THE.BIG.DAY.

This morning my baby, Jack, started Kindergarten.

Where has the time gone.

All went well on this end. Jack got up pretty easily for his 645am wake-up. He took a quick shower to "open my eyes" which may become our morning ritual.

He ate some breakfast and we went over our expectations again.
This is going to be a great year!

Then some photo ops...

Proud Daddy.

Proud Mommy.

Happy Family - especially for all being woken up early this morning!

And then...
we waited.
And waited.

Took some more pictures.
And waited.
And realized the bus was REALLY late.

Jack never panicked until he heard us talking about driving him to school.
"NO!" He wanted to RIDE.THE.BUS.

So on the advice of our neighbor (who had this happen to their kindergartener) I called the school bus garage and, sure enough, they had forgotten Jack but already had a bus en-route to take him to school.

ALONE.

Yep, that's right. My kiddo had a LIMO the 1st day of school!

But he got right on with no reservations.

See how happy?!

Yep...this is going to be a great year!

Good News / Bad News

Good News - We had a great time in Yoder and I had a successful 3 days of work at the State Fair for Angie's List.

Bad News - Last Thursday a pressure guage let go on the back of our master bath toilet (2nd floor) and water ran for 3 hours thru the house - to the BASEMENT!

Good News - I wasn't home.

Bad News - I wasn't home.

Good News - It is covered by insurance.

Bad News - My rates will probably go up, since the current estimate is around $25,000 in damages.

Good News - I know a good water restoration company.

Bad News - My husband works for that company and says I will be his worst customer ever!

Good News - I am getting the hardwood floors and walk-in shower I have been DYING for.

Bad News - Did I mention my rates will probably go up?!

Good News - Work starts next Tuesday!

Bad News - Work will probably take over a month.

Good News - The boys' birthday party is in 3 weeks!

Bad News - The boys' birthday party is in 3 weeks!

There's Nothing Like It

Upon our return from the lake, the kids and I spent another week at my parents in Yoder.

There is simply nothing like it.

Like learning to ride without training wheels without worrying about cars...

Like learning to "fix stuff', "work" and enjoy the sights of countless, beautiful, green bean fields...

Like taking countless golf cart and truck rides to "check out the area..."







Like getting your finger and toe nails painted for the 1st time...

Yep...there is simply nothing like it.

We're Back!

We have had a CRAZY 2 weeks. So much has happened...I will take it one event at a time.

2 weeks ago we had an awesome visit with our friends, The Smith Family (I went to HS with Camille), at their lake home in Rochester, Indiana. The Smith cuties are just about our cuties' ages so it could not have been a more fun weekend, especially with the beautiful weather.

We went for boat rides

and tubing.

Jack tried to get up on a ski board...

Camille gave him tons of instructions except to stand up!

In all, we had a fabulous time!
Thank you to Camille, Corby, Genevieve, Reid and Celia for a great weekend!

We Are Alive

We are having a fun, end-of-summer vacation in Yoder with Grandma Jenny and Grandpa Bill. Golf cart rides, Will riding without training wheels, visits to the crick...you get the idea.

We are havin' a great week and hope you are too.

Pictures coming soon!

Should I Be Concerned...

That this little gal

informed me this morning...

"Mommy - I wanna be a rock star!"

Thank you to Gerald and the crew of "Sid the Science Kid" for inspiring my daughter to NOT want to be a scientist but to be a rock star.

Top Guns Part II

Last Friday we traveled to the Air National Guard in Springfield to see Cousin Jack (the same one from this post) have his final flight as pilot of his F16. They are moving his planes to another state and these pilots said goodbye in style!

It was VERY loud, intense, amazing and, according to Andy's Uncle John, who was a fighter pilot in Desert Storm, "sooooo illegal!"

This picture does not do it justice, but this is Cousin Jack's "finale" - flying overhead, approx. 200 feet above us, going Lord-Only-Knows how many miles per hour (Andy approximates 300mph)...
IN-BETWEEN 2 LIGHT POLES!
It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Our Jack giving a thumbs up!

Will agrees!

Brooke had a good ole' time too...as long as her headphones were on! "Too Loud!" She said all day!

We congratulate Cousin Jack and wish him all the best in this next chapter of his career!