My other babies

Some things I have learned thru the years:

1.  My dogs cost more than my kids
2.  My dogs make a much bigger mess than my kids
3.  My dogs are more high maintenance then even the worst teenager
4.  My dogs can make me laugh at the weirdest times
5.  My dogs are spoiled rotten
6.  Ken hates my dogs
7.  Ann likes puppies but not so much adult dogs (but she will strongly argue this point)
8.  Jon just coexists with the dogs.

This is Bo.  He's my baby.  He drives me crazy but is the best foot warmer ever!

This is Bandit.  He used to be our high strung dog.  Now he just lays around and looks at Bo and thinks "I know I was never that bad".  But he was.  Don't let him fool you.

Bo leaves his mark everywhere.  Not a blade of grass or twig is safe in this city.

 Bandit loves the winter.  Bo loves the summer.  Bo hides his bones all the time and in winter it gets a little difficult to find them.  But he does.  Nothing can keep him away from his bone.

Bandit is the oldest and biggest but Bo rules the house.  Bo comes in first, Bo goes out first.  Bo gets the first bite.  Bo sleeps in the middle of the bed, Bandit gets the floor.  Bo gets the choice bones, Bandit whatever he can grab when Bo gets distracted by something else (which happens all the time.  He has ADD).

It gets even crazier when Cody brings his dogs over.  2 dogs are crazy, 4 dogs are insane!!  I make sure Ken is long gone when they all come over.  It gets a little hard to handle.  

Their Alive

I heard from Ken tonight.  Him and Jon made it off the trail safe.  Sore, but safe.  Jon mentioned that it will be a long time before he goes on a long walk. Ken said they had a good time but doesn't know if he would do it again.  While the hiking was beautiful, the evenings were a little boring.  Ken said that unlike their other camping trips, this time when they reached their campsite there was nothing much else to do.  And after being tired from walking all day there were no chairs to relax in.  Just pieces of wood to sit on.  He likes the kind of camping where they spend the day hiking then spend the evenings hanging around the campfire in a reclining chair and just chilling out.  But he said it was a success so all is good.  Tomorrow they go zip lining then they head home.  YAY!

The Man Trip

Jon and Ken left yesterday for their guys only trip.  Now, while I have no incredible desire to spend 3 days backpacking along the Appalachian Mountain trail, I am a little envious that they are making memories without me.  But since they scratched white water rafting from their itinerary I will let it slide.  Six guys in total went: Ken, Jon, John and Josh Blaylock, and Stephen and Mike Werths.

Ken has spent the last two months purchasing supplies.  Walking sticks, bags, tents, freeze dried food, a little this, a little that, more freeze dried food.  Ken keeps telling me that dehydrated spaghetti tastes good but I am going to wager that my spaghetti from the Old Spaghetti Factory tonight tasted a wee bit better  : )

I did get a text message from him this afternoon that said they made camp and all is well.  And then tonight about 9:00 he texted me and said they had a good day and were getting ready for bed.  That's all I know so far.  But I am glad to hear they are safe.  I got kind of nervous when I heard they were leaving their itinerary with the desk clerk at the motel with instructions that if they weren't back by 6:00pm Thursday to contact help.  Ugh.  Apparently John B. is afraid of bears because all over the notes he gave me are numbers to call to check on bear sightings.

If they take any pictures I will post them, but since they are guys I am not holding my breath for any.

Day 5

After spending ALOT of time in the sun we decided to take a break from the beach and do something new.  So we headed towards Pensacola and went to the Naval Aviation Museum.  Totally cool.  It was on the Naval base which I found pretty exciting.  It was so neat to see all the navy and marine guys (purrrrrr) walking around in their fatigues.  They had so many planes inside there.  One of the coolest things to see was hanging from the ceiling 4 Blue Angel planes in formation.  That's how big this place was.  I think the kids enjoyed it.  But probably not as much as Ken did.

After the museum we went parasailing.  This was my idea and I will be honest and say that I regretted this idea for most of the day.  I was terrified but I didn't want anyone to know.  I mean, those things get high.  What if the harness breaks?  What if the rope snaps?  What if they run me into the bridge?  Needless to say I held on for dear life.  But in the end I thought it was totally awesome.  And would consider doing it again.  Maybe...On a clear windless day...Maybe.....

 The Blue Angels in formation.  Isn't it crazy how close they get to each other? I get nervous driving thru construction zones when they have those big concrete walls and I have to get close to the car next to me.  If I was flying one of these things I would be looking out my window yelling at them to move over.  Hello....you have the entire sky, stay out of my lane!

 A Japanese WWII plane.

 Grandpa Joe operated one of these during WWII.  Looks like a Star Wars Plane to me.

 Ann is pointing to repairs that were done when the plane got shot up.  I think it was hit 34 times and still kept going.  I just can't imagine what those guys went thru.

 This was a banner that was flown from one of the Naval Ships after the war.  I took a picture of what the stars and stuff meant, but I can't remember what it says.

 Jon watched a movie on the Coast Guard and the role they played with search and rescue during Hurricane Katrina.  I don't think he realized what all they do.

 Outside the museum

 Ken checking out a model of an aircraft carrier.  It really is crazy how big these things are.

 Every boys dream

 All the red flags are downed Japanese ships or planes.  That kind of freaked me out.  Like a real life Battleship game. F6...HIT...Oh wait....THAT'S where the idea of game came from....I wonder what Japanese people think when they come to this museum, because you know they do.  They go to all the museums.  As long as they aren't at the pier fishing  : )  Oh...that was bad of me.....

 What the above pennant is about..good luck reading this...hahahaha

On the boat ready for take off 

 I thought this may be our last picture together

 This harness thing is what held us to the parasail.  Yep, just that little bunch of material there.  Nothing else...With surfer boy in charge of keeping us safe.

 You sit down on the back of the deck then, whoosh, the wind takes you up...

 and up, and up, and up

Our turn

 Jon wanted to go by himself but he was to lite.  It must suck to be him!

Coming in for the landing.  I survived.  I can breathe again.  I hug my children and kiss the ground.  And try and figure out when I can do that again  : )

Day 4

Families are like fudge....mostly sweet but with a few nuts   : )

On Monday we spent the day at Uncle Tim and Aunt Gina's house.  Tim bbq'd a crazy amount of food and we all sat around and ate and talked all day.  Tim has a beautiful house on a nice lake.  Jon took Grandma out for a ride on his neighbors paddleboat then took off in a kayak.  Ann and Cody tried out the paddleboat too.  Thankfully (???) they both came back.  Again the weather was perfect and we had a wonderful day.

 Jon and Grandma

 Jon really enjoyed being in the kayak

 Aunt Gina and Aunt Kathy on the porch Tim just built

 Aunt Betty and Uncle Mark

 Chillin' under the pergola Tim built

Jon had a good time with grandma

Sorry the pictures were so washed out.  But it was really sunny and I guess my camera didn't like that.  But you get the idea  : )

Day 3

Sit by a river. 

Find peace and meaning 

In the rhythm 

Of the lifeblood of the Earth

Author Unknown

Aqua  das Wasser  vesi  nero  vatn  viz  acqua  woda.  Any way you say it, I LOVE IT!  In an ocean, river, waterfall, lake, stream, creek, rain puddle,  pool, doesn't matter.  I can never get enough.    I would spend all day by the sea if I was able.  Or the river, where we spent our Saturday.  Black River State Park to be exact.  With its cool, clear water and white sandy beaches.  Sandy beaches?  On a river?  Yep, and it was wonderful.  It was a little hot in the sun but the water was cool and refreshing.  And the company was made up of family and friends which made it even better.

One of the things the kids like about the Black River is the clay they dig up from the bottom.  You know, clay, the stuff thats brings to mind that scene in Ghost that had half of America wanting to purchase a pottery wheel.  Clay, the stuff that brings to mind the song "unchained melody" that makes you want a pottery wheel, then drives you crazy all day long because you cant get the song out of your head.. Yea, that stuff.  The kids find it then make little figures.  Or in Cody's case, a cereal bowl.  Well maybe not a cereal bowl for adults, more like one for a doll, but we flatter him and tell him his cereal will taste great in that bowl. Or at least his flake of cereal will because that is all that will fit.  But we smile and pat him on the back anyway  : )

Ken and Uncle Mark talking.  I can't hear what they are saying but I have no doubt they are discussing how lucky Ken is to have such an awesome wife.  

 Ummmmm, should I just bite the bullet and go under????  Even though we know Cody won't give her much of a choice.

 No Coors Light umbrella today. We need something a little bigger.  Its HOT!

 Cousin Lauren looking oh so excited

 Uncle Richard, Uncle Tim, Aunt Gina, and Greg

Whose Greg you ask?  I ask too...

 And Megan.  With Bailey. 

Whose Bailey you ask?  I ask too...

 Jon about to throw clay at some poor unsuspecting uncle.  Who, lets be honest,  probably threw it first.

 Party on the river bank

Uncle Tommy hanging out.

 Hail Hail the gangs all here

Does Ken have a shirt on?  Dork.....

All the uncles were able to come to the river that day.  It was nice hanging with Mark, Richard, Tim and Tom,.  And Kathy and Betty.  And their dogs.  And their friends......

Now do what I know you have been wanting to do......... Sing.....

Lonely rivers flow

To the sea, to the sea

To the open arms of the sea

Lonely rivers sigh

Wait for me, wait for me

I'll be coming home, wait for me