Happiest Girl Alive!!

So last night Brooklyn, Tim and I got to meet Bill Jordan and Martin Truex, Jr. live and upclose!! For those of you who don't know Bill Jordan, he was the man who designed Realtree Camo. And for those of you who don't know Marting Truex, Jr., he is the NASCAR driver for Bass Pro Shop. Now, I will have to admit, I felt a little corny walking into a room of men all dressed in camo just sitting around watching football, but let me tell you, these boys will make you feel right at home. I know they are human just like us, but man are they really some great guys!! Bill signed the picture we have with her and her first buck. He then showed it to Martin and said "this is our new guide right here....maybe we should be hunting with her!" She really got a kick out of that!! Above is a picture of Brooklyn with Martin on the left and Bill on the right.

First Deer of the Year!!!

Although this isn't Brooklyn's first time tagging a deer, it is her first time tagging a buck! Not only a buck, but a 10 point buck!! Today was the first day of shotgun season and her and Tim were in their tree stand and they were about to give up when Tim saw this buck running through an open field. Brooklyn had just asked if they could leave because she couldn't feel her toes anymore. He showed her where the buck was and she quickly picked up her gun and BANG!!! Tim said she is a great shot!! Of course, this deer will be mounted as it is her first buck and it is a pretty good sized one at that.

Today was a wonderful day!! Brooklyn received her certificate for Honor Roll for her first quarter of 6th grade!! WAY TO GO BROOKLYN!! Tim and I are SO proud of her!!!

Halloween 2008

So Brooklyn and I had a slight dispute on who she was going to be portraying this Halloween. We originally decided on Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. Once she was dressed and the hair and makeup was done she thought it would be better if she went to her 6th grade Halloween Party as Paris Hilton. When did Paris become a Halloween costume?? YIKES!!! Anyway, here are just a few pics taken from my cell phone. She looks SO grown up!!

Mr. & Mrs. Tim Riech

So on October 11, 2008 my sister, Julie, tied the knot!! She looked beautiful!! It was a gorgeous wedding!! We all had a great time. I am posting some pix so you can see how much fun we had!!!

New Additions!!

This weekend our family added two new additions. These sweet little girls were adopted from the APL. They are 5 weeks apart from eachother and came from the same foster home. The black kitten is Lois. The other is named Ethell. They are named after my great-great-aunts. Two of the most amazing women I know. Brooklyn has taken over Lois and I have pretty much taken over Ethell. I am posting a couple pix of them so you can see why we love them SO much!!!

Family Update

So it has been a while since I posted a blog, so here we go......

Tim is still working nights. It hasn't been too bad. I think we have handled it well. He received a raise so that is always a plus!

Brooklyn is truly enjoying 6th grade. She just recently performed at our Homecoming football game with the Pom squad. She did an AWESOME job!! Unfortunately, I did not take my camera so I cannot show you any pix.

Although, I do have a couple of pix from our Harvest Fest Parade. You might recognize the person in the pix. Yup, you guessed it. It is ME!! This is my 5th year I believe as Smokey the Bear. I can't begin to tell you the rush you get coming down the street on the front of a fire engine hearing those little kids screaming your name. Well, Smokey's name. LOL

My bestest friend in the whole wide world is getting married on October 11, 2008. Her soon to be husband is a great guy. He is very good to her and she deserves it!! She has two sweet little boys that I love with all my heart. Julie and I have been friends for about 7 years and she has a wonderful family that is very welcoming. They pretty much adopted me, whether they wanted to or not, lol, but I inherited the sister I always wanted and three brothers. These folks are the type that you can count on to always have your back if you need them!! I love them!!! Julie picked out her dress Sunday and the bridesmaids picked out their dresses also. Mine had to be ordered, but that's okay, I can't wait to put it on again!! Julie looked absolutely beautiful in her dress!! I was tearing up as soon as she came out. She is going to make a gorgeous bride!!! We can't wait.

Oh, lastly, we have made a family decision to adopt two baby kittens from the APL. We are so excited to go pick them out this weekend. We will not be bringing them home as October is going to be a very busy month and I don't want to bring them into our home and then leave them very much at first. So we are going this weekend to look at the new kittens and put our name on the two sisters that we will adopt the end of October. We are all very excited!!!

I think that is about all of the updates I have for now. I will keep you posted should anything new come about.

Reunited!!

This weekend Tim, Brooklyn and I were able to visit with our old family member, Tater Tot!!! We gave Tate to a very loving family approximately 2 years ago and I have missed her more than words can say. She was a great dog! Anyway, she is much happier where she is now. There is always someone home to keep her company and she has 4 beautiful girls to play with. We LOVE you Tater Tot and can't wait to see you again!!

6th Grade!!

It's hard to believe that today is the first day of school!! Especially considering the fact that Brooklyn is going into the 6th grade!! She is very excited!! We hardly slept a wink last night. She was up and ready 45 minutes before she had to leave. We are pretty sure that won't last long!!

2008 Dolphin Swim Team

Yesterday was our Dolphin Swim Team pool party. It was a great time! The parents finally got to jump in the pool. IT WAS WONDERFUL!! The goal for yesterday was to see who was going to Conference this Friday and who wasn't. Unfortunately we are not going to Conference this year. We are okay with that as we understand it was our first year. Brooklyn is a GREAT job for her first year on the swim team and we can't wait for next year!! We are SO VERY PROUD of her!!!

Brooklyn's "do"

Here are a few pix of Brooklyn's new "do" that her hairdresser gave her. She felt like quite the pop star as you can see. Now if she could only curl her own hair we would be set!!

End of Season

Last night was our last night of swim meets. It was a hot one. We swam against Taylorville and they had the most kids I have seen this year! All very good swimmers!! Brooklyn only competed in 3 events and did wonderful in all three. On Sunday the Swim Team is having a pool party and we find out then who is going to Conference next Friday.

Also, we would like to send a big CONGRATULATIONS to Ingrid Umbach who was crowned Jr. Miss Menard County last night. She is a good friend of Brooklyn's. We missed the event, but were glad to hear she won!! WAY TO GO INGRID!!

Brooklyn went to get her hair trimmed and layered today and Amy that cuts our hair styled Brooklyn's the same way she styled Ingrid's last night. She looked beautiful!! If I get some pix before she messes it up I will post them!!

Have a great week everyone!!

Way to GO Brooklyn!!!

We only have 2 more swim meets left and Brooklyn has done a magnificent job!! Last night was a home meet against Panther Creek. Due to the weather, Panther Creek did not bring many older swimmers. Therefore, Brooklyn was moved up to swim with the 15-18 year olds. She placed 2nd in two events and dropped her freestyle time by another 4 seconds!! She is nearly swimming the 50 meter freestyle in almost 1/2 a minute!! WAY TO GO BROOKLYN!!!

Brooklyn's First Swim Meet

So last night was our first swim meet. PORTA v. Jacksonville. Being a first timer we found out alot about swimming. First of all, the competition is from ages 5-18. That is alot of kids!! We, for some reason still unknown to me, volunteered to be "timers". We were in charge of keeping track of the times for the kids competeing in our lane. NEVER DOING IT AGAIN!! It was a great learning experience and I am glad I did it. But it was just way too much stress for me! Anyway, Brooklyn competed in the 50 meter freestyle and the 50 meter backstroke. (For those of you who don't know, as I didn't, the 50 meter is the length of the pool and back) Brooklyn finished FIRST in the freestyle and SECOND in the backstroke. We couldn't have been more proud!! She was AMAZING!!! She completed the 50 meter (there and back) freestyle in LESS THAN A MINUTE!! You heard me right!! She followed their slogan all the way through!!! "Swim like a shark or sink like a rock!!"

First Camping Trip

This past weekend we went on our first camping trip in our new camper. Well, new to us that is. It was, Tim, Brooklyn, my Mom and I. Oh, and Ceasar and Stella went too. It rained alot that weekend, but it was still a great time and a great learning experience. We are now addicted to camping!! Every free weekend will be spent in the camper!!

Gum Family Update

Wow, it seems like forever since I have posted anything. There are so many things to catch you up on that I may forget something. So bear with me please.

We purchased a camper with my mom. It is a GREAT investment. We have been working on cleaning it up and getting it ready for our first campout. With everyone's schedules, it is hard to get something set up so we can go.

Brooklyn has officially joined the Dolphin Swim Team. Her first meet is 06/10. We are all very excited for her! She has also joined the PORTA Central Garden Club. She is getting very excited about this summer! I think we all are!

Tim, well, he is getting ready to take his final at LLCC. Then he starts his new shift in June. He shot a turkey yesterday at 8:00 a.m. He was a big one!! He weighed in at 23.5 lbs. He had a 10 1/2 inch beard and 1 1/4 inch spurs. We are making plans to get him mounted. We are all very proud of him for that.

As for me, nothing new here. Still loosing weight. Sticking to the Dr's instructions. Still walking. Not as much as I was, but I am hoping this weather will cooperate and I can walk in the evenings! Oh, I almost forgot......I'm a brunette now!! Yup, that's right. I dyed my hair!! Well, not me, but I paid someone to do it. I LOVE IT!!! It is a bit of a shock at first for everyone, but I think it is growing on them!

One last update, Brooklyn had more blood work done last week and the results are in. She has to see a Rheumotologist in June. We are hoping for the best, but just an answer would be great! Not as many problems lately, just following up on it though.

I will try to be better at keeping you all up to date!! Thanks for taking the time to read.

Gum Family Update

Well, let's see...where do I begin. Brooklyn and my mom made it home okay. Brooklyn had a blast with my family in New Mexico and she had an awesome time skiing in Colorado for the first time!! I have not received any pix yet, but when I do, I will be sure to post them.

Brooklyn auditioned for the school play "Into the Woods". She and 104 other students (5th -8th grade) auditioned. She did not get a lead role, but was given a chance to be a supporting fairy tale character. She and two of her friends are going to be the Three Little Pigs. She is very excited, as are we. She does not have any lines in the play, but we all feel that this will give her a taste of it. We have come to the conclusion that Brooklyn does not enjoy band very well. She advised us the other night that next year she wants to try the claranet. I explained to her that we can't buy a new instrument every year. Therefore, we have decided to take her out of band next year and just have her in choir. Those of you who know Brooklyn, know that she loves to sing and perform. We think she will do better in choir and have less on her plate with only doing one. You see, in 5th grade you have the choice of doing either or doing them both. Of course, being her first year for either she chose both. She is good at playing the flute, she just doesn't seem to enjoy it.

Other than that, nothing too exciting has been going on. I have actually been sick for the last two weeks. I thought it was just a cold and have come to the conclusion that it is much more. I went home yesterday afternoon sick to my stomach. I found out at the Dr. on Monday that I have more than just acid reflux. I have another condition I wish not to speak of online. Therefore, I have been put on a strict diet (which sucks) and have started exercising. I know for many of you, you are thinking...."it's about time"....but for others they know how much I like to cook, bake and then eat. I am a little large for my age, but I am happy with who I am and I have come to love myself for who I am. I hope you all have too!!

Brooklyn is about to turn 11. I can't believe that she is almost a teenager!! I think we have done well with her though. I think she is a very well behaved child and I think she has a good head on her shoulders. I have had some worries with the other children she hangs around with at school as I know how much of a "follower" our daughter is. But, I have decided that she will be just fine. I think she knows when to stop "following" if you know what I mean. Happy Birthday BABY!!!

Well, I think that is it for now. I will keep you posted on the play and how that goes.

Brooklyn's Trip

Well, Brooklyn just called and she is standing in line at the St. Louis Airport waiting to board her plane. I guess I better let you know what she is doing and where she is going. Brooklyn and my mom are on their way to Farmington, NM. They are going to stay with my Aunt and Uncle there. Then on Sunday they are driving up to Durango, CO to take Brooklyn on her first ski trip. Brooklyn and my mom are very excited about the trip. I am excited for them, but nervous at the same time. This is Brooklyn's first out of state trip w/o me or Tim. I trust my mom completely, but there is always that thought in the back of your head. Anyway, I will keep you all posted on how her trip goes. I am expecting lots of calls from her today b/c she is supposed to call me when they board, when they land, when they board, when they land and when they get to Farmington. They are flying out of St. Louis, MO to Dallas, TX to Albuquerque, NM. Then they are driving 3 hours to Farmington. I'm sure she will have a BLAST!!!