Born Country

Our growing boy

2010-04-24T23:00:00.002-05:00

Trevor

2010-03-12T16:40:00.003-06:00

Trevor John - our precious baby boy - born March 1 @ 4:34pm

8lbs 20.5"

Baby Shower

2010-02-08T12:56:00.005-06:00

Our church in Kentucky gave me a baby shower yesterday. Sorry the pictures aren't in order. Was having trouble.

The cards. The one on the bottom left is actually a baby shower keepsake book. It has a place for all the guest and what gift they gave. It also has a spot where the ladies wrote special messages for me and baby.

Gifts

Me - 38 weeks

I thought the balloon was so cute! They had Winnie the Pooh cups, plates, & napkins too.

Another shot of the gifts

I forgot to get a picture of the cake before we ate it, but it was cute.

Decorations

Some of the ladies who work for Edwards (Tristan's job) went together and got us this swing.

More decorations

Tummy Update

2010-01-12T17:32:00.002-06:00

34 weeks today. Yay!

Snow

2010-01-07T22:33:00.004-06:00

It started snowing this morning and didn't stop till just before dark. We ended up with at least 2 inches. It's pretty, but I didn't feel like playing in it. I enjoyed watching it from my nice, warm house.

Copper keeping an eye on things and no I didn't make him stay outside all day:)

Looking into our neighbor's backyard

Our backyard

Trees across the street

Tristan's toy:)

Part of our frontyard and the neighbor's

Tristan's new job

2009-11-21T19:35:00.002-06:00

This picture was in a newspaper in Pittsburgh, Pa. It's of Edwards Moving & Rigging moving a transformer. Tristan is the guy in front of the police car with his back to the camera.

Unwanted visitor

2009-11-01T10:53:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I headed down to the basement to put clothes in the dryer. As always, I opened the dryer door to make sure I had cleaned out the lint catcher, then I started to reach for the pliers I have to use to turn the knob since it's busted when I noticed this little guy stretched out on them. While I'm not terrified of snakes I don't like them and try to stay as far away as possible. I promptly yelled to Tristan that there was a snake on the dryer and to please come kill it. He came swiftly to the rescue. I am going to be very cautious when I do laundry from now on. The funny thing is we have lived in the country for the past 6 years and I've only had to kill one snake out in the yard, never in the house. Now we live in town for 4 months and one decides to let himself in. What is up with that?

Missy's Birthday

2009-11-01T10:41:00.002-06:00

I was able to be in Tennesee for Missy's birthday this past week. We had a family dinner, cake & presents at my Mema & Papa's house.

Darren loves to read! He's growing up so fast.

Ethan - such a fun little guy! You never know what he's going to come up with.

Samuel - getting so big! I had so much fun playing with him.

Our Princess Missy. She loves dress up clothes.

9 years old!

Joy made the cake.

I didn't know I would be able to be there, so I had already given Missy her present from us. This shirt is one we gave her. She loves monkeys!

Baby's first picture

2009-10-09T10:59:00.004-05:00

My ultrasound was this week. Our baby is very active. He/she was waving its fist all around. My heart just melted at the sight. I'm in love already! Last night the baby kicked me good and hard several times. I can't wait to meet this precious little person.

Profile view

A foot

Baby bump

2009-09-28T13:23:00.001-05:00

By special request of family and friends who want to see.

19 wks tomorrow

Dining Room

2009-09-03T15:36:00.001-05:00

For Joy:) finished table and chairs

Chair project

2009-09-02T15:34:00.002-05:00

Tristan and I recently purchased a dining table with six chairs for only $25.oo. The cushions on the chairs were in sad shape so I took it upon myself to recover them.

Before

The old cloth and padding. Yuck!

Fresh new padding

Ta da! Good as new!

Baby

2009-08-27T15:59:00.002-05:00

Heard the baby's heartbeat today. Baby kept moving away when the nurse would get close. Hope that's not a sign of things to come:)

News

2009-08-04T12:59:00.001-05:00

We are now proud parents to be. Our baby is due Feb. 23rd. We were happy to share the good news with our parents and other family members this weekend. Sooo excited!!

Farewell

2009-07-13T09:32:00.002-05:00

Tristan and I just recently made a move to Kentucky. My niece, Missy, and her friend, Hanna, put together a surprise going away party from all my students. I thought it was very sweet of them.

Father's Day

2009-06-23T16:25:00.004-05:00

I was out of town for Father's Day this year, but I would like to pay tribute to my dad. I truly believe I had the world's greatest dad. He always took time for us and put his family first. I remember one time he turned down an invitation to go fishing since the person doing the inviting didn't want my younger brother to go. Dad said, "If I can't take my children, I'm not going." He always said he would rather do things with his children. This made me feel so special. The disappointed look on his face when I got out of line was always punishment enough. Nothing else could have bothered me more. He expected respect and that's what he got. Dad was always happy to help me with anything I needed. On the day he died he had planned to come over and help me till my garden. I hope to someday pass on the truths, values, and love of nature that he taught me to my children. Sometimes it's still hard to believe he's been gone for over two years, but his memories and influence will forever live in my heart. I love you, dad, and I plan on seeing you again someday!

Hay cutting time

2009-06-17T00:02:00.003-05:00

The first cutting for the year was actually a couple weeks ago. It would have been even sooner, but rainy weather held up the process.

Tristan in his "new" Belarus cutting the hay.

Wes on his Case tractor raking the hay

Todd & Matthew on Todd's Case tractor raking hay

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the baling process since I was working at school that day.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2009-06-11T08:30:00.005-05:00

Mom's birthday was Tuesday, June 9th, so we got together for Sunday dinner to celebrate. Ethan helped set the table.

Samuel with his Uncle Dan.

Wes, Samuel, & Tristan

Tim was in charge of the cake and for various reasons didn't get Mom's name put on it so he decided to engrave it with a toothpick.

Happy Birthday, Mom, we love you!

YUMMY!

2009-05-25T22:07:00.004-05:00

Tristan & I bought some strawberries to put in the freezer today. I nice advantage to having Amish neighbors is the fact that they had just picked these this morning. They are as delicious as they look!

Tibs

2009-05-25T21:57:00.004-05:00

One of my students recently gave me an adorable kitten. I decided to call him Sergeant Tibs, or Tibs for short. Yes, it's from 101 Dalmatians, I love that cat! Anyway, Tibs & Copper are finally learning that they have to get along and seem to enjoy playing together.

Family Reunion

2009-05-23T19:17:00.004-05:00

Mom, Tim, Dan, & I went to my dad's family reunion. Since people were going in and out of the cabin I didn't get pictures of everybody but here is a few.

My cousins Jennifer & Kathy

Aunt Debbie, cousin Amanda & Dan

Jennifer & Dan

Great-Uncle Wayne Aunt Sherry

Uncle Johnny, Uncle B.J., & Tim

Mom & Aunt Sue

Mother's Day

2009-05-18T07:50:00.002-05:00

I had the privilege to stay in Mobile so I could spend Mother's Day with my mom as well as my Mema and Aunt Pam.

Tim, Mom, & Me

Darren, Missy & Ethan stayed in Mobile too

Mema & PaPa with some of their grandchildren & great-grandchildren.

This was the first Mother's Day in several years that Aunt Pam got to spend with all her children.

Johnathan, Nathan, Angela, Uncle Barry, Aunt Pam, Neil, and Joyce

It was also the first in a long time for Aunt Pam to be with Mema.

Papa, Mema, Mom & Aunt Pam

Neil's Graduation

2009-05-17T10:46:00.003-05:00

My cousin, Neil, graduated from High School on May 9th. He is the youngest of the cousins on my mom's side. I use to carry him around when he was little, now he towers over me!The Shirah family
The whole clan (The ones that were there anyway.)
I have heels on. I told you he towers over me!

After the graduation we had a party at Connie's house. On the way there we tried to explain to Ethan whose house we were going to. To which he replied, "What kind of face does she have?"

Of course, as always when the cousins get together, a game of football was played.

Family Gathering

2009-04-18T09:50:00.006-05:00

We had a large family supper at Todd & Dawn's the other night. Tristan's Uncle Bryan & Aunt Wendy from New York were visiting. Also, their daughter, Andrea, and her son, Daryl.

Matthew looks like he's on a mission.

Erin

Uncle Rick & Dawn mastering the grill

Todd, Tristan and Will
The sun was in Erin's eyes.

I'm not sure what Kaylee is telling Diamond:)

Of course, the adults enjoyed visiting.

Daryl

Nicholas

April Showers

2009-04-03T15:34:00.004-05:00

So this is what our front pasture and drive-way usually look like.

This is what it looked like after heavy rains yesterday.Tristan and Copper surveying the problem. Copper actually enjoyed our temporary lake since he loves to go swimming.

Tristan trying to unstop the tile so the water could drain faster.

Another wedding pic

2009-03-30T15:52:00.003-05:00

I just had to add this picture of the whole clan. Dan has some really great pics on his blog. (Which is where I got this one.) Be sure to check it out.

Tractor Moving

2009-03-25T12:25:00.005-05:00

Tristan, Todd, and I went to Kansas on Monday to pick up a tractor Tristan had purchased several months ago. It took 15 hours to get there and we traveled through Arkansas & Oklahoma. We were gone a total of 37 hours.

A wind farm somewhere in Oklahoma.
The cheapest diesel price the entire trip was in a little town in Oklahoma named, Watonga.

And I thought Tennessee was redneck!

Oklahoma City

The reason for the trip.

Home at last!

Todd & Tristan getting ready to unload it.

Wedding Pictures

2009-03-25T09:32:00.005-05:00

Here are some pics from Mom and Karl's wedding. It was really beautiful!

Missy & Ethan

Mema, Mom, Karl & PaPa
Ethan

Samuel

Darren escorted Mom

Aunt Pam, Joy, Me & Missy

Tim, Jon & John

Daniel

Dawn

Friends of ours - Sam & Amanda

MeMa & Norma (Karl's mom)

Mr. & Mrs. Karl Larsen

Wedding Bells

2009-03-15T23:31:00.002-05:00

God has led two lives to take one path.

Please join our family on this joyous occasion

when our mother

Patricia Jane McDonald

will be married to

Karl Avery Larsen

on Saturday, the twenty-first of March

Two thousand and nine

at one o'clock in the afternoon

Immanuel Baptist Church

709 East Gaines Street

Lawrenceburg, Tennessee

Wes and Joy McDonald

Dan McDonald

Tristan and Paula Stinebrickner

Tim McDonald

Cake reception following

An act of kindness

2009-03-14T14:01:00.003-05:00

Yesterday when I got home I found a nice surprise. My sister-in-law, Dawn, had brought me this lovely bouquet of daisies AND she had washed my mountain of dishes that I was dreading coming home to.

(It's been a busy week)

Thanks Dawn!!

Dad

2009-03-13T07:58:00.001-05:00

Two years ago today God saw fit to take home my dad. I still miss him so much. He was a wonderful dad and taught me a lot about life, faith in God, and how to make a garden grow. As most of you know by now, God has sent someone into Mom's life who has put the smile back on her face and a new spring to her step. While the ache to have dad back will never go away I'm thankful God sent Karl into our lives.

BRRRR!

2009-03-01T07:16:00.002-06:00

We had beautiful shirt sleeve weather the other day that gave us all hope that spring is just around the corner. Then . . . . . .

Such is the weather in Tennessee!

Garden

2009-02-28T10:30:00.003-06:00

Tristan recently plowed and enlarged my garden spot. Since his tractor is too big for the garden he used one of his dad's tractors. I can't wait to start working in my garden!

Darren's Birthday

2009-02-26T17:27:00.004-06:00

Monday, Feb. 23rd, was our oldest nephew's birthday. He turned 10. So, he had a big party at the Fun Zone. A good time was had by all. Joy made the delicious cake. Since Darren LOVES to fish the cake had a fishing theme.

Valentine's Day surprises

2009-02-21T18:39:00.002-06:00

Since I was planning on working at Dan's shop (All Seasons) on Valentine's and the day before, Tristan surprised me with sending roses on the 12th. I think they are beautiful!! Red roses are my favorite.
My little brother, Tim, sent me a single rose with this bear attached. The rose is called a chocolate rose. Very pretty!

Matthew's Birthday

2009-02-21T18:16:00.004-06:00

Our nephew, Matthew, turned 3 on February 13. Happy Birthday buddy!

Tim's Party

2009-02-20T17:38:00.004-06:00

Here's the pictures from Tim's birthday party. Balloons from All Seasons

Happy Birthday, Tim!

2009-02-09T17:08:00.003-06:00

My "baby" brother is 23 years old today!

Hay Delivery

2009-02-08T19:08:00.005-06:00

So this is what we do on our farm. Hay, hay and more hay. Tristan also custom cuts and bales for neighboring farms. His dad and brother usually help with it too. Tristan, Todd, Tim and Wes took a load to a nearby farm on Saturday.

This is what we still have left to sell before this year's haying season starts. Anybody interested? :)

Cumberland Valley JR Convention

2009-02-07T00:07:00.007-06:00

This year was the first ever Junior Convention for the ACE schools. This was for the students ages 9-12. It was a one day convention so the schedule was pretty hectic but the kids had a lot of fun and brought home several medals. Bro. VanMeter getting the crowd pumped for a day of competing. He is ACE's field rep for our area.

Madison playing checkers.

Darren concentrating.

Melissa wasn't old enough to compete, but she went to support her friends and to observe so she can be ready for next year.

Darren playing chess.

Darren competing in shot-put.

Hanna & Madison in the girl's 50 yrd dash.

Darren in the boy's 50 yrd dash.

Madison, Darren, & Hanna
They showed excellent sportsmanship. I was so proud!!

Anxiously waiting for the awards ceremony to start.

Darren

2nd place running long jump

2nd place shot-put

3rd place acrylics

Madison

1st place B&W photo - plants & animals

Hanna
2nd place color photo - plants & animals

2nd place acrylics

2nd place most chapters read

They gave all the students a participant medal. They were all so proud of their accomplishments as am I!

Happy Birthday PaPa!

2009-01-30T18:47:00.005-06:00

This past Wednesday was my PaPa's birthday. We had a small celebration for him at Mom's.

We bought him this bird feeder.

Samuel and Tim

Moving Day

2009-01-30T15:40:00.008-06:00

Tristan & I made a trip to Jacksonville, FL to help Julie & William (and Nicholas) move here to Tennessee. Yeah!! It was a long, rough trip since we made the entire round trip in 26 hours. However, I would do it again to have them here. Tristan loading the trailor. Nicholas just chilling.

Julie headed to get another LARGE box:)Will making sure we got it all.Ta dah! All finished!The mighty Chevy ready to hit the road.Leaving Jacksonville

Atlanta traffic. Just one more reason I love the country!

P.S. - Happy Birthday Will!!

Pigs

2009-01-26T07:58:00.004-06:00

Tristan bought these two pigs last week. Since we are raising them for meat Julie and I have affectionately named them Bacon and Sausage.

It's been pretty cold here so they sleep buried in the hay.
Sausage

Bacon

Field Trip

2009-01-19T19:53:00.012-06:00

Today we took the students from the school where I work on an Honor Roll Field Trip to Chatanooga. We visted the Tennessee Aquarium, saw a 3D film at the Imax about Dolphins & Whales, and went to a Creative museum. It was a long, but fun day.

The Tennessee Aquarium.

The children had fun petting and feeding the sting rays.

They had a butterfly hall where you could actually catch the butterflies and they would land on you. Braelynn is holding one of my favorites. They had some really pretty blue ones too, but I couldn't get a good picture of them.

Doesn't this penguin look snobby? Lol.

We found Nemo!

Our crew.

Some of us petted this snake. It felt weird!

Don't you love our glasses?

The kids loved the creative museum.

Christmas Decor

2009-01-16T21:23:00.011-06:00

I have been procrastinating about taking my Christmas decorations down this year. Partly because I was so late getting them up. Darren, Missy, & Ethan were over tonight and they were my willing helpers to get it all put away. Thanks guys! This dancing snowgirl is one of my favorite decorations. Tristan bought it for me on our honeymoon.Yes, we had two trees. We wanted to be able to see the lights from outside so we put one in our bedroom since it's on the front of our house , but I still wanted one in the living area to put the presents under. This doesn't sound so crazy unless you have actually seen our place. We are living in a very small apartment over our garage until we build our house.
My happy helpers.

New Hats

2009-01-08T17:22:00.002-06:00

3 of my students modeling the hats an older girl gave them for Christmas.

Hanna, Missy (my niece) and Madison

Anniversary Trip

2009-01-03T13:54:00.007-06:00

Back in October, Tristan & I took a road trip to the New England states to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We saw some really beautiful and interesting scenery. Here's just a little bit of what we saw.
DiMillo's floating restaurant in Portland, Maine. It had great sea food.

Lenny - 1,700 pounds of chocolate

Portland Head Light - commissioned in 1791 by President George Washington.

It's located in Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Just some of the scenery in Vermont. It was next to impossible to capture everything. However, the fall colors were spectacular.

Nieces & Nephews

2009-01-01T11:22:00.004-06:00

Thought I would share some cute photos of our nieces and nephews that were taken at Christmas.L to R: Ethan, Melissa, Darren - Samuel is in the manger

L to R: Matthew, Kaylee holding Nicholas, Erin

Trudie - not really our niece but I've known her mom since we were babies so she may as well be.

I think they are a great group of kids:)

Here goes nothing:)

2009-01-01T10:36:00.000-06:00

I have decided to enter the blogging world. We'll see how it goes.