Hey Blog

So time goes by, computers are slow and I just did not feel like blogging.... But really want to.... So here goes....

Doug's work is going GREAT (BTW, need to move investments around, need a new life insurance policy - Contact Doug 816-651-1050!!) He helped my parents and got them a GREAT deal, as well as several other friends.

House is OFF the market! YEP, God is AWESOME and is taking care of us, so we are NOT gonna have to move... Now once the market improves, I am ready to move but of my choice!

BACK TO SCHOOL FOR 80% OF THE HOUSE!!
Andrew is getting ready to start High School - He will be at Staley, and we are all excited about this, as this is the new school and has state of the art everything! His first day will be 8/17.

Braydon is getting ready to go to pre-school. We are putting him at Northland Christian, which is a private christian school! If things go well, he will probably continue on through his elementary years, but time will tell. His first day is 8/24.

Alex is enrolled out at JOCO in the Chef Apprenticeship program (Culinary) and is due to start 8/17 as well, but who knows here! Please keep this in prayer!!

I am enrolled at Maplewoods Community College. I am going back to finish up my Associates Degree in business. I of course will only be attending one night a week, so Come 8/20, I will be in class on Thursday nights! So call Doug if you need anything on Thursday nights....

So that is what is happening now....

For the older new's:
Celebrated Father's Day
Photographed a wedding
Braydon spent a week at Grandma's in Wichita
Photographed my Niece Emilee's Senior pictures
Participated in Kansas City Corporate Challenge events
Celebrated my Grandma's 91st Birthday
Celebrated the 4th of July
Went to Theater in the Park in Gladstone
Went to a friends 50th Birthday Party
Went to the Royals Hall a Fame game
Celebrated Doug being baptized!
Attended a Northland Cathedral Youth Group of the 80's Reunion

So here at some point, I will post some pictures, but if you just want to go see them before here and know my main password, visit my site: http://snapshots.zenfolio.com/ There are some out there that are not password protected, but not many... If you need the PW, you can e-mail me and ask, and I will get back to you!

Ward Weekender - Fun times with friends

'psst... Do not know why I never posted this, probably because I had not uploaded pictures... Well, here it is without them....


So last weekend (actually in MAY!!)we too time to head to Branson and Springfield to visit friends and attend a graduation.



We started off by taking off work a bit early, yet it was I think 3:00 before we actually headed out of town.... We drove straight into Branson and played around at Branson Landing for about two or so hours. Then we headed out of Branson to E.J. & Vicki's house.



Got up Saturday lounged around and had a big late breakfast... It included pancakes, farm bacon, FRESH FARM eggs, bagels, fresh fruit, milk and juice! WOW - we were so full and had eaten a bit later, that we all skipped lunch. We went into downtown Branson; went into a few shops there, which included a flea market (Lots of Fun!), then we had to take Vicki to work :(!. E.J. then drove us down the Branson strip and showed off what was new and such, then we headed back to their house for a walk around the Farm.



The Farm is awesome....Oh to live liek that. First thier house is cute! Then the land is plenty, with trees and woods around, far enough off of the road to quiet the highway noise, then there is the Wedding Chapel they own, then the veggies, then the chickens, the donkey and Bubble's the ostrich! Then his parents also have a house down around the bend on the same property! Gotta Love it!!



So the kids spent the late afternoon and early evening jumping on the trampolene, riding bikes, trying to play baseball, or was that kickball? Anyway, they all played very well together, which is what mattered most.



We then had a very nice dinner of fresh farm pork chops and chicken! After dinner we sat on the sofa relaxing, talking and I zonked from such a wonderful relaxing day!



Sunday we got up, gathered our stuff and headed on back to Springfield to goto Phillip's graduation ceremony! CONGRAT's to Phillip! after the ceremony, we went over to Jordan Valley Park and the Ozark Stream & Fountain.

Ward Weekender - Mother's Day

Time for a more up-to-date Ward Weekender...

Friday - Got a new microwave for over the stove at a garage sale for $35.00!!!!

Saturday - Got up and saw Doug & Bradyon off to Lyon's KS for his Uncle's funeral. I then sold our old tent to a lady that came by, then I went garage sale'ing for about an hour and a half. I found some GREAT deals!! The best find of the day was the box of jewelry that I got for $5.00. It included 8 necklaces, three bracelets and five pairs of ear rings! There were several pieces that were silver, so what a deal it was! After the sales, My Mom picked me up for a Mother/Daughter tea in Liberty at Ann Marie's Tea Room. it was very nice and a quaint little place. She has a shop where she sells tea and tea pots, but then for tea's she opens up her house. It was a nice time. After that, later on my parents came over and we all had dinner together, which included Alex.

Sunday - Got up and went to church. had lunch at McDonalds (by Braydon's request), once we got home, I laid down and took a two hour nap. my Mom then came over and we went out Geo Caching. We found two. Then the guys cooked us dinner. We had finshed eating and my brother and family showed up and ate some too. Then we all sat around and chatted till about nine, when I said, Doug you have the extra hands, why not install the microwave. So they did! So once again, we have a decent microwave in the kitchen.

Well, I personally did not take any pictures, but Mom did and I have not seen them yet. Once I have some, I will post them.

I hope that everyone had a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Ward Weekender April 24-26th 2009

So you see the videos below of the boy.... He did have a good weekend and loved his new bike, skateboard and he also got a cool little toy firetruck for free from another sale!

The house is LISTED! - Yes it it for sale, MLS# 1606308... I took more pictures than are listed and if you want to see them, visit the following and the password is house http://Snapshots.zenfolio.com/p535422784. Please pray that it sales quickly or that God brings other financial opprotunities our way, not that we don't love our house, we just need to downsize.

The garage sale this past weekend was just so-so as usual... We had LOTS of stuff (Thanks to Mom) and because of all of the other neighborhoods that were also having sales, we only made $200. But we are VERY thankfull, as that was money we did not have before the sale.

Sunday morning our little ray of sunshine was up at 6:00AM - YES!!! He did really good and had a little case of the "no's" with us around lunch time, but got over them quickly after sitting in his room in a time out for a bit... Then he & I went to Wal-Mart to fill Grandma's shopping list. Well about 10 minutes into the trip his eyes are getting heavy and within 15 he was out cold! So I got to shop with my almost 4 year old asleep in the cart the whole time! It was like I was there alone - GLORY!! There were no grumpies when I went to the bakery and asked for a cookie to be told they can not do that anymore thanks to their manager, there were no 'Can I...., PLEASE, I'll be you're best friend", I need that, I want that!! Yes, this trip was wonderful - Me & a sleeping toddler. He was so cute, that when I was checking out, I grabbed a box of 'nilla waffers and snapped his picture. Oh & he some how stayed up right and held onto his toys the whole time as well.

Alex came to my work a couple weeks ago - He had got a hair cut and had his braces removed... My boy is looking like a fine young man... Now if we could just get him to follow some of life's rules.

One last thing - Saw these on a walk to the P&L district a week ago.... is there such thing as a Daffodil Tulip? If not, does anyone know what these are, they were so pretty. They looked like a thick Daffodil on top and the green looked like a Dulip....

BMW New bike

We traded in Braydon's Thomas bike at the garage sale over the weekend.... Bought this one for $20 and sold Thomas for $10.00... Thomas was well loved and had lots of knicks and paint scrapes as well as a spot that was torn on the seat... He rode on the new bike for HOURS while the garage sale was happening and begged to ride more on Sunday, which of course he got to do.

BMW more skateboard

Another run down the driveway

BMW Skateboard

BMW on his new skateboard, going down the driveway.

Ward Weekender - Behind yet again!!

So instead of boring you with much details over the past month... I will share pictures, as that is what everyone likes to see the most.

This weekend - Snow - Building a snowman and a snowcat

Last weekend - Friends in town & Geo Caching - YEAH - LOVE it, My Best Dear Friend that lives in Everton introduced this to our family last weekend - & now I can not waith for warm weather and more geo caching adventures!! Best part is FREE, Clean, Family Fun!! Want to learn more, go to http://www.geocaching.com/

Two weekends ago - Was Last swim lesson & the Snake Saturday Parade - Weather was PERFECT for an hour and a half long parade!

Three weekends ago - I believe was dinner at the Crow's... To see the pictures from this wonderful evening, click HERE

Well I think that hit's the highlights... Now for the pictures...

Ward Weekender - Yeah I'm behind!!

OK - I'm behind, so here are the updates in a quicky...

Ward Weekender 1/30... Black Friday, to Simple Sunday
Layoff's on Friday 1/30 - Good news for me - I have a job, plus one...
Saturday - Swim lessons
Sunday - Simple, nothing new

Ward Weekender 2/9... At this point not idea other than swim lessons on Saturday
Ward Weekender 2/13... Valentines - I Love my husand!
Ward Weekender 2/20... Relax, Relaxing, Relaxed.... Or at least for me...

So I want to write, but do not feel like it for now. So maybe I might get there and update you all... But most of all, I am glad to have a job! I will get pictures later.. Want to see wha I have uploaded, check out facebook, and get a good laugh!! LOL!

Ward Weekender 1/23/09, Cold, Work & Puppies

Another calm weekend in the Ward home.....

Friday - Finished the work week up by talking Doug into picking me up from work, as I really did NOT want to walk to the bus stop in the COLD weather! Got home, Cooked up some dinner (Steak & Salmon). Relaxed and played around.

Saturday - I worked most of the day at Social Suppers, got home and Doug went off to Cabella's to work. Then I had my parents over for dinner and they brought the new Cocker Spaniel puppies over.... See my Dad has retired and in his retirement he felt he needed a new compainion. Well, not just one, because he adpoted two! They are brothers, but are night and day from each other not only in personality but in looks. I will get some pictures and post them, because they are cute.

Sunday - Went to church, a funeral visitation (Wanda Klunder) and then with my Mom to take the puppies to the vet (yes on a Sunday, at Petsmart) Then the puppies came home with me and I get them for a week, because Dad went to Florida for the PGA Golf Show.... and Mom is in Quarter end at her work, so they will get a little more attention at our house for the next week, than at theirs....

So now these puppies.... Funny thing is Mom & Dad are having a tough time naming them.... I have named them, but they are not liking my names.... But if they do not hurry, my names are gonna stick!! So there is a Black and White one and I have named him Mitch and then #2 is Tan/Buff colored and I have named him Davis. You ask, Why Mitch and Davis???? My mom had a black and white Cocker when she was at home and her maiden name is Mitchell, so Mitch is short for Mitchell. The Buff one is short for Davison, and my parents had a buff colored one named Baloona for a long time. So, they puppies have shortened family names.... What is cute is Braydon even knows which one is which and calls them correctly, and they are starting to come. So if Mom & Dad to not stick to what I have named them, they had better hurry.

The boys asleep on their backs....
Davis wanting the toy Braydon is taunting him with
We just want to sleep....

TUG!

NO, Down here!

Ward Weekender 1/16/2009

Well, not an exciting weekend for blogging in what we did, nor did we even take any pictures..... Now we did have a great relaxing weekend....

So Friday I went to a Happy Hour for a little bit, then Doug & Braydon picked me up and we went to our friends Jon & Jessie for dinner. They invited us over at an impromptu moment, as their original plans fell through... Impromptu or not, we had a great dinner and a lot of fun playing a game of "Jungle Speed" Now the fun part about this game.... I loved it, Doug, well, he tolerated it.... I would play again and again, Doug - NOT.... It is a game of paying attention to detailed shapes and sometimes color. I being the detailed one, of course loved it! So take a look at the link, there is a video on how to play (& I even think I saw a few different rules from what we played), but anyway, I loved it and have even considered buying it, as it is a game that here in the next year or so, could easily teach Braydon to love and enjoy.

Saturday - Was Braydon's second round of swim lessons and it was totally different than the first one. He went in and participated quite well and even smiled and had fun during his class.

Sunday - We went to church, grocery shopping and took Andrew to get his Ipo, Yep - Boring, Relaxing Day!

We also played on a lot of games this weekend on the Wii. Am trying to get a Wii Fit Balance Board and game and not get screwed on price.... If anyone can find a new one at the $89.99 price - LET ME KNOW!!!!

Ward Weekender - Christmas, Jan 11th and everything in between

OK - The last post I did was about Thanksgiving.... Personnally, I have not felt like posting anything.... The Christmas season this year was just not there for me. & I just was not in the mood....

So here is a quick recap....

Sunday 12/14 - Members from Grandma's Church came and sang Christmas Carol's

Weekend of 12/19 - Went to Wichita for Christmas with Doug's family

Christmas Eve - Parents came over as well as Alex, had a great dinner and everyone stayed the night.

Christmas Morning - Kids opened gifts from us & Santa

Christmas Afternoon - Whole Family went to my brother & sister-n-law's for more food and gifts

Saturday 12/27 - Alex turned 19!!!!!!

Sunday 12/28 - Drove to Joplin to spend the afternoon with my mom's side of the family

Monday 12/29 - Jessica, Alex's Girlfriend, put together a surprise family birthday dinner for Alex.

New Years Eve - Spent with Jon & Jessie, Annie & Danny and of course the four little ones we all have

New Years Day - De-decorated the house and packed it away until next year

Weekend of 1/2 - Hung out and relaxed

This past weekend - Hung out at home, Started Saturday at Gladstone Pool with Braydon's first swim lesson the spent the rest of the day Saturday at Benjamin Ranch with AFLAC sales rep's for Doug's annual sales meeting, Sunday hung out at home

And that brings us to today....Blogging and back to work.

So over this time frame, we took ALOT of pictures; and now trying to decide what to put into this post and of course, I will link them all for you as well, that way you can look at what you want...

The album's on Zenfolio are password protected - So if you want to see them it is: Ward1012 and the PW for the album from Sat 1/10 at Benjamin Stables it is AFLAC

ALL PICTURES LINK

A few of the favorites for those that don't have time to go to the albums....

Grandma & the Christmas Caroler's from her church

The youngest of the Wichita Crew - Austin, Braydon & Tatum

Doug all "tuckered" out!!

The Boys Christmas Morning

My side of the family Christmas Afternoon....

Alex & Jessica coming in for his "Surprise" family Birthday Dinner

Some New Year's Eve Shots.... We had a BLAST!!

Braydon at the beginning of his first Swim lesson - NOT HAPPY!

Still not too happy....

Oh - Toys - That Did the Trick!! So we finished on a calm note!

Doug receiving his Start-Up Award....