Time off!!!

I've been looking forward to this week for a very long time! Not only is my S-I-L, Alicia, getting married on Friday but I will have a 4 Day WEEKEND!!!! How exciting it is to have 4 days off in a row and not have any O-O-T plans! I can do what I want, when I want! ;-)

I'm going to soooo love the R & R and all the extra time Caleb and I will have to goof around! Caleb goes back to school in 2 1/2 weeks already and he has spent more time at his grandparents this summer than w/ me because I work. Don't get me wrong I'm grateful that he is w/ his grandparents instead of daycare, but everyday I look at him and wish it was me he could be w/ all summer. I love my job and never want to leave it but Time Off is always something great to look forward too!

This day can't get any better than it will be at 5:30!! Hope everyone has as good a weekend as I do.

Fun Trip

As I mentioned in a previous blog, we took a fun-filled trip to Holiday World two weeks ago. Everything that included our family was so enjoyable that day! The weather was perfect, warm and sunny all day! The only thing that was slightly aggrivating were the lines you had to wait in to ride something. However, it's summer time and that's what its all about. Memories are made w/ days like that!



We all got there about 9:30am and were ready to find some fun. First we headed to Splashin Safari where we spent most of the day! Lazy River was by far my favorite spot of the day! Caleb really loved the Big Wave Pool, to me I thought the kiddie wave pool was much safer. Caleb also had a great time in the pool attacking his dad. What's more fun than that.

After having tons of fun in the pool area all day Chris, Christina, and Calvin had to head home and we decided it was the perfect time try out some roller coasters!! Wow were they fun! We road all three of there roller coasters and I think by far as a family we thought the Voyager was the BEST!!! Caleb was so worried about in the line you could see it in his face. He wanted to be a big kid and do all the big kid stuff but behind everything you could see the fear. Once on the ride I don't think he could have gripped the bar any tighter, but as soon as it was over all we heard was "Can we do it again, please, please!"



Holiday World is by far the BEST family vacation spot around our area. It beats everything about Six Flags. Good Memories were had, can't wait till next trip.

Warning!

Well I have had some bad days but last Thursday was by far the worst! On July 24, 2008 I was pulled over for speeding!!!!!! I was doing 43mph in a 30mph -- UHG, busted! There is no worse of a feeling that just knowing you are at the mercy of a Police Officer. Luck being abnormally on my side that day the extremely nice officer let me head off w/ a simple warning....wow!

The Brickyard

Today is the day we all head off to the Brickyard in Indianapolis. We are headed up w/ a funfilled bunch this year and should have a ton of stories. Matt has gone up w/ this group of people for the past three years however this is my first year to experience it. I must be honest in saying the the Indy track is by far NOT my favorite track to go to. I've been there once and never cared to go back again. I'm not much into the whole partying thing and truth be known I'm quite a light weight when it comes to drinking. Better said, I can't run w/ the Big Dogs anymore! This is just one of the reasons I didn't mind staying home.

We are heading up today at noon w/ our friends Nate and Cory and my brother in law Tommy. Nate is driving his big Ford F150 crew cab. I do know that just w/ the little group we make there will be a lot of character to go around. I should have at least 1 good story of each of them by the time I get back ;-)

Although this is Tony Stewarts last year w/ JGR, I'm still his #1 fan! Next year, I will always miss the fact that he won't be supporting the #20 Home Depot car. That's is all I've ever cheered for in my racing history. I do wish him the best of luck in his new adventure in 2009. I believe his 1st year of course will be a bit of a struggle to get on his feet, hopefully I'm wrong. Either way I look forward to cheering him on and again buying all the necessary gear to show my support! I hope Tony pulls off another victory this Sunday and can kiss the bricks one last time w/ the #20 team. Only if Zippy could go w/ him on the move, they just seem like such a great tag-team effect. Who knows though, maybe the straight cut away is just what he needs to improve for next year, maybe there too close?!?! I'm going to stay in the here and now and just wish Tony and Zippy the best for the rest of this season and hope that there bad luck turns around soon!! Go Tony Stewart!!!!!

No More Daycare

Last night my momma called me and wanted to know if Caleb could spend the night, this was at 8:30 or so. I thought it was a little late and we needed to consider daycare too. Even if Caleb doesn't show up we still have to pay the weekly fee. So once my parents heard this I could immediately hear the wheels turning! Mom said she had to talk to my dad and she would call me back. It wasn't even 5 minutes and my cell phone rang, they wanted to watch him the rest of the summer so he didn't have to go to daycare anymore. Once Caleb heard about this I don't think his eyes could have opened any wider. Then said "Can I mom, can I please!?!?" Now tell me, how do you say NO to that kind of a request?

Caleb is soo excited to be w/ his grandparents for the rest of the summer.

Thanks Mom and Dad, you really know how to make Caleb smile!!!

It's Time for Holiday World!!!!

This Saturday our family is heading to Holiday World in Indiana. Getting away as a family is always something we look forward to. No phones, worries, and most of all NO drama! Last year we tried Six Flags in St. Louis, MO, out for a spin. That was a huge disappointment for Caleb. It just wasn't as child orientated as Holiday World is and he ended up having to ride the same ride over and over again. Bummer :-(

This year is even more exciting because we headed up there w/ Chris, Christina, and Calvin. Even more family fun! We're keeping our fingers crossed that nothing comes up and the weather stays beautiful.

Our Church Picnic is TODAY!!!

Today is the day of the St. Francis Church picnic in Teutopolis. This is our communities annual way of pulling together to show there support and donate what they can to help keep our breathtaking church going! We are proud of our church and this is just one of the ways we get to show it. There are always a lot of things for the little ones to do even if its just running around w/ there friends and having water fights. Caleb looks forward to that every year! So if you have a minute to swing through T-Town today, please stop buy and check out the fun. Looks like its going to be a Beautiful day, hope to see you all there!

Cancer wins again

So I go online to check my email this morning and the first thing I see is:
Tony Snow, President Bush's conservative writer & commentator lost his battle w/ colon cancer this morning. Tony was only 53!

Of course, I didn't know this gentleman but it just goes to show that cancer strikes anyone @ any age. Cancer is everywhere and we can't hide from it. To be honest, cancer scares the crap out of me because it does run in my family on my mother's side.

Tony, thanks for a job well done. President Bush stated today, "America lost a devoted public servant and a man of character." Prayers go out to your family.

Walking for the cause

If there were ever a reason to walk, tonight was the night! Tonight I was honored to walk w/ some friends of mine in the Relay for Life. This is my first time ever being present at this type of event, but until this year I never realized how many people in our community suffer from Cancer.

Many years ago (when I was 6) I lost a great-grandfather to this disease. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I didn't even know that grandpa was sick. This man spoiled me rotten every chance he got. He was my walking partner. Whether we headed to the park, the little downtown diner, HUCK'S, or to Spurgen's to buy me a new dolly we were always on foot. I still remember all the little things about him, but most of all, his love for me. Then on one beautiful summer day my mom and dad took me to the St. Louis Zoo. I remember having soo much fun ooohing and ahhhhing over cute little/big animals. We finally called it a day and headed home to find the most disturbing news, at that time in my life. My dearest great-grandfather Nick had died. He past away in the comfort of his room after getting up for a glass of water and telling everyone "Goodnight". I lost my best friend that day to a disease I didn't understand.

Now, the older I get the more people I know are being diagnosed w/ this horrifying disease. Unfortunately, w/in the last 2 years Cancer once again has raised it's ugly face to friends close to my heart. Everyday, we pray for the miracle cure and yes the scientist are closer to a cure for some cancers but yet so far away for most.

Tonight, I went up and showed my support to finding a cure for this disease. I walked w/ my friends Mark and Steve for only two miles due to Mother Natures incooperation. There was music from 97.9 WXEF radio station and silent auctions and for the weather circumstance, there were quit a few people there walking in the rain to help support the cause.

So here is a Shout Out to all participants!!! And please, all who read this, keep in mind the victims of this terrible disease and keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

My special Prayers tonight go out to those who have lost there battle:
My Great-Grandfather Nick
The family of Mrs. Margie Osteen
The Family of Mr. & Mrs. Mert McMahan
The Family of Lisa Addis

To those who are still fighting:
Mrs. Janet Knabe