OH, YOUNG LOVE

I wasn't going to put these pictures up, but I just couldn't resist, they're just so sweet. This is my nephew Shane again, this time sitting with his...ahem...girlfriend at the Eisenhower Girls Varsity Softball game.

I went to watch Shane's sister, my neice Lyndsey play JV softball today, but it never happened. After the Varsity played the last half of their game in the rain, the umpire called the JV game. I didn't get many pictures from my hour in the rain except these two. Lyndsey has another game on Monday that I'm planning on going to watch so hopefully I'll be able to get some action shots then of her.

And this lovely photo is indeed Lyndsey once again acting silly! It's her specialty, lol.

THE NEW LOOK

Yes, I've changed the look of my blog AGAIN!!! I can't help it, I get bored so easily with things like this. Do you like it?? I really do, too!

For those of you who just get sent emails when I post, sorry, you'll actually have to go to the site to see my new and in my opinion improved blog. It really is better to go to the site than get the emails. There's a lot of other stuff on there! PLUS...and this is a big one, you can leave comments, which I absolutely love to read, because comments are a bloggers meat and potatoes so to speak of blogging. It's pretty much the only feedback we get about what we're doing. Now, I am absolutely not going to beg any of you to leave a comment, but...............PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE start leaving comments. A few of you do an excellent job, but I want MORE!!!!

P.S. AND if you're so inclined, you can also sign our Guestbook, too, clear at the very bottom of this blog. Although just signing the Guestbook is perfectly acceptable, I sure would love to see your smiling faces and those of your families, so make sure you upload your favorite picture into our Guestbook. Once you click on "Sign this guestbook" on the bottom of the frame in orange, you'll be directed to another website and there you'll find pretty simply instructions on what to do next. Good luck!

MY NEPHEW SHANE - #10

When I started this blog, my intent was to document my family's adventures through the years, in addition to scrapbooking, which I've started and stopped, started and stopped, bought lots of supplies and would start again and then stop again, only really to do it wholeheartedly one weekend outta the year with some very good friends, and I've accomplished my goal with this blog I think for the most part, lol. Oh, there's been some documentaries, some political propoganda, a "few" opinions on my part, lol, but the intent was and still is my family's life stuff. In light of that intent, from time to time I'm going to feature a certain member of my family and their specific talent as it were.

My first victim...er...I mean, my first featured family member is my oldest nephew Shane who is 13 years old. He is my oldest brother Jeff and sister-in-law Kathy's son. Now, Shane is what us ladies would call just a very nice boy. I know what you're thinking. Usually ladies say that about boys with no other obvious qualities, lol, but nope, Shane is also pretty stinkin' cute, too! Besides becoming an avid hunter with his dad, Shane's "thing" right now is baseball. He's one of a couple pitchers on his team, and personally I think the best, but I'm not biased at all. I attended a game of his last night and took a few pictures of him in action.

The man in the background looking over Shane's shoulder it seems is Shane's dad, my brother Jeff. He is the coach for Shane's team.This is Shane's mom Kathy and his Pappap, my dad. Dad is keeping track of how many pitches the pitchers pitch. Say that three times fast, lol.Shane's sister Lyndsey, my neice. Isn't she beautiful?

1ST COOK-OUT OF 2009

I'm sure I've said it before, but I am not a morning person, at all! It's normally the worst ten minutes of my day, waking up and getting up. No, seriously, just ask Roger. He used to kiss me every morning before he left for work and now I don't even hear him leave in the mornings. Well, it's just so stinkin' early, c'mon!!

Anyhow, my point is, this morning I couldn't wait to get up and get outside. You heard me...I couldn't wait to get up and get outside. And by 1 PM I had cleaned out my big flower garden in the corner of our front yard, which was quite the undertaking, quite a mess from last year. I then raked that said mess all up AND gave the yard its first mowin' of the 2009 season. And I don't use no sissy riding lawn mower either, lol, push mower all the way, folks! And it's a 2 1/2 to 3 hour job let me tell ya to mow the front and back. Whew!! I'm tired even just thinkin' about all that work now.

In the middle of all that, I decided that it was just way too nice of a day not to have a cook-out/picnic, so I called up the kinfolk and my Dad, Chris and Amanda, McKayla and Christopher and Josh came over for some steak, fried potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower salad, and baked beans. Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm good!!

Everyone else had been working pretty hard outside today, too, so by the end all the adults were pretty tired and it shows in the pictures below.

Josh and his goofball cousin Logan.McKayla and Christopher look on as their well-refined, modest and sneaky cousin Logan comes out from behind the tree after going potty.Dad relaxing and enjoying the breeze.Josh and McKayla horsing around. Loser!

On his way home, Dad decided to take an ice cream cone to go!I love this picture of a very dirty faced Logan.Roger says, "Alright, what's going on out here?"McKayla kickin back.Leyna really doesn't like getting her picture taken, lolSo then I took another one!After cutting wood and picnicing, Chris is wiped out!McKayla getting into texting her friends.Chris and Amanda can hardly stay awake, lolAnyone for hide-n-seek?Josh and Christopher seeking for Leyna and Logan. I don't think they're up there!!!

HANGIN' AROUND

Just some random shots of a swing, a girl and her dog. I took these this afternoon. It is still really chilly, but warmer weather should be here tomorrow and by Saturday possibly 80, yippee!!!

YMCA Youth Activity Day

This past Saturday my sister-in-law Amanda took Christopher and Logan to the YMCA's Youth Activity Day; I met up with them later on. They just had all kind of activities for the kids to do, from face painting, pony rides, a fire truck on display for the kids to sit in, all kind of games in the gym, swimming, they even had a DJ there with his bubble machine going and different get-ups for the kids to put on while they sang and danced around. We were there for about an hour and I took a few pictures...go figure!!

First a little face painting.Those are supposed to be bats? on Logan's cheeksChristopher opted for some kinda ball? on his cheek.Waiting in line for the pony rides.Checkin out the fire truck.

TWO QUOTES I LOVE

Below are just two random quotes that I have heard from time to time and never seem to remember when I try. So as with everything I have to remember these days, I'm writing it down!

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming, "Wow, what a ride!!!" --- Unknown

AND

Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God. --Bob Pierce

RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM AT ITS BEST!

You know, whatever your political views are, one thing is for sure....this country is in serious trouble! I'll be the first to admit WE'VE all let this happen by either doing the wrong thing or by doing nothing to prevent it. I'll also admit I'm not much of an activist. Oh, I have my opinions and for those of you who know me, you know I don't mind sharing them at all, but as far as actually taking up a political cause or jumping on the proverbial band wagon, nope, that's not my cup of tea (excuse the pun...you knew one was coming).

HOWEVER, the time has come to do something, and the easiest thing in the world to do is just to show up and show your support and that's what a couple hundred local residents of my local town of Sugar Grove, PA and I did this past Wednesday.

And I can also see how those who attended TEA parties were later labeled as right-wing extremists because things started to really get outta hand at one point, what with all the clapping and praying and discussing certain issues and general chattin with your neighbors, it was a rough crowd. Logan was terrified at one point 'cause everyone wanted to take her picture with her sign, just horrible of them. I think you get my point, and here's the pictures to prove it.

Taxation Without Representation!Logan, our little activist.......er, excuse me, right-wing extremist (I know, I can't help myself, it's just so ridiculous to me, lol)Even Ben Franklin showed up to show his support!Ex-Congressman John Peterson was the key speaker.Extremism at its best!