This is My Family: Part 1

I love my family. Most, though, would perhaps say that we're a bunch of 'not-rights.' I enjoy the fact, though, that we're ornery and into a good joke. Case in point, please see the pictures of my cousin, who 'surprised' his wife with these speedos on their vacation in Mexico shortly before Easter. I think that she's getting the last laugh, though, by passing me copies of the pictures to post!

We're off the the races...

A few weeks ago, me and two of the women I work with began getting together at 6:00 am two days a week to exercise. Jennifer, who was previously a walker, started running with us on the treadmills and really started liking it. A couple of weeks ago, she asked me if I'd run with her in the Mattoon "Races for all Paces" that is a fundraiser for the local hospital. It was a one-mile fun run; so, I said, "Sure." Well, Nick and I went out with friends the night before and stayed out MUCH later then I had planned, and I had to be in Mattoon at 8:45. I was exhausted the next morning (just ask Mom...I talked to her on the drive over), but I though, "No problem...I'll just walk some if I need to."

Well, when we got there, we were probably the only two adults there that didn't have kids with us. As we took off running, there were grade schoolers surrounding us. Jennifer and I run at different paces; so, soon we were separated. About a 1/2-mile into it, I really wanted to walk. I was so tired. However, in front of me there was a little five-year old boy in grey sweatpants who was still running. He kept looking behind his shoulder to see how close I was to him! I wanted to walk so bad, but at this point I was NOT going to let this little five-year old beat me in a 1-mile run! We kept on....me feeling miserable...and him looking over his shoulder every 30 seconds. In the last 1/4-mile, I started gaining ground on him. At this point, though, I wanted the little guy to finish proudly. As I closed the distance between us, he started giving in and slowing down. When I shouted a few words of encouragement to him, "Keep going! You're almost to the end!", he looked over his shoulder and shot off at a sprint. At this point, I'm not sure if he was playing with me...or if he was taking to heart his parents' advice of "beware of strangers." In any case, in all of my maturity, I 'let' the little guy win.

Here's the medal that Jennifer and I both received...along with all of the five-to-ten year olds that we raced with that morning. :)

Part 5: Mom's Birthday

Here's a few more from Mom's birthday! Good thing the twins' graduation is this coming weekend so I'll have a new event to post pictures from!

Karen acting goofy for the camera.


Mom, Gail, and Karen...Gail always having to be in the middle of things!!


Emma getting caught by the camera.


I love this picture of Anna!


Emma and Anna, for some reason, wanted a picture of them mid-air; so, Emma and Anna, here you go! Here's your picture!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! While I know it doesn't have all of us girls in it, it's the only picture of recent where I have a few of us! Maybe we can resolve that while Kim's home in June. Anyways, hope you had a good day. I'll see you next Sunday. Two things: I know I still have one more day's worth of pictures to post from your birthday...and just wanted to let you know that this picture (along with one other from the last post to come from your birthday) propelled me to call my hairdresser, get five inches cut off, and go back to straightening my hair! While curly is convenient, it's not my best look...not at that length at least!

Love you! Kel

Mom's Birthday: Part 4

Funny story. I actually posted this last night, but a few minutes after I hit the "Publish" button, I got a call from Kim. "I just left two comments on your last post and when I refreshed the screen, you had published a new post!" So, I took this post down so that everyone had a chance to read Kim's comments. I know I laughed pretty hard when I she mentioned using the hose on the basement doors. I had forgotten about being in our swimsuits trying to slide down the doors! I guess we were creative and were trying to invent the poor man's water slide! It also didn't work very well.

Anyhoo, here's a few more from Mom's birthday!

Mom and her sisters.

...and with Grandma

Mom and Aunt Gail

Karen and Aunt Gail...modeling their matching haircuts.

Mom's Birthday: Part 3

Sorry these didn't get posted yesterday, but my internet was down for a bit, and I had to wait for it to get back up. But, please note, it's 4:37 am, and I'm getting it done!!

It was so good seeing Anna. She had been sick on Easter; so, we didn't get to see her at the family dinner. I missed the little stink! She turns six this month!


A picture of the birthday girl...right before she told me that no one likes their picture taken while they're eating. :)


Emma and Anna are both budding photographers. They always borrow my camera at family dinners and take a few of their own pictures...and sometimes theirs are better then mine. This photo was taken by Anna.


Raise your hand if at some point in your life you've tried to use the outside basement doors as a slide...even though it never quite worked the way you thought it should. I know of at least five hands that should be raised!

Mom's Birthday: Part 2

Well, this is going to be a shorter post then I had planned, but my Norton is doing it's monthly scan of the computer, and it slows my Photoshop WAY down. Patient person that I am, I can't stand it, and I have to convert the photos to low-res jpgs in Photoshop so that it doesn't take an hour to upload each photo. So, here's the three that I managed to get converted! More to come...

Mom making use of one of her Christmas gifts. She got DSL this week too; so, she'll probably be a blogging fool now that she's all set with a digital camera AND high-speed internet.


When Mom calls, Nick will answer the phone, "Ayy, the Pirate Ruthie, have you stolen any treasures today, matie." When I saw this card, like NINE months ago, I had to get it! On the inside it said, "Here's to having a sharp-object-free birthday!"


This is my all-time favorite picture I've ever taken of Ella. I love her expression...the light on her face...all of it. I'm definitely going to order a copy.

Part 1: Mom's 55th Birthday

Yes, that's right: Part 1! In celebration of mom's 55th birthday, most of the family got together last Sunday to have lunch and cake at Grandma's. In celebration of the big 55, I am posting new photos for FIVE days from the event...aka Nick's in the field all day today so I have time to sit at the computer all day and catch up on some much-needed photo work and blogging! So, here's the first of the five days!

The cake for the big celebration...

There was a lot of preparation and hard work for the big day...

A lot of excitement too...

Some were just so over-the-top excited...

...they could barely contain themselves.

More pictures to come tomorrow...and maybe some will even contain the birthday girl!