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

 

 

 

 

Grandma and her girls

 

Luke is New to the Wendelyns

Nykki was saying Luke was the best passenger(giving the kids a hard time) She also said if Mom Kathy doesn't behave she has to ride in the kennel on the way home..hehe!

Money is Always an Excepted Gift

 

 

 

The girls are always happy with money for a gift. I like to shop, so I like to not give money. This way they get both.
Tara was wheeling and dealing trying to talk Gail out of his money :)

Christmas on New Years with the Snyders

 

 

 

 

Mom and Dad Christmas 2009

 

 

 

Christmas was Friday Jan 1 at our house. I called Mom Thursday to let her know Gail checked in and would come Friday morning. I asked where and she said she still didn't have her window finished and the furniture and flowers were everywhere, could I have it. My house was a mess as well, but knew the kids would like playing with the girls Wii. I rolled out at 6am to start cleaning and put the ham roast in the oven. The house wasn't as I would have like it, but I was the only one that cared. Nykki had said they would like to be here at 9. Kathy called at 9 and said it would be close to noon. I have to say I was relieved to have more time to prepare. I still had gifts to wrap and food to prepare in between the cleaning.
Not sure why mom picked the girls little school desk for her chair, it couldn't have been comfortable. She is our Bingo caller, she asked to retire this year. Not everyone would put up with the way we play. Mom and Dad both have to put up with the girls opening their presents for them...hope they don't mind :)

Iowa State to a Bowl Game

I had to work until 12:30, then finish Christmas shopping for the Snyder side, last but not least off to Mike & Murts to watch Iowa State play the Minnesota Gophers for a 5pm kick off. Both teams record 6 wins, 6 losses...woo hoo. They played the Insight.com in Tempe Arizona (wished we could have been there) temps are steadily getting colder. Suppose to be negative when we go home. We had a good crowd with lots of good food. While the guys watched the game on TV, we played some games. I learned how to play Dutch Blitz.

Iowa State played a nail biter with a winning score of 14-13. Now we have a winning record. Way to go ISU!!

Baby Snyders Baby Shower

Cassie with her Grandma's.

The fun of going to a baby shower is meeting & holding the baby. Since this one was for my Grandbaby it was alittle different. Baby Snyder isn't due until late February early March and Grandma Yates won't be back until she arrives. Cassie's family held the shower at her Grandma's conference room at the care center. I had never been there before...we had many inches of new snow and I think I was driving on the sidewalk (oops)to try and find the parking lot.

We played 2 games, the first being given a roll of toilet paper and guessing how big Cassie and baby are. Ten pieces was the right guess, I took nine. The second game was 7 candy bars melted in 7 diapers.(hey, at least it wasn't baby food)Since I love chocolate I did fairly well with this one.

Kind of funny, I didn't know until the last minute what I was getting my first grandbaby for her gift...well I chose the same thing Cassie's mom got (a pak'n play). Mine went back for the car seat, still very necessary! Great minds think alike. It was a nice shower and baby Snyder got alot of nice gifts. Thanks to all you attended and sent gifts :)

Merry Christmas

It was a short night. Tia was excited and couldn't go to bed...it was 1am. Tara woke up scared of Santa at 2:30, good dad that he is laid down with her until she fell back asleep. He had just crawled back into bed when Tia asked if it was time to get up...4:30am. NO...go back to bed! She didn't, but left us alone until 6 when we all rolled out. The gifts this year were expensive ones, so there weren't very many under the tree. The girls were happy they got what they wanted. Tara opted for a DS and a camera instead of the DSI.(oh and of coarse a padded bra, yes they do make them small enough) They are not easy to find and my guess is everyone has one when they have to change clothes for phys ed. Tia was a little poop and couldn't stand knowing I went Black Friday shopping, she peeked in the car and found her present. The month of December was trying to decide whether to take it back, not give it to her until her birthday...or Christmas. She got it for Christmas, but has been disappointed we can't figure out how to download onto it. Have I ever mentioned I hate electronics, they are always such a pain to figure out. I swear I'm going back to college to learn how to run them all.

Gene and I went back to bed. The girls also got a Wii. Tia had it set up and played by the time I got up.

I made lunch thinking we would get together with Gene's folks. When I finally checked in with them, they thought they would stay home. We had tons of food and only made a dent in it. Guess what was for supper.

Tara learned how to play the Wii and thinks it is awesome, she played 2 hours straight. At around 2pm Tia started on her lack of sleep ugliness. I couldn't say anything and she would interpret it as a negative. Totally not what came out of my mouth. I kept trying to get her to sleep, but she wanted to drag it out. She booby trapped the Wii so Tara couldn't play when she was ready for her second round. Hymmm the batteries were missing and the disc was in backwards. It was a reallly long day for her, she finally went to bed at 10.

The temps are around 14F burrr cold. The girls also got new sleds, but due to rain all day the day before Christmas they are froze in Gene's car trunk.

Tara with ??

 

 

 

Okay he still needs a name. You can see already they are best friends :)

The present that eats presents

 

We really hadn't planned on having a puppy in the winter. Puppies, although adorable, are awful. They eat everything! Bark and tease cats as well as try to eat them. They are a full time job. I told Jeff if my granddaughter acts like Jake they better send her back :)

We lost our long time friend in 2009, Pete. He was a golden retriever that was dumped at our house. Very loving pet for the boys to grow up with. We had watched for another golden retriever needing a home for the past year and Gene ran across an add in the local shopper for puppies. I called and they had 5 male. We just so happened to be able to see them the following day and brought one home.

I'm Back

Wow with getting the girls back to school, finding out I'm going to be grandma and the computer getting struck by lightning blogging was put on the back burner. I really should have found time, because alot has been happening and my memory isn't what I'd like it to be.

I'm going to try to go back and do some catching up :)

Merry Early Christmas 09

 

I can't believe Gene talked me into this one! Tia with an early present.

October Babies

 

 

These little ones were the only two to survive of Five. With them being born so late in the year it was hard for momma to keep them warm. We brought them in the house and starting nursing them back to health.