Nothing says summer like....

corn on the cob, best friends, bike rides, and walks down a country road. All with your favorite people in the world... :)

have a safe and happy summer

whimp and co.

TEAM HADLEIGH we love a broken heart...

Yesterday, my children and I participated in the Heart Walk in honor of Hadleigh. We all gathered in our red and white shirts that read "Team Hadleigh, we love a broken heart" on the front, and on the back, words I could barely look at "In memory of Hadleigh Ann Griffin Oct 12, 2007-Oct.16, 2009." It was a bittersweet day honoring someone so young. While on the walk, Riles and I had a conversation yesterday that absolutely broke my heart. She wanted to know why Haddie left a piece of her heart in Heaven with Jesus. It astounds me how much children comprehend the world around them. I don't remember sharing this story with Riles. We talked about it and then she said "I wish Haddie was still here." I believe we all made that wish several times. I know I did.

My children have always been diligent supporters for Hadleigh. They asked me one morning while driving to school if I would call in to the radio station and sign them up to be KAT BANDITS. There was a radiothon for children's hospital, and they wanted to raise money for Haddie, since she spent time there. Riles jump roped for heart, so she could "support kids who have heart stuff like Haddie does," and they walked almost 4 miles yesterday to honor her. Proudly wearing their red and white shirts.

Here is Haddie's Team. I was honored to walk with them in Haddie's honor.

Support Heart Disease. It knows no age.

whimp

(Team Hadleigh)

(Mike and Dude)

(the kiddos)

(waiting for the walk to begin)

(on our way to the event)

Rainbow Cake...

I want to make this cake. I don't have enough gel food coloring colors (and probably should replace the ones I DO have...lol..) I also cannot find my two 9 inch cake pans. I know I have them. I used them for my wedding cake..but that was only what..8 years ago? lol.. I will find them. Then I will make this cake. So I can see the excitement in my kiddos eyes.

I have been sick for almost 2 weeks now. I haven't been any fun. Tired, sick, cranky. I wish it would go away so I can enjoy my kids.

Thanks to aunt brammy and uncle mike for taking my kiddos last night so I could rest. That was sweet of you, thanks.

whimp

(photo uploaded from whisk kid).

Where has the time gone?

My children are now 7 and 13..It dawned on me today, I will only have him (Danny) in my care for 5 more years before the world sees him as an adult. Have I done enough? Have I done my part as a parent to ready him for that big ole world? Have I taught him enough about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and the power of peer pressure? Where has the time gone? I thought for sure just yesterday he was a little thing following me around asking 100's of questions (at least he taught his sister well ;) My heart just aches thinking how fast time goes by. The same with Riles. She will be entering the 2nd grade in a few short months. It doesn't feel like too much time will pass before I will be saying the same about her.

whimp

Happy 13th Birthday Danny!
(posted a day late..sorry)..
You have such an amazing personality. You are funny, kind, and generous. Please don't ever loose your sense of humor or curiousity. love you!
love,
mom

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY RILES!
We love you very much big girl.
I hope your day is awesome!
love,
mom

Trip to Kansas and Scrapping all in one weekend...

Last weekend, Dianne and I traveled to Kansas to be with Tata. It was nice to visit Milford again after so many years. Not much has changed, and I managed to visit Dan before we left Friday morning. It was bittersweet seeing all the places he and I would go. After all these years, I still miss him. He was my buddy, best friend and the person I confided in. I often wonder what he would be like today.

On our way to Kansas, Dianne and I noticed signs for the Oz museum, of course we had to go and investigate. :) It was pretty cool. Dianne got to "meet" the lion of course. They also have an Oz winery, where most of the wines are named after Oz characters..witch in a ditch, run toto run, and The Lion's Courage were some of my favorite names. After driving home on Friday, I packed up my scrappin stuff and met my favorite women..Fickel and Mindy, in Fremont for a weekend of scrappin' fun. Thanks girlies for a good time. :)

Till next time,

whimp

(of course my eyes are closed..)

Happy Heart Day!

Please support CHD (congenital Heart disease) and pray for all those affected by this disease. .....

Sorry it has been so long since I updated. There really isn't much happening in our neck of the woods, except we are all so tired of winter. Not much of a news flash is it? lol.. We are planning the kids' birthday party(ies), and think we have decided on a bowling party. Riles and Danno both received great grades on their report cards. It always blows me away when I look at them. I always think Danny just does the minimum required (which most of the time he does, takes after me he does.) but when I look at his report card it is really pretty good. Riley always has the same thing...exceeds expectations,but needs to worry about herself. :)

I am gearing up and looking forward to the next sister's breakfast this weekend, and then in two weeks Fickel, Mindy, and I are going to Fremont to a weekend crop there. I cannot wait! I am so excited. We have not been anywhere together (for a weekend) for awhile now.

Here are some after pics of Danny's Star Wars Lego set he received for Christmas.

Have a great week!

wendy

Cousins

My kids are so luck to live close to their cousins. Whenever we get together it amazes me what they come up with and how much fun they have with each other. The boys are usually playing video games, army, or (if we are at the river) playing with the fire. This past fourth of july the love of fireworks by all was evident in all of the activities they did. From dude and riles on up, they had a good time. Here are some pictures from a happy time :) (can you tell I am ready for some warm weather?)

whimp

Lego and Barn Wonderland

WOW. What a Christmas to remember. The (2nd) blizzard of 2009. Since Chris had to work today, we let the kiddos open their gifts last night and Santa came this morning. Danny spent the afternoon in his room sorting and putting (some) his Star Wars lego kit together, while Riles played with her barn and webkins. Here are some pictures of their fun.

Happy Holidays!

wendy

(2 of the 5 pans he used to sort his pieces)

Our Virtual Holiday Card...:)

The kiddos went out and played in the snow today. While we were out there, Tucker and Sparta decided to come home for a visit (they have moved themselves in with Gma Pat and Papa Blackie). I loved this picture of the kids. Tucker is such a gentle dog. I am not an animal person AT ALL, but this dog and I are friends. When Riles was younger (4ish) and would walk to Gma's, Tucker (Shiloh, Gma's dog, would do the same thing) would walk along side her in the road (riles walks up the grass). If Riles would get to close to the road, Tucker would bark and nudge her back to "safety." Now, our road is a private dead end lane, hardly any cars go up and down it, and Gma Pat would stand at the end of her driveway and I would stand in our yard..both of us watching her make her way.

Here are some pictures of our snow day number three.

Enjoy

wendy

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree....

how happy you make me. We went and cut down our own tree this year at Horse Creek Tree Farm. What a fun experience. The kiddos absolutely loved it, and we will definitely make this our yearly tradition.Once we were done, we headed inside to have hot cocoa and warm up. Here are some pictures of the process and decorating it. Have a very Merry Christmas and holiday season from our family to yours. Peace on Earth.

Love,

Chris, Wendy, Danno and Riles.

Riles posed her stuffed animals..:)

DON'T FAINT..

Riles has clothes on! lol.. she was outside today "finding" treasures on our road. (Now, before anyone has a heart attack and posts how irresponsible I am about letting her play on our road..we live in the middle of nowhere on a dead end street. Whoever comes down or up our road has a clear view.)

The "treasures" she was finding were soybeans the wagons dropped as they were coming down the road to fill the bins.

There are also pics of her riding her bike, and falling off of it as well.

Enjoy

wendy