Pictures of the Kids

Last weekend, I had pictures made of the kids for Christmas cards. It's been a year since I had them done, so I figured it was about time. My friend down the street, Adrienne, is a photographer (among many other things). She is an amazing, talented woman. And since I am too lazy to actually post pictures myself (see previous post), you can go to her site to see just a few of them (along with some of her other amazing photos). I have about 90+ pictures to go through and choose from, so I guess I'd better get cracking!

What we've been doing...

I realize it's been a while since I've posted. And it's not that we've been overly busy or that I've had nothing to post. I guess it's I'm just plain lazy. I wish I could find an easier way to post. Maybe if I could click the picture in my mind and think about what I'm to write, then somehow transfer it from my head straight to the computer without all the leg work inbetween the two. Let me know what you come up with.
So here's what we have been up to:
1. Chad's brother got married. Very exciting! After 13 years, we had about lost hope for him. However, in less than a year he found the one! Jeff and Debbie have known each other for awhile. But, after Debbie got divorced last year, the two of them just seem to hit it off. It happened quite fast, but we couldn't be happier for the two of them!
2. Chad's birthday. Yes, that's right. He is officially 38 now. And old man for sure!
3. Christmas decorations. Last year at this time, Chad was in Japan so we never really got to put any up. But this year we talked him into it!
So, there you have it. All the excitement over the past three weeks and much more to come!

Caden is Four Years Old!!!

We had family over for his birthday. For the birthday dinner, Caden requested spaghetti and meatballs. The kids were a mess by the time we finished!

Caden picked a Cars cake for his birthday! He still loves Lightning McQueen!

One of the many presents he got.

My boy is growing up!!!


On November 10, 2005, our power was out from a tornado that had happened on four days previous. I was humongous pregnant and my doctor mercifully helped me out of my misery by admitting me to the hospital for a c-section. A few hours later, my 8 lb. bouncing baby boy was born. I remember hearing his first cry and it was the sweetest sound I had ever heard. I saw his perfectly round head and remember thinking he was the most beautiful baby boy I'd ever seen. A few minutes after he was born, I watched his big sister hold him and his daddy wrap his arms around the both of them. I don't think I'd ever been that happy than at that very moment.
Over the next several months (which seemed like an eternity) we had many ups and downs. Mostly downs, due to the colic, but it was still a precious time, nevertheless. Now he is growing into a boy. He is no longer a baby. Here are a few things that Caden does now:
He RUNS everywhere! He doesn't walk, skip or jump. It is all or nothing with him.
He sings ALL the time. He sings songs from church, songs from the radio, songs he makes up. He sings!
He loves his big sister. He always has. They do have disagreements from time to time, but more times than not, they get along wonderfully!
He is somewhat of a picky eater. Every meal begins with: "I don't like this". And then, he ends up eating every bite. He goes in waves right now, he'll eat like a pig for a few days and then go for a week, eating like a bird.
He is starting to mimic everything his dad does. He likes helping Chad, especially when there are tools involved!
He can name almost every car that goes down the highway. "Look, there's a Toyota Tundra! There is a Ford Mustang! Look, there is a Chevy truck!"
And lastly, he likes anything with an engine. Trains, planes, automobiles, boats, etc. If it goes, he goes with it! That is the true Mattheiss coming out in him!

Jefferson’s 10 Rules – Wisdom to Apply in “Practical Life”

Today, my fourth grade class had a reading assignment that lists ten rules Thomas Jefferson believed were essential for leading a fulfilling life. I don't know where I have been the past 30 something years, but I had never seen these before! I didn't know what I was missing! According to the book they were reading, these were compiled at the request of a father who had named his baby son Thomas Jefferson Smith. They were pared down somewhat from an earlier list Jefferson sent to his granddaughter, Cornelia Jefferson Randolph.

It occurred to me as I saw this list, that this type of accumulated life wisdom – particularly from a mind as sharp and disciplined as Jefferson’s – is something I ought to remember and then share! So, here are Jefferson’s 10 Rules, which he described as a “decalogue of canons for observation in practical life.”

1. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3. Never spend your money before you have it.
4. Never buy what you do not want just because it is cheap.
5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold.
6. We never repent of having eaten too little.
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.
9. Take things always by their smooth handle.
10. When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, then count hundred.

Certainly these words apply as well today as they did in Jefferson’s time – or any other time, for that matter.

Halloween '09

I've never been one of those crafty people who come up with the cutesy costumes. I wish I was, but it just doesn't happen! So, we settled for a Japanese Princess and Spiderman. The kids loved it and that is really all that matters, right?

While my Mom was visiting us this past weekend, she told Caden if he didn't eat that he would shrink. Being the somewhat picky eater that he is and being only three years old, he believed her. I haven't said much about it, but Savannah has really played it up with him. He is convinced if he doesn't eat he will shrink. I guess I won't say any different. I mean, he IS eating....So I decided to try and catch a little of it on the camera. He has never eaten quite like this, though!

A quick trip to French Lick

This weekend, my Mom came to visit us. I was so glad to be able to see her! She told me before she came up here that she wanted to do something different. So, I began looking on the internet for something different! I remembered hearing about some interesting things at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana. At the resort, they have a casino. But we don't gamble. However, the resort is a beautiful place that is loaded with history. We were able to swim and eat at a really neat restaurant. The next day we visited a train depot that is next to the resort. So we were able to take a ride on the train. While on the train, they do a staged robbery. We really enjoyed our time away. It was the perfect time of year to go with all the fall colors. I'm so glad we decided to go!

A cold, rain-shortened pumpkin patch trip!

Our first attempt to go to the pumpkin patch last week was cancelled due to heavy rain. This one, we were bound and determined to make sure happened. While is was cloudy and cold, we were determined to tough it out and go. It was a cold 45 degrees when we left (normal high for this time of year is 69). Once we got there it began to lightly mist and rain. So we skipped the corn maze and the tour of the property and just took a quick hayride to the pumpkin patch! We ate our lunch in the barn with many different types and sizes of pumpkins, gourds and squashes. Just seeing the pumpkins and the tractors and the barn cats made it fun for all the kids. Usually, this is one of my favorite trips to make. Unfortunately, this visit was not one of them. I would, however, like to go back to Goebel Farm. It seemed to be a really neat place!

Various Stuff

We got out all the fall decorations a few weeks ago. Fall is my favorite time of year! I especially love it here in Indiana where the trees actually change colors. While we don't get as many beautiful colors that the people more north do, it is still more than we got in Florida!
Of course one thing that comes with fall is the changing of the wardrobes. As with all children who are growing normally, they need new wardrobes every season just about! Thankfully, Chad has gotten some overtime and the bit of extra money has helped to supply those new clothes!
We are doing good. Settling into a routine now that school is in full swing. We've been dodging the sick bullet. Both kids have had a cold so far, but neither has been worthy of a doctor visit. And for that, we are truly thankful! Hopefully it will keep up. It seems everywhere I read or every news story I see on TV is about sickness! Keep away!
Lastly, and not really that important, I included a picture of a bug. The kids found it outside and I thought it was interesting. So, of course, I took a picture of it. It is a rather cool picture if you click to see the full image. You can see a drop of water on it where the kids were trying to drown it!

Ladies Day Out

Saturday, several ladies from church got together and went to Nashville, Indiana in Brown County. I had never been there before, but have always wanted to go. It is a little early for the leaves to be changing, but I still enjoyed seeing all the amazing shops, inns, fall decorations and such. It would be such a neat place to go back and spend more time there. I'd love to stay at one of the inns and then wander through all the alleys where neat little shops are tucked away. The whole atmosphere was so quaint and 'movie like'.
The picture is me with my friend, our co-Pastor's wife, Debbie. We found these glasses at one of the handbag shops. Long live the 80's! I wish I had taken my camera. There were so many things I would have loved to photograph!

I'm so proud of my Dad!

This deployment for Dad has been especially interesting. It's amazing the technology advances that make keeping in touch so much easier. Mom, Dad, Mark and I all have webcams so we've been able to talk to him on a weekly basis. The kids really enjoy seeing him and it makes me feel good being able to talk to him. He talks to Mom almost every night and I know that makes her feel better.
The last deployment he was in a safer area (Kuwait), but this time he is actually in Iraq and is right in the middle of everything. So I know he is in more danger. Seeing him on the camera makes our relationship much sweeter knowing all the turmoil around him. I love my Dad and hope you will keep him, as well as all the other troops, in your prayers!

I got a new computer! Our other computer was upwards of seven years old, so it was definitely time for a new one! We had upgraded the hard drive about three years ago, but it still was a dinosaur! And so, after much consideration and lots of studying, I decided on buying an iMac. I have never heard anyone say anything negative about Macs. And so I decided to drink the kool-aid and see what all the fuss was about. We got it in on Thursday and then our good friend, Ryan, came over and helped us set it up and gave us good tutorial to get us started. I absolutely LOVE this thing! Can't wait to play around with it and become more familiar with all the features so I can put it to good use!

Just Pictures....

You have to click on this picture to make it bigger. You can see the drops of dew on the web. I found this web in the backyard on Tuesday morning. It had been built overnight. Such a neat picture!


Caden got his haircut this weekend. Chad fixed it just right for church Sunday morning. While he was waiting for us to get ready he was walking around with his hands in his pocket. He looked so grown up so I had to get a picture!

Conversations with Caden

"Mom, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I don't know, Caden. What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking about pennies."

"Really? What about pennies?"

"I am thinking about one penny."

"What about one penny?"

"I swallowed it."

"Why did you swallow a penny, Caden?"

"I don't know, but now my belly hurts!"

Don't you hate it when....

Our brand new, plasma, 50 inch, Samsung TV broke last week. It has been Chad's pride and joy since we got it. And, while I hate to admit it, I've enjoyed it myself. Our old TV broke this summer. Chad never even checked to see if could be fixed, he'd been itching for a new TV for some time.
So the new one went to the shop (thank the Lord for warranties) and the part needed won't be in until next week. But this weekend is the worst time of all for a TV to break. We have a couple of reasons to be upset. For one, this weekend marks the beginning of college football season! I root for Florida State, Chad's team is Notre Dame. I LOVE football season. It is that time of year where on Saturdays, we open all the windows and let the cool air in. We spend all day going in and out of the house and keep the TV blaring to check all the scores.
The second reason that this is a bad weekend is a race comes on Sunday night. Night races are my favorite! Sounds kinds of sad, I guess. But this family loves their sports! While we can still watch them on our little 19 inch TV in our bedroom, it just won't be the same!

On another note, Caden has had a runny nose for the past week. Last night he started running a fever, so I guess we'll be making a trip to the doctor tomorrow. He's been laying in my bed watching TV and he keeps calling to me every five minutes, "Mom! Am I still sick?" The three year old little boy NEVER slows down. So, when he stays in one spot longer than five minutes, you know something is not right.

Space and Rocket Center Field Trip

One good thing about a small school, is you get to do many things that you couldn't normally do with a larger school. Thursday after school, we left for Huntsville, Alabama. We arrived at the Space and Rocket Center and spent the night and the whole day Friday there. There were so many neat things we got to do. Even if you are not interested in space or astronauts, it was a very cool trip. There were a few things we got to do that normal visitors don't get to do. And there are even more things that week long space campers get to do that we didn't get to do. Between the IMAX, exhibits, rides, games, lab activiites and food we had an awesome time!

Savannah's First Day of School

So, the first day of school was successful! Savannah was leary at first and wasn't ready to go back (although, neither was I), but once she (and I) got there, she (and I) were fine. I think she will make an excellent second grader.
We had a brief discussion about making friends and not being bossy. And she told me she had already made up her mind she was going to "cut out all the nonsense" (her words). I told her I hoped she could keep it up for a long time and she said, "Nah, Mom, it'll probably only last a week". Well, at least she is honest.
Notice the spot on her jumper. What would a picture be of Savannah if she didn't have a stain on her clothes? How it happens, I'll never know. Between eating cereal and a banana and then brushing her teeth she somehow manages to get her clothes dirty. Amazing.
She also got 'cool' knee socks that she just had to have a picture of. And then, of course, we had to get a real Savannah pose. I love this girl!

This was my Goochie. Her name was Sarah Louise Hopkins. She would have been 100 years old today! She died in 1999. She was an amazing woman who loved her family and always wanted to help them. She lived with us for several years up to her death. I have some very good memories of her and she is missed!

Things that make me mad

I spent a whole month on three major projects at school. My computer was acting up, so to be on the safe side, I moved everything to a flash drive. However, after my computer was fixed, I never moved those files back to the computer. And now, my flash drive is dead. D. E. A. D. I tried it on four different computers and it doesn't work. Waaaaaa! All that work down the toilet. Back to square one.

Blogging Break

All the grandkids (from left): Brody, Caden, Tabitha, Savannah


Caden and Chad coming in from their ride.


Savannah and Chad on their way out.


The Boys (aka: TROUBLE)


The Girls (one is bossy, the other just follows--can you guess which?)

I have taken an unintended hiatus from my blog. And as I was so sweetly informed by my Aunt Mary Jane, I need to get caught up! I have been SOOO busy at work, I've barely had time to breathe. Since the time we came back from our vacation to Chattanooga, we made some major changes in our school program. We felt these changes were sorely needed as our school was getting to be behind in the times and we needed to bring our kids into the 21st century! And while I have been praying for these changes for at least three years, I wish they would have come about sooner! So that is where I have been. School starts next week, so hopefully things will slow down or fall into routine and I can get back to blogging on a more regular basis.
I'm including some pictures from our last trip to see my cousin, Rick, before he leaves for Iraq. We were able to meet up with my brother and his family while there. The kids were excited to see each other. My Mom came, too and we had a great time swimming and eating (our favorite pastime)!