Evening with an Author!

We had such an enjoyable evening tonight! Mom, Dad, the kids and I traveled to Loogootee UMC to hear Mr. Philip Gulley speak and also do a book signing. Since the books I'd read of his were either Aunt Shirley's or checked out from the library.....we bought a book tonight so that he could sign it. He shared several stories that were so comical we were laughing out loud (which I found out later totally embarrassed Katy, but so what). It was so nice to meet the person who wrote the books I've loved reading. I thought, "His family probably thinks it's funny that people are taking his picture." He came over to where we were seated before the evening officially started and talked to us (esp. to Dad) for quite a while, in fact the 7:00 start time was delayed by about 15 min or so. Afterwards we went to Billy Bobe's pizza for a late supper. Yum! Chris sent over a basket of onion petals to our table on the house and they were delicious! Katy drove us there and back and if you ask her, that was probably the best part of her evening. I was embarrassed that she sat with us during the speaking and looked like she was constipated and hadn't had a good trip to the bathroom in 3 or 4 days. I really saw "the teenager" come out in full force. But the rest of us, including Evan had a wonderful time.

Drama Team

This Sunday the youth drama team that Katy is a part of presented a drama in song during our worship service. They did an outstanding job!!

Poker Stars Junior

We came back from church and lunch at the local Mexican spot and the kids "were bored". So Susan's House of Cards sponsored a local match of the world poker tournement. ;)
Evan plunged in whole hog and came out the big winner of the afternoon!

Bicknell Fire Downtown

Last night we took a cruise into town to check out a fire that had started in one of the building downtown. Wow, lots of smoke! It was very interesting to be close enough to view the firemen and the procedures they go through to do their job. It was said this morning that no one was hurt, glad of that. The second picture is the back of the building this morning after the fire was put out. Evan took that one and I think he did a great job.

Cooper's first swim lesson

Today was Cooper's first swim lesson. Evan was chomping at the bit to take Cooper over to Grandpa's huge pond and test him out. We took his tennis ball that he plays fetch very well with. He trottoed out onto the dock but was very hesitent about jumping in. Going out from the bank didn't work very well either because he could tell when the water started getting deeper. So Evan took him out to the dock and put him in the water. He scrambled around at first and tried to climb back on the floating dock, but then took off for the shore, dog-paddle style of course ;)

I don't have pic's of the actual swim because I was over on the bank giving him verbal encouragement to keep swimming towards me. We all needed a bath when we got back due to Cooper's shaking water off. He did a good job and seemed to enjoy it. Hope you enjoy the picures.

It was 1980 somethin'

Lori and I posing in our suits at Trafalgar (Band Camp). We swam in the mossy lake during free time. We were desperate to cool off! Loving the redneck tan I have on my arms.
Lori stretching out on a bunk after a long day of learning new routines in 90' humid Indiana heat.
At my house on the front steps. Backrow: Julie, Jenny, Sandy Frontrow: Pam, Marsha, Lori Me bottom center. Notice my cool Boy George sleeveless tee, oh yeh!
This is one of my best friends, Jamie. We have known each other all our lives and I love him like the brother I never had.
Julie, Jenny (Jamie's wife and another best friend), and Lori (best friend). I'm not sure what the situation was, but it probably involved talking about boys mabye?

Niece and Nephew

I copied these pic's from my sister's blog. But I just had to add them because they are so CUTE!

Mara and Alden, they are 2 precious kid-a-roo's!!

Awww, no fair. I want an ice-cream truck in our neighborhood too.

Enjoying a weekend with friends

Lunch at Mom and Dad's. You can see everyone but Evan, he is behind Dad's head :) Thank you Mom and Dad for making such a delicious meal!

After lunch fishing on the dock. First time for Ciara to fish? She did a great job!
Taken on Mom and Dad's breeze-way. Ciara, Lori, and Bill.
Evan and Ciara enjoying Swimland on a warm summer day. They get along more like siblings than strangers.
Ciara and Evan teaming up to play some tricks on Bill.

Today

Not every day is a perfect day. Some get pretty close, but not quite. But this was a perfect day.

Got up, got ready and went to church. After church Evan and I stopped at the produce market and bought tomatoes and a canteloupe. We went to our house and picked up Mark, Bill, Lori, and Ciara. (Our friends from Washington state that are visiting) We drove over to Mom and Dad's for lunch. Hamburgers, homemade mac/cheese, baked beans, broccoli/cheese, and apple salad. Oh, and tomatoes ;) YUM Mom made a cherry pie and a blackberry cobbler for dessert. DOUBLE YUM

I stepped in for Rebecca at the 4-H meeting at 2p.m. then we all donned our bathing suits and jumped in the local pool for the rest of the afternoon.

We came home, dried off and dressed. I mixed up a batch of homemade ice cream and Bill and I got it churning out in the garage while Mark started a fire. We ate roasted hot dogs for supper and homemade ice-cream for dessert.

When it got dark, Evan put on a fireworks show for us in the backyard. It was Awesome. Then we circled the fire with our lawn chairs and chatted away until almost midnight. We even spotted a coyote out in the field.

Someday when I need an excellent memory to get me through a tough time or a freezing winter day I'll look back on this perfect summer day and smile.

Self-taken of Mark and I at the fireworks. This is a rare shot of him actually looking pleasantly goofy. ;) No camping = no make-up. Yes, Julia already informed me I have sun damage on my face so I won't need comments regarding that.........
This is our little friend. He lived in Grandma's fire wood box until we decided to make a fire. He wasn't thrilled about moving out!

Camp pics

Katy and Kailey out for a ride.
Danger ahead! Kendra with a lighter and Evan with lighter fluid
Love this one of Kendra during the fireworks
Jocelyn gave Katy a 4th of July manicure, red-white-and blue fingernails
Yeh, this is MY CHAIR. Comfortable Mark?

Even more camp pics

Kailey and Evan watching the fireworks, Kailey kept saying, "AWESOME"!
Grandma's Girl!
Kailey on the move, cute
Katy did such a good job on her cookie! ;)
The official babysitter of camp

More camping photos

Katy and Evan with cousins Kendra and Jocelyn














Goodtimes with friends around the campfire














Katy on the golf cart at camp















Jocelyn on her bike at camp

Camp Pictures

A view of our camper at Site #34










Danica: She is so precious!




Time to eat!










Decorating patriotic cookies, Icing Boy


Evan and Kaily goofing around