I.U. Volleyball....

Our niece, Annie Moddrell is a sophomore at I.U. and a scholarship athlete. Bob and I are hoping to make a road trip in a few weeks - either to Chicago to see I.U. take on Northwestern, or maybe a trip to Michigan in November. That's our Annie - all 6'-1" of her! She is currently tied for 7th in blocks per game in the nation.

Posted by a very PROUD Hoosier aunt, uncle and cousins!

That Smile...

Here she is - our only grandaughter. She has a big brother and a baby brother due in December. She's also getting a baby boy cousin at Christmas, so Ms. Grace is and will be for some time our FAVORITE grandaughter - the little princess of the family!!

Big Drink...

....for a little girl. Don't you think Gracie could have found a smaller glass? I'm sure that little Ms. Stubborn was thirsty, saw the glass and didn't care one bit how big it was or what was in it. Hopefully, it belonged to a member of her family!

My Goals for the Next 5 Years...

OK - my friend Michelle challenged me to come up with my Goals for the Next 5 Years. I have to be honest though - I liked some of the other offerings MUCH better than this one, but I'll give it a try. You're talking to someone who can't think much past 30 days out, so 5 years is pushing the limit here!!

Professionally - I just started a new position here at work. After 10 years, I finally have my OWN office and a door I can close if I need to. I actually have a real title too!!!! But seriously, I want to become an indispensable member of the team with our project engineers. I want them to feel absolutely LOST if I'm on vacation!!!!

Personally - I want to get my scrapbooks caught up to within a few months, rather than a year - which is where I stand right now. I want to take my husband on a trip to New York City - a place he's always wanted to visit. AND, a real goal is to have one of my scrapbook layouts published in a magazine. It's a longshot - but I won't know if I don't try. Most of all, I want to become a better Christian - closer to my God and my religious beliefs. I've been blessed so much in my life and now I want to give back.

That's it Michelle - nothing mind blowing - just pretty basic stuff. So....I'll give it back to YOU!! What are YOUR goals for the next 5 years??

Buddies for Life...

My friend Mary Lou and I were pregnant at the same time - 14 years ago. My Kelli was born in February and her Michael in June. The two kids have grown up together - just a block apart, and have attended the same school since kindergarten. They even shared a week in Florida (along with their moms) when they were 8.

They argue like brother and sister, but they also share their secrets. Michael (the brain) helps Kelli when she struggles with her homework.

Mary Lou took this photo last weekend - at Michael's soccer game. Neither one knew she was there - camera in hand. This photo pretty much sums up their friendship - buds.

Never Too Old for Mickey Mouse

Just returned from a great vacation week in Florida with my daughter Chrissie, my best friend MaryLou and her daughter Melissa. It was 7 days of mother/daughter fun - lots of sunshine and plenty of humidity!!!

We spent 4 days enjoying our Disney Resort (Port Orleans Riverside), along with days at the Magic Kingdom and MGM Studios, and some VERY late nights at Pleasure Island and Jelly Rolls (dueling piano bar on the Disney Boardwalk). Kind of tough for us old gals to keep with with those 22-year olds and their late night antics - but we did it!!

We did a fun character breakfast at the Grand Floridian. Didn't seem to matter that the two of them are college students - they giggled like 4 year olds when Tigger and Pooh approached our table for photographs.

The highpoint for me was surprising my little brother Frank for his 40th birthday. My sister-in-law and I have had this cooked up since February! They arrived on Friday night at Jelly Rolls along with their friends Eric and Terry, and Jean and Jeff. We were already in place - just waiting for them to walk through the door - thanks to a quick cell phone call.

We had a front row table at Jelly Rolls, and the piano players were on our case ALL NIGHT LONG! Not only because Frank turned 40, but they seemed to love harassing us poor folk from Indiana. I think there were at LEAST three times that they had Frank and his "harem" up on the stage. I'm so glad that Chrissie came out of her shell on this trip. (ha-ha)

After dropping a LOT of CASH at Disneyworld, we moved on to a few days of rest and relaxation with my family in Melbourne. We celebrated again with Frank at a huge surprise party on Saturday night - followed by a couple of days relaxing on the beach.

Now, it's back home to a new position at work - lots of stuff pouring into my little brain - but remembering the wonderful memories of last week - getting to spend a few days with my mom and my brother and my daughter.