The Big Day

Liz and Jake's Wedding was Friday evening. All of my kids played a small part in the festivities. Lauren was one of the gift collectors. Which really translates to "the best dressed girl playing somewhere on the grass".

Syd and her friends were the invaluable kitchen and serving help. Which translates to "absolutely wonderful girls that worked their tails off". And later danced their tails off.

Cade was the best man and in Lauren's eyes, also the best brother.

Do You Ever Think About Pioneers

Now, me, I like playing on my computer, sitting under the air-conditioner and drinking Pepsi. While I have experienced pain, it is not something I go out and look for. (And then call it fun).

But Ryan and Syd, they are a different story.

First, Sydney. You know how your heels split when they get dry? Maybe it's just me... Anyway, the ball of Syd's foot split open a few months ago. We tried to keep her feet cushioned, lotioned and pampered. She has used super glue to keep it together most of the time. Well I guess is wasn't working. For better or worse (usually worse in my mind) she likes to take things into her own hands. No asking for help from this girl!

A couple days ago, she came into my room and announced that she has sewn her foot back together. Yeah, you heard me. SEWED the cut in her foot. As in, needle, thread and ice (to numb it). Sure enough there were about four little stitches in her foot. She has since taken it out, but it did give it time to heal the deeper part of the cut. I'm still in shock. And a little nauseated.



Ryan's pioneer adventures began when he went out last weekend to hunt buffalo. Now, I really don't know how to properly describe the finer points of hunting and stalking buffalo. So let me just skip to the best parts.

The second day of hunting, Ryan and Quinn crossed the tracks of a herd of buffalo. They tracked them, and found a herd of about 20 animals. They watched them for about two hours, mostly just appreciating the animals. Ryan picked out one of the bigger ones (an old cow without a calf) and shot it. After Ryan killed it, he and Quinn pulled back to gather their stuff and make sure it was dead. Approaching the animal, they were surprised to find that the rest of the herd had formed a barrier between the dead animal and the hunters. Ryan and Quinn tried to yell and whistle to scare them off, but instead, the herd charged! They chased Ryan and Quinn halfway up a hill before giving up the chase to regroup around the buffalo again. After more yelling the buffalo finally moved on and let Ryan get up to the kill. It wasn't until then that he looked down and realized he never tied his shoes that day.

Wouldn't it have been unfortunate if his epitaph had read, "Gored by a buffalo with his shoes untied"?!

After that, I'm just glad he's still around (and I will soon have lots of meat in my freezer).

My New Rule

Wouldn't the world be so pretty (handsome) if all boys had to wear tuxedos?

But then I guess I would have to wear something besides shorts and T-shirts.

Still....

Knock Out

They say change is good.

Well, big changes have come to the old Pioneer school. It started when the county bought the building from the city. First the city offices moved and then the new library was built. (Certainly can't complain about that). But I was shocked to drive by and find that they were knocking down the entire gym/stage wing. When I stopped to think of it, many of my early memories were housed in that school.

That's where I went to kindergarten. I ate snacks and had a nap there each day. I stared out the big windows, waiting for my mom to pick me up, and played with By Whiting when she forgot. I learned that while "ants on a log" were adequate, my mom's sugary snacks were the best.

In third and fourth grade, I learned to play the recorder in the music room. I learned to love the library, even volunteering to help out during recess. (Yeah, I was one of THOSE kids for a while there). I played my first organized basketball in the gym, and won my first (and only) championship there as well.

I learned to be deathly afraid of the lunch lady there as well. (Bless her heart). Back then, we had these little cards that had your name and the numbers 1-10 on them. Each day that you bought lunch, the lunch lady would punch your card. Forgetting or losing your card was a sin that should have been included by Moses up on Mount Sinai. Truthfully, I never remember actually losing my own card, but I had seen the pain of others. I would stand in line each day, clutching my card, checking my hand every ten seconds in fear that it would magically disappear as I moved down the hall.

I learned that school enchiladas taste best with a bunch of Saltine Crackers crunched over the top.

But since then, I've learned that change is inevitable. So we'll just have to wait and see what other changes are coming for the old school.

Twice in the Tank

Lauren was baptized today. After a short program, Cade baptized her. The witnesses declared it perfect. My dad confirmed her, and pictures were taken. But then, the man in charge of the font exclaimed, "The chain is broken, I can't let out the water!"

He wanted Cade to change back into his wet clothes and fix it, but Cade had to head back to his basketball tournament. Ryan tried to reach in, but only ended up getting his entire upper body wet.

So I came to the rescue. "Lauren, you got to go get in your jumpsuit again, the last one didn't count. We have to do it all over again!"

The look on her face was priceless. What? You guys didn't catch this earlier?

I laughed and let her off the hook. But she did still have to put on her wet jumpsuit and get back in the font. She waded over to the drain, plugged her nose and dove under. She grabbed the plug and pulled it out. Hooray! Lauren saved the day! And what a baptism story for her grandkids!

More Bridal Pictures

As requested, here are a few more pictures of Liz.

But here is the disclaimer: She doesn't want Jake to see her in the dress yet. So, you are all sworn to secrecy! Dress, what dress!?!? Pictures?!?! I've never seen any pictures!

And not to leave out Jake-

A Busy Summer

The summer is only three weeks old, but we've all ready had a season of adventures. As soon as school was out, Syd headed off to Girl's Camp, and Cade played in a basketball tournament. June 4-6 we camped near Greer for the Ashton Family Reunion. With only a day to catch my breath, we then had a birthday party for Lauren. This weekend, Cade is playing basketball again and Lauren will be baptized today. Here are a few pictures to chronicle our days...

While camping, the kids enjoyed some of the "old-fashioned" games. Does it make me really old to admit that these were a daily occurrence in our neighborhood? I think it just made for a really fun childhood.

Here the kids are frantically trying to finish the scavenger hunt. They joined together to help each other find the elusive yellow feather.

Grandma Ashton provided big money for the scavenger hunt...needless to say, everyone participated. I had to include these photos to prove Syd was there. Most of the time she was off on the four-wheeler or holed up in the tent, reading.

Everyone took a turn jumping rope, even the adults.

Lauren lines up for a gunny sack race.

Cade and Lauren compete against Grandma in the 3-legged race. She almost beat them when Lauren went down....

Cade and Lauren doing a wheelbarrow race-she couldn't even pick up his legs, so she is the wheelbarrow. I was afraid Cade was going to plow her nose in the dirt.
Cade and Ryan in a battle for the ages...that lasted about 5 seconds...Ryan kicked Cade's rear.

Back to civilization, but still partying. Lauren blows out her candles.

Jumping in the pool to finish off the day.

And the fun rolls on...