Aruba

The above pictures are from our trip to Aruba.  The island was beautiful, clean, warm but always windy!  We had a great time even though is was stressful trying to leave and come home because of the weather, but it was well worth it!  This was my favorite island so far, next to Dominican Republic.  The place we stayed in was gorgeous and scenic as you can see by the view from our balcony.  This was our 5th year going with the group and I thank God every year for the great blessing of these trips.  A big thank you to Chris for all of his hard work and his great customers!

No School, so what should we do?

Leave it Tressa to think up things to help Fancy be more comfortable! No school yesterday due to the ice on the roads. I really enjoy these days, because I can spend more time with the girls, they make me laugh. Shawna reminded me over the weekend that Tressa will graduate in 5 years!! What? Can't be true! It makes very sad and I want to adopt a child from Haiti now. Chris will probably put his foot down on that, but I still may ask. I just asked him and he said I should already know the answer to that...

Well, it is 12:00 and Chris has come in to make lunch and catch up on his Fox News. I am still in my PJ's and just finished 4 dozen of cookies for the EHMS dance tonight. Brownies will be made tomorrow for the Donkey Basketball. I am very fortunate to have such a wonderful husband who takes such great care of us, I pray the girls will marry someone just like their Dad. Better get a shower and act like up did something around here...

Winter of 2010

Thank you Kennedy for braving the cold weather to do a photo shoot for Mom. This one is my favorite of the bunch so I decided to show it off. Our first big snow of the season has already melted away, but before it did the girls took several evenings to enjoy it either by sledding behind the mule or down the hill at the cemetary. They have a wonderful Dad who enjoys being outside in the cold, not Mom.

Wedding of Mark and Lindsay January 9, 10

Mark and Lindsay were married over the weekend and it was beautiful. We had a great time and Tressa did a great job as the Guestbook Girl. Kennedy thought Lindsay looked beautiful and she did! What a wonderul couple and we are so lucky to have them as neighbors! Here are a couple of pictures.

Tressa takes a sleigh ride

First snowfall of the season and Dad went and bought some new sleds. Each daughter got a turn to take a ride out in the field, but I only got a video of T-bird taking a ride. It was a lot of fun for me as well as her. Thanks Dad for being so good to us!

Christmas with the Chicks

The chicks took their families downtown to see the lights and eat at the Spaghetti Factory. Another great night in Indy perfect weather to see the large tree on the circle and finish up at Starbucks. The kids and husbands were well behaved which is such a relief, you never know when the husbands will act up! Love these ladies and appreciate all of their prayers and support as I journey through motherhood.

Winter Solstice

It's the most wonderful time of the year! No, not the Winter Solstice, but close...Christmas! The girls and I love this time of the year. Last week Grandpa Karl drove us to the IMA for the celebration of the Winter Solstice at the Lilly House. The weather was perfect and we were able to see reindeer, owls and take a tour of the Lilly House decorated for Christmas. We ended the evening with a drink at Starbucks.

Birthdays

Its that time of year again where half of the Messmore family celebrates their birthdays. Ashton turned 30 this year which is hard to believe. I can't believe it was 30 years ago that I was in 7th grade when I was told to come to the office for a message that I have a nephew, it took me awhile to figure out that a nephew meant it was a boy.

Tressa turned 13 the day after Ash and I celebrated ours, we celebrated with a couple of parties and finalized it with a slumber party and a trip to laser tag. She had a great time and is growing up to be a wonderful daughter who gets in trouble for teasing her sister.

We are preparing for Thanksgiving and celebrating with family, thank you God for a great year!

Tressa the Model

Tressa and I found a great place to take pictures and this is one of our favorites! She is growing up so fast and looks great in the neighbors dresses, thanks gals!

I love to read in the trunk.

A couple of weeks ago Kennedy and I cleaned out her room. Along with the many toys and clothes given away, a box of books were supposed to go to Goodwill too. However, early the next morning Kennedy remembered that Dad had put them in his trunk and decided to open the trunk and read while mom and dad weren't looking. She can "focus" when she wants to. We love ya K!

Bigger Loser II

Team Tugboat won the Biggest Loser this time. Hunt was the biggest loser shedding 32 pounds! Great Job!! I personally just love getting together on Sunday evenings for the food, yummy!

Photography award

Tressa and I entered pictures in the Riley Days Photography contest. Tress won the Hollenbaugh Award for her picture taken of K and Uncle Lon (see previous blog) and a first and second prize in another category. We are very proud of her. She also received a $500 grant for her school.

Boiler Up!

For the Labor Day weekend took the girls to Dads Alma Mater, Purdue, to see them beat Toledo. It was very hot, but we survived and enjoyed the day. We also took the "fan experience" tour and went down on the field before the game. Tressa loved watching the band, as does Mom. That is her watching them in the top photo. Kennedy enjoyed being the "ham" in our picture as I gave up and let her steal the show. Thanks girls for being so good and letting us treat you to more memories with Mom and Dad. Oh, how could I forget, Mark also proposed to Lindsay and she said "Yes!". I was the first person to inform Jack about the engagement, he was very happy!

Kennedy riding the horse video

2009-2010 First Day of School.

The first day of school for the 2nd grader and 7th grader.
Kennedy is ready for 2nd Grade, Mrs Bynums class. Peace Baby! The T-bird rocks!


Dad and his pride and joy! I really think Tressa looks like she is going to cry, because she has to leave Mom.

Weekend at the lake

A big "thank you" goes out to Helen and Dick for their wonderful home to enjoy friends and family. We had great weather to go swimming and boating. Kennedy said her favorite part was swimming with Uncle Lon, but "he should wear his life jacket." I know "K," he never listened to me so don't expect him to listen to you. In the above picture Uncle Lon and Kennedy do one of their many jumps of the pier. The funny for the day was when Uncle Lon and Kennedy swam far out from the pier and Tressa went down to check on them, when Kennedy saw her she told Uncle Lon, "don't worry we are too far out she won't jump in and swim out here, " and she was right.

Smokey Mountains

Isn't he cute? This is one of the three cubs and their Mom that we saw in one tree on our trip through the Smokey Mountains, Cades Cove. I took this picture of him as I was standing out the sunroof and we were right under him. Kennedy was right beside me and he stopped eating his leaves and looked right at us! Tressa had taken the day to go with Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Julie to the Biltmore Mansion in Ashville, NC. We had a great time, relaxing and beautiful views. Other then the raccoons that got in the trash every night we were so blessed. The girls loved the pool and the steep road to get to our cabin. I loved the view from the Newfound Gap (TN & NC state line) other than T-Bird pouting the whole time that we had taken a wrong turn and we had not reached our swimming hole yet. Oh well, the memories are dear and we hope all will enjoy another time soon.

Mody and Me

Last week we were finally able to get up to Modys house to enjoy the pond, sun and her wonderful food! Had a great time visiting and seeing Nancy and Aunt Lisa. What a gorgeous day, perfect weather for laying out in the sun and tubing. The girls were worn out on the way home!

We had just finished a long walk with Lindsay and Shannon which consisted of some back woods hiking and walking down the creek, which the dogs loved! The girls came home and needed to clean their feet and K thought why not kill two birds with one stone, potty and have my sister clean my feet!

And I shaved my legs for this?

Tressa was invited by the "block gals" to see the new Harry Potter movie. Alas, this moment called for the first shave of the legs! A couple of days before this she wanted me to check her hair because it had been itching, don't tell her, but I could not really check it unless I stood on my toes and I wasn't going to do that. I would not hear the end of how I am getting taller then you! She is growing up and there are many days when I wish she was that little baby and listened to every word I said and did not question why, but they all grow up. Oh well, I still have little sis who thinks mom is awesome.