Good Morning

Well Sandi's kids are so busy it makes me feel like I have nothing to worry about if she can do it with all those kids, I can too! Gwen and Addi are sleeping, Ruben stayed the night with Grandma last night. Just as I got them in bed and settles the door bell rings, that never happens Ha ha and Ruben is gwen start to scream and come running out to the living room, and then my thoughts of an early bed time are over. Ruben has school this Am so I got up and made lunch for big ruben and got schoolwork done now I am getting little Rubens lunch ready. I am so excited about going back to work at the preschool. We had three peopel give thirty day notices yesterday and I had a waiting list, so the apartments are all ready full. I will get a good bonus before I leave yea! We got to get on the webcam with mom and dad last night. I finally figured out how to hook this old one we have up to my laptop. It was fun. Well I gotta go have a great day! Mom have fun at work!

Day 3

Well its day 3 of rain in Ny and Its supposed to rain for at least 2 more. Yesterday it didnt rain until evening so I had most of the day to pick berries I picked at least 10 qts. Im hoping there is some rain free times today(it really doesnt look like it) because there are so many more berries to pick. Tim and Ash worked yesterday.Alyssa the afternoon with grandma,and the little boys spent the day playing scattagories,stratego,and jenga. They all went out after dark in the rain to play hide and seek, until it started thundering.Aahley is working this morning, Alyssa is going to fantasy island,Cameron has football and lacrosse practice.The littleboys are going to Lyles friends house and Ash and I are going to the dollarsaleat the attic after she gets back from work. Im hoping to find sneakers for the three little kids and tshirts for lyle for school this fall. (I bought their sneakers at the attic for a dollar each for the last 2 years). If I can get three pairof sneakers then allmy school cloths shopping is done for the little kids,and th big kids buy their own because they all are working.I made french toast for breakfast this morning. Wellthose are my big plans forthe day.have a good day at workTami.love you guys
Sandi

Great Party!!

It's the day after the really great party for Ashley! So relaxing and enjoyable in spite of the rain which drew everyone closer. The high light of the party was Wes becoming the hero for a papa robin (who flew home after too many formented berries) Papa got his leg stuck in a piece of rope (that his wife insisted on including in the nest when he built it) There was papa hangin and flapping upside down by one leg while mama robin flew back and forth screaming. Wes got a tall step ladder and a long long pipe and then stood on the very top of the ladder and knocked nest out of tree thus saving papa. Then he replaced baby in nest and put it back in a lower tree while mama flew around . Whew what a hero!!! A perfect ending to a perfect day!! Good Job Wes!!

Next!

Well, I just got done cleaning up from Ashleys grad party. It was a really good party with way too much food. Wes Ian ,Alyssa,and Tim are out shopping forIans new bike , and cameron is at the neighbors,as usual, he had to work this morning but he made it back for the party because no left until after 7 and people started coming at 1. Ash, Dan and Lyle are watching a movie,so I have some quiet time. Tomarrow its on to planning for the next party July 26. Ashley walked 15.5 miles this week. Have a good night!
love Sandi

What a week!

Wow, I sure did miss a lot in one week! It is good to be able to get on-line and see what everyone has been doing. I had a whole 8 days with no cell phone or Internet. I was so tired when I got home. I slept 12 hours straight. Got up this morning and had a GOOD cup of coffee on my patio. It is so good to be home! All I have to say about youth camp is - once is enough! We went to late service at church today and then went to lunch with J and saw some friends for about an hour. I stopped by Starbucks to get my schedule for the week which was good because I'm not supposed to start back until Wednesday and I'm on the schedule Tuesday. It's ok, I'll get a bigger pay check! I got a message from Jon, he says he is getting really anxious, just over a month and he will be home! Just a few weeks and we will be in NY. I think its the 24th-27th. Can't wait to see everyone!

Relax

Sounds like everyone is having a busy week-end. Mom and Dad sound good to be home. We have relaxed all day the kids have played outside and bathed we have eaten lunch cleaned up and Ruben is playing soccer his game is supposed to be broadcast on the radio so we are waiting to see if we can hear it. I just finished school work and Gwen is taking a nap so I think I might wait for Addi to fall asleep and little Ruben and I will lay down too! We did 16 miles this week. Love you all!

Uncle Phil and News

Well, I just got back from Youth Camp. Tami and I are just tired and happy to be home. Here's the play-by-play of the week:
Sat. Camps arrived and formed into Platoons (8 platoons total divided by age)
Mon. I WAS BUSY. I taught a class on chaplaincy: What is a Chaplain? Since there were 8 platoons, I taught the class 8 times. There were other classes going on too.
Tues. I attended some other classes. There was one called Operation Military Kids. In the class the teacher took the campers picture, printed it on special paper, and then ironed the picture on a pillow case. Then the camper can send the pillow case to there mom or dad while they are deployed. There were other classes too. Like Archery, Gun Safety, Self-defense, Rappeling...
Weds. I decided to spend the whole day at the rappeling tower. I was about as tall as a three story buliding. It had a ramp to rappel sown at the first floor. I had a wall to go down at that level too. and then you could climb up to the top and rappel off the roof. OH, Yeah!!! I did that. I made it half way down, stopped, turned myself upside down, waved at everybody, then popped back up and came down. I LIKE RAPPELING.
Thurs. I spent half the day at the fishing pond. I caught a couple blue gills and a nice large mouth bass. Then I hung out with 2 nd platoon and did self-defense, rappeling (again), and then fished with them too. Thursday is also the night of the BIG DANCE. I gained some friends and taught some manners (if ya know what I mean).
Friday was the FIELD EXERCISE. I think this is the best day ever! They take the platoons out to a place in the woods and we do real army stuff. We even got Camo paint for our faces. I attached myself with 8th platoon (the oldest kids) and picked someone to be my Chaplain Assistant (like a body guard). Her name was Rachel. She was GREAT (because I didn't get shot by any water guns or get hit by any water balloons). I lived!!! YEAH! We ambushed the 7th platoon. Then we protected the 1st platoon (these were the real little kids). They had blue shirts. So we called them the smurfs. They a 50 Cal simulator. I made it sound like we were under attack by a REAL machine gun. And they even had thing that sould like REAL explosions.
Sat. Graduation and go home. Awesome....... but I'm glad to be home.

hey

Were getting ready for Ashleys graduation party,but weve also been passing the stomach flu around.Hopefully were all well by tomarrow afternoon. The little kids have been enjoying riding their new bikes around and Cameron started football practice already.So hes busy with lacrosse,football and working 4 days a week. Ashley has been working a couple days a week and making wedding plans. Tim hasnt been getting too many hours of work,hes really bored ,but hes been researching how to fix his xbox, yesterday he ordered some parts and some tools, now hes just waiting for them to come in. Ive just been cleaning, trying to get rid of stuff and trying to keepmy garden ahead of the chipmunk and rabbits, oh yeh and Ive been picking raspberries everyday , filling up my freezer. Were planning on camping at the beach for the 4th if were all well by then, and if it is dry enough,its supposed to start raining tomarrow straight through to thursday.Have a good week, Oh and we didnt do too well with the walking since weve been sick, we did 33miles. I dont know about Ash.
love you guys
Sandi

Moving!!

Well we rented an apartment yesterday not exactly what I wanted but we did it, its smaller than what we have now, but we will fit and its a good price. You all can still stay with us when you come for the wedding were family nothing wrong with a little squishiness. Today we dont have anything planned it is still super hot outside so I am getting ready to make pancakes, I think I am just going to bake today Little Ruben wants cookies, and I dont have any.
So what do the Tallchiefs/Warriors have planned now that school is out? I hoped we will get to go camping this summer but I think Addi is still too small, she still cries alot at night that might attract some unwanted attention, but I am still thinking about it I really would love to take the kids to the lake this summer somewhere around here its not a nice as in New York, but then we are also saving for somebodies wedding. I talked to mom at camp, she seems to be having an ok time. I dont think she was too sad to be coming home this weekend. We have to find a new place to go for the 4th of July I just found out that the huge park that we always go to is not doing them this year, they saud it does not fit the budget so we'll see, what we think of.
Hope you all have a great Saturday!

encouragement

sometimes in life you just need a little encouragement

2 more days!

THe little kids have 2 more half days of school left. We'll all be so happy, its been difficult getting them to go to bed early and then waking them up for school. Lyle and Alyssa get their new bikes tomarrow (from the Nation) for getting perfect attendance. Our rain finally went away, and now its pretty warm, and VERY humid! Yuck! I picked the first of the raspberries last night, there was about a handful, but by the end of the week I should be getting lots more! I had about 12 stalks of corn coming up about 3 inches and that darned chipmunk pulled every single one out and ate them. He doesnt seem to like squash or tomatoes, so I guess ill go buy some more tomato plants and squash to fill in the garden.

Stomach Flu

We have all had the stomach flu all week-end, today I woke up and feel a little better finally. Little Ruben has school today so I hope that he is feeling better. It started with Gwen on Thurday and I got it Saturday. Poor Big Ruben on father's day he had to get up and make his own breakfast, and so the dishes but he still wont change poopy diapers or wash the puckey clothes and blankets, I had to do that which was terrible. Yesterday I kept the office closed and got up around 12:00 did a little house work and then laid back down with the kids at about 2 untill Big Ruben got home around 5:00 then I got up and did a little gorcery shopping, its cheaper and faster when all the food looks disgusting. I hope to get some more packing done today and maybe do some walking onthe treadmill today, it has been 90 and above for a week now, I went out to close the pool last night around 9:30 and the thermometer was at 91. Yucky too hot to walk outside. Other than that we went and looked at somemore houses last week and tonite we are going to look at a 6 bedroom house that is painted like a pastel green inside with a yellow kitchen, and another that has two kitchens, strange huh. Well love you all.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Hey guys, I found a good video on how to be a good man. ( Im not as good as J, so you have to go to youtube to view it) Go to youtube and put in "The dont song". Enjoy
love Sandi

Chicago

Dan and I left for Chicago on Friday and it took most of the day to get there. After we got to the hotel well went to a town called Joliet. In this town was a old prision that was used in many movies and tv shows including blues brothers and our favorite show Prision break, so we went to see the prision which was cool. Then on saturday we went into the city also to the botanic gardens and to see the house used in the home alone movie which is dan's favorite movie. While in the city we walked along the water front. This picture was taken just before Dan proposed. Dan set up the cameras so they would take the pictures themselves. Then after the picture i was getting ready to movie on but then he said he needed to do somehting else first. So he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him... Sunday we went into the city again and walked a lot we saw the Navy pier, lots of buildings, we walked the manificent mile also. For a city Chicago sure does not have a night life. All the stores closed by 8 pm we had a hard time even finding a place to eat for dinner, which was kind of disipointing, but it was still fun. Then sunday we headed home and stopped at the Indiana dunes on the way home.

Rain ,rain,go away!

Well its been raining for three days and it dosent look like it going to stop soon, so were leaving! We have a lacrosse game in Onodaga today. Three hour trip up ,two hour game,and three hour trip home ,well be gone all day. Good thing they have an indoor box , because it looks like theres going to be rain there also. Tami ,it turned out that you could go to camp,good! Brandi,I guess your next post will have to be the baby powder one! Ashley,everyone is still waiting for a picture and all the details! Actually, Ashley and Dan are working on a surprise project for their engagment party! Things are coming together and I hope alot of you can come. i think its going to be on July 26th. Im going to post our walking miles this morning because i dont think well get much done today and tomarrowwere going canoeing and fishing in Alleghany. We didnt do much this week because of the rain. We did 43 miles. Have a great weekend!
love aunt sandi

going to camp

Phil and I are going to work at the National Guard youth camp tomorrow. We'll be gone for 9 days! Thankfully it's not like church camp, we have rooms with showers and air conditioning. I'm doing night security! Sounds like fun huh. I am looking forward to a week with no cooking and no cleaning! I probably won't be able to get on-line to read the blog, so I'll have a lot to catch up on when I get home.

We've been grilling a lot, a little meat and lots of veggies. I love grilled zucchini, peppers, eggplant, and I really like asparagus. I just brush everything with a little olive oil, salt and pepper it good. Yummy!

Hope you all have a great week! Get Brandi to tell you the baby powder story!
Love ya, Tami

In a rut

I cleaned my garden up today , and moved some things around in it so that I dont have to buy flowers before Ashleys graduation party.I have some corn coming up about and inch and i also have a bunch of 2 inch tomatoes, i dont know if they get big enough soon enough, but they fill up my garden beds so they look better.I did buy a few marigolds today,and a large tomato plant. I also cleaned the little boys room. I took out 2 bags of garbage, 2 bags of magazines and books(they still have a full book shelf) and a whole tote of yard sale items. It looks good and there is a place for everything.(now if only they will put things away) Did i mention, Im in a rut? Im tired of cooking , it seems like we have the same old things all the time and I would really like something different, but I have no ideas. What kind of good summer recipies are you guys eating? Got any good ideas for me? Our usuals are stir fry, goulash, corn soup, pot pie,and hamburger gravy and mashed potatoes ,its getting boring.
love aunt sandi

It must be the weather

Like I said yesterday its cold and rainy again today! Last night I was in the mood to bake(I havent done that in months) I made berry cobbler, oatmeal cookies,cinn. biscuits,reg. biscuits and banana bread. Today Im making wild onion and green bean soup for dinner.Yes... it is mid June.?? Ash and I are working on invitations today,(graduation, engagment,save the dates...)
Have a great day
love aunt sandi

Animal house

Its cold and rainy here, I wish we had some heat. After dinner tonight we looked out our back door at the garden . There were two baby bunnies, and their mom,a big fat toad ,and a little chipmunk in my garden. No wonder I have nothing in my garden except 1 hill of potatoes,1 pumpkin plant i didnt even plant,and about 3 small squash plants.My vegetable yeild will be very low this year, but we have alot of raspberries coming though, and I have alot of wild onions in my freezer, and a few jars of violet jelly. We went to the auction today, got veggies,and 2 camp stools ive been looking for , then we went to the salvation army,and I picked up 4 pair jeans for the little boys (wed is half price day)for school next year, then it was on to the $ store, Save a Lot, and the mexican resturant.We made it home in time to put things away, pick the kids up from school, take cam to work, pick up ash from work , and make dinner! Ashley , dan ,and alyssa are at quizzing practice, and wes is at lacrosse practice, so its kind of quiet here.The little boys are playing with their guys in the kitchen,and Tim finally got his X box to work again so we dont see him unless hes hungry.
love aunt sandi

Im burnin up!

It is so hot and muggy today. At 10:00am it was 80 already yuck. Now it is 96, the kids and I went out around lunch time to go to the dollar store, to get cleaning supplies and dinoasurs, then we went to go look at 2 duplexe's the appt was at one we waited inthe hot hot car for 15 minutes n obody showed or answered the phone, so I guess that means we wont be living thier, tonite RUben and I are going to look at a house and a 3 bdrm duplex there are both close to here. We are trying to stay close so we aren't to far from work and the wonderful grandma who babysits for the price of lunch. I just got done scrubbing my kitchen floor, trying to get it to sparkle. I have got the living room, dining room, playroom, and part of the kitchen packed so I am making progress. Ruben was looking at me like I was crazy last night, I was like you are the one who wants to move and I know you are not going to help me pack so I have to get an early start, he was like "yeah you're right, well keep going" What a great husband. He agreed to do the loading and u nloading if I did the packing, and made sure he has dinner. Ruben is loving school he has had three days so far and comes home happy. That makes me happy, Gwen says "Tank you" Yea a word other than "Si" we are making progress. Addisen is a crawling machine I am trying to get a good picture so you all can see. I need to get walking I only have three miles this week, but I am going to have to stay inside it is too hot. Love you guys, I am still waiting to here from Ashley I want all the juicy details.

news from Iraq

Jon was able to get on line again this week, thought I'd share a few lines with you. It's getting hotter everyday and the word hot barely describes the feeling - we are still in the midst of a wild duststorm that hit us last night - the dust storm just turned up a few more notches imagine a whiteout but black instead of soft flakes hitting you small rocks. I checked the temp in Al Asad today, it's 111 degrees.

How many miles did Dan and Ashley walk last week?

hi

Happy belated anniversary! it was a beautiful sunny day yesterday and I didnt spend much time inside.Wes and I took a walk around town, went to Tim Hortons for breakfast and then went to pick strawberries.They smell sooo good and they taste really good also. We picked 7 quarts, I decided i felt well enough not to wear my brace yesterday, not a smart thing when bending down and up to pick berries,but I managed. It is getting better, I just have to rest and go slow, I was able to ride the bike for a couple miles today,nothing close to the 20-30 miles I was doing. And ive been getting in 6-7 slow miles a day walking. After picking berries, i got the lawn mowed,i love mowing the lawn(sorry Mike I have a riding mower). Thats about all I accomplished yesterday, nothing in the house. This morning we went up to watch a little of Lyles field day and then walked around town, and of course hade to stop at Olympia for breakfast. (last week we said we were going to go this whole week without going out,(well its only tues and weve gone out 2xs and tomarrow is the auction). Now I have to get my strawberries into the freezer before we eat them all ( we gave 2 qt away and had strawberries for snack and breakfast and also had strawberry shortcake). Then Im going to wash the car if Wes gets back before we have to pick up the kids. Cameron and Dakota are done with school and alyssa and ian have 2 more full days and 5-3hour days, then lyle has 5 whole days and 2 half. Ashleys graduation party is on June 28th I think well have her engagement party in July Im not sure when because July is pretty busy. She said theyll probably get married next May ,but I dont have a date yet.( that will give us some time between weddings).Well, I better get busy love ya.
Sandi

4:30 am

I got up at 4:30 today, It's been a long time since I've gotten up this early! Phil was up earlier, and I didn't even hear the alarm clock go off. The morning shift at Starbucks starts at 5:00 so I need to get used to this, I'm trying! It's really cool right now and I'd like to go out and walk, but it's really dark still, so I'm going to wait until 5:30. Phil and I had such a great time yesterday. We've been married for 18 years! We spent the whole day away from the house and our phones! We ate breakfast out, went to a movie, shopped, then went to the Melting Pot for dinner. It's a fondue place and it was so fun! We got the anniversary special, which came with champagne, champagne glasses, and they come take your picture and frame it for you. They sat us at a little private corner booth. We tried the 4 course meal. Cheese fondue is first, the waitress makes it at your table, there is a glass heat element in the table, it must get pretty hot because it didn't take the cheese long to melt at all. They bring bread, veggies, and apples to dip. I liked the apples best! The second course is a salad, yummy! We choose to have a broth fondue for the next course, veggies, meat and seafood, 4 different kinds of meat, sirloin, pork, chicken, fillet minon, lobster and shrimp. The broth boils on the table you pick the meat you want stick it on a long fork and dip it in the broth. 2 minutes for meat, 1 1/2 for the meat. I think I like the chicken best. 7 different dipping sauces come with the meat and veggies. Last but not least is the chocolate! As if you have room for anything else, you have your choice of chocolate, we had dark chocolate with amaretto, served with strawberries, bananas, brownies, pound cake, cheese cake, marshmallows . . . It sounds like we ate a ton, but it was just little pieces of everything. I wish I could show you all pictures, however, I forgot my camera. The only picture I have is the one they took of us. We were there for 2 1/2 hours. I'm not sure we have ever sat at a meal that long, or even sat still for that long, other then driving. It was so much fun! Maybe an anniversary tradition.

Addi is crawling

Addi is crawling, so fast she is five months told this week, not professional crawling but the kind that makes you want to cry and wonder where time went. HAPPY ANNIVESARY mom and dad. I love you I am so glad you all got married. CONGRATULATIONS Ashley and Dan let's wait till next year give us a little breathing room between these weddings, CRAZINESS. The yello Power Ranger is all grown up. It is raining and pouring Ruben is home right now sleeping away after I got up at six to make him breakfast and lunch, yuck!! Well at least I won't be busy in the office today nobody comes when it is raining and I have schoolwork and house work to catch up on. I did a lot of walking this week we took our first hike with the kids and forgot the camera. The kids walked four miles and I carried Addi, they were covered in mudd ans sweating but they were troopers. Gwen is a real go getter she did not stop, finally close to the end she found a spot of grass and went and shrugged her shoulders and laid down it was so cute. We got about 40 miles this week. Yea!! Yesterday we went and looked and some houses and apartments, Ruben has decided to maybe buy a house, I have given my notice here at the complex so we have three weeks to pack and get everything clean and to find somewhere to live. WOW I just got settles here, but you guys can still come and stay with is for the wedding where ever we may be. Well love you guys .

Congratulations!!!!!!!!

We are so happy for Ashley and Dan!!! Can't wait to hear all about it, and see the ring! A beach wedding would be really cool!

This week has not been a good walking week for us. We walked just 20 miles. We have already gotten off to a better start for this week, we did 9 miles today. I know for sure J walked 2 miles to work one day this week, and he worked 12-15 hours Thurs, Fri, and Sat. at ICHTHUS. I'm guessing that him and Amy walked at LEAST 4 miles together each day. So that is 14 miles for them! I'm put to shame by Aunt Sandi! Are you feeling any better, was it a muscle pull, or do you think it is a hernia?

Phil has had 3 days off! It seems like a long time since we've had 3 days together! Better yet, his blackberry hasn't twinkled all weekend! He really needed the time, he had to do a funeral for a 24 year old soldier Thursday, not an easy thing at all. We spent some time at ICHTHUS, Skillet was the last band Friday night, I've never really gotten in to their music, but they put on a great show. Delirious was the final band of the festival, it will be their last time there, they are going to break up. I have to say that I really like their music, but I've seen them 2x's and not been very impressed. So, not only did I not walk much, I also caved into the junk food at the festival. I couldn't resist the smell of greasy funnel cakes, corn dogs, Italian sausage smothered with peppers and onions, french fries! Yummy!!!!! I did resist the deep fried twinkie that Phil had.

Tomorrow is our 18th anniversary, and it's Phil's 4th day home. I'll have to tell you tomorrow what we did. Love you all! Tami

MISSING

J, did you happen to find Camerons phone at your house, and Tims shirt,and shorts? Its a good thing their heads are attached.
Sandi

Flag Day

Lyle,Ian and I walked to Jubilee to get breakfast this morning and lyle reminded us that today is flag day, so we counted flags as we walked. We counted 41 american flags and 1 US Marine flag. So,this morning we walked in honor of Jon and and in honor of our flag,which despite all the disagreements and problems we may have , still stands for freedom. After we finished shopping our thoughts went to less serious things and we started talking about how cool it would be if it rained gumballs.How we would have to have umbrellas and baskets and if it only rained gumballs one day we would have enough gumballs for a decade. Then we talked about when ashley and dan get married they will have another brother and how it would be cool if they got married at the beach. Then I thought , Yeh, they can get married at the beach and then we can throw gum balls at them! Well despite my injury, we managed to walk 82.5 miles this week. If we walk more today Ill count them for next week. I dont know how many Dan and Ashley did , but I do know they did 13 yesterday. Ash will have to let you know tomarrow. Have a great day
love Sandi

Summer lovin or Lovin summer?

We spent the day out in Alleghany at uncle Steves campsite fishing,canoeing,and eating(uggg) Tomarow Cameron has a lacosse game in Tonawanda, they have an outdoor box also,hopefully no rain this time. Ashley and Dan are in Chicago this weekend and i text her to see how they were doing and this is what she text back,"...we went to the botanical gardens, walked around the city,went to a boat marina, and got engaged." Ive been busting to write about it since tuesday when Dan came to ask us if it was ok for him to ask her. Then friday before they left and she wentin the bathroom,he ran in the bedroom where we were and said "hurry look" he wanted to show us her ring. So sweet. Ill make ash tell us all about it when they get back on monday. Well its late and im tired, goodnight
Love Sandi

Bummer day

Im totallybummed today,its rainy and cold.Wednesday I hurt myself whileI was taking a ride on my new bike. I have a burning pain just above my belly button when I sit up,cough ,sneeze, or lift heavy things, so I think I have a hernia.Im hoping its only a muscle strain or tear, because a hernia will not heal itself and I would have to have surgery.So,riding the bike, lifting weights, and sit ups are out of the question. All I can do is walk around slowly and wear this abdominal support around my stomach,i feel like and old lady.I was getting really good results, and losing quite a bit of weight riding the bike and walking and lifting weights. I wonder how many calories I can burn scuffling around at 2mph.I guess Ill have to really cut back on my calories,but I have to find something chocolate I can eat because I really need some.
Love sandi

rainy

well it rained all afternoon. Tim,Ash and I wereout for a walk and we only got two miles in before we had to call wes to pick usup.Cam had a lacrosse game this evening in alleghany they have an outdoor box so we had the game in the rain,itwas actually kind of fun.Everyone got soaked, but it wasnt too cold. The little boys window is leaking somehow. Gotta love rain, at least no thunder and lightening.
love Sandi

I found the answer

Ruben has gone to school for two day and big Ruben has been gone for four, and my house is looking good so that's it boys are slobs. I cleaned the bathrooms today, but the rest of the house looks pretty good, and with Ruben gone we don't have to have big meals, so no dinner pick up for now, its kinda nice in a way. Ruben is loving school no crying or any of that. Gwen was so excited to see him when we went in for pick up. Addi is asleep again right now and I have school work done so I might just sit down and watch some TV. I am hoping to go to the park again and walk, the trail is almost a half a mile around so in five rounds I go 2 miles,andthen the kids can play and burn off some energy. I passed another Math Class yea!! i just got my grade today so that lifted my spirts a little. Not a single person has come to the office today how boring, well the roofers are hear making a bunch of noise, but that no big deal. Well I better go I smell a stinky diaper. Love you guys.

Hi from Gram

I'm working the later shift today (1-9) so I'm writing to kill time til I leave at 12:15. Sandi and I went to Goodes for breakfast nice to be with Sandi . She helps me think clearer. It is going to rain today I think, some sun more clouds. I went to a baby shower Tuesday night at Mary Crouses and it was a JOHN DEERE theme. Now if that isn't country nothing is. It was fun visiting with everyone. Did you find out who left your coffee Tami? I'm with you Brandi I didn't like math at all. I didn't make it to the lake this week and am feeling the pull. I will definetly go over my next "week end". Father's Day I will try to be in Syracuse. I again have 4 days off but I think I will go out Sat evening and come back Mon. so that I have a day to RECOVER. Well I need to go water my nestursiums before I leave for work. Love ya

dreaming

This is where I would like to be today. Instead, I am at home babysitting, not being able to leave the house because it is raining, again, or still. It's
ICHTHUS weekend and it always rains, or snows. I wasn't able to walk yesterday, and today doesn't look much better! It rained so hard yesterday and stormed all night last night, thunder, lightening, I feel sorry for all those people sleeping in tents. Maybe later today, or this evening I'll be able to get out and walk, I've only done 7 miles this week and Phil hasn't done any! Hope everyone else is doing better! I know Brandi has been running! I think that when she walks outside she should be able to count it at least twice. She carries Addie in a sling and pushes Gwen and Ruben in a stroller! That's gotta count for something!

Gross

MY HOUSE IS GROSS! I need to stay home and really clean today. There is just stuff everywhere,im getting the garbage bags out and throwing stuff out and getting rid of lots. Everything is damp and just gross! Its supposed to rain today so its a good day to stay home.( well mom just called and invited me to go out to breakfast, I guess my gross house will have to wait!) Maybe someone will clean while im gone.
love Sandi

Talk About Exciting!

Went to the auction today, bought a bike, then spent 3 hours in the hospital waiting for Ash.Shes okay. Im tired.
love Sandi

Strange. . .

I didn't sleep much last night, I woke up and 4:30 and thought "maybe I should just get up, it will be good practice for going back to work" but I decided to try and go back to sleep. I woke up again at 6:30 and then the phone rang at 7:30 (thanks Mike), so I got up. I have to leave the house by 10:30, so I did some laundry, and was in the kitchen doing some dishes, when I heard the kitchen door open very quietly, (just the screen door) it freaked me out, and I quick looked over to see what it was. All I saw through the window (the blinds were partly closed thankfully because I'm still in my night gown) was someones stomach, they were wearing a blue denim shirt, the door closed and they walked away. I looked out the front window, nothing, I grabbed my phone (and a steak knife), went and looked out the back window's, nothing. I went back to the kitchen and opened the door, in between the 2 door's was a pound of Starbucks Coffee. Phil and I have a good friend that graduated last year and moved to NC, he is a coffee fanatic, and it's his favorite kind of coffee. I'm wondering if Josh is here, leaving me a clue? I sent him a message on facebook asking him what he's doing. . .hmmm, strange.

HI guys!

Nothing to exciting today, Ruben started school yea!! he has a great time, I started new classes today more math blah! We had severe rain so everyone was calling to tell use the roofs were leaking great!! Then I cleaned the kitchen and then I cooked some new mac and cheese and sugar cookies, I am not sure what the point of cleaning the kitchenwas, we had a good church service and some tostadas for dinner again, you can really eat them anytime they are so dang good. I ran a mile for the first time in a long time. Well I better get to bed I have another exciting day awaitng me tomorrow.

alright alright

how bout those penguins.....i'm not even a pittsburgh fan but i'm loving these playoffs.......this week i got my stuff turned in to start the process of hopefully becoming a corrections officer.......it seems weird to me that i am going to the one guarding the prisoners....always kinda thought i might be the one behind the bars........anyways also going to an interview at speedway gas station tmw...they got good benefits like health insurance and FREE DRINKS so hopefully that will be good.....anyways love you all

j

Nothing wrong with that!

There is nothing wrong with taking care of yourself. I've loved being a "bum". Phil and I have had a lot of fun and I will probably miss it! Right now Phil's job has him gone so much that I just sit at home and do nothing. I want to be with people! I also want to get our student loans paid off so we can buy a house! I loved working at Starbucks, drinking coffee, talking to people. . . I'm excited about seeing some of my old customers. Everyone that I used to work with is gone, so I'll meet all new people. Eventually I'll figure out what it is I'm really here for, and what I really want to do, (I hope) for now, I'm just going to be really caffeinated, and enjoy my free pound of coffee every week! (Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas this year)-- Phil is at a chaplains conference in NC, he says the training is pretty intense, more so than it has been the last couple of years. There are several hundred Army chaplains attending, today I'm going to walk to honor Phil and the other chaplains. (Jon too of course) Love you all!

Hmmmm

Well, everyone but me, has a job now, even my kids. I feel like such a bum! Yesterday after I dropped all the kids off at work and school, there was no one home but me and Wes.So we left too! We went to SilverCreek for breakfast then we spent the rest of the day at the beach,then we grabbed a coffee and made it home just in time to pick everyone up. This morning we walked around town , now we have to drop Ashley off at work , then were going out to lunch. Tomarrow im hoping well be able to go to the auction. I love being a bum! Have a great day!
Love Sandi

Soy

Ever notice how when you get to the last 1/4 of a carton of soy milk, it starts getting really thick? It tastes fine, smells fine and the expiration date is still days away, but it's really, really thick, thicker than syrup. I just can't do it, I have to throw it away! I know the rest of you are probably saying, who drinks soy? I have it is my cereal every morning and I make sugar free pudding with it, iced soy chai-yummy! I use 8th continent light soy. Less calories than milk, less carbs, and it has a little fiber, milk has none. Try it, you might like it - - but not the last 1/4 of the container.

Motivation

I got home from walking at the park las night with the kids, they all went to bed so instead of watching tv to make myself tired, I decided to work off my Chinease food. I dod three miles in 45 min utes, I ran about amile of it so I hope I can kee that up the week, We are on the lower end of this walking scale here in Kansas. It's been a slow AM. little owrk inthe office to do and I was just checking out the new classes I start tomorrow. I only have two cycles left. Yea!! I graduate the same time JAMY get married. Nothing really exciting to this week, little Ruben starts school again tomorrow at the Preschool so I am excited about that, I will get to see some of my friends more often and Ruben will get some interaction with some kids his age, not all these silly girls he hangs out with at home. Have a great Monday!

Brandi

Long but good day

First of all, we walked 230.75 miles this week!!!!!!!! Wow, last week was 149 so that is almost 100 more miles, most of which Sandi did! Phil and I did beat Ash and Dan this week by 1.25 miles. That was our goal for the week! Just over 2.100 miles to go.

I didn't do much to contribute today, just a 1/2 a mile, most of my day was spent in the car. I got up early to go to drill with Phil, he needed to go to the airport after drill and it is really out of the way for him to come back to Wilmore to pick me up. So, I went with him and slept some in the car, if I had remembered my shoes I would have walked while I was waiting for him. The unit had a family picnic today and Phil and I went so he could say good-bye to everyone, today was his last day with them. He was very surprised when they presented him with an Army Achievement Medal during the awards presentation. I was surprised too so I didn't get any pictures. We had to leave to get to the airport, so we left, picked Amy and J up along the way so we could hang out on the water front after Phil left. Once Phil got on the plane to NC, we headed back towards the city, we had to turn around several times because I really didn't know where we were or how to get where we were going, J tried to help, but we ended up in Indiana! We decided to check out the riverfront from their side. It is completely different from the KY side. No big parks, no playground, basically just a short walking path and some boat docks. There is an amphitheater which looks like it would be pretty cool if something was going on. Two things I loved the most, the current is stronger there so you can hear the water splash against the rocks, and when a boat goes by there are almost waves, and there are houses right along the river! Monday when Phil and I walked on the KY side I told him that I would love to live along the river, but Louisville doesn't really have any residential area near the river. I saw a big beautiful old house right on the river today, and one of the apartments was empty and for rent! I would just love that! Too bad Phil is in the KY National Guard and not the Indiana National Guard!

I've spent a lot of time at Starbucks the past 2 days. 4 visits to 3 different stores. The store I used to work at is hiring right now, they have a new manager that I really like, and I keep thinking how much faster we could pay off student loans if I was working. So when I drove past tonight I drove in to the parking lot to go talk to the manager about going back to work, before I got out of the car I talked myself out of it drove home. On the way I was talking to God about it just telling him my confusion and what I would really be willing to do if I went back. I got home and plugged by phone in and it started beeping, meaning I had messages. I knew Phil was already in NC so I expected to hear his voice on my voicemail, instead it was a woman whose voice I didn't recognize. She gave her name, it was Julie the manager at Starbucks. She had just found an application I had filled out in January and wanted to talk to me if I was still interested. Figuring this was God's way of giving me an answer I decided to go talk to her and tell her exactly what I wanted, which is to have every Monday off and not work after 5:00 ANY day. That let's me be home with Phil every night, go to church on Saturday night and continue to go to my military support group. When I went in Julie asked me what I've been doing, I said nothing, she asked if I wanted a job, I said yes, she said your hired! Then she asked me what I wanted, I told her and she said OK! Wow! So July 1 I go back to work at Starbucks, get up at the same time Phil does every day, and get home just before he does. Pretty cool! I need to figure out how to get my walking in, and how to stay away from all those free drinks!!!!!!!!!

This week

Hey,we did 93 miles this week and Ashley and Dan did 38.
Goodnight!
Sandi

More Shoes

Grandma brought me a catalog yesterday that has all sorts of shoes and foot aides for every foot problem. They have a web site, its www.footsmart.com . They have Crocs and all kinds of other walking sandals. Have a great Sunday!
Sandi

Thyme

Thyme, rosmary, and sage with a little salt and olive oil is great on a roasted chicken and potatos, turnip, and carrots in the oven, its a new favorit of my kids. just an idea. I walked and hour and a half with the kids, yeah. Now I am lookinf forward to a relaxing evening,just about to make some tostadas and spice cake. Love you guys, J about the pictures, that weird I will have to check and make sure they are not still here because mom got hers and I just sent them this week.

well.......

i've logged like a half a mile of walking.....i guess i'm slacking
monday starts back to work though and hopefully that will mean at least 4 miles of walking.....i know it's no 8 miles a day but it's not bad right?
i'm not a big fan of shoes either......i really prefer to be barefoot......but if i did have to wear shoes all of the time i think i'd wear these ones
amy does like to wear shoes though.....i guess maybe when we get married and she becomes a LeRoy she won't want to anymore.......let's hope so

i don't have much else.....

What to talk about?

I guess I have lots to say today and I'm just not sure what to put here, I don't want to take up too much space! So, I guess you'll get a hodge podge. I got up early with Phil this morning, he has drill and it's his first day as a chaplain with his own unit! Pretty cool. At first I was just going to go back to bed, then I decided I would go out and walk, I thought I was doing good when I had 3 miles by 7:15, it is good for me, I'm usually still bed. Did you know that there is a really big calorie difference between a 19 minute mile and an 18 minute mile? I'm pretty happy about that! New subject - this morning I was on a conference call with my life coaching community, one statement the facilitator made was this - we ARE leaving a legacy- weather it's one of our choosing or one we are just allowing to happen, and that the decisions we make today may impact people for generations. Wow! I'm still just thinking about that. What do you think? Next subject-I have blossoms on one tomatoe plant! I have several peppers growing, and have been wondering about my tomatoes, I have one more with no blossoms, but it's a start. My herb garden is growing like crazy, most of it I don't even know what to do with! I use my basil a lot, I have a ton of mint, I needed some for a recipe and decided to buy the plant instead of just a little package, it cost the same. I really don't know what to do with it all, my friend gave me some of hers too, I think it's spearmint, the lawn mower guy ran it over (along with several other things) I didn't think the plant would come back but it did! I also have thyme, I thought I bought regular thyme, when I got it home I noticed it said lemon thyme, so I looked on-line and found some uses for lemon thyme, after trying a couple of things I convinced that what I have is not lemon thyme, it doesn't smell like lemon, doesn't taste lemon-y, and doesn't have a line of yellow around the leaves, it has a line of white, so now, does anyone have any idea's about how to use a LOT of thyme? I did steep a 1/4 cup of mint in boiling water, strained it, then made peach tea with it, pretty darn good! I guess I should shower and get some things done before I head to Starbucks for my Saturday afternoon coffee tasting. (free coffee and usually chocolate samples, yummy!) I've only eaten 140 calories so far today so a few chocolate samples won't hurt! have a great day everyone! Tami

We must be related or something

I have had the sma problem I very seldom where shoes at home and constantly put them on to go into my office sometimes I just keep a pair under the desk just in case. William( my boss) is always telling me "and you dont have shoes" I have found the solution If you go to walgreens they have fake crocs or even and JoAnn fabrics, if you can afford a real pair of croc flip flops go on ahead but I can;t they cost be 10.00 and Walgreens and 8.00 at JoAnne's. It takes a few days to wear them in but my feet never hurt after my walks, sometimes if I am in the treadmill I take them off to run because its a little easier or If I want to run lot I wear sneakers ugh! I am hoping to walk to walgreens this AM. The kids are all still sleeping and Ruben is home but I had to be up a little early because they are shutting off the water in the building at 8:30 for the whole day. I got two loads of laundry done the playroom clean because they are replacing the plumbing and fill the kids inflatible pool again. I did it yesterday but the splashing got the best of it. Even Addi was enjoying herself and she was not inthe pool. I finally got new contacts yesterday si I can enjoy going out inthe sun with some son glasses. The doctor was even nice enough to give me a glasses perscription no extra charge saved me like $60.00 yea! The visit was much cheaper at Costco I think I may go and buy my self some new sunglasses. I am going to try to stay out of the house, because I am sure the kids are not going to let the men work., or try to help. LOve you guys.

Brandi

Good Morning!

Hi I just got back from my second walk this morning. That makes five. I had a great plan this morning after I took Tim to work at 5:45 since my feet have been so sore I thought maybe walking on the track would be easier on them. So on the mile walk to the track I thought maybe I could do 3miles on the track then with the mile there and mile back it would be 5. Well, i made it to the track and it was locked,I was bummed out, but since I felt pretty good since I took a little break yesterday i finished my walk around town , i saw the baby geese,and I found a penny! the sun was shining and the sky was a beautiful blue,not such a bad walk. When i got home everyone was still asleep so I rode the bike for 40 min, the batteries were dying,and it kept shutting off and starting over so my best guess is that I did 7 miles, Everyone was still asleep so, I took another walk. Now everyone is up and wanting breakfast, I bought them poptarts, bad choice because each one has 200cal and they each eat 2, they have to walk about 4 miles to get rid of those poptarts! This morning we have to go pick up a canoe because tomarrow were going canoeing on the Alleghany resevoir. This afternoon Cameron has a lacrosse game in Tuscarora, well leave for that about noon, so I dont know how much more exercise Ill get done today. Have a great day!
Sandi

Hi from Gram

You girls put me to shame! I am walking very little. I did go to Wal-Mart yesterday and buy a couple more books I wanted so that I can sit on the front deck and read all week-end. I have 4 days off (well only 2 left after today) I stopped at a greenhouse on the way home and bought a flat of white impatients and looked around their Christian book store. Nice but they didn't have the book I'm looking for in fact they didn't have much at all. Very nice workers tho. Then I went to West Perrysburg Green house and bought some pink impatients only 4 pks and they cost more than the other green house! I planted most of them yesterday when I got home. I saw Sylvi last night and had tea with her at 9pm. That was my day. Today is a nice sun shiny day so I don't think I will get much cleaning inside done . Sunday I plan on going out to dinner with my friend Marilyn I haven't seen her in a few months but if her chemo doesn't make her sick by then we will go out. Aunties closest friend Vi Howard died this week. That lady was so very sweet. Ah well..... Have a great Sat. Love ya

Me Too!

I have a problem with shoes and socks also.I always try to walk in my sandals,but it doesnt work. I didnt end up doing as much walking and riding as I had planned today. I did get my cleaning done,and I fixed our lawn chairs. I only got 8 miles walking, and 4 miles on the bike. My feet are so sore, and my butt is also. my feet have 1 inch by 1/4 inch splits on my heals and when I get up in the morning, I can hardly walk. As I was walking home this morning my feet hurt, my back hurt and my head hurt and I was thinking its just not fair, why does exercise and losing weight have to be so hard, Its not hard eating cake and it doesnt hurt to eat chocolate and chicken wings, something is just wrong here!
Sandi

Shoes

I am always glad when the weather gets good enough that I don't have to wear shoes. Truth be told, I don't wear shoes very often in any weather. I have been known to go outside to get the trash can, or mail, barefoot. Anyway the problem is that I don't mind walking so much, (although I doubt I'll get to 10 miles a day) but I hate putting socks and shoes on! So there must be an answer, any idea's? Today I walked to the garage to pick up my car wearing my flip-flops, which would not have been too bad, except the garage was closed for lunch when I got there, instead of walking back home I decided to continue walking and get at least another mile in, then returned to the garage which was still closed, by then I had walked 2 miles in my flip-flops, so I decided to sit at the park next door and wait. The whole time I was thinking that if I had only worn some shoes I could have gotten in another mile, at the same time, the grass sure did feel good on my feet! I feel just fine right now, but tomorrow, my feet are going to hurt! Surely someone must make walking sandals!

By the way, did I tell you all that the family walked a total of 149.25 miles last week? I'm sure Aunt Sandi will do that all by herself this week! Let me know on Sunday how far you've gotten.
Love you all!

WOW

Aunt Sandi you make me want to work harder, I got up and fixed Ruben lunch at 6:30 and thought about going and getting onthe treadmill, then I thought sleep sounds better, what was I thinking. Now I have wasted an hour of my AM talking to a resident, and still have not finished my school work, that is my only goal for today, normally I have all the house work done and school work started by ten, its not working out. I hope to make it to the park tonite with the kids, Ruben has soccer practice so we'll see. I have an eye doctors appt today so I really need to get busy. Love you all!

babies,babies everywhere

Every morning between 5-6 am I walk around the block and down to the bridge. On a grassy hill next to the creek there are four baby ground hogs eating breakfast and running around playing tag. Then in the creek there are two sets of geese with their babies.One of the males goes up in front intothe water a ways and the other male stays behind, the two females and the nine babies go together intothewater and away they all swim in a row. They are so cute,Ill have to try to get my camera working so that I can post some pictures of them. We also have threebaby chipmunks in the front yard. Alyssa calls them Alvin,Simon.and theodore. I have lots of cleaning to do today and still have 6miles ofwalkingto do and all of my biking. Have a good day!
Sandi

One long day

Well, its 10:30, 2 hours past my bedtime and Im just getting home.I had to pick up tim and cam from work.I was doing really good on my calorie count of 1500 today and I had 100 calories left for my snack of sugar free chocolate pudding , then, i had to pick up the boys and Cameron came out with mozz sticks and Tim always goes to mcdonalds after work and gets 2 hot and spicys 1 mcdouble and a large chocolate milk shake, and then I cracked, I had to have a hot and spicy so my cal count today ended up at 1800, i guess thats not too bad. i did get in 10miles walking and 21 1/2 miles on the stationary bike.Wes and I walked to Tim Hortons this morning for breakfast with Rich and Geri,Then it was such a beautiful sunny 70degree day that I mowed the lawn, and besides cooking, washing dishes, and some laundry, thats about all I did today, oh yeh we went to the library and got about 50 books , tapes, magazines, and dvds. We also stopped at a store that was is going out of business and all there snacks are 50%off so we got 50cent novelty icecreams and 75cent bottles of pop so exciting!!!! Also white corn at $2 a quart instead of $4 so we can make corn soup for all our holidays this year. Another exciting day in my life!!!
Sandi

Yea Yea!!

I love it, I dont feel so far away when we all post, maybe Tim and Ashley will start posting some also. Hope the jobs are going great. My is a little stressfull this week, I have finals for school I have teenagers harrssing a couple with down syndrome for cigarrettes and beer, Two old ladies that are beating each other up because they are off their meds, rent coming in, and this old Veteran who is walking around drunk and cussing out all the Mexicans, We are having fun. On the light side my friend Debbie from Indiana came to visit for a few hours and today Ruben is working and the kids are taking a nap I have a little peace and quiet to do some school work. Love you all keep up the walking I have been doing 2 miles a day and Ruben is now counting his too!! Love you guys.

Walking

I thought I was doing good walking 3-4 miles a day until Sandi told me how many miles she's walking! Yesterday I walked 7 and my whole body hurt! Tuesday was super hot here and humid, I didn't want to walk at all, so I decided to check the temperature in Al Asaad, it was 102 at 7:30 in the evening. A few minutes later Jon called to wish J a Happy Birthday, and said he had just run 5 miles, was soak'n wet from sweating so much and his muscles were cramping because he was dehydrated again. So, I got out and walked! Today I woke up and it was raining again, and I thought maybe I was going to have to do all my walking going in circles inside the house, but my friend Tara came to tell me she was going to the gym and would be by to pick me up, so I got just over 3 miles in. I'm sure we are going to top the 149 we did last week! J told me he's going out walking today. Go J!!!!!!! If you go to www.stepstohonor.blogspot.com you can see some of the other people who are walking and hear there stories, you can also blog about what we are doing, I put a post up a couple of days ago. Have a great day everyone and keep walking. Oh yeah, how do you like the walking music J added to the blog? Thanks J for changing things up for us.

Hey Guys... Im in Again!!!

Thank you Uncle Phil for getting my computer fixed and Wes and Timmy for getting my internet hooked up! Happy belated birthday J!!! I guess Ill take the next few days getting caught up on all the posts Ive missed. Ill have to grab some tissues first I got a little misty already and I only looked at a few of them. Timmy just got his wireless going , so the boys will probably be up all night on the internet tonight, thats okay as long as they arent in my bedroom.Ashley,Dan and Alyssa are out for a walk and Tim and Cameron just left for one. So were all trying to do our part in walking. Ive been doing 8-10miles a day, but I did a little less today because i wasnt feeling that great.( I did 7 miles today). Im not working anymore so Ihave lots of time on my hands. Tim, Cameron,and Ashley are all working. The little kids have two more full weeks of school left and a few extra days, they are getting really anxious to be done. Now that we have the internet back on, none of the lttle kids can find anything to do ,they are all sooo bored and the only thing that they can think of doing is to play games on the computer , which is not going to happen because im pretty sure that is how i got a virus in the first place. Wes isnt working right now and he is getting soooo bored also, Im gonna be nuts before summer even starts!!!! Well, im glad im finally back on and I love you guys Sandi

June 2 Woo!

today is my birthday...22 can you believe it....i can't i'm still down for playing some power rangers, having a camp fire....and hoping i'm not older the next time the bills make the playoffs...it's been too long....last night i went and saw the new terminator movie...it was good if you've seen the other ones...don't mean to be a spoiler but arnold is in it looking pretty ridiculous....i'm picking the magic to win the nba finals...sorry tim but i don't think i could ever root for the lakers...yankees are playing well...and lets go pens....


J

i thought some music might help encourage our walking