What a day!

I'm back! I took a brief vacation from the blogging world this last week. We've been on the go all week, plus I have not felt the greatest due to a cold/respiratory infection that I've been fighting lately. I finally went to the doctor yesterday, so hopefully I'll be back to 100% soon. Sorry, if I've left you a little disappointed! I've actually been going to bed early...and the fact that I tried posting these photos and video the day after my birthday and managed to lose it all didn't help either.

I owe EVERYONE a huge THANK YOU for making my birthday a memorable one. It was definitely a sweet surprise to have Larry make a surprise post on the blog. I didn't realize he knew how to! He's right, I would not have put it on otherwise. I'm not one to draw attention to myself often.

I loved the phone calls, emails, blog comments, and just birthday wishes in general! I'm lucky to have you all! It was the little things that made it an extraordinary day.

We decided to stay in for supper. Keep in mind that I couldn't taste or smell anything anyway and STILL can't at this point. Larry and Maddox picked me up a little cake while they were buying steaks. You have to love their princess-y decorations.

Me and My Boys!

I even got a little birthday dance...and I do know that most parents probably don't let their kids dance on the table, but it WAS a special occasion! He only stepped on the cake once...no big deal! Note: Maddox decided to wear pj's that night. He doesn't usually. His shirt is backwards and he matched it with Elmo pants.

Thanks again to ALL who made my birthday such a great one... especially you, Larry!

I love the sh*t out of all of you too!

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Just wanted to wish DeAnn a Happy 31st Birthday. I would post some pics but I am at work and I know that DeAnn wouldnt post this herself. Just wanted you to know that your three boys love you very much. Happy 31st
Love the sh*t out of you
Larry

Oops!

On Sunday, we went to my nephew Blake's birthday party. My niece Rachel had made his cake and decorated some Little Debbie brownies for the rest of the September birthdays in my family (me, Steve, Kurt, and Lori). It was super cute and so thoughtful. My boys lost their shirts at some point...they must've been hot. Anyway, at the end of the party Cindy and Ervan had walked out without Kurt's brownie. Cindy had planned on taking a picture of it and sending it to Kurt so that he knew he was being thought of. So, I had planned on taking it home and doing the same thing. Well, my camera had went dead at the party so I charged it up Sunday evening and forgot about the brownie. On Monday morning when the boys got out of the car to walk Gavin into school I noticed Gavin had brown all around his lips, and Maddox had orange icing all around his mouth and on his nose. Apparently they found the brownie and thought it looked good and ate it. I hadn't taken a picture of it yet, and I didn't have my camera with me at the moment. I was thinking it would've been cute to send the photo of their brownie-filled faces to Kurt instead. No such luck though. Anyway, thanks Kurt for the birthday brownie. It was yummy!

These are the only pictures I took before my battery going dead. They'll have to do.

Hooray for Maylor Tarshall!

I just found out that my niece, Taylor, was accepted to go the college of her dreams (and ours)! She currently lives about 4 hours away. Her choosing this college would mean that she would be only 1 1/2 hours away. Oh, how we wish that she (as well as the rest of her family) lived closer to Illinois.

Congrats! WE LOVE YOU and are very proud of you!

Darry Lorn, DeAnn Dorn :), Davin Gorn, and Daddox Morn

College will be so much funner than high school!

(Yes, I know that funner is not a word, however, Taylor is the one who taught Larry that it wasn't)

Spontaneity!

On Wednesday Gavin had early dismissal and Larry was off work so we decided to do something "useful" and head to the St. Louis Zoo. The weather was great and between Larry's work and Gavin's soccer it was our last chance for a while. It was a quick trip, but it was well worth it.

The butterfly house was very neat...I don't know how long it has been there, but we must have missed it the last few times we've been there. The butterflies were BEAUTIFUL and they were EVERYWHERE!

The animals were full of spunk while we were there. This hippo must've been ready for his afternoon nap.
Larry seems to think that he and this elephant have 1 thing in common...I'm stumped!

We had some good laughs...the boys did too!
Any ideas? Me neither!

Frustrated!!

I just spent a good 30 minutes on a post about our trip to St. Louis on Wednesday and it is nowhere to be found. Blogger must have been having problems...I wish I had known that 30 minutes ago!! I'll try to get to it tomorrow. Grrrr!!

Jersey Day!

Monday the boys wanted to wear their jerseys even though the Bears lost their game on Sunday. Maybe one day Maddox will grow into his.

Happy Birthday you Old Fart!

Happy 45th Birthday to my big brother, Steve!

(Let's see, that means that Mom and Dad had 3 kids within 3 yrs. considering they just had their 48th Anniversary last week!)

Just a FEW old photos that I ran across....

When Maddox met Steve for the first time...he didn't cry!
Farmin' buddies!
The combiners!

It's hard work bein a farmer...

Gavin helping his poor crippled uncle after his knee surgeryok, so maybe it doesn't hurt that bad after all...

Maddox is so excited about riding in the combine with Steve...you can just see it in his eyes!

The purple Peterbilt

10-4 Good Buddy!

Steve and Rhett

Coon huntin'

IIII.... Love Steve (from the mouth of Maddox)

Soccer Saturday!

Gavin had his first soccer game on Saturday. It is a lot of fun to watch!

Just warming up...

Maddox and Connor having a snack. Connor and Maddox were in playgroup together the last two years. This year they are missing each other.

Gavin drank 2 bottles of water and 1 bottle of Gatorade...definitely worked up a thirst!

Coming in for a drink...
Gavin and Cade. Also, playgroup buds for two years.

Here's a video toward the end of the game...Gavin, along with the others, ran their hearts out. I think it's the first time I've ever seen Gavin wear down (a little).

48 years and counting!

I wanted to wish my Mom and Dad a Happy 48th Anniversary! I know you spent 40 years raising kids...crazy! However, we're glad you did!

Just imagine what life would be like without us. It's true what they say...those stragglers will keep you young! I know you could be traveling, driving fancy cars, living it up, but then you wouldn't have this...

and who would want to do without that?

Happy Anniversary! We love you both!

Why we don't need or want 6 kids!

This is for my sister, Cindy. In her last comment she mentioned something about us needing to have 6 more kids so that we'd have one kid per bike in the garage. Well, here's just a little glimpse into WHY that will never happen.

I've been wanting to share this...because it makes me laugh. This is the perfect opportunity. See, when you leave me comments, it inspires me to share more. I'm telling you.

Now, some people may be embarrased to admit that their children behave in this manner. I'm not. This isn't an every day occurrance or anything. Just both of them having a breakdown at the same time. I shouldn't think it's funny, but I couldn't seem to get mad about it. Maybe Larry and I are a little too laid back. Who knows?

Here's the story...the boys had both "earned" a trip to the skate park for being good. (I don't remember the details) We loaded the bikes and went to the skate park and there were several kids already there. We wouldn't let them go out there due to the fact that while both of them are great riders, they think of themselves only. There's no watching out for others, slowing down so other people can do their tricks. They (especially Maddox) just go....everywhere. So, after a while it started to clear out and there were only 3 other people left. So, we decided to give it a try and gave them their guidelines. Well, after about 30 seconds of riding, we loaded the bikes up and headed home. Neither of them are ready to ride there while there are other people using the skate park. This was the reaction that we got from both of them on the way home.

Actually, Larry took them yesterday evening and he said they both did excellent. See, it was a learning experience for them!

Bicycle Classic

This weekend I was on a camping trip with the girls, but Larry made sure that Gavin and Maddox made it to the Bike races. Gavin's been asking about it a lot lately. He knows that it's always soon after school starts.

Maddox finished 2nd in the 3 yr. old race. and Gavin finished 1st in the 5 yr. old race.
We (especially your Dad) are very proud of you!

Happy Birthday Kurt!

I want to wish my nephew, Kurt, a Happy 22nd Birthday! We love and miss you very much!

Larry and Kurt soon after we started dating...I'd say Kurt was 6 or 7 and Larry was 16. I'd like to see Kurt sitting on Larry's lap now...

Kurt taking Gavin on a bike ride.
Concentrating on what Santa brought him... Kurt's first visit with Maddox

Maddox and his Godfather

I wish I had more pictures. I have lots of memories though and that's all that matters. Thanks for being such a good cousin to the boys!

Larry says not to do anything that he wouldn't do to celebrate. I'd say that means that you could pretty much do anything...

Happy Belated Anniversary!

August is a HUGE anniversary month in our family! We wanted to wish all of our brothers and sisters and their spouses A Happy Belated Anniversary!

Jeremy and Kelly - Happy 5th!

Cindy and Ervan - Happy 26th!

Steve and Lori - Happy 21st!

Elaine and Brent - Happy 20th!

John and Becky - Happy 11th!

We weren't real good at getting phone calls made this year, hope this makes up for it!

Happy Anniversary!