So, I'll try to make this worth the wait....
I thought I'd update the blog this weekend, since I had some time (relative to previous weekends, anyway....) In case anyone still stops by here, this is what we've been up to!

Madeline is on the quiz team at our church. They are studying the book of Exodus this year, and she has been working very hard. Yesterday was her second quiz meet, and the first I have been able to attend.

Here she is ready for questioning with the two gals who were on her team.

Time out with the coach....
The look on her face here is one of realization that she just had her first perfect quiz out and earned her gold medal!
picking up that gold medal.....

After the final match of the day with her team. (I tried to get one with everyone's eyes open....maybe next month!) They did well, got better with each match of the day. One of her teammates had her first quiz out and earned a silver medal!

So.....other things we've been up to.....Madeline learned to ride a bike without training wheels!

We took the kids to the top of the parking garage at IUSB and had them ride in circles. Here's a shot of Timothy having fun and working hard.

We went down to TN and had a surprise party at Chuck E. Cheese for Madeline. Here she is with her beautiful aunts....

Here's Timothy with Uncle Brent...looks like he loves him ;)

Now, you tell me, who is more excited about that token Timothy has?

Madeline getting ready to blow out her candles....birthday song! I can't believe this is birthday number NINE!

Uncle Brent and Aunt Laura brought their nephews from the Robinson side, and Madeline and Timothy had a blast with them.

Mimi and Papa got Madeline tickets to see Veggietales Live that night! Timothy even got to come along =)

Doesn't look like he's scared of Harley anymore....getting some kisses!

While we were down south, I decided it was time to get a haircut....

I was able to donate close to 11 inches to locks of love......

Plus I went home with a cute new haircut from Laura....thank you!

The next weekend we had our Ohio family over to celebrate Madeline's birthday. Here she is waiting outside for some of our guests to arrive. It was such a beautiful day!

Timothy's buddy from church came too. Here they are playing a game, waiting for the festivities to start.

Madeline with my cousins from Ohio.....what a precious row of princesses!

See how we got the guys to watch the present opening? We placed it right in front of football.

With the yummy ice cream birthday cake.

Papaw even got on the trampoline to jump with his princesses!

Biggest birthday surprise came the next day on her birthday....when she went to her room to get ready for bed she found a new bike!

Our church had a Halloween alternative night for the community. It was the first chance Madeline had for quite awhile to see some of her best friends. They had a fun night together, and a couple weeks after, the girls had Madeline over for a sleepover. Good fun with good friends!

Here's Timothy climbing one of the blow up toys at the church event. he had fun too!

The kids were part of a choir that sang at a dinner/fund raiser for their school. This is the only picture Mike was able to get of the two of them together. He did get a video of the singing, but it was pretty dimly lit. I'll post that so you can see as much as you can see....

A picture of my best friend's little girl because it was so precious I couldn't resist posting it! My BFF and her little gal came by because they were in town. We were supposed to go out, but I had sinus and ear infections and was feeling really crummy. It was good to see them for the short time they stopped by though.

Timothy is such a good friend, helping her get her shoe back on when she jumped right out of it on the trampoline.... (This picture is a definite keeper....we'll have to use it in their wedding slide show...can I get an "Amen!", BFF?)

All three of the kids having a little fun on the trampoline.

We took the kids back to IUSB so Madeline could try out her new bike.....she loved it, of course.

Timothy enjoying his bike ;)

Ok, now anyone that knows me, will be able to tell from this picture that something is up.....how in the world did Madeline's hair get so fixed up on a Sunday morning?

Aunt Laura flew in to surprise us for the weekend! That's how! (Uncle Brent got to come up too! What a treat to see them....sorry I didn't have more time to spend with you guys....you know how med school can be =P)

We went out for dinner that night with our friends Mike and Jaci from church.....

We met up after dinner with our friends Marcus and Heather too....we had to take a picture of the three of us gals together because look, it's "Heather, Shannon, and Laura"

To cap off the surprise weekend, Mike had gotten tickets to go see Third Day in concert. Here's our whole crew after the concert.

So, that's some of what we've been up to the past couple months or so. As far as school goes, I am now done with embryology, anatomy, and on Friday, finished biochemistry. The Lord is faithful and I am receiving A LOT of prayer power, I am well aware of that! Thanks so much for caring about our family and lifting us up in prayer.

Speaking of thanks......if you are still reading, you need to know that my mother-in-law is a saint! She came over last weekend to watch the kids so we could go to the concert, (Mike had planned that whole weekend without me knowing.) and the next day she drove Laura and Brent to the airport for us, before heading back home. As if that wasn't a tremendous enough help to us, she came back this Thursday to pick the kids up from their half day of school and spent the night with us. While I was away studying, she didn't just love on my kids for me....she did all my laundry! Thanks so much for your help, Mom. Love you!

Ok.....it's off to the wonderful world of Histology for me now. The last class before Christmas break....cannot wait!

I uploaded some new videos, so you can find those below. Thanks for reading!

-shannon

The kids riding bikes on the top of the IUSB parking garage.....

One of Madeline's first solo streaks on her bike.....

Here's a spin on bike riding....now it's my dad who needs a push from Mike. You thought I forgot I had this, didn't you, Dad?

Not that you'll be able to make any of this out, but here is the dimly lit video of the kids singing for the school event. Timothy is on the front row on the left and Madeline is in the back row closer to the center of the group.