I thought it was Spring

We got four inches of snow out of now where! I know it's not really that much but for Kansas it;s a storm. I had plans today to go try on the dress for J's wedding and to go shopping for spring clothes for my kids and get sheets to fit my bed. I guess I will be staying in and cleaning. The snow plows have not been out yet. We had a relaxing Friday. Ruben got home early from work we went a visited with his family for a while and came home ordered Jimmy Johns and watched Seinfeild while the kids played and danced. I don't know if any of you are watching American Idol, but my daughter is learning her dance moves to that Pussycat dolls song "When I grow up" that they have played at the end of the results episodes for the past few weeks. It pretty funny. I think I am in for trouble.

Just want to ask you guys to keep Big Ruben in you prayers. Yesterday he turned himself into immigration so that he can start the process of becoming a legal resident. It's a crazy process, and he will probably get sent back to Mexico sometime in the the 6 months for a while,but when he get through he will be able to stay here with me and the kids, and not worry about being deported.

Dad it sounds like you are having and awsome time. Enjoy the snow. I love you mom, enjoy the time alone. Aunt Sandi and kids I bet you are all glad to be back together. Dad One question, is that address here, so I don;t have to send it with any special postage?

J How's work, I heard you got your tax return: don;t spend it all in one place. How was Amy's Birthday?

Love you guys

Wisconsin. YOU ARE HERE!

Well, here I am in Wisconsin. Ladies and Gentlemen I got snow and I'm in place that knows how to clear the roads. I swear it like New York. Lovin' it.

Wanna know what's better than that? I'm with soldiers that are coming home from overseas. They were got off the plane and got on to a bus. The bus drove them to a hanger where both the Colonel and myself stood outside each bus as it drove up and shook each and every soldiers hand and welcomed them home. 311 soldiers!!!

As I think about right now I'm starting to tear up.

It was 7 degrees and because we were on the tarmac (the airfield) we were not able to where our headgear (hats). I froze the right side of my face because of the wind. But I had to be there.

So tomorrow another bird (plane) flies in at 0500 (5:00 am). Which means I need to leave at 0400. So I;m going to call my wife and go to bed before 2000 (8:00 pm).

Love you all,
Uncle Phil

PS please write Jon now. It will take a month or so for the mail to get there to him and that first 2 months is rough.

Jon

I forgot to let you know that Jon is no longer in San Diego, here is his new address, I'm sure he will be very happy to hear from everyone!

Jonathan LeRoy
HMH 361 Unit 41086
FPO AP 96426-1086

S-4

Home Alone

I realized as J left the house this afternoon that I am alone, completely alone for the first time in a month! I spent 5 days in NY , then my friend Mya came to visit for 2 weeks then we were joined by her daughter, Aunt Sandi (cuz she's grown and she can!) and Dot for another week. Four weeks of fun!

Everyone left this morning, I went to lunch with J and Amy, and came home thinking that I should clean house, instead I went to bed and slept all afternoon, because I can! I'm sure that by the time Phil gets home next week I will be so ready to have him home, but right now alone is OK.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I'm going to church tomorrow night with friends, then out to dinner. I might clean in the morning, and I might not, we will see how I feel about it when I wake up.

Brandi, Gwen looks so much like you in that last picture! I'm sure grandpa is proud that she knows how to appreciate a hot wheel! Love you all!!! Tami

Hi

Just thought I would say hi, it;s been a few days since the last post. How have the cousins been hanging in without mom? I bet you all can;t wait for her to get home. It was so great that she was able to see mom and J. We are doing fine we had an early morning. The kids were all up and ready to go this am around 7:00 which is strange for my house. Gwen already took a nap and is up and playing it won't be long before Ruben is ready for his. He pooped in the toilet today!!! Yea, you can only be excited about that if your a mom. I enrolled him in summer school yesteraday at the preschool where I use to work. Gwen is going to the doctors today for her constant diaper rash, hopefully we can get it gone. Addisen has a lot in her schedule I mean sleeping and eating, and being held and cuddled can so exhausting. I on the other hand have lots of homework to attend to and laundry. J how was the class you went to? Love you guys

Brandi

Ohhh, those Mississippi Squirrels

I found this on line... And smiled!!!!

18 Clues He's Still Crazy About You

You say your husband can't express his feelings?
Here are all the funny little ways he says, "I love you."

by Ann Hodgman

1. When you wear a T-shirt, boxers, and socks to bed, somehow he still thinks you're cute.

2. He doesn't laugh when you pronounce former hockey star Mark Messier's name as "Mark Messy-er."

3. The only framed photo on his bureau is of you at age ten — with short bangs, cat glasses, and metal braces. (If he kept it in his wallet, you would have to kill him.)

4. He automatically smooshes all spiders for you.

5. He tried — unsuccessfully, but he tried — to clean the rust ring his shaving-cream can left on the sink.

6. After you rear-ended that Lexus in the parking lot, his very first words were "Are you OK?"

7. At this point, his wedding band is so tight, it makes his finger look swollen — but he swears he'd feel naked without it.

8. He doesn't try to guess what you want for your birthday — he asks your best friend.

9. He's incapable of putting dishes into the dishwasher but has learned to stack them in the sink.

10. He understands which old boyfriends are fair game and which aren't.

11. He doesn't "whoop!" while watching the Super Bowl anymore. OK, he does, but he's definitely cut back the whooping by about 20 percent.

12. He'll pick up a box of tampons at the drugstore without wincing.

13. Though you've had several kids together, he's never once announced, "We're pregnant!"

14. He wears that "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" sweatshirt you bought him during a weak moment — sometimes even in public.

15. He's careful never to deal with nose hairs in your presence.

16. When you drag him to sentimental movies, he doesn't sit there and snicker. (He may fall asleep, but he won't snicker.)

17. He doesn't comment on your new haircut unless you ask him to. And then he lies.

18. He may forget to give you a card for Valentine's Day, but at least he understands this is a criminal offense. And he's prepared to pay the price.

Here is the web site to prove it:
http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlegh.aspx?cp-documentid=17405317&gt1=32023

Sooo... I Love You, Tami. :)

Game Night

Lyle says hi! I learned measuring and I liked my lunch and the donut. Alyssa, says, Hey guys today I reviewed for my NYS math test and had to write a lot in English. See you Fri Mom. Ian says Hi Mom and we love you. The snack was good. Crackers and cheese and oranges. We played Ziggedy, Scatagories and Uno tonight. Lyle won Ziggedy, Alyssa won Scatagories and Lyle and Cameron won Uno. Dad, Gram, Tim, Cameron, Lyle, Ian and Alyssa played. It is still cold here. Cameron made good supper. Lyle says bring us back some stuff!! Love ya Mom. Dad says hope your having fun.

Jealous

I know it's a terrible thing but I wish I was in KY, girls week-end so Fun. I was suppose to have a girls day today. I was going to get a pedicure with my best friend, her water broke this AM. I am so excited for her. But man no pedicure, I guess I will stick to laundry and school work. My kids slept good last night and are up early today so I feel refreshed. We did a little shopping yesterday I am working on getting my bathroom decorated. I have the shower curtain and floor mat. I am in search for the perfect picture. Not mucj work today but if you know anybody who needs an apartment we have some good deals right now, and the apartments look great. Love you guys eat lots of hot dogs and chip dip for me. Tim and Ashley good luck with all the kids this week. Love you guys.

Perrysburg again

Hi everybody! You all are talking spring???? Where? I woke up again to snow plows scraping away about 10 inches of snow! Wish they could scrape it off my car also. Yuk. Tuesday we did see the sun tho it was beautiful. The pictures are beautiful Brandi. She looks so much better. It was so stormy last night Bible study was canceled again and it was only down to Gieslers. I think our group has only gotten together 3 times this winter. So I'll eat some more Panda Paws Ice Cream and rest under the blanket in the recliner tonight. SEND ME SOME SPRING!!! Love ya all. Gram

Request for more pictures

Mom wanted to see more pictures of ADDISEN she is growing at a very fast rate. I think after the first kid they grow faster. Maybe it's just me. We are just enjoying the nice weather we went out a played a while today. I tried enforcing the " no toys out of the toy room" rule today. I ended up putting up the gate. We'll see how that goes, it saves me from picking up animals all over the house and stepping on them every two seconds. If you been to my house you know what I mean. Love you guys.

New Curtain

I finally got my new cutains made, with a little help from my mother in law. They are not perfect but I made them so they are great. Addisen is doing great we went to the doctors yesterday, and they said that her lungs sound fine. J back at McDonalds again you just can't stay away. It'sa job and free food. I wish i could come a play cards with you all that would be so great. I got a package for Addisen yesterday from great granma Rogers, she made a great blanket and snuggly they smell like grandma's house. Love you guys

a quick hi

HI, were at grandmas playing tuesday night cards, everyone is at the table eating brownies, icecream, chocolate cookies, hot chocolate, red koolaid and popcorn. I cant be long or ill miss out, they inhale things like that. Cam had his first college experience this weekend he stayed with Tim. They had the Saw movie marathon going on and had an orange war and who knows what else he didnt tell me about. Hes kind of sick now because he hasnt had much sleep in abo ut 3 days. The kids are on there mid winter break this week, but wes and I have to work still. Well gotta get my cookies! love you guys. Im glad to hear everyone is working again!

Aunt Sandi

well....at least in kentucky..it's almost spring time.....and everywhere it's not valentine's day anymore....new music new layout, and i'm back working at mcdonalds again..
love you all
and miss you all

j

What a Week

It has been so busy and we even forgot yesterday was Valentines. I stilll went out today and got a big box of Chocolates for my family. 50% off even better. We had my birthday and I got to go to Red Hamster (lobster) which I have been to only once before, this time I ordered a Lobster I got to pick it out of a live tank and I got to eat it. I picked a very blue one, but it still turned red. I was ok I like shrimp better. The grossest part was the butter. I thought you were suppose to dip the lobster in the butter, but I thought it was better without it. That was good for my birthday. I got roses from Ruben and a grat box from mom and dad. The we started off with a double ear infection for Gwen and runny nose for Little Ruben. Than we had a great weather week it was in the 60's and 70's we spent some days out playing. It makes my job more enjoyable when I have to show an apartment or do an inspection when it is warm. More people come by the office when it is nice outside. I rented two apartments this week yeah for me. Then sadly my little Addi got sick we took a early am trip to the doctors and they sent us to the hospital. She has RSV we spent three long days there. It was no fun it took 8 pokes to get and IV in her are, they tried her feet and hands and arms, they even thought about her head. It was heart wrenching to see her connected to all those tubes and I couldn't hold her because she was connected to all these thing to monitor her heart and lungs. Friday at about 1am she started breathing on her own and then the got to take her off the oxygen, after that just sucking out all the mucous was the most important part tohelp her get rid of the infection. We are home now we have disinfected everything. I have alot to catch up on. The other kids are great. They spent the three days with grandma and are glad to be back at home. This week is suppose to be colder again, but hopefully less eventful, and less time at the doctor's office.love you guys
Brandi

Hi from Perrysburg!!

Hi everybody. Just wanted to tell you about my exciting trip to work today. I got up at 5:30 as usual and the wind is blowing hard, the bed felt like it was shaking. Fortunately I got my self ready for work just before the electric went off. It was snowing a very little. Not real cold. On the way to work I can't go down route 39, traffic is backed up so I turn around and go down to Gowanda by way of Indian Hill. Lots of junk in the road. Just after going through North Collins I notice this big pine tree blowing and bending way low , no not bending falling in the road just ahead of me on the other side of the road. Missed me Ha! Ha! It went down so slow I didn't even get scared. I had to take 2 more detours before getting to work. Electric came on just before I got home and we had electric at work all day even tho others did not. Really enjoyed your visit Tami. Now I am eating Cherry Panda Paws ice cream. Happy Valentines Day all.

a day off - finally

So I have a day off what do I do... I go for a run around town.
3.73 miles in 39:36 minutes
that's about 10:36 minutes per mile
I NEED 9:09 MINUTES PER MILE.
Oh well.

State Active Duty

FINALLY!!!! I have full computer access. Let me tell you where I am and what I been doing. Right now I'm in a Sleep Inn in Lexington, KY. That's how I got internet access. And I'm beat.

So, as you know by Tami's post, I was actived by the Kentucky National Guard due to the bad ice storm. I was really bad in western and central Kentucky. The east side of the state was not excempt for even Tami and I lost power for a few hours.

I reported to the armoury and was put to work as a contract officer. I got meals setup through a local business and made a contract for it. I helped in getting chain saws, and Humvees on the rode. Then later in the week I got to drive to different places and meet and pray with soldiers. I went to one small town and when I parked my vehicle this lady stopped her car and thanked me for everything we were doing and asked if I could arrange for her power to come back on soon. I told I would do my best and went to Emergency Management and reported her address and situation (6 small kids). Then I reported it to the dispatched and got some soldiers enroute. It strange being and officer at times, but at a time like this it did prove useful.

I was able to be home most nights but Tami had some time and went to NY. THE VERY NEXT DAY, the guard gave me the day off. Grrrrrrr. Know tomorrow I leave to Morehead, KY for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I'm trying to get a hotel for the nights I'm there. (Tami, Wink-wink)

Well, one last thing. I might have gotten a job. At the state capitol. Working full time for the National Guard. It's a temporary position. But the pay seems good. I'll keep you posted.

love you, everyone.
(Miss you, Tami)

This is what we do on a snow day...

I was only harmed once in the making of these pictures. Phil shot me in the butt. J, however, took a serious blow to the eye. Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of this.

Before I officially join your family, I need to buy a gun.

Have a good day!

J the blog looks great. I can tell you are in love because it the owrds are very insightful. AWWW!! how sweet my little brother is in love. It's great isn't it. We are home We are cleaning. The cleaning never ends. I am cleaning the kitchen for tlike the fourth time today and Ruben is vacuum cleaning and picking up the kids play room. It's so nice when he helps out. Gwen is sick with the cold, I hope she does not get an earache she has been tugging at it all day but ne fever so that's good. Ruben busted his lip open and scratched his knee doind I don't know what in the play room but he didn't cry so it could not have been that bad and despite the noise and craziness Addisen keeps on sleeping. Love you guys.

after hours of hard work
new layout
and new music
love you all

j

Poop and more Poop and a Party

I was trying to cook and get ready for Gwen's birthday party at her grandparents house. Gwen was sleeping and Addisen was in the crib sleeping, little Ruben was left onhis own in the living room. I thought he was watching Tarzan and trying to have "quite time" Addisen woke up and was crying so I brought her out to the living room and changed her diaper that was poopy. While I was changing her she sneezed and squirted poop all over me and the floor and up her back and all over the blanket. So I run her into the bathroom to get her a quick bath. Ruben is still sitting in the chair half asleep. While I was bathing her he must have decided that it was ok to play with a poopy diaper. I dresses Addisen and layed her back in the crib and went back to cooking Lasagna. Ruben runs out to the Kitchen asking for juice and I smell poop. I look at the floor and there is yellow tracks from the living room to the kitchen and Rubens socks and bottoms of the pants are covered in baby poop. I take off his clothes and clean his hands, go pick up the diaper and put the clothes to soke b/c new baby poop stains. I go back to cooking give Ruben and cup of milk andlay him back down in the chair. I put the cake in the oven and go into the Living room and find him playing in poop on the dining room table. His cows were enjoying having their faces shoved into it apparently. I asked him Ruben are you playing in poop again and he just looks at me like it's no big deal. So I clean up another poop mess I am mad, them I decide it;s not that big of a deal life goes on. I put the cows in the dish washer and Ruben in the tub. I try to pick up. But I have got to get the carpets cleaned today because I just no there is some that I did not get up off the carpet. I feel like I live in the house of poop. My Diaper Champ fills up in two days of poopy diapers, really I think it is contagouse because when one of my children decided to go they all go it like a domino affect. Anyways beside buying food and presents asnd decorations, cooking and cleaning poop on Saturday we had a great birthday party for my BIG ONE YEAR OLD GWEN. I thought you would all enjoy those pictures more than the poop. Love you guys I am off to cleaning.

Kentucky Ice Storm 2009

Last Tuesday we woke up to ice on everything! It was really very pretty, school was closed for the second day in a row, because Monday we got 2 inches of snow! On Thursday, Phil and I drove to Louisville, which is 2 hours away. I was surprised how many stop lights were still not working and how many businesses were closed. The ride was really beautiful. Friday morning we woke up and had no power, we called the utility company and received a recording saying it could take up to 2 weeks before all power was restored! I thought to myself "Wow, this storm must have been pretty bad!" Keep in mind that Phil and I don't have a TV and we don't get a newspaper, so we are happily oblivious to what goes on outside of our little world. Our power was restored very quickly and we spent only a couple of hours visiting with friends who still had power. Saturday morning while Phil and I enjoyed our late morning cup of coffee the phone rang, we couldn't find the phone and really weren't in any hurry to find it. When we finally did Phil listened to the messages and was VERY surprised that his guard unit had been activated and he was to report immediately to the armory. Typical of the military he wasn't told what he was doing, where he was going, or how long he would be gone. So he quickly grabbed his already packed bag (Phil is so organized! It would take me two hours to find the bag and another two to pack everything) and off he went. He did come home for a few hours Saturday night, then was off again at 4am. Apparently the ice storm covered the entire state of KY and we are in a state of emergency. Who knew? I took some pictures in my backyard yesterday as all the ice was melting. Stay warm!