Riley is 10 Months Old!!!

It is so hard to believe that the Rilester is 10 months old! He is talking and jabbering and walking all over the place. He is such a smart, sweet baby...always happy. The only problem we have with him so far is his ability to stay, not only awake, but active for such long periods of time! His PHE levels are still low and at his last check a few weeks ago, we were again assured that he had the extremely rare mild case of PKU. The picture above is sitting on Dad's stomach, pulling his sweatshirt string and below is him bouncing on Adam:)

The Tree House

Regan has asked me to post some photos of the new tree house. We had a dilemma as to how to make the tree house since we have no trees with low limbs in the yard. My dad came up with the frame and did a wonderful job. Regan loves his new tree house. Above is Regan on the right and his friend Cameron, who lives a couple of houses down. Below is the tree house from our deck.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DRAIK...A FEW WEEKS LATE

Draik did have a wonderful 13th, even though the plans changed. We were supposed to do the ghost-hunt, but unfortunately, it rained. And rained. And raiiiiiiiiiined. It was so flooded all 25 of the 7th and 8th grades spent the first 5 hours of the party in the basement watching Ghost Hunter episodes, eating pizza, snacks, and cake. It did stop raining long enough for everyone to go outside and dance to "Party in the U.S.A." (yes, there's a dance to it). They also split up and some went on the deck, some went right outside the basement underneath the deck and a few went up into the treehouse across from the deck and they had Nerf/Acorn wars. After 11 p.m., the boys left, leaving the 17 girls spending the night....they split up and the 9 that weren't scared after watching ghost hunters slept down in the basement...the other 8 slept in the living room. Even though the rain dampened the plans (and we are rescheduling the ghost hunt towards the end of October...maybe it'll be for MY birthday party), I believe all the kids had a kicking good time. Adam was very impressed that this year, nothing was broken, no neighbors showed up to complain (BIG SURPRISE!) and all the kids were, with the exception of being LOUD, very well behaved. Unfortunately, with that many kids, I didn't keep the camera out for long...and Draik's camera was busted (guess what Santa's bringing her for Christmas?), but we did get a few pictures.

Happy Birthday to Draik!!! There were so many people there, the guests were in the kitchen, dining room, living room and hall singing to her!

Riley even got to join in the fun and have some cake...he preferred to wipe it all over the place, though.

JEKYLL '09

Ahhh...the 7th grade field trip to the 4-H science center at Jekyll. I'm sure she did a lot more than just stay at the beach the whole time, but these were a few of the pics from her camera...beach shots and turtles. You know, looking through these pictures one would think Draik had been on an episode of "Survivor"...

Contestant #1...Draik Grant from Calhoun, GA
The extremely dangerous and vile swamp-lands of Jekyll Island
The even more dangerous and full of evil jungles of Jekyll Island
Draik and her BFF Jeanna (Maizie didn't get to go because she had the flu at the last minute).
Draik and her friend Britney.
Draik and her friend Taylor.
A really big turtle (and btw...Draik has over 50 pictures of turtles...just turtles)
Sand Art
Kissing the worlds "smallest fish"
Star Fish
Draik has goals to become a "Shrimp Boat Captain"The Beach

DRAIK'S MOST AWESOME B-DAY PARTY, EVER

As I promised...her party is going to rock! Everyone at school is wanting to come...we have 30+ and counting...can't wait!

CATCHING UP....

It's been forever since I have posted...we have been so busy at the Owczarz house. The kids are getting settled back into school...Adam has been working some overtime at work plus he's signed up to finish his degree at school...and I have been working my f.t. job (hate it) and finishing up the big Sonoraville Football Program here at the home office (it turned out great). The new blog pic is a picture of the kids at the Kids Day on the new Astro Turf at CHS...man that field is HOT! Here are some of the goings on at the Owczarz house:

BFF's: Jeanna and Draik

*Draik has started 7th grade...she is getting so old and tall! She is officially taller than me now...and she wears a size 9 1/2 shoe. She is playing volleyball, participating in both band and chorus, of course debate starts this week and she'll be there with bells on, plus several other things she contemplating participating in. She's driving me crazy with all her activities. And, they leave for their 3 day school trip to Jekyll Science Center in a few weeks, which is more to plan for. She really seems to like her teachers and her nerd classes this year (although, when we walked into her AP English Lit classroom at the Teacher Meet and Ms. Blackwell wasn't there {she retired}, Draik got very upset and teary eyed...no one can be Ms. Blackwell). We came up with a theme tonight for her 13th b-day coming up...it's been quite the topic of discussion here for a few weeks. Draik wanted to have a "co-ed" birthday party...but what can you really do toward the end of September that is extremely cool??? Swimming is over with...everyone has already skated and bowled...for 25 kids things like Six Flags is way out of the question. Of course, while pondering our favorite TV Shows today, it hit me like a ton of bricks and when I told Draik my plans...she was "OMG"ing and jumping all around. Invitations go out tomorrow at school and we've been teasing all her friends all evening about the huge party coming up, so I can't mention the theme now, but it rocks and I'll try to post later this week as it is going to be very, very cool!

Regan finishing an obstacle course

*Regan...poor poor Regan. He's already missed a day of school due to the yucks going around...he was so sick. I felt so bad for him. So far, he loves school. Of course, he's playing soccer this fall. He's also in chorus at school. Being in the 4th grade means changing classes 3 times each day...unfortunately this year, they don't have a true homeroom class so they don't have a storage desk for all of there stuff since their desks are community desks. So, Regan has to keep all his stuff- books, binders, folders, crayons, etc. in his bookbag, which is huge! He looks so funny trying to lug it all around...we finally had to get him a rolling bookbag because it literally weighs as much as he does and he was starting to have trouble with his back!Riley playing in a bouncy

*Mr. Riley will be 9 months old this week. He is getting to be so big. He says "Mama" and "Dada" and "Nana" and if you tell him "No, No, No" he will giggle and say "yeah". He is also walking...yes, walking. He's been doing that for a few weeks now. He actually stands on his own for long periods and will take a few steps on his own...he has a little buggy, though, with a stick to push it around and that's how he prefers to walk...I guess it helps him with his balance. But he's all around the house with that thing! He eats like a pig and is growing and doing great.
*Mr. Adam (or, as I like to say, Old Man Adam) will be celebrating his 35th birthday tomorrow. He told me that since he was now (for 2 months) the oldest person in our household, I should show him respect and kiss his hand and bow down when he enters the room. I laughed and told him to put the clothes in the dryer and make the baby some bottles. We have had a big weekend! I bought him a bike for his birthday (we know how he feels about driving) as he has been dying for one...that is a huge mode of transportation in Denmark...probably his favorite. Draik bought him a nice backpack and a ton of school supplies...she even bought a Jonas Brothers notebook and stuck it in the backpack as a gag gift. And Regan took him to eat at Longhorn yesterday and then to Chic Fil A for a milkshake (YUMMM) for dessert. Mom and Dad gave him money and I'm sure he's going to find something computer related to spend it on:)

THE BIG KIDS VERY EXCITING SUMMER

Well, I am finally getting time to update the blog...it's been so busy this summer. The big kids have about run me to death...pretty bad since they have literally been home only 1 week since school let out. Getting them packed for all of their adventures with a 6 month old, a full time job, and working on getting the Sonoraville Football Program ready is wearing me out. And unfortunately, we're really just starting...Regan still has VBS and Draik is going to volunteer in the kitchen during the Teen Camp at Camp Sunrise and she has Debate Camp coming up. Check out all their fun summer adventures below...

CAMP SUNRISE, PART DEUX

So, Draik and Regan came home for 1 week and left again on Father's Day for Camp Sunrise...another wonderful week for Draik and Regan. Regan's friend NahNah and Draik's friend Hope were back, plus they made tons more friends. Draik had her same counselor, Miss Kelly, but Regan's counselor 1st session, Mr. Ryan, couldn't make it, so he had Mr. Dan, who turned out to know some magic tricks, which impressed Regan greatly. Also, Regan caught the biggest fish of the week, but after he pulled it in, freaked out and wouldn't touch it. Draik didn't get a picture of this, but hopefully one of their friends that did will post it on facebook soon!

I believe in Part Un, I warned of Draik's clutziness to come...and here she is:) She was sitting in the lifeguard chair on the lake and knocked the umbrella on her...not realizing that there were several wasps in the umbrella (pic below). And guess what...she got another splinter...this time, in her hand.

Regan had a blast again this session. His classes were canoeing, fishing, snorkeling, candy making and beaded crafts. He had such a great time...below is a pic and video of him snorkeling.

He also got his picture on the rip line this time too...pic and vid below!

Draik and her friends enjoyed a train ride around the camp...it looks like she might have fell off the train, but she assures me this is not the case.

The girls in Draik's room caught a pretty cool lizard, but another girl came along and didn't see him, stepped on him, and sent him to his maker:) The girls gave him a proper burial complete with a cross over the grave.
Draik had an orange and silver rocket for the launch this time...and she found it afterwards!
Regan before his rocket launched...The sky in the evening at Camp Sunrise...

Miss Taylor was back...

Regan and his friends Nate and Lukie...

Hope the morning of the Hobo breakfast...

CAMP SUNRISE, PART UN

Draik and Regan have had the best time this summer...and mostly because they have found Camp Sunrise. Most of us from Gordon County remember it as "the Planetarium in Fairmount", but it is really so much more! The kids went to the 1st session of youth camp this summer, and loved it so much, they went to the 2nd session, too. This camp is more than just a planetarium and museum...it is a Christian camp that aims to serve the youth of our community with love and to help them understand our wonderful world that God has created. For $245 per child, the kids spent a whole week (overnight) at camp with 3 meals and 2 deserts per day, tons of fun activities that also had great lessons tied to them, Bible studies and chapel. This hidden gem in Gordon County is quite possibly the best thing that has happened to the kids...they both accepted Jesus as their Savior during this first session and they have been ministering to the children here in our neighborhood every since! Here are a few of their happenings from their first adventure:

Even though Draik was given the nickname "Turkey", she should have probably been called "Clutz". It's not just everything that happened during 1st session, but 2nd session ended up being adventurous for her, too. To start things off, she got a massive splinter in her heal from the wet dock on the 1st full day of camp. The camp nurse said "it is the biggest splinter we have ever had at camp...I think we'll frame it" and they probably did. Then, later in the week when she had a galumping class in the canoe, she fell and busted her elbow open. Luckily, we have the pictures (below) to prove that Draik really is as clutzy as we say.
Regan absolutely loved his week. It was funny, because on the day of drop off...he got very emotional and teary eyed and said "I don't want to go"...after he begged us to go- camp was orginally intended for just him but leave it to Draik to invite herself along:). I said to him "I'll tell you what Reggie...we've already paid for you to go, and I think you're going to have a wonderful time. My deal with you is, if you are still this miserable on Tuesday, call me and I'll come pick you up"...and he agreed. I was so worried I was going to get a call but didn't....and on Wednesday, I received a postcard from Draik that said "Don't worry about Regan...he never wants to come home!" One of his favorite classes this week was his photography class...and I am very, very impressed with some of the pictures he took. Check these out:
Besides photography, Regan also had classes in archery, fishing, self defense and rifelry. Below is a picture of him during archery class: Miss Draik had classes in archery, self defense, canoeing, snorkeling and obstacle course. She made many new friends including Bailey and Hope (Hope ended up repeating and going to 2nd session, too). Her class was a great group of girls that she is still facebooking with and emailing:)
By far, Draik's favorite non-class activities were the green snake and the rip line. Here's a pic of her at the beginning of the rip line (when she finishes, I believe she said she'll be hanging 50 feet {or 5 stories} off the ground) and I'm including a video of her ride down the Green Snake and her rip line ride (which was shot at the wrong angle!).

Regan made lots of friends, too...here he is goofing around in the game room with Nathan (NahNah) and Chase (Nathan was a repeater for 2nd session, too).
Here are a couple of pictures from the Rocket Launch...each session, the kids build rockets and launch them on the final night of camp. A praying mantis landed on Draik's hand during the launch, which was cool...and Miss Taylor ended up being Regan's launch partner. Draik's rocket was painted black and yellow, but it was lost in the field which was later mowed. RIP Draik's rocket.