2009 Indianapolis ZooBoo..

Headed out to visit the animals and do some fun activities at the Indianapolis ZooBoo.
Darth Vader Gracie, SWAT Man Nolan, Storm Trooper Ben..anxious to get inside the Zoo.

StormTrooper Ben..

Dad helping make gliders and time capsules in the Lowe's do-it-yourself tent..

Nolan getting a closer look at the always entertaining Monkeys.

Petting the sharks...the highlight of every Zoo trip.

Nolan and his headless friend...

Darth Vader, Storm Trooper, Tay and Me.
Gracie said last year she wanted to be Darth Vader..it stuck and Grandma and Grandpa M found her this awesome helmet..

The Round-Go-Merry...twice the fun b/c it was going in reverse!

New family members...

So, Aunt Marcia started the fish frenzy at the carnival...We had packed our tank away but, decided to get it back out of storage since we had the fish..Well, before we could get the fish in the tank they had to be flushed to the fish hospital...
Grandma and Grandpa M. to the rescue..they showed up at the door with 5 new goldfish! They are all different in size and color and are always staring at us like they are starving to death! It's been 3 weeks and they are all going strong. Thanks so much to G and G M. for the new members of our brood and to Paps and Grandma Sandy for the everlasting tank.

5 new goldfish...all different colors and sizes...

Grandpa, Dad, Gracie and Ben getting things ready..Tay taking the pics :-) Mr. French, Peri, Miller,Harry and Rock

St. Malachy Hog Roast/Fall Festival...

You can't go wrong with a church fundraiser where there is good food/friends, a casino, games and rides and beer...

Here comes trouble...

Ben, Will and Gracie all smiles at the end of the SuperSlide..

Will, Ben and Gracie were no match for Jason on the Sizzler...
Gracie on the swings..She and Will loved all the rides...fearless...

My sweet second cousin Halle (Jenny's daughter) has been babysitting for the kids and they just love her..glad we ran into her for a few rides!
Gracie and Halle cheesing it up..Will lookin for his mom and Ben..the peacemaker...

Great Aunt Marcia wasn't letting anyone go home with out winning a fish...**Who were all flushed away to the fish hospital the next day...

NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) US Nationals 2009

Grandma and Grandpa Mendenhall got tickets to The US Nationals on Labor Day and invited the kids along...this was their first experience and I am positive they (Tay, Gray and Ben) had no idea what they were in for!
When Jason dropped them all off and one of the Top Fuelers began a run Ben looked at his dad like, WHAT was that?...

Whoa...That is cool....and very LOUD!

Daddy's daydream...

Snack time...how many times did those earplugs have to be "re-adjusted"?

Funny cars..lots of smoke

The kids had a great time... lasting about 3 hours (which is more than i had them in for) and are looking forward to next year...Taylor has even become an Ashley Force Fan!

A Visit to Mayberry...

Just Came across these that a friend took in August..We visited the Mayberry Cafe in Danville (for the first time) this summer during Taylor's last tournament...The kids absolutely loved it

Hannah, Taylor, Samantha, Jessica and Taylor T.
Future telling....
Kyle and Ben assuming the position...

Ben's 1st day as a Bulldog!!

Ben was very excited for his first day in the "bigger" kids preschool class. He now gets to go three 1/2 days per week. I didn't think we were going to have tears like last year but, alas we did. Luckily, they were only on the first day and it has been smooth sailing from there!
Excited to get in and play....

not so excited b/c mom is leaving....

Found Hailey and no more tears..thanks for the picture Mel!

New kid on the Block..

Lilly Faith Heiner joined our neighborhood on September 4th. She is so beautiful and I was blessed to be with our good friends Mel and John during her birth. Now, as everyone knows with three of my own I have never been on that side of the "show" before and it was absolutely AMAZING. Melanie joked that I should become a midwife..I don't know about that but, it certainly was an incredible experience to be there when Lilly was born! The kids just can't get enough of her and of course are all pushing for another brother or sister..I think they'll just have to settle for cousins and friends :-)