Vacation

Busy busy busy as usual. Bill and I took Sara, Brice, Jessica and Brock on vacation last week. On Sunday, Bill had us get up at 5am to "get on the road" All 6 of us with luggage, pillows, blankets and crap were on our way to Chicago. Brice went there 2 years ago and has wanted to go back ever since. It took us about 11 hours to get there, and we all actually got along really well. At first I was very hesitant to go on this trip, 4 kids and my husband for 11 in a van with no alcohol - what was I thinking?? Bill works very hard at AT&T and this was what HE wanted to do, so I agreed. Before we left, I got online and bought the "GoChicago" cards. Boy did we get our monies worth out of those bad boys. I bought 6 cards for about $100 each. The cards ot us into alot cool places that we were going to visit anyway. The Hancock Building, Sears Tower, Stuff on the Navy Pier (boat tour, farris wheel, mini golf, rides), the Hop on Hop off trolley, Science & Industry Museum. Shedd Aquariaum (super cool!), and so much more. It was well worth the money.

Wow, this was alot for me to post. I'm really out of practice. I promise I will do better in the future on the posting. Thanks for taking the time to read about me and my family. xxoo

Finally

I'm so sorry its been so long since I have updated this blog...I have had 200,000 things going on in my life. I don't even know where to start. To the friends I have not seen or talked to in months I AM SORRY! However, the phone does ring both ways.



I guess I'll start from Prom...Jessica, Chris, Quentin, Margo, Stephanie, her date and the other kids had a great time. I think the preprom stuff - hair, makeup, dress, was actually better than the prom itself. It rained as the kids made their entrance and was very cold. It was a hurried event. Oh well, I'm glad its over. Next came June.......................then June left. I don't really understand how I missed that whole month. I guess I've been workin' at the golf course almostt 40hours a week. Not bad for my "2 days a week part-time job"



OK now for July. July 4th this year was a real bummer.....it was one of my moms favorite holidays. She always had to get a new t-shirt with red, white and blue from Kohls, we had to paint her fingernails and toenails red, white and blue. We had to go through her jewelry box and find all the "festive 4th of July crap" to put on. She was always in for a party-loved to visit with the neighbors, and eat and eat and eat. Two years ago was the last 4th of July party we had in our "old" neighborhood. I miss those people. I did see Shannon (old neighbor) today on black widow row (along w/Melanie) at the pool and we reminised about those parties. We vowed that next year we will get together again, just like old times.



Before I went to the pool today I went out to our garden and hoed the damn thing. Boy that was alot of work. I sweat my ass off. For those of you who know me well, KNOW I HATE TO SWEAT. Kinda like Amy hates to get rained on....

K - This has got to be QUICK

The three men in Jessica lives. Quentin and Jessica have been friends since birth. Chris in the black suit - that was actually her date. Also, just another guy she has know most of her life. And last but not least is her dad! Yes, it was HIS idea to let her spend $xxx.xx on that dress. Jessica loved it so much she kicked in half of the cost. She looked georgous in it. She is truely a princess in the making. -
I have been working almost full time at the golf course - hence I've not gotten a chance to sit don and blog....
Guess what? Time to go to work! Hopefully we will get someone hired and I can get back to life.

PROM DETAILS

1. Find the date, which she did, Chris Weide has been her a "best guy friend" since grade school. They had talked about prom and deceided to go as "friends"

2. Find a dress - WOW that is really time consuming. We went to 5 different dress and bridal shops and she tried on about 40 different dresses.

3. Find a place to have dinner - Melanie and I talked on the phone and came up with alot of different places they could dine. I called around last night and got reservations for 7 different restraunts in east Wichita. Sumo, Timberline, Carribas, Abuleos, P.F. Chengs, Olive Garden, Olive Tree. When the 12 young adults agree on which one to go to.....I'll let you know so everyone can show up to see her in her beautiful dress.

• 

not the winner...

• nope, not this one either...

• not this one...

• 
  
  

There are so many to choose from. You got the poofy dress, the fluffy dress, the straight dress, blue, pink, green, yellow, black, orange, purple, silver dresses, pastel or bright, sluty or conserative, shiny material, tafeta, lace, silk, ruffles, long, short, tee length, halter, strapless, speggatti strap, beads, no beads, rinestones and the list went on and on.

The blue one was very flattering on her. But not her favorite. I loved the rinestones around the waist of this pink one... but nope not these either.

After shopping and shopping.... it was down to just 2 dresses. The price of each one was about the same....So we went for the dress we thought grandma would have loved on her.......Of course, it had to be the PINK ONE. She looks like a princess in this gown. She is such a beautiful young lady who makes her parents VERY proud. Julie cried when Jessica put this dress on... we knew this was the dress for her. My mom would have loved to sit through the whole prom procession this year to see Jessica in this beautiful gown. She would have clapped her frail hands together and cheered just like she did in years past for the kids she didn't even know! One thing is for sure, Melanie, Julie and I will be clapping and crying the whole time the kids walk in.... They grow up so fast!

Happy Easter!

Job Shadow

On Wednesday Jessica got all dressed up to job shadow someone who was fluent in Spanish. She visited the Anthony Shelter, Catholic Charities and the Food Pantry. She had a great day - and is now thinking about volunteering! I know this experience really opened her eyes to what a great life she has. I love how she didn't want her picture taken- then of course had to smile and pose!

Happy 50th Birthday Honey

Happy Birthday to you....Happy Birthday to you.... Happy Birthday Billy Pat...Happy Birthday to You. I can't believe my husband is 50 years old!!!! We had a great day planned for Saturday.

Jessica had to work till 1:00 at your friendly Walmart here in Augusta. So while Jessica was at work, Bill and I took a little nap (2 hours) then got up and got ready to go.

First the kids and I took Bill and had a late lunch at The Carriage Crossing in Yoder. Yum, I love homecooked food that is prepared by someone else. We even splurged and got a peach, black forrest and a peanut butter chocolate piece of pie. We all shared and came to the conclusion....the peanut butter chocolate was the best!

Then it was off the Hutchinson - Bill's ol' stomping ground. We were going to visit the Cosmosphere, but instead we just drove and Bill gave us a tour of all the places he lived, worked, and hung out as a kid.

Next we went to Countryside Lanes to bowl. They had a special from 5-7 all you can bowl so we did that option and started to bowl. We had a blast!! The kids made fun of me and one of my comments. Jessica is such a spaz - she just tossed the ball down the lane and got strikes. Brock is just like Bill - very intense and wants to get a strike everytime. Brice, well he is a very good bowler, a natural just like Bill.

After bowling it was time to head back to Augusta for the real surprise! I had planned a Surprise 50th Birthday party for Bill. He had no idea.... Over 50 of Bill's friends and family came to help celebrate his birthday. The kids and I blindfolded him and made him ride in the car from 21st and Woodlawn in Wichita all the way home. He kept telling me... "I'm gonna throw up - you suck at driving... don't drive so fast ..... easy on the turns." It was NOT a good ride home-he was kind of a jerk. After the 30 ride we made it home safely! He was shocked when he walked in the front door, took off the blindfld and saw everyone standing in the hall and dining room shouting "SURPRISE"

I have tried 3 times to add some pictures. Something is wrong with this blog thing. So, maybe tomorrow I can add the pictures.

Check out the 3 girls that got laid in this picture! Can you tell which of the 5 people had alcoholic beverages that night?

Be sure and check out Annie's blog for some great pictures and comments about the food/snacks that were served. I hope no one went home HUNGRY.

Lays Potato Chips

I think a new bag of dog food to Lola is like a brand new unopened bag of Lay Chips is to ME. Everytime I refill the buckets we put
her food in she has to have a little snack-it smells so fresh and yummy to her - It's so cute to see her little face in that bucket! It's so hard for her to watch me put the lid on it and put it away. If only I could control myself and NOT even open the dang Lays chips bag - I would be OK.

Lola doing what she does best.....

First Thing Sunday Morning.....

Where's the Paper?

There it is!

Bring it to Momma!

Good Girl!

Now you see why I Love that dog so much!

Everyone need a Golden Retriever. One of the blogger friends of Chris (Column of Christine) had the Kansas Humane Society as one of their favorite websites. Well after reading her blog I set off to the Humane Society sight.....wrong thing for me to do. There was this "puppy" (golden/lab mix) that had a "baby" in her mouth -just like Lola - oooohhhh that puppy was so cute - I have thought about that puppy for a few days now and...I want to go and visit (just visit her) maybe on Monday and see her in person. I have mixed feeling about this whole thing. I already have a happy family with My dad, Bill, the kids, Lola, and the cats.... do I dare add another one to the mix? HELP!

Think Summer

I usually love winter however, it seems like these rainy, dreary, yucky days just keep linger on. I thought I would put a picture on here that all my friends could enjoy! Does anyone want to join me on a run to the car wash?

for my mom....

Rosalyn Ann Miller 2-12-07

I Love You

Pooh

Another wreck.....

Guess which kid had a wreck in the parking lot at school..... not Brice this time. (he has already had his share of wrecks). Jessica was the victim this time. On Tuesday after school, a boy with 3 other people in his car backed into her '93 Honda Accord crunching the back door on the driver's side. It didn't look too bad - the only thing I found is the dumb door will not open now. The adjustor called and came out to see the damage today. Shawn (the adjustor) is a very nice guy. He remembers comming out to this same house just about 8 months ago when Brice wrecked his Cavalier. After looking and pricing the parts and labor for the Honda he came up with the same conclusion. He totaled the car - WOW I didn't think it was that bad. After we saw the amount he was willing to pay us for the damaged vehicle I was SHOCKED!! We didn't even pay that much for the car 6 months ago. The best part is... I bought the car back for just $500. This is one time the customer DID NOT get screwed on the deal. So, in the next few weeks or months we will be looking to purchase Jessica something different to drive.

Ohhhh and about the '93 Honda......Bill will get that car (it only has alittle damage to the back door) but it beats what he drives now...... A 1989 Honda Accord.

Julie with Hemi & Alley

Addy

This is our youngest granddaughter Addy she's 7 and is the 1st grade. Addy is very much an animal lover. Everytime the grandkids come to visit she is the first one to have her picture taken.

FAT FRIENDS

I didn't really want to share this photo of me (in the red) and Melanie (in the black) but I thought public humiliation would be the way to go! A few select friends of mine NEED to lose some weight this year. Not in 2009, or 2010. THIS YEAR it has to happen. I am ramping up for this big task. I really want to post my weight but my fingers are so fat they can't reach the numbers. I have choosen to do Weight Watchers again. Last time I lost fourteen and one half pounds (notice my finger couldn't reach the numbers here) over about 3-4 months. Pretty Good I think. This time is a little more serious.... I need to lose 25-30 pounds. I need to stick with it, make it my lifestyle. If you have anything to share about needing to lose weight with me...feel free to post here. Know something delicious that has a few "points" let me know. I'll keep adding pictures till I reach my goal weight. Then I will post me in a white string bikini!

2008 is gonna be GREAT

Isn't this the cutest picture ever! If you have kids you can relate to this picture I'm sure. He is soooo handsome. Someone emailed me a thing about kids and he was one of them.

On to the real story... Bill hates his job at AT&T! He has hated that job since 2000. That job pays well and has great benefits. (we pay $0 - for health, eye or dental ins.) He has tried to find something else in the company for about 7 years...with no luck!

As my cell phone voice mail says "2008 is gonna be great" He got a call about an outside tech job. He has done all the necessary paperwork, job shadowed a guy, now on Friday he has to have a physical - if he passes - he will start the new job at the end of January. YEAH!!! YEAH!!! life is good!

Now the kinda bad news, he will have to go to training in KC or Oklahoma for 4-6 weeks. I rely on him so much to keep our kids in check (he does a great job here), the family finances in order, my dad in check, the house cleaning schedule, and so much more! I'm kinda nervous. I don't know how the Military wives do it by themselves. So wish us luck.

Sad sister

MY SAD, SAD SISTER,

THE LAST TIME SHE GOT TO

BOWL IN 2007.

Bowling for $$

And....the 4th place team....winning $60 is....

BILL & JILL

And.....the 2nd place team.......winning $80

BRICE & JULIE

On New Years Eve, right here in beautiful downtown Augusta, we had a scotch doubles bowling tournament. How that works is like this: We bowled 4 games total. In the 1st & 3rd game the woman bowls the 1st ball and the guy picks up the spare. In the 2nd & 4th game the guy bowls the first ball and the woman attempts to pick up the spare. At the end of the night the couples with the best scores (+ handicap) win the money. Bill and I didn't wait around 'cause Bill said "there is no way we won anything" Well, about 15 minutes later... Julie called with the good news. WINNERS!!! The best part of all was we had a great time and got paid!

No party is complete without a pile of food.

This was my 2nd plate!

Please notice the veggies and party mix.

Bowling

A bowling ball that
looks like a golf ball how
fun! - my bowling ball is
red / black with swirlies and
has the inials D.L.A. and came
came from the Goodwill :(





The cutest bowling shoes ever!
Brand new and NOT from the GW.

Julie's Hair

Brassy Blonde

Beautiful Brown

Julie's new hair color

Here's the story of my sister, Julie.

Her hair has been BLONDE

blonde blonde, light blond, dark blond, light ash blonde, dark ash blonde....etc.

I decided to start the new year off right and pick a new color for her.

BROWN - just brown, not ash brown, not dark brown, not blah blah brown, just brown.

I couldn't help myself from taking these pictures

of her with her new hair color processing.

The mohawk look
Julie's hair was more like the color Lola.