Christmas Morning

It is thirteen minutes to gift liftoff when all the big people drag themselves into the living room to open presents and the little ones go nuts. As usual, there are way too many gifts in the room. As usual we all promised to cut down and we actually did, but it is hard to tell that right now.

My Christmas blessings.

First, all of my family are mostly healthy this year. Drew continues to have some health issues from malaria, but at least he isn't being shot on a regular basis like last year. Rachel has had some problems with her Atkinson side of the family, but I think she is ready to move on with her life. She does a good job doing textbooks, but she (nobody) can work in that situation.

Second, the grandkids are just fabulous people to know. They are funny and smart and pretty darn cute too.

Third, I love my students at school. And I love my co-workers.

Fourth, I am ready to move forward with being a writer. It is time to shift gears.

And I am happy overall. I hear stirrings and it is not a little mousie. Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas if coming!

Christmas is coming and so is Drew. I am up waiting for Drew to make it in from Colorado. He gets to start his break. He is happy and so are we! I don't know how we made it for a year when he was in Afghanistan. I am glad he is back, but I think often of those who are there now. I hope their family gets to enjoy the holiday together next year.

Bob was in Springfield, but now is back. He is off work for the rest of the year. He will enjoy getting to spend time with Drew while I am working for the next couple of days.

And I don't know that I have ever been so happy for a school year to half over, ever in my teaching career. I still love the topic, love the kids, and love most of my coworkers. But there are many new programs and unwillingness to bend to help the students. Hopefully the second half of the year will be better.

Rachel has been busy working. We all went to Cash and Veronica's music concerts last week. They both did great. Cash has perfected his bow. Rach and I also took the kids to get their pictures taken. All of the chaos was worth it, because the kids look adorable.

Mom has been a cookie and candy making fool. And this is after she swore last year she wasn't going to do as much this year. She has done MORE!

This weekend, I cleaned, cooked four kinds of meat since I will be busy this week, shopped, wrapped, did laundry, and straightened up the fridge and pantry.

I am looking forward to Christmas Eve when the family gathers. Good food and games.

I don't have my Christmas letter done. One year I did it February, once in July, and last year I wrote it, but didn't send it. Pretty bad for someone who wants to be a writer!

I think I am going have to give up on the boy and go to bed. 5:00 am hits hard on a Monday. Enjoy your holidays!

November ALREADY!

It is post Thanksgiving and here is a belated update since July.

Bob has been home most of this year. Still getting paid, but miss the overtime! He piddles around the house. But he is leaving for a very short trip to Argentina in the morning.

I lost a little weight. Started school. Year 25! Love the kids. Not so much the rest of the experience. Actually this has been one of the hardest teaching years I have had in a long time. We have made a LOT of changes and I was pretty snowed under! Hoping for better things ahead. Have done some writing. Not as much as I would like.

Rach is working at Strate's Drive-In. Took some knocks recently, but I think things are looking up for her.

Drew is still stationed in CO. However, while there Drew got malaria(that he really got in Afghanistan) and was quite ill. He was home for a month for convalescent leave, but is doing much better.

Mike and Ryan have struggled with finding jobs and maintaining places to live in CT.
Mike is now in a cooking training program and Ryan is working on getting some training.

Veronica is in fourth grade. Started off a little rough with Math. Too much rote memorization stuff and she didn't want to do that. Seems to be doing much better. She continued to craft her way through the world. Is a little interested in a boy, but I quote, "Most of the kids in my class are stinky." Deodorant is not their friend.

Cash started preschool in Holden. He is the youngest there by far, one of the tallest, and pretty darn smart for a three year old. He also is quite entertaining with his crazy stories. Example: I have a baby. FOR REAL. It died. First it was taken away by a dog. I have two dogs, Puffer and ?. The dog carried the baby away because I have cat named Bella. (Actually the cat is real.) But my cat is really a WILD CAT! And she scared the dog and that is why he took my baby. For REAL!

Our cat Xena is still alive, but the cold is hard on her.

Unfortunately Jack the ugly beta recently passed on.

My mother is good. We just had Thanksgiving where she made too much food. Bev and Bill and my aunt Anita were there. However, we just learned my dad's last living brother John passed away. I am now the oldest generation on Dad's side.

Bob's parents were good when we went to visit them with Cash and Veronica. They spoiled the kids as always and the kids entertained them.

Tripping

We have returned from all of our travels. Drew went back to Colorado Springs. Mom and I went to RomCon in Denver and then down to visit Drew for a couple of days. Mom and Drew and I played a game called Hink Pink and we did stink at the harder ones.

Bob was home alone (his dream) and went to Milwaulkee for a couple of days and will be home this evening. Kids and Mom are coming over for fresh corn on the cob, grilled chicken, and baked potatoes this evening. Yipee! Alas, no tomatoes yet...

Mom and I loved the Romance Authors Convention. I will post some pictures. We got to really interact with some authors. We got to have some small group time and played some cool games with authors. I also got some things done for the writers group I am president of.

In Colorado Springs I got to see my uncle on my Dad's side John and Aunt Elaine and my cousins Cliff and Mike. We had a good visit.

Driving across KS still not my favorite activity. But ate at Montana Mike's for the first time. It was good.

Took the kids to see Despicable Me for our Fabulous Friday Activity. It was good and Cash was very well behaved. Veronica astounds me at times with her intelligence.

Probably go see Bob's parents next week and to the Crown Center Fountains or Kaleidoscope. We will have to visit the Train restaurant.

Bob's sister Ellen had a hysterectomy and is doing well.

Glad to be home, horrified to realize on about three weeks before I need to do school stuff. I need to write and buy a washer and a dryer. Now, I need to sweep the kitchen...so I will.

And a happy birthday to Robin...now on the downside toward 50!

Have a great week!

Branson and the 4th

So much done recently.

Drew is still here, so this past week we went to Branson. Our family hasn't been since Veronica was little and Mom hasn't been since we were little.

To summarize: We rode the Ducks, all the kids rode a helicopter, Mom and I saw two shows...one with an Elvis impersonator who still cracks me the heck up, the new Princess Diana exhibit, Dixie Stampede, a magic show with a magician who talked liked a less manly Mr. Rogers, swam, did some shopping, ate yucky food and stayed in a yucky hotel. Overall a good time for Bob, Goldie, Rachel, Veronica, Cash, Drew, and Grandma Martha. Or as Cash would say Good Bacation!

On July 4th we received horrible news that our sister-in-law Debbie, Bill's wife's, youngest son Josh passed away. We are trying to support her.

We did have a July 4th dinner everyone attended and hopefully we took her mind off her sorrow for a little bit.

Bob did steaks, and Mom Baked Beans and deviled eggs, Veronica and Rach made some berry tarts, munchies, and rosemary green beans. Debbie made brownies. Robin brought peaches and cream cake, and I did some bean salsa, potato casserole, and bought a cake. By the second bite we all knew it was better than ANYTHING we had in Branson! We shot fireworks and then went down to Mom's driveway to watch the town fireworks. It was nice but we were all pretty exhausted when the day was over.

Today, I am going to put my butt in a chair and write on my novel. I may make our masks for this weekend's masquerade ball at the RomCon convention we are attending should fun. Thursday, Mom, Drew, and I are all going to CO. Drew back to the base at Colorado Springs and Mom and I up to Denver for the weekend. Then we will go down to see Drew a little before heading back.

Bob is actually on vacation this week and he is going up to see his parents

I also am going to make some lasagna and stuff and take it out to Debbie's for dinner, so they won't have to worry about that.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Fourth.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

It has been a normal week and yet unusual with everyone here.

Mom is still losing weight! We have been clothes shopping since she is so skinny. She does not like clothes shopping, but I force her because here clothes are WAY TOO BIG! She went to the Sherwood all school reunion to see friends today.

The rest of us...not so thin.

Drew got his motorcycle up and running and licensed. He has been enjoying some time with friends from college.

Rachel has been busy doing lots of stuff. One was cleaning her basement after it flooded. Not fun.

She and I went Thursday to the Warrensburg Riverwalk in the pool against the current. It was good while we were in it, but then we were a little wobbly. She had a good time out with friends last night.

For Fabulous Friday, Veronica went to the lake with her dad's parents.

Cash and I swam in our big plastic pool. Even Poppie got in, and then we almost drown the boy because the water was higher. Cash had a good time and took a LONG nap afterward.

I had a busy week. Worked on something for school, wrote some on my book, planned our vacation to Branson and am shopping for a new dryer.

Haven't heard from Michael and Ryan, but Bob's parents are doing great!

I was researching a magic show we are going to see in Branson and saw an interesting post about the magician. Well, he married a younger woman named Bambi who was in his show, but Jim Baker the televangalist helped her find religion, so Bambi left the magician for a younger soap opera star, but wouldn't leave without her Kangaroo, and it is said that the magician is really gay, she was his beard, and he hangs out in seedy bars and backstage kissing men, nevertheless after Bambi left-hopefully with the Kangaroo in tow, the magician sued Jim Baker. Now here is the best part of all. If you look on the magician's website, he has pictures of all the tigers and other big cats in the show...the cheetah is named Bambi. Should be a hell of a show!

Ain't life interesting! Somehow I have to use this in a book.

Hope your week is more magical than the magician's!

June 21, 2010

So a quick update, since I should be writing my book or calling editors and agents for contest.

Bob is back from wherever Bob was. Milwaulkee? How the heck is that spelled, anyway? We are having a belated Father's Day dinner this evening.

Drew will be here within the hour for a two weeks plus visit. He intends to get his motorcycle back in form and most of the family is intending to go to Branson.

Rachel has been busy being Mom and is looking forward to our Branson trip.

Veronica finished summer school musical class. We saw her performance last Thursday night. She had a whole row of fans. Her Grandpa Jim and Grandma Dee, Aunt Bekah, Great Grandpa Don and Great Grandma Jane, Me, Great Grandma Martha, Great Aunt Bev, and Mom and Cash. She did quite well and was thrilled that everyone came.

Cash took my sister Bev on a tour of Grandma Martha's new house and began with the big closet. That's where all of the toys are!

For our third Fabulous Friday with Grandma Goldie we went to the Warrensburg pool. Quite nice! Although Cash took a dive at one point and I had to fight my way against the current in the current pool to save him.

Mom and I have been walking. She is losing weight. Me, not so much.

I am going to meet with administrators Tuesday to work on the new Career Ladder program. I don't know that they consider me a plus there, but I want the new program to be done right. That probably means to my standards, but I just don't want to start completely over if the state brings it back.

So, I am off to fight a new week.

Oh, I bought a new computer. How exciting!

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future!

Well, I am back.

Yes, I took a big break, almost an end. Lots going on, boredom, and an unfaithful obsession with Facebook are somewhat to blame. But I find I like to have a weekly reminder of what we do.

But first a summary of what we have been doing.

Bob was headhunted last year changed jobs, promises were not delivered upon, changed back to the old job, and now changes there seem to be sending the company in a new direction along with Bob. Still kind of the same job, and he seems ready for the new opportunities. He continues to do some geeky gaming and it makes him happy.

I just finished my 24th year of teaching and currently trying to write and finish my first novel. I am trying to take off the summer, but things keep coming up. The state dropped Career Ladder and now I will have MUCH less to do at school. I may have to focus on teaching. I have enacted Fabulous Fridays with Veronica and Cash. So far, we have been to Paradise Park and Dairy Queen and the big Park Playground. Our next plan is go to the new water park. I even bought a bathing suit. Old one still fit, but I bought it a husband ago and just decided it was time.

Speaking of husbands, next month Bob and I will have been married 11 years this July. He doesn't know what day that is.

Rachel recently gave up working for her dad as it was just too stressful. And it really was. She did Bob and I a favor and used Amazon points to get us a decent tv. Some shows on the other one had gotten so dark we couldn't see anything.

Drew's return from active duty in Afghanistan last month is truly the BEST news any of us have had in a year. He is now in CO and planning a visit home in the next week or so. This sounds corny, but I honestly felt like I could breathe easier once he returned. I didn't realize I had been literally holding my breath while he was gone.

Mom and I have been spending time together. We walk in the morning with the Senior Citizens. I think Mom is the youngest next to me. And finally a place where I am the youngest! Next month we are going to ROMCON, a conference for readers and writers and it looks like great fun.

Veronica is performing in a musical this week on the History of Rock at summer school. Looking forward to that.

Cash is still attending the Christian daycare. But he has been in some trouble for planning soldier with pretend guns. Also, he put the word on me this week when he called me "Grandma Goldie Alice!". I knew was in trouble then.

Mike and Ryan are in CT. Things are not good for them, but as they are now adults some of this is due to their choices. It is frustrating to us not to be able to make their lives better.

Xena the cat is shedding everywhere and Jack, the incredibly ugly beta, survives.

Getting ready to clean the kitchen, get my small pool ready, and maybe go see a classmate at the Civil War re-enactment. Then I will write on my novel, and make Sunday evening dinner for the family.

Have a great week.