Flooding

We had some serious rain last night.  Rain and snow melt combined has created major flooding conditions all over the central part of the state.  

This retention pond (now a lake) is just down the road from my house.  

Not far from where we live cars have been stranded on roads and many streets have been closed down.

The kids and I ran to McDonalds for lunch just so we could see the flooding and take pictures :).

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Another opportunity for I heart faces (Iheartfaces.com).  I think this is fun :).

Ahhhhh, tubing.  Who doesn't love it?  I love it because I am behind the camera and my sister is driving the boat.  I love to get these shots and she loves to make them happen.  We are a really good team. 

This shot just happens to be my main man and son #1 tubing together.  (that would be main man taking the backwards belly-flop, would that be a back-flop?)

I think I'm summer-starved.  Need Sun.  Need Water.  Need Tan.  Need it NOW!

http://www.iheartfaces.com/

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Capture the sky.  I captured the Blue Angels up there. 

2.  Everyday.  This is what I do.  Everyday.  My kids sports.

3.  Furry.  This is my funny, I mean furry sister, Margaret.

4.  Life.  Fire.  Always alive. 

5.  Blurred.  Oh, there I am again, sports.  Yep, that's what I do, til my vision is blurry.

Daydreaming 'Bout Summertime

Son # 1

 Son #2

Son #2 and Nephew B

Son #1 and Nephew B

But really, I'm just thinking that it's warm and sunny and it's my favorite place in the whole wide world.

What do you do when "You are Tired of Living In A House?"

I loved this book as a child, and I love it now too.

I love how the kids decided they were going off on an adventure.

 I love the illustrations.

It always made me want to have an adventure like them. 

Well, maybe not with bears.

What's YOUR favorite childhood book?  Tell me :) maybe I loved that one too.

TOUCHDOWN!

So, today I'm joining the I heart faces challenge.  Today's challenge was to put a cell phone picture that had a face somewhere in the picture.  I'm sure it MUST have been an exciting game.  I was obviously more focused on making sure I took this picture than watching the game. :)

Is there any other way to watch a Colt's game?

Living with No Regrets

I admit I haven't taken a picture in several days.

Today my picture is my memory.  It was two years ago, almost to the day that I made the trip of a lifetime, the one trip I will never ever regret.  Margaret, my sister (she's in the black sweater), also made the trip.  I fulfilled a dream I had had for years to sing with Brian, my brother.  It was even better than expected because I also got to sing with Margaret, and Mom helped accompany us.  Don, our oldest brother, was there too, but didn't sing.  Dad preached.  It was an exceptional weekend!

That was in February.  In July, Brian went to Heaven.

I'm so glad I took that trip, so thankful for the memories I will always have, and for the song that we made ours, and for my extraordinary family.  Simply put, I am blessed beyond measure.

Just a Picture today

Vantage Point

From my vantage point any direction I look has balls.

Winter balls:

Fall balls:

I don't have small children who you would naturally think would have balls everywhere.  

However, I do have kids who: eat, think, drink, sleep some kind of sport that involves balls.  From my vantage point I have an active, involved, athletic, fun-loving, somehow-always-moving sort of family.

Fun Balls: 

My Guy

This is my guy!  I caught him coming back from his R.A.O.K. that he probably wasn't even aware was a deed that had initials (Random Act of Kindness) he was just doing the right and neighborly thing. 

I was shoveling earlier with the troops and watched as a neighbor fell, and then one of the people helping her fell, AND THEN, they got up and she fell again.  (I will say that I fell too but no one came to help me, matter of fact they are still laughing at me.  I am beginning to lose count of the number of times the ice has won.)  Thank you three inches of ice underneath five inches of snow, you win!

ANYWAY...... I mentioned to my guy about the neighbors falling, and when they weren't looking, he went and  shoveled their driveway.  Can I have a collective AHHHHHHH! What a Guy!

Hoosiers

Remember the movie Hoosiers?  It was back in the 80's and was about the phenomenon of Hoosier Hysteria - basketball, of course.  The movie starred Gene Hackman.  Remember, now?

Last night my guys played at the same gym where part of the movie was filmed. It's called the Historic Hoosier Gym, Home of the Hickory Huskers.  It was WAY cool.  It's not one of the modern gyms, but it has "the" feel that basketball should have (of course that's just MY opinion).

Indiana State Flag that hangs in the gym - Just gotta show it.  It is after all Hoosier Hysteria.

Two goofballs sitting in the press box, they remind me of 

First bucket of the game.  Just sayin'......

"Forget about the crowds, the size of the schools, their fancy uniforms and remember what got you here.  You put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential to be the best that you can be.  I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game.  In my book we're gonna be winners."  Hoosiers (Gene Hackman)

Before and After

My wonderful sister-in-law, Joe's sister, has been here for a while being a blessing to all of us, especially her dad.  She loves to organize. Sometimes certain things get pushed back to the back of my to-do list, if you know what I mean.  This time the game closet has been driving me crazy, but it's not on the urgent list so it waits for me.  She took it on, and she made it look wonderful.  She also took on the pantry.  I am now blissfully happy.

BEFORE

and AFTER

Oh, By the Way, Did I Mention it was Icy?

Who needs a sled?

They had to tie a rope to the house so they could get up the yard.

Just Another Disappointing, Not a Blizzard, Icy Day

Not gonna melt soon..... I really, really wanted a blizzard instead of ice.

We got ice.  

It is an ice skating rink in front of the house, oh yeah, and down the driveway.

This is just plain ole' false hope.  

It's not going anywhere soon.

Solid ice - I went outside to take pictures and struggled

to stay on my feet. Really. 

But I must protect the camera at all costs.

  I wish I could have

a picture of Cowboy sliding across and landing flat. 

But he hasn't landed flat, he's only slid across.   

I'll keep trying :).