Spring Break, Happy Easter!

Happy Spring!! It's been wonderful, warm and sunny here. We are at the end of spring break. The kids and I hung out M&T and Scott was off W-F. It was nice to be off, stay up late and sleep in. We went to Mammoth Cave in Ky on Wednesday. It's the biggest cave in the US. Not the longest. It was pretty cool. We all really enjoyed it. They have different tours of the caves to take. At one of the Q&A times, the ranger turned off all of the lights. WOW! Dark and little bats flying around. It was a fun day get away. We brought a picnic lunch to have there. It's a Nat'l Park so there were people there camping. Not sure as I would do that in Ky since they have poisonous snakes. We drove thru Elizabethtown Ky on the way back. Stopped in DQ=)

I picked up my new laptop-wireless on Thursday after a little jaunt with Hayley to Justice! The girls love that store. Anyway, my laptop is in the dr so I can look out the window, feel the breeze and hear the birds. I still need to sync it to our other computer downstairs. We've had fun w/ our new movie room in the basement. We bought a 58" Panasonic tv. We have our couches down there and it's full theater affect. Pretty cool.

Ball for all is under way. Busy weeks. The kids are having fun now that's it's nice out and staying lighter later. Me too.

We are in bible study until June. Our study is alot of reading but the spiritual growth I've had this last few months is huge. I talk to, pray to God and it feels great. I've kept a journal and I can say I've had prayers answered. Or issues have had light shed on them. Makes me feel content. I guess this is a perfect day for that talk. I feel Him in my life everyday and I'm thankful. I'm so thankful HE has brought us to OH and the wonderful things/people, new experiences HE has enriched our lives with.

I'm not sure I'll be able to be at the barn anymore. I was having trouble w/ my allergies. Then I started problems w/ my asthma. I was using my inhaler too much for the time I was there. Finally, after one Saturday, my attacks wouldn't stop and I went on like that for a week. I had to go to the dr for a steroid to make them stop. She told me I couldn't but I heard 'shouldn't' go there anymore. I could go back on Advair (took it when we had cats) but it's not worth it to be on meds everyday to go up there once a week. So I haven't gone. I can tell now how sick it made me going up there even before I had asthma issues. I've missed my horses. If I went, I can only stay outside which I'm not sure how much help that is. I can still go see them which is hard if they're not in the barn. I'm not walking out into a field of horses. I've seen what can happen. So, for now, see what happens and what works out.

Jenny & Chris across the street moved last week. Their son Mason was friends w/ Brent. She was my Twilight bud =) They moved to Indy so it's not too far away. We'll stay in touch and get the boys together and see Eclipse in June! The new people just drove in yesterday. I'm assuming the truck will be here tomorrow. They're from DC and looks like they have a daughter Maddy's age and a 3 yr old son. People around here come and go. Another family friend of ours from church is moving to CT. He's been tranfered to Manhatten but I think they want to live in CT. Can't say I blame them.

Well, I'm off for now.

=)

Flying Pig Marathon for Jake

A family in our church and Loveland community, their 12 yr old son Jake was diagnosed with cancer-again in December. He had cancer as a baby and had treatment and it was very rare for it to return. It has unfortunately. This family has kids our kids' age and are in the same grades except Jake is a yr older than Hayley. Their dad plays softball on the church league with Scott. Scott's Friday am coffee group and some of their wives are forming a team to run for Jake in the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincy May 2nd. I agreed to run and I'm running with a few other wives/friends. This is a fundraiser for the family. If any of you want to donate to my run, please do so. All of the money raised we are giving to the family. I am not running the whole marathon-UGH! I'm not really sure how many miles. We are doing it as a team so..........I've heard 6 miles. I will send an email with more info later regarding donations.
God Bless!

What a week!

It's been great having gma/gpa here! They arrived in time to watch the last 1/2 of the Super Bowl =) The kids had 2 snow days last week and I have a feeling they will have another tomorrow. It has been snowing all day here. We have so much snow it's not even funny. This is the most snow Cincy has had in a while. As we are not alone. The kids only have 1 more snow day then the days get added to the end of the school year. We took gpa out for his bday on Tues to his favorite place-Paxton's in downtown Loveland. His other fav place is Cheeseburger in Paradise. Madison had an ear infection last week and is feeling better.

Scott was off Friday and bought us a new dishwasher. We went this weekend and bought new furniture for the living room. A couple of couches, chair, end table, lamp and a leather ottoman that is big enough to sit on. Gpa/Scott painted Hayley's room a limey green. Looks very cute! And the painters are here today painting our entryway and hallway upstairs. Tomorrow they do 2 of our big walls in the living room. I'll have to post 'after' pic's. We have color and it's GREAT! It's going to take a little getting used to but it's wonderful.

It's official! We have made reservations for a condo in Rodanthe NC in July!!!! I can't wait! It's only 600 miles from here-shorter than Mn!

Well, that's about all for now. I need to get something warm to drink-I'm freezing!
=)

A's........summer vacation

All is well except for a few sicko's in the house! Brent & Maddy are home again today and Scott is home today too. We can't shake the crud! We need to because gma/gpa are coming on Sunday! Gpa's bday/Valentine's day and Hayley's straight A report card are to be celebrated! She's had 2 B's and all A's but this qtr she had all A's! Brent and Maddy's report cards were terrific as well.

Hayley and I went with church a few weeks ago to Kids Against Hunger to pack food. There were so many people there that she, 6 other girls and another mom I know packed the toothbrush, comb, toy bags. We got a ton done and the girls had so much fun doing it! It felt wonderful to know those bags will help someone. The toys were so cute too.........I hope the kids like them.

I'm excited.....I'm in the midst of finding our vacation rental in Outer Banks NC for this summer! YIPPPPEEEEEEEEE! There are mostly 5 bdrm + houses and we don't need that much room. I have found a condo right on the beach in Rodanthe! It's where Nights in Rodanthe was filmed. But anyway, it's beautiful and I can't wait to go! It could be a one way ticket for all I care =) No, now is not the time to think of moving again but that's my next stop somewhere on the coast. A family that is friends of ours here have a timeshare in Myrtle Beach and that's our next vacation!

The barn is great and I can't wait for warmer weather as I'm sure the horses can't either. The rescue had to put 2 down last week. One was old and failing and the other was quickly going blind due to mistreatment before she came to the rescue. The rescue however has 3 new horses. One looks like a dalmation! So many spots. He's a little antsy and one of the girls was working on his manners with the stall door open and I think he had enough and decided it was time to go. He charged his way out of the stall, knocking the volunteer down and into the concrete wall. She thinks she may have broken a rib. I keep my distance from the horses I don't know too well.

Well, I better go and get ready for work. I need to stop and get a Starbuck's for hubby and me.

What's new..........

The kids had 2 snow days a week ago-Thurs & Friday. The main roads were clear but apparently some back roads were not. We had gotten 3-5 inches. They were off this last Friday for end of the qtr and today. It's nice to have 2 four day weekends! Our snow is gone now =) it's been in the 40's here. Which when you have 6 inches total of snow, it doesn't take long to thaw!

On Friday, I brought Hayley to see the Kings Firecracker jump rope team. A lady I work with, her daughter is on the team. Kings is located next to Mason which is 10 min from Loveland. The team has performed all over. Their website is www.kingsfirecrackers.com you can watch videos of their performances. They performed at the Loveland/Milford varsity bball game.

Life at the barn is thawing out. We had a cold spell for a week or so and the horses stayed in the barn all week. UGH! Now they're back out in the mud.........a bunch of us went in to buy a new gate for one of the pastures. I sponsored Cinnamon this month. The $$ will go to her grain, hay and bedding. With that, I can go see her and spend time with her when I want. Which is hard now since everything is mud. I could use the indoor arena. At least her expenses or most of them are paid.

Hayley and I are going to Kids Against Hunger Saturday with the 46er's church group to fill packets of food. 46'ers had it planned anyway, but maybe these packets will be sent to Haiti.

I think that's all for now. I'm off to get lunch.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! We had a fun xmas and break. We woke unexpected early on Wed am and thought we need to leave then instead of Thursday. We woke the kids at 5 am, packed and were out the door by 6:30 am to beat the snow storm in Mn! Glad we did, it started snowing as we crossed the Mn border. We had rain most of the way there. The kids did great as they were tired and slept =) and Jake did great too! He had the whole back to himself to sprawl out and snooze. We stayed with Doug & Lisa and the kids had a blast-me too! Thank you for having us! Jake and Molly had fun too playing in the snow. As you can see the Darling Divas here........listening to the Ipod. We went to church xmas eve and woke to find Santa came! He found the Ohio kids in Becker =) We saw gma/gpa on Saturday for xmas and went sledding with all aunts/uncles and gpa on Sunday! Maddy was too scared to go down the hill herself. She's the pink ball in gpa's lap. Brent went down 37 times he said-he was keeping track! Everyone had so much fun and it was wonderful weather to be out. We went to Carol's for pizza and to spend the night. Scott, kids and Doug went home Monday and Hayley and I met Paige and Sarah for dinner =) Thank you gals for a fun night!!

We left Tuesday, had a good trip home. Wednesday we opened presents from Santa (he stopped here too) and other gifts we didn't have room to take with. Gpa/gma were supposed to come back with us but gma is not feeling good so in a few weeks they'll be here =)

We had a good New Year's eve. The kids watched the ball drop and Maddy fell asleep on the floor before then. It's back to school, work, the usual. The kids had a 90 minute school delay on Tuesday due to the 2 inches of snow we had. Today school is canceled because of the 3-5 inches we're supposed to get here sometime today. Mind you it hasn't started snowing yet! I guess I'd rather have the kids home then have dangerous roads this afternoon getting them home. So who knows if there's school tomorrow.

God bless you in this new year!

Winter at the barn, Jake........

Happy Holidays!!!!! I can't believe it's almost here! The kids are so excited. It's wonderful to be off for xmas break =)

We woke to snow yesterday. The grass isn't totally covered so we didn't get much. I went to the barn yesterday and the horses were so pretty with the snow and it started to snow while I was there. Here are some pic's......the 2nd pic is Dynamite and the donkey the rescue has. This is Dynamite's first snow, so when I led him out of the barn he stopped and wasn't sure what was going on. Dynamite is so cute! He's a stud muffin and the rescue is going to use him to 'stud out!' The other pic's are of Black Jack. His owners couldn't care for him or Power Motion anymore. They're both $40k horses and they have real shoes. They are some of the bigger horses the rescue has. I was nervous leading him out to the field-I didn't need one of us to slip! For his size, he's very gentle and sweet. I had to hold my phone up to take his pic-he is so tall. One of the girls that helps got kicked in the thigh yesterday by Dover. She walked into a group of horses which can't say I'd suggest doing. She's ok but quite sore. The horses are so sweet and gentle but I'm sure to not forget what they're capable of. They get testy around each other especially when it comes to food and you need to watch out.

And Jake..............the vet called last week and Jake is clean and healthy!!! The vet was certain that Jake's tumor was cancer because it burst. We were so happy to hear the news!! He's doing great and his incision is healing. Our kids and Dori's (our neighbor) 3 kids were out playing in the snow yesterday. Jake was out playing with their puppy Toby. The kids made a fort and came in for hot cocoa and Krispy Kremes. It's in the mid 30's and to reach 40 in the next week, so the snow won't be around long. YEAH!

I'm off to get ready for church-we have to greet too. I have xmas shopping to finish today too!