HAPPY FATHERS DAY 2010 !!

1st things 1st, cards and hugs for Dad !!

I had such a FUN time planning Father's Day this year! had to do it on the "Sneak" because Mandy would have told her Dad without even realizing it ! I did ask for her assistance with where we should take Daddy for Brunch, and her response was, "Where ever they have French Toast" So we ended up at LumberJack . we had to wait a little while, BUT, it was WORTH it! Yummy as usual!!

Is it time YET????

Waiting for Yummy food !

1st stop after breakfast was to the Benton Air park! They had a GREAT bunch of planes on display.

We saw a couple of helicopter's and, Mandy got so excited, She spotted an Air Ambulance from "Mercy" which she affectionately calls "Her Hospital"! the flight paramedic asked if she would like to sit in the pilots seat, she was a bit apprehensive, and the paramedic lifted her up to the seat! WOW did she get excited !!

She does'nt look HAPPY at all , DOES SHE.........

We went on to, the Shasta District Fair, after the Air park. Mandy and I saw a GINORMOUS Pig ( above), it weighs in at OVER 1,000 lbs !

This year's theme was, "Fair's NO Place Like Home"

Mandy LOVED petting the pigme goats, they were so SOFT!

We were pretty tired, so we got a cold drink, and we asked Dad what he wanted to do next, his reply, "GO HOME"! What a GREAT Day!!!!

RELAY FOR LIFE 2010

Mandy's class has the chance to do ALL the recycling and keep the funds collected from it , for, "Relay For Life" , it took place this weekend ( June 12th and the 13th) Mandy and I went out both day's to assist collecting and sorting. VERY cool, what an AWESOME experience !

We went out early Saturday,before festivities started, and stayed all day into the evening.

WOW was it HOT ! there was a breeze the 1st part of the day, I think that "saved us" but into the afternoon, it started to warm up ! Mandy was a little whiny at 1st. but, shortly after things started she realized why we were there ( to help recycle) and LOVED every minute. She said to me several times during the day how she LOVED being there and working with her friends !

I have a few pictures that I took, and the rest friend's have shared with me ! Was such an enjoyable time, we worked hard,but it was so worth it and once again the recycling benefits will go to our kids ! This was only Mandy's and my 2nd year participating BUT, we have decided its a DEFINITE winner , Was AWESOME to be among ALL the survivor's who marched and the other family and friends teams to fight for such an awful disease that their family members and friends have been stricken with or lost their battle with !

A Few pictures of Recycle Area and the camp where 2 of our teachers , and a few of the kids and some of the Mom's even stayed over, to keep recycling going thru the night!!

Mary dumps 1 of Many bag's of recyclables !!!!!!

One of MANY sponser's that was giving away FREE goodies ! in this case, a "Visor" that was a VERY welcome freebie as it started to get warm in the afternoon !!


while we were out collecting the recycling, the mascot from US Bank, waved at Mandy, she got so excited !! I snapped a quick pic. and as we walked away Mandy said Bye and waved , and the Red square waved back and said bye, when she did " Mandy said , THERE'S A GIRL IN THERE"... She was VERY excited !


Throughout the day & whole 24 hours , several classmates and their parents came to help ! 1st to arrive, shortly after we did was, Jaycob S. and his mom Mary.

Mandy and Jaycob wait for the 1st set of instructions

One of Mandy's classmates Kaidee , showed up for Sat. evening !!

Aide Laurie Stopped by to say Hi and, Encourage the kids on the GREAT job they were doing !!

Teacher Carol and Aide Cathy, are the ones who stayed overnight, with a few of the kids and another parent !

Cathy

and our teacher Carol

I know I speak for many parents when I say , THANK YOU For ALL you do for our kids !!!

Last but surely not least, one of my favorite pictures of the whole event , several of the girls with their Mom's ( Thank You Mark, for taking the pic.) !!

Below is the link to a Smile box made by one of the Mom's in our group ! Thanks Becky for ALL the great Pictures !!

http://smilebox.com/playEmail/4d54637a4d44517a4d446c384d546b344e444d7a4e54593d0d0a&sb=1
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!

RABA BUS RODEO

Damian called me yesterday, while he was still at work, and, asked if I thought Mandy would like to go to a Bus Rodeo, down where he worked .....Not having a clue what it was, I thought Mandy would LOVE it, since one of her VERY favorite things to do is go, ride the bus ANYWHERE ! so we ventured out this afternoon , to find, YUMMY food, GREAT company, and YES a Bus Rodeo , what FUN it Was VERY entertaining, a few of the drivers volunteered to drive an "Obstacle" course , while a few others judged their driving !!

I only took a few pictures , Shucks it was just to entertaining to stop and take them !!!!!!


1st things 1st! a delicious lunch! Fried Chicken , potato Salad, a couple of kinds of chips, beans , some YUMMY and I do mean YUMMY Strawberries w/ cool whip, and water and soft drinks galore !!!

Good friends , "Route Man" aka Mike and Christine Duane , 1 of Mandy's favorite driver's and his wife.


Mandy was in absolute "Heaven" being so close to the buses she LOVES to ride!! a few of the driver's, and managers there was an added bonus !!


What a WONDERFUL , HAPPY day, Mandy LOVED it ! And the Smiles were an added BONUS !!

Mandy's 20th Birthday, Celebration #1 !!!

Yesterday ( Sunday) , We had a small celebration for Miss. Mandy's 20th bithday, she wanted to do something, where she could invite her friends from school. So after looking around at diffrent options she chose Chuck E Cheese !! I have only been to 1 party there, so I was not sure what to expect , WOW what a wonderful surprise and Oh My Gosh, the girls had so much FUN!!! Playing games, eating pizza and who could forget , YUMMY Birthday Cupcakes !!

One of the Mom's has been taking pictures in our class forever ! she does such a GREAT job, when I asked if she would take the pics of Mandy's party, she graciously accepted ! I could'nt choose just a few SO, I am including a link to the "SmileBox" she created for Mandy !!

Guests of the Party were:

The Birthday Girl, Mandy

Charleene ( with her Mom Patty)

Chelsea ( with her Mom Vickie)

Kaidee ( was brought by a friend )

Sarah Jane( With her Mom Becky , who was our "photographer")

ENJOY The SmileBox ( Link below) , The Kids ALL had such a GREAT Time!!!

http://smilebox.com/playEmail/4d5459354d5459304f5442384d546b344e444d7a4e54593d0d0a&sb=1

Trailhead Youth Ranch

This morning, Mandy and I got up. and, got ready to have a fun day at a Grand Opening, of a GREAT Youth ranch. One of Mandy's friends Mom, came and picked us up. and we headed out to Palo Cedro, where the ranch is just in the infancy stage of beginning ! WOW were we impressed !! And to our surprise, we found another of Mandy and Mara's classmates ! They were ALL so excited , the smiles and giggles made everyone of us Mom's glow with glee ! and, the volunteer's were so accepting and just as excited as we all were

This Ranch is wonderful! after "Checking in , it was off to more fun ! there was something to do it seemed at every booth or table a long the way ! and The many things you could do and see that had to do with horses, were endless! and, dropped in randomly, there were things to do with and for other animals !

This goat was so CUTE!!! , there must have been something really special, in that hole his face
was in !




The girl's LOVED these little chicks, I know Mandy wanted to "HUG" them, it was a little hard for her to understand that they were VERY tiny and that she had to be VERY Careful when touching them ! After seeing how small they were, she was VERY gentle with them,

it was so cute , each of the girls took a turn holding them, then would hand them to the next !

Danielle's turn 1st to Love the little chickie

"The hand off"

After seeing the many animals that were there. we got the chance to feed, a few of the goats some of their "Treats" , the girls did'nt know it but, those goat were sure eager and happy to get their goodies , YUM I am sure they were loving ALL the people who were there,becaue EVERYONE wanted to feed them ! at one point, a goat came and jumped up on me,cuz it thought I had MORE!!! here are a few of their pictures ! Mandy was in her "glory" they loved having someone to pay attention to them, and she LOVED petting them !!



There was a little wait for it, but, the girls all wanted to do whatever they could with the horses ! We went inside one of the many barn's and Mandy asked me "Why is that horsie, laying down"? I had NO answer, so I just said "Maybe she's tired"? lol and she said OK and bounded on !!!

After that, it was on to meet the horses, and then take a ride !! I thought "OHOH" Miss. Mandy HATES hats, and they were putting helmets on the kids before they rode, SURPRISINGLY , She let them put it on her and she actually Left it on, for the duration of the ride !!




OH , now its my turn to ride !!!! Mandy LOVED this, getting up on the horse,and being led around the ring , when I asked her if she liked it, she said "YES I DO, I need to tell my dad !



I am so glad we had a Bethany there. She was able to get some GREAT pictures of Mandy , I am so SHORT and when I looked to snap a picture, all I saw was FENCE !! guess that's what happens when your SHORT like me !!!!

Mandy LOVES her friends, and loved the day !!!

SHEA FISHING 2010

SHEA FISHING 2010

Today, was the annual fishing trip, to Shea Sand & Gravel. A Field Trip that I know Many of the kids look forward too every year! I know Mandy starts talking about the next one, almost immediately , She looks forward to it.

Everything was AWESOME.....from the fully stocked pond for fishing, to a yummy lunch , to seeing so many of Mandy's teachers from years ago !

I was not there,but, I was told that Mandy caught a BIG Fish, and when her fishing buddy suggested they take it up to be weighed , The compassion in my girl came out, when she said NO, I want to throw him back.

There was even a visit from Smokey The Bear......Mandy thought he was so cool, he gave her a HUG !

Below, I have posted a couple of pictures of just a few of the MANY volunteers, who make this day such a SUCCESS !!

The grill master who cooked the hot dogs etc !!

The ladies who assisted serving !!

Best Friends Forever !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Shea Sand and Gravel for another FANTASTIC DAY !!!

KOOL APRIL NIGHTS 2010

KOOL APRIL NIGHTS , 2010

Today , Mandy and I decided to get up and enjoy the GORGEOUS weather we were having! so we decided to go downtown and enjoy Kool April Nights. we caught the shuttle down town. our 1st driver was, Lou( pictured, top left) and coming home this afternoon, we rode back with Harlan ( pictured on the right ! we had so much fun,seeing the old car's , and, there were MANY of them ! we found our favorites

I'm not a car fan, to the point I don't know names of many of these car's but this one, Mandy is standing by was so cool! would be the perfect size for her ! she was a little bummed when I told her we could'nt take it home !!

This was my pick of the entire event ! it was so precisely done,the owner told me when he got it, it was nothing more than a shell of a body! they re did EVERYTHING !!! he said it took more than a decade to get it "Just right"!!

Mandy, LOVED ALL the cars, but her fav. was a "Cop Car" from Chico ! it was a CHP vehicle from the early days!!

Damian had to work today, so Mandy chose a baseball hat for him, and, summed everything up ....she said "We NEED TO COME BACK TO HERE, ANOTHER TIME, WITH MY DAD" !