New Car…

After many months of car shopping, Trent and I finally got a new car…a 2003 Ford Taurus… Be. Jealous.  We were in definite need of a new car and didn’t want to break the bank so the Taurus seemed like the biggest bang for our buck.  There was a Crown Victoria on the lot too, but I put the kibosh on that right away!  As you can imagine I am not crazy about the car, but Trent starts football in just over two weeks so we needed something.

Trent and I decided to test out the new wheels with a trip out to visit Rip and take him swimming on another super hot day.  As you can imagine, Trent was less than thrilled that I insisted on taking his picture driving his new car!

We headed down to the creek so Rip could cool off.  I love taking pictures when Trent has no idea!

 

{The Launes}

Stir-Up Days...

It only comes once a year, but it is three days packed full of fun…Stir-Up Days!  Maybe it’s not packed full of fun, but there is definitely plenty to do.  We started out Friday night in the sand volleyball tournament.  After a first round loss we rallied back to take 2^nd place overall.  Not bad, but a late night.  We headed home around 12:45 a.m. so I could shower and set the alarm to get back up at 6 a.m. for the Brick House 5k.  I was seriously contemplating doing the one mile walk with my mom but had already asked Amy if she wanted to run together.  I was super nervous because I have not been running and it was as humid as all get go. 

 Somehow I managed my best 5k time ever and also got second place in my age division.  I literally had to pick my own jaw up off the ground to go up and pick up my brick award.  Amy was drawn for a prize…a massage…lucky girl!

After the 5k it was off to breakfast at Cheri O’s with my momma and then on to the kiddie parade. 

The Vest clan came straight from Gilligan’s Island, while Lainey and Ellie dressed up as popcorn and cotton candy…cute as can be!

Finally, it was time to head down to Laune Sales and Service to catch the “grand parade.”  There was plenty of candy to go around. 

After the parade Trent and Lainey had some fun.  Lainey likes Trent to throw her high in the sky…such a daredevil!  Grandma Violetan and I on the other hand are not!

It was a busy weekend, but it wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the emergency room.  Mr. Trent Earl took a fall playing pick-up basketball Sunday night and his face broke his fall. 

A little lost blood and NINE stitches later we were headed back home…poor guy!  I would have milked it for all it was worth, but he was pretty tough. 

Now the countdown is on…only 3 more weeks until I officially head back to school and 2 more weeks of summer school.

Super Saturday...

The headline on the news read “Heat ‘Dome’ Traps Much of U.S. in Pressure Cooker.”  We have been in the midst of a midwest heat wave with temperatures reaching 100 and a heat index of over 110 a.k.a. holy humidity!  However, I did not let that put a damper on my Saturday plans.  It started out with a nice jog with my favorite running buddy, Jamie.  Let’s face it…I have to run a 5K on Saturday and I am in no way ready!  A little last minute training and sweating was much needed.  

 We were a hot disgusting mess.

Perfect photo opt moment…

What was even more needed than the hot run was cold coffee from Caribou after!  My vanilla Northern Lite Cooler was basically 12 ounces of pure delight!  Coffee is the reason why I run on Saturday mornings…well that and spending quality time with my big sis!

After running I was off to Target to pick up some supplies for summer school.  I totally hit up the dollar section and got some fun things for summer school.  Sidewalk chalk for spelling and letter stickers for word work are sure to be a big hit among the kiddos. 

Saturday night meant date night with the hubby!  Even better than date night is FREE date night!  That’s right…dinner at Chili’s using a gift card I received from one of my students at the end of the year (teacher gifts are the best!) and a movie using tickets that were purchased on Groupon for $1 each awhile back!  We did splurge on ice cream at Culvers after the movie so it wasn’t entirely free, but definitely a good deal and fun night.

Now, my life is over.  I am totally and completely devoted to planning and teaching summer school.  Thank goodness for half days!!!

This and That Thursday...

Thursday took me back to my 4-H days as Amy Lu and I had craft day!  Amy suggested it awhile back and I was instantly on board.  She had found a couple of fun projects that seemed simple enough. 

Our first project was to make coasters using scrapbook paper and tiles.  It was fairly simple and super cheap to make too.  I will definitely be making these again!  They could make a fun little gift. 

Our second craft was not quite as successful as the first one.  The idea was to make yarn balloons.  A good idea in theory, but once we got started, I was ready to be done!   I was a sticky mess from dipping the yarn in our glue solution and it wasn’t looking very pretty.  I let the project dry overnight and popped the balloon and it seems to stay in place, but rookie mistake is probably that I made it too big and should have used more yarn.

Today my life has been consumed by…summer school planning...dum, dum, dum!  I feel like my summer is officially over!  Monday is the beginning of three weeks of teaching summer school and then it’s back to school time.   I like summer school because it gets me back in the school mode but is only half days.  I don’t like that it means regular school is just around the corner.  I am still trying to figure out where summer has gone?  I have been busy planning and obsessed with some new teacher blogs I found.  I am getting some great ideas for word work activities and hopefully some other activities that will keep kids excited for summer school.  There is a lot to before Monday!

 I couldn’t resist…Bella was sleeping in between the couch cushions. 

One final picture I took tonight.  I love flowers and taking pictures of them and this one turned out awesome!

Wedding Season...

Wedding season is in full swing, but Our list of friends yet to be married is getting shorter and shorter by the month.  Last night we checked another wedding off the list at Kyle and Morgan’s wedding.  Trent was a groomsmen in the wedding so festivities started on Friday night with the rehearsal and dinner.  The dinner was at Lee’s Chicken, a hole in the wall joint in Lincoln that everyone seemed to know about but me!   The chicken was delish and the company was even better!

The guys posed happily for this picture...can you tell who is tallest?

Kalliea was sweet on Kyle...I think the feelings were mutual. 

Saturday meant wedding day!  It was a sultry July day, but I really don’t think they would have had it any other way. 

  Mr. and Mrs. Yardley…

The only unfortunate part of the day was a double booking of the party bus.  Kyle looked on like a little kid as he waited for the bus to come…more than a half hour late! 

For me, that meant more time for pictures!

It was finally time for the reception.  Pat, Kyle’s mom. made the cakes and they were fabulous!  They came in at least six different flavors and I tried two!  Lemon and orange sherbet were to die for!  I was tempted to have a third slice later in the night, but could already feel a bellyache brewing.  Another piece of cake would have surely left me miserable and regretful later in the night!    

Trent and the groom…

 Me and the groom…

Part of what I love most about weddings is getting to see friends and catching up!

Me and my man…

Congratulations again to the Yardleys!  Thanks for letting us be part of your big day!



BBQ's and Firecrackers...

I love patriotic holidays.  Partly because they fall in the summer and include great food, but mostly for what they stand for.  This 4^th of July was a fun filled, packed weekend!  It started out Sunday night at the Vests.  Of course it included a BBQ, fireworks and yard games. 

 Before yard games…all smiles…+

Jessie and I dominated in volleyball…just ask Trent and Tim…

The loot…

Coordinating their firework show to shoot off 4 at a time…

Run!

Saturday brought a hot and sunny day at the lake.  Amy invited Trent and I to her family’s cabin at South Bend.  Trent’s face lit up when I told him because his dream holiday is at the lake.  Trent mostly enjoyed the fun games that he played with the other big “kids.”  Adam also convinced Amy that a game of sand volleyball was necessary so we sunk our feet into the scorching sand and served it up.  Definitely worth it since our team won.

 Fun in the sun…

Trent and Adam demonstrating their mad catching skills off the dock…

  

 Ellie was ready for her first 4^th of July…

 Lainey oohing and ahhing at the fireworks…

Great action shot...A firecracker that goes off in water!

 The whole neighborhood was talking when a fire truck showed up at our party.  No worries, just Trent’s great uncle stopping by to let us check it out on his way to the fireworks…

 Sibling love watching the fireworks…

 An intense game of firecracker ball in progress…

The fireworks were the grand finale of a big weekend.  I love watching Trent watch fireworks because he has a huge smile on his face the whole time. He really is just a big kid at heart!

p.s.  The apple pie was a big hit...I give it an A plus!

Apple Pie on the 4th of July...

I came up with the brilliant idea to make apple pie for the 4^th of July back in June.  I have had a great recipe for 4 years and have always been too afraid to try it!  It came from Phyllis at Cheri O’s and she makes the most delicious pies.  I did not think there was any way I could even come close to making a pie as good as hers.  But on a quiet Saturday night, I took on the challenge. 

At exactly 8:51 I began preparing everything I needed.  This pie was going to be homemade down to the crust!  I made the pie crust first and then moved on to the pie filling.  I remembered different tricks that Phyllis had taught me in my many years at Cheri O’s such as rolling the flattened crust to help me lay it out in the pan.  I decided to actually make two pies since my pans were small and it would be way too much filling for just one.  That would also leave me with more to share!   By 9:53 the pies were in the oven and it was time to wait...and clean up!

 The ingredients…

 Rolling out the dough…

Pie filling in the making…

Ready to go into the oven to be baked into deliciousness!

My least favorite part…cleaning up!

Out of the oven and waiting to be cut and served with vanilla ice-cream tomorrow!

I am pretty sure that my first attempt at apple pie was a success!  Despite my worries, the recipe was actually easy as pie...pun intended!  I am anxiously waiting for tomorrow to cut into the pies and taste them so the final verdict is still out.  Stay tuned…