Off We Go - Part I

Well in approximately 5 hours (3:30'ish), we will be headed to Michigan! Many of you know I am originally from MI, so we have made many, many trips up North to visit my family. This weekend is my father's family reunion, it will be the the 54th Shattuck Reunion. I have missed one in my lifetime (that I can recall), so this will be my 31st reunion. For the 50th, the family decided instead of just meeting at a local park and celebrating on Labor Day, why don't we rent a campground and meet the whole weekend?!? Well, that tradition has been in place ever since that year, so now we meet in Carson City and rent a church campground. You may be thinking, if her family reunion is anything like our family reunion, why rent such a huge place? I did fail to mention, my father is one of 18, YIKES! There are only 12 of them still living, but as you have already figured, our family is HUGE, to say the least!!! One of my aunt's had 11 children and another had 14 and it goes on and on and on from there. Both of my aunt's have lost children, that is why I said "had". Anyways, we are off to the family reunion, one of which Jerry doesn't care to go to, but he goes for me because he LOVES me, right babe?! We will be staying in his parent's motor home, THANKS SOOO MUCH REED & BETTY!!! In years past, we had our own trailer but now we don't, so that meant staying in the dorms (YUCK!), staying in a tent (DOUBLE YUCK!!), getting a hotel (too much $$$) or driving over a 1/2 hour every day from my parents to get to the campground. Needless to say, we are VERY THANKFUL to be using their motor home. By staying the whole weekend at the campground, you feel more connected to everything going on such as; helping the kids bake their mid-night cookies, the softball/volleyball games, kid's crafts/relay races, participating in the talent show, singing and eat around the campfire (until 3:00am), etc. With me living 5 hours from MI, this is the ONLY time of the year I see my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I have grown to enjoy going to the family reunion as I have gotten older. --I will post all the happenings and pictures when we return. Have a Happy Labor Day weekend!

This is the kitchen area where I will spend most of my weekend, lol! No not really, we will have breakfast and lunch on our own and then everyone eats together for dinner. I have chosen easy things to prepare, so no slaving for hours, ha! My own immediate family usually do a big breakfast or lunch a couple times, so I will be making homemade bisquits and gravy, YUM! I guess they wouldn't be considered homemade would they? Should I say "motor home made" bisquits and grave ?! : )

Living room area

KIDS!!!

Well another school day is over with and when asking Keegan how his day went, this is what I got:
"I wrote a flower to my new teacher today, she is really nice Mom. She is REALLY kind! I had to give it to my old teacher to give to her, because we can't just go waltzing up to her in class." (I wonder where he heard that expression from? Ugh!)

He also said the following, but I am not disclosing the names of the students for obvious reasons..."Guess what, _____ gave ____ a heart and he ripped it up. That wasn't nice at all Mom, is it because she has glasses?" I asked him what her having glasses had to do with it and he said, "doesn't that mean she is handicap?" I told him NO and had to laugh thinking of all of us that have glasses. But then again, maybe that is what IS wrong with some of us, HA!

One more...he informed me yesterday and today that "someone farted in our class really loud". I asked if I should send some Bean-o in with him so he could give it to his teacher for the kids having the "problems". He in response said--"I don't know, maybe it was her that did the farts!" KIDS!!! He sure is honest, but I don't know too many 6 year olds that aren't : )

My Super-Heros

My kids have quite an imagination! They love to dress up in all kinds of crazy outfits, but Talon really gets into helping the other two get in their "get-up"! The other day they came out looking like super-heros and crazy people, here's what they looked like. I'm not for sure what he is is suppose to be; Zorro, Ray Charles or what? : )

This was Sindy, don't ask me why Talon gave her a name like Sindy, when she was suppose to be a super-hero, ugh!

Talon even dug out underwear and socks, so she could have a color coordinated outfit!

Crazy Kids!

Sindy & Sindrum

School Days, School Days, Good Old Golden Rule Days!

Here we come FCA, so watch out! The boys were off this morning at 9:30 to start their day as a first grader (Keegan) and a fifth grader (Talon). My how time flys, I can't believe the boys are getting so big. Talon will be in Mrs. Norfleet's class again this year, she is such a GEM! Our school is truly blessed to have Mrs. Norfleet on our staff! He (Talon) was really excited to start this year, I don't know why, but he was. I'm sure that will change a month from now, lol! Keegan on the other hand, was NOT ready to start! As far as he's concerned, school could start every year without him, lol! He (Keegan) however, was really excited when I picked them up from school, he said "my teacher is really AWESOME"! We have been telling him he would like Miss Lyndsey, so give her a chance. I don't think it is that he didn't think he would like her, he just doesn't like the whole sitting down, learning experience. At the lunch table he informed us that he learned some manners from Miss Lyndsey today. When I asked him what he learned, he said "I can't remember, but we DID learn some". Kids!!! All in all, I think we are off to a great start. Don't ask me that in a few weeks from now, because I'm sure all of us will have changed our minds a little, lol! We are thankful the Lord has blessed us with a wonderful school to send our children to, with CHRISTIAN teachers that LOVE them!!! God is soo good!

First grade here I come!

Fifth grade, here I come!

Brothers by birth, pals by choice!

Heading in to start their first day of school!

Keegan with his new teacher, Miss Lyndsey!

Talon after finishing putting everything in his desk!



These are some of the wall decorations in Talon's class.

Keegan standing by his very own locker!

Kerri is Keegan's "girlfriend", she is such a sweetie!

Learning the "facts of life"...

Last night we enjoyed going to Pizza King in Lafayette and while we were there, Talon saw a lady with a rather large bust. He recently has had "the talk" with his father and whispered under his breath (but we overheard him), "I'm surprised we couldn't see her ni--les her shirt is so tight". Keegan being so sweet and innocent said, "what you say about nickels"? Of course Jerry and I lost it and laughed so hard we couldn't hardly contain ourselves. In return, Talon started laughing at us and poor Keegan continued to ask about the nickles and "why are you all laughing"? I know many of you may think Talon is too young for "the talk", but after he has asked over and over, "how do some people have babies when they are not married" ? Of course there have been other questions too, so... we figured it needed to come from us, rather than some smart, mouthed punk (to put it nicely) :)

Our Trip to PA

Get ready, get set, go...off to PA we go!

Only a few more miles to go!

Pymatuning State Park

There are sooo many fish, they fight for every drop of food.

Mooney's Bakery

Time to make the donuts!

Almost done!

Time for the glaze

Playing in the dough

The finished product, oh so YUMMY!

Byron the Bird-Killer : )

The sign says it all

Talon looking spiffy in his new shades!

Back: Daddy Front (L-R): Talon, Keegan, Kallee & Mommy

Kallee enjoying "The Maid of the Mist"

Niagara Falls

Off to church we go!

Kallee going "naw-naw" (night-night) on the sand.

Talon wanted to be buried in the sand

Keegan loved the water!

Kallee loved every aspect of Lake Erie!

Alyssa

Kendra

Vincent

Kenton

Well, we are finally home from our vacation to PA. Our friends Julie & Byron so graciously opened their home to us for 4 days, they sure didn't know what they were getting themselves into :) We had a wonderful time with them, and their children are so sweet. --We enjoyed going to Pymatuning State Park, Mooney's Bakery, Niagara Falls & Lake Erie. At the park, there were sooo many fish, the ducks literally walked on their backs to "try" and get some of the food we were feeding them. Mr. Mooney and his bakery was definitely a highlight of our trip, we got to sample some of his wonderful, donuts fresh off the line (they put Krispy Kreme to shame)! Niagara Falls was absolutely beautiful! Jerry & I went their on our honeymoon, but only on the Canadian side. This time we experienced the US side, even though I DID bring the kid's birth certificates :) Of course Jerry almost divorced me after finding out that I had forgotten them (the birth certificates that we DIDN'T end up using) and we had to drive ALL the way back from Kirklin to get them, ugh! Last but not least, we enjoyed playing in Lake Erie on Saturday afternoon. The kids loved the water and the sand, we almost had to drag them to the van. We want to thank The Gurnee Family for their hospitality! We do plan on going back, so watch out guys :)

Taking the Plunge

Here goes nothing! I am finally taking the plunge and starting a blog. I think I will enjoy it, but I may regret it too. I guess I can always hit the delete button, can't I?! I know I am as busy as any of you, but I also know I don't need anything else to occupy my time, ugh! I will "try" to post at least once a week, but not going to promise anything. I REALLY enjoy reading eveyone's blogs, so I thought just maybe, they would enjoy reading mine too.