Jerandan Wetzel Cookout

Each year Jerandan Portable Toilets has had the large job of taking over 110 port - a - johns out to the Wetzel Harley Party and keeping them "clean" throughout the entire weekend. This is a huge undertaking that Jerry, Dan & Andy always need lots of help. So each year on Saturday evening, the wives make food and take out to them, give them a little break and let the wives and kids see the Dads for a couple hours. It is always a lot of fun! Our friend and helper, Tom donates his home as the Jerandan "portable home away from home" each year. Thank goodness, that saves them a ton in fuel...he lives just back the field from Wetzelland. The kids all had fun, playing with the footballs, climbing on "Dad" and rocking back and forth on the hitch rack. The guys always end up with a couple of good stories from the party and this year was no exception. They finally got home tonight around 6:00. Not too bad for all the work. Laine and Grace were not at the cookout. They had stayed the night with Aunt Trisha last night. They watched the Hannah Montana Concert in 3-D that they didn't want to miss! Laine even told us that it was on at "8.... 7 Central" (I think she watches too much tv!) Ha Ha! Make sure you check out the other pics at the bottom of the posts, the one is quite comical! (I'm still figuring out how to put pics exactly where I want them!)

Children's Garden

Friday night, we (the girls and Danni & Haley) went out to Smiley Park to check out the newly finished Childrens Garden. This part of the park is too cute and very pretty and quite kid friendly. My girls had lots of fun! If I was a better, quicker photographer, one could get some awesome pics. The flowers and plants are beautiful and everything is soooo bright and colorful. We had fun...here are some pics. I'll have some info soon on our evening tonight out with the guys out by the "Harley Party."

Invading Cincy!

This past weekend we went with our friends, Tom & Amy and their 2 boys, Dan & Danni and their daughter and our clan of 5. We went down to Cincy Friday afternoon and let the kids swim for awhile. The guys went to the Reds baseball game (which they won) and had a great time! While us MOMS took the rest of the kiddos downtown to the Square, where they had a beer tent (we got a few strange looks w/ our 3 strollers), then we found the carriages. Decided we were too hungry we would check out the horse rides after supper. We found a restaurant called MARGARITAS! How wonderful! I couldn't think of anything better! We stopped and one little one fell asleep waiting on our food while another was about asleep but got her second wind! We moms took it upon ourselves (since no one had to drive) to order the JUMBO Margaritas! I had a Sangria Margarita! It was AWESOME! I must get the recipe! Since we had tired little ones we just walked back to the hotel and crashed.
The next morning we all went to the Newport Aquarium. It was nice, but I thought a bit expensive for about an hour of time. The kids all loved it and we had quality family time!
I got some good pics! Enjoy my new found slide show...thanks, Tracy! I tried to put Will Smiths "Summertime" song to play with it but for some reason it wouldn't work, so hum along as you look at the show!

Mommy Goes Racing - NO KIDS!!

Last weekend I got a break from chasing kids, changing diapers and refereeing fights! Jerry and Dan decided to go race in Stanton, MI so Danni and I decided we could go too! Luckily, Grandma Chris was willing to keep the kiddo's once again so I could get away! The guys (Jerry, Dan and Dan's brother, Tim) left at 8 am and we (Danni & I ) left around 9 am, but we took Haley to Danni's moms first. We got there around 2:00 pm. We had great Mom talks all the way there, through the race, and all the way back. It was great to see all of our Race Families, that I haven't got to see the last couple years! We didn't have much luck at racing, but Danni and I were Hillbilly Golf champs (even with a buzz going on)! Jerry and Tim said they let us win...MEN! We had a Great time, we even had a little time to hit the Casino in Mt. Pleasant and we finally (after much searching) found Old Navy for a couple of great deals! (It's amazing how fun it is to shop at your own pace with out kids...you should try it sometime!)


I'm including some great pics and some not so great! We enjoyed our weekend w/out the kids, but we did miss them by the time it was time to come home! .....NO, I really am serious! :)

TUCK

I noticed I haven't mentioned our newest member to the family...Tuck the Turtle. For all of you parents of young ones who watch the Wonder Pets, that is who he is named for. If you don't know the theme song, please call and ask Jerry to sing it he has a wonderful rendition! Tuck was found at the Muncie Dragstrip when we took a Sunday and all went racing for the day. Grandpa Bill and Grandma Chris took the 3 girls on a golf cart ride and accidentally ran over Tuck. They stopped and he only had a few drops of blood on his tail and we've had him ever since...This happened the Sunday before the 4th of July, so he must be pretty tough. The girls talked Grandma to go to Petland to buy Turtle food and yes even Turtle Treats! We even had our dear friend Amy stop by to check on him while we were gone this weekend. He is one of the Family now. He started out in a bucket, then moved to a plastic box, then when Laine and Grace's friends (Lilian and Stephanie) spent the night they decided to put him in our old turtle sand box. How appropriate! He is a nice enough turtle, but he has algae on his back we have scrubbed him w/ a toothbrush and can't get it off! It is ok for now cause he is outside, but man, he stinks! The girls are taking great care of him though.

The Crews 3rd Annual Zoo Trip

My college girlfriends and I meet at the Columbus Zoo each year with all of our kids. It seems each year there is at least one new addition. This year there were 2! I think Tracy will end up being the winner of the largest family (at least for now). Tracy has Kyran, Kory, and Kruz and another "Special K" on the way. Natalie has Rachel and Trevor - what blondies they are! Trisha has been blessed with 2 boys - Tyson and Jaxon - think of all the baseball games to come! I think each year we do this get together we scare Pepper from having any kids...maybe one of these days she will surprise us with news of a Mini- Meek, but until then Aunt Pepper is the coolest!
We always have such a great time together! We really should get together more often, but it is hard with all of our busy schedules! I truly cherish everytime we get to see each other!

FOURTH of JULY!!

We had a spectacular Fourth of July! The girls and I were in the Holiday at Home Parade in the morning. We had fun seeing lots of friends watching as we walked/strolled down the street. Normally, we head to my Aunt & Uncle's lake house for the Fourth to watch the fireworks on the lake, but it didn't work out this year. So we invited whoever was around to come over for a cookout and good times! It worked. Lots of great food and even some FIREWORKS! No injuries were obtained, except for my Emma (trying to touch a just finished sparkler ends in a small blister). Enjoy the pics!