Weekend photos

Here our some pictures of our visit with Grandpa and our trip to the zoo. Enjoy.

The real reason for our trip to St. Louis

The main reason for our mini-vacay to St. Louis was to visit my dad's family - especially my Dad's dad - Grandpa Dieterle. Grandpa Dieterle is the only Grandpa that Avery has left and he had never met her yet. He is in a Veterans Home in St. Louis and is getting very old and tired. He still has his wit about him though, that is for sure.

Here's a picture I know I will treasure for the rest of my life and hopefully Avery will as well. I feel as though Grandpa Dieterle is one of only things I have left of my Dad and visiting him is always a wonderful time for me, but is very sad as well...especially as I know this will, most likely, be the last time I see him. That is also what I thought last time I went to see him, though, so hopefully I am mistaken.



I will post more pictures as soon as I get them all downloaded and edited.

Man I love White Castle!

The last time I had REAL white castle (i'm not talking those freezer section ones, folks, i'm talking the real thing)...was last year on our trip to the Chicagoland Nascar race. I dont remember how many times we ate WC that weekend, but i know it was a lot and we are well on our way to the same fate this weekend.

Our first stop when we arrived here in St Louis was of course White Castle. We then went to Grants Farm. Avery really enjoyed it! So sad to think that it may be soon sold off with the buyout of Inbev. I still can't believe Budweiser will no longer be an "American" tradition. I guess it shouldnt suprise me, really, with the coming of Obama the antichrist and the end of the world.

Anyway, we took a "WC" break last night and grabbed some Jack in the Box, another Nashville favorite I can't get at home. Today we went to the zoo. We are pooped but had a nice time. Our lunch break was WHITE CASTLE and now we are laying in our room watching Avery sleep and talking about how many white castle burgers we can fit in our cooler when we head home tomorrow!

Obsessed much? Totally....

If only there was a Pancake Pantry in St. Louis. or a Demos'

Sigh

Here's my 2 cents

Wanna know what really chaps my rear? Here you go...

So KKOW was playing "Guess the Gas" today at mini stop. I've never played before, but I know what kind of mileage the bubble gets these days so why not.

I pull up and make my highly educated and calculated guess $17.05 (Thank god for the bubble).



The gas starts a pumping and guess where it clicks off - - - $18.03

The guess has to be within 96 cents to get the free tank. You do the math...I was 98¢ off. (Insert cuss word here)

So, I went and paid for stinking gas and went on my merry way.

It's a good thing I know the right people, b/c even though I lost at guess the gas, I drove away w/ some tickets to see Gretchen Wilson next weekend. Sweet.

Running a day late...

It seems like each day is passing faster than the last one. It is so hard for me to believe that, as of last night at 8:39 pm, my little baby girl is 18 months old. We've reached the time were you dont really say her age in months...now we talk in years and half years. She is so much fun and I wouldn't trade these times for anything but seriously where has my baby gone? When did she grow up? Oh how I love this little girl!!!!!!!!

The Road & The Radio

I think I am still going to save up for a new camera lens, but for the moment I decided to spend my birthday money on something I really don't need. (Please don't judge me Jenny, I know DR would not approve)....Sirius Satelitte Radio!!!



My receiver came yesterday and I have it all activated and ready to go. Avery& I will be jamming the whole way to Grand Lake today. JoeDel rode down w/ Dan last night and so we are going down today. I'm hoping to go to the farm show tomorrow on our way home but I am not holding my breath.

Have a great weekend!

I guess something is better than nothing...

I really don't have much to blog about this week..

On Monday night I finally decided to start tackling the chore I have been putting off for at least 18 months. I remember thinking I would do this job when I was off on maternity leave, and it never happened. This chore I am referring to is CLEANING MY CLOSET. I cringe at the thought.

I wish I would have taken some before and after photos, but I didn't. This is pretty much what it looked like before. Its crazy, really, how similar this closet is to mine and how much they really did look alike.

I wish there was a shot of the floor b/c I honestly didnt know there was carpet in my closet. It's been just covered with shoes and fallen clothes for, well, for a really long time.

Monday I got one side done and then last night I did the other side. I cleaned out probably 2 trash bags full of clothes. Threw away a trash bag full of really bad clothes, shoes and other random trash...and I gave mom a big pile of clothes. AND MY CLOSET IS STILL FULL. Oh well, at least it is a little more organized.

Avery and her daddy went swimming in her pool last night. Daddy says its my turn tonight - we'll see. :)

Birthday Rundown

My birthday started out great with a breakfast treat at Peppermille in Girard. Grammy Sara joined us for breakfast, then we went back to the house and opened presents. We sent Avery home with Grammy and off we went on our casino run!

First stop was the brand new Downstream Casino. I've heard a lot about this place and how nice it is and I can attest that the rumors are TRUE. This is, by far, the nicest casino in these parts. I would even wager to say its nicer than the big ole Cherokee casino in Tulsa. Anyway, we got some free money for signing up for their card so that is always nice.



We went to many more casinos, lets make a list...(along with the free money we got)
Downstream - $10 each for signing up = $20
Seneca Travel Center - $10 birthday
Bordertown - $10 for birthday - $5 each I dont know why = total $20 free money
Grand Lake Casino - $20 birthday
Turtle stop - $5 birthday money
Wyandotte - $10 birthday money
High Winds - $10 birthday money
Gaming center - $10 birthday money
Quapaw - $10 birthday money
Stables - $15 food voucher

So, it looks like all total we got $115 in free money (all which we lost) plus a free lunch.

I did roll the wheel of fortune at Quapaw for $50...so I cashed out and gave joedel the money to help make up for what he lost otherwise. :)

We came back to Girard after that and got ready for the race! Chris & Amy were in town, so they came over and so did Eric & Jenny. We had pizza and quenchenro s and hung out. It was really a fun time with my friends! Thank you guys for the sweet cards and for hanging out. Its been a long time since I got to hang w/ you on my birthday and it was fun for our husbands to hang out too!!!

Sunday we went to church and then went to Marys for my birthday mexican feast. That was fun but by last night I was TIRED!!!!!

:)

Sugar in the sugar boots!

A surprise blessing!

I was going to post about this last night but I didn't want to get too crazy with THREE posts in one day so I waited until this morning.

So last night, after I picked up Avery from daycare, I had to go to the store and also I decided just to pick up supper from pizza hut. (Have you tried those new pastas? not bad) Anyway, on my way home I drove by the park an noticed our church having a picnic. I haven't been to church in like 3 weeks so of course forgot they were having a picnic to celebrate Kirk and Mary Beth being in town. I thought "hmm, I should stop and say hello" but felt bad of course since I had already got supper and couldnt stay. So, I decided just to drive on by when much to my surprise I spotted ERIN! "Ok Avery, we gotta turn around for sure!" I said.

So, we went back and was so blessed to get to visit with Erin if only for a few minutes. She had come on a surprise trip for the funeral of a friends dad (very sad)....and so it was quite the fluke I got to see her but I was so thankful!

I hope you are traveling back home safely today, I wish I could have stayed to visit longer but I hope you enjoyed seeing everyone. We miss you!

Julie

I miss my friend(s)...

The "I Miss My Friend" song by Darryl Worley was one of the main hits either the summer I interned in Nashville or the summer that Heather & I lived together in Nashville. I dont remember...but anyway, it seemed like a fitting title for this blog.

I may be a dork, but Rascal Flatts brought us three together. I met Heather through some Rascal Flatts chat room or something crazy...and Heather and Angie met at a Rascal Flatts concert and then I met Angie through Heather...I think when I went to Columbus to visit? Anyway, we've had some adventures huh girls? We're states away but I still miss them and think of them often. Angie, remember the night we slept with Stuart Delk? Ok that sounds really bad, but you totally know what I mean and it wasnt bad at all so why should I even try to explain. Fun times.



Anyway, Heather got married last weekend in Kentucky and I was there. Not really, but I missed them so much when I saw this picture I had to pretend like I was there.

Congratulations Heather, you are as beautiful as ever! Good luck to you and know that I am here for you ALWAYS.

Thanks Rascal Flatts. I miss you guys too. :)

Am I really this old?

Guys, seriously, I am about to turn TWENTY-EIGHT. The "28" number doesnt scare me as much as the thougth that it has been TEN years since I was 18. I have been able to buy cigarettes (legally) for almost TEN years. Wow. It is really insane to think about. It's been almost 10 years since I left Girard and went to college. It's been almost 10 years since I met Jenny Koen and April Palmer...and VALERIE HUNT. I am freaking OLD.

I really dont know where the time has gone. I'm sure a year or so of it has been spent "wasted" during those crazy college (ok and after college) years. Sigh.

Ok I really don't have anything to blog about today. I'm just feeling old. Man, i wonder how my husband feels. :)

Who is in?

I really want to go to this concert...and I know my husband wont go with me. He tolerates Christian Music, even enjoys it at times....but I rather doubt he would be as excited about this event as I would be. :) Hope there are dates around here or else we may all be road tripping to Nashville, eh?

Big Girl!

Well we survived the 3rd of July Rodeo and 4th of July festivities in Hepler. It was a good time. I got a little crazy but that is nothing new, really.

We spent the 4th at JoeDel's moms house and then went back over there on the 5th as his cousins from Tulsa were in town.

Yesterday we went to the College Lake and had a picnic with Grandma Sara. We also had a photoshoot. Here are a few of my favorites. :) I can't believe my baby is almost 18 months old!

so sweet

Tell me these bows arent adorable. :)

Just wait till you see the one she's wearing on the actual 4th of July!!!!

Get me outta here!!!!

I'm in Nebraska and I cannot stop spending money! AH!!!!

I went in search of Avery some red cowboy boots to wear to the rodeo. I found some. They were EXPENSIVE. Oh well. I bought them anyway.

I also bought her a new outfit JUST BECAUSE I have a bow to match. I'm justifying these purchases by convincing myself that she'll have her picture taken in the outfit and in the boots (not both at the same time).

What do you think?


You can't really tell in the picture, but I really think thebow will match the outfit.

pictures

Here are some of the pictures. :)