Evelyn Mae Fillmore

 Evelyn Mae Fillmore

7 pounds 14 ounces

 19 inches long

 Arrived @ 9:25pm

 September 24, 2012

Chubby girl. 

We're so glad she's here.

The Waiting Game

Babies are a huge blessing.  Today I got a rather frantic call from Sammi because her water broke and she wasn't sure that was what was happening.  Anyway, Jeff took her to the hospital this morning and now almost 12 hours later we're waiting for the arrival of our fourth grandchild and second granddaughter.  I know first babies typically take longer than the subsequent births, but it seems to be harder to be the one waiting than the one going through it.  Perhaps knowing that the process is taking a toll of my daughter makes it harder to think about, so I try not to think about it all day long.  Either way, at my age, there's no way I would want to be like Abraham's Sarah so I'll let my married children do this birthing. 

So here we are waiting on little Evelyn to make her entrance into this world.  I'm sure I'll have more to say tomorrow along with a photo.  Gotta love this grandparent thing.

Volleyball Season

I've loved volleyball for a lot of years.  I played in high school and then in college I played intramural ball.  Just before I got married, I began playing in a league which I did for many, many years.  I loved it! 
When Erin was in 8th grade, I began coaching at the jr. high level.  I coached for four years and enjoyed it thoroughly.  I gave it up as I was missing my own girls' games because I was at the jr. high games.  That, and I looked at the upcoming girls and decided I didn't want to coach them. 

That's when I began officiating.  At first I only did a few games, but now I'm busy two or three afternoons each week for about five weeks.  I still get to watch the girls play but now I not only get paid to be there, but I don't have to go to practice and put up with all their drama or the parents.  Not all parents are a pain.  In fact, only a few were.

Volleyball has become a great way for me to save money for birthdays, Christmas and other fun stuff.  I don't use that money to pay bills.  I think everyone should have a way to earn some "fun money." 

This week I do my first varsity matches.  I'm not really excited about officiating at that level, but it will be good experience.  I much prefer working after school with the younger girls rather than the evenings with the more experienced ones.  Wish me luck.  I get to work with Chuckalicious!  (That was for you Erin.)

My Sweetie and I

Here's the photo from taking our Shipwreck Tour in Munising.  As we boarded the boat, we had to stop and get our photo taken.  When we got back from the tour, the same girl gave me this photo.  I believe we were supposed to be so thrilled that we would go inside and buy a frame as a forever keepsake.  Not happening!
It's a nice picture of the two of us, but nothing I would pay big bucks for.

As So It Begins

 Seminary 2012-13 has officially begun.  We had our second class this morning.  Yesterday I had a lot of things to explain to the newbies so our time was gone before I could take the picture.  Therefore, we got a second day of seminary picture. 

These ten youth are great!  Leave it to my son to ruin an otherwise good picture.  

 Then again, leave it to my son and his best friend to ruin my picture.

 Those two needed this picture and again, Andrew ruined it.

In the end, I only need one good one.  We're studying the New Testament and I believe we'll have a great time together.  It's my second time around so hopefully I'll be better at it this time.  I do thank my Heavenly Father for this opportunity.  It is an amazing calling that I never thought I could do and now I can't imagine not doing it. 

Here we go!

Labor Day

The last official day of summer. : (  Oh well, it was a wonderful summer filled with trips and family and fun!  Labor day must be made for laboring cause I spend a lot of time working today.  Finishing Andrew's eagle project was the first order of business this morning.  Then mowing lawn,  Trimming branches from some trees and bushes and then hauling them away was another job just waiting to be done.  It got done today.  I grilled out some dogs and burgers and we ate a scrumptious lunch. 
A visit to Ivan and Nancy Heins so Pat could fix on their camper.  Playing with the grandkids and finishing the day with a bicycle ride.  It was a very nice day. 

School begins in the morning and thus my new class of seminary students.  Ten beautiful faces this year.  I'll post a pic of them as soon as I take it.  Hopefully tomorrow.  Happy Fall, Y'all.

Mt. Olympus

 On Thursday the Gourleys and the Plesheks traveled to Wisconsin Dells to go to Mt. Olympus since we had 8, count them 8, free waterpark passes.  I've never been there before.  It's HUGE!  If that entire parking lot was full, it would be insane!  While we waited for everyone to change, my husband took Cami to this kid's rollercoaster and she got on.  She went for three rides.  The thing is, we didn't upgrade our tickets so the rides weren't included in the package.  She got a couple of extra freebies.

Since we had little ones along, someone had to stay at the kiddie playland with Cami, Adam and Brock.  Here's Adam going down the pelican slide.  I love his face.

 He also went down the duck slide a time or two while Andrew was his chaperone.

 He also went down a bigger slide.  He was funny as he didn't want to go too fast so he'd use his hands to make sure he didn't.

 Brock's favorite were the bubbling things on the floor of the pool.  He stood or sat on me for a very long time just feeling the bubbling water.  It was really bright.

It was great to be with family doing something fun.  Wish we could've all been there, but that won't happen for some time.  I guess I had fun, but don't necessarily need to go all the way to the Dells when the Lodge indoor park is in Wausau.

The funniest thing of the entire day was Tom and I going down a slide on a double tube.  He sat in front.  Tom doesn't like water splashed in his face.  When we got to the bottom, he either jumped off the front or fell off and went under the water.  The current was going so fast that I ran him over and he couldn't get up from under the water.  I shouldn't have laughed but it was so funny just because it was Tom.  Some of you might think that's cruel, but my family will get it.