Memorial Day

I am having troubles posting these pictures.

Siah & Sarah & Jeremiah came over for Memorial day. We also invited our neighbor for a cookout.

Here is Jeremiah wanting to eat Sarah's cheeseburger.

Later, we took out the pedal boat and canoe, and the boys went fishing. I don't like fishing poles. Why do the lines always tangle inside the reel?? Here is Andrew with his nice sized pan fish.

A 14 year old's birthday (belated)

Here is Dan on his 14th Birthday. Lemon Pudding Poke Cake, in case you are wondering.

A 7 year old's Birthday (belated)

I just realized I didn't post any pictures of the May birthdays. Here is Matthew & his famous Candy Land Cake. This year's cake didn't turn out as good as it has in the past. I'm probably tired of making the same thing year after year.

My Kodak Moment

Here is a picture of Sam by the washing machine, watching Tigger. Sorry the quality is so poor, but it's in a dim hallway, at night.

Tigger's Tale

Sam loves Tigger. But, he's been forgetting Tigger at church. He has a few Tiggers, but only 1 special one (he's kind of floppy). Well, 2 weeks ago, he left Tigger at church, and kept begging to go back to get him. Well, he talked his dad into going back to church to get him, and he was so excited! He pretended to call Tigger on the phone, and said, "Tigger, I'm comin' "

Well, this last Wednesday, he forgot Tigger again. The crazy thing is, no one remembered him bringing him! So, he was asking to get him. Thursday was so busy--trying to get ready for the grad party, getting food, etc. We told Sam we would get Tigger later. Well, while hubby & I were out shopping, Sam decided to take his bike off to church to go get Tigger. Becca caught him down by the stop sign! When I got home later, Sam was still mad at Becca for stopping him.

Friday dad & Sam went to church to get Tigger. But, Tigger was nowhere to be found. Sam came home so dejected.

During the grad party, Della (who teaches the kids club), was talking about Sam & Tigger, and said she knew where Tigger was!! Some girls cleaned up a room, and threw Tigger into a cabinet. She left the party, and went to go get Tigger for Sam. He was so excited!! He hugged and kissed Tigger all night! Well, his hugging and kissing went on, even after Sam ate chocolate pudding. :( So, I had to put Tigger in the washing machine. Sam sat right in front of the washing machine, and watched Tigger go round and round. Then, it was time for Sam to go to bed, and Tigger had to go in the dryer. When Sam got up this morning, Tigger was right beside his pillow.

And, yes, I got the Kodak moment of Sam by the washing machine.

1/2 Way done!

Well, we just had our 5th graduation party. 5 more to go (of ours). Everyone is gone, the house is cleaned, and I am relaxing. Got my tired, sore feet up. :)

We got some tables and chairs from church, and weren't sure if we were going to put them up outside or not, as it was supposed to rain tonight. Well, the weatherman was wrong (imagine that!!) The party started at 1--we put the tables out at noon. Sure enough, it started to rain. We brought 2 of the tables in from outside--moved some furniture around in the den, and put the 2 tables in there. Had a very nice time visiting with everyone. Jon had tacos for his meal, and it worked out really good. My husband's uncle & aunt came! It was nice to see them.

The rain stayed, until the party was done, and we got everything cleaned up. Now, it is nice and sunny. We cooked out burgers on the grill--nice, easy meal, as we both didn't feel like cooking much.

The older ones are all gone out, and it is just dh, myself, and the 3 youngest.

I made a copycat version of Outback Steakhouse potato soup the other day, and it was yummy!! My hubby was so happy, as it is his favorite soup at Outback. Since the Outback in Eau Claire closed, he doesn't get that soup. We like Texas Roadhouse, but they don't have soup--just chili.

Well, I should go get the little boys in the tub, and then crawl in bed.

No Regrets

If you know me, you might know that I want to live my life with "No regrets". I heard that Bill Borden, at three different times in his life, had 3 mottoes: No reserves, No retreats, No regrets. Wouldn't it be fabulous to not have any regrets?? Ah, but in going through the house, getting ready for the big Day (graduation party), I do have a couple regrets. My pictures are a MESS!! Miss "R in the South", could you please come up here and help me get this mess situated???? I have drawers full of packages of developed pictures. (hey--at least I took pictures!! I have heard people say that the more children you have the less pictures they took of the younger ones--not true here!) I used to have it all together, but not any more. I need to do something with the pictures.

Hey--My sister does scrapbooking--maybe I'll throw it all her way, and beg her to do something about it! (Sondra, if you are reading this--please don't faint over the enormity of it all)

Pet peeves--I can not stand to go to a store, and have the clerk not be able to count change. I went to the dollar store the other day, to pick up some stuff, and remembered I had taken all the green out of the wallet. I was left with just change. So, I only had 1 quarter, and the rest dimes and nickels. I gave her the dollar plus tax. She could not count it!! She counted each of the nickels, as though they were a dime! She got over $1.15, and said, "Whatever!" and threw the money in the till. According to the receipt--I was supposed to get back change!!!

My house is all spiffy. Got the carpets shampooed, vinyl floors scrubbed. Sure hope it doesn't rain, as I don't know where we would put everyone.

Ben comes home tonight!! I'm so excited!! He will be able to stay until Sunday night, as his classes start back up on Monday. In honor of his return, we made cookies yesterday. Want to make another batch today.

We are going to a wedding in South Dakota next week! I am looking forward to going away for a bit. Josh & Brittany, Siah & Sarah & Jeremiah all get to go, too! We will all be staying in a house together. We got to talking, that some of our younger children have never seen Devil's Tower, Needles Highway, Custer State Park, etc. So, because we will be right in that area, we will probably throw in that trip, too.

For the big graduation party--Jon picked tacos. I think each child's food has been different. I let them pick what meal they want served. Forgot to ask Sarah to make a cake--I have been so forgetful! So, I had to hurry up and order a cake from Wal-Mart. Glad they take last minute orders.

We had a lovely Memorial Day. Siah & Sarah & Jeremiah came, plus we invited our neighbor. Had a nice cookout, and just a really relaxing day. That evening, we took out the pedal boat, and canoe. Sam had been asking for "fishing" for quite a while. Yes, they went fishing, and caught some nice sized pan fish. We came back home, and used our new fire pit for the first time. Had some s'mores. I still feel like I have wood ticks crawling on me. Can't stand those things!! And there have been so many of them this year! Sam had 3 on him, one day last week.

Tuesday, we went to my parents to celebrate my Dad's birthday. We got him a blueberry bush (Dad loves blueberries), and a Russel Lupine plant. Even got them planted for him. In turn, Dad gave me a rose bush. I planted that in my front yard, and even got the courage to move one of my lilac bushes. I got 2 lilac bushes one year--they were the same size. Planted one by the house, and the other out by the road. The one by the house is maybe 7 feet tall. The one by the road has only grown a couple inches. What it lacked in top height, it must have grown below the surface--the roots went deep. So, now it is moved up by the other lilac bush. Hope it does as well, and that I didn't kill it. :)

Well, I should get going. Need to make a list of all the things I need.