Summer Vacation 2009!!

Here goes - we went to Whispering Woods Lake rental on Lake of the Ozarks last week and we had a perfect week to be by the lake - it was HOT all week long and we took full advantage of it - here are the 13 adolescents that were along - from 5 families and we had an awesome time!

Marcus did all he could all week long - he kneeboarded.....

skied - mostly on 1 ski - here he must have been tired he is on two - only happened once all week and I took a picture :).....

and this was his favorite - wakeboarding - a friend offered for him to take it along and it was a HUGE HIT!!

Here goes Jamie - she was nervous about skiing but once she did it the first day she went everytime she got a chance and yes that was more than once a day ....

she also kneeboarded ....

and tried the wakeboard at the end of the week - she got up a couple of times but was too tired to keep herself up for too long-we should have tried earlier in the week!!

They both also jet skiied during the week and this machine went out almost all day long with 23 people in the house - someone was usually waiting for a turn and at the end of the week Jamie also skiied behind this!

This was on the second floor of the 3 story house - was game floor - we spent lots of time here also - hanging out and playing pool, fooseball and there was a card table up there too.

One night all the girls had this shirt on at the same time not knowing the others put them on too - was cute had to take a pic! It's a Western Volleyball camp shirt.

Emily De Ruyter was our big fisherman for the week - whenever she got a chance she was fishing off the dock and one night she caught this big catfish and another day she caught a big carp - she was excited.

This was on the bottom floor and we did all our cooking and eating down here the kids are watching a big screen TV - was nice to have a full kitchen - we made a pan of bars each day and they were always gone by night but the record was one day we put them out and within an hour and a half the 9X13 pan was gone.

This is one of my favorite pics - here they are getting ready to go parasailing 10 of the 13 kids did this one day

Marcus and Jamie chose to be drug in the water a ways on the way down - they had a great time and so glad they got a chance to do this

Marcus was having a good time and Jamie was too but holding on for dear life here.

UP UP and AWAY

Another pic of all the kids

Mike was playing off the dock one day with 2 boys and doing tricks - he still has it!!

These two girls went out one day on the jet ski and were being chased by boys - they came back and got Marcus and went to try find them again to scare them away - but they never did find them again :)

On the way home everyone was extremely tired - nap time - glad Mike got us back safely!

They were OUT for the count and yes I did take a nap too.

GREAT TIME AND WONDERFUL FRIENDS TO SHARE IT WITH!! So thankful everyone was safe for the week.

Today is HOT!!!

Well, here is how my first week of lessons went - First day of course was Thursday last week - then on Saturday 1/2 of my students could make it so I did them all twice - weather was great - water was a little cooler (the heater was plugged) - Monday the heater was fixed but cold and rainy - I called everyone up and loaded up two vehicles(with 9 of the 14 kids) and headed to Sioux Center to the indoor pool and did everyone that I took along twice again(finished up 5 of the kids-4 of which left on vacation Tues am)!! Tuesday - cloudy started to rain at noon - left for Sioux Center again with 8 kids - some of the mom's took their own - I had 5 with me and did them indoor again twice and finished up 6 more kids. Today of course it is HOT and I am excited cuz at 4pm I am going to finish up the last 3 kids that I didn't get finished with yesterday - The parents were all very understanding and it has been fun for a change to go to the indoor pool - but just alot of extra work - Jamie was an awesome help I couldn't have done it without her - she was in charge of the kids that I wasn't giving lessons to each 1/2 hour - she had her hands full and I am quite tired today -but of course she is fine(quite a bit younger I quess might have something to do with that)- glad it all went well.

Now, I can start thinking about packing for our vacation - we are going to Whispering Heights Lake Home on Saturday for a week - it is in Missouri by the Lake of the Ozarks - we are excited and the kids can't wait - we are going with 4 other couples and their children - I will take many pictures and share them soon!!!

Lesson update

Here is our 7 day forecast and all day on radio I keep hearing first nice day is Thursday - well I cancelled all lessons until Thursday and hopefully make up 1/2 of the kids on Saturday as well and then go into next week a bit - 60 degree weather and swimming just don't go together - for sure if the sun is not out!!!!!

Swim Lessons start today - yikes!

I am suppose to start swim lessons today - the forecast is not cooperating at this point = it's only suppose to be 65 degrees today and 15 mph winds - that could be a little cold for swimming - as of right now I am hoping for 70 degrees and some sunshine would help.

We did get some much needed rain though and for that I am thankful - it rained all day on Saturday and a little on Sunday and then we got another big rain during the night last night.

I am very thankful that the pool is heated though - the kids will do fine for their 25 minute lessons - I am nervous for Jamie and I being there for 4 hours straight - lots of towels and maybe even a dry swimsuit half way through will help - I will let you know how it goes.

neat e-mail i recieved

This is something we should all read at least once a week!

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch

5. Pay off your credit cards every month
.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Remember that I will always share my spoon with you!
Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.