Bad Blogger..

So, it's been awhile since my last blog. :/ Like 6 months?!? Luckily, Dad and Hannah have both added one so it doesn't look like its been THAT long, but I do realize I missed out on blogging about many important things.. so here goes!

Happy Birthday! I feel extremely bad for missing this date in particular, Grandpa Thaine's birthday waas the 7th of December. Actually, I started like 2 different blogs on it but never got around to posting anything:( But better late than never!

Like I said his birthday was the December 7th and would've been 79 years old, I believe. The one thing I can remember most about Grandpa was that he would always tell us girls( Hannah and I ) that we were built like basketball players. :) Now, every time I play or even just go and watch Hannah play, I think about that. Also, He was always so happy and that he liked to tell us stories! Every time we went and visited him he would smile the whole time. We love and miss you Grandpa, so much.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE KLUSMANS! haha:) This year we all went up to Kyle & Jen's house for our family Christmas on Dad's side. We ended up with lots of presents and I had a blast playing with all the little kiddos:) Oh, how I love them! They prepared some great food, and it was fun just to hang out with everyone that day. We ended up with both Ava and Anna's names, so we got both girls animalpillow pets and I also got Ava a bracelet kit. I think they liked it all:) Especially Anna with her monkey pillow, she held on to it the whole time or she was sliding around on her tummy on the floor with it. :)

CHRISTMAS! woo hoo! I love Christmas time! this is also something I was planning on blogging about and just didn't get around to it. Santa and Mom and Dad were very good to Hannah and I. I'm pretty sure we both got everything we asked for. Santa brought Hannah a Basketball goal, which she has been asking for this we lost our other two and I got a new camera!, among many other things. We also got these cool drawing things, they're all black then you take a special marker, and the color underneath appears! Ha, pretty sure they're meant for like 7 yr olds, but I love them!:) We put up a total of 11 trees this year, all with their very own theme, and right now we are in the process of taking them all down. :( Although the main tree and my tree in my room will be up as long as I can keep Mom and Dad convenienced that they shouldn't come down yet. When we take all the decorations down our house just feels so blah and empty.

InDepth! Hannah and I went to a youth group conference, that's held in Topeka, with our bible study group over break. I went last year, loved it, and pretty much forced Hannah to go this year! Soooooo very glad we went! We went up Thursday, the 29th and came come on New Years Eve. We spent most of our time listening to different speakers and listening to the amazing band, Down Here, perform. Hannah didn't feel good Thursday night or Friday morning, so she spent some time Friday at Marla and Justin's house relaxing and resting. She later joined back up with us Friday night and I'm so thankful that she felt good enough to come back later that night. Annndd I must tell you all something else about Friday night, too! My little sissy, gave her life to Jesus that night!! :) You have no idea how happy I was and am for her! Tears of joy started falling when I found out! Pretty sure I was almost more excited about it than her! She pretty much made my entire Christmas Break. :) I love You Hannah!

New Year's Eve! We ended up riding back to Sun City that day with Marla, Justin, and Hayden. Mom's side of the family all got together at the old gym(just like old times:) ) to celebrated a family Christmas. It's been awhile since we've all gotten together like that and it was a blast! There was tons of food, plenty of games, and lots of talking that night! When midnight finally rolled around, Sammy, Hannah, Molly, Emily, Easton, and I all went over and rang the church bell twelve times.:) Easton thought it was great! Mom later informed me that, when she was a kid they all did the exact same thing. I can't wait to do it all again next New Year's Eve!

Well that's everything, I think! Sorry that it's so long! Haha, I guess I'll have to just start blogging more regularly now, that way they are shorter posts! I'll just have to start a list of topics I can right about! LOL.

- Madi :)

Merry Christmas

Those that knew me in high school will recognize the name. For the others, I was Elwood to almost everyone once upon a time. Wrote this about 10 yrs ago. Merry Christmas.

It was Christmas Eve,
an we were all at the bar
When this old man came in
And said,"Who owns that car?"

I looked around the room,
The regulators all grinned.
"It depends," I said.
"Which one do you mean?"

Sweeping his arms long and low he said,
"The purple and white Cad.
I'm broke down and need
To borrow it bad."

The room grew quiet
As all eyes turned toward me,
For the car was mine
And only I had the key.

I spoke not a word
As he came over carrying his bag.
"I know its yours," he said.
"I read it on your tag."

Calmly I sat there,
Surprised that I could.
Then he bent to my ear, whispering,
"Don't you remember me, Elwood?"

Sitting there stunned,
The past suddenly came back,
For who could forget the eyes, the laugh,
And of course, his bulging pack?

Suddenly I knew it was OK.
The car would be back, nary a scratch.
And I heard him say,
"I know the paint would be hard to match."

I tossed him the key.
They landed in his hand.
"Be careful," I warned.
"Don't spin out in the sand."

The request was granted.
He started to leave,
Then I reached behind the bar,
Grabbed a package and gave it a heave.

As he opened it he looked at me,
His eyes starting to fill,
'Cause the shirt was his size
And read, "Property of Elwood's Bar and Grill".

He slipped it on
And started to fill his pipe.
I turned to wink at Susan,
And then he was gone from sight.

I wanted the others to see,
So I had to think fast.
"Quick! To the front windows!"
I managed at last.

To the windows we all went,
Quick as a flash.
Except for ol' Chris,
And he fell with a crash.

I pulled him up
And what would appear,
But the Cad, St. Nick,
And eight tiny reindeer.

We stood there amazed,
Silenced by surprise.
For on the hood was Rudolph,
With fog lights for eyes.

Then all was calm
When the Cad was gone from sight
And the bar emptied early,
For it was Christmas eve night.

Later I sat by myself,
My chest full of pride,
For I had saved Christmas,
But I wished I had went along for the ride.

Then I heard Santa cry
As I turned out the light,
"Merry Christmas to all,
And, Elwood, sleep good tonight!"

Shine!:)

This weekend Madison and I went to Salina, Ks to Shine.Last year Madison went and had lots of fun!So she talked me (made me) in to going.Shine is a conference for teen girls to learn about God! We did lots of fun things when we got there! I didn't want to be the only 6th grader by myself to go to where the 6th graders were supposed to go.The 7th and 8th graders were together. Soo I was a 7th grader for two days! We talked about 10 things to think about before making a decision and what a true guys heart should like. We had this drawing to do you got either a Manly Man or a Girly Guy. We had a Girly Guy and I should say that our picture was pretty funny!:)

We also sang songs in the mornings and afternoons. I met this great girl band called Eternity Focus, who is my new favorite band!:) They have some great songs! Eternity Focus who is a group of sisters who are in a band together. The oldest was the shortest(which I thought was pretty funny). We end up talking to them. My friend Taylor wanted to say hi so we all went over there and talked for awhile. They asked if we played sports and we said Volleyball, Basketball and Track. The oldest asked me if I played post and asked me what grade I was in. I said yes and 6. She didn't think I was a 6th grader. I had a lot of fun! And look forward to going next year! And, Madison you were right!:( I love being right so this is kind of sad.

Love,Hannah

Birthday Wish(:

So, you all will have to bear with me through this particular blog. Ha, I'm not really sure how I want to say everything so it might be a little crazy. Just a prewarning.

July 23rd would have been my Popo's birthday. Now, I think dad probably would have posted on here about it, but we were on vacation without any internet service, so he really didn't have any way to do it. Ha, and I'm aware how late this post really is!

Unlike when dad talked about Granny K's birthday, I can't tell you how old he would be now. Or, how many siblings he had. I'm not to great about remembering those kinds of things! I guess ask dad, he'd be able to tell you.

This is my favorite picture of Popo and me. :) As you can tell, it's a rather old picture. It was taken in our living room, right after mom and dad bought the house,(i don't know if we were living here yet) while we were just beginning the 'fixing up' process. Ha,and don't ask about the name, it's just what we had and will be what we always call him as. :)I don't even think I know the reason we called him that, it must have just stuck after someone said it once.

I have so many memories with him; camping out in their room on this little fold up bed, getting folded up in it somehow, and then waking up next to him in their bed the next morning when i was like, five?! Or, sitting out on the swing on the front porch seeing how high we could make it go before Granny K finally said something, lighting and helping blow out his 80-some candles on a cake one year for a birthday(that did, or should have made the skome alarm go off!), and knowing I could always find the toy box under his desk in the back room. These are only just a couple that I remember. Plus he could fix just about anything, and if he couldn't then..... well I can't remember him NOT being able to fix something. :) He also kept just about anything, there was so much stuff when we went through everything in the garage!

Dad wished Granny K a happy birthday, and I kinda just wanted to do the same for Popo. Just to say that and to share some of my memories with him, to my family. Miss/Love you bunches Popo!

-madi.

Why, hello there officer... :/

So for my life I have this list, something I call a bucketlist, of things I would like to be able to do/accomplish before I finally get to meet my Lord. It includes multiple things, such as skydiving with friends Blakey Poo and Claudia!, traveling the world, creating a blog-completed, and just another one for kicks and giggles, breaking the law. This last one, I accomplished yesterday morning on my way to work. :/ Trust me, I didn't plan on checking this one off for a verrrryyyyy long time! An honestly I was thinking more along the lines of something like, not wearing my seat belt while driving when I wrote this particular one down on The Bucketlist.

Just so you are aware, I'm really only blogging about this because well, you all will eventually find out about this sooner or later, and I figured this was easier then telling some of my family in person. haha:)

Yesterday(Friday), I was supposed to be at work around 8:30. I was really supposed to be there at 6:50ish, but the night before(Thursday) we had a storm and the people I babysit for had gotten some major wind damage at their house. Since the mom was away for work, the dad just decided he work just go to work a little bit later Friday morning, that way he could stay up Thursday night and pick up/fix/clean some of the damage. I think, that if the storm hadn't of happened I probably wouldn't have stopped. justsaying. :) But, that was why I didn't have to be there that early.

Already running late because I hadn't been paying attention to the time while getting ready, I knew that I would be a little late. Well, I was a lot later than I thought I would be. I had my cruise set at 70, on what I thought was a 65 mph road on my way there. Guess What! Turns out though the speed limit is not 65 mph, but actually only 55mph. :/ Yeah, didn't know that. Hhhh.

For your info, I am really a cautious driver, I've always disliked driving by police cars, having one pass by me, or anything like that. So you can only imagine how nervous I was when I stopped and realized, oh crud, I don't have my license with me. :/ Oh, it gets better. He told me his name, asked me my hurry, told me why he stopped me, blah,blah,blah. Then asked for my license and insurance card, which then I explained my little situation and then got the card. Guess What! that wasn't the current card. :/ Then, I have to tell him all this info because I don't have anything with me, all while on the inside I'm flipping out.

While he is in his car, doing whatever he does, filling out my ticket:( , I first inform Nathan that I'm going to be a little bit later than planned, then text my mom and let her know what happened. Not the best feeling in the world, let me tell you.

I ended up at work around, 8:45?, talk about not on time. After finishing telling mom all about this and answering all her questions, she just said that these things happen and wasn't upset, thank goodness. I then went on to tell my dad about the ticket and do you want to know his response?

"Well, now you have something to blog about."-My dad. :) ha.

So there you have it, my first speeding ticket. :( My first time breaking the law. Another item with a big ole X next to it on my list. Since 'breaking the law' is now checked off, I plan on paying for the dumb thing and trying never to do it again.... Or at least not get caught doing it. ;)

--mk(:

Lake!/Life! hehe...(:

Hannah, Mom, and I having been dying to go to the lake for the longest time. So when the opportunity came to go yesterday, we took it!( :

Hannah had a softball game in Coldwater last night to play and the ball diamonds are conveniently located right next to the lake.: ) We got into the lake around 2:30 and ended up staying until about 10 minutes before her game at 6. There were hardly anyone there and maybe like, three boats/jet ski's (I want one sooooo bad!)so it made the afternoon very calm and quiet. Funny story: One guy on a jet ski came over to load his up, as he was coming back over mom turned around and goes, "Madison! did you right on his jet ski?!?!" I was like I didn't touch it! I was only looking! Ha she came into the water after he left and told us, the front of it had Madison written in the dirt on it! I was like maybe he named it....? like people do cars? : ) guess you just had to be there.

With us we took my friend, Claudia,one of the foreign exchanges at our school this year, and although it wasn't her first time at the lake she said she had lots of fun. Ha she tried to teach Hannah and me a few German words, but that didn't turn out sounding to pretty. Hannah did actually do pretty well at repeating them after her tho! On a sad note, Claudia leaves the 28Th this month. : ( I'd like to say that We have gotten pretty close over the past school year, and I am definitely goinng to miss her. I don't think she's quite ready for her to leave either. She's gotten close to some us just here recently, that she wishes could of happened earlier in the school year. :/ Buttttt on the bright side!, she does plan on visiting soon! : )

Hannah's team didn't end up winning but they did play their little hearts out. Plus only like three girls have even played since t-ball, so none of us are expecting a win every game, just hoping that they have fun playing and want to again next year! Hannah did well, she could have had a home run again!, but decided for the first time to listen to her coach and stop at third. hhhh. Maybe she'll have one in the next game!

Alsooooo, dad if you read this before you get home Thursday, tell Ronnnie to send you home early! We all miss you very muchly! And agree that you need to get your butt home!! (he's been gone all week this week, all of last week, and had to work both Saturday and Sunday. :/)

Well, anyways I must finish this post up now. I have to go to work :) Thank goodness it wasn't a real early morning today! I'll fill you all in on our crazy? sometimes dull? life some other time. :) ttfn....

-mk.

Sigh..... I'm so sorry.. :( I know its been like month since I last blogged. :/ I hate to say this, but I'm almost as bad as dad was with slackin on keeping you all updated. Almost. Not quite. So I guess I'll just allow this post to be about, well everything. So, I'm going to warn you now that this could definitely be a long blog. And I'll try to get more consistent in the future.

I'm SIXTEEN! WOO HOO! No, it doesn't feel any different from being 15. Other than the fact that I'm still calling myself 15 occasionally . :/ I don't wanna grow up! haha.... Sorry but this movie line just has to be thrown in, it kinda goes with not wanting to grow up? lol....

" I don't want to go to school, I wanna stay home and bake cookies with you mommy."

:) Name that movie?---- If you're like my boyfriend, who doesn't ever watch movies,you won't be able too..Buttt, its Space Jam. You know, with Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny playing basketball? :)If you haven't seen it, you should watch it. Come on over you can watch it with me and Brian. He hasn't seen it, or the Gooonies?!? I mean who in the world hasn't watched the Goonies.? butttt that's completely off topic. Sorry I'm kinda random and not very good with staying on track.

ANYWAYS! I got some wonderful presents for my birthday, Hannah made me a gorgeous stain glass window of a cross and bible verse.( I heart crosses! No certain types in particular, I love all styles. I have like 15 on my wall already.:) ) Mommy and Daddy got me a new blanket I've been begging for, for like ever and more crosses!. Also a huge, 41 pictures, frames. I have yet to attempt to fill it all. Oh! and Itunes cards from family! Those are already all used up. Music is amazing:) I also got my last precious moment figure. :( It's so pretty!

I should probably included my picnic, mom could possibly be very upset if I do not. She arranged it all:) I have the best mommy in the entire world, no lie. She had Brian come kidnap me for a couple of hours to take me to his pond, for a picnic. very sweet. <3 Plus, after we left she, Taylor, Hannah, and dad began filling a ton of water balloons for a surprise water balloon fight with all my friends. It was great, I have some amazing friends and an awesome family, all whom I love.

School is finally over! Wittle Hannah is now in 6th grade, officially in junior high. :( She's getting so big. :'( I'm now a Junior. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about it so far. Summer is here though! We're all excited about that! I think none of us were mentally in school for about the last 3 weeks, only physically there..... Goodbye homework and boring classes! Hello scrapbooking, sleeping, and swimming! :)

Guess who is playing softball this year?!? that is correct, my baby sissy! I'm so excited! haha. She decided to play fast pitch softball this summer with some friends. Trust me, Hannah is a beast. Seriously. I think the only thing she doesn't like about it is her number, which is 6. Her actual words to me about the number 6 were, literally, " Oh, look at me! I'm tiny, wittle number 6. I don't do anything, I'm so cool. NOT." Mom has mutual feeling towards the number as Hannah. I think they were hoping for number 17, like Marla, Colby, and Bubba had. Other than that I think she is happy about playing. They lost their first game 14-22, which I honestly think was rigged. I have yet to figure out how the other team pulled it off, but it was. She plays again tonight in Bucklin, this one will most definitely be a win. Also she doesn't know this yet, but she is going to have a home run tonight. I can feel it in my bones. :)

As for softball, guess who's playing this weekend? Me:/ I am super duper nervous about this. I haven't played since like t-ball. So, it'll be interesting.

So far, mom and dad have been pretty busy working this summer. If they aren't working, you can usually find them watering/planting/outside messing with the flowers, if they can't be found in the house. :) the backyard is so pretty with all the flowers.

Well, that's all I have for now. I think, hmmm... Oh! I know! My Mommy's birthday is coming up! :) The 28th to be exact! I don't know her thoughts about that tho. :) haha I love you mommy!

-mk(: