sumo wrestler perhaps??

If you can't tell, this is a WWE wrestling ring that Brennan got for his birthday. Maizy decided it would make a perfect, albeit cozy place for her to nap. So we had fun placing wrestling dudes in the ring with her...she was not amused.

blog hopping this evening

Keeping up with all of the pictures I take is a big task. Right now I have over 1000 pictures on my camera. I refuse to delete them until they have been downloaded on my computer AND backed up on a online site. Well that is what is going on right now. I am downloading over 800 pictures to Snapfish as we speak, and while I patiently wait for that task to complete, I have been visiting some blogs, one of my favorite activities. I have Google Reader, which is totally awesome. Anyone who has many sites bookmarked should look into Google Reader. I have my favorites that I read regularly, but there are several that I look at only once in awhile. Well tonight is that night. As I came across one, she had a prompt that I thought was neat, so here goes...



Outside my window: I have all of the blinds closed since it's almost 10 PM

I am thinking: a lot about Sunday school curriculum. I had a conversation with someone this morning that sparked some thoughts about what we're teaching, what we should be teaching, etc. I am also thinking about Bradley while he's at camp. I am constantly looking at their camp schedule wondering what he's doing.

I am thankful for: the fact that Gary and I both have jobs. Whenever I think of the deteriorating economy and so many without work, I am just grateful for our jobs.

From the kitchen: I smell nothing yummy since I don't bake nearly as much as I'd like to. I read my cooking magazine and slobber all over wonderful recipes that I rarely get around to trying.

I am wearing: a white tank top and navy blue shorts

I am creating: let's see... nothing at the moment. Not because I am at a lack for pictures or ideas, but more about the lack of time and energy. Almost every day I plan to scrapbook that evening, but when evening actually rolls around, I'm too tired.

I am going: to Florida 3 weeks from tomorrow!! I can't wait!

I am reading: the 4th Twilight book. I am about 1/2 way through.

I am hearing: Brennan and my niece Abby laughing while watching Garfield, the Movie. I must admit, it's quite funny!

Around the house: things are messy. Bathrooms need to be cleaned, laundry folded, dishes washed- the usual.

One of my favorite things: sunshine in the summer!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: several hours of tutoring, a trip to Build a Bear for my niece, making brownies and cleaning up for the arrival of my family on Sat., driving to Hidden Acres to pick up Bradley

A picture to share:

taken 4th of July weekend

Well I'm off to see how many of my 800 photos are uploaded by now.

missing him...

Yesterday we dropped Bradley off at Hidden Acres Christian camp for the week. He is there with his friend Trevor. I know he's probably having an awesome time and not really missing us at all. But I miss him. I think of him and wonder what games he's playing...what they're learning at chapel...if he's brushed his teeth at all...if it's hot in his cabin...if he's getting any bug bites and hoping he won't swell up...if he's spied any cute girls...if he's making new friends...if the weather has been cooperative...how many outfits are ruined by now...if he's not wanting Friday to come as much as I'm ready for it to come so I can pick him up and bring him home.

Don't get me wrong. I'm so glad that he can have this opportunity. I truly believe magical things happen at camp. Gary and I can both attest that some of our happiest memories were made at camp. But it was much better when I was on the other end having the fun instead of just missing the one who's gone. And I'm thankful he's not one to get homesick. That would make this even harder. I just can't wait to hear about it all on Friday.

In other news I had a GREAT 4th of July weekend. Pictures will be coming soon, hopefully. I feel like I've been so lax about posting. I plan on doing it every night, and by the time I get Brennan tucked in, my energy is pretty zapped. We brought cousin Abby home with us for Brennan to have a playmate while Bradley is gone. They are watching "Hotel for Dogs" as we speak. We went to the pool today and to the video store tonight to pick out some movies. A bigger pool and the zoo are on the agenda for the week as well.

Our version of Wipeout...

Our next door neighbors have a swimming pool. We don't go over often, however Brennan had been begging to go over. So one really hot day last week, the boys had gone over in the afternoon and then after I finished tutoring, Bren, Dad, and I went for an evening swim. This is how it turned out. I stayed safely behind the camera while they did daredevil tricks involving a diving board and a large ball. To get the full effect, you'll have to click on the pictures to see them in their original size. Some of the facial expressions are great.
The goal was to land on the ball like this... It didn't happen very often.

Many times it ended up like this...

They had fantastic fun. Sometimes I feel like I'm raising 3 boys instead of just two...

Happy Father's Day

to my dad! I love this picture of us. It was just taken early last week when he and Dorothy came for a few days. We were at a ballgame of course.

Unfortunately I live a couple of hours away from him so I don't get to see him all that often. With our busy schedules we don't get over as much as I'd like to. I did call him and get to talk to him this evening, and I'm so thankful for that.

I think I'll just jot down some random things about my dad in honor of him this evening...

*My dad is very handy. He's always been able to fix things and I have many memories of him tinkering in the garage in his workshop area. They say you often marry a man like your own father, and in many ways, I did. My husband is also very handy.

*Dad loves to be outdoors. We had a cabin along the Cedar River growing up, and most of my childhood we owned a fishing boat and a Bayliner. We would often go out boating and fishing. I learned to love to fish from our many fishing vacations to Wisconsin and other places. Dad always takes a yearly snowmobile trip every winter and also likes to hunt. Just several other ways that my husband is like my father.

*My dad worked at the same job his entire grown-up life until he retired- Liberty Trust and Savings Bank. He would often walk to work when it was nice, and he'd come home at 11:30 for lunch. Mom would have his sandwich fixed and sit down at the dining room table with him for the next 45 minutes. He always sat in the same place at that dining room table for meals for all of the years I was growing up too!

*My dad loves a good joke. He doesn't just laugh, he cackles! His laugh makes me laugh! Funniest Home videos, Wipeout, and Home Alone can get him going!

*He always liked the windows clean. He loved to Windex them (our windows at home were spotless!) and he absolutely hated it when we would draw in the dew on the car windows and streak them all up! Of course, I'd do it anyway.

*When I'd go to kiss him when I was little, he always puffed out his cheek for his kiss.

*I got him the Gun Digest magazine every year for Christmas and no matter how cleverly I disguised the package, he could always figure out which gift it was! Made me so mad!

*He's not a big talker. If he talks on the phone too long, his "ears hurt." : ) He's a man of few words and always has been.

*He would take the whole family on great vacations every summer. We would often go for two weeks at a time. We drove of course, and part of the fun was getting up at 4 AM to hit the road early. We went all over the US on those trips and made awesome memories. Hauling 5, 4, or 3 kids (depending on who was still living at home) on a road trip for that length of time must have been physically and mentally draining (now that I'm a parent, I can see that!). Our vacations were never lay-on-the-beach-and-do-nothing sort of trips. No, we had an agenda for each day, and we packed in as much fun and activity as humanly possible during our time! Over the course of my growing up years, I saw numerous president homes, national landmarks, national parks, rode many a roller coaster, went to countless museums, watched dozens of Major League ballgames, and visited close to 40 states. Wow! I have realized in my adult life how very lucky I am!

I could go on and on with lots of memories, but I'll sum it up by saying he gave me a great childhood. He and my mom provided a safe, loving, fun home to grow up in. I am thankful for how hard he worked to provide for our family.

Dad I don't think you read my blog, but I love you! Happy Father's Day!!

blessed Saturdays...

I love a Saturday without plans. We rarely get one. Usually our summer weekends are filled with baseball games, however this year Bradley's tournament team played in a spring league so we're not doing tournaments every weekend.

Ahh.... summer- I'm really enjoying so far...

*took Bradley golfing yesterday- I got him a pass at a golf course just 10 miles from our house so Bren and I went out and walked with him before the rain began

*been tutoring, but my schedule isn't too packed- I have several students around dinner time and early evening so it frees my days up, so I can go to...

*Bradley's Jr. High baseball games- they play during the day time. So far they are 2-2. I'm so glad I have a job that is flexible that allows me to be able to go! Poor Gary hasn't seen any of his Jr. High games yet, and might not be able to since most of them are at 10 AM.

*Bren is almost done with ball. Gary and his Pirates team finished 2nd in the Rookie League, so they're pretty happy about that. This coming week is the year-end tournament, and then he'll be done with ball.

*Bradley got into church camp at Hidden Acres! He and his friend were on a waiting list, but they got in, so he'll be gone from July 5-10 there.

*Brennan is signed up for swimming lessons in July and is planning on going to basketball camp here in Carlisle at the end of June. He has been showing a lot more interest in playing catch and baseball. He and Bradley have been out in the yard doing that almost every day. Yeah!

*My dad and Dorothy came to visit for a couple of days earlier this week. They got to see both of the boys play ball. It was great to have them here.

*I've been doing a bit of scrapbooking!!! YEAH FOR BEING ABLE TO STAY UP LATE!!! That's when I do my best scrapping! Last night I did a mini album from our camping trip last summer. I've done a couple other layouts and I'm planning to share those soon! I've also got lots of pictures to download, edit, and share. That task is on the to-do list.

*Gary is busy working on the deck. Last summer when he resided the house, he found some issues with the deck. So he replaced all of the flooring, now is working on the steps, and has to replace some of the lattice work. Hopefully he'll be done with that soon, however there's always another project waiting in the wings!

*It's been very rainy, cloudy, and cool lately- almost depressing. I can't handle clouds for too many days in a row. It definitely affects my mood. I NEED SOME SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

*I've just been enjoying time with the boys lately. We've been doing more reading, chatting, and just hanging together. I pulled the mattress off of the pull-out sleeeper, and we put that on the living room floor. We will all pile on that and snuggle and watch tv together. It's nice to feel like we have some down time to just relax. It seems the school year does not allow for much of that.

*The boys want to go to Sleepy Hollow today to golf, but it rained all night last night, so it's awfully wet. I need to do a little more laundry and take a walk down to the post office to mail some things for Gary.

I always hate posting with no pictures, but it'll have to do today! Maybe later I'll get them uploaded.
Toodles!

A recent family photo

I'm tired tonight, so no big post to share. This is a recent favorite picture of mine- taken last weekend. I didn't do any editing to it yet, so once I lighten it up, the color should be better. Love these guys!!!