Rock On!!

I'm sure most of you have heard of the new gam...Guitar Hero. Well, it seems to be all the rage. Here's a picture of two wannabee rock stars. Jennifer and Shantel were wailing one night. Jennifer evern picked them up neat scarves and arm cover things. strummed their guitars. Don't give up your day jobs girls! They were really rocking the night away as they played the guitars. It's amazing how the kid in us never really grows up isn't it. I guess life wouldn't be much fun if we didn't let our hair down sometimes and have a little fun!

"I'm too sexy for my bib, too sexy for my bib!"

One night while we were in Michigan visiting Shannon, Jeff and the kids, someone decided to make a Wendy's run for Frosty's. Well, low and behold, it seemed like the whole crew pretty much went. They came back with these Wendy bibs tied around them and chanting "I'm too sexy for my bib, too sexy for my bib!" It was hilarious. I just had to get picture. It's fun when the adults can be silly just like the kids!

Ladies Night Out!!!

Friends are so important. They are there to share our laughter, our sorrow, our triumphs and our disappointments. So every month a group of us get together for dinner. Most of these ladies I met through the St. Cloud Singles Group, where is also where I met Mark, my husband. They are a super group of women! Being I got married, I can no longer hang out with the Signles Group. So one of the members and good friend, Merry, decided to have monthly dinners where the single ladies could get together with the married ladies. Merry had other commitments this night so she's not in the picture. She's a sweetie! She has taught in Rocori for many years and plays the organ for her church, as well as for weddings, including her friends. We've been meeting for about a year now, and it is wonderful. Sharon in the red sweater is a bit of a rebel, she loves summer time so she can drive around with the roof down on her convertible. She always has a smile on her face. Jan, the one in the white and blue sweater has close family ties, as a matter of fact, on this night out, we ran into her sister and family. They really do stick close. Jan also has one of the most fantastic snowmen collections. Barb is in the green sweater, she's the other married one in the group. Barb was the host to our marriage ceremony by allowing Mark & I to be married in her backyard. It was sort of a rehersal for her wedding that followed about eight months later. Before I got married, we spent quite a few nights well into the morning talking on her porch after the dances. Last is Shari in the blue stripe shirt. Shari & I ventured to St. Cloud to attend our first dance of the Singles Club together. I've known Shari for over ten years. I met her at a support group for divorcees. I was fortunate to be able to have her for a friend. We went through our second 'teen' years as we discovered what it was like to be single after many years of marriage. We attended numerous single dances and spent many hours sitting at Perkin's after those dances. We met many fine friends, and some we'd rather not remember. She is a fantastic person. When she smiles, her eyes seem to laugh.
Nothing in the world compares to friendship. It is something that we often take for granted. I want to take this moment to thank these gals for being my friends. I look forward to spending many more monthly dinners as well as other times out with these gals. I wish them only the best in life, for the best deserve the best. I also am thankful for everyone who has been my friend throughtout my life. Without your shoulder to lean on, or you reassuring smile, I would not have been able to be who I am today. Your friendship, your strength, your belief in me helped me to become the person I am today, and it continues to mold and shape the person I seek to be. Thanks so much for your friendship!

A Win for the Home Team!

You're looking at the Royalton 7th & 8th Grade Softball team that took first place in a tournament held in Royalton last weekend. Let me tell you about the games. The first game, Royalton was down by a run, they were up to bat at the bottom of the final inning, bases were loaded and there were two outs. Shantel was up to bat, it was a bit of a nail biter, then on one of the pitches, Shantel whacked that ball good right between 2nd and 3rd base. On that hit, two runners came in and Royalton won the first game. They went on to win their second game and then to play the final game for the championship. The other team was up first, and it looked a bit shakey as that team scored 4 runs right off the bat, Then we were up and we scored 5. We continued to dominate the game and won the championship. The girls were so excited. Hope they continue to win games! Shantel is the one in the front middle. She's holding the yellow softball.

Emma and her little cousin Ella

Look at the gleam in Emma's eyes as she held her new cousin Gabriella. She was so cute with her and really felt like a big girl when she held Ella all by herself. Uncle Shaun was also here for the day, and had recently been released from jail. He was also very eager to hold Ella, I almost thought he'd have to arm wrestle Emma to get a chance. How about the best out of three Shaun?

The Teacher in the Nana Shines Through

We had the pleasure recently to have our grandkids living in Minnesota spend the night. When it was time for them to go to bed, I pulled out some books for them to read. I began by reading to them, then Braiden and Kiara who are both in 2nd grade wanted to read. So I sat and listened to them read with great pride and love in my heart. As a teacher, it is a very special gift to get to listen to your grandchildren read. I makes you proud and appreciative that we live in a country where our children can recieve a free education. I have great admiration for their teachers and thank them for teaching our grandchildren to read and expore the world through books. Then of course little Emma, who is 4 wanted to know if Nana had any books she could read. I did have some preschool books and helped Emma read books also. It was a beautiful experience.