Wolly Worm

In September Amie walked out the front door & said "Oh bug! Look!"
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And there crawling by our porch was a little white wolly worm!
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She does not like bugs!
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We've noticed several wolly worms over the next several days and weeks & the majority of them were white with a couple black......what does that tell us?

I think we're in for a long cold winter!

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Christopher turned 27 on November 9th.
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On the 8th we went to Buffalo Wild Wings for a celebration dinner.
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Amie gave Chris a hard time!!

Tim & Richard busy with the games.

The Grandma's trying to deal with all the wonderful noise!!

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Ut Oh ---- who's trying to eat some frosting??

Got her!

Mmmmmmm frosting!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

When my sister Janet asked if we wanted to go to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, I was interested, but had no idea just how good it was going to be!!
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Darwin had been sick, so Tiara went in his place. Janet, Kylee, Tiara & I headed to Peoria for a 3:00 show! It was incredible! It was also a three hour show!!
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This first picture is stolen off the internet - because as you can see - mine aren't fantastic!

The light show was incredible! The instrumentation was beyond incredible! Through most of the show, the narrator told the story about Christmas Eve. It was heart-touching & inspriational.
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In my little pea brain - I kept expecting head bobbing to Bohemian Rhapsody!! It was that type of music!
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Our seats were at the opposite end of the stage. But twice during the show, performers came to this little stage directly in front of us!

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The second time, the stage then lifted off like a rocket!

All in all a very cool performance.......and everyone made it back safe!!

RIP KBW

RIP KBW.....
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Hard to believe it's been 4 years.....
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Forever in our thoughts and hearts!

Story Monday's!

On Monday's at Amie's school - they are encouraged to bring a toy and tell a story about it.
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Last week, Amie took the "Daddy" person from her doll house. I have no idea why or what she would talk about.
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The story she told about "Daddy" is priceless!

"My Daddy coming" (this is what she says when Darwin is coming home)

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"My Daddy get me chicken nuggets" (Darwin picks her up from the bus on his days at home & on many of those days, they have chicken nuggets from McDonalds!)

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"Daddy fall down, Ouch" (we don't really know what that was, could just be the doll fell over from a standing up position)

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"Daddy back home" (what she says when Darwin comes home!)

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A definite keeper for the Amie Archives!!

Happy Halloween 2009!

Our first Trick-or-Treat visitors were Kylee (Miss Scary Vampire)! And Aunt Janet (Biker Chick)!


Kylee even added a tatoo to her Mom's backside!!

After Aunt Janet & Kylee headed off to the church for Trunk or Treat - we got Miss Amie dressed in her "cowboy-girl" outfit!! (She won't say cowgirl)

We only went to about 8 houses. Started at Grandma Miller's. Then a few of Grandma's neighbors. Then Grandma Hays' house. Then we stopped and visited about 3 houses on Broad street on our way home, because of some really cool decorations in one of the yards!

This house was way decked out!

She was the cutest Cowboy-Girl Ever!!! Now she is obscessed with the candy basket!! I am going to be glad when it is gone!!

Happy 24th Birthday Tim!

At times it is hard to believe it was 24 years ago that Tim joined our family! October 30, 1985! Seen here a few hours old with Mom Dad and big Brother Chris!


Tim graciously agreed to have his 24th birthday dinner at Chuck E Cheese - it was such a huge twist of his arm!! (NOT!) He loves video games and pizza -- what a better choice?!! But it was Little Sister that kept begging to go back to Chuck E Cheese!!

Grandma Hays, Grandma Miller, Mom, Dad, Amie & friend Richard all celebrated at Chuck E Cheese!

Tim - you have come such a long way! I am proud of what you have overcome! Even in a loud noisy (often rude) place -- you can tune out enough of it & concentrate on what you are interested in to tolerate everything!