Reed's Special Farm

Since Reed didn't go to the Colts game, it worked out for him to go with my mom and dad the following day to an annual field day put on by one of the companies my dad sells seed for. Turns out it's only about 15 minutes from our house and I needed a babysitter for the Colts game the night before so it all worked out. I explained to Reed that Millie was going to the game but he would get to go see a big farm with Mammy and GG the next day and eats lots of yummy food. Reed then declared this place "The Special Farm". All week he kept talking about going to the special farm so when Saturday finally arrived, he was very excited.

At some point during the day mom told me Reed said this to her...
Mom took her glasses off to wipe them, and he said "Mammy, when you take your glasses off you look horrible, but when you have them on you look pretty."

We may have to work a little on his charm.

Here are some pictures Mom took that day. It was filled with a never ending food buffet, plenty of popcorn and tractors everywhere. What could make him happier?

Go Colts!

When we told Millie we were moving from Knoxville to Indianapolis, she was not happy. I can't blame her, I wasn't happy either but what can you do? So we asked her where she thought the Colts played football. She didn't know but when we said Indianapolis she asked, "Can we go see them play?" When we told her "yes" she was fired up about moving. So as you can see, we owed the child some Colts tickets. We got her some for her birthday, my mom bought the kids Colts shirts (even though Reed wasn't going) and we were set.

I'm not sure what Millie was more excited about, the game or spending the evening with Uncle Pat. He sure was never given the opportunity the entire night to forget she was there, that's for sure.

Millie's In First Grade

This was Millie's first day of first grade. With the start of a new school, it's like the first day of kindergarten all over again, but worse! Kindergarten was no problem for Millie and I, we were both excited, no one was nervous or scared and it was all smiles and excitement. Starting a new school though has really made Millie nervous, scared, worried and anxious. I tried to help her through all her worries that she asked about...mean kids, getting lost, where to sit on the bus, not knowing how to buy lunch, not finding her bus to come home...but I think I was just making it worse. How do you prepare her without freaking her out, apparently I don't know how to do this?

Her spirits lifted a little when our cul-de-sac filled with all of our neighbors she knows who are also on her bus, 10 kids to be exact, we have lots of kids her age around us!

So here's to hoping that when the bus stops out front this afternoon, she is on it with lots of fun things to tell me. Until then, I will be a nervous wreck!

Here is her on the first day of kindergarten a year ago, she has the same wave, so cute.

Happy 6th Birthday Millie!

We wanted to make sure Millie had a special birthday this year because our move to Indiana has been kind of hard on her. Rick took the day off and it started with her waking up to decorate her birthday cupcakes. She actually walked past her brand new bike standing in the living room. She didn't even acknowledge that is was there. Granted, a random bike in the middle of the living room is not really an unusual site. When we asked her about it, she said "I saw it but I didn't know it was mine." And then she starting doing her laugh/cry because she was so happy! She has wanted a bike with gears and hand brakes for about a year and she is finally big enough.

After the cupcakes were decorated, eaten and lunch was packed, we got geared up for what I thought was about a 15 mile bike ride on the Monon Trail. About 1/2 mile into the ride Reed's bike cart, The Rocket, got a flat tire. Rick decided it wasn't a big deal and we could ride to a bike shop and fix it. I was getting a bad feeling and should have just turned around then. But we went on. We rode to Dick's and got a new tube and we were good to go. After that we rode to Hobby Lobby and picked up some princess plates for Millie's party the next day. I need to mention that we had to ride our bikes across Highway 31 and I nearly had a heart attack watching my poor kids on their bikes knowing we were all going to die. We survived and now it was on to the main part of the ride. We had a beautiful ride but our 15 mile ride turned into a 24 mile ride when we got a call telling us our closing papers we signed and sent to Knoxville the day before had an error. So we had to ride to Rick's office to fix them, have it notarized and sent out that day.

Millie was a champ and did great riding 24 miles on her new bike! I, however, was in a lot of pain and had to take a long nap but I recovered. Reed said he was tired too. I guess being pulled through Westfield, Carmel and Indianapolis in a bike cart can wear a guy out.

After we were all rested up and my parents got to the house with my nephew, we headed to Olive Garden for Millie's special birthday supper. Olive Garden is her favorite place to eat and they even gave her extra mints!

The next day was party day!

I was worried she would be sad because since we just moved to Indy, she didn't have any friends to invite to her party. We tried to make it extra special so that she wouldn't notice or have time to be sad. I was very glad my sister and her family came and 2 of my Aunts from southern Indiana. They were so sweet for coming all that way. Millie was excited to see them and it really helped fill the house with more birthday cheer.

Thank you to everyone who came and helped make this such a special day for Millie!

And now this is what Millie does with her new bike...

Not sure where she gets these ideas?

Reed wanted to too but we told him not with training wheels. So being the master problem solver that he is, he came up with a solution.

The Line Up

I figured since I had a photo of all the Meunier's I would do a run down of the situation.

Alan and Lucy, parents to all 6 of the clan that became my in laws about 9 years ago. Has it really only been 9 years? It seems much longer.

Chris and Randy, eldest sibling and only girl in the clan. They have 2 beautiful daughters, one being the flower girl extraordinaire and they all currently live in Abu Dhabi.

Rick would come next, second oldest child and oldest son. He would be the one who brought me into this family. I don't really have a good photo of him but I think you all know what he looks like by now, if not, he's the one fixing his sock.

Vince, third in the line up. Pay attention ladies, he's not married yet. I have met his girlfriend though and she is wonderful so don't get your hopes up. Vince lives in Colorado and is what prompted our 2 week RV road trip earlier this summer.

This is Pat, fourth in line. He too is single ladies! He comes with a beautiful Goddaughter (Millie) so you don't want to pass this up! I'm not sure where he lives but no one really does. He is more of a wanderer at this time but the odds are good he will be in your town soon.

Jeff and Lyndsie, fifth in line. All I can say here is Jeff should count his blessings he wasn't the baby because he dodged a lot of torturing by not being the youngest.

Finally, the reason we were all gathered together, Brian and Hannah. Brian, the little baby of the family. The one who took more abuse by his older siblings than was probably legal. The one who was carried around the house by having a toilet plunger suctioned to his back. The one they ran over with a 4 wheeler and broke his leg when he was 3 and had to use a walker. But he was still the one all the brothers carried off the football field when he was injured his senior year playing football. They may give each other a hard time but when it comes down to it, they would do anything for each other.

So that's the line up. My in laws. The ones I met, knew and spoke to and still married Rick.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

Congrats Hannah and Brian - The Entertainment

Who needs professional entertainment when the bride and groom have 4 nieces and nephews to keep everyone entertained? They were about the cutest little entertainers I have seen.

Congrats Hannah and Brian - The Wedding

I'm going to warn you, I may have taken a few photos at this wedding. And by a few, I mean nearly 500. So when you see all of the following photos, keep in mind that it may be a lot, but it's not 500. And for further clarification, at least 1% of the photos were of Brian and Hannah. The remaining 99% may have mostly been of Millie, Reed, Anastasia and Talula. Let's face it, kids are just easier to work with and a lot more fun. But for now, let's just focus on the wedding ceramony its self.

Getting ready for the wedding Reed was very excited about his tux and his dancing shoes. He kept checking himself out in the mirror to make sure he was looking good.

Reed was the ring bearer and he took his job duties very seriously. It was all business for him during the ceremony. Reed's cousin Anastasia was the flower girl and Anastasia is 1 day younger than Reed. I can't say that it was necessarily all business for her but she was adorable and they both did a great job.

Reed made it to the front perfectly to join Uncle Brian.

He's so adorable!

Brian checking out Hannah.

Hannah checking out Brian.

Hannah's beautiful dress.

The vows.

The ring exchange.

Oh la la...

And there they are! We now have another official member of the "So I married a Meunier" club. Randy, Lyndsie and I still need to figure out what her initiation needs to be. And ladies, you better hurry. There are only 2 of these fine strapping Meunier boys left to snatch up.

Congratulations to both Hannah and Brian. We are glad to have you in our family Hannah.