Memorial Weekend @ Lake Skinner

What a weekend!
I LOVE CAMPING
* a nice relaxing weekend with family at the lake *
This is what Jody looks like camping...only [hopefully] a little happier! haha :)

Don and Cathy invited me to join their family for the weekend camping. We left on Friday afternoon (with about a million other people...and lots of traffic) and we headed out towards Temecula to enjoy a nice weekend camping at Lake Skinner. We had amazing weather all weekend! The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze...it was perfect! Here's a view of the lake from our campsiteWe all stayed in the Don and Cathy's trailer, while the young boys stayed in a tent. Here's Shane chill'n in his tent...camping is great! This was also Annie's first time camping and she did great! She was loved on by everyone, had lots of time laying in the sun, took lots of walks around camp...she had a great time!Me and Annie chill'n in the campsiteThe kids kept busy either riding their bikes, playing with water balloons, fishing, and playing games in the campsiteEven the adults got in on the fun! Don and I played a little smashballnot sure what I'm doing here...I think I missed the ball! haha :)The boys found a horny toad down by the lakehere are the girls with the horny toadAwe, Sweet Shaney!
Since this is a fishing lake, Shane got his 'Sweet 16' birthday present early...a new fishing pole!There were lots of bike rides...even Annie got to go on a few! Cathy took Annie on a bike ride around the lakePaige and her friend...aren't they so cute?!They were treated to a little pampering one afternoon getting a pedicure and ice cream. Isn't girl time just the best?! :)Cathy and I taught Paige and her friend one of our favorite childhood pastimes...the girls loved it!Don, Cathy, and I took a bike ride around camp and the lake one afternoon...it was so beautiful out there. Here are some pics of usDon down by the lake
Annie and I at SunsetWe spent every evening around the campfire...my favorite part of camping!
We made yummy smores...The last night was packed full of fun as Cathy's friend Tanya and a couple others joined us to camp we sang campfire songs, played telephone...and played the clapping game around the circle
"down by the banks of the hanky-panky
where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank...."
(remember that one?)
the last night we also celebrated Shane's 'sweet 16th birthday' around the campfire, singing to him and eating some yummy cakeDon't you just think that campfires are amazing? I could just sit and watch the fire all night, in fact I did stay up quite late a few nights enjoying the campfire!

Anyway, we had a great weekend! Camping is always fun, and it was especially great spending all that time with my cousins, their kids, and all their friends. Thanks Slaghts, for inviting me to join you this weekend! Love you!

A few shots around Lake Skinner...

Cathy's 39th BDay

Cathy turns 39...
Happy Birthday Cathy!
I love you!For my cousin Cathy's 39th birthday, she wanted to go get pampered. So Cathy, her sister Christy and I spent the day at wonderful Glen Ivy. While Cathy was off getting a massage and a pedicure, Christy and I were relaxing by the pool. It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny! I got a little too much sun that day, but had a great time with my cousins! Christy had to leave early, but Cathy and I stayed the whole day. We went in the sulfur bath (so smelly and gross) and then into the mud pool. Fun times! A little mud never hurt anyone, right?! haha :)And then we spent the rest of the day back at the pool
What a nice day! I'm so glad I got to spend your birthday with you Cathy. It has been so great getting to know you better this year! Not only are you a great cousin, but you truly are a special friend! I love you! Happy Bday Cathy!!!

poor annie

Geez, what's up lately...first my kitty and now my doggie. Poor little Annie got sick and threw up. Who knows why, she seems fine now - thank goodness! I just wish my animals would stop having issues, ya know? :)

poor kitty

So I came home late morning last Sunday...I had stayed the night at my friend's house. When I got home, I opened up the backdoor (with the screen door closed) and layed on the couch and turned on the tv. I was relaxing! :) I heard my kitty come in the house, as she likes to jump through the screen door in the back of the house. I didn't think anything of it, as that is usual for her...until I realized that the bedroom doors were open. Since I don't like her in my bedroom, I got up to go see if she was in there. Sure enough, she was! So I picked her up and brought her out to the couch. After awhile, I noticed that she was still sitting in the same spot I put her down at. I thought that was strange, because she usually climbs up to the top of the couch and lays down. So I got closer and saw that her leg looked funny. When I tried to feel it to see if something was wrong with it, she started hissing and biting me. I kinda freaked out! Since I have been having more possum scares lately I thought maybe she got bit and had rabies! So I put on a sweatshirt and oven mits (so I would be protected from her) and picked her up and put her in her carrier. Across the street from my house is an emergency animal hospital so I drove her over there. The doctor checked her out and thought she had a fractured humorus, thought maybe she had been hit by a car and wanted to do xrays. Once the xrays were done, we saw that she had been SHOT by a bb gun and her leg was broken!
POOR KITTY!!!!
They felt very strongly that Cali needed surgery to fix her leg, but I just can't afford it. It was going to be over $1000! So for now, we're just waiting things out to see how it will heal on its own. So far so good. She was on pain meds for 5 days and is now just managing on her own. She is in good spirits, same sweet personality, still scratcing up my furniture as always!...and seems to be doing fine. The broken leg doesn't even stop her from jumping around on all the furniture. So I think things will turn out ok for her...time will heal her leg! But poor thing got shot! I can't believe the creep out there who would do something so aweful! I hope he gets shot in the leg too!!

friends friends friends

Its so nice hanging with friends, isn't it? My friend Sarah came back in town for a few days (she lives up north) and I had a great time seeing her all week. Tonight we went out for some dinner with a couple guys that we know to hang out and catch up with her. We had a great time eating, reminiscing, and getting to know each other better. Good times for sure!Luke-Jeremy-Sarah-JodyI miss you Sarah!! I wish you could move back to Cali! Until then, keep visiting and hopefully I can go visit you soon too! Love you!!! :)

go ANGELS!

My sweet friend Sarah and her family invited me to join them at a baseball game tonight.

take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd...
buy me some peanuts and cracker-jacks,
i don't care if i ever get back
for its root root root for the ANGELS
if they don't win its a shame...
for its ONE...TWO...THREE strikes you're out at the old ball game!!!!

I had a lot of fun with the girls...they are such sweethearts! We enjoyed a nice game (that we unfortunately lost) and they girls ate some yummy goodies, like ice cream and cotton candy. It was great spending time with all of them.


Oh, and the most fun thing of all...it was FREE BEANIE NIGHT! We all got free Angels beanies...fun fun fun! :)

David home from Iraq

My cousin's son David has been over in Iraq since last summer and he has finally returned! My uncle had picked him up from base and dropped him off at my grandparent's house and we drove out to meet up with them for lunch. We had a nice afternoon catching up with David, as well as visiting with Grandma and Grandpa
(Gma & Gpa with David)Cory, Paige and I sat next to each other at lunch and had some fun goofing off. Cathy, their mom/my cousin, sat down at the end of the table and made known to everyone that she could see my gray hairs from where she was sitting. So sad for me!!! but it did make everyone laugh! :)After lunch we left Gma & Gpa's house and took David out to Yucaipa to visit my other cousin Christy and her family. We chatted, played some pool, ate yummy dinner, and enjoyed David's company. It was nice to see him again and we're all glad that he came home safely! :)