Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

November 12, 2009 - Today Ed and I took my mom out to eat lunch at the Olive Garden for her birthday. We had a fun time!!! Happy Birthday, Mom!!! Hope you had a great day!

Cute boy!

Ed and Jaren
Me and my Bear!!!

3 JULY - Picnic and Ball Practice

This was the FIRST three day weekend that Ed didn't have to work at either job so we were excited to spend the day with Papa!!! Grandma Young came to play as well!

Ollie and Papa

Eden pitching to Ollie. She'll start T-Ball this year at the end of the month!

Waiting for a grounder.

Love this pic of Bear and Edes.

This picture makes me laugh!

Grandma making a flower ring for Eden.

Oops... I think someone's shorts are a little too big!!! ;o)

Easter... No... Halloween... No... Easter...

I couldn't find the kids' Easter baskets for our Egg Hunt this year, so we got out their Halloween baskets instead. A holiday fusion of sorts!!! Why they have them on their heads is truly beyond me... ;o)

Oliver found the only silver egg that was strategically placed high above their heads!

Jaren finding his first egg!!!

I think there may be one hiding under the bowl, Eden!!!

Ed opened one of the eggs to show Jaren what was hidden inside!!!

Oliver and his Dracula Easter Basket!!!

Eden looking 'thrilled' with her discoveries!
Jaren tasting some of his Easter candy! Smarties are one of Grandma Young's favorite goodies!

Dying Easter Eggs - April 2009

As Chad was set to leave for New Mexico the next day, we had one last family fun night together with our family, Mom and Chad. We decided to color the eggs for Easter. One thing I missed doing was our "Egg Judging". I think we were all just too pooped to do it... plus... I couldn't find my red food coloring so we were lacking in some colors!!! It was a spontaneous event, so it wasn't too well planned on my part. At least we all had fun!

I thought this looked like an eyeball when we were mixing the colors.

Ed and Bear getting ready to dye some eggs.

...and the fun begins! (side note: Why do my kids never have pants on???)

Mom and her rubberband egg.

Chad's "Egg-dger Allen Poe" creation.


My tie dye egg effect.

Oliver and Jaren. I LOVE this picture!

First a Nacho Libre pumpkin... now a Nacho Libre egg... What is wrong with me!?! ;o)


"Naccchhhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!"

Mom put the egg stands on her ears... AND...

...like Grandma... like Grandson... ;o)

February 28, 2009 - Happy 81st Birthday, Gram!!!

This weekend the kids and I went to Clinton with my mom to celebrate Gram's 81st birthday! Bry came in from Chicago and Chad was there as well. Katie and her boyfriend, Andy, Sue and Mike came up for it as well! I hope Gram had a fun weekend, I know that we did!

Flashback Friday - 1987 - Homemade Slip and Slide

My Grandpa Young used to work at DuPont, a place that made cellophane and plastics. He got a scrap roll of plastic and made us a homemade slip and slide in their back yard. It was GINORMOUS!!! They hooked up the hose and let the water run down the plastic, starting at the top of the hill! I remember the very end would get really muddy and one year I slid all the way to the end of the plastic and then flopped around like a fish in the mud puddle! I think my Uncle Dave may have captured that treasure on video! I think it's safe to say that we ALL had so much fun on that thing for so many summers!

The cousins at Grandma and Grandpa Young's in Clinton. (I guess Andy didn't want to go for the crazy slip and slide ride!)

Jenni, Talen, Chad (brother), me and Katie.

Crash course! (Alison, Bryan - brother, Katie, me?, and Chad... I can't tell if those are my legs or not!)

Alison is running up the hill and I think Katie is at the top with no shirt on. Then here I am coming down about ready to crash into Chad!

Grandma and Grandpa Boardsen Visit

Dad and Ellen (Grandpa and Grandma Boardsen) came over on Friday afternoon to see me and the family for my birthday! They gave me a gift card to Target, where I pooled the rest of my money to buy a fire pit for our back yard! I've been wanting one forever!!! Thanks! The kids were crazy while they were here! We chatted for a while and Ollie wrestled around with Grandpa a bit! Don't forget the "cup" next time, Dad!

Jaren with Grandma and Grandpa

Grandpa and Jaren

Buckeyes

While Dad was golfing, he found these Buckeyes on the ground and brought one home for each of the kids. He said they are good luck! Ollie and Eden each picked out theirs and Jaren got the last one.

*Buckeye Nut Folklore: nut is considered a good luck charm (put it in your pocket), relieves pain of arthritis and rheumatism, resembles the eye of the buck deer.