The 4 Wheeler

When Hunny was 19, he bought a 4 wheeler. When they moved from the farm, they put it in the garage, where it has been sitting for the 13 years that I have known Hunny.



Hunny just recently brought over his 4 wheeler from his parents house.

I cannot begin to describe the kid like state that has transpired in my Man. He has enjoyed working on the 4 wheeler with Andrew....late into the night!! ( I feel sorry for the neighbors!!)

You should have seen Brother when he saw the 4 wheeler. His face lit up! He has been walking around on cloud 9 since the 4 wheeler has arrived.

Now that it is working, Hunny has enjoyed giving the kids rides. And the kids have enjoyed getting rides!!

Hunny and Brother have even built a ramp. Brother grins from ear to ear while on that 4 wheeler.

Dada has been right there in the middle of all the action. She loves getting rides. When she was told that she needed shoes on for a ride, she happily ran in to get a pair. A woman after my own heart!! :)

I think this is proof that you can do anything in heels. It may not be the safest thing to do, but you sure look good doing it!! ;)


I absolutely LOVE the look on their faces in this picture. Dada is up for anything fun and exciting. This is totally up her alley! Can you tell.

Dada's Baptism

Last night was Dada's baptism. She was quietly excited about it all day. She had talked to Pastor and told him that it was her desire to get Baptized. So we set a date when our family could come.

I fully believe that Dada understands her decision to get Baptized. We believe that after salvation (when you accept Christ as your Savior, realizing that he died on the cross for your sins) your next step of obedience is to be Baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It symbolizes our faith in a crucified, buried and risen Saviour, our death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in a new life in Christ Jesus.

Here she is ready to get Baptized.

Uncle (Pastor) Kelvin explaining again what is going to happen.


Waiting to begin

If she was nervous, you couldn't tell. She later commented on how warm the water was. She said it felt like a bath!! :)


Buried in the likeness of his death, raised in the likeness of his resurrection.

Victoria and Logan has been very curious and asking questions about Baptism. Victoria I think is just nervous about being dunked under water. She has even asked to practice in the bathtub at home!! So Heather asked if they could watch Dada. They were very quiet and just watchful during the whole ceremony. I haven't talked to Heather to see what effect it had on the kids.

I think Brother wants to get Baptized also, but is also afraid of being under water. I should have thought to have him watch it.




Dada had so many people there for her last night. It was a joy to my heart to see so many people there to support her.

Even Kate was there!

Aaron was able to bring Gus and Kate up for the big occasion. Lori was home with Nora who had come down with the chicken pox. :( She was greatly missed!!

Janelle came from Wisconsin.

Jonathan and Melanie came.....all the way from Hawaii, just to support her!! ;)

Grandma and Grandpa S. were there also. Uncle Jeff wasn't able to come b/c he was leading a church service at his church. He was missed though!

Remember the girls picture that we took with the PICTURE of Melanie?!?! I have to admit that it is so much better to have her here in person!

After church, we all went to Culver's. Where else do Baptists go after a service!?!? :)

The kids were threatened within an inch of their life. :) And they did a great job.



I enjoyed the fact that Grandpa S. was able to do the opening prayer and my Dad was able to do the closing prayer. We are so fortunate to have such a Godly heritage in our families.

The proud parents!!


Little Eli is just the cutest!!
Once everyone got their ice cream, he went from person to person begging ice cream off of them! I'm sure he was sugared up by the time he got home!!

I was happy to see Kate and Gus be included in the rest of the cousins. It's like they have known each other forever!

Aaron, Mike and Hunny had a great time talking about the "good ole' days." ( Lori, I'm sure you DIDN'T miss much there!! )

I'm surprised to get a picture of Joy without her phone in her hand!!

Homemade Guacamole

I made guacamole for the 1st time ever today. Since eating at my favorite restaurant is Chipotle, I have let my taste buds go wild. I have always hated guacamole! ALWAYS!!! But Chipotle makes the best guacamole!! And I decided that I wanted to try and make my own! I mean it can't be that hard right?!

(As I sit hear writing this, I am wishing that I took pictures of it! )

Here is the "recipe" that I used. It was quite delicious.

2 avocados, halved, seeded and peeled ( I just scored them and cute the fruit out!! )
a little cilantro ~ I don't like cilantro
1 clove of garlic
2 cherry tomatoes cut up small
1/2 a jalapeno, seeded
1/4 of an onion, chopped finely

Mash the avocados, and then combine the rest of the ingredients.

I think next time I will add a little lime in it and more jalapenos.


It doesn't taste as good as Chipotles, but it was still good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I also TRIED to make Kabobs. Which I have to admit, that I failed miserably. The meat was to tough. I thought that I had just cooked the meat to long, but I think I think that it was really just tough.

picnics in the park

What a beautiful Sunday we are having today! I just sat down and looked at the clock, I can't believe that it is already 3:30!!

We have had a nice weekend. It's been a little cooler and windy, so I am looking forward to warmer weather! But the rain has held off, so for that I am thankful.

We spent the majority of the day outside yesterday. After sleeping in, :), and some laundry in the morning, I went to Tancy's to work on the garden, but it is too muddy!!! I was going to put in the onions. So I "helped" her clean her garden. I use help very, very loosely. :)

Anyway, We also have to get the rest of our veggies in soon. Thankfully this is my last week of school. I will have more time to work in the garden after that. I did see that the lettuce and the peas are coming up nicely. I don't think I planted the broccoli deep enough, so we will have to see how that turns out. ( Yes, I forgot my camera and didn't get a picture of it!! )

After Tancys, we met Kevin and Heather at the park, and had a picnic.
I was so mad that I didn't think about the sun shining when I took this picture!! It would have been so cute!!

After dinner, we took a walk along the creek, and up toward the horse pens. We took some carrots along to feed to the horses. They ( the horses, and kids ) liked that very much!!

I think that the highlight of the WHOLE evening was when Kevin and Hunny found some guns in the trees.

The boys thought that was just about the coolest thing ever!!
Doesn't the look on his face say it all?!?!
I think that Brother would have slept with that gun if he could have. I didn't realize it till this morning though, that he put it with Hunny's bb gun, and pellet gun,on the gun rack! I thought that was adorable!!

I also have to show you this horse. Can you see it's eyes?? It had 1 brown one, and 1 bluish/whitish one. Dada said it was freaky, but Logan reminded us that God makes all creatures. :)


Tonight, Dada is getting baptized. It is such a big step for her. Brother is still scared and doesn't want to do it. It's fine, I know it will come. I think it will help to see Dada "surviving" it tonight. She is so very excited!! Our whole family is coming to watch tonight. It's so nice that Jonathan and Melanie will be able to come also. That is an added treat.

Questions about me answered by my kids.

I found this online a couple of weeks ago and I thought it would be cute to ask the kids what they thought. It was a fun time to spend with each of the kids. I asked them separately, so it was fun to see what they thought was similar!!

1. What is something your mom always says to you?
N~Get in the car
M~ I love you

2. What makes your mom happy?
N~ me cleaning my room
M~ when we give you flowers

3. What makes your mom sad?
N~ if I disobeyed you
M~ that we say that we don't love you

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
N~ when you tickle me
M~funny videos

5. What was your mom like as a child?
N~ like Dada....... I liked Dolls. And tv, but there was no tv when you were little!!
M~ cute, and pretty

6. How old is your mom?
N~ 29
M~ 29

7. How tall is your mom?
N~ um, I don't know, 8 inches
M~ I don't know, 3 feet..... 3 inches, I don't know

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
N~ make stuff...like brownies and cake
M~ watch tv~ american idol

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
N~ I don't know, go to Tancy's or go on a walk.
M~ suprise us with a toy

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
N~ I don't know.......... spending cash
M~ being a good girl, or getting a job.

11. What is your mom really good at?
N~ bowling
M~ driving

12. What is your mom not very good at?
N~ shooting the bb gun
M~ getting a bonfire started

13. What does your mom do for a job?
N~ work at school................. your like a maid there
M~ be a teachers aid

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
N~ brownies
M~ chocolate cake

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
N~ when you let me buy toys
M~ when you say you love me

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
N~ Susan from Johnny Test
M~ Susan from Johnny Test

17. What do you and your mom do together?
N~ I don't know....go to Tancy's
M~ go on walks, or got to the mall

18. How are you and your mom the same?
N~ we like the same food
M~ we look alike, we both have brown hair, and we both like to watch tv

19. How are you and your mom different?
N~ you have long hair and I don't
M~ we don't have the same color eyes

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
N~ b/c you make my favorite food sometimes
M~ b/c I am kind, and I change her earrings

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
N~ that he makes frozen pizza
M~ that he is nice to you and gets you a card

Broken trucks, and Doc. appointments

On the way to my Mom's house on Sunday, our truck broke down. Remember the truck that we just got fixed? The only mode of transportation that we have right now!?!?

We couldn't get it started at all, so Jonathan, my Dad, Hunny and Mike "towed" it back home. Us women folk were back at the house preparing dinner and all of a sudden we see Jonathan standing in the middle in the road. Of course that peaked out interest, and we go outside and this is what we see! My dad is towing the truck back to the house hillbilly style! With a chain!! :)

I remember telling my mom that this whole situation just isn't really funny anymore. I really just want a reliable car.

The truck is now parked in my parents garage. Andrew came over after church and they worked on it. They thought it was maybe the starter, so we left late Sunday night with Hunny planning first thing in the morning to get the started checked.

When we got home Sunday night, Heather and Kevin had put their car in our garage. They didn't ask us if we needed it, they knew that we needed it, and they just did it. Without thought of themselves. I know that this has put a little strain on how they function, as Kevin has had to take her to work, or they have had to borrow Kevin's Dads truck. Words cannot express my gratitude. Thank you for just doing.

Even though the truck broke down, it didn't damper our party. We were all so happy to have Jonathan and Melanie there.

The kids had such a fun time running around and just being with each other. All but little Eli. He was so tuckered out!

You can tell that they are totally in love, and they still couldn't keep their hands off each other!

I loved seeing how in love they were.



Fast forward to Monday. Dada had a Doctor appointment up in Madison. We left early Monday morning. It was just Dada and I, and I loved it! We had such a nice girly day. Her appointment went really well. I knew that she would have to have blood drawn, and I was very nervous about it. Getting blood drawn is the one thing she doesn't handle well. ( I have to say that I can't blame her!! ) The Doctor knew that she was nervous and they put some numbing cream on her arms. So she didn't feel a thing!! Praise the Lord!! ( The last time she had blood drawn, my mom went with us, and when we left the Lab, Dada, my mom, and myself were all in tears. It was so hard to see her so upset!!! )


Anyway, her a1c is 7.1. Which is FABULOUS!! The doctor was so pleased with everything that we were doing. So that was encouraging to hear. He adjusted her insulin a little, and actually lowered her insulin a little. And he gave me license to raise it if I needed to.


After her appointment, we headed to Chipotle! I got the crispy tacos, and she got some quesadillas. I also got some chips and guacamole. She decided that she doesn't like guacamole.

After lunch, she wanted to head to the mall. We just window shopped and enjoyed our time together. She really is growing up into a little woman, and I enjoy spending time with her. She is such a joy!!



BTW, the starter is just fine. Everyone is saying that it is something electrical. That something is blowing the fuses. Some guy thinks that there is a bare wire somewhere that keeps shorting things out.

I know absolutely nothing about cars. I just hope that this gets fixed sometime soon.

I also want to thank Kevin and Andrew who have spent a lot of time trying to get it to run again. Kevin was with Hunny all day yesterday trying to figure it out.

My Happiest Mother's Day

Mother's Day really started for me yesterday. I have taken so much joy in watching Hunny and the kids plan Mother's Day. The kids made gifts at school for me. They absolutely would NOT show me or tell me anything until this morning. Brother had his in his book bag, and refused to bring it in the house, b/c he didn't want me looking!! :) Dada had her's all wrapped up tight. I'm telling you, they were beaming with their secretive surprise!

Yesterday, Hunny took them to the store, b/c he had to get "visine." When they got back, the kids were beyond thrilled. Later on in the afternoon, I see Brother running up the stairs. He saw me and stopped running. I passed him in the hall, and then he took off again into his bedroom to get Dada. In a hushed tone, he said, Dada, come on, you need to come here. I could then hear them running downstairs. I'm pretty sure the official card signing was going on. Pretty soon, they both come running up the stairs to get their book bags. Back down the stairs they go, book bags in tow. Smiles beaming on their faces.

I had to go in the storage room later on to put my snowmen lights away!! (Yes, I did put them up since I got new lights!! ) Hunny was in the storage room, and Brother saw me go in there. He called Dada in there and they just stood there watching what I was doing. When I walked out, Brother said....That was close!! I pretty sure that my suprise was hiding in the storage room!! ;)

This morning, I was laying in bed, not wanting to get up, and Hunny came in the room and said that the kids were up and wanting to bring me in my presents.....in bed. So in they came.
They got me flowers and a necklace. :) Brother kept laughing at the garfield card. You open it up and Garfield is holding a big foam finger that moves when you open the card up. He kept saying, your the #1 mom!! And laughing.

Dada painted me this beautiful flower at school. It's on canvas, so I will be able to hang it up. I can't wait to hang it. I'm debating on whether to frame it, or just leave it like it is.

Brother made this magnetic photo frame. I love the picture that is in it. It is hard to get a good picture of him b/c of his glasses. But this one is just perfect!!

He also gave me a book with some pictures in it. Here is 1 of them. It is a picture of me. I think I look a little like a mouse!!!

Here is another of my favorites. It's a picture of a fish. I love how he added the hook with the worm on it.

Dada also wrote me a letter. Yesterday, she was working on the letter. She made a pretty card, and inside she wrote, Dear Mom, I love you very much! I want to leave you, Love, Mom. Hunny found her writing it, and brought it in for me to see. As he was reading it, and she was standing there, she realized that she had forgotten a word. She forgot the word NEVER!!! Today, my letter said that she NEVER wants to leave. :)

The best gifts for me today has been just watching them. That is what brings tears to my eyes. Knowing that they love me. Knowing how special they wanted this day to be for me. I cherish each one of their presents that they gave me today. They made them for me. And made them with all the love in the world. That is the best gift a mother could ask.

After church, we stopped and took a picture. I am so glad that we did. I love this picture. I love it for a couple reasons. But the one thing I think when I look at it is, it's my family, and I belong. It's my family, full of all the LoVe in the world!

I love Dada's face! And how she is clutching on to her prize that she got in Super church.

Hunny, thank you for taking the time to make this day special for me. It has truly been the Best Mother's Day ever!!

Another thing to make this day so good is that my brother and Melanie are at this moment on their way home. I haven't seen them in about a year. A year to long. Words cannot express how much I have missed them. My family just isn't whole if he isn't here. Today we will be whole, all of us together. I am so excited!!