Old Friends, New Friends

I was able to spend an hour on Monday morning with a friend from the past.  Stacey flew in from Texas for a few days to visit with family.  She has twin girls that are about to turn two.  It worked out for us to spend a little time together for a "play date".  We met at a playground where the girls and Levi could play together.  What's funny is that they had way more fun playing with the rocks than the playground equipment!  Oh, the simple things in life...

Stacey is the cousin of a dear friend that is a missionary in Japan.  So, I am glad that I had the opportunity to spend time with her in Shellee's absence.  

Ice Cream!

Yes, Levi loves ice cream, just like his mommy!!

Levi has a truck book that has a picture of an ice cream truck in it.  Well, his Daddy decided to teach him the name of that truck.  He calls it "Mommy's truck".  Funny, Rob.  Real funny...

I LOVE BIG TRAINS!!

Another train-centered getaway!  We went to Metamora, 1 1/2 hour drive east of Indy.  It is an 1838 canal town located along the 

Whitewater Valley Railroad.  It's been maybe 25 years since I've been there (wow, am I that old???).  I went there with my family and my friend, Shellee, and her mom, Pam.  Oh, the memories...

The reason we went this past weekend was because they had an old steam train there.  And, since Levi is so obsessed with trains, I thought it would be a nice opportunity to see a train up close.  We didn't ride it, for one reason, because it was so expensive.  But, I also thought that Levi would have much more fun watching it from the outside.  We were able to walk around in it while it was parked at the train station; that was pretty exciting!  Then we watched it leave and return for two of its trips.  It was VERY LOUD, which had two different effects on Levi:  screaming in fear or holding his ears.  

When the train was gone on its trips, we walked around and looked in some of the shops, ate lunch, walked through the mill, rode on the horse-drawn canal boat, and ate an ice cream cone.  What a long, but WONDERFUL day!!  Lots of memories!

Friday Night Boredom :)

No surprise here ~ 

Levi found the John Deere tractors first thing.

We went south to the booming metropolis of Edinburgh to the "Heartnut Festival"...

Pretty interesting.  We saw some tractor pulls (really just souped-up lawn mowers), Levi rode a little carousel ride (thanks to Paw-Paw), we found a swing set, and we found the little trains.  These trains are small; you actually ride on top of them.  They are only $2 a ride, but they weren't giving rides that night.  We will hopefully go back on the third Saturday of October to ride.  I'm sure Levi would thoroughly enjoy it.  Hopefully, Daddy can go with us then.  (He was in Chicago for a business trip for the weekend.)

CIRCUS!

Today's expedition was a last-minute trip downtown to the CIRCUS PARADE.  The Ringling Bros. Circus is in town, and they had a parade around the Circle.  I found out a little late, so we were driving around looking for a parking space at a meter when we saw the elephants walking down the street.  We were a block away, but Levi could still see them.  I finally found a place, and we ran over to the circle.  We missed the elephants and the marching band there, but we did see some miniature horses and acrobats.  They gave out free circus hats, and Levi got one.  It's a little big, but he likes it!  Trying to get as much summer in as we can before it's gone...

"A Christmas Carol" Train Tour

Levi, Grandma, and I went on a little excursion on Wednesday.  (I love these free field trips!)  We drove down to Bargersville, which is about 20 minutes from our house, to see the Disney "A Christmas Carol" Train Tour.  We didn't go because it was Disney; we went because it was a train that Levi could see up close and walk on.

The exhibit was supposed to open at 9:00 a.m., so I decided we should leave my house at 8:00 to beat the crowds.  When we arrived, there was probably about 100 people there, so the line was pretty short and quick to tour the train.  The train cars had memorabilia, pictures, and videos about the making of the new Disney animated "Christmas Carol" coming out in November.  It was pretty neat to see, although it was more geared towards the older "kids" like me.  Levi was just happy to be on a train. 

It took probably 20 minutes to get through the train.  When we got off the train, there was a huge line already forming at 9:15.  I would say maybe 1,000 people were there by then.  We walked around the town looking at the booths for a while, then headed home.  By the 5:00 news, they said there was a 5 1/2 hour wait for the exhibit.  (There's NO WAY I would wait that long!!)  Crazy!

Another Trip to the Zoo

We took another trip to the ZOO last week.  Since we have the family membership, I've been trying to get a lot of use out of it.  It really has been worth it!  The weather was very nice last week, so we decided to go on Friday morning.  My mom went with us.  When we arrived at 9:30, there was hardly anyone there, so it was even much more enjoyable!  (Maybe we will go that early all of the time...)  

The baby giraffe was out; it was only three weeks old, I believe.  So cute!  

We also decided to ride the zoo train.  It was not very affordable, but Grandma wanted Levi to ride it, since he loves trains so much.  The train at the zoo is a neat little train; the tour, however, not so much...  It takes you around the outskirts of the zoo where you see the administration building, Washington Street, the 

medical building, and the back of some of the animal exhibits.  Not very exciting, but Levi loved the train ride nonetheless.  

The dolphin show was not very crowded, either, so we got good seats this time.  (Maybe one of these times we'll sit in the splash area.)  We had a great little excursion.  And, when we exited the zoo at around 12:00, the parking lot was almost full and the lines were long.  Guess it pays to get there early!

A Quick Note

It's been a couple of days since I posted, and, even though I'm very busy today, I thought I'd pop in to say HELLO to everyone.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day holiday weekend!  I know a lot of people plan on spending time with family or special loved ones.  Hopefully that will work out for us, too.  Right now, it looks like Rob will have to work on Saturday.  So, we at least will have Sunday (a busy day in of itself!) and Monday together!  Monday, we plan on having my parents and my aunt and uncle over for a cook-out for lunch.  Pizza burgers on the grill...YUMMY!  And free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches for dinner at Chick-Fil-A if you wear some kind of sports team logo on your clothing.  (Even I will wear a Colts jersey if it means free chicken at my most favorite fast food restaurant!!)  I know the weekend will fly by, but I plan to make the most of what time I have with Hubby!  It seems lately there has been very little of that...  Busy, busy, busy time of year at work.

The next few posts, I plan on starting something new that I have seen on other blogs.  They looked interesting, and I hope it will be fun for you, as well.  So, keep a lookout!

Also, Mom, Levi, and I went to the ZOO this morning, so I will need to post my photos from that.

Have a blessed weekend!

Denise

Ride Like the Wind...

So, back in the spring, I came across a garage sale where I purchased a little basketball goal for Levi for $4.00.  I went through that neighborhood the next day looking for more sales, and when I drove by that same house, they had a bicycle with training wheels on it.  This is one of those bikes that is for 18 months to 3 years old.  Of course, Levi, being a little on the short side, couldn't even reach the pedals when I got it for him.  He still was able to sit on it and push himself around.  Well, a couple weeks ago, I noticed that he could finally reach the pedals.  And over the course of the last couple weeks, he has conquered the bike!  He loves to ride his bike.  In the house, on the back porch, on the front sidewalk, around the court...  This is now all he wants to do.  Good thing we are having a great week of weather!  We are spending all of our time outside, and loving it!!!

Enjoying the remainder of the summer!  Can you believe it is September 1st already?  Where did the time go?  If you took it, will you please give it back?

Talk to you tomorrow (hopefully!)...  Have a great day!  

"Boom, Boom, Boom"

Yesterday, I went to Kohl's with my mom and Levi.  She needed to buy picture frames for all of the free pictures we've been getting from Walgreens this last week.  I needed a couple, too, but didn't find any affordable enough.  (Walmart, here I come!)  I didn't walk out of the store empty-handed, though.  She wanted to walk through the toy department.  Well, I found a water gun on clearance for $1.20, so I got it for Levi.  He held it the rest of the shopping trip and wanted to "buy it".  So, when we got to the register, I let him give it to the lady, and I let him pay for it, too.  He carried it out to the car and asked MawMaw to get it out of the package.  She then proceeded to pour some water in it from her water bottle.  Well, needless to say, he practically soaked the inside of her car.  Glad we were driving hers and not mine!  I think she learned her lesson from that one...  Anyway, he loves playing with it.  He runs around the backyard saying, "Boom, boom, boom"  when he is spraying it!  So cute!  Of course, sometimes he chases me and I can get quite wet.  He's not a bad shot!!  Fun, Fun, Fun!

What a beautiful day!  Did anyone else notice that August is almost over?!?!?!?!?

That means winter is almost here...  Here we go again!  (Sorry to those who live in more frigid time zones ~ like Nayoro, Japan.  Didn't your snow pile, I mean, mountain,  just melt?)

Enjoy the rest of your day and your church services tonight!

God bless!  Love you!

State Fair Fun

State Fair Fun

"Oh, What a Beautiful Morning... "

Now that the rain and storms have ended, it is a beautiful day.  The wind is blowing, the sun in shining, so much to be thankful for...  I guess that even if it was still storming, I still have so much to be thankful for, that's for sure!  

It is just so easy to base our happiness and joy on our circumstances.  But that's not what the Bible teaches.  We are to be content in whatever state we are in, good or bad.  When the storms come into our life, be content.  When we have mountains to climb, be content.  When we are suffering, be content.  

Why?  Because He will deliver us, walk beside us, carry us through it.  Praise God for His unending love, His great mercy, His provision, His grace, His abundant blessings.  Need I say  more?  (By the way, I feel like I'm preaching to myself.  Boy, do I need this encouragement!  Hopefully, I can be an encouragement to you, also.)

On a more personal note (as if the previous paragraphs weren't personal enough), Levi is really starting to repeat things that he hears us or others say.  It's really cute when we say our prayers, either at eating time or bed time, he tries to repeat what we say.  It is so much fun to hear his little voice try to say some of the bigger words.  In fact, the other evening on the way home from church, we were listening to the Hallelujah Chorus in the car (Yes, I know, it's a little early for Christmas songs. ~ We have begun practicing for our choir's Christmas cantata.), and Mr. Levi started "singing" Hallelujah, Hallelujah...  So CUTE!  We had quite a laugh over that!  

Hopefully, we are going to the Fair again this evening if the weather holds out.  We still have 2 free tickets from the Indy Star that we would like to use.  Tomorrow night, we are planning to go to the Indians game and staying for fireworks after the game (more free tickets).  We really enjoy FREE entertainment!  Saturday, we might try to go back to the Fair again.  Crazy, I know, but my brother is giving us 2 more free tickets.  Hey, it only comes once a year.  Gotta get as much summer in as we can!  It is almost over, isn't it?

I will post more pictures when I take more.  Hope everyone enjoys today!  And remember to be CONTENT!

~God Bless!

Another Trip to the Fair

I posted more photos of another trip to the Fair.  We got to pet some baby cows, got to feed the goats, and got to play in the play area in the FFA building.  Oh, and, of course, we had to go visit the tractors...  Can you tell that Levi has a tractor fetish?  Especially John Deere tractors!  Mr. Harold Thomas would be proud...  We had a lot of fun with Daddy last night.  

So, today, we are doing NOTHING!!  I need a day to recoup from yesterday.  

AHHHH.........

Okay, now back to work.  I do have a lot to do around the house.  Dishes, laundry, cleaning, playing with Levi, cooking dinner for tonight.  Wednesday evenings are always very rushed.  Rob gets home anywhere between 5:00 and 5:45, and we have to leave for church by 6:00.  Rush, rush, rush.  But, it definitely is worth it!  We enjoy the recharge that Wednesday evening gives us for the rest of the week!  Hope everyone is found faithful in their church this week!

State Fair Fun

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

No, it's not Christmas.  Although there are only 4 months until then... 

No, it's State Fair time!!  Love the Fair!  Enjoyed a trip last Thursday and this morning, and looking forward to another trip tonight and Thursday night.  Levi is having a wonderful time exploring (all the while wearing me out - Ugh), but I know he will have special memories of these little excursions.  We saw all kinds of animals, tractors, food.  Oh, and we saw a cow give birth!  Well, I was chasing Levi around at that exact moment, but I did get to see the calf just a couple minutes after birth.  Amazing!  It also brought back memories of when I gave birth.  Maybe it was because I felt like I was the size of a cow...

Anyway, we are just waiting for Rob to get home from work so we can head out again.  Admission today is only $2.00 and Levi is free, so very affordable.  Too bad all of those delicious fair treats aren't free.  My regular is a pork burger and a pineapple whip.  What is your favorite fair treat?  Anyone try the chocolate covered bacon or deep-fried Pepsi?  Doesn't sound too appetizing to me.  Just give me some pineapple whip and the trip is a success.  It doesn't matter how impossible Levi is.  :)

Well, since this is my first blog, I will work on my site this week hopefully to get it up and running.  Don't know how often I will be updating.  Those of you with a two-year-old know how hard it can be to find time to do anything!  But I will try to keep updates coming.

So, please come back!