The summer so far...

Even with all the working I have been doing this summer, I think we have managed to have some fun this month so far. We haven't had a chance to do any camping yet but that will come. Our activities have, up to this point, included branding, Batoche, Ft. Carlton, playing with good friends, a birthday party and the lake. May I present to you, July in pictures...

Canada Mourns Again

Making headlines all across Canada...

Remember our RCMP and their families during this tragic time.
A trust fund has been set up for the small children of these slain officers; you can find more information here.


Thank you for all you did for us.
Rest in Peace

Today is your birthday!!!

Three years ago today Bug and I were in the maternity ward, room #14. Three years ago today I was holding my beautifully and perfectly made son and cocooning him in one arm. Three years ago today my heart swelled with pride and love. Three years ago today I was nervous because I thought I was going to make a terrible mom to a boy and not know how to take care of him. Three years ago today I was struggling to get out of bed due to pain from a third and final c-section and three years ago today I couldn't think of a pain more worthwhile. In case you haven't figured it out, my handsome, smart, delightful Bug is three years old today (and as a side note, my dad is...ahem...45...ahem...sort of...).





















Buddy, you are one of the best things to ever happen to me. I am so proud of you, of the heart you have, of the determination you posess and of the little man I have watched you grow into. Your smile, sparkling, mischivious eyes, deep dimples, contagious giggle and zest for life make me fall in love with you all over again. Mama loves you so much-to the depths that I have not yet seen nor felt. I still can not fathom the incredible love I feel for you. You make me proud to be your mama.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you so much. You have given so much of yourself to and for me and, because of that, I owe a debt to you I can never possibly pay.

Sure sign

Sure sign your 5 year old has watched too many Visine commercials:

"Do you have something for eyes? 'Cause mine eyes is dried out."


Sure sign your 3 year old could make a darn good living as a politician:

After drinking all of his juice he poured his sister's into his cup while she was out of the room. Upon her return she began drinking her juice again and her brother freaked out that that was his.

Me: That's Jellybean's juice, Bug.

Bug: But my cup.

Me: But it's Jellybean's juice.

Bug: yeah, but it my cup...


Sure sign your almost-teenager is getting extremely close to being a teenager:

You ask her to wash, dry and put laundry away and you find all the laundry (from youngest kid's to pre-teen's clothes, towels, dish clothes etc) in Jellybean's dresser drawers and when you ask why most of Jellybean's clothes aren't put away, her reply is "She has too many clothes and they won't all fit, maybe you need to give some away." Say what!!!

Sure sign you have been a parent of for way too long:

You think this is all incredibly funny however, you can't wait until pre-teen gets home from her grandpa's house so you can string her up by her toenails and pummel her with an organic carrot.

Am I on crack?

Seriously, people, am I? It is 9:30 a.m. and so far today I have done 2 loads of laundry, gone to work and back to pick up a paper I needed, cleaned up Bug's cheerio mess, tattooed my kids, checked my email, chatted with a friend on MSN and had a nap...whatever will I do for the rest of the day?

Looks like more laundry, cleaning Jellybean's room with her help, picking up a few groceries from Superstore, figuring out what to make for supper, possibly baking some cookies before it gets too hot in here, order Bug's birthday cake because he will be "Free" (3) on Friday and I just don't even know what else....I feel a nap coming on.

What a day.

No, seriously. What a day. This morning the kids and I got ready and headed over to Dixie's house shortly after 9. I had all ready been asked about 12 times when we were going. So, the kids all had a blast playing in the wading pool and slide, garden hose, sandbox and attempting to be naked. Dixie and I baked a pie. Well, Dixie baked it; all I did was slice a couple of pears. It was quite good; she and I had that for a snack. Yummy! Jellybean, Bug and I headed home for lunch, ate a quick bite and headed out to run a couple of errands.

While I was at Dixie's we were looking at her flower beds and I got it in my head that I was going to get rid of the delphiniums that are taking over my flowerbeds and sidewalk. They are more of an eye-sore than anything. While Bug was napping Jellybean and I pulled flowers, weeds and did some transplanting and rearranging in the flowerbeds. It is 6 now and I just walked in the door. Feeling a good about the day I had as well as a tad bit crispy. I noticed my shoulders when I went to wash my hands for making supper...I look and feel a tad bit lobsterish but just on my back and shoulders. Ah, it was a good day though.

Ode to a Big Sis

Thanks, R, for everything you are and everything you make me want to be. Thanks for trusting me with your problems and for helping me with mine. Thanks for being there to laugh with, to cry with, to have fun with and to just sit and be with. I am so very proud to be your sister and I love you so much. Happy birthday to you my dear. I love you.

Oy!!!

I hurt! Not emotionally; not mentally...I hurt physically. My stomach muscles have decided to rebel against my attempts to get fit. Pilates! Uggh! I enjoyed it; don't get me wrong and...it is sort of a good hurt...sort of. Tonight was the first time I had done these, aside from the time Dixie and I did them in her living room.

It may be difficult for me to do this tomorrow but I'll be darned if I am letting my stomach muscles beat me!!

I WILL do Pilates tomorrow. I really, really will!

At rest...

Megan's fight ended last night.

And life goes on...

Two years ago, we were celebrating LilB's graduation and a co-worker and his family were watching their daughter of the same age fighting for her life as she began a fight with a double lung transplant (among other things). At the time, it saddened me, knowing that this young girl, who went to the same school and was in the same grade as LilB was fighting a battle no one that age should have to. She lay in the hospital fighting as her friends walked across the stage graduating. Life went on...

LilB was in the process of planning his wedding with DearN, one of the happiest times in a person's life and Megan was getting sick again and found herself in and out of the emergency ward time after time, her wedding day so far from her mind. LilB got married; Megan got sicker...and life went on...

Today I went to work and found out that Megan has been admitted to the Medical/Palliative ward of the hospital fighting, once again, for every breath she takes. Her family was called in; she is in isolation and the doctors are not giving much faith to her survival. And life goes on...

It is so hard and so unfair to think what this family and, especially, this young girl, has endured in the last few years. I am saddened by my granny being so close to death, someone who has led a great and complete life-someone who has lived to see great-grandchildren.

Megan, is laying in a hospital bed and it is very probable that she will not live to see her wedding day let alone great-grandchildren. It is so unfair that this wonderful family needs to endure this. We shouldn't have to worry about our children this way. It makes other problems seem so petty and so selfish. Megan struggles for each breath, for each kiss, for each hug, for each fleeting moment and, somehow...life goes on...

Please, please pray for this family. They need every prayer, every positive thought, every ray of hope we have to offer them. Right now, they need God to give them the strength to make it through each minute of her life and, if it should happen, every minute after her passing. Pray for peace, for strength and for calmness and please, please don't take your kids' and their lives for granted. You never know how long you have with that precious gift.

What a treat!

Last weekend when we were at the park Jellybean gave me and her AuntieR lots of treats like the one shown in the picture. Every time she saw a flower she was picking it and distributing the flowers between Auntie and Mom. It reminded me so much of when I was a kid and picking flowers for my mom and granny.




This week's theme at Mamasaysom.

Okay, I Did It!!!

I have been moaning and complaining long enough and I finally decided that it was time to do something about it so...with BigB's "permission" (for lack of a better word) I quit Housekeeping. I am pretty nervous about this, wondering if I will be getting enough hours with the other positions I have but I know that I just need to have faith and trust in God and let Him take care of that stuff. My priorities right now are spending time with my kids and my husband, helping Jellybean with her schoolwork, getting Bug potty trained, spending some good quality time with Rush before she reaches the age that she wants nothing to do with me and other stuff like that. I may even be able to spend more time with my family and friends. Can you imagine that? So, I did it. I am nervous as a mouse at a cat convention but I did it...

How?

How do you say thank you to someone who met you as a half grown kid and opened her arms to welcome you into her family no questions asked and accepted you as her grandchild with no hesitation? How do you say thank you to that same woman who not only accepted you and your children but your step-children as well and who loved them all to pieces?

How do you not cry and how does your heart not break as you hear her say those words...that she is ready to die? How do you not cry when she whispers that she loves you as you are leaning in to give her what is probably the last hug you ever will? How do you not find her the epitimy of beauty and grace as she lies in that bed and with more peace than you can fathom tells you that she has had a full and good life and that you don't need to cry for her?

How do you not admire her strength when she tells you that despite her illness she is feeling no pain and despite all the morphine she is sharp as a tack...her memory never failing?

How do you keep your composure as she tells you not to cry for her? How do you keep from telling her that you are not only crying for her but crying for you because you are about to lose someone so special?

How do you say goodbye as you walk out the door when you want to say see you soon?

GG, we love you! You are a terrific woman, an incredible role model, a spectacular grandma and great-grandma. I am not going to say goodbye to you; I will only say, "see you later".

Great weekend

The kids and I had a great weekend. We went to the farm on Saturday and helped with branding UncleS' cattle and by helped I mean I took the pictures. My job was photojournalism. We had a lot of fun with the 3C's, UncleS, AuntieR, GmaNpaK,UncleD and his daughter and son-in-law. After branding came food...yummy. We had a nice barbeque then the kids played while AuntieR and I had a nice nap on the couches. Ah, relaxation!! I got a bit sunburned and by a bit I mean my face was RED; what can I say, I have sensitive skin.

On Sunday we met the 3C's, UncleS and AuntieR at the Walmart parking lot and went off to Batoche for another fun filled day of family togetherness. It's been a while since we have been able to do anything together (way too long) and so as much as I hated to miss church on my one Sunday off in who knows how long, I really wanted to be with them. We had a good time. It did get a bit long for the kids when we were late going for lunch because we were in the middle of walking around the battle field. At one point Jellybean told AuntieR and I that she was tired, hungry and needy. Well, we heard needy apparently she said itchy. Needy makes for a better and funnier story. Perhaps I will put up pictures tomorrow.

Progress?

I don't want to get too excited because I don't want to jinx it but...

We may have potty training progress!!!! Wahoo!!! We spent the weekend with my brother and sister and their kids. Bug got to watch the boys out on the farm (who will just go where and when they need to. You know, like you do on a farm). I think it intrigued him because just a few minutes ago I got him to stand up and take a pee in the toilet. I then proceeded to put him in his brand new Batman gotchies as a reward and to help him feel like a big boy. Let's see if we have made progress in the peeing area and then we will graduate to the pooping.

I am excited but still nervous just in case we still have a ways to go. He will be 3 in 3 weeks. Here's hoping...

The last graduation of the year...

Tuff graduated from elementary school to junior high so next year he will be attending Grade 7. They seem to grow up way too fast but what can you do to stop it?


















They grow up so fast...sniff!

A new look for Jellybean

Jellybean decided that she needed her haircut as her hair was so long and is so thick; I agreed somewhat tentatively. Anyway, without further ado here is the before and after...

Before...



















After...

Forgiveness...

Well, the dear ladies over at mamasaysom have picked quite a hard theme this week and a challenging one to boot.

Give me a second as I take a deep breath and muster up the courage to type what I feel I must.

I had a great childhood (one, however, with a few major valleys); my teenage years were a roller coaster of good and bad and my early 20's were hell. I've had a lot of things in my life that I have needed to "get over" and in order to do that, I needed to fogive.

I needed to fogive my mom for leaving us in a way that made me feel unloved, insignificant and disposable.

I needed to forgive my dad for "having it in for me" or so it seemed.

I needed to forgive my grandpa and grandma for leaving me "alone" when they passed away.

I needed to forgive the teenage boy who killed my second cousin when he hit him with his truck.

I needed to forgive my 2 friends who chose to end their lives one month apart.

I needed to forgive my roommate for betraying me.

I needed to forgive 3 boys/men for taking from me something I chose not to give...

I NEED to forgive myself for "allowing" them to hurt me and for allowing them to take from me something I couldn't afford to lose, my sense of pride, self-worth, self love and trust...

I NEED to forgive myself for the dark path I chose to go down afterwards and the dark hole I woke up in...

I NEED to forgive myself for giving up on someone very important in my life...me.

Why is it so easy to forgive other people and so hard to forgive yourself...?

The graduate...

I am not going to write much of anything...I will just put some pictures on here for people to see. Busy, busy, busy...



The dress for under the gown...

















Our graduate...with Honors!!!



















The proud boyfriend...rejoicing! Actually he was standing on a chair so LilJ could see us after the ceremony.
















BigB, LilJ and me. Apparently I can't even keep my mouth shut for pictures...(grin)














Ok, I'm done for tonight. I think you guys got the idea of how gorgeous and happy she looked!

We caught a break in the weather

There was a spell between my having to get work done, supper-time and rain where we got to have our water fight; it last for only 15-20 minutes but it was time well spent. The pictures, I think, will speak for themselves.


Jellybean looks like she means business and I'll tell you what, she had an absolute blast.











Bug was giggling so hard I don't know how he ever managed to see anyone to spray them. He also always had a water balloon in his hand poised in the air however, none of those ever hit their mark either.









Rush is looking a bit fearful of getting wet but as the game progressed she felt she wasn't wet enough and turned the hose on herself. Take a look at those storm clouds in the back.

By the way, I couldn't tell Jellybean that her fish was doing more (or less) than sleeping so I snuck in a new one when I went to buy cat food today. I just couldn't do it. I am weak!! Weak I tell you!! She has managed other fishy deaths maybe it's just because I am not feeling well...

What I was doing at 2 in the morning

This is what I spent my night doing last night (aside from yearning for a 24 hour Wal Mart).
We have mini Reeses peanut butter cups with a chocolate covered (square) cookie and a tassled fruit roll up to make a cap and mozzarella cheese strings cut in half and tied with a pull-apart licorice string to make diplomas. They were a tad bit time consuming but I thought a cute little addition to the graduation festivities. Today I have put together rose bowls filled with clear gel, red and silver "graduation" confetti and red floating candles; they will be center pieces for the tables on Saturday. I will also be making "graduation" themed chocolates, slicing vegetables like you wouldn't believe and sneaking off to buy a brand new red betta fish.

We were going to have our year-end water fight and bubble extravaganza but we do have a thunderstorm looming overhead and growling at our every move...we'll have to see but I know the kids will be very, very disappointed.

This morning he's sleeping in...

Jellybean thinks her fish is very tired and is sleeping in...

I don't really want to send her off to school in mourning so I may just have to wait to tell her the news.

This is not going to be fun...

It's a sad, sad day in Berryland

Well, as I mentioned in the tail end of my last post, Strawberry Shortcake, the betta fish, was struggling to keep swimming. The seizures have ended. He has now gone on to the big berry patch in the sky to be with all the other poor, poor male fish with a feminine name like his.

Breakfast, tomorrow, will NOT be fun. What a sad day to end the school year, with the death of the fish who helped you begin the school year. Well, here's to Strawberry Shortcake; he was a good (if not sexually mixed up) fish.

Jellybean done gradumicated...

Seriously though, yesterday Jellybean graduated from Kindergarten. They had a little tea where the Kindergarten class entertained us with some of their favorite poems from throughout the year and fed us with rice krispie squares, cookies and teeny little cherry cheesecake tarts. They didn't have a "cap and gown" ceremony but they still received their "diplomas".

Here are a couple of pictures from the event...

































On a very sad note, as I type this Jellybean's fish, Strawberry Shortcake (the male betta fish my friend, Jaimie gave her) is in the middle of dying and she will wake up in the morning to him being "gone". He is having little fishy seizures and I find myself almost in tears because I can't make it better and Jellybean's little heart will be broken. Dang it! Why can't we have a 24 hour Wal Mart?! It's a sad, sad day in Strawberry Shortcake's home tonight. Pardon me while I wipe the tears and blow my nose and mourn the loss of Jellybean's dear, dear fishy friend.

Going a little nuts

That's right...I'll finally admit it. I may, perhaps, be going nuts. Well not really but I am so busy right now with planning grad, all the year end school events for 4 kids, getting food prepared for grad, I am sick, Bug is sick...

I feel fine;okay, denial move over. I feel not too bad; I am very tired and at times my body is so achy I can feel the roots of my hair, eyelashes and toenails. The biggest annoyance of my being sick is the fact that right now I have (warning graphic description of bodily emissions in near present) superfluidous (I made that up in my delirium last night) nasal emissions that I can't seem to get anything accomplished aside from blowing my nose. I am so tempted to grab a couple of regulars out of my O.B. box and get to work.

Bug was up about 200 times last night; thankfully BigB took care of him. This morning the Bug is about as annoying as a mosquito. His voice is making him sound like he's whining when he isn't however, he spends 98% of the day whining and the other 2% crying. I keep trying to remind myself that he is sick but that whining is such a "push-me-over-the-edge" sound. I have been going around reciting a brand new mantre just for the day...He's sick; he's sick...remember, he's sick.

So now, I am going to go attempt to finish LilJ's scrapbook for grad and that ought to be fun, perhaps those tampons will become a reality as I don't know how much I will really be able to do what with my leaking nasal passage and having my head down to work on this book...wish me luck

Don't rush through life...Saunter.

Bug and DeeDee. These cousins are 2 months apart but from the beginning of their time have always had to hold hands. Here they are taking a stroll through the pasture, checking on the cattle and on their way to visit the horses. They fell way back from the group, just holding hands, sauntering along, enjoying the scenerey and being, just, with each other.

We could learn so much from watching moments like this...take time to show loved ones just how much you care, when you are together, enjoying just being together, don't rush through life and never take the opportunity to enjoy the path you get to take along the way...

And if you look at the very top of the picture you see another example of sauntering with the same life lessons. My Jellybean and her Uncle S enjoying being together.

Enjoy your life. Try not to rush through it...try to simply saunter...



mamasaysom

This Week's (and my first)Theme: Comfort

Something new I thought I might try is over at a website called mamasaysom.com; each week you get a different theme to write about, photograph or interpret. I'll give it a go.

Comfort
















It's been years, 19 in fact, since our trailer burnt down that cold day in February and my heart still freezes yet simultaneously races at the mere thought of an uncontrolled fire. Fire...can bring comfort on a cold, blizzardy day, can comfort a wounded heart as it mourns a relationship burning memories, can comfort an empty stomach as it cooks a meal and can strip comfort away as it devours your home...

Funny how something that can be such a comfort under controlled circumstances causes such havoc when uncontained...

He's an adult now...

Okay, okay...I'm in denial because he's been married for almost 2 months and I am just now saying he's an adult. Perhaps the title is a smidge misleading but I digress.
LilB turned 20 years old today! Yup! 20 years old! Oi!!! I could be feeling old. I could be feeling depressed that I have a 20 year old, married son who could make me a grandmother within the next 9 months. Perhaps I would be feeling this way...perhaps, if I couldn't fall back on the fact that I am his step-mom. Whew! I was almost in need of some heavy duty sedation for a minute.

All joking aside, LilB I am so proud to call you my son and honored by the man you have become. You have a good, level, head on your shoulders and a wisdom that has, at times, astonished me (there have been fleeting moments, however fleeting, that I worried about you).

So, to you, my son, I sing as loudly and as off key as I can possibly stand an overdone B.P.'s rendition of "Happy Birthday" as I proclaim to the World how proud I am of my son (THE CO-ORDINATOR FOR WRC'S CALL CENTER!!!! big job!!! huge!!!)!!! Your dad and I love you more than you could ever stand! Keep up the good work! Take care of your good wife and God bless!!!

Weather or not...

Yes, I spelled that right. The rain here is getting a bit depressing. It hasn't really let up and when it actually isn't raining, it is cold and dreary. Even when the sun does come out for an ever so brief moment, it is STILL raining. I think this picture of Bug speaks for all of us...










P.S. This picture was taken on a day when it was raining like a son of a gun one minute and beautiful the next so he was waiting for his chance to get o.u.t.s.i.d.e!

You Just Never Know When

Yesterday we found out that this man, who BigB worked very closely with over the last 5 years died. There were still speculations of this being a rumor as it was a complete shock to every one. Bob was a young man (45 years old) and very athletic so to hear of his passing was incredulous. Needless to say, Bill is upset and in complete shock. Lesson learned here: Live life to the fullest and make sure you always live your life right.
Here is the newspaper clip that we got today...


Freak slo-pitch accident claims ______'s "Baseball Bob"



Suzanne Boyer


A ______ man is dead after a freak accident during a pre-season slo-pitch game early Saturday evening at the Western Development Museum ball diamonds.
Bob _____, known as Baseball Bob in sports circles, was playing shortstop for a men's 10-man league team called the Chiefs when he went after a ball that went up the midfield, between himself and the second baseman.
"It just happened so fast," explained Cory ______, one of the team managers, who was playing right field.
"It was a freak accident that you don't expect just going out to play ball, that's for sure.
"The ball was going up the middle, with a runner on first, and Bob, if you knew him, was a never-give-up sort of player, and he went for the ball," Cory said.
It appears the 45-year-old then attempted to tag second base.
"The second baseman was cutting the other way and they were both heading in the same direction, and Bob, I think, had his head down, and (the second-baseman) caught him with a shoulder."
Cory said he saw Bob's head connect with the other player.
"It looked like he just spun off him and hit the ground."
* * *

Dress rehearsal for Fancy dinner, when we actually got to take pictures.
































2 of the advanced Hip Hop girls doing their competition routine. This group's routines are always so phenomenal to watch.










The Prima Ballerina FINALLY got her flowers. She got roses from Grandma and Grandpa, her brothers and sisters, her Aunt and cousin, G.G. (great grandma), the pink gerbera from Mom and Dad and the pink ballerina hippo on behalf of LilB and DearN because she really wished they could be there. It seemed to make her day to have a little way to have them a part of that day so I am so glad I picked it up.

F.A.M.E.

Well, it is 10:49 and we just got Jellybean tucked into bed after another incredible dance recital. We still have one left tomorrow afternoon and we are done for yet another year. She is all ready looking forward to the start of next year's ballet class.

I get so emotional at these dance recitals; every year I end up crying because I am so-o proud of all of the kids and all of their hard work throughout the year. The final song is always Fame and the kids come on-stage groups at a time to take their final bow and stand there as they always get a standing ovation. The pride and excitement that is on their faces overwhelms me to tears as does my own pride.

This year the owners, a husband and wife, did a little number where he sang and she performed a beautiful ballet. The song was something to the effect of "the little children are watching what you do...they are learning from you...", a touching song all on its own. They had to add a powerpoint presentation with pictures of the kids from the dance studio.

I had to cry...

...are any of you actually surprised?

I have something to tell you all but only if you can keep a secret.

Well? Can you?

Okay, I'll tell you.

I knew I would cry when we watched Miss Jellybean dancing; I wasn't prepared to see BigB tear up as well...

Don't tell a soul...

Life Lesson TLC forgot

The title of this was inspired by a post that Christie did a little while ago.

Here is MY life lesson for TLC. Never, and I repeat never, go bathing suit shopping when you are in the middle of your mensus (grin) when you all ready feel like you need to lose 50 pounds.


What an excellent post for my 200th post...

Kids' Fun Center in Independence Mall

Here's a couple of shots of the two youngest playing in the kids' area. These flowers were made out of a soft spongey material. Along with the flowers there was also a watermelon slice (shown), an ice cream sandwich and a spilled fountain drink with ice cubes to bounce on. They had several "mall rides" like Bob the Builder, Clifford, trains, helicopters, etc but the really cool part was a Venetian Carousel. It was absolutely gorgeous; unfortunately, it was out of order while we were there.

Look out Tommy Lee

While we were in Missouri we went to Independence and to the Independence Mall. Well, in the same parking lot area is a music store called Guitar Center that we all went to. Bug was thrilled as you will be able to see in the following pictures. One of the salesmen, named Clay, lent Bug a pair of sticks and let him have at the electric drum set. Not only did Bug have a blast but Clay enjoyed seeing how much Bug loved playing.

Taking a moment to boast...

Okay, I am needing to take a moment here and brag about 2 of my kids' accomplishments.

Yesterday, LilJ had a Cosmotology competition for the entire province and she came home with a silver medal in the make-up category. WooHoo!!! Go LilJ!!!

Today Rush had a track meet and got 4th place in the 60 meter race! Woop there it is! Woop there it is!!! She is trying to act like it is not a big deal but when she talked to her dad today she was pretty excited. (Dad being BigB) She told us there were 8 people competing in that category and since this was her first year in track and she missed most of the practices because we were gone to Missouri...I think she did really well. The cool, level headed (about this anyway) almost teenager is jumping for joy inside and perhaps squealing like a little girl but has to maintain a certain level of maturity in order to keep her "kewl".

So, Yay for two of my girls!!!! Congratulations to you both. You both worked very hard and we are proud of you.

Here they are!

I am so sorry for the delay in pictures. We got home at 10 on Thursday and I have been working ever since. By the way, a quick shout out to all the moms, grandmoms, aunties, future moms and any other women who influence our future generations.

Here are pictures from the wedding. (I am not going to put up pictures that have the 2 flower girls in them on the internet because I have not discussed it with her mom and dad so sorry about that, my friends and family from around here will be able to see them though when we are in person.)







Brotherly love.

















Proud Dad.




















Blushing bride.













The happy couple.

















We couldn't be happier with the girl LilB chose as his wife. She makes a nice addition to our family. She is a shy(initially), sweet natured young lady with a heck of a sense of humor once you get to know her and she you; she has a heart the size of Texas and we love her to pieces.

So Freakin' Hilarious

Jellybean has a new best friend and she is a card; her sense of humor is second to none, especially as far as 5 year olds go.

Ally, the friend, went home to her mom and dad (a side note you all should know first, she lives in Kansas City) and told them ALL about her new best friend. There's only one problem with Ally's new best friend Jellybean, she doesn't speak English...










...she speaks Canadian...
Too funny. This same girl nicknamed LilB CanadianBacon.

P.S. Please bear with my typing while we are gone and this is being done on alwptop, the "c" key is not working. In fact, it took 3 times hitting that key in order for it to actually show up.

P.S.S. We are on our way home and I am currently sitting in a hotel room in Grand Forks, ND as we have reahed our half way point and are here to rest. Didn't want to leave but since we had to, I am looking forward to the cramped in van feeling to be done with.

Darn Gaithers

I was reminded tonight of a dear friend of mine and it made me miss her a lot. BigB was listening to some Christian programs on the internet last night and a sound caught my ear. I was reading Rush's school book, The Outsiders, and the soft sound of The Gaithers rang through the apartment...

Dixie, I miss you. (Darn Gaithers)


As a result of missing one friend, I then began thinking of and missing my other friends.

Crystal, I sure was thinking of you and Devanne today...missing your baby shower...

Anyway, to all my friends, I love and miss you.

Bar...B...QUE

Just a little sample of some of the GO-OD food we got to eat at the dress rehearsal dinner. We had smoked hot wings, bbq'd chicken, beef and burnt ends, potato salad, bbq beans, unsweetened iced tea and apple pie that had been smoked instead of baked (the apples were still crisp and it was oh so good).

Some of us filled our plates more and more often than others did but it was all well enjoyed (and we are going for more for supper tonight...I am drooling again).

BigB and I love a good barbeque as much as the next, but I think we were pretty full by the time we were done.

Exploring the neighborhood

A couple of boys fishing in the lake behind the Church's apartment (where we are staying).

A sight we never see in Canada...Canadian geese. We went down to the lake and fed these guys some bread. I have also been requested, by Jellybean, to get to the Church to get a picture of the goslings at their pond.

Jellybean is getting her shoe back on after dipping her toes in the water. She gave me a bit of a scare while we were on the dock. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her teeter at the edge of the dock and it looked like she was about to fall in. As I tried not to run to atch her, for fear of rocking the dock and making it worse, she looked at me and said, "It's okay, Mama, I almost falled in but Jesus catched me."

Even though she will tell you it was just a ploy so she could trick snakes into thinking she was scared so she could whack them with her snake beater (as seen in picture), Jellybean was a little leary of running into snakes on our walk.

Having difficulties...the wireless connection is too low for me to post pitures right now. I am not even sure if this post will work. I am trying.

Finally

At the dress rehearsal...the ring bearer.
















DearN and her dad
















BigB needs his laptop so I will put more on later.

Oops, I Lied

But not on purpose!!!! I do have pictures and they ARE on a laptop however, when BigB gave me the laptop just now he gave me this one and kept the one with the pictures on it for himself so... there will be some pictures just not tonight.


The dress rehearsal is tomorrow morning at 11 and the anticipation is running high! The church is buzzing with excitment over the wedding.

Today we took the kids, LilB included to a place called Pizza Street. It was SO delicious! It is a pizza buffet; adults cost $4, 4-12 year olds cost $2.49 and Bug was free. Not only did they have great pizzas but they had 4 different dessert pizzas...chocolate with icing sugar, cherries and icing and I don't know what the other 2 were because I only got as far as the first 2. Plus, I had myself a nice glass of wild cherry pepsi. I think I may have gained back all the weight I just finished losing but, at least I know I can do it and can get back to it once this is over with.

I will pass on everyone's best wishes to the mister and misses. For now though it is bedtime. Tomorrow is a busy day what with trying to get Bug to walk down the aisle and all that smoked bar b que we get to eat for lunch!!! I need to stop thinking about it though before my drooling shorts out the computer.

We Made It

We arrived last night and finally got ourselves settled in around 12:00, which would be 11:00 our time.

We have had some pretty intense moments so far with Bug; he fell the time I told you about plus, he fell on his chin at a rest stop and came pretty darn close to needing stithes and then, this morning, he was running around outside the apartment and slipped under the fence where a dog had been digging. The scary part of this one is that we are on a steepish hill that leads straight down to a lake. Yes, people we have a private lake here!!! Not a swimming in lake though, just a "I am pretty to look at lake".

BigB and the kids bought me my mother's day present on the way. It is a Sony digital camera with 12 times optical zoom!!! It is a 5.1 megapixel and can also be used as a videocamera. I am pretty pumped about it because of the zoom. I can get some pretty cool pitures!!!

Anyway, I will get some pictures downloaded off my camera sometime today and do another post. We have LilB here right now and I am going to visit!

Halfway...

Well, we made it to Grand Forks, ND and have just settled our 7 bodies into 2 adjoining double rooms. The boys get one and the girls get the other. Bug is really enjoying running back and forth between the 2 rooms and the girls are laying in bed watching some tv show. BigB & I are on one bed looking like a couple of nerds because we are both utilizing our laptops.

The kids have been great on the trip. There has been no crying, whining or pouting and no irritating us with 20 questions. We stopped for supper in Devil's Lake and ate at a place called Cedar Inn. It was pretty good however, in the parking lot Bug was letting off a bit of steam and going for a run when he fell down and got a pretty deep gash in his knee.

I haven't taken many pictures yet and for those of you who know me personally I am asking you to pick yourselves up off the floor. So I have nothing to put on here. P.B however, J's boyfriend, has taken pictures of every McDonalds that we have passed on our journey so far and plans to continue.

Right now it is 48 degrees but I have no idea right now what that converts to in Celsius. It has been cold and rainy for most of the trip so far so I am looking forward to a brighter and warmer tomorrow.

For now...ciao and I will continue to update and keep you all posted as I can. Perhaps I swill even put up some pictures for you.