Turning 30- To be or not to be- that is the question!

OK,
I hit the big 3-0. And I didn't go gracefully. My birthday is actually July 2nd. We had a few people over on that day and mom only had 29 candles. I figured that was God's way of approving the fact that I would be under 30 FOREVER!

So anyways, Shawn told me about a month ago that he would have to work a bunch of overtime and that I would have to hang out with family on my birthday. I could see right through that lie. Then he wanted to add onto the deck and when I told him we didn't have the money, he said, "Look, I am throwing you a surprise party for your birthday, so I want to do this." Way to cover dear. Blew that one.

So, I did what any wife would do....changed the date, got my invite list together, and totally planned it. With some family and friend help.

I was absolutely surprised by the amount of people that showed up. I missed some that I was looking forward to seeing though. Maybe soon. Shawn had some friends from work smoke fresh hams, chickens and made me a steak! Gotta love him. We had tons of food, with the help from friends and family. Shawn's sister, Charity made two awesome cakes.

Ms. Pat had a horse party up this way, so she ended up bringing Nick and gave all the kids rides. My mom also snuck a ride in as well. The kids rode the cars down the driveway and even though there aren't many pictures on the slideshow of the car event, those of us that were there late ended up racing and riding down the drive as well. Totally against my normal sober, "You are too big for that car, Get off!" Whatever!

Jammie doesn't let loose all that often. It goes against my whole good mom role (dont' even laugh, I can wish if I want to)..... so see for yourself and beware of the pictures that pop up at the end of the night. Isn't it funny how the camera comes out more after you've had a few. Lots of friend, family and fun. I had such a good time and loved hanging out with everyone....until 3:45 am!

Thanks to Shawn for working so hard on the house, even though he wasn't feeling well at all this week prior. I hope everyone that came, had fun and if you missed it, You MISSED it.

Just wish that I would have gotten more pictures of those that came.

Thanks for the fun!
Lots of love,
Jammie

4th of July

Happy 4th.
OK, well it's actually the 8th, but I am always a few days late when it comes to blogging. I have to squeeze in the time.

For the 4th of July, we went to Whitehall. Perfect. I took the girls last year when Shawn was working but we went to a different spot. The kids played at the park for the longest time and we were right on the water for the fireworks. Shawn (who is always ba- humbug when it comes to crowds), actually was thinking of making it a half day next year. Cooking out and stuff.

We have been working our butts off on the house trying to get some odds and ends done before my "surprise" birthday party next week. (SHHHHH). When I finally washed the paint off myself, I told Katelyn to get dressed. She always wants to get dolled up and I told her that she would be smart to wear pants or kapris, because we were going down by the lake. But of course, we have to look our best and she wore a skirt. I did manage to get her to grab a jacket.

Well, when we got down to the park, she saw a set of bars calling her name. She hasn't been in the gym for over a week due to holiday shut down. She begged us to walk back to the van to see if there was by chance a pair of shorts in there.

So while Shawn was walking with her, I stayed with Meagan. And got some pictures of her playing. Then one of her best buds from school came running up to give her a hug.

Her and her buddy Madison.

Meagan playing with the bars.

And...of course she finds a horse. LOL

So Shawn is gone for a while and comes back with Katelyn, totally changed into a whole different outfit. Yeah, he went all the way home so she could play. I bet ya next year, she might listen to mom's advise on wardrobe... She is glad that dad loves her so much.

So she starts spinning around and around the bar like 10 to 15 times each time she hops up there. No I am not exagerating. Shawn is standing there with the biggest grin on his face. I consider it showboating. He says, "We pay for it, might was well get our use." Parents and kids alike are just sitting there staring at her. She was in her glory.

Twirly whirly, here we go.

And then as much as she doesn't want to smile at mom with the camera, I get her to give me one. Isn't she beautiful?

Then I get a shot with Shawn, Katelyn, and Meagan.

By the time we got home the girs were tuckered out...at least one was. The other, my night owl, was still wide awake.


All in all, a great 4th of July. I am so lucky and grateful. Now wish me luck with the weather for our pig roast this weekend. I hope it doesn't rain. The mosquitoes seem to be thriving at our house, no matter how many bug zappers, yard spray, or fogging we do. Bug spray is my perfume of choice.

Just for laughs, speaking of mosquitoes, last year I was looking for more octenol for our mosquito eater and a bug zapper. While at Menards, a worker told me that they decided they were "inhumane" and quit carrying the zappers. Are you kidding me?! Is it humane for them to get a blood donation without my consent! By the way, Lowes and Home Depot carried them last year. We now have 2.

Thanks for keeping posted.

Jammie

T-Ball 2008

OK, it won't let me add words to the slide show, so we will do two seperate entries.
Meagan's T-Ball season has officially come to a close. I am so glad she found "her thing" this year. She actually likes all the tom-boyish sports like baseball, basketball, golf, ect... I know she will be a sport junkie, like her dad.

Meagan had a blast with T-Ball this year. She totally amazed Shawn and myself. She went from being in a wheelchair a year ago after having surgery to running around, hitting the ball and surprising everyone around her by how well she did.

Many family and friends came to her last game. Meagan was so excited because she got to play against Andrew and Derek. For those of you that don't know Andrew and Derek, they have been going to my daycare for 4 years and are truly her good buddies. She rooted for them just as much as her own team.

We couldn't have asked for a better coach than Coach Wall. He has made comments that he won't be coaching next year, which is a bummer. He worked well with the kids and had lots of patience. He also said that Meagan smiled the whole time and he thought she did great!

Below are pictures of her getting her trophy, family, and her just plain having fun.

Meagan's last T-Ball game 2008

Giddy Up!

For those of you that don't know, Meagan loves, lives, breathes horses. I can't even remember how it all got started but it has been Meagan's "thing" forever. She has always been a huge animal lover. I don't care what it is (I have pictures of her with baby racoons), she absolutely thinks animals are the coolest thing in the world. For the most part, Meagan is always my big smiler, but you put her with a horse and that's it. At about 3, she got some cowgirl boots and a few toy horses. Then it turned into getting a toy barn and about 30 more horses. When Aunt Jessica comes over, they have to get the whole set up out and it takes up my whole living room.

For Christmas, Santa got her a red lead rope and a harness. He's already getting her equipment because he knows some day we will probably end up with the hay burners. We've already cleared about an acre's worth of trees out back. Just can't afford the darn things right now.

So we have been going to Ms. Pat's for about a year. Ms. Pat says that lots of kids like horses but that Meagan has the "itch". It's not ever going to go away. LOL. Ms. Pat and Meagan are buddies. She gives Meagan lessons about every two weeks for a very reasonable price. $15/hr. They usually end up going riding together. Ms. Pat sits behind Meagan and then lets her control whichever horse they take out. When we get back, she usually lets Meagan have some arena time.

We now have begun going to Ravenna (I know... don't even say it) for their monthly auctions.

First, you never buy a horse from an auction. We just go to have a look. Some of them are truly beautiful. I was tempted enough to actually get a number last time. Do you think they will let me post date a check for 2 years?

Second, Meagan thinks it is work because if she brings her helmet, at some point Ms. Pat might put her on a pony out in the middle of the ring to try and help sell the horse. She literally says that it is her job.

What's sad is that Shawn has now become obsessed. One Sat. we had no kids and figured we would have a date night. It's been forever. Where did we end up? Ravenna. Somehow I feel I got the raw end on that deal!

Meagan's whole room is horses and if you look at our couch, there is one poor spot that she puts her Pooh blanket on (it's supposed to be a saddle blanket. She then puts her lead rope and harness up there. And notice the helmet sitting on the couch. She rides the stinken couch like she is running a race. And if you are actually watching the Kentucky Derby...forget it! Poor couch. This is actually how she left it tonight when she went to bed.

Here are some pictures of this week's riding lesson.

Meagan in the arena. She loves to have control of the horse on her own...if only she would stop laughing to actually do so. I swear she gives Ms. Pat a heart attack.





She gets to laughing so hard, I swear she is going to fall off.

Katelyn gets to go about once a month so she can learn how to take care of them as well. She didn't have her lesson this week, but wanted in on the photo op.

Ms. Pat showing Camanche some love.

PS. We had someone walk through our other house that's for sale and she really liked it. She is calling on Monday to check on financing. Pray for us Wish us luck!

Dance Recital

Let's Dance, Dance, Dance

It's that time of year again, where all the hard work and dedication pay off in a mind boggling two weeks between rehearsal, dress rehearsal, and three shows.



I have been so busy that my new hobby of blogging seems back row at the minute. So it's is after midnight and I am excited because I have newer photos to put on here. Katelyn was supposed to do Girls on the Run a few weeks ago but hurt herself...again, so she wasn't able to participate. She is all well and better now.



So, back to dance. For those of you that don't know, Katelyn has been in dance for 7 years. Yup, 7 years. She started off having one costume a year, then it went to two. One year, I think she had 4 costumes and sometimes the changes were so quick she was behind the curtain with clothes flying everywhere. This year, she slowed it down a bit and only participated in a ballet class so there was only one costume. She also took her ballet exam and moved up to level 2, which is a lot of hard work. But when it was all said and done, she was telling me on the way home that she really wants to get back into jazz and tap, along with ballet. Here we go again....