I can't believe no one has said anything....

Has anyone noticed the little esnips guy on my blog? I found this cool gadget a couple weeks ago, and thought it was kind of fun.

Dinner!

I almost forgot....my dinner dilemma....in my (almost) 10 year marriage for the most part my wonderful hubby has prepared dinner. He likes to cook and is good at it so it was just something he has always done. That is did-past tense.

Since March when he opened the new office he usually arrives home around dinner time, and then he says do you have any ideas for dinner, and I'm like uhhhh? So this week as I talked with Amy, I said cooking isn't something I don't like and its not that I'm not good at it, I just had fallen out of that role. So I made it a goal to start doing better planning and I will have you know that this week I made:

1. Steaks on the grill, baked potatoes, lima beans, and a salad
2. Fried chicken, noodles with mushrooms, spinach, and red peppers and beets
3. Meatloaf, hash browns, and corn
4. Chicken & Rice (Amy's famous) (delicious!)

I think that's a pretty good start, if I don't say so myself. Yeah me!

I don't know where this week went....

What a busy, busy, week. It totally flew by, its Saturday night, I have been helping Ashlin look online for some volunteer opportunities. She just went to take her sister and date to the Homecoming dance. I'm a little sad for Ashlin that here it is her senior homecoming and shes don't going but she doesn't seem to care. When she comes back we (Ashlin, Shawn, and I) are going to watch a movie.

The Wednesday Letters....

Okay I finished it, it being The Wednesday Letters. If you read my previous post I got the book last night and after the boys (all of 3 of them) were tucked away for the night I began to read. And read, read, read. I stopped briefly for a peanut butter sandwich but that's it. By 12:30 a.m. I was done. Absolutely incredible! You know the author, Jason Wright, gave his cell number out on Glenn Beck a couple of weeks ago so that people could call and tell him what they thought, its a good thing I didn't have it because I totally would have called.

Okay count them-2-TWO-of his books I have read this week! Phenomenal writing (not that I'm a professional critic), yea Jason!

I Got It!

Okay tonight I got a copy of The Wednesday Letters! WOOHOO! I called Barnes & Noble earlier they had a copy, so they held it for me and it is now in my hands.... gotta go.

You just have to laugh, otherwise we'd cry

A lot of you have heard the trials and tribulations we (mostly Shawn) have experienced with some of his employees. I was just reading The Des Moines Register and read an article concerning a former employee, here it is:

DES MOINES
Alleged onion-hurler charged with assault
A Des Moines man went to jail Wednesday afternoon for allegedly throwing an onion at his wife.The police report begins: "(The victim) states her husband had been drinking and they got into an argument."James Izzolena, 54, of 3515 Sheridan Ave., was charged with domestic assault causing injury. Police said he became upset with his wife, Nicole Izzolena, 27, and threw an onion at her, striking her in the back of the head.She told police it made her head hurt. James Izzolena admitted throwing the onion, police said, but he claimed he did not intend to hit her with it. He was being held on $300 bond Thursday.

The only that would top this off would be if the picture that was in the paper was here too, I just have to laugh. You just have to love being a business owner.

New Store

This morning Cale and I went out to check out the new Family Christian Store, its very nice. Spacious and beautifully arranged. A good friend of ours is the District Manager, and he has been working hard to get things all set for this opening. The hard work definitely paid off, its awesome. The store is out in Jordan Creek Town Center, in the village area, by Costco. Go check it out.

How cool....

I cannot believe how cool that is, I wrote that blog about Christmas Jars and the author Jason F. Wright left a comment on my blog.

Christmas Jars

I love, love, love to read. Its something I do to relax and unwind it helps to escape to another place. Really I love all books, but love a great novel.

Last fall I heard about this book Christmas Jars on Glenn Beck, but I could not find it anywhere, it was sold out. This past week I was watching Glenn Beck and the author Jason F. Wright was on again. He was talking about his new book, The Wednesday Letters, which I can't wait to get my hands on, but am having a hard time finding it. Any-who....I got Christmas Jars yesterday afternoon. By 11 last night I was done. AWESOME. It is such a feel good book with a great message, I can't stop talking about it. And I can tell you one thing, by the end of this week the Adair family will have a Christmas Jar on our counter too. If you like to read or even if you don't I highly recommend reading this.

Pictures!

Tonight we met with Erica to have family pictures taken. I hope that we got some good shots, you just never know. As she said with a 3 year old, you just never know what your going to get. We met downtown and took some pictures there then went to Grays Lake. We had her take some that were just Shawn and I, after all we are coming right up on our 10th anniversary, yea us! I'm super excited to see them, it will probably be a couple weeks. Erica is getting busier and busier, I think the secret is out!

More of my beautiful niece, Ashlin!

Erica emailed me yesterday to let me know that she has finished with Ashlin's senior portraits and that she posted some of them on her blog. If you have a few minutes you really have to visit her site and check out the pictures, there is only one that I don't like-only because it makes her look waaaaaay to old! Tomorrow Erica will give me the disc with all of the pictures on it and I can't wait to see them. She has done such a great job! We are having family pictures done tomorrow-pray for good weather and photogenic smiles!

Being back....

Why does it seem as if you go on vaction for rest and relaxation only to come back and need more rest? I am so glad to be back, its always nice to go but super nice to be home. I missed all of our friends and family. Cale is still trying to recoop from the big uproar in his schedule, it is hardest on the little ones.

September 13, 2002

...

It is totally amazing how you can wake up in the morning and suddenly be smacked in the head and taken back in time. I'm not sure that I have ever blogged about the phenomenal family that I married into. Shawn's family-- close, huggy, loving, warm. Mine pretty close to none of these. My mother-in-law Judy soon became one of the closest, best friends. I know strange. I could talk with her, she could relate, and always offered a warm place to land. Five years ago, she was gone without warning. We were in Charlottesville, Virginia at the time. Shawn and Colby had spoke on the phone with her the night before, I hadn't felt good so I went to bed early (oh the what ifs). She went to bed fine and the next morning she was gone. A massive heart attack at 52 years old. We immediately flew home, and instead of going to our own home we took refuge at her and my father in laws house for the next 30+ days. It seemed like it would never get easier.


We all still have our struggles, the tears don't appear every day. But you can bet that we all still remember something about her everyday. Since we have begun going to church I asked Shawn the other day, don't you wonder WHY-why such a good loving person -why her -why then -why Colby's nana-why didn't Cale get to know her-why why why. He said I can answer that-he said my life if 180 degrees different. You live for today, you don't wait to tell someone tomorrow how you feel, you remember that there may not be a tomorrow. He's right, she is in a good place, and we are closer for it. but sometimes it still doesn't seem fair. I am grateful to know that someday we will be together again, and until then we have beautiful eyes shining down from heaven watching over us.

I love you and miss you,

Judy Lorraine Adair

1950-2002

Tons of fun in Branson!

We have been having a lot of fun in Branson this week. We have been staying plenty busy, there is soooo much to see and do. I have whiplash from driving down the roads trying to look at everything. Its quite a sight to see. I have been taking a lot of pictures and trying to remember to come back and put them on the computer so I can still remember what it was. The boys are having fun, but boy oh boy are their schedules ever off. Shawn took them to the playground here at the resort this morning to try to run off some of the excess energy from riding in the van, walking at exhibits and such. Last night we went to Branson Landing, which is so cool. It is kind of like boardwalk shops, lofts and things. There was a concert by the water, it is difficult to explain, but I guess the water and fire design was made by the same architect that did the Bellagio in Las Vegas (which is also awesome!) The groups that performed were very talented. Tonight we are going to the Dixie Stampede, which Dara & Josh and Pastor Lori told us can not be missed. We are really excited.

Happy Anniversary!

A special anniversary wish today to 2 very special couples in our lives.

1. Happy 2nd Anniversary to Sheila & Brad Roberts!

• they were high school sweethearts, engaged young, then amicably split up


• reacquainted after 12 years when they both found they worked in the telecommunications industry


• still act like high schoolers in love


• married in 2005, on the 39th anniversary of his parents

2. Happy 41st Anniversary to Gary & Linda Roberts!

• two of the most wonderfully loving people you will ever meet


• treats my family like their own, even though we are only related by technicality


• loves Colby and Cale sooo much


• Linda could not be any more like my mother-in-law Judy if she tried (almost EERIE)


• she cooks, he cleans up-what a partnership!

Happy Anniversary to all 4 of you, I wish you many more years of wedded bliss, we love you all!

Branson Missouri Blog 2

So while I was online last week researching Branson (because to be honest, I know nothing about the place) I see a show called the Hamner Barber Variety Show, this interests me because HELLO-Hamner is my maiden name, and its just not something you hear very often. So I decided after reading some reviews it was something I wanted to see, and I'm so glad we did. It was great. Dave Hamner is an illusionist and Jim Barber is a ventriloquist. The show lasted 2 hours and the boys really liked it too. After the show the performers came out and greeted people, so I had to share that I was a former Hamner also. Dave was so cool. He said I looked like one of his cousins, Shawn thought he reminded him of my brother. Anyways, it was a lot of fun, and I'm glad we went. He told us to keep in touch and let him know if we wanted to come back. The funniest thing was when we were leaving and Colby says its kind of like we were at church because during the show before one trick Dave asked the audience to say a prayer that a particularly difficult stunt would work and when we left he hugged us and said God Bless You. Kids they are too funny.

Branson Missouri- Blog 1

Okay so most of you know we left Friday for a little family get away. Friday late afternoon we loaded up and headed out. We spent the night in Overland Park, Kansas then Saturday we got up and drove on to Branson. We stopped off in Springfield at the Bass Pro Shop, ugh! The boys of course loved it and I have to be that supportive mom of 2 boys and go along with it. I called my friend Micaela while we drove through to tell her HEY!, she goes to school there at Evangel University. Unfortunately I didn't reach her, but left her a message to let her know we were thinking of her. We arrived in Branson around 4, which was check in time. We are staying at Rock Lane Resort which is beautiful and located right on Table Rock Lake. We have a 2 bedroom condo, which totally rocks! I would have to say my favorite part is the washer/dryer in our unit. Isn't that sad, but hey this way I won't have to do a truck load of laundry upon our return. Plus the deal we got on the place was so AWESOME! Shawn's sister Sheila and husband Brad purchased a time share while on their honeymoon so thats why we got such a great deal. So Shawn, Colby, Cale, Shawn's dad Shorty and girlfriend Barb, Sheila, Brad, Brads parents Gary & Linda are all here. All of our units are right together, so we are having a lot of great family time, and enjoying meals together. Its a great time.

Saturday was rainy to the whole day and yesterday was a little better. We went to the outlet mall and did some shopping and then Shawn, Colby, Cale and I headed to a show(I will blog about that later) Today Cale and I are laying a little low, I think he's a little under the weather, but Shawn and Colby were heading to the caves and I didn't think Cale would dig it anyways.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Saturday September 1 was my mom's birthday. I guess I'm just writing this blog because I would like to put down in writing a few things I feel about the person who brought me into this world, because Lord knows she can't even turn on a computer.

My mom:

• just turned 64
• is an incredibly strong, independent woman
• has been a single mom since I turned 4
• works hard at everything she does
• has four children and four grandchildren
• is a recovering alcoholic who has been sober almost 6 years. She quit on her own, cold turkey!
• loves to garden-flowers and vegetables -- and loves to share the abundance
• buys Christmas gifts all year round, only to give you the item immediately and wrap up the receipts. Yep, that's right.

I would just like to say I thank God for the chance I have gotten to get to know this woman in a whole new light. My childhood was a very trying time and I feel blessed to have received this time to meet the real her, and especially to have my boys know this Nana.

Success!

Our garage sale this last weekend was a huge success. Friday we were absolutely swamped but Saturday was slower. The weather was great so I couldn't have asked for more. Now all I have left to do is finish cleaning up the garage. Everything is sorted and I just need to get it delivered to where it needs to go. Ahhhh the smell of sweet success.

Heroes In A Half Shell....

So last night we went to the RedBox to return a movie Shawn and I had watched- Shooter and got TMNT for the boys to watch last night. Little did I know how much Cale would love the turtles. He was absolutely crushed when we had to return the movie. Luckily I found one of Colby's VHS TMNT's when we got home, the crying has now ceased. He is back in turtle heaven.