blogging again and don't it feel so good?

So glad to see my sister in law, Natalie, bloggin' again.

go check her out at:

nexttolast.blogspot.com

...love her.

King's Island FUUUUN!

Happy Campers...what a great group of youngsters!

Fun Guys...

Started out on that big ol' ship that goes baaaack and fooooorth...pretty tame...still kinda scary. Natalie, your shirt is glowing....

Mel's first roller coaster, The Adventure Express....it was a blast.

Will and E. on the Adventure Express...

forgot what ride this is...but that ride in the background? it's the Son of Beast...and it wasn't running...which was kinda spooky to me.

going up the scary climb in the Adven. Exp.

Flight Deck...who takes pictures while on a fast moving roller coaster?

Mel and Will didn't go on Invertigo...and she's pretty sure this is a picture of us on it. maybe not. who knows? I'm gonna say yeah. I screamed the whole ride.

this is that swing ride...see the two people in the bottom right? That's Mel and Natalie. I'm such a tool to be taking pics while on a thrill ride...

I think this is the Adventure Express...

David, throwing his hands up...and I think this is the Racer. but I'm not certain.

This is for you, Levi...the Spongebob action ride...a 3-D adventure...wow.

Backlot Stunt Coaster, a spin off of the Italian Job...our car was a Mini Cooper...this is no one we know but it's a great shot nonetheless...Mel's favorite ride...we did this one twice it was so much fun!

these next few shots are from 275 ft. up...ahhh...in the Eiffel Tower replica

This is the newest coaster, Diamondback....awwwwwe-some ride! amazing.

I think this is the Vortex...

275 feet up in the air. we weren't excited. we were clinging to life here...

Mystery machiners...

David and his little map

this is the climb up on the Diamondback...so cool. so scary.

horribly unattractive...but at least E's cute.

that there is the biggest Rubik's cube I ever did see, I reckon

Mel and Nat gearing up on the Stunt coaster.

Getting ready to ride our second water ride...the wild thornberry's something or other!

Natalie and Mel making puddles....I think they got the most soaked on each water ride...Natalie Definitely...and she was wearing jeans. poor girl!

Look-alike soakers

a good ending to a wonderful day! we are all soaked here....

Levi and Aunt Nat...doing tattoos...

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Ahhh. I'm definitely NOT as young as I used to be. It's been almost exactly 16 years since I was last there. 2 months before I married Daveyboy.

I knew that. I did. And I have to admit, I jumped onto those rides a lot easier than I thought I would. I looooove a good roller coaster. something about it. But put me at the top of a tall structure/building? yeah, not so good. We went to the top of that fake Eiffel Tower that is at King's Island....and it kinda sways in the breeze (275 feet up there)...Mel and I were hilarious...clinging to the inside area....ahhhh. skeery.

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All in all, we had a great time...weather was nearly perfect...a tad hot for me...but quite thankful that Natalie came over from Ill. to be not only that sixth person but also a great auntie to Mel. They sat some of the scarier, tummy turning rides out and it was neat to know Mel could be with Natalie. Thanks...we really appreciate it! and we love you.

And thanks Mom, Dad, Becky, for all of your help with #4 and #5....it was so nice to know that they were in good hands! Gracias! We love you guys too!

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Ok, so now, on to the next big event of the week....our trip to Holland is tomorrow thru Friday....hopefully, thanks to Beck, I can blog while we are gone....she's letting me use her laptop. u rock, B. Hope this finds you well....God Bless You!

Happy Belated Birthday, Natalie!!

a visit to the canal

lovely, sweet spirited girl!!

meeting 4th niece, Molly...

Happy 18th Birthday, Dear Natalie!!

Somehow, somewhere, along the way, you managed to grow up on us! dang sista! why you be doin' dat?

Ok, well, I just wanted to send a little shout out to you, dear younger sister to my loving husband! We hope your celebration was and continues to be spectacular...with a grand finale whopping good time here with us. We can't wait to see you and Nick and spend some time with you kids!

I will have to dig up some funny old pictures from the different visits we've had with this lovely'n. Natalie is so kind and gracious to our kids, her nieces and nephews, and we are so blessed and thankful to have her in our lives! The kids LOVE YOU!! When I married D. in 1993, we lived in his parents' basement...and up above us, there was his family, which consisted of Nathan, who was 7, Natalie who was 3ish and baby Emilie...We had one window in our downstairs apartment...and if the kids wanted to know if we were around, or up for entertaining, they'd smear their faces up against the window and look right in at us...(not a big apt. by any means)...or come and knock on our door till they'd get bored waiting...I was homesick and then pregnant so I didn't appreciate the sweetness of those day to day situations till many years later. Forgive my impatience, Natalie. (ok, I think I've typed your name too many times now...)

(sorry this is a few days late, we really did think about you that whole day and hope you know that we all love you!)

Good night all and if you happen to click on Nattikin's blog, over on the right-hand side (Confessions of a Female Gamer), give her a little b-day shout out!