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!!

No teeth!

Maddy lost her bottom tooth yesterday eating. The tooth fairy came last night =) Today at the end of the church picnic, she and her friend were jumping in the inflatable jumpy's and Maddy bonked 'lightly' into her knee and her top tooth came out! The tooth was already loose so it wasn't TOO big of a deal. Less for Maddy to have to loosen!! So, the fairy will be back again tonight! Maybe tonight when she comes, Hayley will be asleep =) The kids have been 'sleeping over' in each others' rooms which some kids are still up when the fairy comes to visit! How weird is that....................! Hayley knows the 'routine' now. We've had the santa, fairy talk. Maddy was crying when she lost her tooth because she missed it and didn't know what to think of her new hole! She's fine now.

summer stuff.................

Brent's team won their age bracket tourney a week ago! They played Friday night and won, Saturday and won and won Monday too! The boys were so excited, jumping up and down and high fiving! It was so cool! The team celebrated at Whippy Dip-it's Loveland's version of DQ!They have their team party this week so I'm not sure if they get trophies for their win. Go Rangers!!!!!!! LYB is having a recognition night on Thursday and the teams will have recognition that night.

Hayley had her team party on Wednesday. The moms' played the Divas-quite interesting and HOT! It was fun =) We had pizza, snacks and dessert.

We've been at the pool 3 x's this week and had some play dates! One day we were there 3 1/2 hrs! These kids are fish! They usually end up seeing friends there and they play. I took pic's of Brent's cannon ball and Maddy. Hayley's the under water gal.............

Today the girls and I went to volunteer and Kids Against Hunger. We filled 14,688 bags of food! Plus what the am shift packed too so it was double for a grand total that will be shipped by boat care of the Navy to Swaziland. The boys were at church setting up for our church picnic tomorrow. This is the 2nd year Scott's been in charge =) It'll be fun! He and his Friday am guys are serving breakfast at a 'partner' church tomorrow before the picnic-busy day!

Well, I should start dinner!

more pic's

I didn't get too many pic's of Brent's day-I was the popsicle lady so I didn't get to see Brent too much. This was their car wash! And here's hula girl.

Well, before you know it we'll be in Mn. The kids are excited to see cousins and friends (me too). Our week is already planned with fun things to do and people to see! We're bringing Jake so that should be interesting! Especially and gma & gpa's with their cats =)

Happy Birthday Grandma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXOXOXO

Summer Vacation is here!!!!!!

FINALLY! The kids are finished!! They're so excited and ready to have some time off =) Which Hayley is still sleeping-she was up until midnight reading! She needs to catch up on her sleep. Well, it was a busy, fun week with Field Day's for Brent & Maddy. I volunteered at each. It rained Wed for Brent's so they had it inside. Brent's teacher ordered pizza for the last day. I think Brent will miss LECC. He seems kinda bummed. We went to the library yesterday and to lunch at Scott's work. They have a new cafeteria.

I went to get Hayley's sandals from the pool and these 2 ducks were having a nap =) Maddy doing the bucket race, her and her BFF from class-Mary and a cool picture of Maddy throwing a 'pool ball' full of water. I caught the stream of water as she threw it. And her and Autumn doing the 2 person shirt race..............