I started sweating while we were hiking and took my belt and put it on my head (it's a sash belt) and Brian was picking on me saying I looked like "ms. rambo" so I took some goofy shots, LOL

Almost to the end, 2.5 miles THIS trail, 11 miles total. "you go ahead, I'll be here when you return". Taking a quick break on the last trail. (about 10 miles under belt at this point)Yup! The long hike was worth it. Isn't it beautiful?
Brian at the end of the trail. Brian and me Day TwoBrian calling to check in on the kids, LOL

A view of table rock at a pull off view point
Me playing with the camera, LOL
B standing at the trailhead that lead to our campsite the first night.
Doesn't it look huge? Nope. Just camera fun. It's only about two inches high in real life, LOL
this was my "birthday outfit". Brian picked it out. I think he done a good job. The pants are a little big in the waist, and I had to tie the belt tighter than you're supose to, but they were comfy.
this is the life, right?
Our campsite the second night. Due to a late reservation, we had to change sites the second morning.

Hello?!?! Remember Me?

As I said in the previous post (they were gonna be together, but didn't want to bog down a memorial for Adam), we attended a funeral today.

while we were there, I saw my sister in law, her husband, their daughter and her husband. After the graveside services were over, I walked over to say hello. As I asked how they knew Adam, (I honestly didn't know) my SIL said, "I've know him his whole life" and walks off. No "let me catch so and so before they leave", no "hold on a minute, I want to holler at so and so", nothing. Just walked off. I turned to my niece and said "so ya'll be doing good" and she said "yeah, pretty good" AND WALKED OFF.

I wouldn't be so ticked about it, but they're usually bustin' to tell me something or ask me about the kids or HER BROTHER, or something. I wouldn't have given it a second thought either, but back on the fourth, when we went back home for the fireworks show there, her twin, Brian's other sister, ignored us the same way. One of my kids stood there "Hey Kay! Hey Kay" and she ignored them. I said to him, loud enough for her to hear me, "come over here, I don't think Kay hears you." she didn't even blink. Brian asked her later "how ya'll been?" and she looked him in the yes, and turned the other way. What the heck? Is is so hard to just say "good, you?"

My nieces (two were there that night) and my MIL (step-MIL, not the same one I was visiting in previous post), even Brian's dad ignored us like that. I mean, MIL talked but not like usual. I don't understand why. It breaks my heart, but at the same time, it pisses me off. It confuses me, yet it makes perfect sense. (kinda). But still, what ever happened to the kindness of the south? I mean, even with all the yankee blood my husband carries, even he is flabbergasted. It's stupid. So Stupid.

Life, Death, and Everything in between

On Friday, as I was visiting with my mother in law, my mo called to tell me that the boy that was my neighbor growing up, had gotten killed. Adam's mom and dad moved into the trailer behind ours before either of us were born. they lived there about as long as my parents had been in their place. He was born two years before me, and while he was allowed to get into so much more than I ever thought about, he always watched out for me. I always knew, too, that if something happened, I could count on him. LIke the time my ex beat me. He came at him like a bat out of hell an stopped just shy of popping him, and told him, "i'll spare you this time, but there better not be a next". Then when he met Brian the first time, he told him, "you'd better treat her better than the last one. I threatened to kill him, and it carries over to you, too."
I couldn't pass his house without him waving. he was more than just the neighbor boy. He was like a brother. It's amazing how close you get to people when you live next door.
As we layed his body in the ground today, I couldn't help but think back to all those times we'd sit and throw rocks at the stop sign b/c I couldn't leave the yard. How he would throw his bike in the ditch, skippin out on the rest of the kids to hang with me sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes, just to make sure I felt included.
Or the time he stood up for me on the school bus, and then, that time we threw one of the girls in the ditch between our lots. We almost broke her leg, and he sat us all down, big brother like and explained to us just how wrong and mean we really were. But then, hugged everyone of us.

He always was the first to tell me hey when i went back home, and ask me how the kids were doing, and if I was comin' back to Iva. His life was lived to make everyone around him happy and content, yet I sit here, sad and ashamed. Sad b/c one of my best friends from childhood has now gone on, but ashamed, b/c so many visits home I didn't have the time to sit and talk like I should have. Adam touched many, many lives, and I pray that even in death, his legacy will live on. Please, I know most of those who read my blog don't know me IRL, but in his memory, when you're out and about, tell someone "hello". Ask em' how they're doing. Don't forget the small talk, and don't forget to lend a hand. He would have.
R.I.P Adam (7-13-1982/7-11-2008)

You're So Mean, mama

So last night for dinner, I made meatloaf, rice-a-roni, and green beans. Of course Bri finished off all of the green beans (he gets that from his mama!) We ate dinner early, remember from yesterdays post? and this morning I slept late. (as did Bri and Patrick and Gabe). Gabe woke up at 12 noon asking for lunch. Bri and Patrick woke me up around 10 something. They didn't want to wait for breakfast and settled to share a nutty buddy bar.

I began to fix lunch around 12:00 or so (well, once Gabe demanded food). I'm getting lunch ready, Bri reminds me that I promised "croccoli" so I threw some broccoli in the pot to cook. I get the leftover rice from last nice into a double boiler (well, really, it was a bigger pot, and a smaller pot, LOL) anyway, while that was going, I threw four little meatloaf muffins from last night into the toaster oven to heat up. Get table unset, get the littles corralled into the dining room, and then plates on the table. "Gabe, come on. It's lunch time." Gabe gets to the table.

"ugh. this is what we had last night".
"No. We had greenbeans with it last night, we're having broccoli today"
"I hate meatloaf. I wanted a grilled cheese"
"Well, son, I'm sorry. This is what we're having. I'm not cooking four different things for four different people. We'll eat what is fixed or we can go hungry. besides, I'm only ONE mama. Burger King has at least five different people working back there to have it your way.".

"you're so mean. all I wanted was a grilled cheese"
"I love you too, baby"

By the way, all he ate was a few bites of broccoli. That's fine. Dinner will be ready around five thirty or six.

Bri, he ate most of his plate. Patrick, he's still at the table, by himself, chowing down. he eats and eats and eats. He doesn't care what I fix. he tells me it's good. Why can't all my kids still be two?

Never mind. Don't answer that. I couldn't deal with 3 two year olds.

Well, the house is clean, the kids are fed, and the alarm on my phone is telling me that Days of Our Lives is coming on. (It's my one and only guilty pleasure) so I must go now. While Gabe and the littles entertain themselves with the sega or playstation, I must watch Days.

Until Next Time,

SweetPea to the B!

So I'm ahead of the plan

Well, I got a little ahead of myself earlier today, and now I sit here at 6:41 p.m., and supper has been cooked, fed to the little guys, the big guy has went to his room to play video games (while he's thanking God for the rain, cuz mama makes em' stay outside all day, LOL) and the two littles are in there room screaming like banshees.

The living room has been picked back up, the kitchen is cleaned up again, and the littles bed room has been cleaned, LOL. It's not even seven! So I think I'm gonna do some research and planning for our upcoming school year. I've got most of my stuff, but probably still need a few small things.

I guess I need to get my grocery/household supplies list going too, since we'll be going to the grocery store on thursday. (yeah, it takes me a day or two to get things together, LOL)

Well, off to surf the web, good evening to all!

Tuesday, feels like Monday

Yesterday was a very productive day. But today, it's like I'm just blah. I want to just sit around and do nothing. I need to get off my butt and exercise, but I can't bring myself to do anything.

I want to bike a couple of miles today, but I'll have to go by the number of songs I listen to. My battery in my odometer is dead. (at least, I think that's whats wrong!)

So, here's to a vegetative day for me!

C-ya tomorrow!!

~Kana

My Summer in Ten

A quick shout to Aiti at Sewingmama's, thanks for the idea for this. For my non-sewing mama visitors, the idea is to post ten pictures that celebrate summer and all it means to the poster. It's such a fun idea, b/c with ten pics, you can get in a variety of things that relate to your personal summer.

Without further ado, here are my pictures.

10. Beautiful views of the lake. I love being able to walk to my mailbox everyday and being able to smell the water. It's so refreshing. You only get that smell when you live on the lake. It's so calming and just watery. It's not fishy, not yucky, just fresh watery. I love it. (this isn't our lake, though, just a shot of a local lake we camped on)


9. I caught this one when I went out to talk to Brian one afternoon. I suppose the Bri got tired of "junking" on the trampoline, so he propped his feet up with Daddy for a quick snooze.
8. Gotta love those dirty little boys that summer brings!!
7. Spending time with cousins. Gabe and Bri had a blast having Kaydun spend the week with us. This was a quick shot of them on the water making silly faces at the camera.


6. Going to summer camp!!! Need I say more???

5. BASEBALL!!!!!

4. Playing on the playground. (in underwear, LOL)

3. Getting baby brothers in trouble with the water hose. (aka. "I think Patrick done it")

2. Those big ol' clouds that turn into afternoon thunderstorms... .........................................that lead to.............
1. Summer Romance :-)