Okay, okay I am back.

It is August and I have been remiss when it comes to keeping the family blog up to date. I let myself get over committed and the blog paid the price. I will just tell everything that has happened that I can think of and post a bunch of pictures.

Bob-has traveled the world. He has been to South Africa and Peru. He also is now working at a different job. A company contacted him and offered $11,000 more and he was gone. He still travels, but will mostly be in the surrounding states.

I am starting my 24th year of teaching in the morning. Last year I taught, chaired career ladder committee, worked after school on GED program with students, am or was president of the Heartland Romance Authors and Kappa Nu social sorority. We had new administration and though it was not a poor performance, it was a year of transition. I worked my butt off (still big however). This is my brag. I was teacher of the term and teacher of the year and favorite 8th grade teacher in the yearbook. I work with great people and we all worked so hard we ALL deserved these honors!

Rachel is working for her dad at the textbook company. She finds it challenging at times. She lives over by Warrensburg in nice three bedroom house and if she can keep the huge lawn mowed, all is well. She keeps very busy with the kids.

Drew finished basic training for the Army. He is stationed at Fort Carson, CO, but is actually deployed in Afghanistan for fifteen months. He is a sniper and seems to be thriving in the military. For the first time in his life, he is muscular and weighs MUCH more than he every has because of his muscles. Currently he is on a post in the middle of nowhere, bored, and craving junk food. We got to see him a few times this year and it was nice. We had a joint family party for him and that went well.

Ryan and Michael live in CT and finished high school this year. They are both job hunting.

Veronica is going to third grade. She looks like Rachel and is getting much taller. She is beautiful and there are moments when you just know she will be a beautiful woman. She is bright and witty and just learned that "Your Momma" jokes exist. She spent the summer days with me and my mom. And she is looking forward to competing in the Holden Fair PreTeen Contest. She never minds not winning, because she has a good time no matter where she goes.

Cash is two going on thirty. He speaks much better than other children his age and he is hilarious. He loves Sissy, Momma, and Grandma Goldie in that order. Sometimes Grandma over Momma. I spoil him. He also adores Drew and Bob and Grandma Martha. He goes to a Christian daycare and enjoys everything except the part where they have to sit down to read the BIBLE. He would much rather watch a movie. He told us that. He knows everything about tractors, bobcats, loaders, dozers, and excavators.

Both kids love frozen waffles and that is the first thing Cash asks for, "Hot sausage and 'affles". Veronica is a big I-Hop fan.

My mom is selling her place in Oklahoma and is renting a place here in Holden. We call each other daily and usually see each other. She is having a good time with the grandbabies and looking up relatives and old friends.

In June, Bob, me, Rachel, Veronica, Cash, and Mom all went to Colorado to see Drew off before he deployed. We all had a really good time visiting. We went to some sights that I saw as a child, Dan and I took Rach and Drew to when they were little, and now I have taken my grandkids. Of course, the drive across Kansas still SUCKED!

This year Bob and I have been married for ten years. To celebrate he met me in Washington, D.C. where I was attending the National Romance Writers of America conference. That was awesome. We spent a couple of days in Washington, D.C. seeing the sites. I cried at the Holocaust museum, because in all the years of teaching about the Holocaust and The Diary of Anne Frank, I have never met a survivor. I also got to stand in the spot where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I have a dream speech." Bob and I visited Arlington and several war memorials. With Drew serving, we understand the sacrifices of the people honored there.

Then Bob and I drove to CT. We went through New York and it was just as bad as when Dan and I went through it when Drew was a baby. In CT we got to spend a couple of days with Ryan. Mike was a little confused and didn't want to see us. However, I got to meet the rest of Ryan's mother's family and we had a really nice visit with them. The boys' grandparents, Dave and Dolores, are great people and it was nice to see them again. I also got to go and get in the ocean. I love that!

I have a break through in the psoraisis front. I went to a new doctor who did not help, went to another that did and purchased a special machine that is helping clear up my arms. My injections cost about $700 a piece and I take two a month. Thank God for insurance. The way things are going, I may get to wear 3/4 sleeves. A serious miracle!

Traveling is pretty much all I have done this summer. We did buy two 2009 vehicles this summer. Got some good deals and even took advantage of Cash for Clunkers. Oh, and can I mention how happy I am when tomatoes and sweet corn get ripe. I LOVE THEM! I have organized the house some and now I must go take the trash out. Not too exciting, but sometimes that is good too.

I will get some pictures up soon.