Go Colts!

Michael just finished watching the Colts game with Doug. Doug set up the screen and projector so they could watch it on the big screen. Michael was all decked out for the game - and enjoyed the whole thing. They won 30 - 17. Now on to the Super Bowl. I guess I will have to watch it or at least pay attention to it this year so I can talk to my Son about it. Go Colts!!!!!

busy weekend

On Friday we started our busy weekend by going to the boat and RV show. We saw lots of pop-ups that we would love to have - but ours will have to last longer before we can do that. There are some things we like in the new ones - but some things we actually like better about ours. The highlight of the trip was watching a dock dogs competition. That is when dogs jump into a swimming pool after a toy - and they see how far they can jump. It was amazing to see dogs jump over 25 feet into water, as well as jump over 7 feet up into the air. Wow! We wondered how well Boo would do at it as he likes to jump up and down. After that we ran to Graters to get some ice cream - the kids wanted to get their free scoops for good grades - so we just had to pay for mine. Then it was home and to bed.

On Saturday we had a lazy morning. Did not do much - athough there is lots of picking up around the house that should have happened. The boys left around 10:00 to sign Michael up for baseball and to get haircuts. Emily and I went to our mom/daughter Christ care meeting at 2:00 and then we stayed at Church to take down the Christmas tree that the youth had put up. It did not take long as we had Emily, Michael & a friend taking down the ornaments. It is a good feeling to have that down. After the tree there was a fellowship event at Church - a gospel choir sang, there was a chili cook-off, and then the kids watched UP while the adults visited in the back. Was a fun evening for all.

Today we are off to Church and Sunday School in a little bit. There is only one service today, as there is a congegational meeting & pot-luck after service. Then we are coming home to do a little bit of picking up before the boys sit down to watch the Colts game at 3:00. I will likely work on school stuff at that time - since I am not a big football fan. I want the Colts to win - because that would make Michael happy, but I don't have the interest to watch the game.

Hope you weekend is/was good and productive too. We had lots of family togetherness in ours, as well as Church events. Growing two different families - which are actually one when you think about it. I praise the Lord for the gift of my family and my church family. Both have really been a blessing to me in many ways.

back to school

We started back to school on January 4th. We then has last Monday off (January 18th) for Martin Luther King Jr. day. Getting back into routine is good - but hard.

Farm and Pasta House

Emily and I had a good time while the boys were at the Winter Warm-Up. on Saturday we went down to the farm with mom and dad. I had made a pasta dish that I just had to heat up. Mom brought beans, salad, and bread. Bonnie made a cake. So - we had a good lunch without much work. We spent time helping Grandma put away her quilt frame, get out some more quilt squares, talking, and walking down to the creek. I helped Grandpa get his CD player and VCR on the right settings for him to watch and listen to his favorites. It was a good time to be down on the farm. Both Grandma and Grandpa were very talkative.

Then on Sunday we went to Church and then headed to Pasta House for a lunch with the whole family. Dawn, Craig & Leyna, Kirk, Kathy & Erika, Rachel & Jordan, Aaron, Katie, & Riley, John & Jamie, Mom & Dad, and Emily and myself were all there. We got together to celbrate Aaron's birthday. We ate lot of yummy food - Dad and I split Linguini and chicken livers, Emily at a whole order of fettichini alfredo.

On Monday we headed down with the boys and went to the arch. We were going to do some more sight seeing, but Emily forgot her backpack from Gayles, so we had to go back and get it before the guys were ready to hit the road.

Aunt Gayle and Uncle Lawrence were a great host and hostess. We appreciated staying at their place -and being able to see their new house, as well as catch up on life. Thanks for Everything!!!

Winter Warm-Up

For Doug's 40th Birthday I got he and Michael tickets for the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up. It is a weekend of autographs, Cardinal speakers, and lots of things to watch and listen to. Basically a big Cardinal convention. Doug had wanted to go the past few years, but we always had something going on. It was last Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

The boys got autographs of past players, tried to win autographs of Pujols or Holliday with some scratch-off tickets, but did not turn up lucky winners. They also heard the General Manager, Mark McGuire, the PA announcer, What's New at Busch stadium... A deluxe stadium tour was won by Michael - who answered a question correct in a question and answer session. The boys got to go in the locker room - and Michael got his picture taken in front of Pujols locker.

Michael already asked on Saturday sometime, if they could come back next year. He was having a great time!

The pictures are not the greatest as we forgot our good camera and we had gotten Michael an innexpensive one (which is not worth much and takes awful pictures) to use - so that is all the boys have. Then, to make matters worse, Michael accidently hit "delete all" on the camera. Doug was able to recover some of the pictures with a program he found on-line - but not all of them.

OOPS...

Mom and Dad with their frame we got them for Christmas
Emily, Michael, Noah, Andrew, Mom and Dad with their family of snowmen

Michael with his Cardinal and Colts gear that he got for Christmas

Emily with her Cardinal stuff she got for Christmas

Wow, almost a month has occured since I posted last. Christmas at mom & dad's, New Years, back to school, the Cardinal Winter Warm-Up, a visit to the farm and to St. Louis have all happened - and I need to catch up.

The kids and I headed up to mom & dad's on the 29th of December to spend some days there, while Doug headed up on the 31st. We celebrated Christmas on New Years Day, after watching the Rose Bowl parade and naps. It was a great time to be with Holly, Gene, Andrew & Noah, Mom and Dad - as well as just be away and out of our routine.

We got lots of fun presents - lots of spoiling .

When the kids and I arrived, there was some snow, so on the 30th they went out with Noah and Andrew to build a snowman. The snow was very sticky - and just right to build quick snowmen. Building with to mom, Grandma & Grandpa and their cousins made it extra special. It is the only snowman the kids have been able to build this year so far. We have had some snow in Louisville, but it was too cold to stick - and then it warmed up very quick and melted.