A few pictures from Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day by going to Katie and Marks place to meet up with my parents, Tommy's family, and my grandfather. We enjoyed eating Jack Stack BBQ and just spending time together!

A tribute to my dad...

Okay...can't leave my own father out in celebrating Father's Day! Three words that describe my father: patient, kind hearted, and gentleman. My dad helped me develop my love for history & politics, encouraged my interest in athletics, and most importantly; gave me my warped sense of humor! Growing up, he was easily persuaded (by both his daughters) to give in to their whims. All it took was putting our hair in pigtails and saying, "daddy, paaaaaaaaleeeeeeease!" Even in our later years, when we had no business being in pigtails, it always produced the desired results. I have a lot of fond memories of my dad growing up...but my ultimate favorite "dad memory" which speaks to the very heart of who he was as a father of a little girl is The Trash man Barbie Story. Barbies were my life as a little girl...from dawn to dusk, I played with my barbies; often outside in the driveway with my best friend Jentry. When we were told it was time to go inside for the night, she would head home after we placed our barbies in a cardboard box and set them inside the garage. Well...from the title of the story, you can probably tell where this story is going. The privately contracted trash man, Mr. Hull (a little old African American man in his late 60's, early 70's maybe) opened our garage and collected the trash the next day inadvertently taking my box of barbies. When I discovered this, my whole world had been torn apart, but being the sensitive, kind-hearted dad he was, he decided we would go and find the trash man's house that night. We loaded into the station wagon and headed off to inquire whether or not my poor barbies could be salvaged. Unfortunately, we were told by Mr. Hull they were gone forever. A sad moment for me. However, it meant a tremendous amount to me that my dad knew how important my dolls were and that he was willing to go the extra mile to attempt make it all right again.

Thanks for everything you are dad. I love you.

RIP Barbies!

Happy Father's Day Jason!

You're an amazing dad and husband! Our children are so lucky to have a dad who is so involved like you are...they will remember the times you spend with them!

Another year older...

My big sis and my dear husband made an otherwise ho-hum birthday (yep...32) a fantastic one. Katie took today off to come ease my load with the kids and allow me to escape to Zona Rosa for a little childless shopping (I still had gift cards from Christmas to burn). She also came with the following birthday cake (similar to one I had when I was 9)...It gave me a good little chuckle. The boys didn't care that it was Barbie....it was just sugar to them.

Jason surprised me during his lunch hour by bringing another cake, party hats, noise makers and a couple of cards (one from him and one from the little rascals). After we fed the kids dinner, Jason and I were able to get out ourselves for a bite to eat. Thanks again Katie! You never fail to spend my birthdays with me...and I love you for it!

Before (Perennial Barbie's skirt is a bit messed up due to cousin Daniel and Jonathan fighting over her...she fell on the floor ...thankfully lid intact. I'll be sure to remind them of fighting over a doll cake one day.

After

We all look pretty silly, huh?

Kate was asleep, so we had to take her picture separately. She looks like a garden gnome.

The joy in being a teacher...especially in the summertime

Summer's off! A common response to the question of why someone has chosen the career as educator. Can't beat 10 weeks off in the summer... and I think there is no better joy for a working mom than to have that kind of uninterrupted time with her kids. I originally thought the adjustment to full-time, stay-at-home mom would take a while, but in all reality, it has taken no time at all. I'm enjoying every minute (almost, ha!) of being with my kids from dawn to dusk...despite the demands of having three under the age of three. I have quickly come to understand that going places is difficult by myself...in fact, it's just not safe given I have only two arms and three little one's. So we are mostly homebodies...which is okay too. We've found plenty to do! Nick wanted to sport the bike helmet too (Jonathan's)....he loves walking around with it on...or over his face. Doesn't matter.
The boys in their new wagon...a friend picked up this awesome Radio Flyer from a garage sale for a mere $15...and it's practically brand new!
Jonathan's playset is almost finished...daddy's been working really hard. It still needs the swings, etc. It's coming along though.
Jonthan and good buddy, Kendric playing on the new playset.
Friends Cadence & Kendric with Jonathan

Katherine just hangs out outside...watching the boys. Not much else to do.
You think Jonathan watches his father play a lot of Guitar Hero?
More backyard fun
My kiddos... I just love 'em

Jonathan at the big pool for the first time.
Nick didn't like the life jacket...he couldn't bend over or sit.
Friend Jackson & Jonathan splashing each other at the pool.
He didn't enjoy the cold water...but he enjoyed his lunch though! (Thanks again Katie W. for inviting us and helping me!)

Wildlife

Before we get to the welcomed deer in the backyard, let me return to the racoons for just a minute. A friend of ours, TJ, who lives up the street (also an Industrial Arts teacher at Liberty High) obtained a trap from a fellow teacher. The humane kind...not the awful one's that act like a claw and clamp down on poor, helpless animals limb. A cage with a trap door. He was so excited to try to catch one of the racoons in our backyard that he immediately bought some canned friskies catfood (the good kind...what else?). He set the trap Friday night(we asked that he set it as far away from the house as possible...we remembered those sounds they make). Low and behold, the next morning I look out and a critter was snagged. He came later to collect his new pet (his wife, Marie, wasn't sure what TJ was going to do with it...for all she knew, it was the thrill of the hunt). I asked if they had any good recipes...he replied, "well, you have to run over it first". I laughed and then brought Jonathan out to look at it before it was exiled. I started to feel a pang of guilt, despite the destruction of my potted plants a few weeks prior. The poor little fella looked frightened...those dark little helpless eyes. I didn't bother to ask how it was "disposed of". Don't really want to know.


Okay...on to the deer. Jonathan spotted one this morning while eating breakfast, "look mom! A deer...he's eating grass!" He went out on the deck to have a closer look and there happened to be a little fawn with it. So cute.

Pre-bedtime fun...

Poor Nickles took some close calls...

Kate and I had some fun time of our own.

9 Year Anniversary

Nine years already...it seems like it's gone by so fast yet when we look back, it seems like our wedding day was forever ago. My how our lives have changed in just the past three years alone. Any fun plans for the day? Nope. But hey, that's okay...maybe we'll go crazy and order a pizza. Engagment night...at the Skyes Restaurant. Jason proposed later that evening by saying, "Will you allow me the privilege of loving you for the rest of my life?"...Still makes me weak at the knees.
Our wedding day
Honeymoon at Disney World... I recommend every newly married couple go there. Not because it's fun (don't get me wrong...it was), but because it's a form of birth control. All the screaming, tantruming (is that a word?) miserable kids dragging tired haggard parents behind. Isn't it supposed to be the happiest place on earth?

The kids had an outdoor adventure of their own...

The kids had their own mini-adventure in Gaga and Grandpa's backyard while Jason and I were away for the Adventure Race. More like a carnival as my mom so aptly described it...or a "playground" as cousin Daniel excitedly labeled it before he made it out of his parents car when arriving. I think they had a BLAST! Thanks again, Mom, Dad and Aunt Katie, for everything!

Ozark Greenways Adventure Race '08

Tommy & I

Brandon Winders, Tommy and I crossing the finish line
Checking in as a team for the last time.

ELATED to be finished!

Since race info. (distances, order of events, etc.) were not released until race morning...here is what the 10 hours 35 minutes and approx 45 miles of torture included :

8 mile run

6 mile canoe

5.5 mile biking

orienteering (about 7 miles)

1.1 mile technical trail run

8.9 mile technical biking (followed by "fording" or crossing the waist deep river with our bikes...brother Tommy carried both his and mine. What a gentlemen!)

8 mile road bike

Although I admit I became Mrs. Negativity during the last stretch of biking (by far my least favorite thing probably as a result of not having been on a bike in over 3 years) I can honestly say I'd do it again...despite every muscle in my body screaming and the bruises, cuts, and scrapes all over my legs (a nice welcome to summer short season by the way). Thanks to my team members (Tommy, Brandon & Dave) for encouraging me along the way. Those KC police officers are amazingly positive and supportive people and it really turned out to be a good time. (For those that understand the feeling of accomplishment from surviving such torment)

I think we came in about 51st place out of 77 teams. Here are a few pictures. I'll add more later.

Oh, and I didn't see a single snake or a tick on me...but then I had enough pesticide on my body to ward off anything within a 5 mile radius!