1st Day of School

Hayley 5th grade

Brent 2nd grade

Maddy 1st grade

Maddy and her BFF Katie on the bus together. Katie is in Kindergarten.

The 1st day of school was last Tuesday. Hayley was up and at 'em early with excitement. She has to get up an hr earlier than last year so it's quite an adjustment for her. She had a great 1st day-likes her teachers and her new school. She knew 1 girl from last year in her class and is making new friends. She's in band this year and is playing bells. She wants to play drums and bells is the start to work up to drums. She gets home 45 min before Brent & Maddy so it's nice for her to have some quiet time in the house-just her and I time.

Brent had an adjusting week as well. He's at a new school this year too. His teacher is very nice and he likes her. He also knows a few boys from last year in his class. He says his playground is boring. The playground at LECC is huge compared to the one he has now so I can understand. He rides the bus with our neighbor and his friend Mason and a few other friends from the neighborhood. He catches the bus earlier but he doesn't have to get up earlier. He's always up in the am.

And Maddy has had a good week too. She has Brent's teacher from last year so that's helped her ease into school I think. So far she seems ok to be gone all day. I miss her (all of them) and it's weird to have her gone all day. I can't believe my kids are in school now. She rides the bus with her friend Katie =) and Mason's brother Max.

I've been busy working...........................yikes, work after 8 yrs of being home! I worked 3 days last week at Hayley's school and the middle school which is connected to hers. I served food, washed dishes, cashiered, and lots of other things. The people are really nice to work with. I've been working 9:30-2. The time goes fast as there's always something to do. I work today and tomorrow at Hayley's school and the h.s. on Wednesday. It's nice to keep busy.

Hayley cheered yesterday. Her team played Lakota which is a tough team at any age for Loveland to beat. The kids are big-farm team =) I think the h.s. team is ranked 2nd in the nation. Scott heard that..................anyway, her team only lost by a touchdown which isn't bad for playing a tough team.

I was at the barn on Saturday. I missed my horse pals! Raja died while we were in Mn. The am feeders found her in the pasture and had to put her down. She was Bo's friend. He's blind so he would follow her around. She would 'winny' for him as they walked so he knew where she was. He fell over her also and tore his femeral (sp?) artery and had surgery on Friday. He was bleeding Sat when I was up. His owner was there and concerned. The vet said it could happen. He has gauze hanging from his incision to let it drain. The poor horse had blood running down his leg and pooling. It would start and slow and kept on. The owner had her kids there to say goodbye as she didn't know what would happen. He may bleed to death or it would stop and some point and clot and start to heal. The vet was on his way when I left. I haven't heard anything so I hope he made it. If he made it thru 48 hrs he would have a chance to live. I'll have to take a pic of my favorite horse Cinnamon. She's so sweet and wants love. I rub her head and her neck. I brought carrots Saturday and she loved the treat. Bo had lots too to get better =)

Well, gotta go to work. Take care!!!!

Hayley and Paige!

Here is a cute pic Paige sent us of the girls back in preschool. It was their xmas show. Look how much they've changed! Hayley and Paige had a sleepover when we were in Mn. They had a lot of fun. The girls went and played laser tag and pizza for dinner and watched a movie and played. It was so fun to get them together. They're great friends!!!!!!!! Hayley had so much fun and misses Paige! We miss you and Sarah!! I love these pic's of them =)

Hayley's cheer squad of '09

The football season got under way last weekend. Today Loveland played the Sycamore Aviators. Score was 0-0. It was great to see Hayley out cheering again. She really likes it! Our neighbor Hunter who is in Hayley's grade is on the team she cheers for. The girls did a great job!

We're back!

The kids looking for sunny's

Lego Land

Whew, it's been a while since our last updates! The summer has flown by. I can't believe we start school the day after tomorrow =( I think we're all ready but not ready. I start work on Thursday and work on Friday! After that we'll see how much 'subbing' they need.
The Edward pic's are our niece Stephanie's room. A Twilight fan heaven =) The kids at soccer practice and cousin Abby with Hayley.

We had a great week up nort =) We spent a few days with Carol, a few days with gma-quiet with our men gone. Great to spend time with gma! The kids had fun playing with gma & gpa's 3 cats. Not a lot of fresh air when I'm allergic to them. Maddy started to wheeze and sneezing along with Hayley. Gail and I took the kids to Under Water World at the Mall of America. I told Brent about Lego land and he was so excited to go. His eyes were huge when he saw it! He bought a Star Wars set. We also took Hayley & Maddy to the American Girl store. Hayley got to see Paige her friend. They've been back in touch for awhile as with Tori. We went to Space Aliens with Paige and Sarah-how fun! She saw Tori too. Those girls have grown! We spent time with Lisa and the kids. We went to the beach. The kids had so much fun in the water and sand. We packed lunches and sat at the beach all afternoon. It wasn't too warm-wonderful afternoon to be out. Erika and Brent and the other beach goers were trying to catch the sunny's swimming around. We went blueberry picking and to the park for lunch on Friday. The boys came home on Sunday with 4 walleyes each and wonderful stories and pic's of the week. Scott caught a 35" Northern! He sent it back. We had a good trip back. Lots of storms we hit in Ill and Indy. It's been nice to unpack and settle in after being gone. Jake and the kids were so excited to see each other! The neighbor girls who watched Jake even vacuumed our house for us!

Happy Birthday Hayley!!

Wow! My little girl is 10 yrs old!!!! She had a fun bday-Scott took the day off =) we went to Justice her fav clothes store and bought an outfit, went to play tennis. We've been wanting to go for fun and fun(ny) it was!! We celebrated with her fav meal of spaghetti. We also had a surprise for her. We went to see Harry Potter at the drive in!!! It was a beautiful night to be out! The pic of the kids in the back of the truck waiting for the movie to start. They brought sleeping bags, pillows, snacks! Part way thru the movie a skunk was somewhere around and stunk up the place!! The perks of being out! Saturday Hayley had some friends over for a sleepover. We had pizza and cookie cake. It's been almost 80 degrees (unusually cold) here and Sat it rained a little. I was going to take the girls to the pool. It stopped raining and they still wanted to go even in the wet/cold. They all had a blast and played their pool games. They played and had fun back at home and bedtime was midnight. Scott took Brent to see Transformers. Happy Birthday Hayley!!

We haven't been up to much. Just enjoying the summer/being outside. We played kick ball last week with the neighbor kids and our kids. I took the kids bowling last week. The kids just enjoy being home and having no place to be. Mon nights we spend at the ball field watching Scott and the church team play. They've won their games and are in the championships. These guys can still throw, run and hit! Lots of homeruns! I think they should play in a regular league too.

I've been up to the barn to help out with the horses. I clean stalls, feed horses, take them out to pasture or bring them in. Lots of nice people to talk with too. It's fun to learn what horses need which type of food, hay, beet pulp etc. The barn has a hay loft and that's how you feed them hay. Find their stall, open the hatch and let them know you're above them and toss them 2 flakes of hay. Most have been leary of people and have had to learn to trust again. They're all so sweet. Their size is intimidating but I'm getting used to them and their personalities.

Well, time to find some lunch and go to the pool!!

Hayley has braces!

Hayley got her braces yesterday! She chose pink for her bands-for now =) She's sore but Motrin has been working. She also has to wear a retainer 24/7 unless she's brushing to hold her top jaw apart after taking the palette spacer out. She has to wear the retainer for 3 mos. Now she really has a mouthful! She's excited but will miss her beloved popcorn. She'll have her braces for about a year. This is the 1st of 2 rounds............

Monday we went to the nature center. Scott took the day off since we also needed to have our garbage disposal replaced. BLAH! We brought lunches and walked. We saw this HUGE snapping turtle, a racoon eating out of a bird feeder and some huge tadpoles that were starting to grow their hind feet. I didn't get a pic of them. It was a fun day out!

We're back at the pool as it's getting hotter again. We met some friends today for lunch at the park and walked down by the river. The kids found some cool rocks with fossils in them. Adam was in class with Maddy and has a sister Megan who is a year older than Hayley. The girls really get along. Their mom Stacey is from Mn!! So we have lots to talk about.

I'm going to start volunteering at a horse barn on Saturday and once a week after. It's non profit rescue barn for horses. Some have been abandoned, owners can't care for them any longer or have been mistreated. This barn rehabilitates the horse and puts it up for adoption. Some of the horses, as a result of their injuries won't be able to be rode again. But adopted as companions. It's a great barn and the horses are so sweet-until I get stepped on =) I'll be cleaning stalls, feeding, grooming, taking them out to pasture or in and other things that need to be done. I can go on a rescue with them, do clerical things, etc. They have 2 pigs and some chickens for 4H. Hayley is old enough to volunteer too so it will be fun to do together. She likes horses too. Some of their horses are Thoroughbreds and they are HUGE! I'm excited to embark on another hobby! Great mom/daughter activity too! And son.................

Well, I'm off to start dinner and check on Maddy and her friend Katie-BFF! It's Katie day T & TH!!

If you've read a good book, let me know! I've read all of my books and am in need of some good ones. I check the Best Seller lists but not much looks good.

Brent's ball party and recognition ceremony

These are the pics of Brent's party Tues and the recognition of tourney winners Wed. His team with their tourney shirts on. They're pretty proud! At his party, they had a water balloon toss. Brent rec'd a bobble head trophy and a cd with pic's from the season. His coaches also had a fun drawing for prizes and Brent won a pack of baseball cards. Kirby Puckett, Ken Griffey, Pete Rose to name a few. Oldies but goodies! I wish I had a reason why Brent's face is so red other than he's a sweaty, hot Miner! And that's not water from a water balloon on his shirt! The boys were running around-although none of the other boys seemed as hot. Ahh son, you're blessed with the hot sweaty genes =)

Monday we took Jake to the vet and to let him 'let loose' we took him to the Little Miami River which flows thru downtown Loveland and by our vet. Jake loved the water and he was drinking mouth fulls of it. The kids found a bunch of shells and some clams that hadn't opened. Jake is still a handful even with his hips. He has a lot of strength. It should be interesting to haul him around in Mn. The only part he can hoist into the truck is his front legs. I have to pick his butt up and get him in the rest of the way. He loves riding in the car and slobbers all over. The kids are gut busting laughing at him!

I think we're going to downtown Loveland again this year for fireworks. I can't believe the summer is moving on.....................too fast!

Have fun 4th!!