hope your weekend rocked!

Happy Memorial Day!

This weekend flew by...in a hurry. Thought you'd like to see a re-cap....

Friday night was our family night. As in we were too lazy to do anything more than take a bike ride around the block. Here Donovan is sporting my Mother's day gift he bought me, with William's birthday present hitched up to it. Wow, How nice are we to let these people ride it???

Saturday was mama's day out. Sweet Kimberly Ann asked me if I would like to go to Ikea with her....And so we took off Saturday morning. We had some quality talk time all the way there and back. How fun to have a good friend to connect with, with NO interruptions. I had a blast. My favorite bargain of the day was a brand new bra I got at Gap for $3.95! We enjoyed a nice light lunch at the cafe at Ikea, then supper at Qdoba.

Added Bonus: I didn't have to cook at all Saturday.

Sunday was a day of firsts for us....We started a new church. Which went well. We weren't able to go to Sunday School, because we weren't sure if Jack could keep his cookies down long enough.

Since he had been tossing them all night and into the wee hours of the morning Sunday a.m. He was running a fever, and had ear ache. But by 9 a.m. he seemed to be doing better...and we just went for the worship service. We were a little nervous about the previous tossing and contemplated taking a bucket into the service with us....but decided it might seem a little strange. They never would forget the visitors that brought the bucket would they? Thankfully all stayed down. And by lunch he seemed almost back to normal.

We enjoyed a nice afternoon of lunch on the patio. And then running around in sprinklers...and splashing around. That evening we visited my parents and they fed us. Which was really nice that I did not have to cook again. :)

This morning we went to a parade in town.

And this afternoon we went to my Aunt Mary Jane's house for a cookout. We took the 3 oldest kids on a canoe ride. The best part is they didn't tip it. Here is a picture of my Aunt Mary Jane and my cousin Cheryl.

Mary Jane is my aunt...

and she is Cheryl's Grandma.

It was fun to catch up with you today Cheryl!

Here is a picture of me with my cousin Cathy and her son Isaiah. We were pregnant with these little people 8 years ago. Back then Cathy's mom took a picture by this same fence of us pregnant and so she thought it would be good to do another picture 8 years later. Our kids are 2 weeks apart. Cathy is a total crack-up and always keeps things interesting!!!

The men were playing "corn hole" or "Texas horseshoes" depending on where you live-and what you call it. William esp. was really studying his daddy and how it was played. Here is really practicing his form. Way to go stud.

What a fun and relaxing weekend! And cool...we had a cook-out tonight....so the men did most of the cooking. :) Do we really have to let the little people go back to school?? Do we really have to let the big people go to work??? Sad. Sad. But fun to have a holiday. Hope your weekend was full of fun!!

Quote for the day is from Jack:

After my cousin & his wife took off with the kayak's tonight, Jack says....

"when those humans come back that guy said he will take me for a ride in that boat."

Happy Birthday, Happy Valentines, Merry Christmas, Happy Easter, 4th of July, and Happy Thanksgiving to me....... all in one

Yes, It's a gift for all the holidays of 2008 given to me by my husband just last week. A trip to California! My friend Bobbie had asked me to go with her to visit another friend of ours that lives there. Our friend Jael (see Judges 4:18-for explanation on where her mama got her name) is a missionary with her husband and 3 children in Indonesia. They are home on furlow for one year, and living in California with her husbands parents. We are flying out February 21st and coming back on February 24th. Excited just doesn't seem to do justice to my feelings on this trip.

Dear Lord in heaven what was I thinking with bangs that high? Please forgive me it was 1996! This is a picture taken the first weekend I met Jael. Bobbie and I were roommates and living in Sturgis and decided to take a weekend trip to Waukesha, WI. Jael and her husband were attending Bible school there. We had such a blast that weekend. No subject is off limits with these girls. We talked each other to sleep every night that weekend.

Also that weekend Jael and Bobbie along with Jael's sister threw me a surprise 21st birthday party. I felt so loved!

And this was a reunion we had back in the summer of 1999 at the B & B Donovan and I managed. Jael is holding her first little girl, Avery. Bobbie is pregnant with her first, and I was wishing I was pregnant in this picture.

I can't wait to be with you girls again. It's been too long. I have enjoyed our 3 way calls planning our trip and can't wait to talk you both to sleep every night.

perks

I'm beginning to enjoy this.....I mean who wouldn't? Beautiful friends bringing beautiful meals, and Grandma called yesterday and asked to take the kids for the day.





Please allow me to elaborate on the delicious meal brought in tonight. Sweet friend Crystal sent her handsome husband Trent over with her contribution to my speedy recovery. However I was a little blushed to see him standing on the doorstep- rather than Crystal for the fact that I have not washed/combed my hair since Saturday. And the fact that I hadn't bothered myself to get dressed all day. After all, I was busy recovering.





So anyway the meal....stroganof with baked biscuits on top, green beans with slivered almonds, cinnamon applesauce, AND delicious cookies and cream ice cream. It was a perfect blend of soft, easy to swallow, colorful, and scrumptious food.





I have really appreciated all of my friends during this time. Nothing brightens my day more than spending time catching up with friends who love you and are concerned, and it was so nice to spend some time on the phone today. And then some of those who live close and bless us with meals-is just icing on the cake.





And what would I do without Donovan's mom at this time? She actually volunteered to take the kids today. And then sent home cinnamon rolls!! It really doesn't get any better than that. Unless of course they would let me keep their recliner, which by the way I haven't removed myself from since the one week they brought it over for me to borrow.





So now we just need Jack to recover....still coughing, still running fever. Tonight's high was 103.7 and I'm a little nervous about getting that fever. Because of course a fever would not sit well with me right now. We have tried to keep touching to a minimum, with the exception of last night when he thought he needed to be right in the same recliner with me, under the same blanket, with the occasional groan. The groans were to make sure that I still realized he wasn't feeling good. And just in case you think he's on his last leg.....let me assure you that when he is dosed up on Motrin/Tylenol he is up to fighting with big sister and little brother. And the saga continues......More than anything the kids really need mama back and rollin'. Too many days with me sitting in the same chair, and I have just felt a little guilty because they all are showing signs of mama neglect. But today was I was feeling better and I'm getting back to how I was. Hopefully tomorrow will show more signs of normality for all involved.