Working Hard

I look forward to the Annual Sidewalk Sale. My family gets together and we work our @##$% off... The kids are now old enough to pitch in, it's quiet eventful. I used to hate the job of breaking down the boxes and loading them on the truck to be recycled, but now, I kinda miss it. Luckily for my dad, the kids enjoy working for him. So, if you ever need to get away and work your @##$% off, I know for a fact we'll be going back soon to open up all of the 100+ Carhartt boxes that just came in via freight

I know, it couldn't have happened at a better time for Karen, she's off for Sturgis again this year and I think she thinks the Carhartt Fairy will come and magically unpack those boxes...

In one of the pictures above, dad decides to walk around with a bunch of hats on his head. It got a laugh out of Lisa.... she makes everyone laugh when she is laughing!

For more photos see The LeRoy Jenkins Blog... the kids were assigned of selling Frisbee's... Caleb couldn't understand why they were selling "Free Frisbee's"... He received some on his birthday and passed a few of them out and for the life of him, he couldn't understand why they were for sale. Olivia on the other hand had no problem taking customers money.

Wind Mills

So this post has a bit of history to it. Last year, while visiting dad at the store, a train came by with these HUGE metal objects. As the kids ran out of the store to see the train (as they always do), I ran in to get my dad to see if he knew what these things were. He said "Well, yes, they told me they would be coming, but I didn't think they would take this route" which is the Amtrak route. Long story short, dad told me windmills were being put up in a town just east of Bloomington and this is the only way they knew how to get it here.

Just last week, we were driving to Bloomington on our way to the sidewalk sale, you can see these windmill from I74 near Down/LeRoy, but due to the big truck explosion a few weeks back (visit Donita's Blog), I74 is closed and will be for quite some time, so they have you take the Heyworth exit and get back on I74 a long way from there. So... I just go the opposite way to LeRoy and take 150 which goes through Downs.

Well, this is where the story gets better. Sister Karla who lives in LeRoy called me on my cell and said, "Don't take 150, they are doing construction on the shoulder and I am stuck". I asked her how to get to Bloomington w/o going through Heyworth which takes I swear 1/2 hour longer, she said take the Lexington/LeRoy blacktop and that will take you to route 9 and then you will be 10 minutes from the airport. Cool.... Well, to my surprise (cuz I don't take the backroads), we landed right smack in the middle of the windmills! The kids and I were astonished at the size. So, I had to stop and take some pictures and I remembered a year ago, the day we saw them on the train. I know, long post, but I couldn't resist :)

Chicago Family Visists Decatur

We had a great visit with the Chicago family. Ron's Grandmother stayed for a week with Rita and when the rest of the family came to pick her up, we all got to eat out... Caleb & Olivia was thrilled to see all of her Auntie's and cousins. We must visit more often

Tooth Fairy

BIG NEWS AT OUR HOUSE YESTERDAY... Caleb lost his first tooth. It was his bottom tooth. It has been loose since the 4th of July. He pulled it today when dad came home! He is so VERY proud of himself! Olivia is super excited for him mostly because the tooth fairy is coming tonight!!!!

In preparation of the tooth fairy, nothing special happened, we just put his tooth in a bowl next to his bed and she replaced it with a $1 gold coin! He woke us up VERY early this morning and was so excited! My baby is growing up :( I told Ron puberty is around the corner... he wasn't so thrilled .... LOL

Nina's Baby Shower

The year of the baby showers. I remember the time when I was pregnant, I really didn't want a baby shower and my family insisted. Of course, words couldn't express how overwhelmed and warm inside I felt when all of my family and friends came to support me, so I kinda feel it necessary to make sure the friends and family I love feel the same :) So today, Vicki, Anna and I threw Nina a baby shower for her much anticipated arrival of her daughter Bella.

Nina is my beautiful and super sweet niece. Dolores's granddaughter and the youngest child of my sister Karen C. (not to be confused with Karen H). Pictured above is Nina, her sister Anna and her Mom Karen C. She had such a nice turnout and I hope when the baby comes, she will be well equipped. Notice I didn't say prepared, because as we all know you are never prepared :) Best of luck to you Nina! I can't wait until you join the wonderful club of motherhood!!!

Camp Parade

The kids have been going to swim camp all summer long and they were in a parade at the campsite. They have so much fun at Indian Acres and they actually learn how to swim :)

What does Mom do all morning all summer long? Well, I have joined a gym with about 5 of my friends have been working out most of the time together. It is a grueling workout, but totally fun ! :) You'll have to check out Joanna's blog about body pump when you get the chance. It's the link on the side called blond in a bottle. :) I have also been trying to keep the yard up as best I can, but I think a day dedicated to the yard will be in my near future! Lots of weeds....

Last Year's Summer Vacation

With no summer vacations scheduled this year.... I decided to post some pictures from our family reunion last year. So much fun in Michigan... maybe I'll get inspired to plan a short trip... Happy July 4th everyone!

My dad (Clark) is a local celebrity as of yesterday. He was featured on the front page in Sunday's paper "The Pantagraph". It was a very interesting article about the July 1957 Nuclear test in Nevada. He was there. I always wondered why he really never watched the fireworks with us... Now I know! You can visit http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/07/01/news/doc4687004706050779094552.txt