The Yellow House in Maxwell

Most of you (my faithful followers) have seen the house in Maxwell, IN that has the clown in the upper right hand window waving at you as you drive by. Mom has been telling me I should do a post about it because 1) it is something to write about and I don't post enough and 2) who has a clown in their room waving at people who drive by?!?

I think about it every time I drive by, but don't have the camera with me or don't have time to stop and take a picture (I know that isn't a good excuse but I'm sticking with it). Well last week as we drove by the house we saw something different. So last night I told Zach we're getting up early to drive into Maxwell to take a picture of the house.

Here is the entrance to Maxwell, IN...pretty exciting I know. I've always wanted to stop at "Mom and Pops" just to check it out but that is beside the point!

As you get through Maxwell, there is this nice yellow house that looks inviting until you look up the upper right window. I usually see a clown waving at me which is creepy in itself but ever since Halloween this is what you see...
The Grim Reaper waving at you. I know it is hard to see (it was foggy this morning and my camera doesn't have very good zoom) but who has one of these?!? I thought the clown was creepy and weird but this is even stranger! Who would want to visit someone with this in their window upstairs...but maybe that is their point.

But maybe they do it so people like Zach and I will notice and tell everyone else which will then check it out for themselves and tell everyone they know, etc, etc. I now can't drive through Maxwell without checking out the upper right window in the yellow house. Someday I'd like to stop and meet the people who own the house, but for now I'm content at just looking in their window and imaging what kind of people they are while staring the Grim Reaper in the eyes!

The hardest job I've ever had to do...and failed trying!

This Thursday and Friday I've been on Fall Break from school. I really needed this break after volleyball has taken up so much of my time. I enjoyed getting home at a decent time on Wednesday and on Thursday I had to go over to mom's to put together a dvd from Brandon and Amy's wedding. So on Thursday when we were finished, I went with mom, Dana, and the boys to Pizza Hut buffet in Anderson (since it was only $4.99 a person).

In order to only have to take one vehicle mom or I had to crawl in the back of Dana's van. Mom quickly said I could do that and I agreed. However, I didn't know I'd have a job to do when I got back there. My job was to keep Kaden from falling asleep. On the way there, that was no problem. He was giggling at me while I was acting crazy and playing with his toys. Job completed successfully!

However, on the way home was another story. That boy had just eating A LOT and then the van was nice and cozy. Who wouldn't want to fall asleep?!? I did okay until about Middletown and then it all went downhill from there.

So I moved from where I was sitting and starting tickling Kaden thinking that would help since his eyes were about closed. By the time we hit 400 W his eyes were SHUT but he was still giggling while I was tickling him. It has to be the cutest thing I've ever seen. Mom handed me her small camera and I took a couple of pictures which are posted below.

Aren't these precious? I loved the giggles even while he was asleep. This was by far the hardest job I've ever had to do and failed trying, but I loved hanging out with the boys for a few hours on my fall break!

Fall Is A Beautiful Time For A Wedding

Let me just tell you...I really love Indiana in the fall, having great friends, and seeing two them get married on my birthday. The weekend of Oct. 2nd was one I will never forget. It marks my 26th birthday, my first best man speech (which I rocked if I might add), and is now the anniversary of my best friends Brandon and Amy Downer.

The wedding was held in Montgomery IN. For those of you who don't know where that is...you are not alone. It is down in southern Indiana about an hour outside of Bloomington. It is where Amy grew-up and where she wanted to get married. The drive from Greenfield was quite long, but the scenery was beautiful. As the following picture will show.

It was of course a fall themed wedding; with shades of brown, orange, yellow, and red all around. Amy was beautiful like most brides are, Brandon was calm like most grooms are, and the wedding went off without a hitch like most well planned weddings do. It was just a wonderful day and a ton of fun had by all. Here are a few pictures to enjoy, so you may share in the moments of a great fall day.

The Table Arrangements

The Cake Table (with hot apple cider, a cake made by Amy's sister, and individual cupcakes)

The Gang

Really? Was that...NO WAY!!!

Have you ever had one of those, "I wish I had my camera out for that" kind of moment? I had one of those today. I rarely carry a camera with me on campus because honestly I never see anything that exciting. Between the two of us, we have 3 digital cameras (of varying quality) and 2 phones that take pictures. So then why today would I have no camera and a phone that I couldn't reach fast enough? I guess God wanted to surprise me with something awesome, but not allow me to have proof.

I saw something on campus today that I can honestly say I never expected to see. My cell phone was in my pocket and I just barely got my phone out for a picture and it was gone. I swear I tried for the picture, but I am just not that fast. I don't think too many people are that fast...

Ok, I know, enough with the build-up...

I saw a black Indy Series Indy car driving down New York St. in downtown Indianapolis. That was a little unexpected. Everyone on the street just stopped and looked at the car drive past. I didn't even think they were street legal. It is an Indy car...that I was 5 feet away from and couldn't get a picture. I think it was past me in like .03 seconds and out of sight in 5 seconds. By the time I processed what I saw it was too late.

I have always hated racing. I have never understood the obsession in Indiana. I have never had the desire to go to the Indy 500. I think racing is stupid and designed for simple minded people to be entertained. It is a hillbilly "sport" where everyone in the stands drinks excessively. It is a waste of time and money. It is dangerous and a great way to break your neck. The cars look like little toys with engines. They are loud and annoying (both fans and cars). Racing is just plain not my thing...BUT, wow. That was kind of cool to see.

Interesting Fact:

RACECAR is my personal favorite palindrome, but did you know the longest palindrome in the English language is: tattarrattat used for the sound of a knock on the door. Yes, I know I'm a dork...who really has a favorite palindrome?

Hancock County Sites

Well if you didn't already know, I'm a little bit like my dad. I might look like my mom and have a similar personality to her but my mind works like my dad's. I love math and think very logically. I also love to try new routes home from work/parents' house/church. I get tired of the same old thing and like to venture out.

Zach had decided to do that one day because I always do it and thought I'd be fun (and because he was tired of following people). Much to his surprise he found some interesting sites that he said I would love. So on Sunday after church he took me on the tour so I could take pics with my new camera. Below is what we found on the back roads home.

On a road that is barely traveled we came across this house. I told Zach that he could buy that for me anytime.

Here is a little better picture of it. I'm not sure it fits in rural Hancock county. What do you think?!?

It even has it's own lake. I'd call it a pond but it is HUGE. This picture doesn't do it justice.

It even has it's own security system to get into the driveway. If you know me I don't mind fences as long as they go around the property and it does! When I was showing mom these pictures she asked if there was a place for her to live and I told her she could live in the house next door...which is pictured below!

HAHA...love this little place but not quite as nice...HAHA!

Then we drove a little further and found this gate. Zach and I decided this house must be great (even though it is hidden by trees) but the best part is what is grazing in its front yard...

That's right...a ZEBRA! Who owns a zebra?!? Seriously!!!

A closer picture even though I'm sure I was trespassing on their property.

Across the road from the zebra house was this other very nice place. I told Zach if he couldn't afford the other one, I'd settle for this one (he thought I was super funny).

After that strip of houses and wondering who owns them we were on our last trek to the outskirts of Greenfield and saw this plane. Thought you might enjoy this picture.

Good ole I-70! Needless to say I loved the detour and it was a relaxing Sunday afternoon drive through rural Hancock County, IN!

Are We Really That Old??

Last Monday our sweet little Emily turned the big 26, and I am quickly approaching the same number. Has it really already been 26 years? We are actually becoming adults (Emily being closer to an adult than I am) and enjoying every minute of it, but still enjoy the benefits of being a kid.

Emily received some really awesome birthday gifts this year...from parents, parents-in-law, family/friend, and of course me. She got spoiled a little bit and enjoyed it very much. We both know to enjoy these birthdays now because soon we will be buying more birthday gifts than receiving, but that is how life works. But until then, thank you everyone for the gifts...it made her still feel young. Below are a couple pictures of the awesome and generous gifts she received:

A week after Emily turned 26 she is already practically 27. It's awful getting "old", but having friends and family that care enough to send cards and gifts is always a blessing. So thank you very much for all the birthday wishes, you make our future years exciting and something to look forward to.

Happy To Be A Spoiled Generation

Electronics may be my favorite thing. I love having the newest and latest gadgets that do everything for you but brush your teeth. They are absolutely great. Some fit in your pocket and can give you information at the touch of a button. You can now have "someone" tell you turn by turn directions to anyplace in the world when you are all alone. You can take thousands of pictures and never change a roll of film. You can read an entire book without turning an actual page. This generation should never be lost, not be able to find the right answer, or miss the perfect picture because it is all possible with just a person's phone. My generation is spoiled by electronics. And I love it...at least most of the time.

Everyone knows all electronics do one thing very well...BREAK. Some electronics break/die and are impossible to fix while others are simply needing a battery change or simple repair. In the world of electronics though nothing is ever a simple repair. I have grown up with gadgets my whole life and can fix most basic problems on anything that comes up. So when Emily's phone had the Apple symbol of death (see below) come up on her phone last night, I vowed to be her hero and fix it. Her phone would not respond to anything and I truly thought it was done for and I would be buying a new phone on Friday.

So what does someone my age do when things are not working and you think you have tried everything...that's right I turned to another electronic, my computer. Oh good ol' internet, how did the world survive before you? I searched the forums and found others who had fixed the same problem. It turned out the solution was simple, but the execution of the solution took me 2 hours. I was mad the whole time, hating all things electronics (as I searched the internet while I waited) because these things seem to break all the time.

I complain (with sarcasm) because I deep down love how much easier my life is because of these electronics. I am so glad I have an encyclopedia in my phone so I can look anything up on the spot. To have a GPS get me around construction in downtown Indy when I have no idea where I am. To have email that I can get a response from in minutes. Oh how easy my life has become because of those awesomely touchy and prone to break electronics. I sit here and think...one day when I have kids they won't even know what a pay phone is.