More land photos....

This past weekend was really fun! BJ’s dad and his girlfriend Shelia came over with Shelia’s son Dylan and BJ’s sister Maria for dinner on Friday night – we grilled Steak and ate together, and also took them on a tour of our land out in New Alcase. : )

On Saturday we spent the day at the Bright Olympics were BJ competed in the Wiffleball tournament, the ice-cream eating contest, and the obstacle course. : ) I spend the day watching the games and helping to look after Luke (the son of our friends Dave and Michelle).

On Sunday we were pretty lazy, except for another small trip out to New Alcase to give Jeremy and Jessica the tour. It was cool to be able to see the posts that had been constructed for our future pond – and we also got to briefly meet some of our new neighbors.

Here’s some photos of our pond:





Here's BJ, Jeremy, and Jessica hanging out:



And here’s one of the preliminary steaks for our house:

My Famous Mom

I just thought I'd share this article from the South Bend Tribune - about the Breast Cancer Run/Walk & my mom (Susan Vance)'s story. :) I'm so proud of her!

Weekend Update…

We had such a nice weekend! On Friday night my parents arrived from Granger and BJ and I had a great time spending the weekend with them! I realize now that I didn’t take any pictures – I wish I had some to share. On Saturday we showed them our land and the developments of the road, our pond, etc., went to the Chateau Pomije Winery for lunch. After watching a very sad ND/Purdue game we went to Jungle Jims and ate Maggie Moos. : ) It was so nice to spend time with them! : )

After my parents took off on Sunday afternoon, BJ and I went back out to the land to dig some holes for our dock. The plan is to put the start of the dock in now – while the water is low and we can cement in a few pillars. Sometime in the future we will create the rest of it.

Our builder is putting in a few other docks in the neighborhood for his daughters (I think all of his children will be living in our neighborhood – actually almost the whole place will be filled with their relations – except us of course) and so he helped us as well. We just had to dig the holes…. We thought we’d be out there for just an hour or two, but we were there until sunset perfecting our two holes. The ground was really tough clay – so it took a lot of muscle to carve them out. Today I’m feeling it – I’m so sore!!!

An update on our first freshman night – we had a great time! The students are a riot and we can’t wait for this Thursday to get to spend more time with them. I think its going to be a really awesome year! : )

Calling all Freshmen!

This week we start our freshman small groups! We're looking forward to meeting everyone and getting started. :)

Human Clock

Click "view the clock": http://www.humanclock.com

Also, check out Cute Overload (My favorite is...)

And finally...

Water in the Pond...

BJ and I went out to the land again yesterday, and our pond is already beginning to fill with water. It's so cool to be out there now that you can really tell how its all laid out. Also, the land developer mowed the entire neighborhood (over 100 acres) so that also helps in getting a feel of the land. I can't believe that in less than a year this is where we'll be living!





Here's a funny photo of Sidney... she sleeps like this all the time... so lady-like. :) Right now as I write this, Sindey, Annie, and BJ are all cat napping. It's very quiet. :)

More Destin Photos

We finally got these off the camera last night. Here's some photos from our deep-sea fishing trip in Destin. :)

Before - After

I had forgotten how everything looked before the pond, so I went searching for one of my older photos... what a big difference!



Hopefully soon we'll have everything in order and will be able to start building! I'm really looking forward to that because all of the major stuff will be out of the way and we'll have more time for other non-house/land/financial stuff. :)

Land Developments...

The road is moving along... it's at the gravel stage now so we can really tell how the neighborhood will look. Also, our pond is about done! We went yesterday to check it out. Here are some photos of the pond from different angles.

Goodbye to Destin...

Well we got back safe and sound Saturday night, and are now heading back to work and normal life. We had such a great week! If anyone is planning on going to Destin, we'd highly recommend the house we stayed in. :)

Over the week we went deep sea fishing (bringing home three red snappers... BJ had to throw back two huge Amberjacks because 32 inches wasn't big enough!), spent time at the beach and the pool, went to Seaside Florida where they filmed The Truman Show, and went disk golfing. Here's some photos from disk golfing...



We made a friend who didn't want to leave us...

Destin Photos

We made it to Destin safe and are having a great time. The house is beautiful and just a short walk to a private beach. The public beaches nearby are packed, so we're thankful for the room to breathe. Here's some photos! :)

More of Summer Grace

I have to post these pictures because they're just too cute. You can really tell how tiny Summer is when BJ is holding her. :)

Cirque du Soleil (long blog)

Last night we went to Cirque du Soleil (Quidam) - it was so incredible! Some of the most amazing things we saw were a routine with a wheel, three men standing on top of each other (all standing), and then a fourth man being flipped perfectly to the top of the pile, and this amazing routine with for young Asian girls:



Here's a highlight trailer:



During the first act a clownish man came out of the floor with a rose and two chairs, and went searching through the audience for someone to give the rose to. He looked around and eyed a few older ladies, and then decided to give the rose to ME. He pulled me on stage and I'm thinking "this is not really happening!".

So the act is that the two of us are on a "date". He "checked me out" and brought me around to where the two chairs were, and asked me to sit down. I did, only to be scolded that I walked through the "car door". He had me try again, this time waiting for his to open the imaginary door. He then walked around to his side, and found his door to be locked. I "unlocked" it for him and let him in. :) So then we ride in the car (he instructs me to bounce along with him as we ride on the bumpy road). He honks his horn, and then instructs me to honk it also.

I should point out that from the audience's point of view I was doing all this on my own without instruction. This is why many thought I was a plant (see this article from the Cincinnati Enquirer -- this author also thought that the "date" participant was a plant)!

Here's a short clip BJ snuck of me:



Anyway, back to my "date"... he instructs me to honk the horn and do so... but it breaks and won't stop honking. He gets mad and rips it from the steering wheel. He hands it to me a whispers for me to throw it out the window... in doing so I "break the window" (with a loud crash)... which I didn't know was not open. :) He throws up his hands like I'm crazy and shows me how to roll down a window.

At one point (and I can't exactly remember why), he had my head to the ground and he was tossing and pulling my hair so violently that I thought I might never get it untangled again. From that point on I don't even want to know how crazy my hair must have looked.

Several times (it had to have been like eight times) he would whisper to me, "say no" and then pucker up asking for a kiss. I gratefully did as I was told and said no, and he'd get a sympathetic reaction from the audience. About the time I thought I was being lead back to my seat, he pulled me back again on stage to point out the moon that had been projected on the tent wall. He asked for just a kiss on the cheek, which I did... but of course he quickly turned his head at the last second so I was tricked into planted one on him -- directly on the lips!

During the intermission BJ and I went for a walk, and it was so weird... BJ said it felt like he was walking with a celebrity, because people would point at me, smile at me, and come up to me to say I did a good job. Several people said that they thought I was a plant... and I told them how I had been quietly instructed to do everything I did.

If you get a chance to see the show, I'd highly recommend it!

- Jessie

Ernesto... grrr...

BJ and I had a pretty nice weekend... we've been storm watching... Ernesto is severely threatening our vacation! :) We're planning the trip as usual and hoping that we'll see a little sunshine while we're there. I heard this morning that the keys have been evacuated (tourists only). If Destin gets evacuated at least we'll be able to get a refund.

Anyway, besides hurricane tracking, BJ and I took a tour around Indian Hill to see the monstrous homes -- several looked more like college campuses rather than houses. I took some blurry photos...





We also got to spend some quality time with Jeremy and Jessica. We learned to play a new game that I don't remember the name of... very fun. :)

Yesterday after church BJ and I went to see BJ's cousin Heidi's new baby. I took a bunch of photos and put together their birth announcement... Since I don't think I'll be spoiling anything by doing this... here's a sneak preview (I'm pretty sure that only a small few who read this blog might be receiving the actual announcement). :) The baby's name is Summer Grace. :)

Fruit Tart

BJ and I have been busy as usual... :) We're looking forward to our vaction in Destin - only a week and a half to go! :)

I'm doing a little catch-up here, but this past weekend BJ made a great meal. I love it when he has the time to cook because he cooks so well. He made cashew chicken and fruit tarts (without a tart pan they looked a little funny, but they tasted perfect). Here's some photos:





Here's also a shot of our backyard... so pretty. :)



This morning I had to head into work early to fix a problem at work that I'd rather not talk about (grrr) but it was nice to be out early because there was a layer of fog around the fields and the hills. It really made me wish I was up that early to take photographs instead of driving to resolve a mini-crisis at work.

IKEA Coming to Cincy!

Yea yea yea! BJ called me yesterday at work with the "big news" that IKEA is coming to Cincinnati. Today is was made official!

For those who may not know, IKEA is just plain awesome... and cheep.

Marintha's Wedding

BJ and I had such a nice weekend! We took off Saturday morning for Crawfordsville, Indiana to see BJ's friend Marintha get married. The wedding was beautiful and we had a lot of fun! Here's the church & everyone waiting for the bride and groom to exit.



Sunday morning BJ and I drove up to Purdue to go to church and visit with some friends. It was great to see everyone and catch up, especially with Roland and Becky. :)

We came home and went to a cookout, and learned about "Apples-To-Apples". :) We love learning about fun new games! :)

- Jessie

A New Do

For all those who have gotten used to long-haired Jessie, get ready for a change. I've been chopped. I was waiting until after Kristi's wedding to make the change. :)

This weekend BJ and I are heading off to Crawfordsville and Turkey Run State Park for a wedding (one of BJ's pharmacy friends), and then on to Purdue to visit Campus House and have lunch with Roland and his family. :) Hopefully I'll have some more photos to share when we get back.

- Jessie

Kristi's Wedding

This weekend was so much fun! BJ got home from camp exhausted on Friday afternoon, and we headed to Indy right away to help set up flowers for Kristi's wedding and go to the wedding rehearsal. Things really flew by after that. The wedding on Saturday was absolutely beautiful, and we were able to see a bunch of cool Purdue people we've missed. The wedding reception was at Conner Prairie, and it was gorgeous. The weather was great, and we had a great time! :)

Yesterday after church, my mom and sister Julie came for a visit on their way to North Carolina. We gave them a tour of our land, and us girls hung out while BJ recuperated from the week / weekend. :)

Big Weekend

In about a half hour BJ and I will be taking off for Indy. This weekend Kristi and Cary will be getting married, and I'm so happy for them! I've been setting out a bunch of wedding stuff to put into BJ's car when he gets home (he's heading back from camp now), and among them were a few... tulle wrapped bubbles.

For those who may not know the story, our cat Annie (the orange one) is a glutton for tulle. She is strangely attracted to the fabric and cannot resist eating as much as possible (and lets just say it doesn't do good things to her digestive track). Also, for those who may not know, wedding veils are made out of tulle. Annie ate mine... twice (the original, and then the replacement). It didn't take long to be able to laugh about it, but Annie was not on my good side those days.

Anyway, she's at it again. She already managed to find the tulle-wrapped bubbles and gobble down about an 2 x 1 inch area of it. :)

X-Ray Opera Glasses

I'm reading (well, really, listening to) this great book, and in it there was an account of how, around the time that xrays were first introduced and first being used, the new technology caused quite a stir. "News of the x-ray caused a public fervor, raising a fascination with (and fresh fears of) technology. In London, a firm began selling x-ray-proof underwear. New York State tried to pass legislation banning the possibility of using x-rays in opera glasses.(Karolevitz RF, Doctors of the Old West)".

I also learned about the wacky life-goal of Duncan MacDougall.

Weekend Update

BJ and I had a great weekend... we missed the Bright Festival and parade, opting for the Wagner Family Reunion (BJ's mother's side) instead, which was at Sharon Woods park. Despite the very warm weather, we had a nice time. BJ taught me how to throw a disk golf (I thought I knew how, but every time I tried throwing it straight, it went directly to my right), so maybe I'll join in next time he plays. :)

Last night I met up with my sister Kris in Indianapolis at Fort Harrison State Park. It was SO great to see her and get to meet my beautiful nephew Aidan for the first time. He's such a good baby! Check out that smile!



Here's a couple of me with him:





And here's when he's done with the paparazzi. :)



Looking back now I wish I had asked Aidian to take a photo of Kris and I together. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded. :)

Jessie's Ancestry tied to Orlando Bloom!

Okay, so we're not related. However, he was named in part after my great great great (yes, three greats) grandmother Rhoda's brother Jonathan Blanchard. Jonathan Blanchard was, according to Wikipedia, "a pastor, educator, social reformer, abolitionist and the first president of Wheaton College, Illinois".

Orlando Bloom's full name is Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom.

I think he owes his success in part to my family... :)

Here's more on Jon:

Wheaton Online Exhibit

I Feel...

My friend Matt at work showed me this site, and I thought I'd share. It's a real-time database of blog entries that include the words "I feel". You can see the data in all these different graphic formats, and search only for certain feelings.

Crazy Cats

Here's a photo of Annie taking a break (in the new carrier I just put together) from Sidney's crazyness - for a while now they've been running all over chacing each other, running into walls, sliding on the floors, hiding and jumping out at each other, etc. :)

New Land Photos

BJ and I went out to the land last night to see what progress was being made... they've come a long way on the roads, and there were some really pretty wild flowers growing on our lot. :) We managed to take home some wildlife too -- four ticks... eeewwwwww. We killed them.

Here's some photos of the roads... This first one is the view if you were leaving our neighborhood:



Same view, different angle:



The road curving back (the area of tall trees to the right of the road in this photo are the trees on our lot):

What an Eventful weekend!

I was on the move again this weekend, this time I headed for Illinois to visit my family. It was so nice to see everyone! We'll be getting together again for Thanksgiving, which I am really looking forward to.

Before I left my aunt Bobbie, my cousin Keith, my mother and myself went to visit the place where my Grandma Marie and Grandpa Rod lived when I was a child. We met the two women who lived there, who were kind enough to take us around and even inside their home. In a lot of ways it was different from what I remembered. Here's some of my favorite pictures:







I have been really interested in family history lately, and I was really excited to be trusted with a box full of photos to scan and other treasures such as my Grandpa Rod's mother (Lois Vance)'s memoir, which I read last night and made me wish I could have known her.

I've started a blog to learn more about some of the photos that I can't wait to learn more about!

On Saturday night I drove to Indianapolis for Kristi's shower. I can't believe her wedding is coming up so soon! Only a few more weeks! :)

In other news... BJ and I have a new orchid named Lola (her arms are spread out wide like a showgirl). Isn't she lovely (Sidney and Annie sure think so!)?



Hopefully I'll do better at keeping this one alive, thanks to advice from Chrissy and Chris! :)