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.