Last weekend was exhausting (I didn't realize I hadn't posted this)

Better late than never.  Last weekend was very busy... I got tired just reading about it.  (ha!)  We just got a few pictures today, so I now I have some to share, too.  (I'm also supposed to get a few more, so I will hopefully add more later.)  

Friday night Jack, Jake and I went to church to prepare the meat for the barbecue.  Jack had purchased 130 pounds of meat - 6 whole briskets and 3 whole pork shoulders.  We were joined by Brent, Bonnie and Barb.  Brent watched Jack work for a bit and then offered to help.  The ladies and I got the rub on and meat wrapped and put back into the fridge.  It proved the saying, many hands make quick work.  What a blessing!  I had plans with friends, so left at 8:15, but the work was done and they did a bit of cleaning up.

My friend, Katie, turned 25 last weekend and we make a point of getting together and celebrating.  The birthday girl gets to choose where we go and what we do.  We all met at Katie's house and were joined by Sarah, our OT, (that is currently on maternity leave) and Marena, our Speech Therapist.  This was Sarah first girls night since baby Olivia made her debut, which made it extra special for her.  Katie loves country music and wanted to go dancing.  We arrived at Kanza Hall and didn't waste any time getting our dance moves going.  We did a few line dances and I found one particularly fun - although I never learned the name of it.  We had so much fun and enjoyed people watching.  This place had it all, from 21 year old's celebrating their birthdays to a couple in their 80's celebrating life and everything in between.  Lots of fun but definitely not a place Jack would like.  We didn't close the bar, but it was close.

Saturday morning we all slept in.  It was a COLD, low key day until it was time to pack up with truck and get the BBQ started.  Jack and Jake didn't waste any time getting the smokers going and the pork was on before I arrived.  We have made a tradition of having a bring your own meat and side to share picnic.  Jack grills the meat to order and everyone raved it was exactly how they like it.  After our last pot luck dinner at church it was decided there weren't enough desserts, so let me just say there was no shortage of dessert.  :-)   I again had to leave before the party was over but was happy to see friends enjoying their evening with my boys.

Ready to unload and get started.

4 smokers and 1 grill.

Pre-BBQ pot luck dinner

Unlike our last get-together, there were LOTs of desserts.

A great group!

I had another night out planned for me.  Aunt Sue and I went out with Lauren and her friends to celebrate her BFF, Brittany's 21st birthday.  We started at the Pizza Bar, then went to PBR (a country bar) and watched Brit ride the bull.  She stayed on longer than I would have.  I danced a little.  We went to one other place... (I squished up my face just thinking about it).  I don't remember what it was called.  It was LOUD.  And crowded.  Sue and I didn't stay long.  (When I told Katie this morning where we went, she shook her head and laughed and told me I really need to check with her before going into any more bars down in Power and Light.  Lol!)  I've learned my lesson.  Sue and I went to Harrah's casino for a couple hours of sensory overload; sight, sound and smell - flashing lights, noise and smoke (ugh).  We didn't win big but we had fun.  As we were driving back to their hotel, Sue got a call saying CJ (Lauren's fiance) had gotten hurt and needed to go to the hospital.  :-(  They waited for Sue.  I dropped her off and went home, I had to be up early or I would have gone along.  (As it turned out CJ has a fractured elbow.  He has to go back tomorrow and get it checked.  I hope and pray it heals quickly and without surgery required.)  

 

<-- Sue and I

Birthday girl, Brittany and Lauren -->

Jack and Jake also had a late night but they were joined by Greg and Barb who stayed around and played Euchre.  Jake and Barb had never played but somehow got teamed up and smoked Jack and Greg.  

Two late nights in a row were not good planning on my part.  Suzy was up before six.  Jack and Jake spent the night at the church so I had to get up.  :-(  I went back to bed but couldn't sleep.  I was at the church by 8:00 a.m. and I didn't sit down until I ate lunch around 12:30.  Turn out was good, not great.  I think we counted about 75 give or take a few.  Several years ago we had over 125.  Everyone raved over the food.  And the music from "The Burnt Ends" was very enjoyable.  Even the band enjoys this gig because they get to eat, too!

 Jack and Brent pullin' pork!

And getting the brisket and burnt ends ready...

Since the youth were helping,

they got to eat first.

The Burnt Ends (part of them)

During the introduction.

Danny, Jake and Andrew working clean up.

We got home and all took a nap.  Annie came home by 4:00.  She had a terrific weekend in Chicago.  The concert was "perfect!"  I also heard her say amazing and awesome.  They got there early enough to get wristbands that allowed them on the floor.  Mr. Broyhill sat close and "could always see us" which made me laugh.  She met some neat girls and had fun chatting with them while they waited.  Saturday, Mr. Broyhill took the girls downtown for a bit of shopping, sightseeing at the Willis Tower and good food.  And early Sunday morning Mrs. Brewer picked them up for a very quiet ride home.  Annie slept a little, watched a movie, read and listened to music.  Who was most excited to have Annie home?  I would have to say Jake.  He was watching and waiting for her and the first one outside when they pulled in.  How sweet is that? 

Arden, Grace and Annie

before the concert.

We all went to bed early and slept well.  I was thankful to have everyone home, safe and sound.

xo

MMMMMOOOOMMM!?

Just a quick story for your entertainment.  Tonight Suzy has been in and out of the backyard several times.  A little bit ago she was outside barking like crazy.  She gets a wild screech to her bark when she's hunting.  It hasn't happened as much as it use to, but I thought maybe she had an animal on the fence.  She came in and RACED upstairs.  ?  I told Jack, "I wonder what she brought in?"  A short time passed and Jake screamed and yelled "MMOOMMM!?  Suzy brought something in!"  He had gone into the bathroom to get a drink and she was standing in front of him with something in her mouth.  He told her "SUZY, NO!"  And she dropped it at the top of the stairs.  

Jack scooped it on a paper plate.  He saw its mouth move just slightly, but no other movement.  He took it out front and put in on the ground.  We couldn't tell if it was alive or not.  After about 10 minutes he went back outside to check on it and the little bugger was gone!  He was playing possum!  I'm so very thankful we found it and didn't have the little critter wandering around the house.  Oh my, can you imagine?  Ugh!

Ok, thanks for checking into this episode of Wild Kingdom - Suburbia edition.  ;-)

I started writing a couple days ago, I will finish it tomorrow and bring you up to speed on life.

xo

It's MAY! This is unbelievable!

It's May 2nd.... not February 82nd like I saw posted in jest on Facebook.  I also read the question:  If April showers bring May flowers, what does May snow bring?  And who would ever have guessed they'd be playing Christmas carols at Kauffman Stadium?  The game was postponed due to snow!?  It's crazy!

This is how it started.

They called them ice pellets.

I call it sleet!

On my way to pick up Annie from school this is what I saw...

A snow plow

salting the roads.

Uh oh!

I sent Annie off on her adventure.  She left at 4:00 p.m. with two friends (Grace and Arden) and one mom (Arden's Mom, Julie) bound for Chicago.  They are driving to the Quad Cities for tonight - where they will spend that night with Julie's parents.  Tomorrow morning they will get up early and meet Grace's Dad, Chris (who works in Chicago and usually flies home on the weekend.)  He be will hosting the girls and take them to a concert tomorrow night at the Sears Centre.  They were all over the moon excited.  I was nervous until I realized that Grace and Arden were/are very concerned about losing Annie and inquired about putting a leash on her.  LOL!  It should be noted that both girls are a good six inches taller than Annie.  The venue recently changed from a much smaller theater, I hope it doesn't change their experience.  Two of their favorite bands will be playing - Pierce the Veil and All Time Low.  More about that later. 

Now, back to the weather

Goodbye tulips,

the snow is starting to stick.

I see puppy paws!

And puppy tracks!

And the table is covered AGAIN!

(I just talked to Annie, there are about a half hour from the Quad Cities.  It's not snowing and they've had a good, uneventful trip, so far.)

~~~

Jack informed me this morning that I hadn't blogged since Sunday.  For some reason that made me laugh.  He knows everything I do but is obviously concerned that I haven't written about for all of eternity to read...  tee hee!

So, here are a couple things you missed ~ 

Monday, Annie went to school with me.

I was a bad Mom and forgot last Thursday was 

Take Your Kid to Work Day.

Oops.

She was NOT in the mood for a picture, but I got one.

;-)

She had fun working with my class.

Yesterday, Jake drove my car for the first time.

He informed me that my taking a picture was a distraction.

Such a serious face.

(please notice, short sleeved shirts, 

sun shining, the windows were down...

sob, sob.  I miss it already!)

For the record, a snow day in May wouldn't be the worst thing... for me.  However, I'm anxious to see what tomorrow brings.  My sister and parents are supposed to drive out to Colorado to see Sarah and her family.  Please say a prayer!  Travel mercies for Annie and her friends, too.  

xo

Quite a day! (a day later)

Yesterday was quite a day... it was exciting and exhausting and by 9:00 p.m. it was down right brutal.  Here's a little recap:

Friday night we planned on all going to bed early.  I went to sleep without any trouble around 10:30 p.m., the kids were already fast asleep.  In true form... I woke up just after midnight.  WIDE awake.  I tried to go back to sleep without any luck.  I was awake til 2 something.  Annie has set her alarm and got up at 3:00 a.m.  I got up sometime after that and sat with her until she was picked up at 3:35 a.m.  They had strict instructions to be at school at 3:45 to depart for Branson, for a music festival.  (Why so early you ask?  They were slotted to sing at 8:30 a.m. and 9:40 a.m.  More about Annie later.)   I laid back down but I don't think I went back to sleep.  I got Jake up at a little after 5:00 a.m., I got up and around, too.  Jake had to be at school at 5:45 a.m., his bus left at 6:00 for Emporia.  

Early morning in the rain...

it was kind of a spooky ghost town drive.

I came home and fell fast asleep - hard sleep.  I woke up at 7:48!  Eek!  We were supposed to leave at 8:00!  I showered and got ready in record time.  

First stop!  Bud Brown Volkswagon in Olathe.  I have been itching for a new (to me) car.  My car has been doing great lately but... anyway, Jack had found a car he wanted to look at on-line.  We knew we wouldn't have time to test drive it, we just wanted a peak.  We sat in a 2013 VW Passat.  We had spent Friday evening in Independence looking at Ford's, test drove a Taurus, which was not what we had originally been looking at either.  I had thought I wanted a new Ford Fusion.  We even sat down with the sales guy and filled out all the paper work but they weren't willing to work with us on a trade and we ended up walking out.  No worries, it just wasn't right.  I was just excited that we had the ball rolling and I knew I wanted to test drive more cars.

Emporia bound...

Second stop!  Emporia State University.  Blue Valley West had 14 students participating in the State Solo/Ensemble Festival.  We found Jake and his full entourage turned out to support him.  Our group included Jack and I, my folks, Marlene and Dave and my nephew, Christopher who is attending ESU.  Jake did a great job, despite us all being in the room with him - along with one of his teachers and two friends, or the fact that his accompanist playing a broken piano, he had to make a last minute dash down stairs to get his extra copy of music for the judge and watching the girl before him come out in tears.  When Jake finished we all clapped and even the judge said, "good job!"  As we walked out Jake had sweat coming down his face and said it wasn't his best.  His teacher, Mr. Kirk thought he might have had some air restricted because he'd buttoned the top button of his shirt.  We all gathered in the hall except for Dave.  He had stayed back to visit with the judge.  I joked that he was schmoozing him up.  I didn't take any pictures - shame on me!

 

Great job, Jake!

Woohoo!

And a close up...

We enjoyed out time together and had several moments of "oh how I wish I would have had a camera ready to capture that."  Dave said that the first time when she and Dave got out the their car and I asked "where's Mom and Dad?"  I had misunderstood that they were riding together, even though that made no sense because it was out of the way.  It's funny to think back now about directing my folks to our location and after a few scenic route turns they made it.  At one point I was standing on a street corner waving my hands, while on the phone with them saying "don't turn until you see me" and they still turned a block too early.  At lunch Jack and Dave gave poor Chris a hard time about this and that and girls and dating.  Jack being a true trouble maker leaned over and whispered something to Christopher about not taking dating advise from Dave.  Then Christopher said, "you dated Shelia?" (my brother's wife).  Another "oh how I wish I would have had a camara ready" moment for sure.  I think Chris was in shock and said "my mind is blown!"  He had never heard that before.  I don't know who's face was funnier - Dave's or Chris'.  Another photo opportunity missed and I didn't take any pictures of us all together.  :-(  Nevertheless, it was so fun to be there and celebrate Jake.  After lunch we all went our separate ways and Chris headed back to campus with us.  Jake was anxious to see how he did.  His score wasn't posted yet so he went off to find friends and we took Christopher home.  We came back to pick up Jake and he called to tell me he'd gotten a "1"!  He was so excited!  

One exhausted guy!

Stop three!  (quick stop) Back home.  Jake planned on joining the youth for the 30 hour famine but they were at a move, so he took a nap and enjoyed some peace and quiet.

Stop four!  Car wash for a final clean up, just in case.

And she looked great!

Stop five!  Back to the VW dealer.  We asked them to look at my car while we took a test drive.  We tested - of all things - the cup holders by stopping at McDonald's and getting a drink.  Jack didn't drive it.  Back to the dealership we went.  I was excited but trying to hold it in.  I knew if it didn't work out I would in time.  There was no hassling on the price - it was a great deal and Jack knew it.  There was some negotiating on the trade.  And I was prepared to walk, if necessary.  We could sell it ourselves and I didn't want to get the new one before the old one was gone.  We did a LOT of waiting.  Thankfully, they gave us a number that was acceptable - not great, but acceptable.  More waiting.  They were cleaning up my car and the finance guy was busy.  When it was time and we signed our names at least as many times as we did when we bought the house.  Each and every page had to be explained.  I was getting tired and hungry.  Finally, we were done!  Finally!  And they couldn't find the car keys.  It was comical.  Poor Brian, our sales guy couldn't catch a break.  I got the giggles.  They were able to find one.  Brian said, one of you get in the front and one in the back and I will go over all the knobs and buttons and features... so Jack got in the front passenger seat.  Lol!  (We were all tired.)  Jack apologized and hopped in back.  Wow, it was a lot to take in!  I asked about the owners manual... "hmm, it must be inside with the other key."  Poor guy.  He offered to bring them to me on Monday, but I said I could come back and get both.  As it turns out I still have a valet key.

Past and future...

Stop six! (quick stop) Home to get Jake.

Stop seven!  Church.  Dropped Jake off for the 30 Hour Famine.  He hadn't eaten since lunch, so he was participating even though he wasn't with them.

Stop eight!  A quiet dinner.  Both of us were too tired to talk.  I had hit a wall.

Stop nine!  HOME!  I was fast asleep by 9 p.m.

Jack stayed awake - bless his heart.  

Stop ten!  Jack picked up Annie and our neighbor boy at 11:50 p.m.  

I woke up in a panic just after midnight asking if Annie was home.  He said, "she's probably already asleep."  And I went right back to sleep as well... 

Annie had a great day.  They students were on three different buses.  The director was on Annie's bus and made it very clear, if the sun isn't shining the bus will be quiet.  :-)  They watched a movie on the way down - yes, in the middle of the night!  After they sang at College of the Ozarks they went to Silver Dollar City and except for getting her thumb smooshed when a bar dropped on it when her friend hopped up to put a water bottle away before going on a ride - she had fun.  One of her friends, Maggie, had never been on a roller coaster before so that was exciting.  It started raining really hard on one ride and they got soaked but that didn't dampen their spirits or fun.  They attended an awards ceremony at 5:00.  Her combined choir got a "1" rating and came in 2nd.  Her ladies choir also got a "1" rating and came in 2nd.  She noted that the group that came in first in combined only had two points taken off.  They left soon after that and stopped in Springfield to eat dinner.  She slept a little bit on the way back but "not much."  And she's done talking about her day and has requested, "no more questions, ok!?"  Ok, then!  

Wow, what a day.  I'm tired again just from writing about it.  ;-)

xo   

Peacefully into the night

Renee sent me a message late last night, her Dad passed away peacefully.  His suffering is finally over.

Please continue to keep Renee and her family in your prayers.

xo  

Looking for good news

My friend, Katie, has been talked several times about a place she likes to look at for good news.  Good News is a section of the Huffington Post, found under Healthy Living.

This video brought a smile to my face and I love the music...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/puppies-vs-stairs-video_n_3063289.html?utm_hp_ref=good-news&ir=Good%20News

That it for now.

xo

Dress shopping

Lauren, Jack's cousin, is getting married in October.  Annie is a junior bridesmaid.  Today, we went shopping for the bridesmaid dresses.  As we drove over I reminded Annie that part of being a bridesmaid is not having an option of what she's asked to try on or wear, "just smile and do it."  They started out looking for purple dresses.  There was one sparkly dress that Annie turned her nose up at saying, "I'll do anything but sequins."  :-)  Annie looked adorable in everything she tried on.  At one point Lauren asked the girls to come out in their favorite dress.  

This was Annie's favorite purple dress.

Then they looked at gray dresses.

This is Annie's favorite, it's pewter.

It has pockets.

and with shoe...

they only had one.  

?

It's purple.

Super cute!

And the final line up...

Brittany - Maid of Honor - in Canary

Shelby - in pewter - her dress matches Annie's

Kayla - in mercury

and Annie

They'll carry purple flowers.

And they'll all have their hair up for the wedding.

Lauren's colors are purple, yellow and gray.

One big check mark off the bride-to-be's to-do list.  

xo