Visiting Fisher

Wednesday I ventured out to Fisher Il to spend the evening with The Bluniers

I have known Travis for as long as I can remember and he
(and now Jaclyn too) have been great friends for years.
I was so blessed to get to spend an evening with them, and
on the drive home it really hit how AMAZINGLY blessed I have
been with the good solid friendships I have in my life.
Thank You Jesus for each one of those Blessings.

I thought it was funny how Mya was looking at the camera
too when we took our picture. She got cropped out of the
one I printed off:)

A Date With Granny

Tuesday I got to enjoy lunch with Granny, Aunt Joanne, and Mom.
We attempted to eat at multiple places but the first was closed, and the
second was too loud for Granny. We settled at Maria's a cute
little restaurant in Washington that was nice and quiet so Granny
could hear the conversation, and I felt like I was the youngest person
in there by more years than I am old:)

Hiking

This morning I met up with Lisa and Sarah and we drove up north to
hike (climb stairs) at the state parks.

We started off at Starved Rock where we walked to Lovers Leap
(I am holding Lisa's hand because I love her but we didn't leap:)
Then we mostly walked in circles and talked while trying
to avoid being mauled by wildcats (as we broke out into song and dance)
or get stung by bees.

We then ate lunch and decided to try Mathision State Park
after going down 100 to many stairs

we arrived at a deeply flooded bridge. So we got crafty as
we devised a way to cross the bridge.

we then walked up and down a river bed for a while

until we arrived at this location where we took a picture

then turned around and walked back.
Thanks girls for a great day full of laughs and fun!
I love you!

(Sarah I had this all up and ready to go then in my technotardish
I pushed a wrong button, lost it all and was so frustrated I am now
posting it a little later then you thought:)

The weekend

Starting Friday....

I got to hang out with Ellie and drive around picking up potted
plants at random peoples houses to help decorate for her
wedding reception while we talked. I also got to see her
new house and husband to be as we made the rounds to pick
up things for the reception.

Saturday morning I was then able to meet Janice (and Becky)
for breakfast at a little mom and pop place (don't have a clue
what the name of the place is) in Morton. I ate a ton we had
a good talk, took a classy picture in front of the dumpster...

Then I got in the car and drove 3 hours

to meet Jaimie. She had just locked her keys in her car
when I arrived so we called and waited for the cop to come unlock
her door.(I got to help pry open the door while the cop unlocked the door.)
Then we spent time shopping, talking, and eating,

Sunday we drove to Bluffton, got lost, arrived at church right
before the wedding service started.
Went to the reception where I got to see

Jenn, a great girl, that I met and have hung
out with multiple times in JA.

Kates who is a super fun girl that I am a huge fan of

but don't get to see often enough.
(I guess I was colder then I thought when we took this picture:)

Tamara & Matt whom I love and was SO excited it worked out
that I could make it to their wedding!
(Thank You Jesus!)

A picture for Ms. Veronica of the happy newlyweds:)

The Lake

Last week I was able to spend a few hours at the lake with my girls

Meg and Wendy (and their kiddos)

We had a picnic lunch on the dock

Miss Ella playing

Mason and his boat

The kids did great playing while we talked!

These two are SO cute and funny:)

A group shot before it was time to go home for naps.

Love You Girls!

Tuesday

I was able to meet Trishana at ICC we got her needed books for
the semester, I got to meet her Interpreters, and walked around a bit.
We then made our way to Starbucks where we talked until it was time

to meet these fun people at the zoo!
We then walked around and saw all the animals and got
in on a few of the animal shows.

learning that seals have bad eyes and get cataracts early in life
its a good thing they have those massive whiskers to feel their
way around.

We then went to the African exhibit.

I was very impressed

with all the different

animals in the exhibit.

Then we went for Ice cream at EMO's!

Another Great Day!
Thanks Lord!

A Day With Sadie:)

I was BLESSED with almost an entire day with Sadie!
After a year of not seeing her in person only getting to talk via email
or over the phone it finally worked to meet up.
We started with breakfast and talking for hours then
back to her parents house to swim and talk the rest of the day.
SO GREAT!
Thank you Lord for days like these!

Family

It all started out when Kristen asked me to take family pictures for them.

That was easy enough...

or not since Colt is not a big fan of having his picture taken.

Then Ryan and Nicole came so we could get a
Christmas picture taken for mom and day with the boys...

we failed...
and will have to try again later:)

They made shirts for the boys that they met me in when I came back
so we took pictures with them on
(they say aunt Erin's favorite if you can't see them)

on the back of Colt's it says little one
and on the back of Jax's it says big one
Cute I thought.

trying to get the boys to laugh and look in the same direction


Then a challenge was given... go figure
so we took a break ...

while Ryan proved he could still do a headstand

then dad had to prove he could still do one

so random... I know

Then we took a family picture!

Good Times All Around!

Indiana

This weekend I went out to Indiana to catch up with friends.
I got to attend the last part of the gateway sale. In driving out there I forgot
about the hour change so ended up getting there later then I had
planned, BUT I was able to catch up with those I knew were going
to be there and really wanted to see!

Saturday night I was able to hang out and stay with Janice (and Becky:)
But didn't get a picture with her:(
(don't worry Janice next time I will remember because I know
how much you love to have your picture taken!)

Sunday after church I went over to Kristy's and hung out with
her and her family then we went out to do some shopping and
to stop for coffee and a much needed talk time.
It was so good to catch up and get in a "girls night" with her.

Monday I drove further north to "the lakes" to meet
up with Tamara and her family.

If I haven't said this enough T is SO good for my heart!
I love her and was so blessed (and completely relaxed)
the entire time I was up there

The last few days there were lots of talks,
swimming,
fishing (I caught 2, and T's were twice the size of mine:),
attempted wake boarding,
and jet skiing

this morning we went out skiing (I attempted that also)
and T and I took our normal "in the water" picture.
It seems like all our pictures together are in some body of water:)

It was not fun to say bye to her BUT I will get to see her in a few
weeks at her wedding!

I then got to sit in a van for 5 hours as I drove home.
My body now hates me and doesn't want to move.
It was all totally worth it and I would do it again in a heart
beat if I could!
Praise Jesus for Great Friends!

First Week Back

This first week back I have been busy....

watching Jax and Wrigley

playing out side

watching colt

he doesn't do much yet:)

hanging out with Kate (and David)

hanging out with Amanda

getting together with some of my girl cousins

AND
I was able to get together with Wendy and Ella to catch up and get a
much needed hair cut, and with Meg and Mason, but didn't
get pictures with them so hopefully we meet up again so we can
get a picture!
Loving the social Life!

Great Wolf Lodge

Thursday night I flew into WI and was able to meet my family
and some of my extended family for
a mini vacation at Great Wolf Lodge

My nephew Jax is fearless he LOVES the water

and would run as fast as he could...

then he would wipe out and wait for someone to put him back
on his feet... then laugh and do it all over again:)

I also got to meet this good looking guy for the first time!

Colt enjoying the water
I think he looks like such a little old man in this pic:)

all warm and dry after a fun swim

Tom, Mariah, Ryan and Jax enjoying the wave pool

(Yes I know this picture is blurry but thats for the sake of those
involved in the picture who would not be okay with me posting a clear one)
This was the one ride mom went on. It was called the Tornado and
Kristen, Ryan, and Dad just laughed at her as she pinched her eyes
shut and screamed the entire time. As I was waiting at the bottom
to get the picture mom was for sure the loudest screamer of all the ones I
witnessed that came down:)

Keri and her girls Mariah and Maddie

Kristen, Ryan, Nicole, and Adam racing down the slide

Mark and Mariah enjoying the water slides

Watching Jax in the wave pool was HILARIOUS
He started off sitting on the tube then as the big waves got going...

he flopped over to one side.... then another wave hit...

and then he was flopped over to the other side.
and loving every min!

Colt giving me a big cheese

with his chubby cheeks and double chin

Maddie who wedged herself into Colts bumbo seat.

Peyton with her VERY blue mouth

Stacie and Peyton

The Big Dogs Motorcycle Club shirts

The club members