scott prayed for rain this week for all his new grass plantings and we was thrilled at two days of rain, followed by a day of sunshine. Keeping Daniel out of the new grass areas isn't easy but that's life with an active 3 year old..Hopefully we'll get the new trampoline up soon and he can watch the grass grow between jumps!!!!!

Andrew's basketball season ended last week but baseball season starts today with practices and his and Emily's soccer season starts next week with practice and their first games. Being that we still have swimming lessons and boy and girl scouts, lets say the mom mobile continues to be busy and Daniel gets to visit all his friends at all the activities!!!!

We pray that illnesses are behind us for now. I was at the pediatrician's office 3 out of the 4 Mondays in March, with each one of the kids having an illness. Let's pray for an uneventful Monday and a quiet April (except for the cheering at the games!!!!!)

Happy Spring.............

Spring is coming!!!!!

One week to spring and the Rodenbecks are getting ready.

Scott planted spinach about a week ago and he planted some more today. Once he starts buying seeds, there is no stopping him. Daniel and Emily especially like to help him so he can't help himself!!!! They like to pick things after they grow too so they are a big help all season long...

We just finished dismantling our trampoline that we've had in the back yard for about 5 years. Friends had it before us and things were beginning to dry rot and replacement parts cost more than the whole tramp. We bought a new one (smaller than the old one, Scott is sad!!) the day after Thanksgiving and we be glad to get it out of the garage. We'll post a picture when we get it up!!!! Hopefully in the new few weeks.

Another sign of spring is Scott trying to get the grass under control. He had me buy a bunch of lawn products last weekend and he's been pulling out dead stuff and grubs from the lawn today. He loves this time of year!!

Daniel has been enjoying seeing daffodils, crocus, etc. started to pop out of the ground. He really gets it this year!!!

We also know it's spring because yesterday started garage sale/rummage sale season and we know how much Scott loves that!!!

You would think spring is his favorite season..(fall is!!!) But loves the fact that new fun times outside are ahead..........

I know it's been three weeks since I've blogged.......Why?????

If I look back at the calendar since February 14th, the days are filled with activities, appointments, parties, etc. We are always busy, always together, always filling our days with fun, but.........

I guess when Mom washes the same dishes, folds the same clothes, drives the same routes, things seem routine and boring.......but bored is NEVER a word that I use.....how can I be bored with watching three kids grow up, have fun with friends, etc.......so whatever we are doing, we are happy but maybe it doesn't always fit into the adventure category......I guess an adventure is what you make of it.........

If it means getting all three kids through swimming lessons, we had an adventure. If it means, Daniel's speech is improving and all their reading is improving, we have an adventure. If it means selling Girl Scout cookies and candy bars for Boy Scouts, we have an adventure. If it means cleaning up toys, games, and balls from the family room each day, it means we've had an adventure that day.

Life and adventures are what you make of it........not boring and always changing......

Valentines Day Picture

at the bottom of the blog...sorry