Back to School shopping :)

I promised Jamie and her friend Josie that I would take them school shopping before school starts - well school starts on Thursday for them - so yes I need to get that done here real soon - we are either going Tues afternoon and evening or Wednesday all day - wish me luck - I am kinda looking forward to it - shopping is fun for me and now I am taking two girls - that could be a little dangerous but I will try and do my best. Like I tell Mike - someone has to do it :)

Marcus starts school next Monday and he is practicing football daily already for the past two weeks. He has an intersquad scrimmage on Friday evening and I am looking really forward to that too. Fall is such a wonderful time of year!!

Cucumbers

We are in full swing of cucumber season here. Wondering if anyone has some good recipes for cucumbers - we have so many I'm not sure what to do with them anymore. Please any advice would be great!!!!

The life of Paco

Paco wakes up with me every morning and takes a walk at 5:30 = he relieves himself and is happy as ever every morning to be outdoors running circles around me. Then we get home and he gets a treat and patiently waits for me to make the bed so he can go back to bed for the rest of the morning. He runs a little at noon and then walks the gardens and runs around in the evening on the yard with Mike and he gets fed and watered and bathed and combed and yes life is extremely good as you can see in the pic he is rather content!!! LIFE IS RUFF!!!

But as you can see life is extremely good for Jamie as well - this is Monday evening (her birthday) and she is having cake and ice cream with 7 boys who are 15 and 16 years old - WOW - she has is made too :)

Weekend in MO and AR

In Branson we played a mini golf game and the kids were put in jail :) - somehow we got them out!!!

White Water in Branson - this was the wave pool that we had a hard time getting Jamie out of at the end of the day - first it took us 10 minutes to find her and then another 10 to convince her it was time to go - we bribed her with ice cream - never too old for bribes I quess!!

Saturday was a wonderful day with family - picture of Grandpa and Grandma with all their grandkids that were there - we will have to photoshop Bert and Kryna in - sure did miss them.

Grandpa and Grandma with all the grandkids and great grands - what a crew!!!

Kelsey - Cindy - Sarah and Miranda

Mom and Dad with Mike, Marcus, Belinda and Jamie

Mom and Dad with Jr. and Betty

Mike and David

Jamie and David

Belinda and Ellie

Monopoly game in progress

Marcus and Thomas in big competition - go Tom!!

Mike and Marcus head to head competition - boy do they ever look serious.

Lily saying I need a blanket and pillow - it's been a long day - she went right to sleep - what a sweetie!!
We had an awesome time and so much fun seeing everyone - we love to spoil all the little ones and would love to see them more often - Jamie couldn't get enough time holding the babies and yes I know I had my share of them too!!

Family Togetherness!!

We are getting ready this week to flock together and have a very great time with family in Arkansas. We have the priviledge to celebrate 60 years of marriage of Mom and Dad Altena and spend time remembering all their wonderful years together. We are looking forward to it and are able to see everyone except one niece and her husband. I hope to have some pictures to share when we return and I also plan on beating Mom in cards - she loves to see me win. I remember a time we went together to Wisconsin and I'm not sure if she won at all on the way in the motor home - well I quess she did when I started feeling so badly that I let her win once or twice but don't tell her that!?!?!?!? Love ya MOM and see ya soon!!!

Canada Fishing

First fish caught in Canada - 10 minutes after we were on the water - Good job Jamie!!

Shore lunch was awesome - we had very good eating thanks to the experts Mike and Marcus!

Mike and Marcus caught these two at the exact same time - 20 inches and 22 inches - COOL

I had this picture blown up for Mike's office - fun memories.

We fished some of the evenings too and this was one of the wonderful sunsets - gorgeous!!

Yes, I caught some fish too - was really a neat lake and lots to see.

We had a little competition going and here is Jamie and Mike hooting about getting pretty close to caughting up with Marcus and myself - but we held our own and came out a little ahead. This was our last day fishing and we just hammered them - great day and fun way to end our vacation.

Great memories were made and we played many card games at night and did lots of laughing on the boat - just an all around very neat vacation.

Early Birthday Present for Jamie!!!

Mike took Jamie to the Taylor Swift concert in Sioux City on Sunday evening - and she had a ball - I will let her blog the rest of the pictures!!

Talyor Swift is 18 years old she started writing music when she what 12! And we were only 10 feet away from her!

He thinks it is really loud! (It wasn't that loud!!:) )
We tried to take a picture together it worked a little bit but not that much it was a little crooked.

This was right before the concert. The concert was awesome. I had a great time!

We are leaving at 6am for Fishing until the 9th - so we'll blog again in a week or so - Happy 4th to you all and we'll blog to you later!!! :)