Holes

Yesterday, my three oldest kids and I had the immense pleasure of joining Tammy and her two oldest girls in downtown Indy at the Indiana Repertory Theatre's presentation of "Holes" (you may have seen it in movie theaters about 8-9 years ago)....it was SO cool. we were in the SECOND row and E was in front of us in the front. The players literally spit on us. ha ha.

Always checking out the floors...

There were costumes placed all around in their upper area...the girls really enjoyed posing next to them.

I've got to get me some of those star lights. love 'em.

creepy little bird..handsome young men.

We weren't allowed to take pix inside the theatre but these doors were open into the theatre...I wasn't technically in there...this is our cast practicing before their 10 a.m. show...

We went down to Mass Ave after for some Bazbeau's pizza for lunch....Here, we have our crew next to a creepy big head, sniffing Tammy's Fair Trade coffee...My boys...just love their expressions. E, I hope it was just because you were standing in the sunlight that we had this expression.

not much better here but what can i say...maybe the big head was freaking him out.

The adventures that aren't pictured here include:

Taking my big, grey van into the Circle Centre Mall's parking garage

-just barely short enough

-Tammy crouched down in the front seat out of fear that at any moment, we would shear the top of our van off on a pipe or cement structure. so much so that she pulled a muscle.

-Due to the mounting fear that we would get stuck, after finally finding a decent parking space, squeezing my van in, tapping the car in front of me, I left my window rolled down the entire time. Thankfully, nothing was touched. but sheesh.

-When we drove out to pay, the attendant at the money booth, in her cute little foreign accent said "You drive beeg bus"...

We had a really great time and it was so cool to be so close to the action on stage....I knew it made me wanna do some acting...Thanks, Tammy, for suggesting this to us, getting us out there and getting some culture. It was a blast.

Now I must go....we have a busy day filled with Soccer at CCG (12:30 and 2:30), Bandy work, house cleaning, and a "Come Wreck Our House" Party at the K's tonight.

"You're my best friend, that's it...."

My best non-biological friend....we are both going in 150 different directions, kids here, there and everywhere, but it's so nice to know that we can pick right back up where we left off...and we have such a blast. She came into my life rather unexpectedly (I'm sure I've blogged about this) and at a time when I didn't think I needed another friend. Boy, was I wrong. God knew I needed THIS friend. She was a shoulder for me when all the friends I'd had were ditching me. And now that I look back on it, as much as it "hurt", she definitely made those times a lot less painful than they could've been. She is the most tender-hearted chick around, helpful, open to different opinions and looks at things clearly. Tambo, you are such a dear to me.

This pic of TK greeted me when I got onto Facebook today...and it's kept me smiling all day long. Love you, girl :D you are one of the finest! Lost without you, I would likely be. Thanks for holding me accountable in my relationship with Christ...I've learned so many GOOD things from you.

This gal knows me like nobody's business....I always felt bad for girls that had sister's, when I was younger and took her for granted. I knew the pain that was little sister. Now I feel sorry for girls if they don't have sisters or if they have them but aren't "tight".

in all reality, I always rather liked my kid sis. I loved to threaten her that I was going to run away if she didn't do what I told her to. I loved to try to get her in trouble by convincing her to swear when the tape recorder was on (thinking she couldn't hear the grinding sound of those cheap-o recorders)....I also enjoyed the fact that, like my Levi today, she was ALWAYS running around in just a shirt and undies. I love the fact that if I say something funny, she runs with it, getting all the credit for being funny! :D I love that she brought me a bag of Eclipse chocolates at Dr. Quill's last week...and we dug around for the Edward candies, only to discover that there weren't ANY, they were all Jacob. Wha??? she thinks of me in such fun, caring ways. I love her love language of GIFTS.

I know this past few weeks has been kinda rough on you, Beckyboo...I love you, pray for you and hope that things start looking up. I am so lucky to have such an incredible sister and BF. I'd be lost without you, too!

Hope your Wednesday has been most delightful. I don't know about your weather, but ours was simply gorgeous today. Get out there and enjoy it!!

P.S. this day last year is the day we left on our 3 week Great Adventure. hard to believe a year has come and gone. and what a year. whew.

They say it's your birthday....

At the Teller's Cage last summer...weren't those "coffee" drinks something? :)

New Year's Eve, 2009....a night none of us will forget soon...especially with Tom's Faces albums circulating on Facebook...You and your family are so much fun. That is important. You rock! (it's funny how many things have changed in this one picture alone)

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My cool friend, Tammy, celebrates a birthday today...Happy Birthday, Lady!

I won't go into all the details of how our friendship started....but it's a fun story to tell. And to see just how God was in all of it...When it comes to mercy, patience, joyfulness, peace, (and this list is loooong) this girl's got it going on...God knew I'd need a friend who was reasonable, encouraging, merciful and I thank Him for her every day.

Hope your day of birth celebrations are loads of fun, Tambo...and my fam and I look forward to celebrating with you and yours on the Fourth downtown!! Love you very much!

Blessed to have you

My beautiful, amazing friends....

Christmas Day 2009

Summer 2009

Want to focus on two girls that have been an important part of my life for 1.) the last year and a half and 2.) the last 31 years of my life.

Tammy, there is no one like you. The Lord brought you into my life when I least expected it or thought I needed someone like you...

Levi was up sick allllll night Wednesday, which meant I was up all night with him. Poor fella. Didn't make for a very productive Thursday (though it did end up being a pretty fruitful day). This amazing lady made a double batch of cheesy potato soup & cornbread, braved trekking down our slick driveway on foot, to bring my family some sustenance for dinner. Really, who does this kind of thing? besides someone amazing and thoughtful, unselfish and caring. This is just ONE of the caring things this chick does.

We were blown away. Thanks, K family. Because, in the midst of our trying day, Tammy had taken two of her girls to get teeth pulled and other awesome things that fill up a homeschool mom's day. I love you, Tam! You are a definite gift from God. Thanks for making my life and the life of my family so much richer!

Becky boo, Beantzy, Peanut, whatever other horrible nicknames we gave you...you know what I'm talkin' bout...

Shouldn't everyone have a sister like you? I think so. I take you for granted, that much is true. I just assume that not only will you always be around (and you'd better be), but that everyone I know has someone like you in their family or life.

You do things for me that no one else can...I mean, you've been with me for almost all of the babies' births (remember how scared we were of the "unknowns" surrounding Will's?), barely missing Molly's entrance because she came so fast. You were the person sniffing and crying on Mel's birth video when the midwife announced that we got our girl!...I'm so blessed to have shared that with you and to have been with you for Pipe's and Bean's deliveries.

So many good memories with both of you. I'm also so glad that you guys like each other! I love that we can all be goofy together. Priceless...

You know just how to make me laugh when I'm losing it and I love that we lose it together. I love that when we go places together, people actually think we are twins. ha ha. do we really look and sound that much the same? love it. I really do.

Thanks for bringing me three Hershey kisses when I most needed them yesterday. for that other stuff too! You rock. I love you, Beck.

I love my contemporaries fiercely. I am not perfect but I am loyal. I've got your backs. Thankful for the lessons learned over the past year...and praising God for HIS perfect wisdom in all things, including friendship. He knows that I need these females in my life...and He's given me some keepers!

I love you so much, Tammy and Becky!

(I'm getting to you, Mom!)

Painting the town....

check out the reflection of the restaurant on the window...

the 20th floor of the Hyatt...if you look very carefully, you can see my foot with my very blue toenails. Tammy picked that out...so observant is she.

at the close of the evening, I laughed and threw my head forward...my hair landed in the candle...not until I smelled it did I realize what had happened....it smelled awful.

Indiana Capitol bldg.

the blue light way up high is the Eagle's Nest...it was a tad windy..

Tambo, outside of one of Indy's most incredible buildings....The Indiana Repertory Theatre....it's amazing! you can see two little lovebirds snuggling out front!

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Thanks to David having #1-4 at the Y. Reunion in Illinois (sweating their guts out, no doubt) and my parents keeping Molly for me (pulling their hair out, no doubt), I was able to enjoy a nice later evening out with my good friend, Tammy.

It was her idea to get some dessert at the Eagle's Nest...a neat, moving (I will have to find the statistics on that place, like how fast it moves and just how eerie it is that it does so) restaurant that sits precariously perched above Indianapolis, at the tippy top of the Hyatt Regency hotel. which is funny to me, since David worked at the Hyatt back in 1997-1998..never went there back then....what makes me think I'm so much "classier" now? nothing.

The chick playing the piano, the sights, the fellowship, being so high up...all amazing factors that made the evening pure delight.

I had a wonderful time, Tambo. Maybe next time, we can get Beck to come along!

I am very thankful for the friendship that we have! God has blessed me with an amazing friend.

Happy Birthday Tambo!

If only the rest of us will look as good and make 40 as much fun as you do!

I am blessed to have you in my life, dear friend. You have been a rock for me and you have been a constant encouragement in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You are real and you are courageous! You have walked along with me as I've dealt with some pretty intense situations over the past 8-9 months! Thank you!

You make me laugh. You tell it like it is....you have a deep heart for hurting people.

You are such a good momma and a loving wife. Thank you for the example you set, for all around you to follow. Thanks for being my big sister in Christ.

Hope you have a wonderful visit with your sisters, mom, friends down south. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

let's catch up when you get home...lots of love and many happy wishes for your (past) birthday.

*I cannot take credit for this amazing photo of TK. I'm thinking her hubby takes the credit and I lifted it from Facebook. So just so ya know. This is a great picture though. Tammy, you are a beauty!

Mac's home

talk about dedication! here's our A-1 employee trudging thru Keystone Mall with Mac. we actually took turns but she is a trooper and an amazing chick!

yikes...a horrible pic of me but Mo, our salesdude, looks magnif...and of course, my sister is always so photogenic below...I'd cut this pic out but I haven't quite figured that part out yet. Tammy? help....:)

My LOVELY friend Tammy (see below), offered to come sit at the house with the ragamuffins for a bit...and she even brought LUNCH, soda, and good fellowship. You rock, girlie! 

doesn't our porch look so ghetto? I'm used to it but when I see it's unfinished self in pix, it makes me gasp! we really do live in Deliverance. 

yeah, and this pic should be up above but I can't quite figure out how to move the pics around in a post yet....so forgive.

So, that's what is happening down here...the mundane days of May. We took the kids bowling today and I forgot my camera. I also forgot how much I really do not like to bowl. It's challenging and you have to move your body in weird ways (which I'm totally ok with but...)

Ok, so gotta run...hope this finds you well, healthy, enjoying these springy days! Wish I had something deep, funny or encouraging to say but that will have to wait. Peace!