Missouri 2008

I love my grandma!
Katie the dog is the new addition to the farm. She was so cute and lovable.
Here is my uncle Jimmy trying to amuse me by pretending like he is shorter than me.
Grandma and the kids in front of the barn. Even Bubba came over to the fence to be in the picture.
All the cousins climbing all over Uncle Gaylord's truck when he took us all out to the field. (shhh, aunt Pam don't tell Gaylord)
All the kids visiting their Aunt Sarah's grave. She is buried in the same row as my grandpa. Such a peaceful and beautiful cemetery.
It was funny to my kids, Sheila's kids and my cousins' kids together in Missouri. It use to be us running around together on the farm playing ghosts in the graveyard, picking apples, fishing, taking long walks, playing with the animals and whatever else we could find to explore. Now it's their turn to sit at the kiddie table when we all get together for dinner.
Feeding Bubba an apple. His tongue was really long.
Sheila, Jennifer, me and Jason. (can you tell I missed the tall gene somewhere along the way?)
Me with my VERY favorite Aunt Pam.

Grandpa 1930~2008

We went to the funeral home, the church, the cemetery, the farm and even the field where the tree had fallen on him...yet it still doesn't seem real. It was so sad sitting there in their family room looking at his empty chair. I love him and miss him so much! I suppose the hardest part is now when you need to get back to your normal routine but you feel like your world is flipped upside down. I'll always cherish the many memories I have of my grandpa.

September 17, 2008

Just going through some old photos and thought I'd post a couple of my favorites. I love the picture of my grandpa with the kids on his farm because I have the same picture of me with him in that same spot when I was a kid.

This picture of my grandma and grandpa is the last photograph I have of them together (everything else is digital since this one was taken) They are standing in front of their church which is next to the cemetery where we will bury him on Saturday.

None of this seems real yet...

Mmmmmm

With every new season comes a new favorite food for me to enjoy. All I have to say is goodbye to summer and sweet corn.... and HELLO to autumn and taffy apples. YUMMO!!!!

Rain Rain on my face

The kids had fun playing in my parents' street when it flooded. We were on our way to pick up the kids from their house when they called to tell us that we'd have to park our car and wade through water to get to them because the street was flooded and water was coming up the drain in their garage.
This was what was left of the back part of their yard.
Luckily our house is dry, but down the street the neighbors weren't so lucky. There is a creek that runs through our subdivision so when we get a ton of rain (especially 4 days straight) it floods pretty bad.
Brian and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary on Friday by having a weekend getaway at a resort and spa. We had planned to go to the beach where Brian proposed to me and go hiking and go there at night to watch the stars. Obviously NONE of that took place this weekend due to the weather. We did enjoy just getting away and being together. We had a couples massage and ticklish Brian giggled through most of it. Thanks mom and dad for taking the kids for us while we escaped for a few days.

Schererville Couple Olympics 2008

Kelly and Tony took the gold in the strength contest.
Kristi guiding Jason through the obstacle course blindfolded while holding an egg on a spoon.
I wonder what all the neighbors thought as a bunch of 20 and 30 year olds were taking turns pushing each other in the wheel barrow.
Gold Medalists for this year Olympics. I already feel the pressure to keep the title for next year.
The lucky bronze medalists won a quesadilla maker. I have a feeling we might be seeing that again at this year's white elephant gift exchange.

Excellent effort diving for the water balloon, Dustin.
After the first event the Sandovals were sad to be without a medal.
Sarah and Dustin got the silver medal and the back of Dustin's shirt says it all.
Henry and Traci took the gold in the volleyball event.
Lisa and Carl getting ready for the 3 legged race.