Ramblings

Hi everyone, well as usual the holiday has brought us some good colds and stuffed up heads and such. Gaelan went to spend the night at one of his friends and ended up coming home within an hour because he was throwing up! ug...once here he was fine but he went straight to bed. I have had this sinus infection or cold or whatever now since last monday and it keeps getting better then worse then better then worse. My head hurts from it and between taking drugs to stop the running I am also taking drugs to unclog. HA
At least everyone but me seems to be doing good today. Gaelan and Cedric have a progressive dinner to go to for Mutual tonight. They are going to start the evening off with bowling and then go to three different homes for a dvd presentation for the new mutual theme and food. We will pick them up around 9pm at the bishops. Both seem interested in going which is so totally not the case around here usually. Most of the time the activity seems to be of interest to only one age group. I just hope that Gaelan doesn't start throwing up because he eats too much!
This then reminded me that I have to schedule them a physical this year and eye appointments. Something that I just hate doing but I will wait until the weather is good so we are looking at april. Nothing is worse then trying to take a kid to a non emergency doctors appt in 7 degree weather or worse a snow storm. So I will call around the first of march to schedule something for spring break. I even put it on my calendar this time. This is actually my one and only new years resolution this year. To put appt dates or to remind myself by putting things on the calender so that I remember to do things in a better time frame. I also need to schedule something for Ian seeing how he will be 19 the end of april. Just in case and I probably should try to get him in during winter break in February in case we have to take him for an appt on something. I doubt we will but? He is now old enough to go to a non pediatric doctor too. It seems silly that a big ole 6 foot boy at 190lbs goes to a pediatric doctor but I am told it is actually pretty normal until they are 19. So I will call and double check. Make sure all shots are up to date and that I am back on track for people. Although I figure I am anyway. These younger kids just have not been sick like my first family of 4 was and so not having to take kids to the doctor for things over the years makes you forget about the regular appts that are needed. Of course once they hit school there are not many that are really needed anyway but Gaelan is 12 now and I know I need tetnus for the kids and maybe the second mmr booster for gaelan.
Now I have rambled too much. But this is what I do. I hope that 2009 is a good year. I have felt like the past two years have been nothing but trouble. So if we can have a good year this year it would be one of the best presents ever. I suppose it is not starting out too bad if you discount the sickness and I will becasue that is just the way it is with the weather and being cooped up without good air flow to stay warm.
Hope you all have a good year too. HAPPY 2009!

Hi All
Well kids have left and are on their way home. Jenny and Eric too have left kodiak and are flying home to seattle. I expect a full report on life once they return.
We had a nice christmas, hectic with the kids but super nice. I always get a bit blue after as it gets so slow after all the rush to get christmas done but at least I have this next week to wind down, go out to eat lunch with my lunch lady friends and a movie and dinner out with James. I guess I am old because I love the quiet and the adult outings. We will try our best to go on a road trip to see Alex and his family this coming summer though. Want to be able to better visualize his home and the kids life as much as I can.
Not going to go out or do anything special for New Years Eve. We usually just sit at home, weather and all is usually not its best and watch some tv or rent a movie. Gaelan likes to sit up and see the ball drop.
I have some work related paperwork to do this coming week and some cleanning up after the holidays. But like I said I think we had a really nice visit. Kids are growing way too fast.
I will post some pictures maybe tomorrow or at least within a few days. Just too tired to mess with it tonight.
Happy Holidays to ALL and Happy New Year 2009.

belated

HI guys! well behind as usual. I just realized that I had my halloween photos already downloaded and in a folder. So I will post a couple of pictures of Cedric and Gaelan and ryan. We had a great Halloween too! the weather was perfect. A bazillion kids were out and all were of course cute too.
Forgot to take pictures at thanksgiving but that is because I spent the entire day in the kitchen cooking. Can't do much else though with a house full of boys. Rachel though was here and she was a good helper so it did go faster once they came. I have been busy since with wrapping presents for grandkids and married kids. James and Cedric, Gaelan and I all piled into the car with boxes and drove to the UPS store and got them mailed. I was told one week so everyone will have their box by the 12th! WHOO HOO! Now I just need to concentrate on the kids and grandkids that are here. OH NO WAIT! got a call this afternoon and guess who is thinking of driving up to see us? YES you guessed right.....Alex and Family.....so 3 boxes later they may be bringing the boxes back? Well whatever happens we will be happy to have them for christmas with or without the boxes. WIll have to write santa though and tell him that we will have more.
I will take pictures and it will be super nice to see Samuel too! SO now I am busy brain storming on what I can do while they are here, where we can take the kids to keep them happy. Glow golf? skating? MOVIES? crafts? have to start thinking. Of course we have a full half day out at Rachel's on the 24th and then christmas itself and I did want to go see the new adam sadler movie in the afternoon too. Plus with having the wii I think we can occupy little boys and little girls for a few hours playing something. Well happy holidays everyone!
Here are some pictures of the boys at Halloween.

Hi, well it has been a rough couple of weeks here for me. Nothing really going on but just work, house and dirt all over. On the lighter side it hailed today while we were at church. The ground was completely covered for a bit. Suppose to of gotten a touch of snow but we got hail instead. After church some of the younger kids picked up the hail that lingered and threw it at each other, the church, and some nearby cars. It is getting cold enough here already that we have had to turn on the heater. Not all day but at night as it has been down to freezing temps. Had to also scrape the windshield a couple of days last week. I love the colors of the trees though this time of the year and the fireplace smells when it does get chilly so a mixed bag of blessings here.
Gaelan is going to go dressed as the johnny pirate. Cedric is going as V. We watched the V movie the other night and he really enoyed it alot but had decided to go as V earlier so the movie was an afterthought. Should be a good halloween this year, cold, kids dressed up and candy bought.

James with His aunt Elaine and cousins

Here are a couple of pictures of James with his Aunt Elaine. She is his mother's sister. The one picture is of Elaine, her daughter Joyce and sons Gary and ?. Sorry but I am not totally sure on the other mans name. James is in the one picture and Gary has his wife with him. Joyces husband is standing behind her.There are also Joyces husbands son and possibly Garys boy in the last picture too. James was not clear in his email who the others were but they are his family. He had a wonderful visit and wishes he could of stayed a bit longer overall, but he is happy that he could go at least. He fly out tomorrow to Sacramento and to visit with Joyce (my stepmother) and his mom and brother Bill and Sister in law Sandy. We will all be ready for him to be home on saturday.

Here are pictures of the USS SHOUP and of my new son-in-law Eric. Jenny is so happy and it so shows. James says that the USS SHOUP is not as long as the Kincaid was but that it is close. From the pictures here it doesn't look anywhere near as big as the Kincaid but maybe the ship is just sitting in the water differently too? They said that Eric's back is in one of the pictures of the guys pulling ropes with the guns but I am not sure which one it is. Jenny got a sailor hat to wear and just glows. They are doing good and out shopping to get a few more things for their apt. I think the TV is big on the list but they have been to Ikea too.
James and Eric and Jenny are planning on a dinner out tonight. Guess the trip is winding down so not sure how many more pictures I will receive but hopefully a few more of the apt (clean) and organized with furniture (please).
James will be on his way down to Sacramento tomorrow to visit with his mom, brother and sister-in-law and Joyce. He is happy to get to see everyone even if it is only for a short period of time.
Just on the side note to Jenny, hope all your plans go wonderfully and the two of you enjoy your new married life. Keep us updated from time to time on things. We love you and I still miss you. Happiness always!

Hi, well here are some pictures of Jenny and James going over on the fierry to see James cousin Shelli and his aunt shirley. Aunt shirley had a heartattack recently and coded 3 times so she is currently in a nursing home recovering but all is well at this point so it was a nice visit. The fiery ride over was great I am told but windy. Yesterday later on Jenny got the makings for cookies and muffins so that Eric can have some sweets when he gets in as he loves cookies!
Just a side note (as today is actually sunday while I am writing this) BUT.....THE FLEET IS IN! Just got a call from James and heard the yelling to celebrate the USS SHOUPS arrival home! What a day... James says Jenny is jumping around like Tigger! taking pictures right and left too so we should have a few to share soon. Can't see Eric as he is on the port side but I am sure he will be off the ship as soon as he can. All the new daddy's get to get off first along with other firsts and I guess they have a tradition of picking a winner to get off first for the traditional FIRST KISS!. Not jenny or eric but still something neat and so he will have to wait until after that is over with too. I am sure it is just mins really now after this long wait until joyous hugging and kissing will commence!