Bonfire at the Bibler's

These seem to be happening more and more often now w/ the warmer weather! On Friday night, we took advantage of our little fire pit in the backyard with Tim, Lauren, Tracy, Blake, Austin and I.

Maddie's First Driving Lesson w/ Aunt KK

Maddie and I drove around the Silver Lake Country Club House parking lot on Friday. She's a great driver...it just came naturally! :)

The Heat is ON!!

With the VERY warm weather we are starting to have (almost 90 degrees tomorrow?!?!?!), Hoonis is getting very serious about his suntan. Here he is soakin up the sun....life is tough, isn't it?

Both Ends of Chester

Here's a pic of Chester chillin' on Daddy's lap...then another of his other side that I just love! That is the perfect Boxer butt!

I Did It!!!!! Relay for Life 2007

Well, I completed my 24-Hour walker duties for this years Relay for Life. I started at 3pm yesterday and finished at 11:30 am this morning, with only a 2.5 hour break from 3am to 5:30am. I banked all the rest of my break hours, so I got done "early" (people that took no break whatsoever got done at 9am)!! Yes, I feel like I have been hit by a Mack truck, but the pain is well worth the over $2,000,000 that was raised towards cancer research/cure!! I have many new additions to my feet (blisters galore) and JUST woke up (it's almost 10pm), but it was an experience of a lifetime...but probably the one and only time I will do this! I had so many wonderful friends and family come out to supoport me and walk w/ me in all hours of the day/night (I got pics of some). Thank you all who joined me, including Tom, Lauren and Maddie (Madds and Lauren walked w/ in my final laps while Tom got dunked in the frigid dunk tank!), Dan, Tracy and Gracie, Kellie, Mom, Austin, Tim, Michael, Grandma Snellink, Luke and Lisa, several familes/teachers from Lakes, the other two 24 hour walkers from Lakes (Chris and Marcy), not to mention all of the passer-by's that gave me support day and night!!

This one was for you, Grandpa!

My Feet are Gonna Hurt SOOOO Bad...

...BUT, it's all for a great cause! Today, starting at 3pm, I will be walking for 24 hours (until 3pm on Saturday) in memory of Grandpa Snellink at Relay for Life (raising money for Cancer research/cure). Fortunately, I have several friends and family that are coming to support me and walk with me!! There will be MANY pics to come, I'm sure! Maybe on Sunday night when I wake up out of my "WAY-too-much-walking-induced-coma"...

I'll be seeing some of you there! :) Wish me luck!

More Pics...

Just a few random pics I took today at Dan and Tracy's house (except for the two with me in them, obviously!)...

A Very Big Day for Gracelyn Ray!!

On top of Mother's Day and Blake's b-day, Gracie had a very big day herself! She had her Dedication to God at their church tonight. We celebrated after with the whole Hosford and Carlson families at Dan and Tracy's house. Congrats to you, Gracie! And thanks to Dan and Tracy for the yummy dinner and great company!! We love you all so much!

Happy Birthday, Blake!

Today was Blake's 25th Birthday! We celebrated at Mom's with dinner and cake/ice cream! Happy b-day, Blake!!!

GUESS WHO...Nope, It's NOT Hoonis!

This is my highly adored nephew Max, who is Hooney's REAL brother! Max belongs to Luke and Lisa Greenland, who spent the weekend at the 3 Rivers Casino, so I got to babysit Max! He is so much fun, and looks JUST like Hooney (minus 30 lbs., or so!). Max and I played, went on a few walks and just hung out! He is so cute and acts a lot like Hooney! Boxers are just the best...

Thanks for letting me babysit, Max (and Luke and Lisa!). I'll babysit ANYTIME!!

Another Great Show by Kenny!

Last night Austin and I went to see Kenny Chesney at the VanAndel Arena. It was awesome! I got to see Kenny last year w/ my Dad, but this was Austin's first time! Kenny is highly recommended in our book, even if you're not a country music fan. He puts on such a high energy show! We are going to see him again in Detroit for my b-day in August!

Secret Hiding Spot

Yes, this is Gertie (or as Maddie says, "Goatie"!), hiding in the empty bottled water case. Little did she know, it was see-through and she was too plump to fit her whole self in it! She thought she was hiding from the dogs...

Can I PLEASE Have My Birthday Cookie???

Hooney got one of my homemade dog cookies for his birthday treat this year (last year it was a fully frosted, personalized cake!). I teased him, keeping the cookie in my hand, and this is the face he gave...

NOW IT REALLY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

I'm a big boy now!! Seven years old today...time sure flies when you love you Mom so much!!!

4 MONTHS OLD!!

I think Gracie may be growing even faster than the speed of light! Props go to Tracy for sure for these pics (I totally stole them off their blog!) Take a close look at the pic of Gracie and proud Uncle Austin in Gulf Shores one month ago...then look at the new pic of her now at 4 months! What a difference! We love you so much, Gracie Rae!!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, technically it's tomorrow, May 8th, but I celebrate all week! I will be SEVEN years old!! Mom and Dad say they cannot believe how many wonderful memories we all have together over the past 7 years. Mom got me when I was 5 weeks old for Dad's 16th birthday present! That's why I am so attached to them (especially MOM!!). Mom and Dad say that they have spent more on me than a brand new car (pancreatitis, skin cancer 3 times, cardiac arrythmias, epillepsy, 2 operations on my knee, 2 hip replacements, chronic ear infections, severe year-round allergies, alopecia, corneal ulcers, just to name a few things) , but that I am worth every penny! I love my Mom and Dad!!! Please wish me a happy 7th birthday!!!!!!!!!! And yes, I know this picture makes me look fat. But I'm not.

Maddie's Getting SOOOOOO Big!!

I just wanted to post these pics from yesterday. Maddie was playing on her slide at my parents house, and then went to look at the flowers. She is getting so big, and really starting to look OLD! OK, not old, but much, MUCH older!! She is SO freakin smart! She can count to 20, say her ABC's (as well as a 23 month old can!), knows her colors and shapes, knows her birthday (June 7th), and knows how old she's gonna be, and she retains everything she learns (and hears, we really have to watch our mouths!!!)! Yesterday she also found out how much she loves donuts and donut holes, and in large quantities! And she learned that dogs don't take nibbles if offered a donut, they take the whole thing (thanks, Landon!)

We love you so much, Maddie!

Maddie's Shadow

I was just going through my Gulf Shores pics (it's 2:30 am and I simply cannot fall asleep!) and found one of Maddie and Uncle "Aukin" on the beach, and I cropped out "Aukin" (that's what Madds calls Austin) and came up with this one! I think it's adorable...she looks like she's looking deeply into her shadow...or maybe praying...? She was actually cracking up as she waited for a running Aukin to come swoop her up! I love how prim and proper she looks w/ her hands clasped together! :)

I miss the beach...:(

Oh, What a Night!

Tonight we went over to our friends Jim and Rochelle Murphey's house for some drinks, pizza, board games and the big Mayweather/De La Hoya fight. It started out fun, and ended up, well, let's just say you can see by the pictures (WAY too much alcohol consumed!)! Joel, Jim and I were the only ones to stay awake for the fight (which was a bummer...I'm soooo not a Mayweather fan!). Austin, Lee, Rochelle and Jim (until fight time) all passed out cold! The adorable pug's name is Arial (like the Little Mermaid), and of course, I was glued to her most of the might! Even she passed out towards the end of the night...

**And yes, that is a tiny turtle on Austin's arm...I thought you'd like that, Lauren! We tried to wake him up after too many beers w/ a tiny turtle, and it worked (for a minute!).

Up and Running!

Well, today is the official "opening" day of my brand new business adventure,
"Kanine Kookies by Katie"!!!

I am pleased to announce that I now sell my homemade doggie treats at Holiday Pet Resort in Rockford on Northland Drive (the same place Kellie grooms at!). PLEASE help spread the word about this in any way you can! If you have a beloved pooch, or know of someone who does, I would be more than happy to make/send them some natural, homemade, delicious doggie treats! I make cookies, "pup"cakes, dog-safe brownies, etc....and all for the love of DOGS!! Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love the little critters! Again, PLEASE help spread the word!! And wish me luck...:)