Rory & ball

I've become thoroughly disgusted with putting video on here lately. I'm not sure what's going wrong because I tried again tonight and it seems to work - and I didn't do anything different! UGH, at least it's working for the moment.... Enjoy watching Rory play!

To Chicago

Saw Sarah, Kevin & Rory - and the new house, saw Tripper smile (second picture, he kept doing it!), saw Ross & Jessica, saw Billy Williams (leaving the VIP box seats above ours) and saw the Cubs win! Fun weekend, and I now have a Cubs claw! I've wanted one for a few years...

Rory and Ryan playing

So this is the video I've been trying to upload for a couple of weeks. I would try until I was too annoyed then a day or two later try again. You could tell Ryan really wanted Rory to stand up and starting walking to get him. Next year they'll be running after each other. They are both just so cute!

Cousins Weekend 2

Cousins Weekend

We had our first annual Garner Cousins Weekend this last weekend. The four cousins, spouses, and kids rented a beach house in New Buffalo, Michigan. The house was really nice, we were only a few blocks from the beach. Unfortunately the weather being pushed up from Hurricane Ike meant that we had RAIN, and lots of it. We didn't let that ruin the fun though. Maggie and Kyle planned ahead so we had Tiger Woods and Dr. Mario on Wii, plus football and lots of good food! Update to my summer s'more posts: we have created a new ultimate s'more, (which is yet to be named). Graham cracker, marshmallows, and melted Rolos. I think it's better then the Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Ultimate S'more but all the votes are not tallied yet. (The umbrella photo one is me showing off the sunglasses I found at the beach...)

Rory!

I hadn't seen her since May and Andrew since January, so we kind of went crazy on Rory-pics. Here are some of the best!

Knee Stuff

I have had off and on knee pain for about 4 months now. It would be fine for like 5 days, and then the pain would be so bad it would wake me up at night. It was annoying, but not severe, but after the third month I had had enough. I went to the doctor and was told it is called Plica Syndrome. I think it means that the knee ligaments get folded over or pinched and the inflammation causes the sporadic knee pain. Anyway, they did an ultrasound with a steroid cream and then applied a bandage that has magnets inside it with a battery. The charge on the battery causes the polarity of the magnets to force the steroid into the center of the knee. Pretty cool, huh? Andrew didn't even have anything like this after his surgeries! Photo shows the bandage. And Mom, these are the $.25 garage sale work shorts - Thanks again!

Uh, what!?

So, I was surprised to get a statement from this credit card I have. It's a card I haven't used in months, so imagine my surprise when I opened the statement and saw this! An immediate call to the credit card company and they told me that they send out statements when you haven't used your card in a few months (I'm assuming to try and get you to charge something). Oh and by the way my interest rate was a typo. It is actually 5.172%. Um, no thanks, I think I'll pass on using that card any time soon.

Okay Lara....

Lara, here is my plan: I know you read this blog. Melissa, seems to think she has more important things to do on the internet so give her a call or send her an email and ask, "Did you see the pictures Abby put on the blog of you?" I think we can scare her into checking it from time to time.....fear of what she might see!

Camping Trip

It was time for our third annual camping trip w/the Fluhrs and Melissa. Busy schedules meant we had to camp a little later in the season, but we lucked out and the weather was perfect! Lots of good campfire food and some good drinks (and some not so good...) I wish I could go camping and boating every weekend!

Dumb Dares For the Office - July & August

Not sure where I put June, but here are some more...

1. Tell a colleague that last night was a mistake and you don't want a relationship with them. When they ask what you're talking about, say, "Exactly. Let's just act like it never happened."
2. Correct several colleagues' word pronunciations with incorrect pronunciations.
3. Invert your sentences all day, and state obvious, mundane events like a question. ("To the copier you are going? Found that file you have?")
4. Make squeaking noises whenever you use your computer's mouse.
5. Take a shredder to work or borrow one. Make a big production of everything you shred by announcing, "Wouldn't want anyone to read THAT!"
6. Tsk-tsk everything someone eats and drinks all day.
7. Put someone else's name on your lunch bag then prominently display the bag while you're eating.

August....

1. When eating lunch with co-workers, insist that everything they've selected is something that makes you "gassy."
2. Announce in a meeting that you've legally changed your name. (Choose something very unique and memorable.) Then pretend not to hear people calling you by the new name, or look around the room when the name is spoken.
3. Compliment your boss on his or her outfit and ask if you may borrow it for an upcoming social event.
4. Post a sign on official letterhead outside the restroom that introduces a new 2-minute time limit. Stand in front of the door and glance at your watch as colleagues enter.
5. Adopt an annoying, snorting type of laughter for one day.
6. Ask colleagues for rides after work every day this week, and then add on mundane personal errands. Make them wait in their cars and drive you home after your errands are completed.
7. Over the course of a meeting, slowly edge your chair towards the door. Lean out of the chair with a foot pointed to the door for the final few minutes.

Dumb Dares For the Office - May

In no particular order.....

1. Wear an assortment of bandages about your face today.
2. Give your boss your car keys at quitting time and tell him or her that you're much to drunk to drive home.
3. Claim to have recently discovered you were a witch in a previous life, and relive for everybody your last moments as you were burnt at the stake.
4. Laugh at everything that is said to you for a full day.
5. Pretend to be dead for an hour.
6. Make a cup of coffee and ask someone else if they'd mind tasting it first "just in case." Don't be satisfied with their response - decide to have water instead.
7. Gargle everything you drink before you swallow it.

Labor Day

Labor Day weekend was as follows: Friday night - Fantasy Football draft. Saturday night - Andrew's 10 year class reunion. Sunday night - rented a couple movies from Blockbuster. Monday - random yard work, matinée, watched the Cubs, quick trip to Bed Bath and Beyond (he waited in the car) and finishing our bedroom closet. We had most of it finished before today; pictures are before and after. Not a true before though, we had already ripped out the old closet shelves and painted. The new set-up is great. Pants hangers, places for belts, shoes, etc. We love it already!