Indiana Beach

The kids earned a free pass into Indiana Beach from the library for reading books and doing book reports. There are only certain weekends that you can use these passes. This last weekend was the only weekend we would be able to go. So our already exhausted family goes on what seemed like the hottest day of summer. We get there and they only except cash not debit cards so Matt has to go in to the ATM while I wait out in the hot sun at the gate for him to get back. That was fun (not). For those of you who know me you know I don't do well in new environments. So to stand out on display for everyone who passes to stare at me made me a little uncomfortable. Although I should not have felt too terribly bad at least I was clothed. I think those poor people were paying so much to get in they couldn't afford to buy any clothes. This is no joke I truly believe that this place is reserved for people who are (how do I say this....) not too classy? I was not too impressed with the dress code at this place or lack of a dress code. I think anything goes. Men if you're married and a Christian please close your eyes as you enter and please do not open them until you leave. Ladies this may be good advise for you too!!! It may not be quite that bad but really you do have to turn your head quite a bit to avoid seeing things you really don't care to see. I was happy to see there was a church group there though. The reason I know they were a church group was because the ladies were wearing dresses and the guy were wearing jeans. Several of them were wearing long sleeves also so I was assuming they were probably Holiness or Pentecostal. I'm not assertive enough to ask. Anyway my intention was not to get on here and talk about modesty. I was really writing about my kids doing a wonderful job this summer on their book reports.

Each one of them did enough book reports this summer that we only had to pay for me to ride the rides. (Matt hates to ride rides. Makes for a long day for him.) The kids truly did have good time though. Austin rode one of the big roller coasters and enjoyed getting me on it too. Now I HATE roller coasters. Every since I was a girl and rode one that went upside down and the very next year that same roller coaster fell apart with people on it. Several people died and mind you this was a much bigger amusement park then Indiana Beach. Anyway he laughed at me and said you had fun mom! And I replied no I didn't. But we lived to tell about it, for that I do thank Jesus. No more roller coasters for me for a while. Cody said his favorite part was the pirate show that is performed on the water. I'm guessing that was Matt's favorite too since THAT IS ALL he got to enjoy for the day. (Except for breakfast at McDonald's that morning.)

Isabelle said she liked the train ride but I don't know how anyone can enjoy that. The train moves slower then a baby walks. I thought we would never get back to where we started from. But oh well if she enjoyed it that is all that matters. My favorite ride was the submarine ride. Because.....you get wet. You ride this submarine around that sprays water. When you get to the front the spectators can spray you and spray they did. I was sop and wet when I got off that one. It felt so good after being so hot all day.

This is what we've been doing the last few weeks. And as we all know here in the next couple weeks we will all be busy WITH SCHOOL STUFF. Matt and I are taking some much needed couple time the weekend after the kids start school. I can not wait. Don't get me wrong I love and miss my kids. I'll worry about them the whole time I'm gone but we need the time together. Anyway I will have to let you know more later.

Summer Family Photo Time

Okay, I know I am completely overwhelming you with these pictures and believe it or not I have more I want to put on here. Heather took our family pictures for us this year. It is forty-five dollars but the pictures are beautiful and the kids do so much better without having to be in a studio. I think it's the more relaxed environment that makes them cooperate more. I like that she gives you a CD so you can get as many made as you want to without worrying about copy rights. The women in Heathers church are raising money because they are going on a trip together. This is Heathers fund raiser for her part and if I know her she is raising money for others as well. I was thrilled with our pictures as you can tell. I had seventy-nine pictures to choose from so I really did narrow it down. It just doesn't look like it. Anyway, hope you enjoy them.

More Family Photos

White Castles Anyone

So many of our friends are so not into getting White Castle hamburgers. But we just can't help it we love the slimy little things. We realize they are not really all that healthy but they taste oh so good. More often then not we get the crave case. We used to have left overs but since our boys are growing (or maybe they're just acquiring a taste for them) we generally don't have left overs anymore. I'm starting to think that maybe we're just a bunch of pigs.

White Castles bring back good memories for me. When we were kids we hardly ever got to go out to eat at ANY restaurant. But when we would go out of town especially Indy my mom and dad would get us White Castles. At the time we thought they were doing it because they liked them so much (which they did) but now I realize it's probably more because they were so cheap. What ever the reason we sure did appreciate it and now I just can't help myself every once in a while I just want some good old greasy White Castles. Last night was one of those nights. It nice when little things like this bring back good memories, I only hope my kids get the same memories about the little things we do with them. I sometimes think we remember the little day to day things better then the "big" things our parents tried to do for us. Anyway for anyone who doesn't like White Castles I'm sorry for you. You're sure missing out!!!

PS: Sorry dad if you're reading this I know you can't have them anymore. Whatever you say White Castles is just not healthy for you.

Out with the Old, In with the New

This is our "old" if two years is old camera. And this is our new camera! Matt knowing how much I like to take pictures wanted to go ahead and get the new one. I kept telling him I would use the old one (with spots). But he said "you are not going to be happy with spots on your pictures". He's probably right I would be frustrated every time I went to get a picture made. So I guess I'm pretty special to have a husband that cares about the small stuff. I guess I won't be taking my camera on bike rides anymore or at least I will not try to take pictures on a moving bike. The only thing I don't like about either one is that they are not small enough to fit in you pocket when I go with my kids on field trips or to the park, carnival, etc. But other then that they take really good pictures. Well the new one does anyway. The old one used to. Another good thing about the new camera is that it is 7 mega pixels the old one was 5 mega pixels so maybe this one will do even better pictures. It already seems to take better inside pictures then the other one. Well anyway you're probably tired of hearing about my camera incident anyway. Just don't try taking pictures on a moving bike or you may be writing about your "new" camera too!!!

Expensive Bike Ride Cont. 2

Sorry I totally messed up this blog somehow. You have to start down at the bottom with the picture of my dad airing up tires to know what is going on. Does anyway know how to tell me how to put pictures with the journaling in between the pictures. I seriously can't figure it out. Anyway I continue my bike ride. We made it to the park and the kids had a good time there. We started home and.... I got a brainy idea to continue riding my bike with Isabelle sitting in the back and take picutures of the kids behind me. That is a big mistake (please don't try this at home. Drum roll please...I lost my balance and it was either Isabelle or the camera hit the ground. I decided in that split second that the camera could go. It did too and cracked the lens right in the front. Now theres a black dot in any picture you take. To top that off my dad's formor boss drives by smiling at me. I felt like quite the retard at that moment. Now for those of you that know me know this is a very big deal to me. I snap pictures of my kids doing EVERYTHING. If they are picking their nose I want to capture it. Actually it's not quite that bad (but almost). Anyway my bike ride home was pretty depressing. I was thinking...how am I going to get a new camera (seeing that money is an issue)... I can't take pictures with dots on them....how am I going to tell Matt what I was trying to do without him laughing at me...will he be mad at me...etc. You get the picture. When you've been the goof bird, you feel pretty stupid. However, at least we made it home safely (no more pictures). Matt was being sweet and got a drink for everyone for when we got home. That's when I plurted out that I broke the camera. He wasn't thrilled but he said "I wanted to get a new camera sometime anyway". That sure made me not feel quite as bad, but really if I hadn't broke it then we wouldn't have to spend the money on a new one. Oh well mistakes happen. I'm just glad that I have a hubby that doesn't yell at me about my mistakes. He just laughs at me!!!! That might be worse I'm not sure. Maybe I should think about this a while.

Expensive Bike Ride Cont.

All was going very well so far!

My Expensive Bike Ride!

I decided I would take the kids on a bike ride yesterday. I also decided I would invite Dalton, Andromida, and Dymond to go. I was a little nervous taking six kids by myself on a bike ride because I didn't know how well they would follow directions. However they were not the problem!!!! Everything started out okay with my dad making sure everyone had air in their tires.

Matt's Relatives

Just couldn't resist taking a picture of Matt with his twin brother. See the resemblance between the two! We went to the Columbian Park Zoo on Saturday with Cathy, David and the kids. The kids had a lot of fun there. They have really fixed it up nice over there. When they get finished with all the renovations it will be a very nice FREE zoo. The petting zoo part is kind of nice too. It has goats, rabbits, and a pony the children can touch. There is even a "cow" for milking for "everyone" to practice that skill. When the kids were finished petting the animals there is a wash station set up for them to wash their hands. The park is down to three rides (helicopters, boats, horse drawn wagons) , a water wars sling shot thing and of course the train ride around the park. There used to be several things for kids to ride but apparently they were not safe rides or something because they are gone. The park toys are very nice to play on and they seem to be well maintained. This would be a great place to take a picnic lunch sometime if you're wanting to do something fun and cheap. Just don't go on the weekend because the play area at the park if full.

Sorry my pictures are all in a line. I can't figure out how to get the words between the pictures. I guess I will keep practicing.

Work! Work! Work!

Matt was helping Dan Beagan put a new roof on his house. The boys are continually asking how they can get money. So... Matt thought this was a perfect opportunity for them to earn some. I couldn't resist taking pictures of them "working hard for their money." It really was hot that day but daddy said they helped him get done a lot sooner then if they hadn't been there to help. Great Job Boys!!! In the mean time Miss Priss is on the ground posing for pictures. I wonder if she thinks she should get paid also!