Spacers & School

Unfortunately, I have no pictures to post today as McKenna has been with her dad this week. However, she has begun the process of making her mouth wider. Today, Dr. Thompson took impressions of her mouth and put in four spacers in order to create the space they will need to put the expander in. She will go once a week for the next three weeks in order to prep her mouth for the much needed work that will eventually take place. We have the motrin ready as she is already complaining about her teeth aching. The spacers don't seem to be too painful yet. They are just more annoying than anything. She says it feels like there is popcorn stuck between her teeth. Poor thing! Although, I think that she is really excited about it all. My guess is she will change her mind in a couple of weeks.
Since McKenna has been with her dad, I have spent a majority of the week at school getting ready for the school year. My room is just about ready, and now I just have a ton of paperwork to prepare for as I have a few new teachers to the classroom this year. Deep down I am truly excited about the school year to start. I need the routine and schedules to return. I am loving my current position, although, at times I yearn to be back in the classroom. The joy with my position is that I have the opportunity to be in all the grade levels from K-5, so this helps with my desire to teach again.
While I have been prepping for the school year, Doug has been playing a lot of golf with Allison and Dane. When he isn't playing golf (which isn't very often), he has been applying for jobs continuously; however, as many of you know there just isn't much out there. He has been the number one candidate in two positions, but both districts didn't go with their number one candidate (Doug) because he is at the top of the pay scale and their districts were in no position to hire someone at the top of the scale. We are still hoping that something comes through with Fort Wayne Community. His principal at Northrop states that "he is in a good position to get recalled at Northrop", but what that means is nothing really until they call and offer him the job. The day that we are hoping to hear something is by Monday, August 2. Any and all prayers are appreciated! In the meantime, he has applied for the Jay County job, hoping something may come through there. He is fearful that if FWCS doesn't come through, he may never teach again because not many districts are willing to pay someone at the top of the scale based on the fiscal positions that they are embarking on in these times. That is all I really have to report for the time being. Have a great rest of the week!

Snake Hunting

Last evening, we headed to my grandparents house for dinner! McKenna loves being there as they live right on the pond. The last time McKenna was over there, she found a snake crawling on the rocks below the bridge. Soooo, McKenna and Emma decided they would go on a snake hunt trying to find this same snake. We looked out the window and McKenna is crawling over the railing onto the cement blocks. Needless to say, the climbing expedition was put to a screeching halt! She is such the dare-devil. The girls, unfortunately, never found a snake! Although, they will tell you they did when no adult was present. Go figure...their imaginations just run wild. Here are a few pictures from the hunt.

"Where should we look first?"

Climbing on the rocks...getting right into the action
Doug "attempting" to help

Brace Yourself & Emma

On Tuesday, McKenna had a consultation appointment at the orthodontist to figure out if we need to take action at this time to correct her teeth/jaw/mouth. We found out that she has two moderate to severe crossbites and an underbite. Therefore, what that all means is get the checkbook ready! Dr. Thompson is going to start her with an expander and a face mask that is to be worn at night to make her top palate wider and then fit her with a few brackets on her front teeth to bring them together. When this six month process is complete, she will have a retainer to wear. At that time, we will be done until the age of twelve or thirteen at which time if she needs full braces we will begin that process. I am not ready to fork this money out yet...Holy Cow!
Then on Wednesday evening, we went to Logansport, IN, to pick up Doug's neice, Emma, who is two months older than McKenna. We brought her home for the rest of the week so the girls can spend some time together. They get along so well and really enjoy each other's company. So this morning we went to the zoo, again! They both loved it, but quite frankly, I am done with the zoo for awhile. It was Bill, the lions, birthday today, much to our surprise. They had lots of activities for kids to do. And for the first time that we have been there this year, Bill and Ina were active and up. Bill had birthday presents full of meat and was tearing into them. It was a pleasant surprise to show up on this particular day! Here are pictures from our trip to the zoo! The highlight was brushing the goats...who knew that goats were soooo interesting!

The girls made lion tails and wore them! Way too cute!

Bill's birthday present!
Emma and McKenna getting away from the bugs.

Emma feeding the giraffee!

The famous picture with the "animals".

In the tree house

The girls brushing the goat!

Welcome Home & New Toy

Welcome Home, McKenna! McKenna has been spending quite a bit of time at her dad's house throughout the summer, but is always very excited to come home, and we are always so excited and happy to have her home. After picking her up, she just kept talking and talking and talking. She said, "I just keep jibber-jabbing." Finally, she said, "Okay, I am done jibber-jabbing. Is there anything that you would like to say?" I was laughing so hard.

She, at times, becomes agitated being at her dad's that we would be doing something special without her being present, so it takes some planning in order to make sure we don't leave her out of anything. She did miss a day of swimming at Autumn Ridge with the whole gang, but I didn't tell her so she wouldn't be upset. Thanks to Marilyn, Felissa, and Shannon for hosting the fun day! It was great to see everyone and can't wait to see you all again soon! (Hopefully, McKenna will be able to attend the next time!)

Doug and I went to the lake for the weekend and had a terrific time. The weather has been perfect for the lake so we spent a lot of time in the water. Thanks to my dad for doing all the cooking this weekend. It was delicious!

Last evening, after picking McKenna up, I promised her we would go and get her school supplies for second grade! She is growing up so fast because I was not allowed to pick anything up off the shelf or pick out colors. She wanted to do it all! I am feeling very on-top-of-it having that done already...this is something unusual. No fighting the crowds at a later date. Yeah for me!!!

After completing the school shopping, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Shook's for dinner and to ride the new toy that they bought for the grandkids. McKenna loved it! It is a battery operated four wheeler. We could hardly get her off the thing to come in and eat. I am sure that we will be back soon to ride it again. Thanks for the purchase, Grandma and Grandpa!

Just getting on the four wheeler. All smiles!

McKenna showing off her skills!
Taking a little break to talk! :-)

Pool & Tincaps

It has been another busy weekend! On Friday afternoon, we spent the afternoon at the pool (which McKenna loves). Nikki and Madelyn came and joined us for the afternoon, so it gave the moms time to lay out while the girls played. It turned out to be a great day, but by no means did it start out that way. The girls spent the entire time in the water and seemed to have a great time! On Saturday, McKenna and I headed to the lake to see Mark, Pam, and the kids before they left to go home to Minnesota. Upon our return home, we went to the Tincaps game with family and friends. This was McKenna's first time to watch a Tincaps game and she loved it. We are really trying to figure out what she liked about it since we are not sure she saw any of the game as she was busy playing with Garrett, Camden, and Madelyn the whole time. We ended up staying for the fireworks, but we needed to move off the lawn in order for them to shoot them off. As we moved, we ran into "Johnny" and Madelyn and McKenna got a picture with him. It was too cute! What a great way to end the evening!

McKenna playing football

Doug and McKenna goofing around in the pool!
Madelyn and McKenna posing

The girls "tubing"

Madelyn and McKenna posing with the Tincaps float

Two good friends

Garrett, Madelyn, and McKenna taking a break for a picture.

Johnny, Madelyn, and McKenna

Waiting for the fireworks to begin

Thanks, Grandma Shook for inviting us! We had a great time!

4th of July Weekend & Zoo

What a busy weekend and week we have had! I apologize for not getting something posted sooner; however, I worked my last week of work and am now ready to enjoy the rest of the summer off! Over the 4th of July weekend, both of my brothers and their families visited from Florida and Minnesota. They have been here all week, and McKenna has loved spending time with Maddie and Chase. We have had such fun! We started out last weekend being at the lake. The girls played in the sand, went tubing, jumped on the trampoline, took boat rides, swam, and much more. On Sunday evening, our family went to the Leo-Cedarville fireworks with some good friends of ours and their daughter. It was fun, but I think that everyone was a little tired from being at the lake and enjoying the lovely weather that we had over the 4th. On Wednesday, McKenna and I went back to the zoo with the whole family. Everyone had a great time until McKenna got a really bad migraine and we had to leave early. It was definitely a hot day! The highlight of the day was feeding the giraffes. Whenever we have been there the line has always been too long to wait, so we finally got our turn. McKenna was a little scared, but loved it by the end! We look forward to returning to the zoo again as it is such a great place to go. We definitely have enjoyed our visit from our family and are sad to see them leave this weekend. We look forward to seeing them again soon! Here are some pictures from the holiday weekend and week!

McKenna and Maddie "tubing"

Maddie and Chase

The girls jumping on the trampoline!!!
McKenna and Grandpa Novak swimming!

Madeline and McKenna at the fireworks

Chase and Allison

Dane and Brittany

McKenna and Maddie loving the tunnel

Maddie feeding the giraffes

McKenna's first time feeding the giraffes! (She was a little scared.)

McKenna and Maddie in the tree house

Old Friends & Swingsets

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet one of my best friends from high school for lunch with her two kiddos. It was so much fun to see Kaylene and her two little boys as we don't get to see each other much since they live in Goshen, IN. They were both very well behaved and so cute. McKenna and I will be making a trip over to Goshen in a couple of weeks to go to a splash park that they have not far from their home. We are looking forward to that visit. Thanks, Kaylene, for driving over to see me!

Grady with a big ol' smile

Easton looking so cute!

Grady and Easton

McKenna has been spending a lot of the summer over at her dad's house, but she was home for a little while on Wednesday evening so I snapped a couple of pictures of her on the neighbors swingset that she loves utilizing. We ended up at Grandma Shook's house mowing that huge yard since Grandpa Harry has been out of town working. McKenna thought she was big stuff driving the riding mower on Grandma's lap. We started at 7:30 and finished about two hours later only to get treated with Dairy Queen after. Thanks Grandma!!!

McKenna on the swing! (love the missing teeth!)