I'm with the band

For several weeks some of us in the praise band have been bringing our kids to practice so they can work together with the goal of playing for the youth group.  Aaron has picked up the drums and is doing quite well.  Now he wants a set for home!   They're all just learning their instruments, and they've done a great job so far.

Lynn Family Reunion

So glad we got the chance to go to Illinois to the house my grandparents lived in for over 60 years this weekend for a family reunion.  Got to meet some of the newest family members.  Lots of fun, food, and photos ensued!  Some of my favorites

All the assembled players around 53 people out of a total family of 78...(give or take) I lose count!

The big catalpa tree out back is on of the traditional photo posing places.  We all played in it as kids.

Marla found the "bouncy" part of the old grease rack that all the grandkids played on

My mom and her sisters

Goofy Boys

You would have had to known my Grandpa Lynn to see the humor in this.  He had all kinds of junk in sheds (or piles) out back.  And today we were all looking through it for "treasures". 

Sometimes you just gotta laugh, snap a photo, and blog it!

I don't know if you've noticed but me and my husband are the exact opposites.  Whoo, big news flash there!  However Dusty has a few personality quirks that could surprise you.  He tends to be introverted around people...more of a listener than a talker, but he can have a wicked sense of humor.  He's tedious and ordered...he has a system for choosing his shirt and tie on Sunday.  BUT, he doesn't get rid of anything!  While organizing the closet yesterday I noticed his sock drawer was a jumbled mess.  So I decided to dump out everything redo the drawer.  In addition to socks (26 pairs of black socks by the way) and undergarments I found this....

This photo contains the following; all of which was found in the drawer

• spare key to the truck
• 13 business cards
• book light
• spark plug cleaning tool
• stopwatch
• old wallet with miscellaneous insurance cards, credit cards, and my freshman high school photo
• 3 book marks
• key fob for my car
• calculator
• lanyard
• 2 knives
• snoopy watch from when he was a kid
• concert ticket
• miscellaneous notes
• AWANA service pins & Novell engineer pin
• screwdriver
• dog tag from Man Camp
• love notes...from me so it's OK!
• empty mint tin
• shoelaces
• pencil sharpener
• usb cord
• ...and my personal favorite  2 ninja throwing stars

I knew when I questioned him about it there would be a perfectly logical (to him) explanation.  "It's my miscellaneous drawer."  Not anymore!  I pared down the socks and the miscellaneous stuff was sent to other locations....or the trash can.  Just don't think about attacking us in the middle of the night.  You might get hit with a throwing star...provided Dusty can get to his sock drawer in time!!

Our nightly visitor

If you've got arachniphobia, or you're my sister-in-law, avert your eyes.....this little guy, although I'm quite certain it's a gal, has been hangin out on the patio door.  Personally I think it's kind of cool how the spider rebuilds its web every night.

...and as long as it stays on the other side of the glass door, I'm OK with it....for now. :)

Operation "Take Back the House"

So I have to admit that my housekeeping skills faltered over the summer.  We had things to do like VBS, vacations, swimming & other important tasks.  My goal after the kids went back to school was to start working my way through some of the more undesirable tasks such as sorting through closets, purging, and organizing.  Stuff that's easier when the kids aren't home.  Today's task....sort through and reorganize the pantry.  CHECK!

On an unrelated note our 16 year old washing machine gave its last full measure of devotion this week.  I think the problem may be fixable but since it would cost over $100 to just get a repairman out here, it's 16 years old, and its leaving rust spots on our clothes we are giving it the boot.  HH Gregg is bringing a new front loader tomorrow morning.

RIP Whirlpool

1994-2010

One week down

Week one of Kindergarten has been completed successfully.  Rachel was the "Star of the Day" on Thursday and got to bring in a couple special items and talk about them so the kids could get to know here better.  She's had a great time!  Here's what I've accomplished:

• 3 - Trips to Starbucks
• 1 - Breakfast with friends
• 1 - Lunch with friends
• 1 - Lunch with Dusty
• 2 - Photoshoots
• 2 - Craft stores visited
• 10 - Lunches packed
• 1 - Call from Kindergarten teacher (Just to say everything is going fine!)
• 1 - day spent cleaning house (Got more accomplished on that day than in the previous 3 weeks)
• 1 - day spent doing ridiculously fun stuff like riding Segways

I think I'm going to like this!! :)

2-wheelin' around Indy

This morning I headed into Indy with Sarah and Heather for my birthday outing.  And this time around I had no idea where we were going and what we were doing.  All I knew was that Sarah said that we were doing something that none of us had ever tried.  I told her if skydiving or bungee jumping was involved...I was out!  No need to worry; we went to White River state park to take a Segway tour.  After giving us a few minutes to get used to our wheels we were off.

These things are a blast to drive!  We spent the next hour and a half zipping around the canal and park having a great time.  Our tour guide was a newbie and we were his 1st tour.  I think he was relieved to find out that we were from the area, so our focus was just having fun on the Segways and not on the sites and history of the area.  He was trying to remember everything that he was supposed to say about the sites he pointed out.  We were a good group for him to practice on. :)

After that fun we had lunch at Creation Cafe which is up on the north end of the canal in an old church

I had a wrap with chicken, apples, walnuts, and brie.  YUMMY!  Great food and a funky atmosphere to boot.  Had a great time!  Thanks gals!

And they're off!

First day of school, and for Rachel it literally is the 1st day of school.  She was ready and excited to go this morning.  No bus for us because we're too close to her school, so with her name tag, backpack, and lunchbox in hand we headed out.  The school was hopping...tons of parents walking their little kids to the classes.  I walked with Rachel to her class showed her where to hang up her backpack, snapped a photo and left her playing Play-doh at her table with 3 little boys.  :)

Aaron headed out to the bus stop at 6:50 AM.  He was up with no problem this morning.  I think it was more of a shock to my system than his to be up that early!  First day of 7th grade for him.  He was excited about being placed in Honors Art this year.

Dusty wanted to know if I was going to snap his photo as well.  Since I don't think I've actually seen him off to work for over 4 months I obliged.  (He leaves early....me sleepy!)  Dusty even had the "School Dream" last night.  You know the one....you're at school, but can't remember where your next class is.  You don't have the right books.  I hate that dream!

And me....well this is what I looked like at 9:15 AM!

Cruisin'

35

I'm wrapping up my 35th birthday.  Had a great day!  Mom and Dad are here on the last leg of their vacation.  Mom whipped up an angel food cake that Rachel helped frost and we dug in

After Dusty got home we left the kids with Memaw & Papaw who promised a trip to Burger King.  Going out to PF Chang's on a date is a treat in itself.  Having a very generous friend who will let you drive this...

...even better!  We took off in Paul's Miata, which I affectionately refer to as Lil' Blue.  This thing is a blast to drive, and don't I look good in it!! :)  As we were headed into the city, downtown looked like it was about to get soaked so we pulled over and put the top back up.  But when it was time to head home, the sky was clear and we cruised around the circle and downtown with the top down.....feeling cool.  I only killed it once and that was in the parking garage so it doesn't count!

Had a great time....had a great day...have a great family....have great friends...don't need anything else.

And Lil' Blue....let's just say she takes off like a bat and corners likes she's on rails!!  JUST KIDDING!  Thanks Paul! :)

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUSTY!
WE LOVE YOU!

She's a Barbie girl in a Barbie world

Dusty's cousin Lezlee and her kids came over this weekend to visit the Children's Museum.  Dusty, Rachel, and I met up with them for a day of fun while Aaron was off running wild at King's Island with the youth group.

Rachel's favorite by far was the Barbie exhibit.  So much that after we got home I went up into our attic and got down all of the Barbie's that I had stored away.  JACKPOT!

Pulling double duty on the phones for Barbie

Working the runway.  Got to love the little boys pretending to be the photographers for the fashion show.

I liked these...from the Rock Stars and Cars exhibit

Or this...Chihuly glass from the Fireworks of Glass sculpture

Day Three - Meramec Caverns

Day three was devoted to touring Meramec Caverns and getting from Missouri to Tennessee.  Since it was 95 degrees outside the thought of touring a cave that was a consistent 57 degrees was very appealing. 

At one point we did get behind a wonderful group of people who's humor focused on farting and then making loud jokes about it.  We managed to distance ourselves from them after a bit and Dusty made the comment later that he was certain one of them was wearing a lovely bit of jewelry around his ankle courtesy of the judicial system.  NICE!

Not a bad little side trip...a little on the pricey side, but they had a pressed penny machine.  And as far as the Hackney's are concerned that's one of the most important things. :)

Day Two - Stop Three - St. Louis Art Museum

After a day filled with the science center, pizza, go karts and arcade games, I headed the car to the art museum.  Yes, a vacation stop for mom.  Although Aaron probably won't admit it, he liked the museum as well especially since I let him tote the small camera around and snap away.

Rachel with Monet's "Water Lillies"

Aaron contemplates Picasso

Dusty and Aaron's favorite spot...a room full of weapons and armor

It was free...the air conditioning was on...there was interesting things to look at...you can't lose.  Only drawback - no pressed penny machine! :)

Day Two - Stops One & Two

On day 2 we headed out to the St. Louis Science Center, which has the added benefit of being free!  Took in an Omnimax movie while there...think IMAX only the screen is a dome. 

Harp using light instead of strings

Next it was off to the Incredible Pizza Company for lunch.  Basically Chuck E Cheese on steroids.  Aaron thought the place was the bomb because of the slushie machine on the buffet.

After we were full from the pizza it was time for games...GoKarts for the boys...mini bowling for Rachel and me.

...and the most exciting of all...when Aaron found out we have and Incredible Pizza Co. in Indy!