Life is just too dang crazy. Between Facebook, e-mail, regular mail, DVR, reading other people's blogs - my blog got a little ignored during the last few months. So, mainly because my friend Kelly Bishop isn't on Facebook (hint, hint) I shall try to jump back on the bandwagon. I think the last time I posted, it was the thick of summer. So, (a quick recap) we had a great time at the beach, everyone's back in school (Michael - junior in college, Madeline a senior in HS and 2nd grader Andrew), Todd still works in Chicago A LOT, but we make the most of our weekends together, I had a somewhat successful garden (if you like tomatoes) and a small amount of green peppers (4) and my dear dad celebrated his 81st b-day last night. I am so grateful for my parents and know how lucky and blessed we are to have them present in our lives.
After a very casual pizza and wing party at Gma's, the Jolly family took off for what can only be billed as the hayride from hell (at least to Michael and Madeline). What we thought would be an hour long venture into the woods ending in a bonfire, was more of a 10 minute ride capped off by 45 minutes of historical narration on the 2nd governor of Missouri (Frederick Bates, in case you were wondering). The hayride went to the Bates home where we were disembarked and listened to interesting (for the first 5 minutes) info on funeral practices in the early 1800's. Doesn't that sound fun? The big kids had the giggles so bad I had to pretend I didn't know them. Rarely, though, are the 5 of us together and it was fun to be out in the crisp, fall air as a family.
