A Fun Weekend It Was

This past weekend was a very busy one for the Pattons. On Saturday, our oldest daughter, Abby had a shower for her friend Cynda. Cynda is Abby's high school friend so she and the other bridesmaids held a shower in Springfield, IL in Cynda's honor. It was an outdoor shower and the weather was perfect along with everything else. I helped Abby with the Candy Buffet and the decorations. Here are some pictures of the shower and Cynda.

On Sunday, we had a college graduation party for our daughter Ashley. We decided to have a tent with lanterns hanging from the ceiling of the tent. Ashley likes bright colors so she picked out the plate, napkins, and tablecloths. We set up the food table in the dining room and the dessert table on the kitchen table. Ashley helped decorate and make the food for her own party! Abby and her husband Carl also were a tremendous help! Everyone pitched in and everything turned out perfectly. The weather was hot and humid so not all the guest enjoyed the outdoor tent. Some of the other guest braved the muggy weather and stayed under the tent only to venture out to get refreshments and the occasional game of bags. We rented a slushy machine and served strawberry daiquiris, this was a huge hit! Here are some pictures of the party! Enjoy!

Have a good day and I will post more later!

Donna

Bixby is getting bigger!

Our Bixby Belle is getting bigger everyday! She went to see Dr. Bill at Brush College Animal Hospital on Monday. She weighed in at 21.9 lbs. He said she would probably be losing her baby teeth within the next 2 to 3 weeks. BooHoo, I want her to stay little with little teeth, LOL!!! She is potty trained and rarely has an accident. She loves going outside and especially playing with her buddy Gunnr, the next door neighbor soft coated wheaton terrier. They are so cute together!! Here is a picture of Miss Bixby Belle!

In other news, Ashley has a job!!! I am so proud of her!!! She will be working at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. She will be the new Front Desk Supervisor! She is so excited and can't wait to start! In fact, she starts tomorrow!!! We are having a small graduation party for her on Sunday in our backyard. I will post pictures of the graduation girl on Monday.

Have a great day!

Donna

DePaul’s Amber Patton Named to the 2009 USA Softball Japan Cup Team - Welcome to DePaul Athletics

I am so proud of Amber! She made the USA Softball Japan Cup Team!!! She will be traveling to Japan while representing the good ole US of A, how cool is that!!! You can click on the link below and read the article.
Donna

DePaul's Amber Patton Named to the 2009 USA Softball Japan Cup Team - Welcome to DePaul Athletics

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Abby, Carl and Chief came home this past weekend...

Abby and Carl along with Chief came to visit this past weekend. It was the first meeting for Chief and Bixby Belle. Bixby Belle was scared at first because Chief is so big but once they got acquainted, they were fine with each other. Here they are on the back deck.

On Saturday we drove to Springfield to Southern View Park to celebrate our niece (Kadie) daughter's(Bella) 2nd Birthday Party. It was so windy at the Park but we ate and had a great time.

On Sunday, Chief and Bixby went for a swim in a little kiddie pool that we bought for Bixby. Bixby loves the water and Chief didn't seem to mind but he didn't like the hose. Bixby will chase the water from the hose for hours if we would let her.It was a fun weekend and we were sad to see it come to an end.

I'll post more later.

Donna

A Couple of Firsts for Bixby Belle

Last night Bixby went to her first puppy class! It was filled with fun and puppies and people! Just what puppy classes should be...yep! The class was teaching the pupppies how to sit and walk on a leash. Our Bixby Belle already knew how to do both so she was a STAR!
Here are some pictures of her class.

Meeting a new friend that looks like Marley in Marley & Me, the movie!

Today was Bixby's first haircut! Here is a before and then an after! She looks so fluffy in the after. The groomer, Linda, said Bixby was shy and she did very well for her first time. She has been asleep on the kitchen floor ever since we arrived home from the groomer. Getting your hair done really tires a girl out!!!

I'll post more later!

Donna

She's Here...

Ashley and Bixby Belle.

Well, we finally picked up our Bixby Belle on Sunday May 10th. She has been a joy!!! A little bit of mischief mixed with an adorable personality also so stinking cute, that's our Bixby!!! The above picture is of Ashley and Bixby on the day we brought her home! We have had her for a week and a half and she is really doing great with potty training. Yea!!!

Amber's softball career came to an abrupt stop last weekend in Columbia, MO during the softball regionals. DePaul couldn't get their bats working and the other did had some timely hits and just outscored DePaul. Amber was upset but now she will be playing for the Chicago Bandits. We are so proud of her! Last highfive of here college softball career. Amber is #12.

Ashley stayed home last weekend while we were in Coklumbia, MO, to take care of Bixby Belle. Ashley had a dentist appt. and volunteered to stay home so Tim and I could go to the tournament. Thanks, Ashley, you are the best! Ashley graduated 2 weeks ago from EIU and now is looking for a job. She helped me put lattice on the bottom of the deck so Miss Bixby wouldn't hit her head on the bottom of the deck. She also helped me surpervise the installation of our new fence. It's finally in and looks great! Check out the photos below to see the fence in the backyard. First photo is the right side of the backyard, the second photo is the left side of the backyard. Hard to see the fence but it is there and it blends in so nicely! Looks great!

While the fence was going in the plumbers were here installing a new tankless water system. When we arrived home on Sunday evening, Ashley informed us that we didn't have any hot water. So now we have endless hot water, heaven!!! I promise, I won't post a picture of the tankless water system, LOL!

This picture is Bixby's favorite place to sleep during the day. On the kitchen floor! She is getting so big!

Enough for now, I will post more later!

Donna

Amber's Senior Day...

Last Saturday, April 25th, was Amber's Senior Day for softball at DePaul University. I dreaded this day thinking it would be unbearably sad and I would cry big tears. I have to say, it was a wonderful day of ballgames and a banquet afterwards, which was fit for a king! Amber's softball coach, Eugene Lenti also celebrated his 1000th career win so really the banquet was for Coach Lenti and Amber and the 3 other Seniors.

Amber, Jackie, and Lauren acting silly!

Ashley and Amber, Ashley is Amber's twin sister! The whole family: Abby, Abby's husband, Carl, Ashley, Amber, Tim, and me.
Tim, Amber and me!

Coach Lenti is pictured below with the President of the University and the Athletic Director and the DePaul Softball team. The sign is framed and all the past and present softball players signed it at the Banquet!
So many wonderful comments and speeches were made about Coach Lenti and the Seniors. And, I did not cry once!! Maybe a little teary eyed at some parts but no big tears or ugly cries from me, no siree!! Amber's sisters, brother-in-law, aunts and uncles and friends were in attendance to help her celebrate her softball career. It was a fun day and evening!

I am so proud of Amber and her accomplishments! Just a reminder to keep voting for Amber for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
Here is the link: http://www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/softball_2009/


On to other news, I have new puppy pictures! We will be picking our new puppy up in Louisville on May 10th!

Aren't they adorable, there are only 5 in this picture so 2 of the puppies are probably in the grass. They have a lot of white in them. Don't know which puppy we will be getting!! Can't wait till May 10th!

Have a great day!

Donna