My Mom

I just had to post this picture after I ran across it, I chuckled out loud when I saw it because of the story behind it.

I was the maid of honor for my girlfriend Michelle's wedding back in June and I had to do something special for her because she wasn't able to have the traditional bachelorette party, you know decked out in.... well you know what I am talking about if you have ever been on one yourself wink wink.... anyway I came up with the idea to take her to see REO Speedwagon at a casino that is 2 hours from here. Long drive if you want to have a few drinks right? RIGHT! I was having a hard time coming up with someone to be our DD and I asked Todd who he thought we could ask that didnt want to see the band because we couldnt get any more tickets, he looked at me with a dumb look on his face and said "Are you serious"? I said I know it is hard right? He said "NO, ask your mom she loves to gamble and she doesnt drink or like REO" OMG why didn't I think of MOM? She has been a DD for more than one of my friends in the past and even drove for mine but she lived here in Medford at the time. Now she is over 3 hours away! I called her and asked if she was busy on that particular weekend and she said no, and agreed to be our DD for the night! She really is the best because not only did she drive up here from Columbus but she drove us up to the casino and then she even agreed to stop at every hick bar on the way home. She came into every bar with us and never complained the music was too loud or that she was tired and wanted to get home.

How many of you can say your Mom (who is 70+ years old) would do that for you?

I love ya mom!! You are the best!
PS she looks damn good for 70 + huh?

Here is Michelle and I on her Big Day!!

Miller Park

We had a wonderful Adult weekend! Friday night we went to Miller Park it is so cool and the game was very exciting. They played against the Pirates and WON 10-4! We had pretty good seats but it was HOT and humid, No air movement at all!

We stayed in a very rustic log cabin for two nights and bombed around Madison on Saturday, there was a farmers market around the capital that sold everything you can imagine. We went inside the capital for a quick cool down and bathroom break and ended up in there for over an hour. That place is really something to see if you are ever in the area.

We drove to New Glarus WI to stop in and see the New Glarus Primerose Winery, it was a very small place but the wine was awesome. From there we went to the New Glarus brewery to do a tour of that (I know what your thinking, we really aren't alcoholics) but they stop the tours at 4:00pm just so you know if you ever find yourself in New Glarus WI.

We headed back to our VERY rustic log cabin to chill and drink our wine, 7 bottles to be exact.... OK so maybe we do like our wine a little too much but we only drink like that when the 6 of us get together..... and on holidays!! We stopped in Madison for a little bit of shopping on Sunday and headed home. Another Adult weekend trip down in the history books.

Laundry Day

Team Work

I had six towels that needed to be hung on the line and to my surprise my boys decided they could handle it! With a little help from big brother (see left picture) Zach was ready to tackle one.

I could not resist this picture and I will be scarp booking this in EACH of their books. It's moments like this that we should never forget, OK maybe there are others that are more important but I enjoyed watching them together hanging towels. The simple things in life are special to me.

Soon Shawn will be back to college in Eau Claire and Zach off to sixth grade. So truly it is times like these that I treasure.

PS I see Shawn needs a belt before going back to college:-)

Zach's Trail ride!

Just one girl lord, thats all I asked for just one.... Little princess dresses, dance recitals, barbie dolls, ice skating performances. I guess thats why he gave me nieces that I ADORE because I did get to do all of those things with them, but now they are into ATV riding, bow hunting, fishing and camping....

Heres Zach on his first ATV trail ride driving his OWN wheeler.... He passed his ATV test and now he is able to drive alone on the trails. MY GOSH where have the years gone? I feel so old just thinking of him learning to ride a bike and now he is driving a ATV on the trails doing over 30 mph and hitting mud puddles like a pro! Between these two boys of mine I will be totally gray by 50 for sure.

I love the shot of the deer on the trail, she looks so peaceful and not even afraid of the wheels or the guys. Todd said she just stood there as if she wanted her picture taken. And to think in a few short months they will be hunting her..... Just one girl is all I asked for, was that too much? I don't think so..........

We are going to a Brewers game in August so I will post pictures of that adventure.

Rock Falls Raceway

SRT 4 RACE DAY!



I had to share our day at Rock Falls Raceway watching Shawn race his red SRT 4, as some of you may know this is my GRANDSON, Shawn's baby if you will. There were 16 of us that went to Eau Claire to watch him race, the weather was beautiful (almost too sunny for all the red heads that were there, 5 of us to be exact) But it was a gorgeous day to be outside cheering Shawn on. He was running racing slicks on the front of his car for the first time and my goodness you should have seen him burn rubber to get those bad boys hot before he took off. Even the guys on the line were shaking their heads! He sure does have his fathers blood in him when it comes to the "NEED FOR SPEED".

He took 3rd in his bracket which I thought was really good. He did a 1/4 mile in 13.08 seconds, he is .09 off of his personal goal of 12.99. I believe his top speed was 107 miles an hour (and I wonder where the gray hair is coming from?). Wow that is quick!! He loves to race and I just thank god it is drag racing!

We enjoyed our day and cant wait to go again to see him break his personal goal of 12.99.

Until next time.

PS~ Shawn is in the orange hat in the group picture, he is standing with a bunch of other guys that were racing.

Family Update

I thought I would share some updated pictures of all of us at a wedding I stood up too.... We had such a good time UNTIL it was time to get a picture for my mom of the three of us!! My god it is so difficult to get a good shot of the three of us (I know the reason but think its better to keep it to my self)..... Brothers & Beer is the only thing I can say.......

The order of the group picture is Cher, Frankie, Myself, Todd, Linda and Jim....

Have a great 4th of July!

BIRTHDAY BOY

My baby turned 12 years old today! He came into this world three weeks five days early due to a medical condition I was suffering with. I had the easiest labor ever due to the wonderful procedure called an "Epidural" Something I didn't have when Shawn was born but that is a whole other story.

We had Zach's birthday party on Friday night (which was my 10th wedding anniversary) he had three friends over and we took them bowling. All the boys camped out on the living room floor playing xbox 360, watching movies and EATING!! Wow those boys can eat!!

We bought him a new bike and he loves it. I cleaned his room spic and span and surprised him when he came home from school with his bike sitting in the middle of his room with a big red bow on it. I don't know which one he loved seeing more the clean room or the bike!

School is out on Monday and then we head into the long summer months of "I'm Bored", "What's there to do", "I hate your day care job", "Why do you have to watch babies all day" It is never ending all summer..... He makes it very verbal on how he hates my job while he is home for the summer, I don't blame him because there isn't much for him to do but does he have to make it so miserable for all of us? Wish me luck!

Have a great summer!

Black Bear

What an exciting morning we had! Right after breakfast Todd spotted a Black Bear in the yard, we are not sure what he wanted but he stuck around to visit for about an hour! Todd even yelled at it and he just turned to look at him and then just kept walking.

We have never seen a bear in 17 years that we have lived here, and to be honest it can be another 17 years before he comes back!

FINALLY

Well I can finally say Spring is here! We have a Mama Robin nesting on our front porch so I had Todd take a picture of her baby that hatched on Mother's Day! Looks like she has one more egg to hatch. Mama Robin was a little ticked at us for taking pictures of her baby but I wanted to show the day care kids what was in the nest. We watched the Robin build this nest for 2 weeks, the wind kept knocking it down on her but she never gave up. Now we watch her feed the baby worms and water it, we are all learning how a Robin takes care of her young.



The next picture is of my new bird feeder out my kitchen window, the kids love to watch the birds eat. I do love Spring!