Oh my goodness, it's been forever since I did anything on here!!!! So much has happened since I last blogged.

Hannah graduated Jr High and is now a Freshman at Pana High School. Noah is in the 6th grade. They are both doing well in school, both enjoying their classes this fall. Hannah is in the band, playing the flute and piccolo. She is so very good at it and has decided to go out for some kind of Honor Band thing. Noah is also in the band, as a percussionist. He just started last year so he's figuring it all out. Very good, though.

Lyle started a new job yesterday. He is now working for Heart Technologies. They are a company out of Peoria and he works out of the Decatur office. So far, he is quite happy with the move.

On August 20, my grandma Barb Kime passed away from cancer. We found out in July that she had terminal cancer. Didn't take long to spread and cause her kidneys to fail. I miss her so much it hurts. I was so blessed to be able to spend the last 9 days of her life with her in the nursing home. I will always cherish that time I had with her, just the two of us. The video above is the song Hannah and Lyle sang for her at her Memorial Service. She sounds like an angel.

My beautiful kids on Easter, 2009

My brother's family

Nick, Ashley

Tyson, Elly

What a dork. I tried to get a picture of my dear sweet brother and me (ha! ha!) and look what he does!!!!!

My beautiful neice, Elly!!

Frank is chewing on deer antlers here---he looks like a Walrus!!!

Several couples from our church went to see Fireproof this past weekend. I highly recommend everybody see it!!! I loved it. Some cheesey acting at times, but the message was awesome. Go see it!!!!

It's A Boy!!!

This is Frank, the newest addition to the Cutler family!!

More to come later....

Did y'all think I forgot how to blog?!?!?!

No, I haven't forgotten. But life has been so busy!!!! Here's some pictures from here and there. And I'm still not done. Will try to finish up later on. I have a date with a masseuse today!! :)

The kids and I went to the State Fair again this summer. The great Old West picture of the kids was at the top. I love that! Hannah was embarrassed to wear that get-up, but I thought she looked good. Noah just loved holding a gun!!

Aaaahhhhhhh!!!!! Had to get a shot of this--the kids SHARING!!!!!

Below, Noah was freaking out because the cheese on the fries was spicy!!

We had corn dogs for lunch....and dinner!!! The kids had cheesy dogs for dinner though.
Noah bought this gun with his money from Grandma Pat. He loved it. Now, click on the picture so you can see Hannah's expression up close. It's hilarious!!!!!

Here's my lemon head!!! We had so many shake-ups that day. Lemon, Peach, Strawberry...Yummy!!!!

The pirate diving show

It's funny how this cat can go from Regal looking to.....SOOOOO FAT!!!!

THCC VBS 2008

Swimming party for THCC at Shelbyville Aquatic Center

I'll have more pictures on thccpics.blogspot.com soon.
Noah and his friend, Aaron

Tyson
Hannah going off the slide into the water

Ashley and Elly

The fender bender after the swim party!!! A car ran into the car behind us at the park. IN MY MOM AND DAD'S VEHICLE!!!!! Grrrrrrr!!!!!

Grandma Barb's birthday party

Melvin Greer, RPh--Happy 70th Birthday and Happy Retirement!!

Noah's portrait of Jinx

Hannah and her friend, Allison Jones
Noah went to camp again--for soccer this time

Noah taking self-portraits
Lunch at Tres Compadres with church family

Lyle and Mark working on the railing
Not done yet, but getting there!!!
Hannah's slumber party at the church

Ashley, Lucy, Sydney, Hannah, Kelsey, Taylor and Mollie

Awesome LOTR cake Jessi Cook made for Hannah--the Ring!!!

I'll try to do better. Sorry I was so blog-neglectful!!!! Check back soon for more!!

We had Hannah's family birthday party on Sunday July 6th at Grandma and Grandpa Vincent's home. She's such a fortunate girl---she had 4 grandmas and 5 grandpas there!! Along with aunts, uncles and cousins.

This is the Ipod cake Jessi Cook made for her. Isn't it awesome?!?!?! It matches Hannah's green Ipod!! :)

This is Hannah reading the letter Lyle wrote to her. See down a few posts for a copy of the letter.


Daddy placing the ring on her finger.

Hannah and her lovely cousins, Elly and Erin


Noah, a.k.a. Joe Cool, Elly, Hannah, Erin and Grandpa Kime

My neices, Elly and Erin

Miss El

My other kid, Taylor

My nephew, Mason

Me and my man

My mama

Poor Elly--this was her favorite dress and she got nail polish on the sleeves so mom cut the sleeves off, made a sleeveless dress. She wanted the sleeves on!!!

Visit with the other Cutlers on Grandma Linda's birthday

Lyle--he slipped on his boots to go out and play ball with the kids. How silly he is!! :)

Mason Alexander!

Mason and Erin in our tree

Hannah in Daddy's hat

These are the invitations Hannah and I made for her slumber party.

4th of July Celebration

We went to the Pana 4th of July fireworks this year...as usual. Lucy went with us this year.

Lyle and me!!

Hannah and Lucy!

Lyle's Love Letter to Hannah

As you have read previously, Hannah turned 13 last weekend. Now that she has been getting "boy crazy", we decided it was time for the RING. The purity ring from her daddy. We didn't get her the typical purity ring because they were all cheesy looking. We found her one that she would love to wear until she's a woman. Pictures will come later, as Lyle will be giving it to her today at her party. But I wanted to share the letter he wrote to her to go with the ring. I thought he did an awesome job.



Hannah,

Well, you’re thirteen. And things are starting to change. My little girl is turning into a young woman; whether I want this to happen or not. The adolescent thoughts of your youth have given over to make-up, hair dryers, music and, gulp, boys. It is very humorous to think that my own gender has become my enemy. Now, you and boys and the mixing of you and boys are constantly on my heart.

I have a question slash request slash deal to ask of you. That question will come later; let’s build the suspense first.

God gave you to me. You are a gift. You are special and have value. There is no one else on this earth like you. Psalms says “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” God had you on His mind when He made you.

God has laid a wonderful and fearful task on me. I am to raise, protect, nourish, educate, correct and love……you. You have been given to me, for a short time, as a gift. You are a gift to cherish. And because I cherish you, I am weary of lending that gift to anyone else; including “the boys.” Unfortunately I know that I will someday be forced to release my gift to another man.

For now, you are mine. For now I refuse to share you with anyone else. For now I want to be the only man in your life. Our God is a selfish God. He wants us to want none other than Him. I feel the same about you. I want you to know that until you are married, I will not share you and I ask that you not lend yourself to another until that time. I am asking for purity.

Purity is a big word and means quite a bit. Purity is a righteous heart that is blameless before God. Purity is a clear conscience knowing of one’s fate. Purity is also not allowing your body to fall into sin. This purity entails not giving yourself to another man until you are married. God demands this purity as do I. God has given a special bond to men and women that is not to be shared until marriage.

Now for the question slash request slash deal:

I promise to love you unconditionally. I promise to be a constant in your life that will never leave you. I promise to be the example of the man you will choose to live the rest of your life with. Will you promise to stay true to God and myself, and save yourself for marriage? That’s the deal. I will stay true to you, you stay true to me. God promises never to leave us; I make the same promise to you. Save yourself and make a pure gift to your husband to be. That is my request.

Finally, I love you. In all its simplest form, I love you. No games or tricks. You need to do nothing to have my love. It is yours.


With all my heart,

Hannah's Birthday evening

Saturday was Hannah's 13th Birthday. I didn't get to see her much, as I had to work from 8:30 to 3 and by the time I got home, she and Lyle had already left for their concert. Lyle took Hannah to see Pillar, her favorite band!!! How cool was it that they were in Lincoln on her birthday?!?!?! Anyway, they had an awesome time together, came home deaf from the noise!!!!

While they were gone, Noah, Brock, Taylor and I went to see Wall-E. It was cute. Brock and Taylor spent the night so we had a little birthday party when Hannah got home.

Here's Hannah and her Daddy!!
Brock and Taylor Mammen with Hannah and Noah---I love all these kids like crazy!!!!

Hannah and best friend, Taylor
This was Hannah when they got home. She'd slept most of the way home (they got home around 10:30)
Taylor bought Hannah a card and duck-taped the envelope!!!

Hannah loves Shel Silverstein books so we got her a bunch of them for her birthday, as well as an Ann Frank movie she loves and another movie she loves--A Walk To Remember (family edited!!)

I had written Happy Birthday Hannah on her bathroom mirror with soap the night before so she'd see it first thing. (I think it's still there!)
I had put these signs all over the house for when she got up Saturday morning. They were on the TV, door, windows, in the fridge, in cabinets....everywhere! Saturday night, Taylor and I put them all on the porch so she'd see them when she got home.
Noah and his buddy, Brock---being cheezy!
Me and Miss Taylor
Me, acting like Hannah. No---she doesn't roll her eyes!! She looks at the ceiling!!!!

Happy

13th

Birthday

Hannah!!!!

Bond Camp '08

Noah got home from camp Fridiay night and Hannah and Taylor left for camp Sunday. This is all after Lyle being there the week before Noah. June is Bond-filled every year!!!

This is Hannah's 5th year going (last year for Jr High Camp!) and she took her bestest friend Taylor with her this year. They were so excited about going. I mean, they were counting down days, hours, minutes...everything!

Here's Taylor, Hannah and Katlynn. Hannah met Katlynn 3 years ago at camp and they've been wonderful friends ever since. She lives in Granite City. Hannah's been down there for a night, Katlynn has spent the weekend with us, and they've burned up many hours on the computer!!

Here's cheesy Taylor and Dont-Take-My-Picture-Hannah

Taylor--isn't she cute?!?!

Katlynn

Getting the bunks ready. Taylor put a sheet up to make her bunk like a tent!!

Taylor's mom, Allison, bought the girls matching blankets and pillows. Looks great!!

The girls dorm
The Canteen
Chapel
Boys Dorm
Part of the lake. I didn't get an oppurtunity to get a good shot


On the way to camp--high on excitement....and sugar!!




Noah got home from camp Friday night and surprised us with this--he got Camper of the Week!!!! I was soooooo excited for him!!! He got this plaque, a cross necklace and a t-shirt.

The "sisters" here!! We went shopping a few weeks ago and they both HAD to have these dresses!!

On a sad note, Taylor will be moving to Florida next month. Pretty much all of you know about Taylor's dad having a stroke last month, then their home being lost to a fire, just 4 days later. Allison has found a job in Florida so they'll be moving the family there. Please pray with me for their family, for the decisions they make and that Taylor will continue to seek Christ as she has here and be a light to those around her. We will miss that family sooo much!!!!

Women of Faith 2008

I am dead tired, have spent over an hour doing pictures and putting them on the church blog. If you are interested in seeing our pics from Women of Faith this past weekend, check out the church blog. I'll get them on here soon. It's almost 1 am and I need to get to bed!! :-)

http://thccpics.blogspot.com/

We had an awesome time! I am still tired from it all, then getting Noah off to camp (after getting Lyle home from camp!) Now we get through the week and send Hannah to camp! What a busy June.

Sunday School Luncheon at Joseph and Ini's

We had a luncheon at Joseph and Ini's home on Sunday after church for our Sunday School class. I am too lazy to put all the pics on here, after I just put them on the church blog. So go to

http://thccpics.blogspot.com/

to see pictures from the day. And take a look at the whole blog if you haven't before. It's still a work in progress. Watch the video at the very bottom. It's truly awesome!!!

Trip to Terre Haute

Tuesday morning, we left for a 2 day trip to Terre Haute, Indiana. Just the three of us. Thought I could do it. Well....we probably should have stayed home! I mean, we had a good time! Really. However, my car is still in Indiana--due to be towed today!! Down a little further, you'll see the car and the scene of the "crime".

Anyway, here's our trip. We first stopped in Dobbs Park at the Native American Museum and the Nature Center. Terre Haute has some beautiful parks!!! I wish it hadn't been raining off an on. We could have done so much more.

Sibling love!!! Can't you just FEEL it??!?!?!
Noah was nose to nose with this stuffed bobcat (he was behind glass!) I love this picture

This was freaking cool. I got to see a Copperhead snake eat a mouse!!!!
Noah started chasing ducks and geese into the pond. It was hilarious!!!!
Hannah and mom at Taco Bell
See the back tire, where it's supposed to straight up and down but it's a little crooked?? I realize in these pictures, it doesn't look bad at all. Believe me, it's much worse looking at the actual car. It's especially worse, thinking my son was right there.

This is the intersection where it happened. I took these pictures the next day (from the rental car) The stop light on the left (center) was not working at the time of the accident. They must have fixed it afterwards. Hmmmmm.....
The curb on the left is where I ended up, after being hit and spun around. Almost hit a light pole!


After an ambulance ride to the hospital, we had a much needed swim in the pool and soak in the whirlpool. I seriously think this helped us all a lot.
Hannah doing a handstand
Noah found the exercise room!Ugh, look how terrible I look! I'd cried all my make up off, had my hair swept around by wind, stress through my entire body....I needed the whirlpool!!!!

Thank goodness, we took the laptop. Little did we know how much we'd need it later on (looking into rentals, different route home, etc.) Plus, Noah is addicted. Um...and I am too!! Myspace, man!
Hannah in bed--wanting us to shut up so she could go to sleep!
Noah the next morning. He wanted to sleep but Hannah wanted to go swimming again!
Just two blocks from our hotel was the Clabber Girl Museum. This place was so awesome! The kids really enjoyed it. Oh, and it had the cool spinny door in the front!!! The kids LOVE that!
I had one of Noah in the boy spot, Hannah in the girl spot...but I thought this was cuter!! :)

Noah and me being silly at Wendys
Oh my gosh, she CAN be happy!!!!
My Monkeys!!!!

We went to the C.A.N.D.L.E.S. Museum, a Holocaust Museum. The lady that runs this, Eva Kor Mozes, came to Pana a few months ago and Hannah bought her book and had her sign it. We got to see Eva too!
Children of
Auschwitz
Nazi
Deadly
Lab
Experiments
Survivors

Trip to the City Museum in St Louis with the Jr High Band

I'm on vacation this week!!!! Monday was Hannah's trip to the City Museum in St Louis with the Jr High Band so since I was off, I decided to chaperone. Hannah wanted me there, but she didn't want me to do ANYTHING. I wasn't supposed to talk to anyone, make any faces, movement....you get it. I embarrassed her ALLLLL day long! But hey, her friends think I'm totally cool! Or whatever it is these kids say now. Anyway, we had a fun day!

Here's Allison, Ashley and Hannah in a little car at the museum

The girls were getting this thing to turn. It was fo funny to watch!

Hannah and mommy!

Got to see a turtle lay eggs. That was really awesome.

This is Hannah being mad at me...
There was a huge room of skateboard ramps and such for the kids to slide on. It was really neat.
Hannah and Allison "waltzing" in the ballroom!
This is Roger and Allison. We spent our entire day together. Super nice people!!
I told the girls to pick out the ugliest dresses so I could take a picture!! They did well!

Look in that tube, close to the tree---see that person climbing inside that thing?!?!? Crazy!
This is Mr Dean, the band director

And here are some pictures I stole from Nick--his football days being relived. He loves it.

Highly Recommended!

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to read! My boss lent me a book to read, thought I'd enjoy it. Boy, did I ever! I started it at lunch Tuesday, then picked it back up after the kids went to bed that night. I didn't really put it down until almost 1:00 this morning, as I finished it!! This was an awesome book--the story of what these families went through and the testimony of their love for Jesus Christ and their dependence on their God and Savior. I highly recommend you read this. * * * *

Great Kids!

The Pana School System does something each month called Kindness Kounts. There are a few kids from each grade (K-8th grade I think) awarded for being....kind! Neither of my kids have ever received this award and here, they both got it for April!!!!

Then Hannah got an award for Band, for being the Most Improved in 7th Grade. Mr. Dean commented to us at the Band Concert how hard she has worked this year. We are so proud of her and how beautifully she plays!!

Busy Friday through Monday

Last Friday was the kids' last actual day of school. They went today for report cards, but I had to get a pic of them on the last day!! Don't they look "thrilled"!?!?!?!
Elly stayed all night with us Friday night. We bought some fireworks and did that after it got dark. Elly loved throwing the sparklers on the ground!
Noah with some kind of fire hazard!!
Elly had a blast!
Noah trying to light brush on fire!! Ugh!
Monday we had a cookout at mom and dad's house.
Here's Nick, Ashley, Gma Olive, Gma Barb, Gpa Kim
Tyson and Noah outside "eating". Ha! More like wasting time and making look like they were eating! They wanted to go fishin'!

First Day of School--August 21, 2007

Last Day of School--May 23, 2008