Fear the Frogs

The Cottles were a part of the Windsor Forest Swim team this year--a great way to get 'em in the water--every day!  It was fun and they learned a lot.  Even Becca was a tadpole and loved the diving board.  The meets were competitive enough to be challenging and low key enough to be fun. Their t-shirts say Fear the Frogs--the team mascot--they won their division this year and will move up to the higher division next year.  Go Frogs!

 

The Frogmen--Spence looking pensive and Tig looking jaunty

 

That's Tig gliding in the water at the number one block--farthest from the camera

 

Those are Travis's feet!

 

 

The man with fast hands--Spencer Cottle

 

This was a Tig splash!

 

 

 

The cutest tadpole in the pool

 

 

Travis at Rest--not a sight often witnessed

 

 

 

Tig getting ready--getting set--getting gone!  Spence getting ready next!

 

FEAR THE FROGS

 

 

 

Football Fever

This is the season for football!  And Pike has the fever--these are pictures from his first practice where he wowed them with his speed skills while his adoring fans looked on (his siblings, parents, g-parents, dog, cousins etc.,etc.,).  He really seems to like it and that's good cause his coaches are SERIOUS about this game. He plays for the Green Hornets--their t-shirts say "We bleed green and gold!" I think the kid's gonna be good.....go Pike!

 

 

Did you see that?  Awesome Catch!

 

 

 

Look at the sun catch that red head...1 and 2 and 3 and...

 

pushing the tackle dummy

 

 

Show me your mean face!

 

 

Mom and Lanian watching the show

 

 

Jordan, his most loyal fan and cutest critic!

 

 

I need six more water bottles--and I can do this!

 

Aidan can relax anywhere --he is the laid back one for sure

 

The Hornets play each other in the William and Mary stadium in September.  The Green play the Gold --We're excited to see 'em take the field...

 

WE BLEED GREEN AND GOLD

 

Spring and Summer have moved swiftly this year--summer is half gone and school is looming in the future..here are some pics that show some of the happenings.  Erin relaxing in the yard with Lanian playing ball in the background, Lauren being pregnant with Josh Jr., Jared graduating elementary--so did Pike but my camera was broken so no picture :( , Josh in repose after a hot day at work,  May, Trav and Spencer circus dreaming, Robyn and her cat sticking her tongue out at me after her cancer surgery, which she and her family handled bravely and well, Amanda and Jetta the new lab owned and loved by all the little Jones'es, Kendall, Jordan and May on my piano (chopsticks forever!), Robert and me and Michael at the temple, Michael took the picture.  We did some family work together--wonderful day! Spencer in fife and drum, Riley's Birthday--joyful bedlam!  Another picture of the kids at Riley's, no Matthew is not sucking his thumb--just waiting patiently for me to hurry up! The Charming Clara with her hero--DA-DA, whom she calls all the time especially when she's in trouble, Riley with her friend Otis (Spencer's bird.) Otis is hiding in terror but she doesn't care--she still likes him!


This is just a sample of some of the things in our lives these last few months--and certainly only a fraction of the family photos---I'll update with more later!!

Spencer's First March in The Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps

He performed on stage on market Square on his Grandpa's birthday, July 4th.  On the sixth of July he had his first march on DOG street!  He was awesome and because this is the time of the alumni gathering they also marched and then the Junior Corps, the Alumni Squad, and then the Senior Corps all performed together--it was awesome!  I was so proud and looking forward to Tig and Pike joining the ranks.  Fife and Drums forever!

dunes


salty sands piled high at ocean's edge
blown by fierce winds from faraway places
into deposits of gold touched by sunset light...
then kissed by evening stars.

bmj-6/2013
(missing the beach)

Things I Like II

 

new pictures of the children--would love to have one of all of the adult children together someday--if    anyone is reading--great idea for Christmas !

the sound of Midget snoring at night

visiting my Mama early in the morning after I feed the goats

watching Spencer, Jordan, and May and Kendall create stories on my computer, they are very inventive--and VERY serious

Clara Grace's smile :)

letters in the mail--sweetest surprise!

ice cream in a glass with Almond milk poured over it

my reading corner in my room

watching Robert laugh at Riley saying "Ohhh, boy!"

jonquils coming up

Vickie still greeting me every morning with a "chir-r-rp" when I wake up

to be continued...

 

 

 

 

     

Pretending

I am waiting for the piano kids to come--I give lessons to Erin's and Amanda's kids.  Yes, it's a strange thing to contemplate since I really can't play very well.  I hark back to the old saying:  Those who can't do--teach!  And that's me!  I enjoy them coming and I have a learned a great deal from them all.  I even practice now!

They will all have a good understanding of the basics and if they choose to go on--they can.  If they don't they may use their knowledge to play a band instrument or just to enjoy music and know what they are listening to. Most studies show that children who read music do better in school--I firmly believe that.  It's like learning another language.  I am amazed at how fast they catch on--some are shy and would rather not play in front of anyone--but that's okay.  I play best for Robert at night  when no one is here and he is in the other room.  It's peaceful for me.  I hope it will be for them. I love learning with them.

As I was waiting I was flipping around on the computer and happened on famous atheists.  I clicked on--thinking maybe famous in the sense of Neil Armstrong or Mozart or Queen Elizabeth.  But no, it was Angelina Jolie and Paul Somebody and the flavor of the month in the showbiz world.  I couldn't help but remember an old poem by Carol Lynn Pearson :

"To An Atheist:

God must have a huge sense of humor

So righteously to resist

The temptation of turning the tables

On your pretending He doesn't exist."



Anyway, that sure set the tone for me this evening.  I don't know much but I'm glad that unbelief in my Heavenly Father is not one of my particular challenges.  I have plenty of others.