GR FireHouse: Revealed

One lone Thursday night a week or 2 ago, John and Rennae gathered us children for a dinner. Sans children.

So, after pawning off the 2 chillun's on my parents, we traveled down into deep GR to visit...the Firehouse...(point to ponder...is a firehouse without a firepole still a firehouse? hmmm. it's debatable.)

It went like this: gather at One Trick Pony for apps. Stroll over to the Firehouse for dinner, tour, and firetruck rides. hehehe. Return to One Trick for dessert. Sounds like a winner to me! Thanks John and Rennae!

The newlyweds. Awwwww!

This is the table that the firemen eat at. Evidently, the table is a repurposed bowling alley.

Very, very cool. (hey mom, remember those plates? did you sell them to the fire dept?)

They even have their own glasses!

Thanks, chefs, for the tasty dinner.

After salad, the tour began.

With Firetrucks, and more Firetrucks.

Hola, Eddie and Amie!

We saw what firemen keep in their lockers.

Seriously, Pork'n'Beans and Shaving Cream? Ewwww!

More Firetrucks.

The secret sleeping quarters.

More Firetrucks!

The Top Secret Mask Repair Room: Enter at your own risk.

You may end up like this!

The extra Fire Truck room.

So big, that it required a stoplight! Not...

Weird fireman humor? "Let me draw you a picture" ... of a Kitty Cat? Com'on, if that doesn't scream FIREMAN!

Firetruck Rides! Jerilynn, Amie, and I rode first. ... Amie?

Peek'a'boo!

Those Firemen, they keep a cluttered truck! It's like they need to jump into their boots at a moments notice or something.

After a trip on the S-curve and a short, but oh so sweet, 'blip' of the sirens, we returned.

Hello, Firehouse!

After us Jeff, Eddie, and Travis rolled around GR. Not on the highway though. Only us girls are cool like that. So then John, Rennae, and Travis. And then I took this picture of them. And then I ran into the side of One Trick Pony. Not kidding.

And, after desert, this fabulous dinner with adult company came to an end. Thank you, John and Rennae. And Eddie, Amie, Jerilynn and Jeff - it was grand!

In an effort to even things out...

ooo! This one is all me!

I'm cute, sweet,

and teething...

Ah. This lil bugger here? Just outta my reach.

Where's the gas pedal on this thing? Maybe if I tug this way...

Nope. Oh well.

Hey, Didja know I'm 4 months old now?

Ooo! Pretty! Oh. Still. Just outta my reach.

This is exhausting.

Just kidding. I'm never tired of playing!

See ya later, 'tater.

Adalynn's 2nd Birthday Party: Saturday November 14, 2009

What else could balloons,

Crepe paper,

a slideshow,

and a pony

mean, other than there is a kick-butt birthday party ready to begin?

Cindy arrived,

as did many family members and friends.

Megan's a natural.

Henry John likes anything that moves.

And Adalynn?

I think we all know the answer to that one!

Thank God for patient ponies.

Adalynn and Naomi...started out good...

...and transitioned into a well-meaning choke hold...

ahhh...better!

Off the record, later that night Adalynn retaliated by plinking a pink My Little Pony off Naomi's head. Oops. The product of too much sugar and no nap. Not our proudest moment!

After some slippage and slidage on Cindy, Grandpa Ed and Grandma Deb brought out their present.

Ooo, earrings!

NoT!

A nice bareback pad with stirrups, so Adalynn can ride 'like a big'girl!'

*

After the proper consumption of food (on your birthday, it's not much, I tell ya), Adalynn wanted CaKe.

(on the food note, i think we cleared 10# of pulled pork, 24 rolls and some slimwiches, 2 quarts of homemade applesauce, some 20 baked potatoes, 1 pack of bacon made into bacon bits, and 1 gallon of apple cider. all. gone. compliments to the chef!).

But, back to Adalynn...she really Wanted CaKe so badly that she would NoT leave her highchair until she had been served.

Unfortunately, the magic-re-lighting candles remained lit.

And lit.

Ooo. What a beaut of a cake!

No Adalynn, this is not all for you.

But yes, they are very pretty ponies.

Finally Adalynn gave in and climbed down from her perch. Only when bribed by presents...but, whatever works!

Last year, for Adalynn's 1st Birthday, we had asked for people to donate items to a local Women's and Children's Shelter. This year, since Cindy came from Camp Manitou-lin and we are personally familiar with their Therapeutic Riding Program, we asked for donations for the horses.

Of course, Grandparents still gave presents. But really, 4 sets of grandparents can provide a girl with plenty of entertainment!

We are VeRy ThaNkFuL for everyone who traveled to our house to celebrate our very special oldest daughter's birthday. (Thanks, Amy, for taking such great pictures). As Adalynn's parents, we feel so very blessed that God has entrusted us with this bright, energetic, loving girl, and even more blessed that we are surrounded by this great community of people to help us raise her.

Adalynn, we LOVE you!

*In honor of Adalynn and Cindy, we will be able to donate 6-6' cotton lead ropes, 2 cans of fly spray, 3 snaffle bits, 1 large english saddle pad, stirrup leathers, and more. Thank you, so very much for allowing us to bless Camp Manitou-lin in this way!*

Quick Blog.

We really are around, just not online lately. But here's some pictures from Halloween and a recent Griffins game to wet your appetite for the cutie-patootie Masselink chillun's.

It's fairly obvious what they are doing here.

Travis is corrupting his child to enjoy a lifelong obsession with firetrucks and red objects.

In what other context can you find a Gangsta, Jack Sparrow, Tinkerbell, and a Cow (with udders)?

Keely really enjoyed the Griffins game. Maybe a little too much, I think she got a crick in her neck.

A little Adalynn-love.

Still watching...

...and more Adalynn-love!

*praying for everyone's health right now! take care, we'll be back soon!*