Relay for Life

Our area has a "Event" every year at our county fair grounds for Relay for Life. This is when people join "teams" and team members sign up to walk continuously for 24 hours. Usually we are on vacation the weekend that this occurs, but since this year we moved our vacation a week before, I went ahead and signed up Nat & I to walk for a few hours (on and off).
The weather was in the 90's and humid. I think it was 85 by 10 a.m. So Natalie and I began to walk around and a man from the Red Cross was saying "donate blood at the fair office building!" I have never donated blood before and I was thinking this was something I could tick off my list of things to do before I get old and die.
So, I was going to do it while I still had the nerve....
I was doing very well, until Natalie started to describe every detail in the process of it all. OMG, Mom the blood is so dark. Mom, the tube thing is filling up.....
When I was finally done, I sat up and thought, wow that wasn't so bad. Until I got to the snack table. Let's just say I had to lay back down 2 more times before they would release me to go. UGH!
I hope my experience has taught Natalie about how important donating blood can be to save a life and that events like Relay for Life Event can make a difference in finding cures for cancer......

Ford Lake Vacation

We are back from our week summer vacation from Ford Lake. We go every summer to Fountain, MI and rent a cabin on the lake. This year, Anthony borrowed a bass fishing boat from a buddy and he fished about 90% of the time. I even enjoyed the boat as I layed out in the sunshine while Anthony fished away.
Our lazy days were mostly spent on the lake, as we had unusually nice weather. One day we made a trip "into town." Natalie and I walked on the river front in Manistee Michigan. Its a cute little town, it reminds me very much like St. Joe.

It was a great week, and I'm glad to be home. It's time to start planning for next year!

Class Trip

For Natalie's class trip this year, we drove 2 hours to Fair Oaks Dairy Farm, in Fair Oaks, IN. Mrs. Williams drove, and I and Mrs. Virsik rode along. The girls were really good on the road and seemed to keep themselves entertained.
Once we arrived, our group was checked in and we watched a 3D/4D movie about dairy farms and what they fed the cows and such. There were special surprises in this film, but I won't say to spoil the surprise. Next, we went on a bus tour to the barns where the cows were kept for milking. This farm has over 30,000 cows. These cows are spread over 10 individual farms that make up the Fair Oaks dairy. The cows stay inside the barns and are milked 3 times everyday.

Here we go round the merry go round

We were told that the cows enjoy riding on the merry go round. I guess it breaks up the day?

Yes, there was quite an odor in the air, Mrs. Virsik thought

After the tour, we had some lunch and they served there own brand of milk. It was the best milk I have EVER tasted. It was very creamy. Would love to buy some more.
After lunch the kids were set free in the play area. They had a trampoline, a train, a wall climber (Nat's favorite). It was a really great day. I was so surprised I had a great time.

Smile for the Camera....Way to go Mr. Steffens class! It's been a great year.

School's Out, An Official 4th Grader

School is officially done, and my baby is a 4th grader. How time flies, I remember her starting kindergarten.
To celebrate the last day of school, her brownie group decided to celebrate in style. School was dismissed at 11:30, and off to Chuck E. Cheese we went. The closet restaurant is in South Bend, IN, which is about a 40 minute ride. After we all arrived, we made our food order and the girls started to play! Then when all the tokens were gone, they were given their last badges and then it was off to Build a Bear!

Each girl got to choose their own "friend" and do all the "stuffing" that goes along with the process. Then they got to choose either a brownie sash or a brownie vest to go with their friend. It was a really good time, but a long afternoon.


Natalie called her friend, Scruffie. Its a tan/brown dog. Scruffie will be there to hear all her secrets this summer, and get her ready to start the 4th grade. I can't believe it!!! Let the summer begin.....

A sweet lullaby to My Girl

Slow down, you crazy child
you're so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you're so smart, tell me
Why are you still so afraid?

Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?
You'd better cool it off before you burn it out
You've got so much to do and
Only so many hours in a day

But you know that when the truth is told..
That you can get what you want or you get old
You're gonna kick off before you even
Get halfway through
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

Slow down, you're doing fine
You can't be everything you want to be
Before your time
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight
Tonight,...
Too bad but it's the life you lead
you're so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you're wrong, you know
You can't always see when you're right. you're right

You've got your passion, you've got your pride
but don't you know that only fools are satisfied?
Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

Slow down, you crazy child
and take the phone off the hook and disappear for awhile
it's all right, you can afford to lose a day or two
When will you realize,..Vienna waits for you?
And you know that when the truth is told
that you can get what you want or you can just get old
You're gonna kick off before you even get half through
Why don't you realize,. Vienna waits for you
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

--Billy Joel

Nat's weird revelation.....

Its weird, every part of my body feels like its burning, even though I'm under water.
My lungs are on fire, my shoulders ache, my hearts pouding my legs cry out "NO MORE!"
And you know whats even weirder?
I love every second of it, this is my time.....I Swim!

Go Nat!

Fine Arts Festival

Natalie wanted to sing in this year's Fine Arts Festival at school. Since this was her first time singing in public, she decided it may be better to sing a "duet" with a friend. So Nat & Sarah have been practicing for 3 weeks and finally the day arrived. Nat was full of nervous butterflies but I think she did great! Once she was done and had the experience under her belt, she felt great about it too.

I can't believe how my little girl is growing up before my eyes! Way to go Nat on a great job of facing your fear and accomplishing your goals. Speaking of goals, Nat is back in the pool swimming her heart out. We switched "teams" and Natalie fought me the whole way. Two weeks later, she told me this is way better and I think her having a male coach has made all the difference in the world. Natalie is definately focusing on her goals and I feel like I've reached a goal getting her to reach for her goals! Crazy.....