Happy Birthday

Yesterday was my 28th birthday! I had a great day starting with waffles for breakfast made by Travis and my birthday present from him. I got a Longenberger recipe box to keep all of my "borrowed" recipes in :). The other half of my gift is still at the furniture refinishing place in Knoxville, I'm hoping to pick it up this week!

Travis said it was my day so we could do whatever I wanted......you know what I chose.....to clean our house! :)

Last week was conference week for both Travis and I and man oh man, did we let things go. I was happy to use the time to just get caught up on the picking up, dishes, dusting, vacuuming, etc.

We did make time however for lunch at the Landmark...YUM! We both had lobster bisque and 1/2 a sandwich. After lunch we were able to browse the shops on Seminary Street. It was cold, but a fun day just to bum around.

Travis' parents met us at our house at 3:30 where I received some birthday presents! We then went to meet my parents at Dad's house. Mom, Dad, Justin, Travis and I, and his parents all went to dinner at Martini's in Burlington. The goal was for us to do their "grazing" option, however, most of us decided we'd prefer to order off the menu. Travis and I will save grazing for another time. We all had yummy meals, and very filling meals. We stopped at my dad's house after dinner for more presents and my birthday cake! Travis and I made it home by 8:30 and much to my surprise, there was ANOTHER birthday present on our front steps from Sarah!

Ahhhh, I love birthday's! :)

I had a great day and many phone calls, well wishes, and cards to help me celebrate my day!

Thanks to everyone who made my day great!

Travis and I on my 28th birthday

Churchill Football

I'm very proud to say I'm a football wife! :)

Travis has coached the Churchill Blue Streak for 5 seasons now. This is his first season as head 8th grade coach. Something I'm quite proud of, and I'm sure he's quite modest about.

Stretching before the Lombard/Churchill Game

Running Plays before the game

Last Tuesday he finished his season. This was a special season because he's coached this group of kids for 2 seasons, last year as head 7th grade coach and this year as head 8th grade coach.

The kids really connected to Travis' coaching style and he really connected with all of them.

Although the last game of the season against the other Galesburg Jr. High didn't turn out quite as we had planned, I must say that Travis and his guys were the true winners. Travis made sure that each player got sufficient playing time. This was the first game they have ever played at the H.S. field, and it was "under the lights" during a night game. What an experience for a 13/14 year old boy. Travis knew that it was important for all the guys to feel a part of the team on that special night. And no, they didn't win, but they also didn't result to shady football shenanigans. Both Jr. High teams will soon be on the same team if they choose to continue on in their football careers. Travis did what was needed to show the guys how to play hard, but with dignity and honor to the school system and most importantly to the game.

Big decisions for a big game

I am proud to be a football wife, and super proud of my football husband coach!

Left: Coach Sutton/Asst. 8th grad coach
Middle: Coach Rasso/Head 7th grade coach

Right: Coach Stecher/Head 8th grade coach

Travis, although sad to loose his "guys" is grateful to be enjoying some time to get caught up in the classroom especially with conferences around the corner. He is also enjoying catching up on Wii football and today was the start of the NBA basketball season, so don't fret friends Travis has plenty to keep him busy.

Tanner's Apple Orchard

Saturday I got to go back to Tanner's Apple Orchard near Peoria Illinois. This is a great orchard that is perfectly suited for young children and families. I take my first graders every year! I have always wanted to go with out 23 little ones so this year I invited my brother, Justin, his girlfriend Stormie and her 3 year old little boy, Rylie. Mom and I were going to tag behind Justin and Stormie, but Justin planned a wiener roast for the same day as the apple orchard trip so we left him behind and just the girls and Rylie went.

We had a great time feeding the goats,

riding the ponies,

driving a barrel tractor,

and playing on the playground, these were just a few of Rylie and my favorite parts :)

Mom and Stormie liked the gift shop and lunch ;)

We were going to go into the orchard to pick some apples, but the trees are now bare and all they had left were pumpkins! Rylie already had his pumpkin so we forgoed the trip into the orchard.
We had a great time and can't wait to go again next year! Rylie and I were tuckered out from all the playing we did so we both slept on the way home!

Alieve Cold and Sinus

I have been miserable with a sinus infection/cold for the past 2 days. Today or rather yesterday I finally purchased some Alieve Cold and Sinus. It has worked marvelously! I was able to work all day with no complaints, and debated on whether to take another dose before bed. Wanting to ensure a restful night with no sniffling, I took another pill..............

It is 2:29 AM and I am WIDE AWAKE! I have been awake for an hour and a half! I have tried everything! Just laying there, using the restroom, counting backward from 100 (twice), I've watched TV for a half hour, and now I'm here posting about my sleeplessness! Argh!
I wish I would be this awake at 8:40AM when I have 23 six and seven year olds bouncing through the door after they have had a full nights sleep!
I know I'm going to be soooooooo tired tomorrow, but who knows maybe after I take my next Alieve at 10AM, I'll be set to go.

Moral of the story....buy Alieve cold and sinus when you're sick, DO NOT take it at bed time!

I hope all of you are having sweet, restful dreams!

Family Fun 101

Today we had my extended family to our house for a Vancil Fall Family cookout. Aunt Peggy and Uncle Mike and part of their family came down to our house for the first time since we've lived here. I always enjoy getting together with this side of the family because it reminds me of when we would get together almost weekly at our Grandparents cabin at the lake in Alpha. Today Aunt Peggy and Uncle Mike (my dad's sister and brother in law), Brandon and Mandie (my cousin and his wife) were able to make it. My other cousin Amber and her family were unable to attend. Also coming to join the fun were mom, dad, Jane, Justin and his girlfriend Stormie, and her little boy Rhylie. We had a lot of fun catching up. I think the last time we were all together was almost a year ago at a wiener roast at my dads!


We had a beautiful day with warm temps. and a nice breeze! We grilled pork chops, brats, and hot dogs and everyone brought yummy food! We played bags, and golf ball toss and I chased Rhylie around the yard, and he chased Buddy! (Buddy is a trooper!) (and it wouldn't be a cook out if Buddy didn't steal some sort of food....today he managed a hot dog of the table when no one was looking and 1/2 a pumpkin pie while people were loading their cars!)


We also received blissful news that I am going to be a cousin again! Brandon and Mandie are expecting their first baby in June. Travis and I are very excited for them!


Hopefully we will all get together again before Christmas, but with everyone's busy schedules I am content with getting to enjoy today!

The new mom and dad, Brandon and Mandie along with Aunt Peg.

Justin, Jane, and Stormie

My new buddy, Rhylie. We played a lot today...I'm pooped!

Mom and Jane (thanks for the cake Jane...YUM!)

5 year old heart

Buddy went to the vet today because of some leg problems. I thought his hips had finally given out. Travis was sure it was our new furniture. We were both wrong! He has a tear in his knee ligament. He tore is left one back in 05 and we had surgery to correct it. Now he has a tear in 08 in his right one. To off set surgery costs we decided to do pain pills and anti-inflammatory meds for the time being....
However, before we could do that Dr. Weech decided perhaps we should take an x-ray of his back to rule out a blown disk.
We were called back to look at the x-rays. He has some inflammation around his 2nd vertebrate and some arthritis there as well. There appears to be some calcium build up around his knee too, which could indicate the rip. No blown disk though.
We were however, able to see his heart. Dr. Weech said it looked like a 5 year old heart, probably because he's so active!

Travis keeps saying the dog may be falling apart, but there is nothing wrong with his heart! He is so right!
We actually laughed when the vet said that. Dr. Weech then proceeded to tell us that he could live another 4-6 years!

I think we need to rename Buddy the energizer buddy....he just keeps going, and going, and going!

Mowing~ High Power!

Today I thought I'd do something nice for Travis and mow the lawn. It was quite long after all the rain we've been getting. Our mower is quite "sensitive" right now and Travis is the only one who can run it. I decided to ask our neighbors who have a self-propelled bagger if I could use theirs. They were very nice and said no problem.
I was warned about the power from the self-propelled. I thought no problem. Dad and Justin have a self propelled and I used to mow the front lawn at Dad's all the time....

Ok, I've obviously not used a self-propelled in QUITE a long time. I was pushed and pulled all over the lawn! I think there are truly tire divots from where I tried to turn but spun out instead.

Then there was the process of dumping the bag! Oh geeze! I tried to be neat but twice, TWICE, the grass cuttings ended up on the ground and not in the bag, which resulted in me having to scoop them up and get chiggers all over me.

All that drama....but at least the yard is mowed and it doesn't look like we need a baylor to come through to pick up the leftovers.

I think our next mower needs to have a bagger option.

Quirks

Heather tagged me to list 6 quirks about myself. Hmmm only 6?

Actually the more I think about it....what is a Quirk? You could probably define it as many things....hmmmm.....

Well, I don't know if these are true quirks or not, but here are some weird things about me....

• I hate to get out of bed in the morning, but once in the shower I am rearing to go, to which I qualify myself a morning person.
• I love, love, love a peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich, thanks to my Grandma Van. (TRY IT, seriously, sounds gross, but ohhhhh so good!)
• I eat my dinner in sections. I eat all of one thing before moving to another food type. I don't take a bite of potatoes then a bite of chicken. All of one thing is gone before I start something else.
• I am a manic cleaner. I will let the house get totally gross, both with "stuff" not put away, and dirty and then suddenly feel the need to clean the house from ceiling to floor. I will drop everything and start cleaning and will not stop until it's done. As soon as it's done, I start the cycle again.
• I am a picker. Not a nose or behind picker, but almost everything else. I pick my fingernails, my toenails, and when bored or stressed, my skin around my fingers. Ouch!
• I can name all 50 states in alphabetical order with at song tune added!

Man...I am a weirdo!

When will I learn?

This is what I came home to 5 minutes ago! Buddy seems to have helped himself to my Pampered Chef large bar pan that had left over chocolate chip cookie grease on it as well as the spatula...oh and the knife used to cut the cookies apart. I left the house this morning with the pans, spatula, and knife neatly stacked on the back of the counter waiting to be washed after school...... when will I learn the dog is a chocolate FEINE and has super doggie abilities and can conquer even the heaviest of pans....

The Crime Scene....

He didn't care for his water today, so he put a spatula in it....

A fork, a paper towel, two cookie sheets, a knife, a left over hamburger helper container (my lunch yesterday) We are lucky he didn't cut himself with the knife. That could have been ugly!

Don't let his cute looks fool you! This is him as I type trying to scrounge for more food!

When will I learn????????

A Sunday Suprise

This morning I got to church 5 minutes late. As soon as I walked into the classroom I was told that Ed needed to see me in the Sanctuary with Stan. I was a bit confused but went right up. As I got up there Ed and Stan were practicing the morning's praise songs. When I walked in Ed handed me the bulletin and had Stan start the song again, and had me sing along.

Last week Ed asked me if I would do special music on some Sunday. I said, OK maybe, but not alone.

I guess they took me up on the offer because this morning Ed Robinson and I led the church in 2 praise songs at the beginning of the service, My Life is in You Lord and Shout to the Lord It was fun. I would have normally been so nervous, but I think only having about 2 seconds to realize what was going on helped out.
The congregation was quite gracious about it as well. It helps to have people smile a genuine smile at you while you are in front singing.
What a nice Sunday Surprise!