Why I might need therapy!

My mom gave me a bag of stuff that was left over from old room at home. Apparently, I had left behind a few odd and ends. Anyway, last night I am going through an old box labeled "Birthday Cards". I had birthday cards, graduation cards (8th grade), college graduation cards... I figured it was time to go throught them and throw some of them away. So as I am looking through them, I come across this card.


Now there's nothing too out of the ordinary about this card. It's kinda cute. It's gotta somewhat funny punch line. And it's got a picture of a ten speed bike that mom cut out and glued inside the card.

Now, I'm thinking about this bike picture and I'm saying to myself:

I NEVER GOT THAT BIKE!!!

I totally got scammed for my 13th birthday! The promise of a bike that never came to be.

So I called mom last night to inform her and dad that they owe me a ten speed bike. She tried telling me that I got a bike at some point, but I clarified by saying that I did have a small bike that I learned to ride on and then later KIMBERLY got a red ten-speed bike that I would ride, BUT I never got a new bike after that. The forgotten child once again!!

So what did I get for my 13th birthday if I didn't get that bike???? I can not remember. I'm sure I probably got something, but it sure doesn't stand out in my memory.

Mom and I had a good laugh about this over the phone. I'm going to have fun bringing this up for years to come!!

Two little monkeys

These two monkeys, aka, Meredith and Natalie spent the evening at our house Sunday evening while Kim and Roscoe went out to dinner alone. A much needed break, I'm sure. Our evening included watching Mickey saves Santa, playing the Dora Memory game and playing dress-up. The girls were good and seemed to have a good time. I even did their hair. As you can see from the pictures, I think I missed my calling as a stylist.

* In my best singing voice* --OH, ya got to have friiiiieeends, la la la la la .....

Last weekend, Dan and I went to the big ole' town of Ozark Illinois. Well, ok, it's not really a town. It's more like a Willie's Station, for those of you who know what that means. Anyway, to give you a better picture, we were 20 miles south of Marion Illinois. Now what would take us to such a rural area of the state? Well, friends of course. Meet the Coopers!!




This is Aaron and Michelle and their adorable kids Kristin and Luke. Michelle and I met at SIU while we were both majoring in Elementary Ed. (we're both retired from teaching now) and have continued to stay in touch and see each other about once or twice a year.

We had a lot of fun visting with them. Dan and I even got to be Kristin's show and tell for Pre-school. She took in pictures of us to tell her class about our visit.

Here's a few more pictures of our visit.






Kristin loved playing with Dan. He'd pick her up and turn her upside down, and she liked the way he could talk like Donald Duck. Luke didn't really like it when I held him. He wasn't feeling good that day, so he was wanting mom to hold him, not me.







Thanks Coopers for a great time!!!!!