Please, do not fall off your chairs to see a post from the Cole family. We have not disappeared off the face of the earth. Like most people, we have been extremely busy. For a while I considered just closing the blog down, but alas my husband help me see that a once a month post is better than no posts at all. I really do like updating people on our family (for those of you who care to be updated), but computer/picture problems and a whole list of excuses has kept me from blogging.
So, what's new with us. Well things seem to be ever changing around here. Nothing too life altering I guess, but it sure feels like we live in a crazy house sometimes. Here's the run down on the kiddos:
Leah is 14 and is 5 days away from starting her Freshman year. Yikes, I swear I have no clue how that happened. It will be her 3rd year at West Liberty. She is a smarty pants and was one of 3 kids that got a perfect 4.0 for the year. Leah has really gotten into her horse and riding this year. She has been pretty successful at it also, especially for a beginner. Her horse Charlie is ornery, sweet, and just a good old boy that knows the ropes. Leah just finished 4H and learned a lot. She got a superior for her nutrition project again (baking yeast breads) and competed with Charlie like a champ. Leah still teaches and takes gymnastic classes. Leah also is still taking piano lessons and she can play quite beautifully.
Logan is getting ready to start 7th grade. It will be his second year at West Liberty. Last year Log did really great, ending up with all A's. Transitioning from home schooling to public school is tough and he handled himself wonderfully. I was very proud. Log still plays soccer and we are considering letting him play more year round, since he's a bit older and takes it a little more seriously. Logan undertook a pretty labor intensive 4H project this year with his steer. He worked extremely hard on it and did really quite well at the fair. Unfortunately Samson, his steer, only has about 1 1/2 weeks left before the butcher shop. I am not sure how Log will handle it, but I will most definitely be crying. Samson is such a good boy. Log is also still taking piano lessons and is getting pretty impressive.
Madeline is 6 and will be somewhere between 1st and 2nd grade this Fall. Ah, the joys of homeschooling. We have half grades! Maddie is quite a little joiner and would be involved in about everything if we'd let her. For now she plays soccer and takes gymnastics classes, she also played a little basketball with the little dribblers at West Liberty this last winter and loved it. Madeline is as ornery as ever, but she is also as sweet as ever. She will be starting piano this fall with Leah and Logan. Madeline also is starting to ride horses and did a couple lead line classes this summer. She really loves the horses and, along with Anna and Gee, is begging for a pony. That is exactly what we need, another animal. Oh and Madeline's latest news is that she chopped all her hair off and loves it. I have never had a girl with such short hair and I almost cried, but she has asked us to cut it all summer. The 6 inches I "trimmed" off last spring was obviously not enough. Madeline rocks it though and is very pleased with her decision.
Anna is 6 and will be starting 1st grade this year. Anna also plays soccer and takes gymnastics classes. She has also started riding horses. She did her first lead line class at the fair and I was very impressed with how quickly she caught on and how serious she was about it. Not to mention, she looked adorable dressed up in her cowgirl get up! Anna is still my sensitive, sweet little princess. She is probably the most prissy of my girls, although she can certainly hold her own if need be. She is kind of the peacemaker in the group.
Gideon will be in Kindergarden this fall. Gideon plays soccer and still takes gymnastics. Soccer he really likes, but I think his love for gymnastics is fading. He really like riding the horses, but has yet to have the desire to show or do more than just an occasional ride. Gideon is a goof ball and very much all boy. Something has happened to him in the last few months, is it too early for testosterone? It is like someone lit a fire under his hiney. I am constantly breaking up fights between Gee and Madeline. Madeline can be pretty bossy and Gee just doesn't put up with is any more (good for him!). He is also just way more aggressive and higher energy. Not in a bad way at all, just like wrestling with Asher all the time and playing soccer with a little more umph. I think my little Gee, isn't so little anymore.
Asher is three and is a HUGE ball of energy. He is seriously hard to keep up with sometimes. He talks constantly, at least now we can understand most of what he says. His Sunday School teacher last week asked us if he spoke another language, so obviously not everyone understands him, but he is getting much clearer. He has been potty trained for a few months now and was pretty easy to get trained. Asher will be playing soccer this fall. I am not normally and advocate for kids playing so early, but he just loves balls and soccer. He literally cried for 4 nights in a row because the big kids got to play soccer in a local camp and he didn't. The boy just loves to run and chase and kick, he's nuts. Asher is most definitely everyone's baby here. He gets spoiled and doted on by every one of the kids. They adore him.
Ryan and I are about the same. Ryan still works very hard at a very busy Colepak. We feel so blessed that CP is doing so well right now. Ryan is also still doing the bookwork for a local company, so he has his hands full. I still stay home mommy-ing and wouldn't have it any other way. I keep quite busy, not only with the kids, but the animals also. Right now we have 2 horses, 1 hog (to be butchered in a week), 1 4H steer (to be butchered in a week), multiple chickens (we just butchered 40 meat birds), 1 dog, 1 kitten (a summer rescue, to be a barn kitty) and 10 head of cattle (the newest little calf just born last week). The animals are definitely family projects, everyone pitches in.
Well, that is enough of an update for now, I plan to stay a little more on top of the blog.
Some recent pictures:
Anna riding lead line at the fair. ADORABLE.
Madeline and Leah doing lead line at the fair, looking equally adorable.
Madeline, Asher and good buddy Chloe at the fair (oh and Caden to the left, Chloe's little bro).
Our "children of the corn." Sorry, didn't realize this pic was blurry until just now.
Ryan and I at a long weekend trip we took last month over our anniversary. I couldn't love this man more.
Our annual fishing trip to Canada in June.
Asher in heaven with his two favorite things, daddy and a tractor.
Little miss princess looking so grown up.
Hiking on a long weekend trip to Gatlinburg, one of my favorite spots!
Logan and his worse animal injury to date. Samson got spooked and left the poor guy with some nasty rope burns. Poor Logie!
Our most excellent 100 lb plus german shepherd, Patriot. We could have lost Patriot this summer when he got into the mouse poison, thank goodness he was ok. Patriot is a super guard dog, just ask our poor neighbors who tried to let him out of his crate while we were at fair (sorry Sarah and Andrew).
Picking flowers at a summer walk at the property.
Leah did bible quizzing again last year and we hosted a super sweet team from Pennsylvania at the annual tournament.
Leah's group on the 8th grade DC trip. I was the group chaperone for this crazy crew.
Leah with good buddies Catherine, Grace and Caylee at 8th grade graduation.
Our White Parks.
Another Gatlinburg hiking picture.
