What a summer!

I can't believe summer is almost over! Jonathon is starting football camp tomorrow, the kids both register for school on Thursday! What a summer we have had......I don't know even where to begin! I should have updated this blog sooner, but I simply haven't had time....... Here are a few pictures of our recent trip to Hannibal.... a kind of impromptu vacation to just "get away"..........The 1st picture is at the Light House on Cardiff Hill where Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn used to play ( of course really it was where Sammuel Clemmons used to roam)

Next we have the famous fence....and in like fashion we have Jonathon "paying Heather to paint the fence!"...........

The last picture here is inside Mark Twain's cave....both my kids absolutlley LOVE caves...........

The trip was a lot of fun we stayed at Clemmons Hotel and of course they have a pool, so every evening was wrapped up with a swim!!!!!

Here are a few pictures of the kids riding bikes, since that is what they seem to be doing almost everyday! Our summer started out pretty low key.....Father's day was pretty relaxed and lots of grilling........however that night Eric got sick again......and this time it continued for a week.........I had enough and took him to the ER.....there they did a CAT scan and decided to admit him for further tests.....at least we gat a good doctor who was willing to think outside the box......and also bothered to get records from 8 years ago in St Louis.....after many tests I think we finally a a couple diagnosis's......he has 3 ulcers that have probably been flaring up over the past 1-2 years.......but more importantly they were probably caused by SMA syndrome or Superior Mesateric Artery syndrome....kind of hard to explain but it sure answers a lot of questions and makes a lor of sense...( see the link).

Once he got out of the hospital, the 4th of July was upon us.......and this IS Eric's holiday.....he and the kids went down to Dexter to their favorite firework store and loaded up....on the 4th Eric got the hoses ready and cleared the spot, waited for dark and the 1st set that Jonathon and Eric lit.....well lets just say there were fireworks and they came right at us......one hit Eric in the chin and split it open ....back to the ER again.....................

The next day I found out my Dad was in the hospital as well........Jonathon was going to accompany them on their trip to the East Coast but we decided against that due to Eric's illness.....I am so gald that even though he was in the hopsital for more then 2 weeks he is ok now and on the road to recovery!!!!

Like I said it has been one interesting summer, I am still running 30-35 miles a week and looking forward to the Lewis and Clark half marathon. ( I decided on the half...........) I have also added in swimming and weight training 2-3 times a week as well.....I LOVE the swimmong, and I think pretty soon I will be adding some triathalons........I can't wait..........

Memorial Day 2....The Journey!

When we woke up this morning it was pouring! Nothing too unusual, since we have had SOOO much rain this year. After breakfast was made and cleaned up, the sun came out for a little bit, so I took these pictures of the back dexk, it is so pretty. Eric and I have sat in the gazebo as it was storming and it is so peaceful! Our humming bird feeder has attracted at least 3 humming birds that visit quite frequently.

I then decided to get Jonathon to walk the creek with me. Since we got all the rain, I knew it would be high. it was Awesome! Lakota came with us as well..............

Here is the view down the hill.........this makes a pretty good sledding hill in the winter....this is where the kids spent the 1st couple weeks after we moved ! Below is the grassy field leading up to the creek............... and here is the creek....it is pretty cool... Perry county is known for all the caves.....here is Lakota checking out one. the creek was flowing pretty heavy.......It was very relaxing and peaceful. Reminded me of the book I just read Eckhart Tolle's A new Earth Awakening to Your Life Purpose. I am reminded again and again that "we" want to label everything...A tree is called a tree, a creek , a creek....but if we just stop for a moment and enjoy "what is" with out judgement we can begin to see it in a whole new light........... maybe like Lakota see's things...... Jonathon got a kick out of all the caves.......

It was a fun way to spend the early afternoon.....now it looks like rain again......time for a NAP!

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! We have had a very relaxing weekend so far.....Our 1st long weekend in loooong time with no tournaments to go to, no big projects or plans. Our 1st weekend to just be...so nice!

Here is Miss Magoo posing for the camera as usual at the Marion, IL soccer tournament.

Same tournament.... Jonathon having a face off with the other team.......( we won this game!)

Here is Jonathon playing at his Spring band concert.......he is the short one playing the trombone....he has gotten VERY good this last year....his concert was Awesome! It was pretty funny trying to find him though!

School's almost out!

I can't believe school is almost out for the year! ( The kids can't wait!) Heather will be attending Camp Curiosity.......( it's basically summer school....but they get to go swimming and go on all sorts of field trips!) Jonathon, well I think he'll be just being a kid for the summer.....( at least we'll see how long that lasts!) I can't believe he'll be in Junior High....I am really starting to feel OLD.......

We have spent the last 3 weekends going to Soccer Tournaments.... the 1st was in Marion Il, then we were at home....this last weekend we played in Cape Girardeau.....Jonathon had a lot of fun and brought home a 2nd and 3rd place trophy.....The Tournament at home was horrible... we had 50-60 mph winds and it was COLD.....the boys didn't play there best... oh well. Heather was a good sport and made some new friends. I brought home a sunburn this last weekend.....it was beautiful.

Jonathon will be playing football in the fall and will be going to a football mini camp at school in July.......

Tomorrow Jonathon will be going on a field trip to the Cahokia Mounds.......he can't wait.......I got a ton of pictures and I'll try to get some posted here soon.

Heather

ok ok.......Heather saw my last post....and demanded I add her video........" fair is fair" she said......and by the way please leave comments if you like! This is a video I made a year or so ago.....Martina McBride is Heather's favorite artist.....I took her to her concert last year....and this song just says it all.......................

soccer and sleet

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Today the kids both had soccer games......it was 35 degrees and sleeting!!!! I guess because we have had such a messed up Spring and most of their games have been cancelled they decided to play this time. It was COLD.

Heather scored her 1st goal of the year!!! Yeah Heather!! She played goalie for the 1st quarter and didn't let the other team score either..... Her team won 1-0!!

Joanthon played a very good game.....his team lost....we won't mention the score....but his team made some great plays.........I stood in a very strategic spot so I could see both games since they were played at the same time!!!! I give both the kids kudos since I was freezing my butt off!!!

I'm including a video of Jonathon's track/wrestling / soccer and other sports video.........I hope everyone enjoy's it. Hopefully next year he'll be running AAU track again.......I think he is missing it....hopefully we'll get back in the swing of things with Wrestling as well....we'll either have to go to Ste Genevieve or to Jackson...........

I'm so glad to have the other house rented..... now we are working on all the finishing touches.....life is grand!

Eric's Birthday and water problems

Sunday was Eric's 37th birthday......it was a beautiful weekend......the 1st rain free weekend in quite a while!

Unfortunately.....by early afternoon, Eric discovered a water spot on the back kitchen wall! Oh-no.....not after all the "water problems" this house and the house in Dexter have had..........

We still managed to have a wonderful weekend.....Heather had a soccer game....her team won 3-1. We then grilled chicken and porksteaks.....had a wonderful meal and a chocolate cake with 38 candles!!!!!!

I think the water problem will be fixed...and on top of it all it appears we have found a renter for our home in Dexter.....God works in mysterious ways.....Divine Providence....if we just learn to have faith...to Trust....things usually work out.....not always in our way....but in the best possible way for the "long run".

Sunday Heather was also asked to be on an "all-star" soccer team! That really made her day. She absolutley LOVES soccer..Jonathon loves ALL sports....as long as he is playing something he is happy. Heather will play soccer..and not much else.

I have gotten back in a routine of running. Most mornings I am out at 5:00 am and back to putting in between 3-5 miles. My hope is to run the Lewis and Clark Marathon this summer.....we'll see..I may opt for the half marathon...but I can dream for now!

Easter 2008

This Easter has been a quite one of sorts.......Of course the kids awoke to find the Easter bunny had visited.....there were filled baskets and had left some eggs outside......the kids had to hurry because it was snowing and sleeting!!! Eric got a fire started in the fireplace.....we decided against making the drive to St. Louis due to the weather.....

I went onto the Swedenborg Community and read a lovely sermon and got to listen to "Morning Has Broken"....boy did that bring back memories of growing up in Fryeburg! I had a few more "missing my Mom" moments throughout the day as well......somehow Easter always reminds me of her. I sometimes wonder if I'm the only one who holds her memory close....I have done some searching today on the internet of the Church as a whole....I've read some great stuff my Rev Sage and Dr George Dole.....but became rather hurt.....where I will find links and lists of "our churches....they all leave out "The Church of The Open Word and Garden Chapel"http://www.openwordchurch.org.

This was a church my mother loved....she put her heart and soul and life into the gardens.....now there is a beautiful memorial that my brother designed......but I fear people have forgotten......I know the church is struggling financially.....it no longers employs a full time minister.....but there is still life left.....one of my mothers favorite books was The Secret Garden ( for obvious reasons) about a little girl who is sent away to her Uncles mansion and stumbles accross a "secret" garden.....she thought that garden had died.....but a dear friend showed her that it was still alive.....isn't that similar to the St Louis Church? Jesus said " where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst...."

I wish we had made the drive this morning to hear my Father preach......I know his sermon would have been good.....I hope and pray for continued life in the church......My Mother's memorial says...."Come sit with me and meditate on God's Word"...........I need to go there more often.............

Rainy Tuesday!

It's a rainy, rainy Tuesday! I have a few minutes to my self......Eric is down at the other house getting some loose ends tied up....kids are at school. Although I have several errands to run, I actually have a few minutes to breathe....normally I would take this time to go out for a long run.....but due to the thunderstorm.....I think I'll pass....I normally don't mind running in the ran...but I'm not fond of thunder and lightning!

The house is coming together great! I think both of the kids are also getting situated at school and making the transition.....I do believe in the long run they both will benefit! I'm loving a shorter drive to and from work...yeah.... especially with the price of gas going up and up and up!

I mostly love just looking out the windows at our hill....watching the kids play at the bottom and just be kids.....there is nothing more I could want in life then the happiness of my precious angels! I think they are both doing ok....this morning as I was helping Heather pick out clothes...(which thanks to Eric's Mom she has yet to wear the same outfit more then once to school!) She told me how her teacher liked the way she dressed and exclaimed"Mom....I am just all about fashion....you know how things that don't necessarily match....I make them match....that's FASHION" my reponse? "my dear if you say so........I will not argue!"

Then Jonathon was picking out his clothes...which for the most part were still in the dryer....awaiting to be folded and put up...but who has time in this house...so there were probably 2 or maybe 3 loads......anyway he left them piled on to of the dryerafter retrieving his clothes for the day. Well Eric comes down and asked why he left them there instead of putting them back in..... of course being a "GOOD MOM" I had to defend my son!....didn't work....Later in the car at the bus stop, Jonathon tells me....."Mom, you know you didn't have to defend me.....I was just being lazy!" What a kid!!

1ST SOCCER GAME...AND THE WORK CONTINUES

Well Jonathon finally had his 1st soccer game today.....it was a little chilly....but being his team was short one player the 1st half, he did plenty of running!!! Jonathon scored the only goal his team got....they ended up tying 1 to 1....I thought he did very well considering he has only had 2 practices and he hasn't played soccer in over 2 years!

I have added a couple pictures of the outside of our house and the upstairs bedroom....Eric worked very hard painting the panelling and trying to make it liveable.....I'm estatic with the way the house has come together....we still have a lot to do, but I'm sure by the time we are done....it will be time to start over again!! Isn't that how it usually works?

Jonathon has another soccer game on Tuesday......Heather's 1st game is a week from Tuesday....I should be able to make bnoth of those games which is always a good thing!

just some thoughts...12 years

Heather and Jonathon at Mom's Memorial
Heather being herself!!


>Well today is the day after March 8.....12 years since my Mother passed away.....Heather ran up to me when I arrived home from work yesterday and said "Mom I know what today is....it's the anniversary of when your Mom passed out!" I had to laugh and gently explained that she passed away.

My Mother's passing still has been the single most defining point in my life. I remember the obituary my Father had in the paper...."Death is not an end...rather an opportunity to fulfill a life of higher usefulness". While at the time I could understand that on an intellectual level (head)...I couldn't feel it in my heart.

Now it's been 12 years....Jonathon is now 12...on the verge of being a teenager. Heather Carole was born and is now 8....and she reminds me of my Mother in so many ways......little gestures, her need to be prim and proper.....and her zest for life in general.

At first I really didn't know how to function and make decisions without her. I was angry that she wouldn't be there to help me as a new Mother myself...Now 12 years later, I know she is ALWAYSwith me. I have learned to trust myself and be my own person....I see her in both my children and I am so blessed.

Sometimes I still get teary eyed....but mostly I just remeber how fortunate I was to have her as my Mother......then I look at my own children and see her in them!

new home

Here are a few pictures of our new home! As you can see we are still in boxes.....slowly but surely we are getting unpacked and settled in..... The kids both have there 1st soccer practice tomorrow....they can't wait.

Eric has been busy painting over the awful pannelling in the bedroom and in the utilty room and it looks WONDERFUL. I will add more pictures as we get more done....can't wait to show some outside pictures as well.

We've finally Moved!!!!!

Well, We are almost in our new home!! It is so much bigger and we finally have space!!

The kids are getting situated in their new schools.....Jonathon is in Middle School and Heather is in Elementary......Can't believe Jonathon is now 12 years old!!!

They both will be starting Spring Soccer next week.....Jonathon missed out on wrestling this year but most likely will be next year.....

Heather LOVES soccer so she can't wait.

These pictures are from the fall.....but I promise to get some new ones of the new house as soon as I get them.