The kids...

Corbin on Joe's lap, Taylor, Lizzy, Abby, Haley, Samantha, Rachel, and Zachary on Kathy's lap

My brother came out to visit and it has been a blast to have all of our kids get together and play. These are the ones that were together this night....

Lesson learned........

This is my sister Kathy's hand after receiving a steam burn, mine is not even close to what her's looks like. Kathy and I were trying to help mom carry a roaster full of ham out to the car. It still had steam in it and as my husband is calling us dumb and dumber lifted it off the counter and the steam proceeded to attack.......it was all we could do to get the roaster back on the countertop.....needless to say we spent 3 hours with our hands in cups of ice water and Chris went to Kirksville for ointment........Andrea called stating she had numbing ointment...thanks Andrea it was a BIG help....needless to say Kathy and I learned our lesson.....you would think that at 38 and 36 we would not do stupid stuff like this.......live and learn! Oh and both of us use our hands for our jobs, she is a women's nurse practicioner and I transcribe!

Halloween 2009

The crew........ah what fun we had!

Samantha the witch, Rachel the retro chick, and Haley the princess

Chris as Hannah Montana or Bucky Covington from American Idol.....sexy......NOT

My princess!

My grown up retro chick!

The yearly trick or treat family gathering was fun as always.......Julia and her kids and Kathy and her kids came to go trick or treating....Kathy was in charge of all of the make-up and I had the glitter can.....we put the kids in the wagon behind the 4-wheeler and off we went....the kids had fun, but they were worn out and well worth it..........Happy Halloween!

2 days without....

Training wheels and the result is this!

And this...

and this!

Haley decided she wanted the training wheels off her bike. We took them off on Friday and Saturday we headed camping and had to take the bikes. I was a bit nervous that she would not be able to keep up with the other kids, but as you can see she had no problems. She did have one collision with another girl that we were camping with as Mia had just learned to ride her bike without training wheels also, but other than that Haley has done an awesome job at riding her bike. She told me today that she liked to ride her bikes without training wheels as she does not make noises anymore, meaning her training wheels were a bit loud! See below for pics of our second camping trip of the year!

Camping for the weekend...

Chris and Zachary relaxing

At one time this little tent had 7 kids in it with make-up and the works!

The kids playing house in Hotel Hilton (Kathy and Mike's tent)

Samantha and Haley being themselves

65 degrees outside and the kids thought they just had to play in the water...

We had an awesome time just doing nothing. The kids rode their bikes everywhere even to the playground, which was 20 yards away! All around the campground and we followed with the scooters. We will have to do it again before the snow flies!

First Day of School 2009

Rachel (3rd grade) and Haley (Kindergarten)

They are ready to go!

Haley waiting for the bus....

Still waiting for the bus...

Hugs before they go...

Haley was so excited she was practically skipping to the bus...Rachel was just all smiles!

Home from the 1st day of school...

Haley did NOT like her bus tag she had to wear! She did said school is AWESOME!

Rachel had fun seeing her friends, but is ready for a full day of school tomorrow...

We made it through the 1st day of school. I did not know how to react with one in 3rd grade and one in Kindergarten. I still am in denial I think, but they have grown up so fast. They really make us proud as they are so excited for school Rachel has 16 book reports to do this year, so this will be a new learning experience for her. She has already started on ready to get ready for her first book report. Haley is excited about school. She had gym class today and said it was so cool as they got to skip and do other cool things. She is excited about the 2nd day as she is the first one to bring snack, grapes and strawberries are on the menu for snacks....

20 Year Class Reunion

Yes that would be 20 years!

I believe they counted 30 of us out of 60 some!

Angela and Kathy

Dee, Anna, Kris, Tracy, and Danny

Teresa, Jennifer, and Kris

Allen and Jeremy

Jodi, Jodi's husband, and Elaina

Todd and his wife

Renee

Wesley, Mike, and Alan and his son

Angela, Deanne, Shannon, Marla, Scott, and Jodi

What fun we had getting together, seeing each other, and enjoying stories. We all could not believe it had been 20 years, really it does not seem that way at all! I will be anxiously awaiting our next reunion! Hope you enjoyed the pictures...

Ball season 2009....

Haley at short stop waiting for the ball to be hit, a hard thing for them to stand and wait.

Rachel up to bat!


Rachel getting ready to bat...she and another team member played up the next level to help that team out....they pitch to each other....Rachel thought it was okay, after the first few pitches!

Haley getting ready to swing......see the ball......

Standing at home plate......here she goes.........

Haley in the outfield......the one on the left!

Rachel the first one on the right...

Rachel and Haley both played ball this year.....what a difference there is between peewees and the 8 and under team! Chris and I coached Rachel's team this year and it was definately a learning experience for us! Rachel has improved a lot since last year, still has things to learn, but definately has grown in the knowledge of what to do. Haley got frusturated with not being able to hit the ball. She really wanted to hit it and be able to run the bases, but her swinging is not the best. Hopefully next year she will be able to improve.

Lake Rathbun...

Zachary, Haley, Kathy and Mike getting ready to head out!

Mike, Samantha and Haley getting ready for their turn to ride!

Rachel and Kathy after they had their turn, after hitting a wave that sent them at least 2 foot in the air........I mean good air! Wish I had the camera for that one!

Mike and Samantha

Zachary, Haley and Samantha playing in the bubbles....

Relaxation after boating...

The first time the boat was taken out for 2 years.....we bought the torpedo, as we called it, because the kids could sit down inside and not fall out. Kathy and I decided to take the first trip out and what a trip....needless to say we are both still sore, but will do it again! Kathy and Rachel had the most air time in the torpedo.....they hit the wave just right and into the air they went. Zachary did not like it at all, until we had stopped to swim and he played in it and was just fine with that......we are all thinking about going again this weekend and taking the tent this time. Rachel, Haley, and Samantha had a blast and wanted to do it some more......glad we found something that they really like to do with the lake as Rachel was having a hard time with the dirty water.....go figure!

Me and the wasp...

Okay well this is not the best picture, but it is what I have. Sunday a wasp decided to fly up the leg of my shorts and well this is the result of it. Chris said it had to be a male wasp to venture up the leg of my shorts. Thanks Chris! Yes it is painful, yes it itches and yes it burns! I am going to the doctor tomorrow as it keeps growing instead of shrinking. My thigh is also swollen and so it looks like I have a goose egg on my leg. So do you think I am allergic to wasps? I would have to say yes. I have not been stung by a wasp since I was 4 years old and mom said this is what happened to me then, but I did swell up a lot more. So I guess I will avoid wasps!

Track and Field Day 2009

Mrs. Applegate's 2nd Grade Class

Rachel and her ribbons....2nd for the high jump, 2nd for the 3 legged race and 3rd place for the softball throw......Awesome job!




The softball throw.....Mr. Metz asked Rachel if she threw like a girl, obviously not too bad for getting a 3rd place ribbon!

The long jump........she did not place, but was very close!

The 3 legged race with Lillian.........2nd place and their ankles were not too sore!

The 100 meter dash......

The high jump.......Rachel loves to do the high jump......she received 2nd place!

There was a lot of anticipation amongst the kids, but we kept encouraging them congratulate each other......they overall as a class did very well with their sportsmanship.