Our Big Brown Bear

The Big Girl louging in the backyard. She has this newly acquired talent of running away ( so much for being off leashed trained) after nothing hence the heavyweight cable. You would think with as big ( ok for those of you who have seen her in person she is FAT) as she is she would run slow.....NOPE. Fast and hides well.

Shane's first Hunting Season

Practing calling the elusive Big Buck with the rattlin' horns.














October 9, 2006 decked out in his Army ACU camo, with Daddy's arrows, ready to go hunting at Ft Custer.


















How darn cute is my baby boy?

Never mind the ugly Mr. Bones Halloween decoration in the background, and the giant spider on the wall. Those are Chris's idea of Halloween decor, not mine.

















Doesn't look a thing like his Mommy.

My Colorado Vacation

These pictures are from my vacation to Colorado to see Nicol and Mike. I stayed for 6days, and had a blast. From relaxing in the sun with Denali, their dog, to shopping, to touring the Olympic Training Center, and finally our White Water Raft Trip it was a blast, and overall great vacation.

Shane stayed at home with Papa John/Grandma Spike and Papa Phil/Grandma D.

The White Water trip was at the end of the season so the water wasn't extremely fast, but it was cold. Michigan cold. John, Andy, Denise, Jim, Nicol, Mike, and I went on a 3.5 hour trip which was a good time. We jumped into the water from a rock ( yes I really did it photographic proof), and had a pretty good time, it was calm from what I understand however based on the look on Andy's face when he fell in it was still enough to wake you up!

N&M thanks for letting me come visit! Love you both!

Denise and John all smiles.







Still smiling, soaking wet, cold, and having jumped off a very large rock into the water..still in one piece.














THIS IS ME ( really it is)! I jumped from the rock into the water! Hoping that no bullsharks made their way up the river to attack me. My knees were shaking worse than jello, Nicol and I couldn't make up our minds to jump until Denise came back up the rock to get ready to "help" Nicol in.














This is Nicol. She jumped as soon as she saw Denise coming back up to give her a little extra encouragement.

This is us leaving the shore to start the 3.5 hour trip. Love the look of uncertainty on my face..more like what the h*ll did I get myself into????? Nicol is all smiles.





Wondering what the heck I have gotten myself into. Trying to figure out if I have time to back out or not as Nicol and Denise listen to whatever the guide, John, is saying, and Andy relaxes before taking off.

All smiles for the moment. Thanks to Andy for the hat because I was NOT putting the nasty, stinky helmet on my head. You all know how I am about germs and such and those helmets were way past clean. I know only I would think of that but that is why you love me :)












Nicol and Denise.....one last shot before venturing off into the unknown...Denise was so happy to have been up working 3rd shift then meeting us to go rafting in 60 degree water!

Nicol...ready for action


















Mike, Andy, and John's backside, getting ready for the trip.

River Runners in Canyon City CO. White Water Rafting. The guides sleep outside in the tents, change their clothes in the trailer where everyone can see everything.........
The trip was fun.

Colorado Vacation Aug 16 to Aug 22

Denali and me getting a little tan. This is before Nicol would knock on the window and tell me "time's up"
Denali is a great dog, very loving and a big chicken!












At the Olympic Training Center on the platform where the Olympic Torch is at. Nicol lives about 1.5 blocks away. Her neighborhood is behind me in the picture.
















Yes she made me do this, and I had to climb up in the others too!










Nicol's yard. The green lawn is because is rains every time I am there!

August 12th 2006

The Annual Pony Rides at Cooper Hardware. Shane has been going to these since he was 2. He loves it!















Petting Snowflake.

Shane's 5th Birthday Parties took place on 8-4-06 and 8-5-06. Friday the 4th he celebrated with Papa John, Grandma Spike, Papa Phil, Grandma D, and Papa Bill. The Bouncer was his big suprise. He loved it, and so did the adults as you will see in the picts. I can't believe my baby boy is 5! He even looks bigger! On Saturday the 5th, his actual birthday, he celebrated with Chris's side of the family and some of his little buddies, about 30 people in all. It was crazy! The kids had a blast in the bouncer, the pool, on the fort, and just running around. All in all it was a success and he is offically 5, starting Young 5's on Sept 5th.

Shane's 5th Birthday 8-5-06

Sad, inpatient, pouting little boy wanting to know when everyone was going to arrive for his party. He actually sat on the front porch like this for about 30 minutes. Tyring to explain time to a 5 year old is complicated to say the least.















His first GI JOe










The Cook. 20 burgers, 20 hot dogs, 1 cake, and gallon of Ice Cream later the party was a success.

Checking out his Shark sticker book with Papa John











Happy Boy! Loved his Lightning McQueen cake, but only eats the frosting!













Shaner with is Orange ( favorite color) shades and Great Papa Bill.

Here comes Aunt Charity!















Down the ramp.

















All the boys and Hannah in the pool.

Down he goes.


















Daddy too.














Boys will be boys!

Shane giving me a little kiss on the arm before I roll down the ramp.










In action rolling, and yes it was fun but I felt it the next day. Not as young as I used to be!













Still in one piece.

The Bouncer 8-4-06

This is the BOUNCER Grandma D, Papa Phil, Uncle Mike, Aunt Nicol, Mommy and Daddy got for Shane for his birthday. Everyone is checking it out.














Shane's reaction when he saw the Bouncer.

















Climbing the 'Rock Wall"

Fishing at Ft Custer

Shane with his big catch!













Shane and Tristian...best buddies

July 21st Formula K with Daddy

Bumper Cars with Daddy at Formula K.












Paintball with Daddy. Shane's a pretty good shot thanks to his weekly training with Papa John and the stinkin' grackles.

The bi-annual BBQ at Kathy & Larry's 7-15-06

This is Grandma D helping Shaner learn how to jump from the play fort onto the pole and slide down. Her version (and his) was to carry him from the stand to the pole.


















Here is the 2nd time going down the pole, minus the shirt, again Grandma carried him from the platform to the pole, even though I am in the background telling him to just jump.















Here I have switched places with my mom, I stood next to the platform with my arms out, and told Shane to jump and I would put him on the pole. He did but look where my hands are! Once he realized he could do it all by himself it was nonstop.
Grandma, Grandma just a little overprotective!

Busted.....

The setting: 10pm, Shane's room.

The problem: His bed time is 8:45. I hear giggling each time I walk by his room. Of course I give the "you better go to sleep. it's past your bedtime."statement about 5 times to no avail.

I opened his door and snapped a picture right away, he didn't know I had the camera. He was just sitting there laughing with his ears on.

Fourth of July 2006

4th of July was filled with a cook-out and later on fireworks. The neighborhood gathered on our front lawn while we went through a couple hours worth of Michigan permitted fireworks aka the legal ones, and IN fireworks aka the not so legal in MI ones. I mastered ( well almost) the task of lighting the fireworks without losing any limbs, and Shane was very helpful with instructions from the lawn while covering his ears. Evie ( our 137 pound whimpy dog) made it through the night with only 20mg of valium. Shane and Chris posed for photos under the flag and Army banner as he practiced his salute because when he is older, like 10, he says he will be in the U.S. Army.............another military man in the family.

Shaner practicing his salute with his Daddy before the fireworks


















Waiting for dusk to start the fireworks





















Shaner with the Red Sparklers from IN.
















Hmmm... watching and wondering if it's going to explode. My new job of lighting the fireworks and running while Shane covers his ears and the neighbors watch from our front lawn. Evie was tranqualized inside the house.