Labor Day Happenings.

This year we had kind of a quiet Labor Day, but quiet does

not mean any less fun or special!

We started our day out just us 5, and then had

family (and adopted little bro Steve) over to eat lunch with us!

And instead of just our normal "grill out hamburgers and brats" we

decided to do something different and try tacos :D

That was a great decision! They were wonderful!

After lunch (and 1st dessert) most of us ended up

outside playing bags.

Rach and I were the overall winners! We beat every other team

that we played!

And then while out ambling back from a walk we

noticed the poor, forlorn, Dano's Sno-Shack sitting alone

so we couldn't resist the opportunity to go by and take

some "we're sad" pictures!

Yeah, it was fun!

:D

But, what's better than when hilarity rules an afternoon and you can just laugh and laugh?! I certainly don't thing there is much...

Pancake Breakfast.





GAAAA!!!!! In case you haven't noticed, I've switched around some things on the blog here... We've got a new template (which I can't get off) (the template is the grayish thing that this post appears on) And just for something different I've rearranged the layout on here... Well, neither one of those things is "bad" but they're both new so I'm having a hard time figuring out how to get this post to look as normal as possible. AND blogger's now got a new way of editing posts... But the AWESOME thing (and I do mean AWESOME!!) is that I finally figured out how to upload my own pictures for a background! So you get the pleasure of seeing our smiling faces (right after we landed from skydiving) every time you get on here for the next near future!

Anyway, here are some pictures from the pancake breakfast that the Refuge hosted at Mendota Hills on Labor Day Sunday!
We started off the morning pretty early, so I came equipped with my coffee...

And here's Marge (ever so strongly) dismantling the Bisquick boxes *dismantling is much more fun to say than folding...* to get them ready to recycle.

Mourey and Brent making pancakes! After taking this

picture I really did go to work... I started flipping pancakes too!

Crystal textblogging... or trying to at least...

There were too many of us using the electric griddles from the same outlet so we kept blowing fuses. Brent decided to go create his pancakes by the front door to put his griddle on a separate outlet. ("creating" pancakes sounds much cooler than flipping...)

:D Jamie showed up just in time to make some more pancake mix for us!

And it was quite fun having him in the kitchen to tease! :D

Me creating my pancakes!

Rachel and Mom being the cheerful servers!

There was a short lull in pancake eaters for about 15 minutes so started making specially designed pancakes! :D

Happy happy...

:D 4star breakfast! (it would have been 5star, but I didn't have a big enough griddle...)

I made a special frog pancake for Sue because she likes frogs so much!

And last, but definitely not least...

The SUPERBEEKO pancake!!!!
I was making SuperMan pancakes, but thought to myself,

"pssh who wants a SuperMan pancake when they could have

a SUPERBEEKO one instead!!!"

:D Fun stuff!

Happy "its way past Labor Day!"

Or something like that...

Good Morning.

Let me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning,
for I am trusting in you. Show me where to walk, for I have
come to you in prayer. Save me from my enemies, Lord;
I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are
my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
~Psalm 143:8-10~

I read this when I woke up this morning and liked it, so I thought
I'd share it with you!
Have a great day!!

A Little Day Trip.

A few months ago we went on a day trip as a family.

We didn't go too far, but we kept busy and had a good time.
We went to a wildlife preserve in Peoria, IL.

I liked their welcome sign because it was written in quite

a few different languages.

There was this neat Indian statue too...

Isn't this very, um, unique carpet??

Yes, yes, I know it should have been obvious, but after
leaving I thought "wow, and all those animals were like
native to this area..."
:( Unfortunately the bears were hiding, but we did get to
see quite a lot of cool animals!
Crystal framing the framed sign that showed what weeds
to stay away from... Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac.

Traffic cones!! :) I just had to get a picture...

I really liked this picture too, I thought the little

goat face was quite cute.

Coyotes!

:D What a great sign... It was in the gift shop, and I almost bought

it I liked it so well. Almost...

A snake. (Mom went running out of the reptile house when

the handler brought this one back in from showing it off

outside).

Buffalo! There were so many of them and we were so close

to them! Only separated by a little fence. I kept thinking

"Uh, these things could stampede or whatever buffalo do

and kill us all!!" Sorry little morbid there, but hey! Seriously,

something bigger than my couch and at leas 5x as heavy running...

And we even got to see baby ones! I think this one

was only a few weeks old. So cute!

Then, after the wildlife place, we went to Bishop Hill, it was

pretty much a extremist/commune town way back when...

But now the old buildings are museums, they've got historical stuff,

and its all touristy. I liked it and so did Dad, but I think my

other family members where just more ready for air conditioner

and supper...

Getting documentation of our day :)

A cool picture of Rachel in a museum for you...

And then, after supper (where we ran into Mark, Sue, and Linda)

we went and paid a visit to Dano's...

:D And Mark, Sue, and Linda joined us for our "dessert" too!

It was a very fun, and very full day!

Can't believe it's like, FALL Already!

Though the circular round-and-round of routine be the bulk of life's affairs, make an occasional jutting diversion, of fun, love, or something that will outlast you-So the shape and motion of your life will resemble the round, lifegiving sun with bright rays shining forth, from all directions. ~ Terri Guillemets.

A few random words(and pictures) of wisdom for this Labor Day!

You looking to have a great Labor Day??

Well, just read the rest of this post first!!

I've got a few words of wisdom for you!

Get lots of hugs today!

(just try not to choke the small ones) :P

Don't do anything to make these guys come running!

(or their dear friends the police)...
Do something crazy!
Like maybe dance with a your sister at a restaurant just 'cause you can!

Do a little reminiscing...

Spend time with the people you love.

Goof off!
And take pictures, it makes for some great laughs later.

Listen to some music :D

And mostly, just enjoy every minute of today!

It will never ever come around again...

Now, have a great day everyone!