Google blogger

Well, I had some great idea to actually update my blog today.  I had to update the layout, and while I was changing that up I also updated the editor. Apparently they are going to do away with the old one.  I have made little to no progress, and I have decided to give up for the day.  I can not possibly get the pictures to be where I want them to be with the captions I want them to have.  So just know, I was thinking about updating.  It just didn't happen!

80's Party

Dan's brother turned 40 this weekend. His fun wife threw him an 80's party to celebrate. Planning out what to wear was so much fun. I was originally wearing a hot pink dress. However since the weather was SUPER hot and the dress wasn't exactly a breathable fabric, I changed my mind at the last minute. I decided to wear the so comfy but never attractive STIRRUP pants!!! Dan's braided leather belt, bandanna, and Ray-Bans made him quite a catch! Marc and Lori were wearing some awesome stuff, currently available at a store near you. This is a frightening thought!!
Dan, Katrisa, and Lori posing for a party pic!

Some of the birthday boy's friends.

Hmmmm the last time I saw this guy he didn't have any hair. Tell me how many occasions are there to sport a mullet???

The three brothers, choosing the preppy style of the 80's, celebrated the night in their brightly colored clothing, looking remarkably like rainbow sherbet.

If those guys were the preps, then would these guys be the Stoners?!?!?! Or are they members of the actual band?

My precious sister -in-law sporting some neon colors and some killer shoes!

Jason and Katrisa in her Madonnaesque style

More mullets and AC/DC! The 80's church dress is totally rad . . . or maybe just totally bad.

Dan and his sister with a giant bow in her hair. I am so glad we only torture little girls with those now!

I didn't get a picture of the baby in his throwback onsie, but I couldn't resist a quick picture of him in the morning. This is our precious nephew. Babies never go out of style!

He was watching these guys do clean up in the morning. I am so glad I wasn't on the clean-up committee! Gag me with a spoon . . . .

Thanks Krista for putting on such a good time. We had a great time hanging out with some fun people with really bad clothes. I hope Pat keeps the same zest for life during his next 40 years. Happy Birthday!

Happy 10th Birthday Branson!

To my sweet son,

The past 10 years have gone by in a flash. I can not believe that you have been around for an entire decade. I remember the day you were born as if it were literally yesterday. I am so proud of you and all that you are becoming. You are an amazing young man. I am so blessed that God allowed me to be your mother. There is truly no better job. You are a blessing to me each and every day. You have taught me lessons I couldn't have learned anywhere else. Branson, thank you so much for being you. I love you more than you will ever know.

Love,
Your Mom

Happy Mother's Day 2010

I have had a fantastic Mother's Day. I am so truly blessed. I have a great husband, 3 wonderful children and an amazing mother. She has always been there for me in every aspect of my life. I want to thank her for everything she does for me and my family. I love you. I am also blessed to have a great Mother-in-law. She is always ready to get out and play with the kids! This afternoon we had a picnic at the park. We decided to get in a quick round of miniature golf before cooking out. Branson and Samuel were propped up on the hippo watching grandma sink her shots.
Uncle Pat was there with his 3M supplies. Of course the boys put those to good use!

Our group of golfers . . . .some better than others!

Lane told me, "I am good at sports. Give me the ball and the stick, Momma!" So I did. He looks like a natural, and honestly he wasn't too bad.

Off to the next hole

His sister was a whole other story . . . . She spent a great deal of time looking for her ball. This ball went over the fence. Pretty sure it would have been easier to walk around.

Ummmmm I don't know if this hippo really appreciated where she lost this ball, but everyone watching her sure thought it was funny!!

We had a great time with our family today. We are truly blessed, and I hope all of you had an amazing day with your loved ones.

Easter 2010

We had a wonderful Easter this year. After so many cold days this winter, we welcomed in the Spring with waiting arms. Of course, as with most holidays, we spent some time preparing. First we took a few eggs (actually way too many ~ shown by the egg salad, deviled eggs, just boiled eggs, and I will be taking any other egg suggestions!) Then the kiddos colored them. Who knew that this was such hard work?!?!
I guess I have made the children say "cheese" one too many times.

Then we admired our finished products.

The children had to pose for a few pictures in their Easter clothes. They are a bit more unconventional in their poses than I would be in Sunday clothes, but they were great!

Branson looking cute.

We are so blessed to have such amazing children. We hope you all had a great Easter too.

Store Bought Valentines

My oldest son has never cared what kind of Valentine's Day cards he gives to his classmates. So going on that assumption, I envisioned driving to the dollar store on Wednesday afternoon, picking up some cheesy character cards, writing classmates names on them, and taking them to school on Friday to give to their friends.

Macy put an abrupt stop to my easy plan. In tears, she explains to me that she CAN NOT bring this type of card to school. They simply must be HANDMADE!! Branson was still not picky. He thought pencils would be good since all of his classmates were out of them, thanks to practicing for the state mandated writing test. We settled on these for Branson. Simple and cute!

Macy, of course, was not nearly as easy to satisfy. Her Valentines involved lots of cutting, hole punching, gluing, and general "craftiness." The girls had to have pink ones and the boys got blue. I really should have known! They turned out pretty cute. However next year, I will be asking what she wants to do a little earlier than then night before!
Hope you and yours have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Snow, Snow Go Away!!

We have had too much snow lately. So our family has had plenty of indoor time to spend together. Branson has been quite creative while enduring this slow passage of time. He designed and fashioned many different military vehicles. There were tanks, planes, soldiers, and who knows what else all engaged in an epic battle on the dining room table. There were even medics tending to the wounded soldiers.
He wrote a message to me in Legos. "Susan, I love you." Too sweet!

He built and finished up some models he was working on.

Lane was also able to find a creative use for his time, drawing. Too bad he didn't find a piece of paper before he started.

More planes for Branson!

Finally, it was pretty enough to let them free in the yard. Sweet freedom!! I was just glad that this snow didn't pack very well, or I would have been smacked with the snowball Macy just threw.

Lane thought the outdoors were awesome too!

I had to take just one picture of them all before I had to go in and do the mountain of laundry that comes from a 15 minute play break in the snow.

Pretty cute little group. I am not partial or anything, right?!?!?!