Camping the 4th of July

Wow, Tara actually posed for the picture and smiled:)
The holiday went really fast. Gene took the camper down to the lake on Thursday. He was dripping sweat. It was high 90's and 100% humidity. Friday was better, I had to work. Tia called Rachel and Raegan to join her. Raegan was able to go and we picked her up on our way to lake Rathbun. It was 8:30 I think when we finally made it. Dumped everything from he car in the camper and went socializing. Saturday seemed to go slow. We were meeting Jeff in Knoxville to get Kaylan to babysit for the night. Murt rode with me, Kaylan (age 1) chatted with us most of the way back to the lake. The weather Sat was perfect, we woke up Sunday to overcast and mist most of the day. Gene worked most of Saturday on the farm. He made it down in time to run the girls to the shower house. Kaylan went down for bed at 10:15, she fought as long as she could. She slept clear through until 7am. Tara was happy, she loves to play games and Denise got a game of train domino's going. Kaylan's entertainment was a Gatorade bottle/lid and rocks. Tia and Raegan was on every boat load for tubing. I hope Raegan wasn't overwhelmed with my big family. The weather was nice to pack up. Cassie and Kaylan headed for Michigan and Jeff rode home with us. Tia wanted to drive. She did a good job, but Jeff drove from Leon. We stopped for our ice cream break. We dropped Raegan off, Tia thought she should drive from Truro. I couldn't see changing drivers, which didn't make her very happy.

Wow Time Flies

I see it has been a year since I last posted. I am surprised I remember my password. We have had some moments to remember and so this post.

Tara was baptized and confirmed at church Sunday. She has been taking confirmation classes since September. I thought confirmation classes were a six week coarse. Well this was 6 months. I kept telling Tara it shouldn't be too much longer. She was having to split basketball and confirmation classes in half to work it all in. On the next to the last class the minister told the kids it was completely their decision and no one should pressure them into it. Does anyone want to stand in front of people for anything. Well sure, but not shy people and he didn't have a clue of the out he was giving her. She had immediately told him she was not doing it. Gene and I strongly suggested this was the finish to what she had been doing for the last 6 months. Her friend had taken the classes with her and she finally decided if Sadie would do it, she would too. I knew that there would be a ceremony at some point and was trying to decide how to dress her for the occasion. With it being close to Easter, I was trying for whites or pastels. Tara is very picky with the design of her clothes and the only thing she could find was a simple white t-shirt. I suggested white jeans. She told me it would be the only time she wore them. I ended up on a shopping spree without kids and picked up a pair of white capri's and a sweater(navy, white and peach) to go with her t-shirt. She also had found a pair of white flats for the occasion. The pants were a little small, but she looked nice. Getting a picture of the occasion as usual was a challenge. Heavy Sigh!

Easter

I haven't been meant to clean my house for weeks and the Saturday before Easter wasn't any different. Tara had Hailey spend the night Friday night. I had to wake everyone up Saturday morning. We had just enough time to jump in the car and head to Tia's hair appt. Darci cut off quite a bit. I wasn't sure if I liked it at first, but it is cute :)
We dropped Hailey at her house and came home to clean. I ended up making a raspberry cobbler and a pumpkin pie, before cutting Bob and Marj's hair. The washing machine is needing babysat, so it took twice as long to get laundry done.
Gene went to Lucas to get alfalfa for the sheep and was gone all afternoon. Uncle Gail showed up mid afternoon and Ryan was doing a lot of fishing.
I had this crazy idea I needed broccoli and after supper headed to Osceola. It was bed time when I got home, but sat up until midnight talking with Gene, Ryan and Gail. We had a good visit.

Brag Day for Tara

 

Tara and I had a heart to heart about competing in tumbling. Tia never liked competition, so even though mom would like to see them, I understand it's not for everyone. Tara decided she didn't want to compete either. We make the exception for our home meet. Tia only made it to a couple of practices this season, so she is done...heavy sigh :( Even so I made her and Tara help clean the tumbling gym the day before our home meet. It was a bribe for a new swim suit :) It was a tuff job and we spent a good 3 hours with Sherrie and Haylie Chew digging dust bunnies from everywhere. I know we missed some, but wow what a job! My back will be talking to me later. I have a bruise on my face, I think I hit myself with the broom.

Sunday morning I woke the girls at 7:30 to be at the school at 8am. Tia told me no. Tara wanted to know why so early, but rolled out. Gene was going to church, so he brought Tia in at 9:30. After we got to the school we fixed Tara's hair. She wanted nothing fancy, no little rubberbands. It took alot of mousse and hairspray and it still wasn't stiff. I do the job of recording the judges scores at the spring floor, Tia joined me and was a runner to the tabulation room. Tara waited patiently behind us for her turn to preform beginner 12 yr old tumbling and double mini. I was deep in the middle of a flight of sub advanced 10yr olds and totally missed Tara on the dead mat, but she was quick to show me her first place trophy. Grandma showed up in time to cheer her on there. My table finished in time to watch all Tara's double mini competition. She said the part she didn't like was it being totally quiet and that was the only time during the day that it was quiet. Yea we have another first place. I get to watch and work with the kids in the gym and see alot (good, bad and otherwise). Tara isn't real strong, so she nicely surprised her Momma. Nice Job, You did awesome!!

The food wasn't plentiful today, so I made a quick tuna noodle casserole. The girls took their showers and ate. Tara was asleep by 7pm, I wore her out.

Aunt Tia

 

We have had an exciting week. We have waited 9 months and she is finally here. Kaylan Jaylea Snyder, 8 lbs 1.4 oz, 20 3/4 inches long. Momma had to have a c-section after being in labor for several hours. Dad is very happy :)

Kaylan shares her birthday with her cousin Nykki Snyder Wendelin.

Tia turns 13

We are very indecisive people. Tia wanted to have friends over, this was the only thing for sure. She wanted to see a movie, but nothing was showing that she wanted to see. The only close pool is at a hotel, they let kids swim for 2 hour slots. No one could find their suits. Bowling...guess what, they did that yesterday for a behavior party at school.

Tara had a basketball game against Panora. They had an awesome game 27-5. Everything just clicked and it was so much fun to watch. Tara asked Carlyn to spend the night with her. She paced the floor until she finally showed up.

Tia looked pale and I wasn't sure she should have company. We warned all the moms, but the party when on as scheduled. It was rainy and a high of 43 degrees. The roads are a muddy mess.

Cupcake Foodfight