Economic Stimulus Put to Good Use

President Bush will be so proud of us! We did exactly what he asked us to with our ES Rebate! After 9 years, countless hours and 3 moves our 900lb TV bit the dust. Bless its heart it gave us fair warning, much unlike the self centered iron who just up and jumped one day! We thought we were going to be able to salvage another year out of it, but no, it was tired and ready to retire. Tim couldn't take the blinking anymore so we spent 90% of the day on Saturday shopping for TV's. We started out looking for a 32" but ended up with 42". Isn't that just how it always goes? The kids are thrilled and Brock says it is jumongus. So next time a ballgame or something like that comes on, party at the Ballards! I can't wait to watch the College World Series on this bad boy!

Friends!

Sometimes you just have to sit back and admire the beauty of having friends!

Replacement!

Well, here is the latest purchase in the Ballard house. For as much as it cost, I think I am going to name the blasted thing. Thanks to my dear friend Tina, the ultimate domestic goddess for her specific coaching during my search. I am pretty sure God put Tina in my life because he knew all of the help I would need coming through this stage in my life! I don't know what I would do without her!

I guess this means that I have to iron now?!?! I am not thinking happy thoughts!

In Honor of Lisa

My dear friend Lisa brought this to my attention not too long ago. Hilarious! Here is to you Lisa!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKU3aHd7CFA

What a Crew!

Our lifegroup is so much fun, and we feel so blessed to have this group of friends in our lives. We always have so much fun together doing the most simple things. One of the best things is watching our kids play together. These kids truly love being together, and I know they are developing friendships that are going to last their entire lives. That is only one of the benefits of us all getting together each week. Last night, we were supposed to have a diaper shower for the Fielders, but Jacey decided she didn't want to miss her own party. She made her appearance this week and the shower was postponed. We ended up getting together at the Bowman's park anyway, and the weather actually cooperated. There was a lot of standing water that most of the boys (& Lucy) took full advantage of! Brock was having nothing to do with the mud. I don't know if that makes me happy or concerned. Anyway here are some of the great pictures from a fun night.

The Bowman boys

Jack & Lucy

Parker & Caroline

Claire & Brock

Colin & Eli

Boys will be boys!

Girls Only Club

Brock & Caroline take advantage of good sidewalks to ride on.

Cade & Parker getting in on the mud action

Baseball Season Begins!

This week we have ushered in the beginning of baseball season. This is such a hectic time of the year for my poor parents, but they love it. This past weekend Blakely and Kayely began their season by playing each other, and then immediately following their game Grant began his. Last night Brock had his opening game at 5:30 and Benjamin started on the field beside his at 5:45. It was and exciting night for Brock. I didn't get to see the game except for the 2 times he batted and through the pictures because I took the 1st shift in the concession stand. He said he had a great time, but his favorite things were being in the dugout and batting. He still doesn't like "gloving". I am looking forward to Friday when I can actually watch the game. I appreciate my dad taking the pictures for me. He even took some of Benjamin for my sister who is at Space Camp with KM.

Funny Story... Kayely was playing Catcher at their game (she is AWESOME! I think it may have to do with Benjamin and his friend Jacob pitching to her. The girl is scared of nothing!). She was catching and Blakely was at bat. Blakely struck out but Kayely dropped the 3rd strike. The coaches screamed for her to run which she did. Kayely overthrew 1st base, and then the rest of her team overthrew and chased the ball as Blakely scored and in the park home run on a strike out. We were all laughing about it after the game and Blakely told us "What can I say I am the Worlds Greatest Striker Outer!" We were all in stitches. On a positive note for KM made the traveling team so she will hopefully see some fun times on that team.

Pre Game Posing

Warming Up

Dug Out Fun

Dad Close By to help

and to cheer

He got tagged out on his way to 3rd and he wasn't happy! He didn't cry though so I was glad of that!

Benjamin looks Huge!

He got a double on this hit.

So my luck!

Okay so I guess my iron was in protest from lack of use and threw itself from the shelf. It committed suicide. So now, even though I think it is a total waste of money, I have to buy a new one. I obviously don't know what kind of iron to buy so I need some suggestions. Please let me know if you have an iron that you love, if that is actually possible.

Health News

Okay so yesterday I had a scope done and they didn't find an ulcer. The good news is that there is no ulcer, the bad news is that they still don't know why I am feeling like I have a lightening rod in my gut. So next week I get to have more test done. Yipee! Actually, if they give me more of that medication from yesterday I don't think I will care. It was crazy! Apparently I had a conversation with the Dr, ate some lunch (at a place that I requested), and talked on the phone to several people and don't remember a THING! The way I remember it all going is that the dr put some meds into my IV and asked if I was feeling anything just yet (I totally was) and then I woke up this morning at 8 AM. So, if we talked on Friday and I agreed to something that I need to know about PLEASE let me know.

I will let you know what they find out next week.

I hate laundry

That is all I really wanted to say today. I spent 2.5 hours this morning folding clothes. There were MOUNDS! I know Tina Brown will be horrified that I hadn't folded them as they came out of the dryer, but I REALLY hate to fold clothes. I also hate to iron. I still have things from last summer that need to be ironed since the season is rolling around again. If anyone knows of someone that might want to hire out ironing...send them my way!

Also, tomorrow at 12:45 I go in to have a scope done. I will know more about why I feel like my insides are on fire. There are 2 things that I am really worried about...1. They give you funny juice to make you not care that they are sticking a camera down your throat. If you haven't heard this already, I am quite a mess when given these meds. I have a long history of things I have said and done under the influence of these drugs. Needless to say, I am apprehensive about what might come out of my mouth. 2. I can't have anything to eat or drink before the procedure. Seriously, have any of you ever known me to go that long in the day without a Dr. Pepper? I can handle the not eating part, but no DP?!!?!?!

New Kids On The Block!

Okay so a couple of you guys, hello Lauryn ~ glad you found my blog!, have referenced my New Kids on the Block song on my play list. There is a story behind it, and I feel compelled to share it. I am a product of the late 80's and early 90's so therefore my music taste are rooted there along with my affinity (although I do try and suppress it) to big hair. I had some big hair! Anyway, my junior year of high school New Kids came to LR. I liked their music but wasn't going to stand in line to get tickets. My dad however, heard that this band was coming to town that all the girls were in love with, so without me knowing he went! (My dad has always spoiled me rotten!)Martha was spending the night with me that night (as was the usual custom), and he woke us up that morning flashing 4 tickets. We were totally surprised and excited. In high school, there were 4 of us who were totally inseparable, and since my boyfriend wasn't going to be caught dead there, we four girls went. It was one of the best times of my life. We had a blast and laughed and screamed and sang for the hours of the concert, and the hours following. It was great. The funny thing about it was that Martha and Kelly were the calm ones of the group and they were the ones screaming the loudest. Jessica and I were in total shock at them and were unusually less vocal. It was such a great night. I am going to go through my old pictures and find the ones of that night. I told Martha that if they really do go back out on tour we are so going! Hopefully, it will be after Jessica moves home from Rwanda, and who knows we may have found Kelly again by then. Those girls made high school so awesome and I love them dearly! So, enjoy the music. I hope that it takes you to a fun place in your history and remember ~ New Kids FOREVER!