Going to the Lake

It has been very hot in Missouri these past few days. So hot, that with heat index it has been close to 100 degrees. YUCK!! Anyway, Jason had spent the night and we were all kind of stuck in the house when Chris said "Hey, let's take the kids to the lake"

I said "Okay" and we decided to go. We told the kids that they could walk along the shore of the lake, but to not get themselves or their clothes wet. Wishful thinking on our part.

Here they are completely content at the Lake. The Lake is a half mile from our house. If you go down our street, you will run into the lake.

This is Megan, she has "fallen" into the lake. Yeah, right!! You can't go to the lake unless you wear your pretty pink high heel sandals.

Okay...this is the three of them complying with our wishes by not getting into the water.

Patrick is trying to coax Megan into the water - like that was a hard sell.

A complete and total disregard for what we said. Oh well, they're kids, what can you do?

We had an unexpected visitor today...William came.

He played very hard with Patrick and Megan.

At one point he chased Patrick around the house with this hatchet!!
Okay, it isn't real...it's just plastic.

My favorite was watching him chase Patrick around with a Power Ranger gun. I hope you can see this, but I don't have a camcorder and the only thing I have is my stinky camera with no sound. It is grainy, but you can see William chasing Patrick and then Patrick dying. Gotta love it.

"Element"

Well, it has finally happened....Chris went to the grocery store and there was a box of kittens. He immediately called me and said "There is a box of kittens here at Country Mart, what should we do?" My sweet reply was "I don't know, what do you want to do?"

Let me go back. Megan has been begging us for a kitten. So much so that it had begun to get silly. Chris is highly allergic to cats, but I assured him if we ever picked out a cat it would be an outdoor cat. So...going back to the grocery store.

"There are two kittens in the box" Chris says.

"Okay." I said.

He hangs up.

He calls me 20 minutes later saying. "Okay, I got one. We are in the car port, have the kids meet me in the garage."

I grabbed the kids and brought them to the garage. I told them Daddy had a surprise and they had to wait. My kids are so cute, they stand still and hold each others hand in anticipation. Daddy brings the kitty inside and Megan almost swoons she is so excited.

Chris tells them we need to think of a name. Before he can get any farther with that line of thinking Megan pipes up and says "Element" the kitty is Element. She wasn't hearing any other name options I felt like I was in the movie the Ten Commandments with Charleton Heston. When Yul Brenner says "So let it be written, so let it be done."

So, now we have a 6 week old kitten named Element.

Megan took this picture while Element aka "Ellie" was sitting on her lap.

Here she is in her box in the garage. Megan doesn't know why Ellie can't just sleep with her.

Patrick is pretty excited. He goes into the garage and talks to Ellie during the day.

Another picture of Ellie on Megan's lap.

All Photos were taken by Megan Gaines age 6. She is turning into quite the photographer.

UP

We decided to take the kids this weekend to see "UP". We are huge PIXAR fans, and we just couldn't wait to see it. Of all of the movies that PIXAR has produced, this was their finest. I cried at the beginning and again at the end. It was moving, touching, beautiful...I just can't say enough about it. If you decide to take your kids to see a movie, I highly recommend "UP".

We decided to spend the extra money to see it in 3D, and it was worth it. The beauty of this movie is beyond compare. The story is heartwarming and special. The characters memorable and lovable. I can't say enough about it.

Auditioned for Wheel of Fortune

Hi Family and Friends.

Last Saturday I dropped the kids off at my Mom and Dad's and auditioned for Wheel of Fortune. I love that show!! Anyway, during the first "show" audition at the Welk Theater in Branson my name was chosen to go up on stage. YEAH ME!! The theater holds 2300 people and it was standing room only.

Of the 2300 people waiting they only had time for 33 people. I was one of the lucky 33. I will hear if I make it to the next round of auditions in a week or so. They are supposed to be held at the Welk Resort in about 3 weeks. Being called up on stage is no guarantee of being called back to the second audtion, but I'm hoping that I am called back.

Funny thing: When asked about my family I said "I'm married to an adequate husband and two so/so kids." Then I yelled "My husband owes me $10" Crowd laughed. I was asked what my hobbies were and I said "I hang out with my kids, sew and sing." He then said "Did you say you sing" and my reply was "No!!" He then asked if I would sing and I said sure and sang "Twinkle, twinkle little star" I did this to hopefully stand out. When I finished singing the emcee said that I should be auditioning for "America's Got Talent". I bet he tells that to all the girls.

Anyway, I have had some people call and ask about this, and I thought - I know I'll put it on my blog.

If I get the E-mail invitation, I will post again about this soon.

Jen

My Birthday Present from Megan

So, here it is...Megan made my bed this morning. She was so excited!! I was making breakfast and she comes running in and says "Oh, Mama! I have the best surprise for you on your birthday" She then said "Follow me, and close your eyes"

I followed her, but didn't close my eyes because the last time we did that she ran me into a wall. Anyway...I look in my room and lo and behold she has made my bed. She tried so hard. It was the best present I could have gotten.

My bedspread is usually the color of the bed skirt, but I was going to wash it so we were using our yucky blue blanket. Basically we were using the second string bed wear. LOL!!

Megan's Art

A few weeks ago we took the kids to see Monsters vs. Aliens. It was cute, but not a keeper as far as I was concerned. Anyway, Megan really enjoyed it. We were eating dinner last week and she was quietly working with her vegetables. I didn't think anything of it, and just allowed her to play. When she was done, I asked her what she had made. She said it was Gallaxar from Monsters vs. Aliens. I had to take a picture of it. She did pretty good with the veggies she had on hand.