My Best Friend...

Since I'm not that great at coming up with ideas to blog about, I've turned to the help of a "topic generator" when I don't have anything of my own to write about. That being advised, this is the first spin of the "topic generator".

Most people meet their best friends when they first start school. Right??? Well, I met my best friend my freshman year of high school.

I don't know if you all remember this or not, but the second half of our freshman year (1994-1995) we ended up with a student teacher (Wendy Carter) in our English course. Carter came up with a special assignment for us. We did the mandatory groaning and complaining, but she assured us it would be fun. That assignment was that we each had to write a pen-pal letter to an English teacher/class in a different state. I honestly don't know if very many people ever received a reply to the original pen-pal letters that were sent out, but that's how I met my best friend, I was one of the letters that actually received a reply.

Since we were dealing with the actual mail service, the letters took a while to send/receive. It had been a while since our letters were sent out, but upon arriving home from school one day, I had a letter addressed to me from someone in California. California??? I didn't know anyone in California. This could only be one thing!!!

Sure enough, I opened the letter, and read about a complete stranger. We continued to write back and forth all through high school. I could tell her anything, and she could tell me anything. For two people that had never met, that lived completely different lives, we had so much in common.

We lost touch for a while when we'd both went away to college, but in 2005 I was able to reconnect with her using Classmates.com. Those first few days we had so much to say and ask to/about one another. It was like our own private little class reunion. Since that time, we've still kept in touch. Instead of waiting on the postal service (which we do occasionally), we now use email & facebook to keep in touch. We've talked on the phone once, and we're hoping to finally meet one of these days, but whether that happens or not, she is and always will be my best friend.

Now that you know the history of my best friend, maybe I should introduce you to her:

Her name is Rebecca Jo (Henline) Tierney.
She was born March 18, 1980.
Her parents are Richard & Jenniefer.
She is an only child.


(This is a picture of Rebecca with her high school sweetheart Ryan).

When we first met she lived in Huntington Beach, California.

(Pretty, but way too congested for my comfort).

Once we had reconnected, I learned that Rebecca had married her high school sweetheart Ryan Tierney in Kihei, Maui on September 27, 2003.

(Truly a beautiful picture).

On February 28, 2007 Ryan and Rebecca were blessed with a beautiful baby girl that they named Delainey Rose.


(Isn't she just precious).

Ryan and Rebecca decided they wanted a better place to raise their only daughter in, so they began looking and researching areas. Just this past year, they relocated from California to Noblesville, Indiana.


(She's much closer now, so I will meet her one day).

They bought a house, and they're now settled in.


(I love this house, it's beautiful).

After settling in, they (by way of the local animal shelter) got Delainey a "sister".


This is Sheba.
(Isn't she cute).

Oh, I did forget to mention that Rebecca's a RN. Other than that, you now know my best friend. I'm so lucky to have her, and one day we will finally meet. Until that time, I'll continue to bug her via email and facebook!!!

What's Your Opinion...

Alright Ladies, I'm calling on your BTDT (been there - done that) knowledge. I'm early yet, but I'm trying to get everything planned out ahead of time, and I really don't know which way to go, so I'm going to the experts (in case you were wondering, that's YOU)!!!

Dakota's first birthday is June 29th, which falls on a Tuesday this year. This is why I'm needing your opinions. I have three options:

• Celebrate his birthday on Tuesday, June 29th.
• Celebrate his birthday on Saturday, June 26th (the Saturday before).
• Celebrate his birthday on Saturday, July 3rd (the Saturday after).

So, now that you know my options, what would you do?

Most of the family that would be invited is within one hour's drive from us. However, my family (from Schuyler) is planning on being here for his first birthday if at all possible. Even though I think it would be fun to be together over the 4th, I know a lot of people travel or have their own private parties around that time. Plus, my dad has a fire phobia, he just knows that if he isn't home to keep an eye on things that someone is going to burn the house down, so he never wants to be away from home over the 4th. If we have it on the actual day, a Tuesday evening may be hard to get everyone together, as everyone's schedule is different. I'm really thinking that the Saturday before offers the best alternative.

At the same time that I think a party the Saturday before would be best, I'm also thinking that I don't want to ignore his actual day. If you did do the party the Saturday before, would you follow it up with a private (mom, dad & the birthday boy only) party?

As you can see, I need some help. What's your ideas???

Getting Back In The Swing Of Things...

Well, we're trying to anyway. It always seems to take me a few days to get back into the swing of things after a long trip like that. I love the time spent away, and visiting with friends and family, but at the same time, its great to get back home and settle back into the normal routine of my daily life.

Dakota & I left for my parents place in Downing last Thursday morning. We arrived around 4-5 pm, after making several stops along the way, such as: Russell Stover Candy Factory in Boonville where Dakota picked out some candy & had a bowl of strawberry ice cream. We had so much fun seeing everyone again. All of my family loved getting to spend so much time with him, and of course, he loved all the attention he was getting.

Friday we all went to Kirksville, we did some shopping. Lucky for me, my little man is a great shopper. I can spend over an hour in Wal-Mart, and he'll never throw a fit. However, shopping always seems to take a while, because he's a FLIRT!!! He'll set in the cart and smile or babble, and then almost every elderly woman and almost every female cashier that passes by will come up and talk to him, pat him, or just look at him; and boy does he eat it up. Thus slowing down my shopping, but I've learned to live with it (I think this was the case with almost every female cashier in Hy-Vee on Friday).

Then as a treat, I took the whole family out to eat at Ponderosa for lunch. Dakota loved the buffet; he had diced ham, noodles, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes & gravy, lemon pudding & ice cream. I don't think I've ever got him to eat that well at one setting.

Saturday was more visiting and playing. We went across the road to my brother & sister-in-law's house and Dakota played on my nephew's swing set. He loved it!!! We pushed him in the child swing for a little bit, and then we switched over to the slide. (A couple of pictures of him enjoying his time outdoors - may not be the best quality as I took them with my cell phone).



After watching him enjoy swinging and sliding so much, we've decided that we're going to buy him a swing set for his first birthday in June!!!

On Sunday we all went to church and then came home to eat a wonderful dinner. We visited and played some more. Then on Monday morning, we left to return back home to Kansas. After another long trip, we arrived back home around 4-5 pm. Dakota missed seeing Daddy, so he came right in to wake him up and play with him.

So, now we're home and things are pretty much back to normal. The next time we see my family should be when they come to Kansas for Dakota's first birthday at the end of June.

Well, that catches you up on the Conner current events (if you were interested). Until next time, you all take care!!!