On Friday

Yesterday morning, before I woke up, I heard footsteps run past our bedroom door and then the front door open and close. I laid there a while and then decided to get up and see what was going on. Carter is usually the first kid awake and he had decided to get outside for a morning workout. When I found him he was attempting chin-ups on a tree branch. Todd got the picture of his muscle pose.

We took the boys out for a fun evening of bumper boats and go-karts.

This was just about the only thing Collins was big enough to ride.

Connor

On Wednesday night at Awanas, Connor was asked to write out a list of things for which he is thankful. This was his list.
(I left the spelling just as he wrote.)

• Parents
• God
• Awanas
• Flexabilety
• Dark hair
• Brothers
• Saving me (I asked about this...he was thankful that God saves).
• Bible
• Friends
• Longhorns
• Freeking people out
• Sister
• Anything good

Things that make me happy

1. A clean bathroom with a candle burning
2. A fountain drink Coke
3. Dove Dark Chocolates
4. Getting Collins out of her crib each morning and after naps
5. Watching a movie late at night with Todd
6. Days at home with the boys doing home school (OK, some days this makes me crazy, but overall I love it.)
7. Covers all the way up to my chin
8. Cleaning out a closet
9. Helping a friend
10. Looking at past End of the Bend blog books
11. New shoes
12. A chance to sit and read
13. When all the kids are in bed and the house is picked up. All is quiet.
14. Q&A Time at the beginning of our school day
15. Seeing God answer a prayer (More than happy...amazed and thankful at His great plan.)
16. Fall weather
17. Hearing Connor laugh
18. Watching Hunter care for Collins
19. When Colton does something I'm Third for his brothers
20. Carter's moments of greatness - when he chooses to be kind, to be helpful, to be thankful

From the Rapps

We are very excited to announce that we are having another baby! That's right, baby Rapp #6 is on the way. We are still a little uncertain on the due date, but thinking early May. Overall I feel good, a little nausea and I have been tired. Another great thing about this pregnancy is that I get to be be pregnant at the same time as my sister Brea.

Our boys have been awesome about the idea of a new sibling... Such a different reaction from when we told them about Collins. We told them while we were in Florida and they all started laughing, smiling and asking, "Are you serious?!" Last week in the car Connor said, "Way to go dad. Way to get your wife pregnant." So funny! They all seem ready and willing to welcome another sibling. We took a vote and they would like another brother, but to see them with Collins I know that they would love a sister as well.

So we are praying for a bigger vehicle, healthy baby, and thankful for another miracle to add to our family.

Collins recently

Eating frozen yogurt at Peach Tree.

In "jail" at Fuddruckers.

First ever ponytail.

Using a stool as a walker at the Engram's house.

Today at the Rapp house

It has been good to be home. We are doing a very light week of school...and I mean very light. Ha! We are still unpacking and getting back into our routine. This afternoon Connor climbed a small tree in our front year. You have to look close, but he is up there in the top branches.

Collins enjoyed some yogurt today. I started off feeding her, but she hollered until I gave her the spoon. The result was hysterical. Most of the time she just lifted the bowl up to her face, but she did use the spoon a little bit.

Aim for your mouth Collins!

Look at that concentration.

Who wants to clean me up?

The Last of Florida

OK, this is it...the end of the Florida pictures for the blog. Gosh, so many great memories. Thankful for great friends to share this experience.

The house we stayed in had a private pool so we spent lots of time there as well. Colton is becoming quite the swimmer.

Time to relax in the tube.

And then back to the beach.

2012 family picture at the beach.

Todd kept snapping pictures.

Last night in Florida - dinner with all the gang.

We strolled on the beach after dinner.

ADORABLE! A little sandy foot.

Sweet girl.

Sunglasses

Confession: Todd and I attended a wedding just days before our trip to Florida. The wedding featured favors for the guests including white sunglasses that had the bride and groom's names printed on the side. Todd and I (with a little help from Ward and Beth Wiebe) snagged enough pairs of glasses for all the kids on the Florida trip. We were determined to get a picture of the kids in their sunglasses and it happened! Here are most of the kiddos - with the exception of Bennett and Collins.

Left to right: Neeley, Tred, Carter, Jake, Holland, Hadley, Max, Colton, Connor, Cole, Hunter and Hayden!

Now for their cool pose!

Close ups of some of their "cool" faces.

This was classic. After we had taken lost of photos, we told the kids that they could all jump into the pool at the same time and we would take their picture ad they jumped. So I counted 1...2...and Max lost his balance. Into the pool he went with lots of laughter. He was such a good sport. He just climbed out and lined up to try it again!

Now we're ready! 1...2...3...Jump!

Hee! Everyone jumped but Tred.

At the park...

One afternoon in Florida we took a break from the beach and loaded up the boys, the bikes, and friend Hadley Houston to go play at a local park. It was a hot afternoon, but they found a way to have fun and keep cool.

In the house...

Not only did we have fun at the beach, but the house that we rented was perfect for our large group. The house had six bedrooms each with its own bathroom and a large kitchen/ living room area. We had plenty of room to spread out. Here are some pictures from inside the house.

Hunter and Hayden clearly marked which bed was theirs.

The kids loved playing the Ipad - and since each family brought one, the just passed from one kid to the next. Tred was immersed in his game and couldn't be bothered for this picture. :)

Amy Engram had the best idea to have a Bed Making Olympics. Here are all the kids lined up for the awards ceremony. We played the Olympic theme music as they marched into the living room and then proceeded to award: "Most Consistent Bed Making" - to Hadley, Holland and Neeley; "Best Use of Theme" - to Hayden and Hunter; "Smoothest Bed" - to Carter and Jake; "Best Bed Symmetry" - to Max and Colton; and "Best Overall" - to Cole and Connor. No gold medals - just packages of Nutter Butters for the winners. Thanks Matt Houston for sharing!

We painted! Each kid got to paint their very own canvas beach scene. It was a lot of work for the moms to keep up with the paint, the spills and the brushes, but the kids had fun.

Colton was working on painting a crab.

Connor and Hunter at work.

Carter loved his painting.

Colton and Neeley on the table, Jake and Max bouncing around with a plunger.

Carter Rapp on the mic (skewer stick).