Too long

This was when Richard was here a few weekends ago. Bia did her typical (when there are guys around) of clinging to him. She also loves Yancy but wouldn't even look at him with Richard around! It was great to have him two weekends in a row. Brought back memories!!

This was Ethan's first day of school. He looked so cute in his outfit and bookbag. He got frustrated with me when I kept telling him the do's and don'ts!! He finally said, "I know, Mama!"

It looks like Austin took the batt to use on someone!! He didn't. It was Jetta's day for softball. He was carrying it for her. Such a true gentleman!!

Don't know if you can see it really well or not. But, the look on Jetta's face was one I found really dear. She is such a little mother to her siblings.

Waving good-bye before they rounded the bed. As you can see...Reagan could care less about waving to his mother. It's all I can do to get a kiss out of him before he heads out the door!

The front of our new post! Center Union God's Missionary Church.

The new Pastor and family. Aren't they just beautiful?!!! I love them all SO much. I've been blessed with a wonderful family. Now on to the blabbing part. Yes, I should have mixed the pictures in the blabbing part but I didn't so just keep quiet about it!!

Ok...so it's been years since I've been on here. My most humble appologies! It's like this...
We've had major issues with phone lines and are now going on a week without a house phone. Thank the Lord my dad is coming on Monday and he'll get'er done!! And to top it off, my cell phone has been throwing fits, too. Gracious!!! Maybe our house needs sanctified. Anyway I've come over to school in a fit of desperation to get pictures and news on here as I know I'll soon be getting hammered by people if I don't post. I've got eyes everywhere in my life!!

I feel horrible about not being able to post earlier about our first Sunday at Center Union church, Bia's continued potty training success, Troll's ordination Sunday the end of Camp, Ethan's first day of school, etc. So I guess I'll just have to put it in a nutshell to catch all up. I'll put pictures of Ordination Sunday on here another time.

1. Sunday was great. We really enjoyed the congregation and they welcomed us with warmth and open arms. We are really looking forward to many (hopefully) years with them. Troll probably wishes it more than me only for the fact that he hates to move! I was totally at ease which wsa funny. Troll was a nervous wreck which was even more funny!! Usually it's the other way around. However, I think by Wednesday he has conquered the nerves and was ready to go to town. And yes, many wondered what happened to my red hair!!

2. Bia has amazed me immensly. I know I posted on here about her potty training in two days. Seriously, she's only had a few dribble accidents. She gets so thrilled when she poops in the potty. She'll lift both hands and holler with delight, "I pooped!!" The doctor was really impressed when we went (finally) for her two year check up on Tuesday. She was happy to let him know she had on big girl panties! She's hit the 3 foot mark in heighth but still lags behind her age in weight. Gonna be a tall skinny one I reckon.

3. Ethan's first day of school he acted just like Reagan did! He was dressed and had his book bag on by a little after 7!! As you can see in the pictures he was thrilled beyond imagination to be walking with his siblings. While getting ready I heard him and Reagan in the bathroom. Reagan was telling him, "Now, you need to listen to Ms. Thomas, play with the kids and don't say any bad words!!" When I picked Ethan up at the end of his little day at school he got in the truck and excitedly told me he had fun, he was looking all over for me and finished with, "And I didn't say any bad words!" Not sure what he was talking about as far as bad words go unless it was one he'd learned off of Kayla!!! (LOL to the Ellison's) He went back today and had just as much fun. I'm so glad he enjoys it.

It's Done!!

We were married in 1997. Eleven months after that we had Austin. 15 months after Austin came Jetta. 27 months after her came Reagan. 32 months after Reag came Ethan and 23 & 3/4 months after Ethan came Ambria. So what am I getting at???? DIAPERS/WIPES!!!!!!! Lets just say that we've spent a small fortune in buying such necessities. I thought I'd total everything up this evening. I didn't figure this on buying diapers every week. I did these figures on a 40 week a year. This is what I came up with:
We've spent $4,000 on diapers and $800 on wipes. That brings the grand total to $4800 worth of diapers and wipes going to waste!!

Why have I decided to share this with you? WELLLLLL....as you can see in the picture above...Bia is on the potty. AND...for your information...it only took two days to get her potty trained. WOW!!! I started Wednesday morning, stopped at nap time and didn't continue until Thursday morning. By Friday she was totally potty trained!!! I don't even have to ask her. She comes right to me even if she's outside playing. I'm so proud of her. In a way it's breaking my heart as now my baby is no longer a baby. That is such a final thing in the world of babies. BUT, on the other hand, I'm thrilled to know that I no longer have to buy diapers and wipes. In fact, Thursday I'd bought her a pack of pullups to use while training and she only used one and that was at night.

So...there goes the world of us running to the store for diapers and begging everyone for coupons!! If any of you women get a strange call that sounds something like this...
"Hi. I was wondering if your baby needed their diaper changed..."

....you'll know I'm going through shock!

First day of school!!

Austin was laughing so hard at the antics of his hyperactive brother that his face got all scrunched up on this picture!! They were all bouncing around this morning in light of finally getting to go back to school.

Jetta did her typical pose thing! She was absolutely in love with her new bookbag!! It just had to be one that went over one shoulder!

Reagan was everywhere at once. I couldn't get him to stay still! Boing, boing, boing!! Sure hope he calmed down a bit before he got to class!!

Saying goodbye as they argued whether they were going to take the road or the hill. Mommy settled that one with a "take the road" command!! Clean shoes and the hill just don't cut it on the first day!! Ethan starts next week to preschool. He was pretty upset to wake up and find out that his siblings had started to school without him. I had a hard time explaining that preschool didn't start until Tuesday! Don't know what I'll do with just me and Bia here.

Behind a bit

I'm really doing badly here. So many things I need to post and yet our Internet connection is doing absolutely pathetic. For some reason on campus phone lines are being contrary. Calls are being dropped like nobody's business. Hence while trying to post it keeps hanging up. So pictures are impossible to download (since we have dial up!!). Troll got ordained the last Sunday of camp and I've been trying to get pictures from that on here, my cousin, Richard, has been here the past two weekends and I have pictures from that, Bia is potty training, school starts tomorrow...etc, etc, etc. SO..whenever things get figured out around here as to the phone lines I'll try to get caught up. Just forgive the fact that the pictures will be outdated as far as the calendar goes.

Saying good-bye

Last evening was our final service with the New Columbia congregation. Troll preached a good message on keeping our eyes toward the front. Of course he filled it with hilarity and goofiness!! He's such a mess. Afterward we had to stand at the alter while everyone shook our hands. I told a couple people it felt like I was getting married all over again!! Then we went outside for cake and etc.

We sincerely enjoyed our time at New Columbia. The people were so kind to welcome our large family. A big thank-you for every one's kindness. Matt and Vonnie, we appreciate you both and your children so much. It is hard to walk away from you guys but we know that our friendship has only just begun. I couldn't have asked for a better pastoral family. So giving of themselves and their time...never asking for help. We basically had to just tell them we would do this and that!! God bless you and your congregation as you strive to further the kingdom of Heaven. We will miss you all.

And now... to our new posting.....Look out!!! Here come the Tolley's!!!

Note of praise!!

For all of you out there that have been praying for Reagan...

Yesterday was Reagan's eye appointment at Geisinger. I was nervous as to the outcome due to the fact that our summer was so messed up and going here and there that I wasn't as faithful with the eye patching thing as I should have been. After waiting for an hour to see the doctor we were taken into the room. We were sitting there waiting (again) and Reagan pipes up, "Hey, why don't they turn on the TV? This poor kid is tired of waiting." He paused, while looking around, and then said, "Looks like they're going to torture me with all this equipment!!" You just never know what he's going to come up with next. I laughed and laughed even more when a few seconds later the nurse came in and turned on Nemo for him! Not sure if she heard what he said or what.

About 10 minutes later the doctor came in. He turned on the monitor where the letters/pictures were on, looked at Reagan's chart and put it to where he had been at the last visit 4 months ago: 20/400. He had Reagan read it and then continued to click the pictures smaller while having Reagan read them to him. He did so without hesitation clear down to the smallest picture available. WHAT?? I looked at the doctor as he turned around in his chair to stare at me in utter amazement. He said, "That's 20/20!!! I wasn't expecting that good of an improvement!!" I could only stare back at him and say "wow!!". Seriously, inside I was jumping up and down crying and praising the Lord for this!! He checked him again and it was the same result. The instructions now are to patch 4 hours a day for 2 months, 2 hours a day for 2 months and 1 hour a day for 2 months and then he'll see him back. If his vision is still 20/20...he'll be done with the patching!!

We walked out of the room and went to the elevator. As soon as I got inside I looked at Reagan and said, Well thank the Lord for this miracle. Reagan looked at me, threw both arms straight up in the air and said, "Well praise THE God!" I think I laughed the rest of the way home!!

more

A few more pictures from our trip to Lake Erie...





As you can see...I love taking pictures of my kids. They are so photogenic!!

Vacation!!

Well we ended up doing a drop-of-the-hat vacation. With our responsibilities changing and school starting in 2 weeks we decided to take off for a few days. That coupled with the knowledge that we'd only have to pay for gas....
We went to Marblehead, Ohio and spent a few days with Troll's mom and the Highfills. It was a really relaxing time and we felt entirely rejuvenated after our very hectic summer. Here are a few pictures of what we did. Basically all consisted of water as we were right on Lake Erie. Beautiful place. Thank-you, Highfills and mom, for a very nice rest. I'll post a few more pictures another time.

More Pics

Thought I'd post some pictures from our trip to WVA/OH in June. This is Troll and his parents.

Our kids love it at Nanny and Papaw's house. They get little shovels and pick axes and go to town in the yard!!!

Ethan getting his share in the dirt.

Bia decides it's her turn to pick a tool and dig.