Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary!

This past Sunday began Jeremy's last year as a tween.  He turned 12 and is growing up.  I plan to do an update on all the boys soon, but for now, here are a few pictures from his birthday.  His menu for the party was hamburgers, baked beans, cheesy potatoes, deviled eggs, slaw and chocolate chip mint ice cream pie.

Brenna helped him open his gifts.

Reading a card

Interested nieces

Miss Felicia, sporting the birthday hat and a gift bag.

Happy 12th Birthday, Jeremy!  

We love you!!

Mom, Dad, Ian and Lucas

And, I really can't believe this, but 8 years ago today, is when Troy and Lindsay tied the knot!  

Happy Anniversary!  

We love you!

Goodbyes are Hard

It's been almost 2 years since Ian got his ECO 2, aka his communication device.  At the time, we were quite frustrated because he had this amazing (and expensive!) device and no one to teach him to use it.  (If you're like us before we learned differently, we assumed that he would be able to use it as soon as he learned where all the words were located.  However, he is learning language just like a toddler learns to speak.  It's quite an arduous task for a 13 year old!) I called Purdue and other places but couldn't find anyone who could help us.  And then we found Courtney!  She is a speech pathologist and is very gifted in her field.  Prentke Romich (the company who makes the device) sent a rep to train Courtney on the ECO and she has gone above and beyond to learn how to use it and how to best motivate Ian.  She has worked with Ian for over a year and he has made tremendous progress in using his device.  I wish I had a video to show how excited he gets when he sees her every Monday morning.   He LOVES her!!  The sad part of this story is that Courtney and her family are moving to PA next week.  We are excited for what God has in store for them but sad for our loss.  Ian will start with a different therapist next week, but there will never be another Miss Courtney.  We have been blessed by her enthusiasm, knowledge, creativity and love for Ian!

Birthday Fun!

We headed to Harmony Springs Farm today (aka known as Mimi and Pa's) for loads of fun and food!  Pa chauffeured Tom and I around the lake while Mimi entertained the boys so we could do some serious fishing. Blessed quiet time!  I caught a few small fish but Tom got the big ones!

Not only did my dad drive us around the lake to the best fishing spots, but he then cleaned them all so we could bring them home and enjoy several delicious fish suppers!

 The 3 largest fish (biggest fish was almost 5 lb!)

 After the serious fishing, we took the boys out and Jeremy caught 5 fish....

 Lucas caught 3....

 and Ian caught 11!

 Everyone got a chance to drive the boat, too!

 Drew and the girls watching the water churning behind the boat.

 When Felicia saw Grammy taking her picture, she squinted her eyes right up in a smile.

 Lucas and Brenna blowing bubbles

 Great great Mamma made a puppy pillow for Felicia and she loved it!

 How many 53 year olds get to share their birthday with their beautiful grandmother?  I am blessed!

 Brenna and Lucas smelling the roses

 My mommy and daddy

 Felicia and Pa

 Brenna and Mimi

 Jeremy (the camera hound) and Mimi

 Jeremy (again!) with Elizabeth

 Drew was throwing Brenna in the air

 Guess who got in the van to go home with us

Thank you Mimi and Pa for a FUN, FUN day!!!!!

WACK 2013

You would think I'd get used to this, but it gets me every year.  I stand in amazement as a bunch of knowledgeable and organized volunteers rush around to fit kids into ski vests, "cages," and modified skis.  Then, they carefully position them into the equipment (Ian requires extra padding since he's so skinny) and lower them into the water.

 He waits with anticipation while the boat gets into position (and of course, he is waving to the crowd on the dock!)

 Then, the boat pulls away and the helpers make sure he's safe until he's "up" and off he goes, with 2 jet skis at his side in case he falls out.  And, I stand there taking pictures through blurry eyes filled with tears.  There are so, so few things that these kids can do that give them the sense of freedom that skiing does and here are all these people, volunteering their time, boats, fuel, sacrificing vacation days, etc just for our kids. 

 Heading out....

 and coming back

Do you think he enjoyed it???  

Posing with Dad 

 Kimberly is a beautiful, sweet girl that we met at Camp WACK 2 years ago and have been blessed to get to know her entire family.  Ian was thrilled to have his picture taken with her and insisted on holding her hand.  

 No only does Ian get to have fun, but the other boys got to go fishing and take part in different activities. Jeremy caught a fish but refused to touch it.  Going to have to work on that!

Lucas found the craft table and made a visor and colored pictures.

I tried to get a picture of Amie Gish, who coordinates and directs Camp WACK (Water Adventure Camp for Kids) but she was always moving and I didn't get a good one.  I know she has a great group of folks who help her throughout the year.  Thank you to all who donate food, money, time, boats, fuel, and so much more to this awesome program!!!  You will probably never know what a blessing it is to so many people who have challenges that most of us can't even imagine coping with.  Many of them can't express their thanks verbally, but I think Ian's smile  and right arm pumping the air says it all!  He LOVES it and is thankful for the opportunity!!  Can't wait for next year!!

Fourth of July

Last Wednesday, the Indiana Humphreys made our way to Memphis to spend a little time with Olivia and Ethan and their parents.  Lindsay did a great blog post here:  http://lindsayandtroy.blogspot.com/2013/07/visitors-for-fourth.html and I won't attempt t upload all those pictures so check it out if you haven't already.  However, here are a few more pictures of the fun!

Felicia and her mommy

Brenna, the fish

 Ian, warming up after a swim

Olivia, looking too grown up!

Drew, getting ready to launch Jeremy

Troy getting ready to make a splash

 Ian loved his boat, especially when powered by Jeremy or Lucas

Sweet Felicia

Poolside Tea Party with Pops

Ethan was clearly unfazed by all the hoopla in the pool

 Drew on the slip and slide

 Pops holding Ethan.....again!

 Handsome little guy

 Best attempt at a picture with the grandchildren

So thankful for these precious little ones!!!

We left Memphis on Friday afternoon and had an eventful trip to Mom-mom and Dad-dad's (slow traffic, lots of rain, wobbly tire, sheered off bolts!)  We ended up spending a couple of  hours in Goodlettsville, TN waiting for someone to come fix it.  Since it was close to crazy Uncle Brian's and since we weren't sure if we were going to get out of there before nightfall, he came to visit and waited to see if we needed a place to stay for the night.  We finally got to Leitchfield very late and headed to Falls of Rough on Saturday morning, where we had a wonderful visit with several family members that we don't get to see very often, ate lots of ice cream (a Humphrey tradition!) and enjoyed the fireworks on the lake.  However, I failed to even get my camera out of the bag, so I don't have any pictures to show for it.  :-(

It was a fun, fun 5 days and today we are trying to get back to the real world and catching up on laundry.