Daddy and His Girl

Callie is wearing her new dress from Grandma Glenna!

Crash!

My Callie girl took a tumble down the steps into the kitchen July 31 on the evening of Cade and Daddy's trip to Six Flags . Momma was so sad. I was getting ready for my Pampered Chef meeting and she turned to quickly when she got up to the landing. I was at the sink, turned and screamed as she bounced down the stesp and landed on her eye just inches from the radiator. It was awful. I used lavender essential oil on it right away, along with some ice, while still participating in my meeting. I continues with the lavender oil every hour during the evening. By morning the bruise was gone. Amazing. 

We still have not found the right system for gates on our steps. The gates are not easy to get over when the steps need to be used and there always seems to be a reason to go upstairs. 

Play Day!

Daddy took Cade to Six Flags Great America for a special day together, while Momma, Joel, and Callie played at home together!

Cade earned a free ticket during the school year by reading six hours. This was his second year to earn the trip, but last year we didn't go. Curtis carved out time from work to go, and even though the day was filled with WAITING, the five coasters they went on were very fun! Cade enjoyed the American Eagle and Superman a lot!

Joel planned out our day at home with lots of fun! We biked to Zearing Park. Joel did awesome! This was his first ride outside of our neighborhood. He was a champ. He loved playing at the park with Callie. He took her down the slide several times and they both giggled! The ride home was tough, but he  fought through it and made it!

Joel also wanted to play Wii. And we went swimming! His favorite things! Callie hung on for the ride with a smile on her face! She is one great sister!

Bike Riding Boy

Joel is off on two wheels!! Curtis has been working with him and he has mastered it with confidence. It took a little work for him to learn how to start but he has gotten better and better at it with each day!

Barker Reunion

We participated on the Barker family reunion on Sunday, July 27. Many of Bev's cousins were in attendance. We shared food pot luck style and enjoyed a little history. 

And here is the newest generation of the Barker line!

She's Moving!

Yes, our Callie is moving forward! She started crawling when we got home from our trip to the Creation Museum. She is having fun moving!

She Won't Stop Smiling!

I just can't get enough of this beauty! 8 months old!

Odell Family Trip To Creation Museum!

We took a fun Odell family trip to the Creation Museum near Cincinnati, OH the week Kim and Chuck and kids came to visit in July. The museum was giving free admission to kids in 2014. We had to go and check it out and save a bit too! 

And to save more we camped! Yes, we took our pop up camper and the Lambert's their tent, and enjoyed some beautiful camping weather!! We cooked a couple meals at the campsite and enjoyed each other. We stayed at Big Bone Lick State Park. We got rain one night but it really wasn't bad at all. The kids enjoyed running, playing, hiking with Pop, s'mores, and being with each other every moment. What memories we have to treasure!

The Creation Museum was fabulous! There were so many things to read, hear, and look at. I enjoyed the Noah's Ark section, as did the boys. There was an interactive "talking" Noah that was really interesting to the kids. We watched a couple movies focusing on God's Creation and our need for a Savior. Pop even treated us to the Planetrium show. Cade said it was his favorite part of the museum. Mommy on the other hand got spit up on by Callie during the show. I think I should say, thrown up on. I had to buy a new shirt at te gift store because the damage was so bad. The garden outside was beautiful. Joel loved the petting zoo. The Zorse and the Zonkey were his favorite. I would enjoy visiting the museum again in another few years to take in more information. The more I learn, it feels like the less I know!

What a great Odell family memory. We are truly blessed to have a Christ centered unity in our family. 

Note: The Creation Museum was having a photo contest with picture of Flat Ken (Ken Hamm from the Creation Museum) to form memories like the story of Flat Stanley. It was fun!

Smile!

 Check out the cucumber Cade found in Grandma and Pop's garden. It made him smile!

Cuteness

I just love these adorable, twinkling, and sparkling eyes! She is one amazing gift. Oh how I pray our relationship grows strong and her heart desires the ways of The Lord, and not the world! I know God can use her in might ways! 

More Birthday Celebrating!

We celebrated with cake for Joel's birthday on July 16th (because Grandma had to take Hake back to Kansas), but on Joel's birthday we took some friends to the Peru movie theater and watched a special daytime showing of The Lego Movie! We got soda and popcorn! What a fun way to celebrate! Plus we went to the park and played and ate at Subway with all our friends! 

Joel got a special gift from his friend Kaylyn. He received a new LaLa Loopsey and a new pair of goggles!  What's special friend!

In the evening we had dinner together and opened the special birthday packages an cards that had arrived in the mail for Joel! He got cards from Aunt Opal, Aunt Cheryl (Tom and Bev's good friend), Melvina (old house neighbor), Aunt Katie, and Everett & Vickie! And he got three birthday packages from Gradma Glenna and Grandpa Bill. It was SO MUCH FUN! He was given two new Schleich brand knights, a magic marble tube set, a new restickable sticker book, and a horse stamping set! What an amazing birthday!

Birthday Boy Joel!

Here is our big five year old! He even got a big boy buzz cut for his birthday!

The 5th Birthday Cake!

IJoel turned 5 years old on July 17th! He has always been my Mr. Sweet Tooth and has always loved having s'mores around the campfire at Pop and Grandma's. Pop planned a campfire the night of his birthday which inspired me to bake him a giant s'more cake for his birthday! And the results were fabulous!! The cake itself is a giant s'more and on top we built a fun campfire with roasting marshmallows! He was just tickled!

Curtis "roasted" the marshmallows to decorate the cake!

The results!

Growing Garden!

Pop and Grandma always have an amazing garden of vegetables. I love how they allow the boys to participate in the garden by harvesting and checking on the food. The boys have learned so much, and momma has too. I am no where near Bev when it comes to planting, harvesting, and storing knowledge, but our family is growing in the taste I vegetables and learning to prepare them for the freezer or canner. What a blessing!

50th Princeton Bible Church Anniversary

Grandma Bev worked VERY HARD to pull off a fantastic 50 year anniversary party for Princeton Bible Church. Grandma had some helpers but it was really her creative mind that brought the day to reality. We had Sunday School breakfast together, extra recognition during the service, potluck fried chicken lunch, a special PBC history jeopardy game, pastoral recognition, fellowship, games, and fun! The kids absolutely loved Mitch's games and made great memories from the day. Cade unfortunately wasn't feeling the greatest during the service, but was able to rest in Curtis' office and still participate in the game time. It was a wonderful time celebrating God's faithfulness to our church family.