Haircut for Paige ...

Paige has been begging me to cut off her blonde locks for quite sometime. Daddy, however, has been begging me not to. With her starting kindergarten next Monday - I decided to go ahead with it. I took a picture of her before the haircut for Daddy to hang on to!

As I was cutting Paige's hair - it became clear how much older she was going to look! Hard to believe my "baby" is growing up so quickly!!

Then ... I got to the front of her head and realized that there's a bit of baby in her still ... seems she got tired of her waiting on me to cut her hair and she attempted to do it herself sometime recently. Notice the "I'm busted" look on her face!! (Look closely at her bangs that she never had before!).

Overall - the end product was pretty cute! We took off 3-4 inches. Daddy is dealing with it ... Lots of hugs and kisses from his Little Princess helped!

Chase's Choice!

Mike had to work Thursday (Chase's birthday) so Saturday was his day. He requested the Pampered Chef Taco Ring for dinner and a Lemon-Lime Fizz drink that has quickly became his favorite. Kayleigh made him an awesome cake from scratch - icing and all! We had a fun night as a family and just kept eating!!

Happy Birthday Chase!

Chase turns 10 years old today, at 12:25pm to be precise! What a day that was for all of us. Grandma and Grandpa Casto made the drive to Bloomington for your birth - we were so glad they were there!

Chase was determined to be born that day regardless of the planned c-section! I woke up that morning and went into labor before we even left for the hospital. Created quite the stir when we got to the hospital considering I HAD to have a c-section! Little did we know that was just the beginning of the day's chaos.

After all 9 pounds 6 ounces of Chase was delivered via c-section things got pretty ugly for a while. I remember being in the recovery room and Mike being with me. Then all the nurses scurrying around, Mike being pushed out of the room, and then rushing me back into surgery. At one point, after losing several pints of blood, the nurse went out to tell Mike and my parents I was bleeding bad and they weren't able to stop it - the outcome was looking very grim. Fortunately, by the power of God, they were wrong.

I don't remember anything after recovery until the next day when I was told what happened. Mike looked at me with tears in his eyes saying I scared them all and I was never to do that again. He was terrified of losing me and being a single father of 3.

I spent the next week in the hospital and have enjoyed every minute of watching Chase grow up! He's struggled with more medical problems than any child should have to endure, yet is always smiling from ear-to-ear!

Chase - you bring so much joy to our lives! We're so very proud of how far you've come and we know that you will continue to reach for the stars!

We love you Buddy!

Mom and Dad

Visit From Jim, Jenni, Juli, & Jake!

(L to R: Paige, Juli, Chase, and Jake)

We had a great weekend with old friends! Jim and Jenni came down from Ohio to scout out the area for an upcoming move. I am sooooo excited for them! I have known Jenni for over 30 years and we've always stayed in touch - it will be so nice to have a true old friend here with us in North Carolina!

Our kids all enjoyed each other, we had a great time catching up and enjoying the gorgeous weather. Jim and Jenni explored the city yesterday while I took the kids to the park and the back here to play on the slip & slide.

They'll have a good handful more trips this way as Jim has interviews and they come to house hunt. I can't wait for the next visit!

Here's a few candids we got while they were here.

See you again soon J&J!

Jake reading TO Chase!

Jenni reading Paige and Juli their bedtime Bible Story

Saying Goodbye . . .

Update: Baby Elaina

Baby Elaina is not doing well. Her health is failing still and hospice/palliative care has been presented to her Mother and family. It truly lies in the hands of our Lord. Please visit her blog and leave her encouraging words of support by CLICKING HERE.

Our Drama Queen!

AMTC is a Christian based talent company that came to Greensboro over the weekend seeking people for modeling as well as acting for advertisers. It's a company that we researched and is very reputable. The "AMTC is a company embracing Christian values in an industry plagued with scandal. Yet, it is also an industry of beauty, truth, and art."

Paige has always LOVED the camera - so we figured why not try it. We received word this morning that they want more from her! She's now practicing a line for a Twizzler's commercial and we have to video tape her doing a skit that she can create on her own. She's had fun all day saying her lines and posing for more pictures! The video is a quick take of her saying her lines from memory (well.. it has to be from memory because she can't read yet!).

She's well aware she may not make it any further, but she sure is having fun in the process and we're going to let her enjoy the ride as far as it will take her!

Pampered Chef Party!!

I used to love doing Pampered Chef shows! Haven't done it in years, and decided to host a party to gear up for the fall, and upcoming holidays! So - join me August 14th at 7pm. We'll be learning how to make a few appetizers and fun beverages (non-alcoholic of course!) and spending some time with the gals! You can email me by clicking "Email Michelle" to the left sidebar.

If you can't come, but would still like to order some products you can do so by visiting Deidre Smallwood's Pampered Chef website and entering my name (Michelle Lyons) as your host.

Hope to see you soon!

Photoshoot!!!

Kayleigh, Chase, and Paige got bored this afternoon and decided to do their own photo-shoot - with Chase as the photographer. I was shocked at how fun and good these pictures are!! Not bad for a 9 year old photographer!! Enjoy! I know I did!





The following 3 pictures are others he took that I thought were really good! He took them from odd angles. The first is our backyard from the ground level (yes we need our grass cut!). The second is our trampoline. The last is a tree - looking upwards.

Vacation to Canaan Valley 2008

We had a great time in Canaan Valley, WV - the heart of the Monongahela National Forest. This slideshow should sum it all up! There's also pictures on our Photobucket Shared Files that didn't make the slideshow.

We look forward to the next vacation with the Taylor-Schroeders!! Thanks for the great memories friends!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Kayleigh Turns 14

Saturday was Kayleigh's 14th Birthday. We were traveling home from vacation that day so we didn't get to do a whole lot. She did pick where we ate at along the way - a Shoney's in Bluefield, WV. After we got home we went and got her a chocolate-chip cookie cake (her favorite!) and ice-cream. All-in-all we had a good day and we were sure to repeatedly sing her Happy Birthday!!

She goes with Mike later this week to pick out her first cell-phone. She's super excited to have her own finally!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! We love you!

Awesome Adventures!

White Water Rafting was AWESOME!!! More later with pictures - but wanted everyone to know that Mike and I took the boys today and we had a blast!!! I think we've may have found a new hobby!!!

Tomorrow's our last day of vacation in the mountains. Weather permitting - we're supposed to go climbing at Seneca Rocks. Do the "no rain dance" with us!! We were supposed to go yesterday but it poured all day!!

More later . . .

Never a Dull Moment!

Not even on vacation do we get a break from medical bills!! Devin bought a new pocket knife at Blackwater Falls on Monday. On Tuesday he was playing with it on the bed in his hand and it snapped open unexpectedly - slicing his pinky finger on his left hand wide open at the knuckle. We knew when we saw a pearly white tendon that it needed stitched!

The problem - where was the nearest emergency room or urgent care!!!??? Took us about 20 minutes to figure out where to go - in the meantime he fainted FOUR times!! We had to drive 45 minutes to Tucker Community Emergency Clinic (smaller than an urgent care, but very equipped). They were very nice and took him right back.

Four stitches later - we were set to go. He still gets to go rafting Thursday afternoon - with a splinted finger wrapped securely in plastic! He's not letting a stitched up finger stop him he said!

V - A - C - A - T - I - O - N ! ! !

By this time tomorrow - we'll be on VACATION!!!

We'll leave early and meet up with very good friend's of ours in Canaan Valley, WV. We've rented a huge cabin/house in Timberline Ski Resort where we can enjoy a week of white water rafting, ziplining, hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and more! Their kids are the same ages as our kids - and we've been friends for years! I can't wait! The ticker in the top right of our blog has been counting down the minutes fora while now!

I'll try to post at least once while we're away . . . providing we're not exhausted at the end of each day!

Devin's Turn!

Yep - you guessed it. That's Devin at Baptist Hospital this morning! Tuesday afternoon he had some sort of seizure like activity. He remembers feeling "funny", getting up to get a drink of water, then he was on the floor. No one is real sure what happened because he was at teh neighbors house babysitting for a 2 year old and a 5 year old. He suffered from a subictal state (wooziness and confusion post seizure) for about 2-3 hours and was left with quite the knot on the side of his head - presumably where he hit his head on the counter going down.

So - we spent the morning today at Baptist Hospital where he underwent an EEG. His doctor said if the EEG was normal that we'd let it go as a one-time thing and monitor him. But - if it showed any abnormality she'd schedule him with Neurology. Well, he had difficulty with the deep breathing - they make you take deep fast breaths in/out for 3 minutes straight! He also struggled through the strobe lights. By the time it was over he was a bit dizzy, but otherwise OK. We weren't out of Baptist an hour and the phone rang . . . sure enough we're off to neurology.

His neurology appointment is currently scheduled for October 30th at Baptist. He's on the top of the cancellation list because he's a minor - so if an appointment opens sooner he'll take that one. Until then . . . we wait . . . and pray!


Through it all - he's still smiling. We had to buzz his head last night - his gorgeous hair is now gone! I have to admit I was somewhat sad! Today he even let me take a picture of him with all the wires attached to his head! Although I'm not sure he'll be too happy that I put it on the website for all to see!

Happy Birthday Grandma McMahon

Today would have been Grandma McMahon's 79th Birthday.

I was going through pictures not long ago and found one of the kids sitting with you and "Pap-Pap" in Mom's living room - seems like it was just taken yesterday. You left us so unexpectedly. I will hear the phone ring and expect your voice on the other end at times. I should be calling you to say "Happy Birthday Grandma". We'll say prayers to you instead so the Angels can deliver our love.

Always,

"Shell"

Introducing Jason and Megan Lyons!!!

Mike's brother, Jason, got married June 21 at a Bed & Breakfast just outside of Columbus, OH. The wedding reception was held this past weekend in Payne, OH. We were able to spend both of these weekends with Jason and Megan, and our family. These are some pictures of the two weekends put together.

Congratulations Jason and Megan!

Oops - had to come back in and add this picture that didn't make it on the slideshow. It's one of my favorites!

Ethan, Tricia, Devin, and Zachary

River with the Reinharts

While back home this weekend - we did get a few minutes of R&R after the long drive. Saturday afternoon we made a quick trip out to the river to see Grandma & Grandpa Reinharts new cottage. Thought we were going to get rained out for a while - but the weather held off and it ended up being quite beatiful. Chase especially enjoyed sitting out on the end of the dock - itching to just jump in!

We look forward to going back for a real visit to spend a day boating with them our next visit!

Grandpa Chris, Kayleigh, and Devin

Biker Girl!

Boy are we gonna have our hands full with Paige! Not only does she love rocks, mud, creeks, frogs, turtles, and snakes - but now she loves Harleys!!

Grandpa Chris has a fairly new Harley Davidson that she was itching to get up on while we were home this past weekend. Finally - before we left Sunday - she got to do it! She wanted to ride - but Grandpa didn't have a helmet her size so Mean Ol' Mommy said nope! So - until next time - sitting up there will have to do!