The World & Its Layers

Kaleb recently had a school project to make the globe and outline the layers of the earth.  He likes to do crafty things, and Amy likes to help him so we went onto Pinterest and found some ideas for him to choose from.  He ended up going with one that was a bit elaborate but fun - just to document his project:

1.  One smooth foam ball that we sliced in two with a foam cutter

2.  We applied foam smooth finish to the inside and then sanded it to cover any edges

3.  We hollowed out the center of the earth to insert another small foam ball to have it be a 3D "core"

4.  We printed and cut out the earth's continents -- and then pinned them onto the foam ball

5.  We painted the ball blue with spray paint

6.  We then took the paper continents off and put glue on the continent outlines on the globe

7.  We then poured different color sand on the continents to make them 3D.

8.  Then, we used a compass to outline the circles inside the globe

9.  We then painted each layer inside the two halves of the globe

10.  We repeated the sand and the painted as needed

11.  Then we had Dad help us attach a hinge to the globe so that it would open and close

12. Then we made labels for each layer of the Earth!

13.  And then it was done!  Kaleb did a great job - he is really impressing us with his attention to detail and desire to have a well-done project!  It wasn't perfect, but Amy has one more shot with Addison coming through 5th grade in the future to correct any of our mis-steps along the way! :)

A few weeks ago we had a going away for our friends the Bennies who are moving to Kettering.  We will miss them very much but wish them all the best in their new adventures!  We joined many other well-wishers at the park for a sabbath potluck to say good-bye!

Katrina is in the red shirt in the middle of the front row - we will miss you!

The Zs are never without soccer, and this year Zachary's club team goalie was hurt and he was put into the goalie net.  He did amazing -- super good, but he was happy to see Daniel come back so that he could get back on the field recently.

He is in the black shirt in the goalie net

Charging out to get the ball

Success!

Going out for a smoothie afterwards to celebrate the win!

The club soccer team - Zachary is in the black shirt on the back row on the end

Grandma came to watch - she is one special, dedicated Grandma - we love you!

In other random pictures, we had our new church children's building open up several weeks ago -- it is an amazing building.  Amy's friend Jennifer (and the kids Daytime mom for many years!) is the church's family ministries leader and she is doing an absolutely amazing job.  She has started a new primary praise and worship program for grades 1-4 and Zachary helps lead out with the singing (yes folks you heard it here, Zachary has gotten brave enough to go up front and sing for the little kids -- although they are all singing and the CD is singing so it isn't as if you can really hear him but we're still proud of him as it does get him more used to being up front!)

Speaking of being upfront singing - Kaleb's grade did choir at the church in September, so that was fun to see him sing although the church was PACKED as you'd imagine so this isn't a close picture -- just trust us, he's in the front row slightly to the left of the choir director.

And last but not least, Addison's class led out in chapel recently so she too had some time upfront on stage!

Addison standing beside Aidan, and Alison beside Aiden.  These are two friends that Addi talks about a lot!

The Storm That Wasn't

Over Labor day, we had Hurricane Dorian that threatened Central Florida.  It was a category 5 hurricane and it was going extremely slow, pummeling the Bahamas and the original track had it coming directly over us.  The track changed of course daily and we were fortunate and thankful that it ended up shifting far enough East that it did not affect us - but because of the fact that it was originally predicted to come over us, work ended up being cancelled for one day and school for two......With hardly any rain or wind..... so we ended up having at least one extra day for the long weekend to try and get house projects done around the house!  Yeah!

the final path skirted the East coast

That same weekend Addison was thrilled to be invited to a friend's party at Rebounderz - she had been begging for weeks to go, so this was a perfect coincidence!  She had a great time celebrating and jumping!

Happy Birthday!

We haven't been home much this summer to use the pool, but that weekend Karis managed to carve out some time to get all three kids into the pool.  Zachary hasn't been in our pool for a LONG time (quoting that he thinks that it smells and is too small) so it was fun to get some good family memories with a rousing game of basketball keepaway!

In other news, Addison has started ballet/tap this year - trading it out for Gymnastics - and is enjoying herself.  Our friend Kelli picks her up from school on Tuesdays and takes her along with daughter Elin, so one day Amy receives this picture text from Kelli.....notice how Addison's leotard shoulders are positioned -- where does this girl get these ideas?  Amy has never worn a shirt like that!? :)

We also had Grandparents day at school, so the kids were happy to have Grandma and Grandpa Lyle come to join them!

One More Hurdle Down

As we've shared, Amy's Mom has been on a breast cancer journey starting in January of this year.  She had triple positive breast cancer, and so immediately started on chemo after diagnosis which finished in June.  Her mastectomy occurred on August 30th, and we prayed and waited to hear what the verdict was.  The initial verdict was cancer-free!  We wait for final pathology report, but we are so thankful for the initial news!  They only took one lymph gland which is really good news as she won't have to worry about taking blood or blood pressure in that arm, so we are so thankful and grateful!  The surgery was about 6 hours long, and the next step will be to do reconstruction which will be November/December.

On the way home after the surgery!  She is one spunky lady!

During the same weekend, we prepared for Hurricane Dorian.  It is so odd, the kids are so excited to see the power and strength of the storm (and to be off of school!) while the parents fervently pray that the storm will pass us by!  This was a super odd storm - it was the biggest storm ever at one point, then weakened, did a 90 degree turn, and completely missed us.  We are thankful for sure - we ended up with Tuesday off of work as the weather forecast had it coming close enough to us to have an impact with wind and rain, but there literally was nothing - so we had a busy day around the house!

We also had some fun over the weekend - we went boating, swimming in the pool and Addison had a birthday party on Sunday at rebounderz for a friend - she has been begging to go to Rebounderz for awhile so this was a blessing!

Birthday popsicles for her friend at school

Happy Birthday!

Zachary hasn't loved getting into the pool now for a few years (doesn't like the chloine smell) so it was a rare day indeed when he decided to get in and play basketball with Kaleb, Daddy and Addison!

Addison has switched from gymnastics to Ballet, and now gets to be with her friend Elin.  It is so funny, Elin's mom (Kelli) and Amy have been friends since first starting at Florida Hospital and people would always think that we were sisters....and now we have two blond daughters (we both have very dark brown hair) who get confused as sisters!  What are the chances!?

The two look-alikes!

Addison has another friend - Victoria - that we were at church with the other week and they were just so cute hugging and walking holding hands that Amy couldn't resist taking a picture!

Well, after 9 months of working to finish the entertainment center, it is finally finished.  It was supposed to be a 6 week job.....the carpenter was definitely sub-par in his quality and his timing.  The frustration has been intense and it still wasn't finished like it should have been, but hopefully we will only enjoy it from this point forward rather than gritting our teeth! :)  We still have empty shelves so we will just have to travel some more to get fun momentoes from our journeys!