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Some recent photos......

Here are some pictures from our trip...I have so many, but decided to only post a few today. Ian loved playing in the sand and sun. We are enjoying ourselves on Illinois!! We watched Amanda run on Tuesday and we will see her again on Friday. I will take some pictures and video of that, but my last video of her running was BAD....I was jumping around and was hard to see her. She did great!! She got 1st in 4 events and 2nd in the 800. She got beat by the state champ in that event...she had already ran 3 races and the other girl hadn't run any...I think she will take her on Friday....am I her aunt or what??? I am off to the doctor for a blood test and chest X-ray. I just hope to get better before my plane trip back...I am sure I will be better in a couple of day...I just keep telling myself that.....yea. Enjoy the video Jeff.....Ian and I miss you tons. We look forward to getting back and going to Disney Paris...he tell everyone that he is going for his birthday??? I don't know where he gets that from, but it sounds fine to me. I will have more pictures and video on Friday....

Illinois.....

We left Florida and arrived in Illinois only hours ago....great to see my mom and dad again!! Florida was so much fun!!! The only down side was....I was really sick....boo!! I will make this short...I hadn't felt well in a couple of weeks....I started taking an antibiotic and felt a little better, but not normal. I got into Florida and felt horrible. I went to Dr and found nothing...a day goes by...I break out in a rash...head to toe...nice in Florida....I ended up having strep and strep rash...I got on a new med and it cleared up!! I haven't been that sick in so long...I was miserable, but in-laws took care of Ian and I still managed to go to Target, Bass Pro Shop, and lay in the sun. I was insane, but hey...I was in Florida!! I will post some pictures tomorrow. Ian is so tan and spoiled from the trip....Gram put a gift under his pillow every night. The highlight was an alligator head...that is all he wanted and he got it...all $125.00 of it. I really don't think my inheritance should be spent like that, but I will let it slide this time. I would have gotten the $20.00 one. The dog and guinna pig are so happy we are home!! I already had my moms chicken and noodles....yummy!! Tomorrow I see my niece run. She has no idea we are here and we are going to her track meet and watching her run....she will just die. I love it here, but I do miss England...did I just say that...I guess I miss Jeff and my friends.

USA or bust......

I am finally packed and ready to go...I do dread getting up at 3:30 a.m.!! Ian is excited to see his grandparents in Florida and go to Illinois afterwards. Jeff is looking forward to a weekend full of movies...although he knows by Sunday all the "fun" of being alone will be over...sorry Jeff. He did offer to post pictures of the house on this blog for me...ok...no....it will be a mess by 8:00p.m. tomorrow night. I have hired a cleaning lady to take care of things while I am gone, so that should make it somewhat easier for my return. I will be enjoying the sun by Friday morning...I can't wait to just lay out and relax. It will be great to see family and friends in Illinois!! I will get back to this when I return to Peoria...I won't have access to a computer before than...or at least I think I won't. I will be nice to go to a beach without all the topless and bottomless people walking about...a bonus all the more. I will keep everyone posted on my travels...I so dread this 10 hour flight only to get off the plane go through customs wait 2 hours and board another plane to fly 45 minutes.....the pain I have to endure to get a tan....

The first "new bike" accident....

Ian got his bike one week ago and finally had his first serious accident today. He will survive and we are hoping this will slow him down. He just took a spill on the driveway while riding with a friend. I think it scared him more than anything. He just has a few bumps and brusies. He was crying because he was so tired. He wondered if this wreck meant we would cancel Florida....NO! That was the end to a very nice weekend. We just stayed around the house and did things here since we will be leaving on Thursday morning. I have Ian's stuff ready to put into the suitcase..almost and I will do my stuff tomorrow and Tuesday. My goal is to be packed by Tuesday night...I can do that..sure.

That's what friends are for....

Ian and I went to Holli's house on Wednesday...and stayed and stayed and stayed!! Our kids had so much fun...they didn't want to leave. It was only a small group..Jenny is in the states and the others had things to do, but we has so much fun.

The kids played inside, outside, inside, outside....you get my drift. We moms sat at the table and talked for hours on end. Holli showed us some things on the computer, Ahdonna went to Tesco, I made and canceled appts., etc...I mean we watched the kids nonstop.

We took the kids on a walk to look at the sheep behind Holli's house. They were so cute. The kids enjoyed looking at them and walking to get to them. I was surprised that not one kid stepped in sheep "black pudding" but they didn't. Anyway...I finally left at 7:00p.m. and still beat Jeff home from work, gave Ian a shower, put him to bed and made a frozen pizza for Jeff...ok I couldn't do it all. Anyway...I loved this day...unexpected fun!!!

Happy Birthday Mom....

I really wanted to put a picture of my mom up to wish her a "Happy Birthday", but I couldn't find the one that I wanted...so I ran across this picture. If any of you know my mom at all you know why I put this post up...she loves dogs...we always had dogs..dogs..and more dogs!! In fact, this is the first time that she hasn't had a dog, but she is taking great care of our Bo so he is filling the void. Anyway, my mom was a dog groomer and sitter. We always had dogs around us. I loved it...they always smelled so good..you know dog perfume...I swear it smells good. I could use it for my own perfume now since we don't have it on our dogs. Enough about that...cute picture...don't you agree??

Happy Birthday Mom...thanks for just being you!! You are the best of the best...if that is possible. I appreciate all you do for me, Jeff, Ian, Tammy, Dad, Rob, Amanda, and Grant!! We love you tons and tons....keep taking great care of yourself!! I look forward to spending time with you in about 3 weeks...see you than and enjoy your special day...Love you...