C25K

I have often looked at the program, but never really took much interest in it. Once I bought my iPod...I looked a little more. I down loaded a podcast and started the C25K program on Tuesday. Today was actually day 2. My knees hurt today. I pushed myself a little harder today than Tuesday. It doesn't help that it is HOT outside. I sweat like crazy! That's ok.

I also joined www.livestrong.com today. I am counting calories taken in and burned! Hoping to keep my calorie count LOWER than what it says I can have (2000). I'm pushing for about 1500.

Wish me luck!

Lucy the Destroyer

My mom's dog Lucy is visiting since she is running back and forth to the hospital in Quincy so much. She's been here since July 6 (with the exception of 2 days that my mom had my dog too).

Shane and I took Wade to grandma Jeanie's for the weekend. Saturday we went to Springfield to go to Menard's, out to dinner and did a little other shopping.






This is what we arrived home to. First we found the damage to our master bedroom bedspread. I was a little torqued...but figure it is about time for a new bedspread...no big. I get to go shopping.

Then we wandered into the spare bedroom/computer room and found THIS mess. She tore apart 4 pillows, a blanket and my FAVORITE down comforter. 2 days later I am still finding down all over the house. I expect to find it for months to come! Those little feathers are the devil!

I am truly blessed

Very few people my age still have grandparents. I am truly blessed to have known all of my grandparents. Growing up we lived 1-2 hours from my grandparents, so we didn't see them often. My mom's parents (to the right) had a cabin on the Mississippi River. We spent many weekends and summers at the river. The cabin had 2 bedrooms and several pull out couches. It sat 30 feet in the air and was our haven. In 1993 when the river flooded, the cabin went down the river. Many of the cabins were lost in the flood. My grandma's cousin had a cabin next door with and ELEVATOR! seriously, an elevator :) It was pretty high tech in the 70s and 80s!

My grandpa Fuqua is currently in the hospital. At the end of June he was diagnosed with colon cancer. They thought it would be an easy surgery and he would be in and out in a week or so. Nearly three weeks later he is still in the hospital. He has some infection in his intestine. We thought we were going to lose him this week, but he still has some fight left in him. I think the prayers of friends and family have helped him too. My grandmother has alzheimers. Granddad is her care-taker. I think that is part of what keeps him going...knowing that he needs to take care of his beloved wife of 66 years.



My dad's parents were the ones who pushed us (the three grand children) to get an education. They were pretty vocal about it. My grandpa Pedigo passed away in March 2009. It devastated me. He lay down to take a nap and never woke up. I guess that was a blessing for him to pass so peacefully, but it didn't give me a chance to tell him goodbye. ]

Grandma is tucked away in an independent living facility in northern Illinois. My grandparents were married nearly 68 years before his death, so she is a little bit lost! She lives close to my dad and his sister. They help her out quite a bit.

I correspond with my grandma by mail. She is the best penpal I have ever had! I have learned a great deal about her life and my grandpa's too.


It makes me sad to think that all of these wonderful people will leave my life before I am ready!

If you have grandparents, give them a call and tell them you love them...you never know when your last opportunity will arise!

Summer fun!

On Monday, July 12, we went to Knight's Action Park for our first trip of the summer. I took some quick shots of Wade when we first got there. I don't think I took any last year when we went. He loves the water and discovered some fun slides that are just his size. He goes under water like a champ! He thinks he's a rockstar sometimes and gets some up his nose though!









We took Wade to his first Cardinal's baseball game on Sunday, June 18. The day started out dreary and rainy! I so hoped for a clear cool day...it started out cool, until the sun came out. Then it got hot. Wade's biggest concern was seeing Fredbird and going down on the field to play. He didn't understand why some people got to be down there and he couldn't. Then, of course, he was disappointed that Albert and Yadi did not play. We spent quite a bit of time walking around the stadium, and a little less time watching the game. He definitely got to eat his share of JUNK




On Monday following the ball game, we went to the St Louis Zoo. This was our first adventure at the zoo. It as a little humid. Wade's favorite part...the train. We rode it several times. Thank goodness for Safari passes. We rode around the zoo 3 times I think. The novelty never wore off. When we finally left, that was the part he loved the most!

Ramona and Beezus

I haven't read these books for MANY years...but I am reading Ramona and Beezus right now online...check it out!

Two new things in my life--

I finally joined the world of technology and music. I purchased an iPod nano. It's green like that one over there! So far it is pretty cool. Just learning some things! I am uploading several of Shane's CDs to my iTunes. He has some pretty good music in his big ole folder of music! I know there will be some new stuff I want, but for now I am doing it this way.

Rani and Chloe are also teaching me how to get some tunes from other people :P







Have you tried these? HOLY COW! they are amazing. I don't even normally like Oreos...but WOWZA. They are much cheaper than Girl Scouts Thin Mints...but they taste about the same. AND I can get them year round! how about that!?!?!

Got Camel, Will Travel

So I was driving to Quincy today to see Granddad. And this passed me on the interstate...

What's been going on?

July 4th was a beautiful day. Laura Ann Evans became Laura Ann Wilson. I didn't get a picture of the groom, but he wasn't quite as beautiful!
It was hot and muggy...but not scorching hot. I'm sure LA would disagree, but she was glowing! Not because of the sweat mind you, because she was marrying the love of her life!

At the reception, Wade wanted to try his hand with my camera. This is the short man's camera technique. Direct pictures!


I put up a little corn on Sunday. My first time ever. It was not much fun. My deep freeze smells like corn every time I open it up!

We have a visitor this week. My mom is caring for my granddad who had colon cancer surgery on July 7. So she is staying at my grand parents in order to help with grandma and be closer to the hospital. That means LUCY is staying at our house. She is a slug. She pants all the time and FOLLOWS me everywhere, yes, everywhere. When I go to the bathroom, she waits outside the door. She sleeps outside the bedroom door waiting for me (or Shane) to get up.

I guess it is a good thing she is a good dog. Otherwise, I might have to send her to doggy camp! :) I brushed her tonight and I should have taken a picture of the yard! Some bald dog could have had quite a hairpiece!

Bark Off

Yesterday while I was making a quick Walgreen's run, I saw this little package on the shelf. Actually, I saw someone else looking at it and thought "WOW! Maybe this will work on Murphy!" I grabbed it right away.

It is all powered up and sitting near the back door where he goes outside. That seems to be his favorite place to bark. Cross your fingers it works or the ASPCA might be after me!

This lovely lady

This lovely lady is getting married today! I met Laura Ann at the Bowl In about 13 years ago! I am hoping for good weather until she gets into the church, then until she arrives at the reception and when the fireworks are supposed to go off!

I pray that God blesses LA's marriage to Tony and gives them many many years of bliss.

It is hard for me to believe it is almost the Fourth of July! I don't want summer to be half over!

My girlfriend/co-worker Cheryl and I went to see the Cardinals take on the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. We hit a businessman's special every summer. Love day games AND the weather this year was PHENOMENAL!



Today I met a new friend who married an old friend :) I am starting a new sunshine garden in my front yard. This new friend offered me some of her mom's flowers (with her mother's permission). I got some AWESOME starts! AND two pampas grasses from my momma for my birthday (super early!).
While we were at my mom's, Wade got hungry...this is the cookie monster I found in the truck!


LA's wedding is this weekend. Hopefully, more pictures to follow!