We Love This Country

Happy 4Th of July week!!! It is hard to believe that we are at the point in summer that we are celebrating our country's Independence. I love this Holiday but it also marks the half-way point of summer. That is a bummer. However, we've been so busy that we have been thoroughly enjoying the Summer of 2011. Starting on July 1 we began celebrating the long Holiday weekend. The kids and I, along with the Kuck kids and Jen, and Uncle Justin headed to Hilliard to get on a COTA bus and meet up with Shawn and Barry downtown. It was and adventure. It took us two hours but we finally arrived at High and Broad streets. I'm not sure how folks who take COTA on a daily basis don't get frustrated. We sure did but... We told the kids we were going on an adventure so to have lots of patience's. They did their best! We went to North Bank Park and ate dinner at the NiSource party. Then we walked along the river to the NiSource parking garage. Where from the roof-top we watched, in person for the first time, Columbus' Red, White and BOOM! While we have seen it on TV many times, I must say in person was a sight to behold. The kids loved it!! Our view was amazing. The traffic getting out was a hassle and the kids fell asleep in the car. We had Saturday to our selves. It rained in the morning allowing us recuperation time. In the afternoon we took the boat out and the kids went tubing and swimming. We finished the day with a ride in the Laguna for dinner.

Saturday we went to our friends, the Rausch's for a pool party. The kids swam all afternoon!! We adults indulged in the pool also, and a few beverages. That night we hit our friends, Homan's, annual 4th of July party. Concluded with fireworks on the lake at dusk. Whewww... We were tired and ready for bed. We docked the boat at our friends, the Jones'. Sunday we took the boat out of the water and gave her a much needed bath! That night we went to Bret and Brenda's for their party. I took Sparklers with us and the kids had a ball doing those. We had a fabulous weekend!! Thanks to all for your hospitality!!!

Our lake's fireworks. This is one of the better ones I was able to get. Or maybe Jen did. We were both playing with my camera.

Not only have we been busy celebrating our great country's birthday but Shea attended the Columbus Zoo's week long Zoo Camp!! She absolutely loved it and wants to go back next year. It has only taken me three years to convince her to go. I'm SO glad she liked it. She would go with a group of kids; Kendall, Kenlee and Garrate. We had a nice car pool set up. On Friday, the kids were only there for three hours. Will and I hung out at the zoo. He wanted to see every Monkey in the place. I had to oblige him...

The Gibbons are always "monkeying around".

We are also still busy this summer with Coach-pitch baseball. Our season ends this Saturday. While I'll be glad to have our week nights back, Shea is liking it and continues to improve. As are all the kids on the team. Last Thursday every kid on our team was able to get a hit!!! We were all so proud of them. I had to hand the camera over to Shawn to take pictures. It's hard to coach first base and take pictures at the same time. Although, I did for this one photo...

On June 24th, Cars 2 came out in theatres. It was a rainy night so we decided to go the following night and go to the Drive-In!!! The Weiner's, Kuck's and us made it! The Wolford family said the line was too long to wait in. The movie started a 1/2 hour late to accommodate all the traffic coming in. It was the first time our kids were experience this "old fashioned" way of viewing a movie. I popped our own popcorn, took other snacks and drinks- just as my Mom used to do for us! The kids watched it from the back of our truck. We had lots of blankets!! They loved it! While the movie was a three out of five stars... The experience was the best part!!! We want to go again.

Check out the sun set on our way to the drive in. We've had a lot of really pretty sunsets. I wish I would have captured last nights... Oh well, there are more summer nights ahead.

I am long over due for a post and I know that.  I'm so sorry.  I've been using three computers and it's been crazy.  Alas... I have a new computer.  I have changed to the MAC world and it is frustrating but I'm slowly figuring it out.  I do need to purchase Photo Shop for Dummies, that program is difficult!  I don't have Picasa in the right location on the computer either but I'll work on that.

Around here we have been busy the last couple of months.  May brought the end of school and that entailed a field trip to the zoo, ice cream party, talent show, field day and a concert by the great Arnett Howard on the last day of school.  It was busy.  Not to mention we started baseball practice.  It was fun and I am happy to say that Shea will be a second grader come the end of August.  Holy cow where is this time going?  We also received word that Shea was once again accepted into Monroe Elementary via Open Enrollment. 

Shea had a great time at the zoo, as always, with her friends.  They informed me that getting ice cream was their favorite part.  Not the Polar Bears playing, the Mountain Goat having a baby or the Tigers (who were procreating).  So much for education when ice cream is involved.  Here she is being "cool".

Our Spring and early Summer has been a wet one!  It has been hard to get riding lessons in but we have. Shea is doing a great job with Buster this year.  She has grown so much that she is in a new saddle.  Plus, she can do most of getting Buster prepped for riding and putting him back in his stall by her self.  Good thing as her instructor is pregnant!  There is even talk of Shea doing an open show this year.  We'll keep you posted.

In May we also participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Columbus.  It was an amazing site.  I can not even describe to you in words the emotions you feel after seeing the sea of pink.  From young to old, all walks of live and the magnitude of how many people have been touched by cancer.  I had promised the kids pink wigs if they did the walk.  Thanks to the power of Amazon, some arrived and they love them!

Again, still learning this MAC and how to use it and this picture won't move up!  This is Shea and her teacher, Mrs. Beachy.  Shea had all of her class mates sign this poster during Art class and they presented it to their teacher at the ice cream party.  Mrs. Beachy, they all love you!

We hosted a Father's Day celebration at our house.  It was a cool and off and on again rainy kind of day.  We still grilled out and a few brave soles went out on the boat to ski.  I can not believe this but this is the only photo I took that whole day.  What on earth was I thinking??

I promise to get better at updating.  Last night we went to a drive-in to see Cars 2.  I have a few pictures to share.  Hope you are enjoying your summer!!!

April is fun

 

The calendar says that Spring is here but the weather sure had not cooperated! We went from cold and snowy to cold, windy and rain!  We have still taken full advantage of the nice days that we have been blessed with! 

Shea had one last birthday celebration at the Dublin Rec Center and that day happened to be 80 degrees!!  It was nice for the kids to wear swimming attire and not worry about freezing to death.  The girls (and Sean, Shawn and Will) had a fun time!  The place is really nice!  The pool area had a small waterfall, lazy river area, large twist slide and a small toad slide.  They swam, played hard, swam and then ate! 

Lazy river was a hit!

Kenlee makes a splash on the tongue of a frog slide!

Our swimmers…

What cute kids, and that Daddy!!! :)

Shea had one last birthday celebration at the Dublin Rec Center and that day happened to be 80 degrees!!  It was nice for the kids to wear swimming attire and not worry about freezing to death.  The girls (and Sean, Shawn and Will) had a fun time!  The place is really nice!  The pool area had a small waterfall, lazy river area, large twist slide and a small toad slide.  They swam, played hard, swam and then ate! 

Whew… Shea’s birthday celebrations are over, for another year!

 

Our annual Spring visitors are back! Mamma and Papa duck.  They come every Spring.  It’s so much fun to watch them roam around.  Our neighbor feeds them but this year they have decided that our fish pond is their personnel bathing area.  I looked out the window and caught them one night.  I ran for the camera and caught this.

Another night I was able to get really close to them.  I had to act fast, the kids were after them!

 

One more update.  We have several trees in our back yard.  The previous home owners planted all of the trees and they were really close together.  A couple had rotted and a few others were being eaten by a boring worm. We really have been nursing them along for a few years.  The ice storm this winter did not help them.  Last weekend we did a massive stick clean up in the woods along with cutting down 7 trees.  We DO plan to plant two new ones and build a picnic shelter (for lack of other words to describe what we have in mind).

Will was more than happy to get his gator out and help us drive wood from the cutting area to the stacking area.  Even if it was only a couple of feet! He didn’t care at all.

Shawn took a few hour break from the welding he was doing on his Hot Rod.  Which is coming along and I will have to do an update!

To do this….

I ran in to get the camera because I had forgotten all week to take a picture of the back yard before all the trees came down.  Here it is!!

Here it is after we were done and cleaned up! Big difference.

We have a massive stick pile now.  We need to roast some hot dogs and make some smores!  Who’s up for joining us???!!!!

 

We hope you are enjoying your Spring and the beautiful days we have been given.  Everyone have a fantastic Easter Weekend!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

 

Celebration week is continuing around here.  Now that Shea is all over her illness she was up for re-creating her birthday night.  We met up with Daddy and Aunt Nan at the mall Thursday night.  Daddy kept trying to talk her out of it, she wasn’t having any of THAT talk!  We went to Claire’s and they were so good to her.

Daddy taking one last look pre earrings.

Hole number one.  And there were NO tears at all!!

See, all done and she looks great! 

A close up of the pink diamonds she picked.  Was there any doubt they’d be pink??

After ward we all went over to Noodles and CO. for dinner.  Shea and Aunt Nan were so happy.  Thanks Aunt Nan for making this happen!

 

I also had one more birthday outing!!!  I had GNO (girls night out) with my gal pals.  Lisa couldn’t make it and Nicci had to meet us out.  We were all glammed up with our bling on.  We were all set to head to….

 

You read correctly, Bonefish Grill! YUMMY!  The Bang Bang shrimp did not disappoint us at all.  We had a great meal, fantastic drinks and great conversation.  It was so much fun.  Along with my meal, the gals got me a nice big Vera Wang beach bag and beach towel.  I’ll need them for our trip this summer.  THANKS girls!  It was so much fun.  Now we are waiting on May….

Birthdays are worth celebrating!

 

March 31 was my birthday!  I officially turned into my mid-thirties at 4:41 AM.  I have to say, so far, 35 doesn’t feel any different!!  Let’s hope it stays that way.  I received many text messages, face book notes, and a few calls (gasp so old fashioned I know).  Will that ornery little boy wouldn’t tell me Happy Birthday,  he’d just smile and giggle when I would ask him to say it. Just you wait until September, my mind is like a steal trap and I’ll remember this!!!

While Shawn was driving home from PA that day, he did come through the door with flowers, a card and a cake.  This is because I was convinced he had forgotten my birthday, for the third year in a row.  He claims he didn’t…

The flowers were really pretty.  He hadn’t given me any in a long while.  It was a nice surprise.  Paula H also gave me a Der Dutchman strawberry pie.  YUMMY!

 

When my parents came on Friday, they surprised me with this beautiful flower arrangement in a hand-made pottery leaf.  Ooo, getting spoiled with flowers this year.

 

April 1 we changed the calendar to another month, heart guard for Chief. . . OH WAIT…  It’s Shea Bugs Birthday!!!  We woke her up and sang to her.  She was bouncing all over the house as she was so excited.  Off to school she went. I went into school at 3 to give the kids cup cakes to celebrate Shea turning 7.  We had big plans after school, the mall for her ear piercing and then Red Lobster.  All of that would have to be put on hold.  When we pulled into the drive way, Shea got out of the car and got sick.  OH NO!  This continued for a while.  Change of plans and instead, Dad and I ran over to our local Mexican restaurant and brought dinner back home.  We had all the food ready for the next day….

We went on with her party.  Poor Shea just sat in the corner chair while we all enjoyed the day, celebrating her birth.  She did open her presents and LOVED them all.  She received many nice things. 

Her cake was amazing.  My friend, Julia, made her cake for me.  I just sent her a picture of the horse she rides, Buster, and said do whatever you want.  I didn’t even know what flavor the cake was until we tasted it.  AMAZING is all I can say!  See for your self…

Thanks Mrs. Julia!!!

We enjoyed the day, visiting with friends and family.

Paul, Paula and Nel

Shawn and Dallas catching up!

Linda, Mark, Nolan and Kim

Paula and Wayne

Kim, Nolan and Nathan

Linda, Mom and I

I didn’t get a good picture of everyone in attendance, I’ll improve on that. I did get more flower pictures.

Aunt Nan brought our sick girl pink flowers in hopes it would cheer her up.  They are really pretty.

My good friend, Elizabeth, brought me this beautiful arrangement.

My friend Wade commented that it was beginning to look like a funeral home in our living room.  Then they commented that Deetra was getting old! Ha-ha you’re all funny.

 

This is where Will was most of the time.

 

Even though Shea was not feeling well, she managed to sit up and we sang to her.  Bless her heart.

 

Tonight after dinner, Shea was feeling much better.  We took a cake my Mom had made me and put 7 candles in it.  We sang to her again and she blew out her candles.  This time it was more fun for her.

 

We will continue her celebration this week.  Thursday night we’ll try to get her ears pierced.  Sunday is her swimming party with her class mates and then we’ll try Red Lobster again.

Spring Time Fun

 

The calendar said that Spring has arrived and for a few days, it was here.  The kiddo’s were so excited!  We grilled out, played on the play set, cleaned up the yard.  The rabbits even had their winter nails trimmed. 

Those kiddo’s sure have a great time swinging.  I challenged Shea to a swing-off.  It was fun and I “let her think” that she went much higher than me. I had not swung that high in a long time!

We also went to Shea’s school one night for the First Grade Music Program.  It was so cute.  They were all dressed up in their “Sunday best” and put on the cutest performance.  Here are some snap shots of Shea with some of her friends.

Shea played the Triangle during the performance.  She also had to sit front and center for the “Apple game”.  I’m not sure of the correct title.

For the first weekend of Spring Break we headed back to New Madison.  We had a nice visit with our families.  We took the kiddo’s and Grandma Pat to IHOP for brunch on Sunday. The kiddo’s had pancakes as big as their heads.  It was fun.  While we were at Grandma and Grandpa Huntington’s the kids and Daddy found two lonesome turtles.  Excited was an under statement.  They carried those turtles around all day!  Shea took excellent care of hers.  It was even holding her hand.  Following her while it walked around…  She was it’s Mom for the day.  Shea was so attached to it.  Will, on the other hand, did not under stand that we needed to be gentle with our new friend.  That poor turtle had a few dips, bumps and falls.  A few times I didn’t think it would survive.  Queue Gloria Gainer….  That turtle must have sang “I Will Survive” all day.

Meet Rose and Digger

Shea loved to put them in her pockets…

Digger is the one in hiding.

Dinner was approaching, time for the turtles to be returned to their natural habitat near the pond.  Digger took off IMMEDIATELY once he was placed into the water.  Poor guy, he put up with a lot.  Shea was sad for Rose to go but she understood it was best for her.  Maybe they will meet again.