The past year in review

Can you believe it? I finally updated my blog. Does that tell you how crazy my life has been? Almost a year has pasted since my last post. I have a lot of time to cover with you, so I'll try to keep it short. Here's our year in reverse...

Christmas 2008

We were so pleased to have all of Jeff's family at our house for the holidays. Rick's 60th birthday was a few days before Christmas, so Leslie and her fmaily flew in from Oklahoma to surprise him.

Then on Christmas Eve, Rebecca (Karen's sister), her fiance', Donnie, and his kids, Chesney and Tyler came to the house. We had a HUGE meal and the "kids" (Jeff & Donnie, included) enjoyed several games of HORSE and shooting hoops. Chesney plays ball for her high school. I think she put all the boys in their place! HA!

On Christmas morning, Daniel (Karen's nephew), Rick, and Karen came over for brunch and shared Christmas with Jeff, Leslie and families. I just LOVE it when family is all around!!! We ate all of Jeff's favorites for Christmas morning: spinach and mushrom strata, cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit. Then we played cards, Wii, and nibbled on all kinds of yummy treats. THEN, we ATE AGAIN!!! Can you tell what our favorite pass time is? HA! Rick and Jeff made 2 huge beef tenderloins, while Les, Karen and I made twice baked potatoes and salad. BOY, was it good! Leslie said she had never eatten so much. I think we made her gain 10 pounds during the 5 days she was here. Sorry, Les!

Leslie, JD and Alex had to leave on the Saturday after Christmas. Then, Mom & Dad came in town for a few days. They had been to Tammi's for the holidays and made an around the world trip afterwards to see Angela and I, too. I think mom said they travel something like 2,000 miles before returning home. SORRY we live so far, mom & dad!

Totally enjoyed being at home for Christmas break. I went back to work on January 5. Then on the 7th school was cancelled due to EXCESSIVE rain!. We had school for that Thrusday & Friday, and Monday- Thursday the next week. Then, it was cancelled for extremely cold temperatures. MLK day was the next Monday- no school. THEN... school was cancelled the next day due to snow. So, that means, since Dec. 19, I've only worked 11 days! I am LOVING this! Shhhh don't tell anyone, I PRAYED for the snow and cold weather! (grin) I don't know what I'm going to do, since I have to work a whole 5 days next week! HA!

Thanksgiving 2008
Angela and Tamara had the whole week of Thanksgiving off from work, so their husband took off too and went to Mom & Dad's. Jeff, the boys and I got there onb Tuesday night beofre the holiday. Wow, what a long day after working, then driving 9 hours. At least, I was able to work it out to leave around 2:00 that day.

The little kids had a blast building a straw house from the pine straw in Nana & Pop's back yard. I can remember playing for HOURS as a kid doing the same thing. They were so cute! Mom showed them how to make a bed and walls. They decided to add a "garden" (Several flowers had blown intothe yard from the cemetary behind hte church. I don't think they realized where the flowers came from, though.)

Guy and Cailey hit it off again. Last year you'll remember she climbed up in his lap after only being there a few minutes. Guy is soooo good with little kids. I just wish he were that good with his little brother. Oh, well... I can wish can't I?

Regretfully, our visit ended with Dad in the hospital. Several of us had the stomach virus while at mom & dad's. the bad part is htat dad can't fight off the virus and ended up being hospitalized for it and pnemonia. Then, afterhis release had to go back into the hospital b/c his heart would not keep correct rhythm. The good news is God was able to do a miracle on my dad's heart. It correted itself (so the doctors say, we know who correted it right?) and has been working well ever since! Praise God!

Fall 2008
School got back in swing just like always. Guy is in middle school. SCARY, huh When did they grow up? Where was I?

Guy is playing drums in the band, and is on the robotics team (engineering projects with legos). His team went to the State competition and won second place on their presentation. I am so porud of him. He's a really bright young man. I can't wait to see what he does with his life. I now it will be amazing!

Cole is in the second grade. No sports so far this year. Jst enjoying life and being a kid. Isn't that how it's supposed to be? (soap box moment... I hate it when parents get their kids involved in so much that all they do is run from one thing t the next, with no time ot RELAX and spend time being a family!!!) He's all into cooking and "Webkins" right now.

This fall we got to really spend some quality time together as a family. Last July, we bought a C-class RV from Karen and Rebecca. It belonged to their father who suddenly passed away this summer due to cancer. We are so thankful that they offered it to us. We repainted, reupolstered, put down new floors, installed a new mattress, bedding and window coverings! (What work!) Several thousand dollars, later. We are the proud new members of the RVing set. We went on a 3 trips: Norris Lake and Hornsby Hollow, TN & James "Sloppy" Floyd Park, GA. We had to put it in storage due to the falling temperatures and the holidays were approaching. I can't wait unitl Spring comes and we can get it out again. It's so nice to get away somewhere, with NO phones, NO work, NO demands of everyday life. Just quiet, peacefulness and MY time schedule!!!

Summer 2008
This summer we spent a lot of time travelling (or at least the boys and I did). Our summer was jump started with our first trip to Disney. We left the day after school was out and stayed for a week. WOW! What a vacation of a life time for the boys! This photo was taken the morning we left for Florida. don't they look excited!?!

We went to every park and both water parks. It was a blast! Leslie, JD, Alex, Karen, Rick and Rebecca were with us. What a crew. We ate well, played hard and enjoyed being with family (or at least I did!).

I took soooo many pictures, there is no way I can post them all. What a great vacation!

Guy and Alex are roller coaster junkies! I think everyone's favorite was the Yettie at Animal Kingdom. Poor Cole was baptized by fire. His first ride at Disney was the Tower of Terror. he had NO IDEA what was about to happen. He sat with Les and JD. They said he kept saying, "Those doors are going to open and I am getting off!" (Of course it was even cuter in his 7 year old speech inpediment ;-) Then, we put him on the Rockin' Roller Coaster. It is FAST, in the dark and goes upside down several time. It didn't take him long to be very leary of hte rides we suggested. He had fun and by the end of the week, he was the one dragging Alex and Guy onto rides. All in all- a great vacation!

Jeff secretly wants to be a pirate! Leslie just thought he loked hilarious!!!

What a pair of good lookin' men!

A few weeks later, in July, we met Les and family again at the Shelton Family Reunion in Arkansas. Jeff got to see his aunts, uncles, cousins and most of all Grandma & Grandpa Jordan (from the other side of the family. That's the good thing about both his parents being from towns only a few miles apart.)

Sadly, Jeff had to return a few weeks later to Arkansas for Grandpa Jordan's funeral. He was in his 80's, and had throat cancer.

The end of the summer was wrapped up with a trip for the boys and I to Louisiana to see Pops and Nana. Angela had been there for a few weeks when we got there, and Tamara was able to join us for a few days. We had a good time with cousins, then a quiet few days with Pops.

Pops taught the boys how to aim and shoot. i thinkthey spent more time giggling than shooting. Guy though tthis was soooo fun! What a cool Pops!

Pops took the boys and I to Bass Pro Shop. Just the place boys like to visit!

Spring 2008

After my last post, I was totally consumed with completing the School Improvement Plan for Yates Primary. It was finished by April. However, the review team for SACS (Southern Assocation of Colleges and Schools) was not until September, so it kind of loomed over me until Fall. YUCK!

Spring did have it's moments of fun. Guy got to go on Ross Elementary's Annual trip to Dollywood. I got to go! It's the first field trip I've gotten to go on with him. We had a blast on the roller coasters, and he got soaked on the new water ride. It was a fun day. We hung out all day with Steve and Andrew Rogers. Silly boys!