Day Book 6/10/11

Our Strawberry Lake Ramble last evening. The lighting was perfect for pictures, and between Mom and I, we captured many. Here are the best of the bunch.



Bridal Wreath Spirea outside our house.

Lingering sun resting in a maple tree.

Josh and Bella are both so happy-go-lucky! I love it.

Josh Boy. (That's what our neighbor, Julie, calls him.)




Strawberry Lake glistening in the sunset.

They're boys...which makes them crazy... ;)

A grandpa teaching his grand kids how to fish. I remember that Dad would take Josh and I (and sometimes a couple of our friends Randy, Meaghan, Olivia, Micah, or Rory) fishing. We would always stop at Ed's Market to get bait, pop, and candy. Good memories! :)

The fairy tale gazebo at Knight's Kingdom.

Lavender irises at the park.

Another fun slide!
Bella sliding down the slide after me.

Hahaha so adorable!
She's so cute!!!
Bella and I, after her scary experience above our heads.

Peony buds ready to burst forth in the sunshine!

Lacy, lovely ferns.

Variations of green and texture.

Royal purple irises.

On top of the train tracks. :) Josh, Micah, Bella, and I were walking up there when all of a sudden, poor Bella's leg fell down in between the two ties. There she was hanging there above the road! I quickly, and carefully, led her back down the hill to the sidewalk where she'd be safer.

Peonies are probably my top three favorite flowers. I love their vibrant hues. :)





Pine tree and pine cones.

Bouncing Bets in full bloom.



Leaves are so intricate and incredible.

Dandelion spreading it's seeds.

Oh, the green of June!!!

Thousands of purple wildflowers.



Josh and his little friend Micah.

Strawberry Lake peacefulness.


Daisies in their simple garments.

Lush, lavender, lilacs.


Some of these pictures were taken at our house and some on the way to the lake and some at the lake.

Outside my window: It's grey and chilly. I'm wearing my flannel pajamas because I'm so cold. My bed was freezing last night. The weather is so weird in Michigan. On Wednesday it was 96 degrees and yesterday was 55 degrees. It dropped over 40 degrees that night. My dad says, "If you don't like the weather wait a minute." ;)

I am wearing: My pjs still like I just said up there, but I think I'm going to wear a warm, fuzzy sweat shirt the rest of the day. And probably jeans, because I spilled cappuchino on my favorite sweatpants, when we drove to see my horse yesterday morning. Bummer.

I am eating: A delicious mango/strawberry smoothie that my mom just made. Mmmm...

This weekend: My parents friends, the Bugnies, are having their 50th anniversary party tomorrow. They got married on the same day as Mrs. Bugnie's sister, so as they had a double wedding, they're having a double wedding anniversary. I think that it's pretty cool. (Not that I'd want a double wedding, though I did when I was little.) Josh got tickets for a Cardinal/Brewers game on Sunday, so we're going down to Milwaukee for that. (And hopefully a little shopping and Panera for breakfast on Monday!)

Evan, Lainey, and Elliott: Yesterday I went over to their house to help Heather put the kids down for a nap. She wanted them to be fully rested because they were having family pictures that night. While Heather put Elliott down for his nap, I played with the older two outside. Evan and I were sitting on the swings. I didn't have all my weight on the swing, I was just sort of resting, when Lainey came flying up and said, "Hey! That's my swing! You're to big for it. So is Mommy and Daddy and Joshie! It's only my size." She's such a funny kid.
Later I asked them what they want to be when they grow up. Evan said he wants to be an elephant handler in the circus. (A couple of weeks ago they went to one and it's still very fresh on his mind.) I asked him if he got to ride one. He said, "No. Because it cost 10 money." :)
Lainey wants to be an elephant when she grows up!

H.H.

Day Book 6-1-11

The Schroeders came over for supper on Memorial Day. We had a really good time with them, as always. Supper was yummy--grilled pork with caramelized onions and blackberries, potatoes, Italian bread, peas and peas in the pod, water, Peanut Butter Panic ice cream, chocolate brownies with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and Cassie brought brownies. Mmmm.



Crazy Lainey with her crazy hat. Heather got it for her on Mackinac Island. Haha it's so cute and it's so her!




Apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Her big cousin Josh is still at her level apparently. I joined our city band on Tuesday and we have to wear those hideous hats when we march in parades. :P Anyway, Josh is a nut case. (How does he get his shorts that high?!)



I started this post on the first, but today is the third. I know, I should have just gotten it done, but our mouse broke yesterday and I obviously couldn't write. Our new mouse is wireless. Pretty high tech, huh? ;)

Outside my window: It's grey and overcast and humid. (Why is it always gloomy when I write on here?) Our peonies are getting quite large. The buds are just starting to pop. Our grass needs it's weekly trim. Maybe tomorrow?

I am listening to: The race cars zooming around the track. We live a couple miles away, but you can still hear them clearly. I like the sound now. When I was little I would tell them to quiet down, but now it's a voice of summer.

I am wearing: My Knight Owl baseball shirt from three years ago and capris. I really want to go shopping for some new summer clothes-shirts, shorts, capris, and sandals, but my mom says I have enough, which means I have to buy everything. The joys of having a job...

I am reading: A Nest for Celeste. Isn't that the cutest name ever?! It's about a mouse who is driven out of her home by two mean rats. It's adorable and has lots of pictures to go along with the story. Mom is reading The Penderwicks at Point Mouette to Josh and I. It's the third book in the series. One of the best series I've ever read. It's very funny.

In the kitchen: I made ice cream bars for supper tonight. But when I tried to cut the brownies in half length wise it broke apart into numerous pieces. So in the end I just put the whole chunk back in the pan and put the vanilla ice cream on top of it. Maybe I'll make some hot fudge sauce to pour over the top.


Evan stories: On Tuesday when I went to watch the kids, Evan said to me, "Hannah, sometimes I wish Mommy wasn't here, and Daddy wasn't here, and Lainey wasn't here, and Elliott wasn't here, and I wasn't here.
Me: "Why Evan?"
"Because I wish I were a Hayes instead of a Zahn."
Me: "It's just a last name, buddy."
"I know but then I could live in your house with you."

Aww he's so cute. :)


Bella fell off the curb yesterday. She's such a weirdo. But I have to give her a bit of a break because her hair is so long that she can't see out. The poor girl desperately needs a haircut.


H.H.

Day Book 5-29-11

This white cloud is my shaving cream. My mom was wiping down the shower and was drying off the bottle, when all of a sudden, the plug on the bottom popped out. It all oozed out. Very weird!

It's was so massive! Here it is in comparison to my head. :)

Mmmmm. Breakfast Sundae. (Actually oatmeal with brown sugar, raisins, craisins, blueberries, and cream.

Bringing Monet to the cross ties to be brushed. I'm holding her new lead rope.

Brushing her dirty coat.

She was very nervous and kept on whinnying. My mom took all these great shots!

Monet looks so pretty with her new halter at her new home. :)

Josh, Dad, and Monet.
She doesn't fit in the stall! lol
My favorite plate ever. Josh made it when he was 4 years old. I thought it was hideous back then, but now I love it. And I'm about to eat off it. :)


Outside my window: It's grey and warm. 67 degrees. I think it's about to rain, because it feels like that calm before the storm. I don't mind storms, though. I only hate them when they turn off the power suddenly and the house is entrenched in darkness. Too scary for me! The funny thing is that I'm tossing around the idea of law enforcement. AKA the F.B.I. Maybe it's not for me... ;)

I am listening to: My brother talk. My dad talk back to him. The whirring of the XBox, which is the subject of conversation. My mom slamming things around in the kitchen. Water sloshing in Bella's bowl as she drinks. My stomach growling. Man, I'm hungry!

I am wearing: Medium wash denim jeans and a forest green T-Shirt. My horse clothes. My dad and I are going up to the barn after we have lunch, so that's why this is what I'm wearing.

I am noticing that: The lilacs are bursting into full bloom. They're gorgeous and they smell delicious. My friend, Olivia, is allergic to them. I'm sad for her. It would be horrible to go through Spring without being able to smell a lilac or gather them up in a big heap.

I am remembering: Maybe 5 years ago we happened to have a visitor in our basement. He slipped through a small hole at the top of the cement wall. This visitor was a chipmunk. I have been terrified of chipmunks ever since I can remember.
My grandpa told me never to put my hand or finger in a chippy's hole, because it could bite my finger off. That obviously scared me. My cousin, Randy, on the other hand, thought they were cute. Once, at Randy's sister Meaghan's soccer game, Grandpa brought a caged one in the back of his truck to let loose somewhere by woods. Randy stuck his finger in the cage and the chipmunk bit him. Looking back, Randy didn't cry. I think it was because he knew he'd be in trouble if the adults found out. He could have gotten rabies!
Anyway, so the chipmunk was in our basement. Josh came running upstairs to tell me, and of course I didn't believe him. We had company over, and so I really didn't want to go downstairs. But he begged me...so I went. And there it was; scurrying over the concrete floor. I screamed and ran up to get my dad. Long story short, I stomped on its head with his foot! Hahaha. It was pretty funny. As he carried it outside I thought, "That little rascal deserves it." And imagined the mother chipmunk telling her children to "Never go in that house's basement because they'll stomp on your brains." I thought, "Bring it on little Napoleons. You all think you're so tough, but my dad will squish you around if anymore of you try."

I am looking forward to: Going on vacation. I have no clue where we're going or even IF we're going, but I'm totally ready. I want to go to Prince Edward Island and Maine and Niagara Falls this summer for my mom's milestone birthday. (I won't say how old she is. ;))


In the kitchen: My mother made these yummy looking brownies for Bible Study tonight. They are in cupcake liners and have a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup on each one. I can't wait to bite into the chocolate goodness. :)

You know where I'll be... ;)

H.H.