HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEIGH!!

Happy 20th Birthday Ashleigh! I can't believe I have a child that is 20 years old. She was born today at 11:29 pm, 6 lbs. 15 1/2 oz. She was my "little" baby and she was perfect. We were so excited. She was actually born on her due date and hasn't been on time for anything else since birth. After 19 1/2 hours of labor that should have been a clue for me about what was to come, lol. She has been my "interesting" child and life has not been the same since she was born. It has never been boring, but I wouldn't trade any of it for anything. I love her with all my heart and thank God everyday for giving her to us. She was the first girl to be born in Rusty's family in something like over 25 years and the first grandchild/great grandchild in my family, so to say she has been spoiled would definitely be an understatement. She was home for this weekend with us, celebrating her birthday and we have had an incredible time with her. On Friday Ashleigh and I spent the day together shopping, having lunch with Rusty and just generally enjoying being together for girl time. Saturday morning she spend with her Granny (Rusty's Mom) and then we had her birthday party that afternoon with Rusty's family. She will be having her birthday with my family this afternoon after she gets back home to Carolina Beach. She spent Sunday with her friends in D.C. This morning she is getting up to take Blake to school and then heading back home. She is doing so good in college, working toward her degree in early education. She wants to teach kindergarden and we are so proud of her.
(I have a virus on my computer so I can't post any pictures right now, but as soon as that is fixed I will get them on here of her.)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEIGH, WE LOVE YOU!!!

I didn't put a title to this post because there are so many things to talk about I wasn't sure what to title it. We celebrated Blake's 10th birthday the weekend of the 26th. We had 1 party on Saturday for family and then a second party on Sunday for his friends. Blake had a great time and received way too many presents,

And too much money.

Blake got a new Nintendo DS, his other one got broke.

And who were the stupid people who bought this child Rock Band? Oh, I guess that would be his parents. Oh, that would be us. How stupid are we? We now have 2 Rock Bands in our house, Wayne has one for XBox 360 and now Blake has one for Wii. He loves it, plays it all the time.

We took him to a place in Winchester called "Fun Expedition" for his party with his friends. I'm not stupid (well if you don't count that Rock Band gift), I wasn't having all those little boys at my house to clean up after. They have a great program for birthdays and it was worth every penny. The kids had a great time, we had a great party hostess who took care of everything, all I had to do was sit back and watch them have fun. Well, and play some 3D putt putt and lazer tag. That was so much fun. Blake invited 9 (the party was for 10 kids) and 7 showed up. My friend Sharon brought 2 of her boys and stayed with me. Another friend of ours Wayne brought his son and he stuck around to play also.

They raced each other.

While the adults were playing 3D golf. The kids did find us eventually, darn it, we need to find a better hiding place next time.

Wayne with his hole in one. Sharon and I are sure he cheated, we're not sure how, but we know he did. ha ha

The boys had a great time playing golf.

Dance, Dance Revolution. Have you ever seen anyone on this thing? I think I got dizzy just watching them.

We got all the kids together and took them in to play lazer tag. That was great! It is 2 stories so everyone is running all over shooting each other.

They also have a rock wall that all the kids took a chance on. Did I? Uh, no.

FOOTBALL HAS STARTED!!

If you've been reading my blog for long you know sports is a big part of our life and football is the biggest. We have been having practice for 2 weeks now and we have some great kids playing this year. Rusty is the head coach of one of our 2 junior teams and he also helps with the senior team and the freshman teams. This means practice Mon - Thurs and Sat mornings. Home? When do we see home? In the off season, ha ha. I think we have a house so the cat and dog have somewhere to live. I am the team mom for the 2 junior teams and I help out Sharon (our league secretary, she was in the birthday pictures) with whatever she needs.

This is Sharon's son, Josh catching the ball. I love the way the sun is setting over the mountains in the background.

Blake practicing with the sled. See the seat and cup holder? The coach sits on that and makes the kids push him around the field. This was during the first week of practice, they didn't have to wear their pants during that first week. I guess to get them used to wearing the shoulder pads and helmet with overwelming the new players all at once. That's alot of equipment to get used to.

I have to tell you a funny story about midget football. Wayne, the one in the birthday pictures, and his wife own an athletic store here in town. Wayne decided he wanted to put together a football camp this year for the kids. He started calling around to companies to find out about sponsors, donations, etc. He called Nike and talked to a lady about the process of donations from Nike. He told her he was with Strasburg Midget Football. The conversation went like this:

Wayne: I am with Strasburg Midget Football.

Nike lady: Did you say midget football?

Wayne: Yes.

Nike lady: Oh my gosh, that is so great. My Mom is a midget. It think that is so great.

Wayne had the hardest time not laughing before he got off the phone. bwahahahha

Sometimes you just have to shake your head and not say anything at all.

Have a great night!

Alive and Kicking

We are still here and breathing. It has been too long since I last blogged and there is so much to write about. We went to my parents in July for my Dad's birthday and had a great time. My Dad turned 61 and he is still so young looking. I made him an ice-cream cake and Steven cooked dinner. Sounded like a great trade off to me, well I did make bar-b-que baked beans also but I didn't have to stand outside in the heat at the grill.

After we ate, had presents and just lazed around doing nothing we got into their new pool. No one is able to behave themselves in the pool and you are not safe no matter where you are in there. Mom bought a bunch of water guns and you better we careful because that innocent looking float headed our way just might have someone lurking behind it just waiting to shoot you.

Everyone had a great time and Dad really enjoyed his birthday. After all how could he not have a wonderful time, his favorite child was there, me. The next evening we headed down to the boardwalk for, of course, Britt's donuts. We walked out onto the beach to eat them and just enjoy all being together.

No, that's not one of us, I just thought it was a cute picture. I love to watch the birds chase up and down the beach.

It's this a beautiful picture? Yes, I did take it, it has not been photo shopped those are the actual colors of the sunset. Wayne was the one who pointed it out and asked me to take the picture. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day. We always have such a great time when we go see my family.

I have alot more pictures to post from the 4th of July party and other things that have been going on. Somehow when I transferred my pictures I transferred them some where other than what I am used to and it has been horrible trying to retrieve them. I am trying to get used to the new computer. I will try to post some more tomorrow.
Good night.