Pictures from Labor Day Weekend at the Melon Festival

playing bingo

the little man in control

The Beverly Hills replica in the parade

Nick & Katie in the fun jumping place

Not much new here... we're both just working and taking our classes. This weekend, however is the Melon Festival! We love the good 'ole Melon Fest out in Milan. We'll be there all day Saturday and Sunday. I'm so excited because my family from out of town is coming (Bryan-from Liberty University; Jeff, Julie, Nick, and Katie- from Illinois). Give us a call if you want info about it or directions. We would love to meet you there. Also, the HUGE parade is Sunday afternoon immediately after the lunch hour. It ususally lasts over an hour and sometimes two hours (AND THEY THROW OUT GOODIES!).
-Jenelle-

Catch-Up post...

Last weekend we headed west. Saturday night we arrived at Brad and Loretta's place near Toledo and were able to get in a good visit. Next morning we went to church with them and then had a lovely lunch with them and a couple from their church. Afterwards, Andy and I headed up to Battle Creek, Michigan to pick up something we got from ebay. Our plan was to camp out at Fort Custer for the night and so we did...

Andy sets up our tent

Fort Custer is a lovely state park up in Michigan. We had a good time. The lake was beautiful and the water was clean! I could see the bottom... much better than Lake Erie. It is a very historical place with a national cemetary close by and a national guard station.

Happy Birthday Libby!

CONGRATULATIONS ERIC & CARRIE MAHON!

Happy Birthday Ben!
"you EIGHT it"

A Happy 13th Anniversary goes out to my brother Jeff and his wife Julie!

Happy Birthday Jenna!

A Sunny Sunday

pictures from last weekend

Samuel blowing out the candles...

He is so smart for just turning two. The funniest thing about the gifts he opened was when he said "it matches!" to a pair of shorts and a shirt he received.

taking Samuel's gifts down to the pool after the party

Samuel trying out his new duck!

Jenna likes it too!

Libby in her new caterpillar float.

Today is our "20 month" anniversary. When you state it that way it doesn't seem like that long ago that we were married. However, it seems like a long time ago.

Happy Birthday Samuel!

Yeah right... like he can read. Anyway he turned 2 today and yesterday we had a big party for him here at MTYC up in the lodge area. I'll put up more pictures when I upload them to the computer (probably after I get back home).
-Jenelle-

Week of June 18 at MTYC and beyond

Cabin 3 in front of the breathtaking view up on the mountain

My dear sister who came along on the canoe trip

the rope swing was fun along with jumping off the cliffs

Will, Andy, Kim, Ben on the canoe trip

The entire group who went on the canoe trip

Jr. Girls Week at MTYC

The counselors and directors team

The theme for the week was medical.

A joyful heart is good medicine!

Cabin 3!

Happy birthday to me! My husband was so thoughtful of me. I was away at camp over my birthday. He was being sneeky and sent down Mitchells ice cream in a cooler with Becki. He also sent me a bucket full of pringles (5 cans of various flavors) and a cinnamin candle (my favorite scent). Lots of flowers too!

-Jenelle-

Carrie's shower on June 17

My food contributions to the shower... I guess I have more talent than I thought.

The beautiful bride-to-be and mother

the gals...

Rachel, Tara, Catie, Christin, Jenelle, Soni, Becky

Happy Wednesday I guess

Today I have gotten many random things done. Yesterday was my first day back in Ohio. I got my house in order again and even worked a few hours for Scott. And last night I used one of my many FREE coupons for my birthday. I got free Ice Cream at Cold Stone Creamery. Yummy! Andy and I then watched a movie at the Markovich's house last night. This morning I got up and cleaned up around their house. I'm surprised the animals were still alive here when I got back... I just really didn't think someone would remember to feed them, LOL... just kidding. Anyway, I got to put my pages into my new album and starting attacking my next class. Oh yes, and I did finish my paper on time that needed to be done by Monday night (that class is over now). Maybe later tonight I will add some pictures of the week at MTYC.
-Jenelle-

Happy Birthday Jessica!

Happy 21st!

Happy Father's Day!

Sorry I wasn't there to share with everyone this special day... camp is going well so far... as usual we haven't started yet we're running late and the campers arrive in one hour!
-Jenelle-

I might not be able to update during the week, we'll see.

House sitting & such

Things are going well here. I'm enjoying the new scenery for a bit. The dog and cats are doing well. I even got a chance to go out on the cayak and launch pad. My week ended up being pretty free. I had some great family time with my side of the family. We had a random birthday dinner for me on Tuesday. Half of the people knew and half of them didn't. Oh well... I got a HUGE piece of chocolate cake from Hoggy's. I got some fall decor and money (to help with gas for my trip next week). So I guess the festivities have already began even though my birthday isn't until the 19th. Hooray!
-Jenelle-

Happy Birthday Anita!

Biking

We did it! Today we biked to church... then to Chipotles... then to Walmart... then back home. It had to be at least 15 miles if not more. I'm exhausted and was so sweaty because it is so hot out this afternoon. We got home around 3pm. Just in case anyone else wants to bike from our place to the chapel... it took us a 1/2 an hour and we were going pretty fast. Usually to drive it takes us 12 minutes.
-Jenelle-

The Party is over... I think

Dear Bryan,
The big party is over... it was fun! Thanks for graduating so I could have a good time with everyone :)

"bored" is not in my vocabulary anymore...

I had planned a nice, leisurely week for this week. Somehow, things just don't work that way. I went from being extremely bored to working from 5:30am until nearly midnight. Don't ask me why, I must be in high demand or something without even trying, lol. I was only scheduled to work T, W, and H from 4-8:30pm at the bank. Instead I worked long, long days also doing other work for Scott and babysitting for other families. It would have been nice to spend the days out at my parents while relatives were in town. There were 2 deaths in the family last week on Monday and Tuesday so some relatives decided to stick around for the festivities happening tomorrow. Tonight my wants will come true. After done from babysitting the twins today around 6:30pm I'm headed out to good 'ole Milan! CONGRATULATIONS BRYAN! Yay, we're going to do our last minute preparations for Bryan's graduation party that is tomorrow from 4-8pm. Besides that, I'm just going to spend the night there because I have sooooo many relatives in town for this festive occassion. I can't wait to visit! However, I must get to my schoolwork... it has been neglected since last week. All I have left for this week is to write a 4 page critical analysis of some two counseling theories by Sunday night midnight. See you tomorrow hopefully at the party!
-Jenelle-

Farewell for the summer!

Yesterday at Huntington Beach we had our last youth group cookout and meeting.

our group attendance Sunday afternoon...

good 'ole Friday night

Wow, it was definitely full of many laughs and new memories. Tonight we played James Bond on the playstation (we rotated players because only 4 could play at a time). After that we did a run to Cold Stone Creamery way out in Parma. It brought back so many memories to cramb into 1 car... the 7 of us. After that a pitt stop to the gas station and then to the blockbuster to get the movie Matrix. I decided to make the popcorn with the new topping I have discovered, garlic tobassco. Good night all - however the rest of the crew is still watching the movie.
-Jenelle-

Obviously I have been busy. Another babysitting job happened as the parents of the twins went out of town and I stayed at their house with the kids. It was good. School has started and just random things like that. I'm finally starting to get a headache from this juice cleanse. It's about time after two days that I start feeling it work. Here are some recent pictures:

Youth group on April 30th at the Markovich's

The twins I babysit (Frankie on the left & Anthony on the right)

-Jenelle-

Shame on me...

This is the first election that I have not voted in. In fact, I don't even remember where I'm registered to vote at. I've moved around, been in college, gotten married, changed counties. I really don't know what is going on. I suppose that I'll have to find out where to vote before November. I remember Andy having to drive all over last year in November and he never ended up voting because they changed the groups and he couldn't find the right one. We give up! On the same note... the Ohio BMV insists on sending my vehicle renewal tag info to my parents house with my maiden name. I've tried to change it twice now and they still have kept the original info. I was rather annoyed when my dad said I should change it because I've tried to several times (however it has been over 3 years since I've lived at my parents house so he's probably getting irritated about it too).
-Jenelle-

DRAMA HERE

I thought I should let everyone know that on the 21st of April our refrigerator quit working. Therefore the freezer stuff melted and it was a mess. The good news is that the place here had to fix it and we even got a brand new frig out of it. It is much bigger :)

Today I noticed that in the laundry room some of the ceiling plaster was on the floor... I looked up and it was withering. Come to find out after the maintenance guy cuts a hole in the ceiling... there is a small leak. Anyway, they fixed it but there is still a hole in the laundry ceiling (at least the guy was nice enough to tell us to remove our stuff out of the room because it made a mess). He said it would take 2 days until they finish repatching up the ceiling. I love not having to repair things here but rather just call the people up and they have to do it!

-Jenelle-

Well it's Monday and yes, I did survive the last week and weekend. The time with the Markovich children was good. I was actually quite relaxed. This weekend is a whole other story. From Thursday until Saturday I have 2 1/2 year old twins. Andy will stay there with me at night like he did while I was with the Markovichs. This age level will probably be more challenging. It is also a little more awkward considering I don't really know the family personally other than just to babysit a couple of times a week. There just isn't that same spirit as with a dear brother and sister in Christ. Oh well.

Today kicked off my first day of classes for the summer. I have an 8 week class "Theories in Counseling" and then in two weeks another class "Ethnicity, Families & Counseling" starts. That one is a regular 16 week class. Only 14 more classes until I complete my Masters degree! ... that is of course after I finish these two :)

-Jenelle-

Yesterday I went to the Amish Country with my sister Kim, my mom, Libby, and Samuel. It was an interesting ride where I was sitting in the backseat of the jeep in between Samuel & Libby in their carseats. On the way there Libby fell asleep and was snoring while Samuel decided to talk the ENTIRE WAY. It was so sweet at first. I love to hear his developing vocabulary. He like to say "wagon" "cow" "sheep" "horsey" "more" and of course "Nell". It seemed as if the longer the car ride was the more bruise I developed. He would hit his hand on my arm and say one of those words while looking at the scenery outside. When there wasn't a horse and buggy or whatever animal he wanted to see he would still hit me and say "more". What a ride!
Today I'm just waiting here for my buddies to get home from school. I get to stay with the Markovich kids for the week :)
-Jenelle-