Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad

August 29th, 2010

Gary & Sandy Meinhart

Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary!

Forty years, five kids and eight grand-kids later....... here you are!

You two are GREAT role models. Thank you for everything do.

I LOVE YOU MOM & DAD!

Ang

Family Photo

We took this picture on the last day of our vacation.

Some pictures from the Meinhart Vacation in Kentucky

Captain Scott

Kayla & Kyle after Go-Kart riding

The Grandchildren at the Garden of the Gods

Scott and Kyle getting ready to race

Grandpa Gary taking in a turn

Our Townhouses, the two closest to the beach

The beach

Kentucky Dam

The Grandkids at Jungle Golf

The Grandkids and Grandma and Grandpa at Kentucky Shores

School Time 2010-2011

Well, school in underway! Kayla’s first day as a 1st grader, was yesterday. She had a great day as she toured the school and read a few books. I was not able to see her onto the bus because I had to get to my clinical site, but Ashley took care of her and took her picture for me! I started school on Thursday with classes and today with clinical. I’m really looking forward to this semester! I’m almost to the end! Four semesters down and two to go! I have been placed at RMH in Olney this semester….such a blessing to be close to home!
Jasper County decided not to have Pre-K this year….wait…then the decided to have it, but only a half day…which Kyle did not get into. However, I was able to work it out with the ROE program at Kid’s Kingdom. So, Kyle will start Pre-K on the 30th and he is really excited!
A special THANKS goes out to Ashley (our favorite babysitter) for all the help she will be so generously provide! You’re the best!

Dr. Appointment in St. Louis!

Last Friday, Kayla had a checkup for her leg at Children’s Hospital. Dr. Gordon gave her a thumbs up…as she ran down the hallway! He said her leg is all healed and since she isn’t having any pain in her knee, (where the nails enter the bone) we are not going to remove the nails…yet, if at all. Our AWESOME, babysitter/friend rode along with us, so that I did not have to go by myself. Thanks Ashley! After her appointment we took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese and then to Splash City. We had a really good time at the water park. They kids enjoyed the water slides and lazy river! It’s hard to believe that it has been one year since Kayla broke her leg and getting on the bus this year, on the first day, was so cool! We will have to see Dr. Gordon again, next year!

Our Trip to Lake Barkley

We started our Meinhart family trip on Thursday, August 5th at 8:00 AM. On the way down to Kentucky we stopped off at the Garden of the Gods (against the wishes of a couple family members, who then managed to explore the trails on their own….) then went on into Cave in Rock and took the Ferry across the Ohio River. The kids all did a really good job on the way down and we managed to wear Grandpa Gary out at the Garden of the Gods. We stopped in Marion and ate at McDonald’s (against Uncle Doug’s wishes), then drove on into Kentucky to our destination, The Holiday Hills Resorts on Lake Barkley.
We had two townhouses rented for 3 nights. Each townhouse had two floors. The first floor had a bed, bath and a kitchen, along with a small deck complete with a grill and picnic table. The second floor was equipped with four full/double beds, one twin bed and a bath. Each floor also had its own TV (with cable). When we got to our townhouses the kids had them all checked out in a matter of secondsJ. The kids played on the beach and playground while the adults unloaded the vans. That evening we had a light supper of ham/turkey and chicken salad sandwiches, and then headed down to the beach for some swimming.
Friday was our day on the lake. We rented a pontoon boat and took several trips out exploring. The morning shift consisted of everyone except the six littlest kids and the mothers of all of those kids. We took the kids to the pool and then to the beach. They seemed to enjoy the beach more than the pool. When the first crew came back to the dock, we put some hamburger, hotdogs, and brats on the grills and made some Mac and cheese. “We had enough food for an army” (Grandpa Gary) that afternoon, captain Scott took the second crew (the 6 kids, their moms, Captain Scott, Grandma, and Gary J.) out for a tour of Lake Barkley and some swimming. While we were gone exploring, the rest of the 1st crew took naps (minus Steve, Uncle Doug, Nate, & Zack….they played at the beach). We had a pasta/lasagna night that evening for supper.
Saturday we had a late breakfast that consisted of biscuits and gravy, sausage, pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fruit! We then loaded up the vans and headed to the Kentucky Dam and the Land Between the Lakes to see some Elk and Buffalo (not too exciting). We stopped at a park nearby and had a picnic then made our way to the Kentucky Shores for some Go Kart racing! It was a BLAST. Everyone (even grandpa and grandma) got to do some racing! We also drove some golf carts around looking at some animals while Ken, Carrie and Doug did a little mini golf. We had reservation at the Catfish Kitchen at 7. While we waited, the kids fed the fish in the pond right next to the restaurant. The food was awesome!
Sunday morning we loaded up to head home. We stopped in Paducah at Gander Mountain and had our last meal with the whole family! Scott and I decided to do some shoe shopping with the kids. We then headed home.
We had a really great time on our trip……I am so proud the all the kids….. they behaved so well! I’m pretty sure Grandpa and Grandma had a great time as well! Thanks to all of my family for making this trip happen and we will have to do it again………..in a couple of years ;)
As soon as I can get the group picture from my sis-in-law, I will post it! Sorry!

Ending summer with a bang!

I am officially on my three week summer break! Last Thursday was my last day at my clinical site. Those eight weeks flew by faster than I thought they would. Starting a new clinical site has been frustrating for me. Just as I'm getting comfortable at one hospital, it is time to move to a new site. At the new site everyone has a different way of doing things as well as the protocol is usually different. Within a few weeks I get settled in and I don't feel as "stupid" anymore. About one week before the new site I start stressing out about it! LOL That will be here before we know it! But we have a lot to do before school starts.

Yesterday, Kayla and I had a "Mommy and Kayla day". We took off and went to Terre Haute to do some shopping. Kayla needed a few clothes to start school with and of course some school supplies. Before we left for our shopping trip we had a minor accident at home in the kitchen. I was is the process of doing laudary, dishes and sweeping when I heard this noise coming from the kitchen. Sounding like something spraying or at first what I thought was a gas leak. I found a water hose under the sink had busted so I ran out to the front of the house to turn off the main water line. After tearing through what seemed like a whole role of insulation (used to keep the pipe from freezing in the winter) I finally found the knob that turns the water off. Scott was on his way home, so no fear! Kayla and I took off for Terre Haute and Scott and Kyle fixed the water disaster!

Thursday, The Meinhart's are taking off for Lake Barkley! We are all excited! It should be fun with all 19 of us staying in 2 town houses! I do believe all the kids are staying in the same town house as their grandparents! LOL That will be so much fun, Right Grandpa? ;)

We are still waiting to hear is Jasper County will have their Pre-K program. Kyle will be in the am class if it continues. We are really hoping it will happen, Kyle needs some structure!

Hope this finds you all well!

Summer thoughts...

This last month has went by so fast! I don't hardly know where to start!

Clinicals are going well, I have only two weeks left, then I have a 3 week break! YEA!!!! I spent the last week in Radiation Therapy observing. I never really knew what that was all about... I mean I knew the whole idea of it but not how it worked. It was a great week...i loved every bit of it. But probably not enough to go on for another year and specialize in it! After this last two weeks of clinicals I only have two semesters left. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! This has been a LONG two or so years and I am ready to NOT be a student! LOL ! I have for the most part finished my online class that I had to take this summer and have been able to really relax and enjoy the last few weeks. I borrowed some books from my mom and started to read again....for pleasure not school! The kids and I have hit a few of the niece and nephews ball games in the last few weeks.... i was unable to make it to see them all play....but I have plenty more in the years to come!

We were able to enjoy the Jasper county fair again this year....pedal tractor pull, 4H animals, ITPA tractor pull and a deep fried candybar! My absolute favorite! LOL Kayla also finished up her swimming lessons that week and passed the 1st level!!!! I had so much fun relaxing by the new pool in Newton during the lessons, that I forgot to take any pictures of her... sorry! We had a family wedding back in June also... Congrats goes out to Phil and Becca! We had a great time just visiting and watching the kids play with their cousins that they don't get to see that often.

We are really exicted for my 3 week break.... My mom and dad will be married for 40 years in August, so my entire immediate family is taking a family vacation to Kentucky Lake August 5-8, in Eddyville. We have 2 townhouses and a party pontoon rented! We can't wait! Mom and Dad are just as excited at the rest of us......what a way to celebrate!

Scott has been working a lot of overtime this summer :) We like that paycheck! He has also been working of some projects on the side....enjoying his man place (shed). We did such a good job insulating the kitchen area that it is so nice and cool (with the help of a small airconditioner unit ) he is able to work in the cool kitchen instead of the heat!

I think I have covered almost everything for this last month.....I think I'll go play with the kids! I hope that you, my readers, are enjoying your summer! Thanks for reading:)

Update...

I've been a little lazy at posting lately. We have been trying to enjoy this hot summer weather. The kids have been sick off and on lately.... which caused some fun summer trips not to take place such as the Evansville zoo on Memorial day :( My first week of clinicals at Sarah Bush went really well.... I was really nervous, but by Thursday of that week I felt at "home". Kyle was sick several days during my first week...which was difficult on me, but Scott, Ashley and my mom pitched in and took care of him. This week has started off much better.

The kids and I have been trying to make it to some of my niece and nephews ballgames, swimming and bush hog riding to the sandbar. My biggest challange right now is keeping up with the growing grass... I've had enough of the rain!

I also have an online class this summer that I have been working on in the evenings. Thats about all I have for now.....i'll post again when I have some exciting stuff to post about.... maybe some pictures next time!

Tradition has started...

We planted Kayla's tree that she got from school tonight! She was beginning to worry that it wouldn't live much longer!