Back in the swing of things.

Today is the first day back to school. Just the thought of it brings to my mind a montage of recollections, from when I was a kid myself to the present, when I’m a parent…

First day of school is:

Sadness that the season of ‘lazing about with no routine’ is past.
Newness of unsullied notebooks and textbooks.
Exhilaration of swapping summer adventures.
Relief at not having to search for meaningful summer activates for another year.
Crispness of brown paper book covers with names written on top in neat copperplate.
Remembering not to speed in school zones.
Bleary-eyed kids peeking from the windows of school buses.
Smell of chalk (now dry erase), new shoes, lunch boxes, and glue.
Fatigue from having driven all over town for the obscure items of the school supply list.
A pouting child standing in front of you, with minutes to spare for the school bus to arrive, because the lunch bag that was all the rage last year has become tacky and childish this year.
Feel of new school clothes – just a tad longer and bigger than necessary to allow for growth spurts – against your skin.
Fear that children will come home, each with a new supplementary supply list from individual teachers.
Nervousness at who will be assigned as your new classmates.
Anxiety of all the projects that will require umpteen trips to the craft stores, most of them at the very last minute possible.
Hope that your best friend will be in your group this year, too.
Sight of hundreds of happy, shiny, scrubbed faces lined up in the auditorium.
Misgivings that not only will your arch nemesis be in your class, but that she will be your lab partner for the year.
Excitement at finding out who will be your homeroom teacher.
Phone calls to and from to firm up carpool plans.
Prayers that the mean old math teacher won’t be assigned your class.
Secret enthusiasm about what new things you’ll get to learn.
Fighting the crowds at Walmart the afternoon before.

Back to school we go !




Our almost 17year old driving to her first day as a Junior.





Our 10 year old getting some play time in before school,and working up an apatite.




Here's to a great school year and nothing but growth and success !

Little League

We found an opportunity for our 9 year old to play
Little League baseball this year.Do to him leaving for the
entire summer, it was hard to find a league that started
early enough for him to get some good ball time in.

This is him # 11 warming up his arm with his buddy.
For there first game that was at the end of April.




Coach was rotating them all over to see who would fit well in what position.

Our 9 year old likes to play first base. This game he had to try out being a catcher. I know... he looks so darn cute in all the safety gear (OK, that is Mom commet for sure)For never playing this position before, he did great! He may be just a little small for the safety gear to fit quite right. Who knows... I have a funny feeling he will be back at first base sooner then he thinks.





The first at bat for our 9 year old was exciting (at least for me).He hit the second pitch. Nailed it to second base and was out at first. Now just for the record I am that Mom that was YELLING HUSSEL... DIG DIG DIG.... FASTER FASTER FASTER!
It was a good play.



We lost 13 to 8.

On the ride home I told my 9 year old that he did a great job. I also gave him a few pointers of my own. He quietly listened, then responded with... I could do allot better if you would just be a little more quite. Boy oh boy my son has allot to learn.


Current stats...
Sat 05/08/2010 Cardinals VS Red Sox W 13 8
Wed 05/05/2010 Cardinals VS Athletics W 21 20
Tue 04/27/2010 Cardinals VS White Sox L 7 14

2 wins, 1 loss and 0 tie

My Day Off

I recently had a day off so took an opportunity to take a day trip to Saint Louis. For those of you who don't know, Saint Louis is only about a two and half hour drive from our front door.

My 29 year old had a trade show that he was working, so I went to see him and a few old friends that I have in the industry. Then, I decided to take the rest of the day for me.

I can't tell you how many times I have been to this city. Each time I find something new to learn about and the history is just fabulous. So I parked my jeep and walked around the down town area. It was a beautiful day of 78 degrees and I wanted to take in some fresh air and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

I walked down to the river and near the arch… Enjoying all the people and the sites.

Here are some facts that I picked up... Did you know this about the Saint Louis Arch~

• The Arch is the tallest national monument in the United States at 630 feet; it is the city's best known landmark and a popular tourist attraction.
• Construction began February 12, 1963 and the last section of the Arch was put into place on October 28, 1965.
• The Arch is a structure known as a catenary curve, the shape a free-hanging chain takes when held at both ends, and considered the most structurally-sound arch shape. The span of the Arch legs at ground level is 630 feet, the same as its height.
• Each year, approximately a million visitors ride the trams to the top of the Arch. The trams have been in operation for over 30 years, traveling a total of 250,000 miles and carrying over 25 million passengers.
• The Arch weighs 17,246 tons. Nine hundred tons of stainless steel was used to build the Arch, more than any other project in history.

Just some thing I found interesting...
Also, here are just a two of the many snap shots that I captured of the arch.






My next stop, was to a nearby coffee shop to grab a delightful beverage.
Almost on every street you will find some type of neat art work.
This next snap shot happen to be right out front of the coffee shop I stoped at. Kind of neat I thought.



While enjoying the fresh air and a great cup of coffee, I took a stroll over to a place I just knew I was going to get in trouble at. I thought to myself, this can’t be bad idea. I am alone, I really have know schedule, I would like to be home by dinner time, and it is only 1:00 so how bad could it be?

As most of you know, I love the game of baseball. It truly is a passion of mine. I have a goal to see each and every major league baseball stadium up close (At a game would be ideal). Today was that day.(I mean, I have seen it many times from a distance, just not up close)I walked and walked. I was feeling a bit bad that I was alone doing this, but heck if the rest of the family wanted to see it we could come back. Right? Like I would be the one to say know way we are never going back....

Then there it was... Right in front of me...The home of the Saint Louis Cardinals.

Busch Stadium












A few facts about Busch Stadium~

• Groundbreaking - January 17th, 2004
• Grass Installed - March 15, 2006
• Inaugural Game - April 10, 2006
• Opponent - Milwaukee Brewers
• Ceremonial First Pitches - Chris Carpenter and Albert Pujols, to Bob Gibson and Willie McGee
• First Pitch - 3:14p.m., ball, Mark Mulder to Brady Clark
• Cardinals Hit - David Eckstein, 2nd inning, 04/10/06
• Cardinals HR - Albert Pujols, 3rd inning, 04/10/06


All in all I did not get in any trouble, I even stayed out of the major shops that day. I guess that will be my ticket to get to go back…. Unless I get a chance to go see I game (Maybe this summer).

It was a great day. I enjoyed every minute of it. I hope one day you get to enjoy the magic of Saint Louis. It is a great city!

The Conclusion

OK, It has been some time since my last post.
SORRY...Life has been kind of nuts.

I wanted to jump right back in with the conclusion of the Pinewood Derby.

The boys were back in the garage the next morning. They had the body of the car all cut out and the sanding was complete. They weighed it, and they decided that it was time to add some weight.

There are many ways that you can add weight to your car. Some just glue coins to the top of of the car or glue the bar weights to the bottom of the car.Others melt some lead and put it into the center of the car. I was hoping we would go with the gluing the weights on.

Oh know that would be too easy.




I think they just wanted to play with fire of course that is just my opinion.

Once the melted lead (fishing weights)foamed into the solid mold, it was time for the next step.

Painting.




The boys went with a red truculent color and a sliver grill also a # 2 for his racing number. Once the paint dried they added all the details and installed the axles and wheels.





Looking sharp and fast... READY FOR THE RACE.

The weight in was at 8:AM. The emotion were running high.

Pinewood Derby Car Dimensions

The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.
The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.
The car must have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels.
The car must have 3/8” clearance underneath the body so it does not rub on the track.

Derby Car Weight
The car weight shall not exceed 5.0 ounces.


We all held our breath while the official put the car on the race scale and then into the box to check all the dimensions.

WE PASSED !!! We all exhaled with ease.

We received our race # and were put on the table ready for the race to start.



As you can see their are allot of unique race cars on the table.
As the boys walked around the table looking and admiring the other cars. They were already talking about what they could do differently for next year.


It was finally time for the first heat.



All the Scouts lined up. On your makes, get set, GO !
The cars came down quickly. I over head my 29 year old say to another Dad " We are to heavy in the middle" of the car. Then I head my 9 year old say to his buddy "my Dad put to much weigh in the middle of the car"!

The car took second in that heat. Not bad, but they both new that was the best they were going to do all day. As they continued to race heat after heat we watched biting our nails, hoping we would just make it to the next heat. We lasted five heats. Then we were disqualified.



This is our 9 year above (on the left) and one of his buddies after the event was over. Tehy are still smiling, so I think they had a good time !

We did not place this year. However, from the sounds of it we do have a master plan for next years car to take #1.




All in all the Scouts and the Dads had a great time and they look forward to the competition next year.

Pine Wood Derby Project Weekend

In early January my husband & son received a car kit for the Pine Wood Derby.

This will be the second race that our son entered.The first year was fun, he did not win a race but he had the best painted car in the race (Thanks to his uncle Tommy, and the paint booth in his body shop).

This year is going to be a bit different... Let's just say my husband does not have the same passion for motor vehicles of any sort working or not. This is just something that I think is in my family's blood. For my husband not so much. This does not make us love him any less, it just means when it comes to projects like this he seems to struggles a bit more...

He will tell you different, but this gift "I CAN DO ALL WITH KNOW WRONG" must have came from his father...(JUST JOKING, IT IS JUST A GUY THING) !



So my fabulous husband was feeling the pressure...
He polled some colleagues together at work, and some others and gathered ideas for how to build a fast car out of a block of wood.

My son added pressure by saying, "Nathan, can we really do this?"






They started Friday night and worked off and on into this evening. They sanded. And sanded. And sanded. Cut a little here and cut to much their. I heard a voice from the garage "Umm time to go buy a second block just in case". They primed. And primed and primed. And primed. They weighed, drilled more holes, sanded and primed again and again. Two of the three post office locations will be used to weigh the car-in-progress... I just pray that the scales are not off even by one to three-tenths of an ounce.





You see, this is BIG and the rules are out of control!
You have better odds in becoming the next President of the United States.


Race day is January 30Th, 2010, I'm not sure if they can do this...

They will be buffing and buffing the axles with jeweler's rouge until they shine like new money.

They will help set up the race track the night before the race; they will try out the car. I will pray it will be fast, Really fast!

By the 29Th the wheels will be off one last time and buffed again. This time they will be sprayed the axles with silicon and then applied graphite.


As for tonight, they have placed the dremal and the drill on the charges and turned off the body shops lights. My husband said to our son it was time to rest so we can have a fresh look tomorrow.

The next thing I knew ...




Enough said.

I will update you on the progress. I'm sure with all this effort something good will come from it.

Appearance

I was reading an article the other day on a of Reality TV star that spent $30,000 on way to much plastic surgery(my option of course).

It got me thinking in so many different directions. We will go with just one of them thoughts today...

I don't like evening about my appearance but I can change that very easy.... All I have to do is jump on the tread mill a few more times and that will take care of them issues in know time...So in lieu of going out and changing my appearance, I decided that I would go ahead and take advantage of a FREE face lift.

ON MY BLOG THAT IS ....

What do you think ?
Be HONEST I can handle it.

I am still working on it, I will fine tune as I learn more.

Have a great rest of your weekend.

Extraordinary Woman

To an Extraordinary mother, person, wife and a friend.
Today we celebrate her birthday
Which is number fifty-nine.

Hard to believe the years fly by,
This life we dig and delve.
She is so extraordinary...

She is a fabulous wife (right Ralph?)
and raised two great kids.
She even opened her heart an added a few more.
She manages so much more,
She's incredible, no doubt.

She keeps us all together.
Remarkable, in retrospect,
Our thanks? We've said a few.

Now that the kids are grown
with kids all of our own,
We really appreciate with clarity
All the wonders mom has sown.

Some how we all get along,
In fact, we do just fine.

It seems as if the whole thing
Came down to faith in the Lord.

Since "I" have known her
she has always believed !

She is always right here, supporting each if us,
In every way she can.

Her time, her heart, her courage.
Inspiration? She's a thrill.

She taught us how to cook some and knit too,
And function - always strong.
She counseled on the good life,
and taught us right from wrong.

She all about so many things,
Like unconditional love.

On your birthday, mom,
Our love we do avow.
You're just the best in every way,
Forever, then and now.



Love,
Your Family

SNOW DAY! SNOW DAY!

Back to work and school today but yesterday....


It was about 1:00 befor all the kids hit the slopes.
It was time to take our Midwest farm town home and transform it, to look like a very over populated ski resort, like they have back home. The difference is, at this place it is all FREE.
To be quite honest I think it was allot more fun too.

Come on in and enjoy the fun with us.
This snap shot was taken whiles the transformation was under way.



This next shot was one of the tourist trying to pack the snow down. So the jump would go faster and longer.













Needless to say this did not work out so much.
We see this quite often around these parts.
These tourists come on in and think they know it all...
We just say another one bits the snow !




One of the snow boarding hill were finally complete.
The same tourists that tyred out the sledding hill
stepped right up to test this one out.
With a little assistance from one of our very own instructors.



He was off in now time !



















With blistering temperatures,
we always have a cold smile on!






To finish off our day on the slopes,
We all huddle in the shelagh for a
nice warm cup of Hot Coco.



All in all our made up Ski Resort was a blast !
Your more then welcome to come on out and play with us.


GOOD TIMES! GOOD TIMES !

FIRST SNOW DAY OF 2010

IN NORMAL TODAY - Snow continues to fall as hundreds of school children and parents settle in for a the first SNOW DAY OF 2010.

This is of our back yard this morning at about 5:00 AM



We will be off to test out our new snow board, hockey stick and maybe we can make a few snow angles and build a snowman.

We will see if it warms up enough to go and play.

I HOPE SO !

LET IT SNOW !
LET IT SNOW !
LET IT SNOW !

Good bye to 09

Relishing in the peace and quiet in front of the fire, smelling cinnamon rolls in the oven and fresh brewed coffee... so grateful for my life, God, my fabulous husband-my soulmate-best friend, my 2 beautiful children, my parents, Ralph, Char, My brother, Tiffany & Jason all my family and friends. Thank you for the journey of 2009. GOOD TIMES ! GOOD TIMES !

I look forward to sharing a blessed 2010 with each of you !

Have a very HAPPY & SAFE NEW YEARS !

Christmas far from"Normal"

Christmas was far from Normal this year.

For a month, we had tossed back and forth what we were going to do for the Christmas holiday. We just had a hard time making any sort of decisions for what ever reason.

This year was going to be be very different on so many levels... Our 16 year old and our 9 year old were going back to Denver for the holiday, one set of parents were going to be on a cruse ship on the open sea half way across the world, the other set of parents are over 1000 miles away.

We tossed a few ideas around... Let's go to Florida to see our 85 year old grandmother. Washington DC is to be quite spectacular this time of year...

With our kids safely in Colorado and our parents safely half way across the world.

The question still remains unanswered WHAT THAT HECK ARE WE GOING TO DO?

Christmas Eve morning the conversation went something like this.

ME: Good Morning! Merry Christmas Eve.
My 29 year old: So what are we going to do today?
ME: I have no idea, what do you want to do?
My 29 year old: Well, I guess any out of state travel is out.
ME: Why it is just raining, we have no snow.
My 29 year old: Yeah well there is a blizzard every were else around us.
ME: Well let's go to church tonight.
MY 29 year old: OK... What time is the service?
Me: Well we have a choice 5,6,7 or 10:00.
My 29 year old: OK lets go to the 5:00 and the 7:00 and then go have dinner.
ME: Just looking at him, wounding if he realized it was Christmas EVE.
My29year old: Tomorrow we will go to Chicago to spend the day with Tiffany(DOR)and Jason(Silor). and then come home.
Me: OK, sounds like a plan(YEAH WE HAVE A PLAN)!


We left to go to the 5:00 church service. Great service, with a great celebration for the birth of Jesus and lot of Christmas carols we sang with packed house. It was beginning to feel like Christmas !

We made a quick stop and then my 29 year old really did wanted to go to another service. So we went, it was a candle light service it was very nice. We lit our candles while singing Silent Night. Then I felt a fuzzing next to me... It kind of sounded like OH, AHH SHHII..... I looked over and started laughing hysterically! My 29 year old had HOT dripping wax all over his hand and could not do anything about it other then sit there and look at it.

We got out of there quite quickly. While still laughing running to out vehicle in the rain. I got in and asked him it we are going to make it to the next service. My 29 year old looked at me and said NO, we are going out to dinner.

Again just looking at him, saying you do realize it is Christmas Eve ? He said yep everything will be open ! I gave him the good ol'emm~hmmm.

Well needless to say, NOTHING WAS OPEN....
Then we pulled into a lot with two cars and the sign said ....



I felt like I was living in the movie "The Christmas Story"
I could do nothing but laugh, I guess that we are making this night as far from normal as we can get. LET'S GO !

All in all we had a great time! Just the two of us, as far from what is Normal to us both. We had each other to bring in good cheer and I would not have changed a thing!

If I had to spend Christmas with one person, God new who that one was to be.
Thanks for the the wonderful Christmas Eve memories Nathan !


Merry Christmas Eve !

Christmas Magic

So do you BELIEVE ?
I'm 33 and the magic of Christmas is absolutely wonderful !

Over the years we tend to have so many different Christmas tradition...
We try to keep them going each year and some get lost in the hassle and bassel.

We stared this new charming tradition this year. For most families they started it when there children were very small. Like most children and adults through the ages, they wanted to know how Santa really knew who was naughty or who was nice.

When you have a child the doctors do not give you an instruction manual so you just have to go with it. That is what we have done here.

STICK WITH ME AND JUST KEEP READING.

So to help us with that answer few hundred year old question we officially adopted a pixie elf. We gave him a name(Max). Each year he will arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving like he did this year. His sole responsibility is to watch over the kids and Nathan too. Max will report there behavior to Santa each night. Each morning after we awake, we all discovered the elf had returned from the North Pole and was now resting in a new and different place.Max has been in our bathroom, on book shelf's, in the fire place, the Christmas tree and many more places. So far we have found him each time.

Each day we all have raced each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position


There are a few rules to better preserve his mystique the kids are not allowed to touch him but talking to him well this a different matter all together. Nathan and the kids have shared many secrets with the elf (Max) my guess would both good and bad... but that is why they call them secrets, and while he was under strict orders not to talk to them, the elf (Max)was under no such orders where I'm concerned (Nathan does not like this rule).

Unwittingly, this tradition provided an added benefit: it has helped the kids and Nathan to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the "elf (Max)is watching," for errant behavior to be modified.

This new tradition has lead to so many fun treasured Christmas memories for our entire family.

This Morning we had a bit of hard time trying to locate him. We thought that someone was bad and he did not come back from the North Pole. Well that is what I blamed it on. Needless to say that caused a emotional break down from both our 9 year old and the 29 year old. (What was I thinking when I hid this dam elf (Max)... I thought someone would find him... Sooner then later. I had to think quick.)

Then right before it was time to eat breakfast ... I asked for our 9 year old to get the milk out for the oatmeal.


There he is my 9 year old said.
He in the refrigerator Mom !




(I found myself thanking Santa...Made it threw that one.)

All you have to do is BELIEVE !

3 or 33 or 103 keep the magic alive !

Turkey Day Quiz

How much do you know about the turkey?


When was the first Thanksgiving celebration?
1492
1567
1621
1777


Where was the turkey first domesticated?
Canada
Mexico and Central America
New Zealand
India


What is a female turkey called?
a rooster
a cuckoo
a chick
a hen


What is a male turkey called?
a larry
a clark
a harry
a tom


What great American statesman lobbied to make the turkey the national symbol?
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
Andrew Jackson


What sound does a female turkey make?
gobble
cluck
chirp
peep


What sound does a male turkey make?
gobble
click
chirp
peep


About how many feathers does a mature turkey have?
1,500
2,000
3,500
5,000


Which state produces the most turkeys annually?
Kansas
Ohio
Arkansas
Minnesota


How fast can wild turkeys run?
5 mph
15 mph
25 mph
45 mph


How does Arkansas rank among the other states in turkey production?
first
third
eighth
fourteenth


What Native American tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the colonists?
the Wampanoag tribe
the Sioux tribe
the Choctaw tribe
the Arapaho tribe


Can wild turkeys fly? If so, how fast?
No.
Yes, up to 25 mph
Yes, up to 40 mph
Yes, up to 55 mph


Approximately what percentage of American homes eats turkey on Thanksgiving?
49%
67%
82%
90%


Approximately what percentage of American homes eats turkey on Christmas?
34%
50%
67%
89%


What is the name of the skin that hangs from a turkey's neck?
snark
wattle
garble
swag


Which U.S. president specified that Thanksgiving would fall on the last Thursday of November?
Martin Van Buren
Andrew Jackson
William H. Taft
Abraham Lincoln


Which president attempted to move the Thanksgiving holiday to the fourth Thursday in November to create a longer Christmas shopping season?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Harry S. Truman
Gerald R. Ford


Which country consumes the most turkey per year per capita?
The United States
Israel
Spain
The United Kingdom


What is the best way to defrost a turkey?
with a hair dryer
in the refrigerator
in cold water
in the microwave oven




Here are the results of the trivia quiz: When was the first Thanksgiving celebration?

When was the first Thanksgiving celebration?
1621

Where was the turkey first domesticated?
Mexico and Central America

What is a female turkey called?
A hen

What is a male turkey called?
A tom

What great American statesman lobbied to make the turkey the national symbol?
Benjamin Franklin


What sound does a female turkey make?
Cluck

What sound does a male turkey make?
Gobble

About how many feathers does a mature turkey have?
3,500

Which state produces the most turkeys annually?
Minnesota

How fast can wild turkeys run?
25 mph

How does Arkansas rank among the other states in turkey production?
Third

What Native American tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the colonists?
The Wampanoag tribe


Can wild turkeys fly? If so, how fast?
Yes, up to 55 mph

Approximately what percentage of American homes eats turkey on Thanksgiving?
90%

Approximately what percentage of American homes eats turkey on Christmas?
50%

What is the name of the skin that hangs from a turkey's neck?
Wattle

Which U.S. president specified that Thanksgiving would fall on the last Thursday of November?
Abraham Lincoln

Which president attempted to move the Thanksgiving holiday to the fourth Thursday in November to create a longer Christmas shopping season?
Franklin D. Roosevelt


Which country consumes the most turkey per year per capita?
Israel

What is the best way to defrost a turkey?
In the refrigerator

Have a safe and woundful thanksgiving !
Gobble, gobble

Happy Anniversary To Ones We Love.

We never know
Or fully realize
How sweet and kind our parents are,
How gentle and how wise.


We simply take for granted,
From day to passing day,
Each sacrifice they make for us
In their own loving way.


But then we grow and finally learn,
The way that children do,
How much their love has really meant,
How thoughtful they've been, too -


And so this comes with all the thanks
You both deserve and more.
For there aren't two dearer parents
Than the one this post's for


Happy Anniversary!
All our love.

Let's Be Thankfull All Year Long.

OK I admit, I have been completely neglecting my blog...
I could tell you 100 different reason why
I have not been posting. Each of them would be true.
So I will just go with what I have been
thinking about the pass few weeks.

I have been doing allot of studying
and reading the pass few weeks.
My brain has felt like it wants to explode!

We are coming to the time of year,
were all the stress kicks into high gear.
I thought it was a great time to
reflect and to be thankful.


Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

Have a great week !

Happy Birthday !

I know, I have so many great things to post about, it has been so long ago since my last post.... I have been with out a PC for sometime and you don't need to tell me how frustrating it is.... I think I have covered all the four letter words in the book on this subject.

Today I had to make sure to log on to someones PC to put up a special post.
This one is to some one new in my life.


MY FATHER-IN-LAW !
HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

We once again are wishing you another year
Of laughter, joy and fun,
Surprises, love and happiness,
And when your birthday’s done,


We hope you feel deep in your heart,
As your birthdays come and go,
How very much you mean to us,
More than you can know.

LOVE YA !
Have a great day !

Last day of school

Today was the last full day of school! Can you believe it.... Summer vacation already.

I can not believe how fast the time has went by. It feels like we were just having the talk with our 15 year old, on how different high school is from junior high !!!

Yep, our 15 year old made it threw her freshman year of high school. Now don't get me wrong, there were times I thought we would not make it but with God beside us we did it !!! She is growing into a beautiful young women.

Our baby well he will be 9 years old in a week. He is moving up to the third grade.
Leaning all this "New" math, spelling words I can not pronounce...

Man what happen when did I miss it all. The Portie training, the coloring in the lines, the first tooth fairy visit, the first broken heat, the first dance, the first school suspension. HOLY COW !


Tell your kids that you love them. They will soon one day be all grown up.
For those of you that already have the ones that are all grown up, Thank you, we love you and a job well done !

Have a great weekend !

Each day is a gift !

Today is such a gift. We forget that sometimes.

For all of you that read my blog, I encourage you
to pray for strength for one of our fellow bloggers
(The Freeman's)and their family.


You can read more here.
http://kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html

Have a great day !

Cyber party for who?

It's been awhile .....Time for another cyber party
and a slice of cake !

Amber (A true friend for more then 20 years)

Your Birthday
Today is happy
It most certainly is
Shake a pop
And make it fizz

Fly a kite
Or take a nap
Slap a knee
And pat a back

Run or skip
Without a care
Or fly a plane
If you dare

Swim or skate
Take your pick
Hit a mailbox
With a stick

Fall or trip
Laugh or play
Do whatever
It's your Birthday !

You can even have more then one slice of cake !




Happy 33rd Birthday Amber !
We Love you !

40th (Ruby) Wedding Anniversary

Today is the day of my parents
40th (Ruby) Wedding Anniversary.
I wanted to take the time to post a few words...


Although this is your special day
To share with one another,
It's special, too, for everone
Who love you, Mom & Dad...

That's why so many loving thoughts
Come with this wish for you both today.

For everything to make this day
Just perfect for you two!


Today as both of you look back
with happiness and pride
Upon the forty cherished years
That you've spent side by side,
May every memory that you share
Of dreams you've seen come true,

Happy Wedding Anniversary with Love.