We are on vacation:):)

The boys at Magic Kingdom!! They are dressed in their Halloween costumes because we went to the Halloween party! As always the party was fabulous!!

We are on vacation and having a wonderful time!!! We spent 4 days at Animal Kingdom resort in Disney World. It was virtually empty and we walked on all the rides. The resort was amazing and we had a blast. I have lots of pics to put up when we get home. We got to Vero Beach on the Atlantic ocean yesterday. Its beautiful and relaxing here!! We have spent the last 2 days at the beach or at the pool! We have 3 more days here! We leave for home Thursday but I don't want to talk about that yet LOL!!

WOW.....a few weeks and everything has changed!!!

So many emotions...so much change!!!!
I went into work on September 3rd like every other day. I knew something was wrong because everyone looked so somber. One by one my coworkers were called into the General Manager's office and fired!! First a saleswoman...then a traffic girl...then our entire morning show!! Then a talk show host from our sister station. I had no reason to believe I would be next. I kept thinking....I am just part time...they won't let me go. No such luck. I was next on the chopping block. They cut my hours from 24 a week to just 3 hours on the weekend. I was devastated. I had worked at WNNS doing mid days for 20 months. I loved my job!! I cried and cried. I received so much support from my wonderful hubby and from all my friends. So many people reached out to me to help me find work!! I went from being sad to being down right MAD!! Now that's its been over a week I am at peace with what happened. I don't understand it....I mean I know the company is hurting and we were all laid off due to budget cuts but I was only part time. They could have kept me around. Oh well....I am honestly better off! Ben is the breadwinner...mine was extra money. For now I have turned in a few resumes but I am not looking very hard at this point to find a part time job. If it comes to the end of October and something hasn't come along then I will find something for 10 or so hours a week.
Ben has some irons in the fire....that's all I'm going to say on that subject for now!
God always knows the future. Sometimes we don't have any idea what path God is leading us down. I know that there are some wonderful things in our future. I am excited about some possibilities that may pan out. I wish I could say more:) I wish I could explain the opportunities on the horizon but I am not at liberty to say right now:) Even if NONE of these things come to pass I know we will be just fine!! I have faith that God will lead us where we need to go!
I think sometimes we get stuck in a rut and it takes something like losing a job to make you think about something new or different.
The boys are doing well!!! They love school and their teachers.
We leave for vacation tomorrow! This vacation comes at the perfect time! We need to get out of here and just have fun as a family and relax.
I added another day to our vacation. We had the vacation points so I figured we should use them.
We leave tomorrow after the kids get out of school. We should be on the road by 5pm. That should put us in Disney at about 11am Tuesday. Here is a breakdown of our schedule:
Tuesday: Arrive--Swim at resort
Wednesday: Hollywood Studios for the day
Thursday: Breakfast buffet with the characters and pool hop to other resort pools
Friday: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween party
Saturday: Leave Disney head to Vero Beach(only 2 hours away on Atlantic side)
Saturday-Thursday---Vero Beach--relax, swim and build sand castles

We will be gone 9 nights and 10 days!!
I can't tell you how excited we are:):)
We are all packed and ready to go. Now we just have to wait till tomorrow!!

Back to School:)

A picture of the boys on their first day of school! Andrew is off to 5th grade and Matthew is off to 3rd grade.

WOW what a week!!! We made it through the fist week of school. It's hard getting up so early but were working on it:) The boys love their teachers and their best friends are in class with them so they are both happy.
I have been sick this week with a terrible cold:( I have been at work but been a bit miserable. I'm feeling a bit better today.
The boys and I took Ben out to dinner the last 2 nights for a few early bday dinners:) We also gave him his present....wii resort sports. It is soooooooo much fun:) His bday is on Sunday and we will celebrate then too:) He turns the big 3-5!!!
We leave for vacation in 17 days. I SO need a vacation right now. I keep telling myself its only days away.
Tonight we are going to have family movie night. Tomorrow I have to work all day. Sunday is Ben's bday.
Have a great weekend everyone!!

What a great way to end the summer:):)

Our family hard hats and all in front of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition house!!!

Andrew and Matthew with their hard hats....the Extreme Makeover Home Edition house is in the background!

This was the VIP tent we spent the day in....it had furniture and lots of food:)

The guy in the grey shirt is Michael the designer from the show and my favorite:)

Boys having fun watching as the house is built!

Here is designer Jon walking to the site.

OK if you look close you can see one of the designers down in the mud pit....it's Jon from the show!!!

This is the side of the house!

The boys with their Extreme Makeover Home Edition hats. The bus that Ty and the crew ride in is in the background!!

I don't even know where to start....today was so much fun. First let me say that our family watches the show Extreme Makeover Home Edition with Ty every Sunday night. So, when I found out they were doing a house here in Central IL I wanted to visit the site!! Ben scored us some VIP passes so we were able to go today!!! We got to hang out in the VIP tent which was set up with elegant furniture and lots of food. We saw as they were buliding a house that would normally take 75 days to build in just 5 days!!! They are on day 3 of the house and it looks amazing already!! We saw designers Michael and Jon and we even got to see them shoot segments for the show:):) It was lots of fun!!! I learned a lot about the show....behind the scenes kind of stuff.
This was a great way to end summer:):) We wrapped up out at the State Fair yesterday. It was a fun but tiring week.
Today Andrew said this has been the best summer ever....that was great to hear:) Some things from the summer we will never forget....an undefeated baseball season for the boys, boating on Lake Springfield, Peoria Chiefs game, Chicago Bears training camp, today at the Extreme Makeover House. Andrew went to Six Flags and spent lots of time with friends and Matthew had a blast with his buddy Caleb this summer. WOW school starts Monday!!!!! Time to kick things into high gear for the school year. We found out both the boys have great teachers and Andrew is in class with best friend CJ and Matthew is in class with best friend Caleb YAY!!!!!

It's been awhile.....A LOT to catch up on:)

Matthew and Caleb with Bill Brady who is running for Gov.

Andrew and Matthew enjoying the golf cart at the fair:)

Caleb went to the fair with Matthew today!! As you can see they are BIG fans of WNNS:):)

My old boss Robb came to see me at the fair while I was broadcasting:)

Here we all are in front of the practice field at Bears training camp!!

OK its been awhile since I have updated the blog. I don't even know where to start. A few weeks ago we went with my brother and his family to Bears training camp. It was a lot of fun!!! We plan on going every year.
The State Fair is this week and Ben and I have been running ourselves ragged. We have worked out there every day and the kids have been troopers. They have gone to the fair every day and just kinda hung out with Ben while he was working. Today Andrew went his buddies Mulan and CJ to ride the rides at the fair and hang out. He's spending the night with Mulan and then hanging out with he and CJ again tomorrow. Matthew had Caleb come to the fair with us today and they had a lot of fun. I am beyond wiped out!!!! It has been a fun and crazy week at the fair....weather has also been wild!!!!I am SO glad tomorrow is Friday. Ben and I are headed out to the beer tent tomorrow with some friends:):) Saturday Joni and I are going to get our nails done:):)
I never got to tell by bff Happy b-day on my blog so Happy bday Joni:):) Her birthday was last week and I took her to see the movie "Julie and Julia". It was really good.
WOW....what else.....the boys start school Monday!!! I can't believe 3rd and 5th grade!!! They are ready and so are we!!!
We leave for Florida in 3 1/2 weeks and I am SO ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Before that I am headed to the Mrs IL International pageant with my mom over labor day. It's going to be a crazy couple of weeks leading up to vacation!!!
We had a wonderful summer!!!! Some highlights were an undefeated baseball season for the boys, going to a Peoria Chiefs game, boating on Lake Springfield, Bears training camp and lots of time with friends:):)
I am totally exhausted and I promise to keep up with the blog better now:):)

What a FUN day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andrew and Matthew with their medals and trophies for an undefeated season:)

Andrew getting his trophy from Dan.

Matthew getting his trophy from Dan.

Andrew with Coach Hal!!!

Sliders on the field!

Ben and John enjoying a beverage LOL

Andrew and Matthew's baseball team watching the Sliders game!

We had a blast at the Sliders game with Andrew and Matthew's baseball team. I LOVE our coaches and all our parents. We have become great friends with the parents and are planning a "kid free" night soon:):) The boys watched the game and ran around while I enjoyed great conversation with the other moms:):) Ben and John enjoyed themselves too LOL!!! I am sad baseball is over....on to football. Bears training camp next Friday:) We are grilling and swimming for the rest of the night:):):) Oh how I LOVE summer:):)

Getting ready for back to school and vacation!!!!

We have started back to school shopping and plan on finishing up this next week!!! Andrew has grown so much this summer. He is now 5'1!!!!!!
So much is going on its hard to keep up. Tonight I am headed to the movie "The ugly truth" with Joni. Tomorrow we are going to a Sliders game with the boys baseball team.
Next Friday we are going to meet up with my brother and his family and go to Bears training camp to watch them practice. Then were spending the night in Bloomington with my mom. Matthew is then staying with my mom for 3 days. Then he is coming home and Andrew is going to spend 3 days with my mom.
The State Fair starts the 14th and Ben and I will be working every day at the Fair.
Then the kids head back to school on the 24th of August!!!! It is CRAZY how fast summer has flown by!!!
We have changed our vacation plans a bit. We were going to Disney World for 7 days and go to all 4 parks. Since we have already been to all 4 parks the last two yrs and Ben and I are desperate for some relaxation we decided to spend 4 days at Disney World and only 2 days at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Then were going over to Disney's Vero Beach where we stayed in April right on the ocean for 4 more days. Vero Beach is only and hour and a half from Disney World so no big drive! We will be gone for 8 nights on vacation and NOTHING sounds better right now:):):)
OK so now I have to eat and get ready for movie night with Joni:):):)

A day at the park!

We took the boys and the dogs to the park today. The dogs loved getting out and the boys played catch with Ben. It has been a relaxing weekend!
Next weekend its movie time with Joni on saturday:) Then Sunday the boys baseball team and all the parents are headed to a Sliders game. It should be a fun weekend:)
We are only weeks away from the start of another school year. And we are only weeks away from another trip to Disney:):)
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Boating on Lake Springfield:)

Me and my hubby enjoying a day on the lake!!!

Lance and Robyn. They are so cute:)

Andrew, Matthew, CJ and Ryan!!

View looking out the back of the boat!

Matthew fell asleep for about 30 min.! It really was relaxing on the boat.

Andrew and CJ about to jump into the lake!

Andrew and CJ acting silly:)

Boys swimming in the lake!

Boating on Lake Springfield!

Ben driving the boat!

Andrew, Matthew and CJ ready to head out on the lake.

Getting ready to hit the lake for the day!

Sunday we rented a boat with our friends Robyn and Lance and their kids. It was honestly the most fun and relaxing day we have had in a long time. The kids loved the boat!!!! We stopped twice for them to swim and cruised the lake the rest of the day. We will be renting a boat again that's for sure!!! Hopefully a few times a summer from here on out. Then we grilled out at Bridgeview park. Robyn and I beat the boys and the husbands in ladder ball:):) What a great day!!!
Today the boys are swimming with their friend and baseball teammate Anthony!! They are having a blast. We ended our baseball season undefeated last night. We have the most wonderful kids on our team. Their parents are also just awesome!!!!
What a great summer this has been so far!!!

A fun weekend ahead:)

WOW I have been working so much lately! I have had 3 remotes in a week and a half. Were sticking away money for our Disney trip. We leave in just over 2 months.
This summer has flown by! I can't believe its already July. We have had a wonderful summer so far.
There is basically 6 weeks left of summer and were busy almost all those 6 weeks.
This weekend is going to be soooooooo much fun:) Tomorrow we are going out to eat and then the boys have a baseball game at 8:15. Saturday Matthew and Ben are cooking dinner. Matthew's recipe.....cheese sandwiches and hot dogs:):) He is excited to make his own menu and cook with Ben:) Then on Sunday a BIG surprise for the boys:)It is going to be a blast:) Stay tune for what it is and lots of pics.....
Next week the boys have 3 baseball games.
Then we will have 2 weeks where we hang around here and swim and chill.
The first week of August the boys are taking turns going to my mom's in Bloomington. Andrew is going for 3 days and then Matthew for 3 days. They are really looking forward to it!
Then its the State Fair.
Then Back to School!!!!
WOW time flies!!!!!!!

Memories!!!

I have joined facebook and I am so glad I did. I reconnected with my 3 best friends from high school:) Its been so fun to catch up with them:) This pic was taken on my 15th birthday!! It's me with yvonne, casey and cassandra! Oh the memories........we had great times!!!!! I luv those gals and always will!

What a week.........and Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July 2009 from the Yount boys:)

Joni and I with Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block!

OK so its been a crazy week!!!! I had to work a LOT this week. Ben was also busy at work. The boys spent the day Tuesday with friends Jacob and Caleb. Then Andrew spent the night with CJ. Wednesday afternoon Joni and I headed to St Louis. We ate at White Castle then headed to the New Kids concert. The concert was amazing once again and we had great seats!!! After the concert we headed to Waffle House. Donnie has been going to Waffle Houses after their concerts to eat and meet fans. We went to 5 different Waffle Houses. It took us till 3am but we found Donnie. We got to meet him and get a picture. He was really sweet and very good-looking:) We didn't get home till 5am. I was off work on Thursday and slept on and off all day. Today I had to work and then had a remote!! It was a long day. We got home and grilled out and hung out as a family. We normally have a 4th of July party but this year we are exhausted and have been way to busy!!! This weekend we are going to relax and hang out as a family. The boys have 3 baseball games next week. Then at the beginning of August the boys are taking turns going to spend time with my mom in Bloomington. This summer is flying by!!! Only 7 weeks till school starts again and only 11 more weeks till we leave for Disney:):)

SOOOOOOOOOO Busy!!!!!

Tents all set up at the campgrounds!

Matthew skateboarding at the campgrounds.

Matthew and Thomas hanging out around the campfire!

Ben and the boys went camping with Thomas this weekend. Even though they weren't able to spend the night due to a storm they had a great time while they were there:) I went to see the movie "The Proposal" with Joni this weekend and it was awesome!!!
It has been a crazy week and this week will be crazy too:) I have remotes for the station tomorrow and Friday. Wednesday is the New Kids concert!! My third New Kids concert in 10 months:)) We are leaving for St Louis about 3 and headed to White Castle to eat before the concert. After the concert we hope to catch up with the band at the Waffle House!!! I am off work on Thursday!!! Rock the Dock is on Friday night. Ben and the boys and I are going and looking forward to some great fireworks:)
So far its been a great summer!! Where did June go?? The boys have 3 baseball games next week and that will wrap up a wonderful season of baseball for them!
Then its just 3 weeks before they head to my mom's in Bloomington. They are each taking turns staying with her for 3 days. The State Fair is mid-August and it's only 8 weeks till school starts up again!!!! Time FLIES!!!!!!!!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Ben and the boys relaxing in the pool!

Major taking a swim in the pool:)

The boys having fun in the pool!

We spent today at home swimming in the pool and were grilling out steaks tonight:) Happy father's day to all the dad's out there:):)

Take me out to the ballgame.........

Andrew and Matthew in front of Chiefs sign!

Andrew and Matthew with players Mike(catcher) and Chris(pitcher)

Players signing balls for the boys!

Coach of the Chiefs talking to the boys in the dugout.

Ben and the boys right outside the dugout.

Me with Matthew and Andrew in the suite watching the game.

Here I am interviewing the coach of the Peoria Chiefs!

WOW what a day!!! I had a remote at the Peoria Chiefs stadium this afternoon and I took Ben and the boys along. We met the President of the Chiefs and he was so nice. He took us down to the dugout and we had a chance to watch batting practice and meet the players. He gave the boys balls that they were able to get autographed. Then one of the players gave the boys real wooden bats. We all got hats too:) I did my remote from a suite overlooking the field. It was so nice!!! Then we watched the game. If your not familiar with the Chiefs they are a minor league team. They have produced some Major league players. They are a Cubs affiliate but they have players that have gone on to play for the Cardinals as well. It is an amazing field and everyone there was so nice!!! It was a day the boys will never forget:)

WE WON!!!!!!!! THE BOYS WON THEIR BASEBALL TOURNAMENT:)

I AM SO PROUD OF OUR TEAM!!! THEY WORKED TOGETHER AND WON WITH INTEGRITY!!!

REDBIRDS ARE #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW what a crazy last few days!!!!! Lots of baseball:) The boys played and won their last game today. So they won the tournament:):) We still have the rest of the season to play so were gearing up for more baseball:):):) GO REDBIRDS:):)

SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK so we head back to Disney World in about 3 months. But I just booked our vacation for next year:) We have been trying to figure out where to go and when. We finally settled on a 2 week vacation next summer!!! We will be heading out August 2, 2010. We are going to make a stop in Dallas. Dallas is where Ben's mom lives and also my best friend from high school. We will visit and take a trip to the aquarium. After 3 days in Dallas were going to head to Houston where my best friend from college lives:) Were going to spend 2 days there visiting. They have an awesome science and history museum that we will visit while we are there. Then its off to South Padre Island for a week of beach fun as a family:):) Were going to stay in a 1-bedroom condo. I have been told South Padre is like paradise so I am SO excited!!! We will be there from August 8-15. It will be a 2 week trip with lots of fun and visiting friends and family as well:) So, instead of 2 vacations next year we will take a two week vacation!!! Although, we are thinking of taking a few days in Feb. 2010 to head back to the WI Dells:):)

Our camping adventure!!!

Matthew and Mikayla in the tent:)

Our campsite!

Josh and Andrew cooking hotdogs!

Josh(my brother) and me:)

Joni and me:)

Matthew and Zack(Erin's son)

Erin(my brother's girlfriend) and Mikayla(my niece) blowing bubbles.

Ben and Josh putting up the tent LOL:)

I have more pictures I will post later. We got to the campsite at about 4 yesterday. My brother and his family were right behind us. We set up camp and the kids played. It was a really nice campground. There was a playground and swimming pool for the kids. There were lots of kids out there so they all kinda played together. Our friends Joni and Chad and their kids came out to roast some hotdogs with us. We had lots of fun:):) I REALLY enjoyed it. The part I DID NOT enjoy was sleeping in the tent. I got about an hour of sleep all night. Between the owl(which I still think was a cyote lol) and some creature eating something outside the tent I was ready to scream "I'm a whimp get me outta here". The kids LOVED it:) The next time we go camping I'm getting a cabin:):)

Fun night full of baseball, friends and fireworks:)

My little boy is growing up so fast:)

Matthew and Daniel.

Andrew and Toby!

All the boys:) Andrew, Toby and CJ....and Lance:) Lance is the only one who looks happy in this picture LOL!!

Matthew and Ryan(CJ's sister)!

Andrew and his glow sticks!

What a fun day:) It was the boys first official day of summer. They swam and hung out with Ben while I went to work. Then it was off to baseball tonight. We won AGAIN and both boys got hits. Our team is undefeated!! After the game we went to meet Robyn and Lance and their kids at Pasfield golf course to watch the fireworks. Toby and his mom Sara came too:) It was lots of fun and the weather was perfect:):) Big day tomorrow.....my bro and his family are coming in town to go camping with us. It has been a great start to Summer 2009!!!!!

First day of summer for the Yount's:)

Andrew and Matthew swimming for the first time this year!!!

Matthew relaxing in the sun after a swim:)

Major swimming!

Dirty Dog!!! After he got out of the pool he went and rolled around in the dirt!

Poor Puppy is worn out:)

I wish I could have taken pictures at the LPGA but they wouldn't let me:( It was a blast broadcasting out there today. Then we came home and finished cleaning the pool. We all went swimming for a bit even though it was kinda cold:)
The boys last day of school was today. They both did very well on their report cards:) Another year is over. I can't believe it!!
Tomorrow the boys have a baseball game. Then after the game we are headed to Pasfield golf course to watch the Carollion fireworks with our friends Lance and Robyn and their kids.
Saturday my brother and niece will be here. We are all going camping. Our friends Joni and Chad are coming out to the campgrounds to roast some dogs with us:) It should be a great weekend:):)

More pictures from the farm:) Thanks to Elin for these pictures:)

Matthew with Mrs Sarff at her farm!

Matthew and Caleb with their 2nd grade teacher Mrs Sarff!!

Matthew with Caleb and Wrangler:)

Matthew will never forget his day at Mrs Sarff's farm. He is going to miss Mrs Sarff next year. He calls her his family teacher!

Matthew's day at the farm!!!!

Matthew LOVED riding the horse:)

Matthew on "Pete" the horse at Mrs Sarff's farm!!!

Matthew and Caleb on an ATV.

Matthew on an ATV.

Matthew and Caleb at lunch with Mrs Sarff.

One of the dogs at Mrs Sarff's farm taking a swim in the creek:)

Mrs Sarff's horse at her farm. Picture was taken by Matthew:)

Matthew and Caleb with Wrangler the dog:)

Caleb and Matthew had such a wonderful day at Mrs Sarff's farm yesterday. They both said "it was the best day ever":) A HUGE thank you to Mrs Sarff and to Caleb for asking Matthew to go with him!!!!

A very busy but exciting weekend!! Lots of pictures coming soon:)

Today Matthew went with his friend Caleb to Mrs Sarff's(their teacher)farm. Caleb won the day in an auction and he took Matthew with him:) They had such a good time. They shot bb guns, went horseback riding and rode ATV's. I sent a disposable camera with him so I will get the pictures developed tomorrow and post them.
I had to work all day. I had a remote and then our big giveaway party. Ben is still at work. They are wrapping up session this weekend at the Capitol.
The boys only have 2 and a half days of school left. Then summer is officially here:):) We have a busy month ahead. Next weekend my brother, his girlfriend and niece are coming in town to camp with us. Then the next weekend is father's day. The 20th is Relay for Life. Every year we take the boys and each one gets to take a friend to a movie........our treat. This year we are taking Andrew, CJ, Matthew and Caleb to see Transformers on June 25th. They are so excited. The best part about summer is Ben will be working from home. And I only have to work 10-1 every day. We are looking forward to lots of family time in the pool:):)
We are in the middle of opening the pool now:):) We hope to be swimming by next weekend:)
Tomorrow we have lots of shopping to do. We have pool stuff to buy and lots of camping stuff too:):)
Look for pictures soon:)

NEW BUNK BEDS:):)

The boys new bunk beds:)

Andrew's desk with all his stuff LOL!!!

We have needed to clean.....I mean REALLY clean the boys room for awhile and we finally got around to doing it. They also desperately needed new beds. These were a little expensive but well worth it. I LOVE how their room looks now:):) Were slowly getting the things we need. Last year it was a new couch.....in February we got new appliances and now the boys got new beds. In January we are getting a new bed for Ben and I:):) Slowly checking things off my list!!!:)

A baseball game, 2 wedding receptions and lots of fun for the kids:) All in one weekend:)

Me and Ben all ready to go to Leanne's wedding reception!!

Me, Lynette and Vikki. Lynette is the President of George Lopez's film company and a total sweetheart:)

Ben with Leanne and her new husband Jodi!

Me and Leanne at her wedding reception.

Ben and Ben Walz dancing together LOL!!

Ben dancing at Ben Walz wedding reception:)

Andrew, Matthew, Gabe, Liam and Toby at Toby's house.

The boys having fun on the slip and slide at Toby's house.

We had such a wonderful weekend. Friday night the boys had a baseball game. They WON AGAIN and both boys got a hit. Then Saturday while Ben and I were at Leanne's wedding reception the boys went to hang out with their friends Caleb and Jacob. They had a wonderful time. Then Sunday we took the boys to Toby's for the day while Ben and I headed to Ben Walz wedding reception. We had a wonderful time at both receptions. The boys had a great time at Toby's. After we left the reception we went to pick up the boys and ended up hanging out with Toby's family for a few hrs. Today we cleaned the boys room and our room. Both rooms look really nice:) The boys new bunk beds will be delivered on Wednesday:):) I am totally exhausted!!! Trying to get some rest and relax a bit before heading back to work tomorrow!!!