Nana and Papa Visit

Mom and Dad arrived in Muncie on Wednesday evening. We had a really nice time together. The main purpose for them coming was for Grandparent's Day at school on Friday. The boys were so excited to show them and Grandma and Papa Ice the things they had made for them and their classrooms and the program, etc. It was a beautiful day and one everybody enjoyed. Dad's other goal for the weekend was to put the finishing touch on the kitchen cabinets he has made for me. He put the panel on the side that faces the family room. What a difference it made!! Thank you, dad!!! Saturday was a bummer for several reasons...the weather was too yucky for the guys to golf as planned, I had an IBS attack and was sick all day, and we took Emilee to urgent care and found out she had a sinus infection! Oh! well! At least we were together. Scott and Dad ended up taking Andrew and Matthew to a cool place to play laser tag and they had a blast. They left this morning and we are missing them already!! How many days until Christmas?!? We love you guys!

Early Christmas???

Saturday we did alot of cleaning and purging-especially as we (Scott) cleaned the garage! One thing we wanted to do was put the infant toys away and bring out the next set of "big girl" toys for Emilee. Well, as you can see from the picture, that when the toys were brought in it was more than Emilee that enjoyed the toys. Scott and I chuckled as we stood back and just watched them. It was just like Christmas. Toys spread out across the floor and all were quiet as they rediscovered what each toy did! Even the 8 yr old!!!! The only bummer (as with Christmas) is that everything needed batteries. They thought the toys were all cool, but how much cooler will they be when they actually do what they are supposed to do with new batteries! Ha!Ha!

Visit to Great Grandma

Last night the kids were dressed up to hand out candy to the oh-so-few children that trick or treat in the country. We decided after only Gabe showed up to call and see if Great Grandma was up for company. We called up to the hospital and got the go ahead, so we arrived shortly after supper. Luke was Bob again, Emilee was a duck, Andrew was Peyton Manning and Matthew a pirate. We only stayed a few minutes. Long enough to bring a few smiles to the room and give Great Grandma and Grandpa Leon our love. Grandma was very sleepy, but I think the burst of energy from the kids roused her for a brief moment! Continue to pray for God's hand of healing upon her and for the strength she needs to get back on her feet and come home. Thought you all might enjoy the pictures. Love to all! ~Michelle

Little Miss Blue Eyes

This post is especially for my sister because I want her to see Emilee wearing one of Mackenzie's dresses. It was such a pretty blue it made her eyes jump out with that dress on yesterday. That is what everyone said when they saw it! She is not smiling in this picture because we waited to take it too late. It was after church last night and she was more than ready for bed!! Her latest accomplishments: 2 new teeth (now 3 top and 3 bottom), mastery of the sippy cup (guzzling milk, juice and water), eating tons of new table food (her favorite is peas) and getting into all of her brothers' things. Gotta run~she is waking up! Love to all!

Hayride at the Russells

Last night was our annual fall Sunday school party out at Jim and Esther Russell's farm. We do one in September at the Hobb's just for couples and then in October we include kids. We look forward to it every year. We cook out, make smores, have a hayride, sit by the fire and chat, etc. The kids have a blast! The kids usually dress up and it is so fun to see what everyone wears. This year Andrew was Peyton Manning (again!), Matthew was Darth Vader, Luke was Bob the Builder (he thought he actually WAS Bob the Builder I think!) and Emilee was our beautiful butterfly. She was a trooper. She has a nasty cold but with her all bundled up I think she was warmer than any of us. We are home today because she is a snotty, boogery mess and can't be in the nursery. Enjoy the pics!

Fall Fun

There are so many things I love about fall! Here are just a few: beautiful leaves, pumpkin carving, hayrides, the fireplace back on, my smell good candles burning, caramel apples, apple cider, bonfires, making soups and chili again, wearing sweatshirts, decorating my house with my fall stuff. I guess that isn't just a few! The other night I was making supper and I heard a bunch of giggling in the backyard. The pictures show you what I saw but the giggling was the best part. Luke was having the most fun. The other boys would do all the work piling up the leaves and then Luke was the first one to run through it and spread them all out again! Needless to say the others didn't find it as humorous as Luke! The boy in the picture is our neighbor, Gabe Cicotte.

Daddy's Girl

Here are some pictures we recently took of Emilee. She truly lights up when she sees her daddy. It seems lately that her babbling of dada has taken on real meaning and she is associating the person with the word!! It is just one way she melts her daddy's heart! She already has him wrapped around her finger. It's so fun!!!

Too Cute

When we saw this picture we had to post it just because it is so cute!! If that isn't Luke, what is? Good thing the Lord made him so cute or he would be dead some days! Ha!Ha! We had a ladies retreat with Carol Trahan from NBBC this past weekend and she said something so true....our kids reveal our true selves. Isn't that true? It was so convicting!! That was one of many things that were convicting this weekend. I thank the Lord for allowing her to be at Grace. The weekend was truly life changing. My heart is SO full. What an awesome testimony and a woman of God. I do need the Lord to help me each day in each and every action, attitude, reaction, thought AND interaction with this precious little monkey pictured here. God has great things in store for Luke we just know it!! He just keeps us on our knees!!

"The Lord's Been Good To Me"

Today was Johnny Appleseed Day for the Kindergarten classes at HHCS. I was able to help out with Matthew's class. They did a lot of fun things-apple tasting, an apple hunt, trying various apple recipes, painting with apple slices, a parade with pots on their heads and they watched a video about Johnny Appleseed. That famous song that my husband so sweetly sings with a Southern twang in his voice ("He's given me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the apple seed...") was on the video they watched today. It has been in my head and on my lips all day. As it kept coming to mind I was thinking about how good the Lord has been to me. He has given me so much-my salvation, my husband, my children, our families, my church, His word,our ministry here, our health, my friends, HHCS- there are so MANY things!! A fun day was a neat reminder of what God has given to me and a chance to thank Him for the many things I so often take for granted.
~Michelle

Country Fair Fun

Friday night was the much anticipated Country Fair at HHCS. Matthew had the hours counted down throughout the day. After gathering their gear (cowboy hats, cowboy boots, bandanas and squirt guns in holsters) we were out the door. Despite the effort to encourage them NOT to bring home goldfish we brought home FIVE! Andrew told me later someone gave him two of theirs!!! We strategically placed them in Luke's hands to carry every once in awhile. He reminded me of Darla on Nemo the way he would give the bags a hearty shake now and then!!! jWell, one died in the bag and one died in the sink waiting for a fish bowl. Scott ended up putting the other three in the toilet to "find the ocean." Believe it 0r not, one was still in the toilet after the flush. I thought if the poor thing could survive all that trauma it deserved a chance in the Ice household. NOPE~it still got flushed. Aren't we cruel?!? The boys thought it was so funny. I MADE a cake for the cake walk this year (normally I buy one!) I know it is hard to believe~ me- the one who can blow any recipe-even the "simple Jello salad" at Thanksgiving! I took a picture for proof! Matthew was determined to win it but didn't. Oh, well! It was a fun night for all.

Hey guys! I am giving in to the pressure to blog. I am terrible at keeping up with stuff like this so hopefully I can keep it current. Scott has already made it clear this is my baby! It is a very cool way to stay connected with everyone though. Not much is new with us except getting back into the swing of school. Everyone is doing great with it except Matthew. He wasn't real excited about repeating kindergarten but is doing ok now. The big deal was staying for extended care. After much prayer and counsel I rescued my little chick and he is back home with me in the afternoons and doing great! God has allowed me to be a stay home mom and I am so grateful and am blessed to have an extra year with Matthew home half day. That probably sounds silly to all, but it was very heavy on this mommy's heart! Praise the Lord for the direction and peace He gives.

I will post a few pictures from Disney since those are probably the best pictures we have taken as of late!

Love to all,
Michelle