23 years and counting....

Well..you are probably wondering...who are these young looking kids....LOL!

Today Joe and I celebrate 23 years together! We dated for 4 years before we got "hitched" so yes that totals 27 years! Wow! I will say that now a days...that is an accomplishment! Joe is my best friend...and I love him more than words can say! He is my rock!

BTW...this was our engagement picture!

I LOVE YOU BABE.....381!

Happy Father's Day...GD!

This is year #2 that I have had to celebrate Father's day without my dad & this year isn't any easier that last. I am thinking there will really never be an easy one but I know that he is with us each and everyday just not the way we want him to be! So Dad...Grandad...Happy Father's Day up there in heaven and know that you are forever loved! Hope you enjoyed a nice round of golf today!

His two biggest fans! Love this picture!

Poolside with Maddie

While in Houston we stayed at the Omni in downtown Houston. And when I say we stayed there I literally mean that. We pulled into the hotel on Friday night and didn't leave until Monday morning which meant there was a ton of time for poolside lounging and swimming. This was right up Miss Maddie alley. She was in that pool constantly....in fact I think she still smells like chlorline! LOL!

Here she is taking a break...eating some Oreo's...regaining her energy for more pool time!

Maddie and the "bride"!

Ok..short story long...the whole time we sat at the pool we never had a trash can so on the last day Mrs. Classen decided it was overdue. She she hauls a trash can from the other side of the pool area to right by us! Wonder if we had too many empty beer cups sitting around that was driving her CRAZY! She is a super clean freak! What a woman! You go girl!

Making GD proud...for about 2 bites!

Ok...Grandad loved bologna sandwiches! To say they were his favorite is somewhat of an understatment! Max on the other hand doesn't care for it but when that is all there is to eat and you are a 15 year old "bottomless" pit you will give anything a try...once!

As you can see, he proceeds to pile on TWO packets of may on ONE sandwich.

Then realizes that it is too much mayo....so he adds another piece of bread.....

No...still too much mayo...so the ding dong adds 3 Oreo cookies to the BOLOGNA sandwich...and actually ate 3 bites of it before it was even too much for him! Like, I said...GD would of been proud right up to the point when he put mayo on it and when he added the cookies...GD would of had to disown him!

The only thing I have to say about the whole thing.....ONLY MAXWELL THOMAS! That's why we love him so much! You just never know what he is going to do next!

Oh...in case you were wondering...yes he did take a bite of it!

GROSS!

Joe's Birthday

The birthday boy got just what he wanted...or so he says...gifts for the Man Cave! Yes, Joe has his own man cave complete with beer in the fridge....peanuts (but you cannot throw the shells on the floor unless you intend to use the Shop Vac) and 2 T.V.'s. His seating left a little to be desired to the kids and I got him new chairs equipped with all the teams names! We reserved the Yankees chair for Uncle D and the KSU chair for Brandon...since they are such big fans of each! NOT! The Bronco chair is on order!

Dad with his chairs...peanuts....and his biggest fans!

Doesn't look a day over 29 huh?

Max Track

Two Freshman Track Letterman!

Max's coach organized a "Prayer @ the 50 yard line" before the Regional Track Meet. Was a neat sight to see all those kids out there!

Have never seen this kid nervous before but I think he was! He is getting ready to run the 3rd leg of the 4x800 in the 6A High School Regional track meet.

Max did an awesome job...he got his team from 4th to 2nd when he came around the final stretch...although there was a bobble on the hand off between he and his teammate. They still were able to finish 4th and qualify for the State Track Meet although Max didn't run this year I am looking forward to attending State Track the next 3 years!

Grandpa got to see Max run for the first time ever! I think to say the least...he was a little proud!

The Winner and the LOSER!!!!

Ok...this post really follows Joe's birthday post....the night of his birthday after we took him out for a steak dinner and "showered" him with all of the gifts we had to come home and clean house! Yes...clean house! His dad was coming the next day and he said he would help so we recruited the help of Shelly and Brandon and we got down to business! While dusting Mads room and everything was off the shelf she says...can we move that shelf....ok I tell her....I got to lift the top shelf off and BOOM....off it comes AND.....

The Winner......and the.....

LOSER!!!!!

this is what I got! A huge black eye! It really didn't hurt too bad when it hit and then I felt above my eye and holy crap....there was a huge bump! It got me out of cleaning....sorry Shelly & Brandon...wasn't planned I promise! LOL!

I did have a good story the next day...told everyone that Joe didn't get what he wanted for his birthday~!

CON~man

Conner and his Thomas the Train!

Yummy....these are some good tasting toes!!!!

No...No...No...Uncle Joe...he will be walking soon enough!!!!

OMG...Conner is growing up so fast...we love seeing

She's a 5th grader!

Maddie @ her "last day of school" skating party!

OMG...who is this person with Mads....oh yeah...I did get a rare photo with my favorite girl!

Maddie and Mrs Goodwin....how lucky are we! We get to once again for next year...no Mads isn't being held back...Mrs. Goodwin is graduating to 5th grade! We couldn't be happier! We were lucky like this 5 years ago and Max got to loop with her! She is one of the kids "Favorite" teachers @ Benton! No worrying about who the teacher is or who is in her class...already taken care of...and it will be here before we know it!

Mads and Han....or what I like to refer to them as "Hannason!" These two are two peas in a pod and have so much fun together!

Let the games begin!

Ok...so no fear Maddie is trying another "first". Remember my older posts on how she tried her hand at basketball during the winter. Well, she is now playing softball....for the first time EVER! She has never played any organized softball and is doing GREAT! I am not a bit surprised.

She even looks like a natural...where does she get this talent?

She is even pitching and has put up quite a few "K's" this year already!

The hits at the plate are not alot since most of the teams don't have pitchers who can actually get it ACROSS the plate! You definately had to be ready when that GOOD pitch comes across!

Yes...you are seeing this correctly....Max is the scorekeeper for her team...but don't think that he is going to put that phone down for one minute! OMG....he is multi-tasking!

Maddie had a special fan club...my dad's brother Jazz & Mary Ann. She was so glad they got to come see her play!

My New Wheels!

What is that JPS doing now you ask?

Well.....

After much agony...we traded in the old Sienna. It was bittersweet....we had the van for about 8 years which also meant no car payment for the last 4 years! But when the automatic doors quit...the engine light comes on.....new starter and alternator needed in the near futuer...it was time but....

The new wheels didn't fit in the garage as well as the old van did so Joseph had to shorten the steps in the garage so it would fit nicely. It is always something!

I am loving the new ride...it is a 2010 GMC Acadia. It will be sporting a Bronco tag as soon as I can find one!

A trip...postponed!

Maddie and Nana were scheduled to go to St. Louis the first week of June. They were going to visit my mom's friend and her daughter. Maddie and Nana were going to babysit some and just basically going to try and keep up with Whitney...the little girl with Maddie in the picture. But...Baxter, Nana's dog kinda ruined the trip! We were having a garage sale and Nana was out hanging the signs and the dog followed and got attacked by another dog. Yes, my mom blames herself for not having him on a leash but honestly, could of happened to any of us. Baxter is like lightining...one minute he is by your side...next minute he is gone! I am not sure if it has been confirmed if the dog got him or the iron fence. Since this happened the night before they were supposed to go they had to postpone their trip. Below are the pictures of Baxter and his lovely hat he has to wear for 10 days! He sure has been a trooper so far and how can you not feel sorry for him! The trip is being rescheduled...this just gives Maddie more time to save up her energy to entertain a 2 year old!

Poor Baxter!

Remember these....Maddie won't forget them!

Remember those candies..."Zotz's"? Well, on our way to Houston I found them at a convenience store and had to buy them. I had a plan. I opened them and convinced Maddie to try them.

We had apple and watermelon...yum said Maddie!

Of course, Mr. Cool was like what is the big deal about them...I couldn't get a picture of him puckering up but it was worth it...because of the face I got out of Maddie...

Gas to Houston: $175

Snacks along the way to keep Max satified: $200

The pictures I captured of Maddie eating a Zotz: PRICELESS!!

A Houston Wedding!

We attended my best friend's wedding in Houston over the weekend. We had a blast and the bride was simply stunning and the groom....well he never stopped smiling!

My best friend and her daughter...

The guys before the big moment....Joe, K.O., Todd & Max

So honored I got to share the day with her! Doesn't she look beautiful!

Yes, I am bias...this has to the cutest couple of kids EVA!!!!!

The long story short of this picture...Tina's brother-in-law was told by the bride & groom about a week before the wedding to give a funny toast to keep things light during reception! Well, just as he was told....he gave them a 'FUNNY (piece of) TOAST!" Very cleaver Wade!

Ok....who put Van Halen's JUMP on the playlist...you know JPS cannot keep off the dance floor when it comes on!

Down those shots....Mr. & Mrs. Classen!