a *short* story about friends

Ethan and I spent the day with our good buddies Lori and Grant today. Thankfully Lori and I didn't spend much time arguing over which dress up costume we were going to wear or hitting the other in the stomach with stuffed animals {Ethan!!} or taking guns from each other or eating too many snacks {um, wait, we may have done that one...maybe}.
It was fun. The end.

Allan and Jessica are really good at having parties.

and making corn on the cob
and shadow puppets
and jokes
and being fun

isn't it fun to have our own little inside joke guys??

Ethan and Grant

I was going to include a few of these pictures in my last post but they are all so sweet, that they deserve to all be shown here in their very own post. Ethan had a play date at his friend Grant's house today. They had so much fun!
Unwrapping this gift of little friendships today for Chatting at the Sky's Tuesdays Unwrapped.

This is the post that never ends....

...it just goes on and on my friend. Some people started reading it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue reading it forever just because....This is the post that never ends, it just goes on and on...{you get the idea}

Twin Spidermen. One putting the choke hold on the other...although I think Ethan was having trouble breathing on his own in that mask. : )

Don't they look strong?

All packed for camp, waiting for Dad to get home, so they can leave. I heard from Doug today that they are having the time of their lives!!

The pictures below are not from camp, but rather from a day out with friends.

We did some outdoor fun stuff with our buddies. Swimming and fishing and playing. It was fun, and much needed rest from "sibling only" playing.

Jack and Russ sporting their new collars. Working like a charm, by the way!

Some pics from Mega Sports Camp. Ethan as a superhero, and the big kids looking...well, BIG! Speaking of big, we bought some school tennies the other day, and Avery has caught up with Owen in shoe size and Erin had to get size NINE! Like ADULT NINE! When did I miss her turning into a young lady? Tweeners don't wear nines. I am in denial.

and they're always glad you came...

we had the best time tonight at the in laws. when you read this, please know that we are blessed to have you as grandparents/aunts and uncles for the kids. lots of love.

**plus i always get to see my friend lori while i am there too!

Craft night, no boys allowed...

I had to miss the most recent monthly "girls only/no boys/by girls we mean moms only" craft night. I just saw the post on Beth's blog with the pictures, and so I wanted to:
1. Complain that I missed it. It looks like they had a great time, and I love friends.
2. Say that you should click HERE and see what they made. They are all so pretty! The crafts are cute too! :)

Craft Pictures/Girls Night :: Part One

Angie's finished project. {gag, whose gross stove is that?}

Corrie's finished project. I love love love the colors!

Lori's finished project. Great idea with the clips!! I promptly stole one for my board. {lori...you left without me giving you your scissors and bag of fabric!}

Marlene's finished project. Blue and Pink and soooo cute. It says "look what I made." The photo isn't that great, trust me, it was cute!!

Thanks so much for coming out girls. I really had a fun time! Head on to the next post for more pictures...and Beth and Linda, send me a picture of your projects, the ones that I took didn't come out.

Craft Pictures :: Part Two

This is my project, maybe a cute black and white picture clipped on there??

Linda, Beth and Avery {who, from the looks of her, is high on Mod Podge}

Linda, Beth, Corrie {I seriously hope that I didn't spell your name wrong}

Angie, Lori and Marlene

April Craft Night Details....

Hello Ladies! It's time to get together for this month's make and take. {yet another project that our husbands don't understand} I talked to Beth and we decided that if you have a fun craft that you want to share or something new you'd like to try together then you can host the party at your place. You'll only be responsible for making sure everyone has a "materials needed" list, choosing a date and sharing what the project will be. This month we will make a cute display sign, similar to this one found on Tuesdays With Molly. Read through her directions to see how easy this is. Hers is girly, but would easily be so cute for a boy with different papers/paint colors.
Good news is that I may have the kinks worked out by the 24th. My board is skinnier than hers but still super cute.


Details...

Friday, April 24th at 6 pm {we will start without you, but you can still come late}
Jen Adkins House
Bring a friend!
Materials needed:

1. scrapbook paper(s) of your choice
2. embellishments of your choice
3. 24" of ribbon
4. paint (We'll have pink, turquoise, brown, blue, orange, green, black and red to share)
5. Chipboard letters (I have some purple, red and sparkly silver to share, but you run the risk of not getting the letters you want)

Questions????? Email me.
This should easily be an under $5 project, unless you go crazy with the embellishments. I'll have the wood, clothes pins and mod podge {both plain and glitter} that we will need. If you really want to bring a specific piece of wood or you don't want to get my mod podge germs...you can bring your own. But I am happy to share ;) Beth said that Meijer has thin wood letters, and Joann or Walmart has the chipboard kind. Again, we could share these if only a couple people bought a package to bring. If you are bringing letters, let me know. The wood that I have to use is about the size of a ruler, but longer. My letters hang off the top and bottom.

Hope you can come...and did I mention that you should bring a friend??
See you then,
*Jen*

*****If you didn't get this letter in an email from me, then I don't have your email address. Please send it to me, or leave it in the comments. I won't publish the comment, but I'll have your address. Thanks.

Deer Creek

super fun

I have found that I am using the word "super" a lot lately. Super fun, super cool, super strong, super awesome, you get it. That being said, I went to a super fun girls craft night yesterday. We made Nester style fabric garlands. I would post a picture but my girl went to grandma's tonight to spend the night and took her camera with her. We had a lot of fun cutting and tieing and chatting and laughing and crooning over each others choices in fabric and ribbon and embellishments. I didn't make it home until 10:15 and I was sleepy, but it was well worth it! Beth, thanks for putting the effort into making it happen. Lori, Kristin, Linda, Beth...thanks for being my friends, I am blessed to know each of you. Can't wait until next month!

Shameless Plug

Please allow me yet another shameless plug for yet another talented friend. Check out Storybook Photography and my dear friend Kara.

County Line Junction

For those of you who visit this blog, and also happen to be country music fans...today is your lucky day! County Line Junction is releasing their first CD on August 24th! Check out their MySpace page here. You can hear a sampling of their work when you visit them online. Support them and get your copy soon!!

Me with the boys.

Just a cute shot of Ethan and me with Baby Daniel.

Baby Cake

Okay, in truth it is Baby Kate, but Ethan has been calling her Baby Cake...

Let me just say that the newest little Schwamburger is so sweet. Doug, Ethan and I went to see her today. I forgot my camera like a goon, so you'll just have to take my word for it. She is 8 pounds and 5 ounces of...well..the cutest baby "cake" you could imagine. Her tiny cries and little noggin were almost more than we could take :) We love her already. Heather-if you are reading this-looked great. Like a new mama! There is nothing like the brandnew-ness of a baby to make you realize just how good God is. I suggest that you check their blog in a week or so for lots of great pictures. When we drag our kids over to see her, we'll be sure to take the camera then, too.