Camoflouging 101

Disassemble the robin egg blue four wheeler

Spray paint a base coat using a dark brown, then find leaves and sticks and spray paint over them with a lighter color.

The final results! Now go ride and have fun!

Race for the Cure

Today I completed another 5K. I have completed a number of 5Ks with my PR (personal record) being under 27 minutes. Unfortunately this time I came in at 28:30. I was disappointed with my time but mostly I was so happy to be able to see my sisters-in-law, Shelly and Jen, complete their first 5ks. 

Making my way to the finsh line

Shelly making her way to the finish line.

Jen giving a thumbs up as she makes her way to the finish line.

Me and my fabulous sisters-in-law, Shelly and Jen.

Waiting for a table at I-Hop, Madelyn and Ryan are my two best cheerleaders!

Angela (my friend and running partner), me, Shelly, Jen & Shannon (Jen's friend from Manhattan).

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Ryan would call this "Living the Dream"

While the Cat is Away.....

THE MICE WILL PLAY!!! And they did indeed!

I was off work on Friday since I had to work at a resource fair all day on Saturday. When I came into my office on Monday, this is what I found:

72 balloons (I was told), paper holes and monthly billing all over my office floor.

Saran wrap on EVERYTHING!!!

sticky notes (I loved the one on my ESU diploma)

I also discovered an open, nasty smelling bag of tuna and I'm still searching for the can of sardines. I had it coming to me because I'm notorious for putting smelly cans of tuna and sardines in my staffs' offices.

It was all in good fun, but let me just say this is only the beginning because it is GAME ON!!!

For Hire

She is a great worker and pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.

Dancing Queen

During 1/2 time of the home football game on Friday night the lil dancers shook their thing. Madelyn was super excited about getting to perform. Although she is coordinated like her mama and has two left feet at times I was so proud to see her out there busting a move. She came bounding off the field with a huge smiling proclaiming how great she did and asked me if I noticed her smiling the entire time. Love. That. Kid. She sure doesn't lack for self-confidence.

**Sorry for the poor quality of pics, photography is not my thing, especially with a moving target.



Before the perfomance







Retro Day

This week is spirit week at work,  in honor of direct support professionals' week (or something like that). Today was retro day. So I decided to pull out the ol' poodle skirt. My grandma made me this skirt for me when I was in high school because I had to wear it for a musical or something (I honestly have no clue why I needed it). Regardless, I still had it in the back of my closet. Why? I have no clue. Most likely because it has sentimental value to me, or maybe it is because I'm a complete hoarder. After almost 20 years I put it back on. Lets just say, it doesn't fit quite as well as it did 20 years ago, but it fits and I think that is pretty much a miracle in itself. The rubber band trick did wonders. It was fun stepping back in time for a day, but I'm forever thankful that I'm not expected to wear a dress every day of my life. It was too difficult to figure out how to go the bathroom without peeing on my skirt.

Wordless Wednesday

More State Fair Pics

Giant worm

Doesn't she look like she is enjoying that a little too much?

Farmer Madelyn

Cheese Head

Happy Birthday

Happy 36th Birthday to my better half!

Kansas State Fair

We decided to go to the Kansas State Fair on Saturday. We hadn't planned the trip previously but the weather was perfect and we thought it would be a great family trip. I always love the animals, but it makes me miss my childhood days when I lived on the farm. My favorite part is the birthing center. We stopped by on our way out and a dairy cow was in labor. I wanted to stay and watch a calf be delivered but Madelyn and Ryan didn't want to stay that long. :( We checked out all the animals, picked up some freebies from the booths, got harrassed by the carnies, got sunburned, and had an overall fun time.

I did not want to sit on these horns but Ryan seemed to think it would be a great picture.

A winner!!!!

A winner times two, that about drained our savings!

Remember When?

Where were you nine years ago on September 11? Do you remember? Do you remember what you were doing at 8:46am when the first plane flew into the north twin tower? I was driving in Wichita, west bound on Kellogg. I was taking Ryan to the Wesley hospital to have a dye test done on his back. I was six weeks pregnant. We were listening to the radio when a reporter announced that the first plane had hit. After dropping Ryan off at his appointment I drove to work. There was very little work done that day. A TV was located and a majority of us spent the day watching the tragedy unravel. Little did I know that in the near future Ryan would have back surgery, I would have my first miscarriage, and our country would soon go to war.  The world as I knew it was forever changed that day. I remember when. Do you?

Lunch Date

Since I work on the west side of Wichita it is rare that I'm ever in Augusta during Madelyn's school lunch break.  I chose to work from home today so I took advantage of the opportunity and I had a lunch date with the cutest 2nd grader around. After a quick stop at Subway to grab Madelyn's favorite meatball sandwich without the bread and lunch for me I arrived at the school just in time for my lunch date. We enjoyed our lunch together, chatted with the girls that had hovered around and before I knew it our lunch date was over and Madelyn went back to class.

The second grade  lunch tables

She insisted on a close-up pic

After lunch they have to sit and wait patiently to go back to class. That isn't always an easy task, I'm sure.

Getting ready to walk back to the classroom. Madelyn is close to the youngest in her class and is taller than everyone but one little boy that is the same height as her.

Wordless Wednesday

Summer Finale

We had a rather relaxing and noneventful Labor Day weekend. There were discussions about taking the boat to the lake for the final weekend of summer, but the Kansas winds had other plans for us.

After the game on Friday night we went to post game at Chuck & Rachel's, we got home after 1:00am. Madelyn and I slept until almost 11:00am on Saturday morning, but of course Ryan had already done a days work by then.

While Ryan replaced and repainted siding......

Madelyn and I did some dirt work.

Saturday evening we just hung out at home and Sunday we went to Church and then did some more hanging out at home. Sunday evening we went to the lease to camp with friends.

There was 4-wheeling and t-rexing....

Roasting & eating marshmellows.......

Fishing......

And sleeping.....

By 2:00am, Ryan and Brandon were still up shooting the bull while everyone, but me, slept. I soon departed the camping ground and headed home to my nice, comfy bed, where I slept soundly. Anyone that knows me knows I hate camping. I love the outdoors, but when it is time for bed I want to be inside, not "roughing it" outside. I did give it the ol' college try, but my sleep is much too precious to waste. 

Today we have spent the day being lazy and catching up on lost sleep. What a great way to spend Labor Day...not laboring!