Good Morning!

I hope you have a great day today! That's really all I have to say today.

Actually, I was tired of seeing that little photography guy below everytime I opened my site. So, I had to put something on here to move him down a bit. Sorry, this is all I came up with today.


Oops, my mistake. I do have a little more. My coffee maker went on the "kaputz" yesterday. So, last night I bought a new one - different kind. I get it out of the box this morning to use and I'm all excited to have a nice, freshly brewed, soothing, wake-me-up cup of coffee and I find out it takes the CONE filters. AGHHHHH!!!! Of course that's not the kind of filters I have on hand. Why didn't it say that on the outside of the box??? Well, it bugged me enough that I'm packing it back up and going to look for another coffee maker today. Not just because of the cone filters, but also because I didn't really like the platinum look and because Trevor said I should look for a different one. Good enough reasons for me.

Say Cheese !!

Well, today are school pictures and for some reason this day always makes me worried. I'm not sure I can pin point exactly what makes it so nerve racking. Lets see.......

It could be all the options that you get to make up your photo "package". You know, like how many pictures and what sizes of each. "Package B1" sounds real nice for $27.00, but for $22.00 I can get the same sizes for just a few less of the 2X3's. And, oh, do I want to add $3.00 for a few more of the wallets or another selected size for a bigger fee yet?

It could be the background color options that twist my stomach. Hmmmm, do I want emerald, blue, red, or steel? What could possibly look the best with the paint on the wall where I intend to hang these glorious pictures? Should I get the same background for each kid or let them be their own individual self and have a different color?

It could be the new option this year. The choice of pose!! Would I like my kids standing, a close-up head shot, the leaning-in head-in-hands, or the traditional pose?

It could be the decision of adding another $3.oo to my "package" to have their names printed right on the front of the photo.

It could be the choice of the perfect outfit to wear. What color will look the best with the above chosen background? But then, really, all you ever see is the top half of the shirt. Well, unless I was to go with that standing pose. That just might include a little more portion of the shirt - you never know. Oh, how about the mere fact that they better not spill anything on that shirt. You know, like chocolate milk, spaghetti sauce, paint, marker, ink, mud.....

Or could it be the hair styles. Do I fix an up do or leave it down. Should we apply gel and go for the controlled bed head look - but what if it rains at recess and it turns to a sticky mess? Should we put cute little curls in, but then it's sure to be humid and they'll be gone in no time. What if we straighten it - yep, there's that humidity problem again and any natural curl is sure to arise.

And last but not least, maybe it's at that final moment when it's their turn to say cheese and put on the perfect smile and it's the simple reason that I'm not there to say "Ummm, better take another one, he/she can smile nicer than that".

Yep, I'm not sure which one it is. I just hope that they turn out okay the first time and we won't have to go through this again on re-take day.

Now, how many weeks till we get them back????????????????? It's never soon enough, is it? The class picture takes twice as long to get back, and I totally rely on that one when I haven't a clue about who in the world "Johnny or Susie" might be.

Of course I really don't get THAT worked up about the pictures. Really, I don't. I mean isn't it down the road when I'm getting all their pictures lined up for the high school graduation open house that I'll look back and find the humor about Kale's teeth missing or Nikia's fake smile or that one hair that just wouldn't lay flat.

I guess there's really no need to get too worried about these silly little pictures. After all, the kids are on the bus and headed for the school already and it's out of my hands.

Music to my ears....

After Kale arrived home from the first day of school there was just nothing better to hear than,

"I love my new teacher, she is so cool and really funny!"

Oh, thank goodness for that.

Nikia on the other hand, is still in awe that she gets to go to school every day - all day and that she has a real locker.

I think we're off to a good start!!

1st Day of School

As members of the class of 2017 and 2019 boarded the bus this morning I had tears in my eyes. For some reason it seems like when the first day of school comes around its the day that the kids actually get older. Never mind when their birthday is, it's this day that makes them seem more grown up than any other. The day they're expected to be more independent and more responsible. Yeah, I'm okay with it - I guess I have to be. It's just the reality of it all hits me on this day. Like the years before, I will pray over them both everyday before they leave. I will ask God to watch over and protect them on the bus and at the school. I will ask God to help Kale to be a good friend, a nice gentlemen, and a great student. I will ask God to help Nikia to be a good friend, a nice young lady, and a great student. They may not be under my roof where I can watch over them, but God will be there with them and for them.

It's this time of year when.... I'm looking forward to seeing the big yellow bus roll into the driveway and seeing the kids run up the driveway at the end of the day. I'm not looking forward to sending the kids to bed early on school nights, or the time spent sitting at the table doing homework. I am looking forward to decorating my fridge with the drawings, artwork, and paintings. I'm not looking forward to my little helpers being gone all day. I am looking forward to the trips to town by myself. I'm not looking forward to the money I'll need to fork out for lunches, activity tickets, pictures, and milk tickets. I am looking forward to seeing the progress the kids make throughout the year. I'm not looking forward to seeing some of the influences of other kids that rub off on mine. I am looking forward to being the one that sends them off in the morning and welcomes them home every day.

Family Vacation

Family Vacation

Off to the Black Hills - again. This time, we were tourists. We took the kids to some of the major sites like Mount Rushmore, drove past Crazy Horse, drove through Bear Country, walked through Jewel Cave, saw the Wild Horses Sanctuary, walked around Keystone and purchased souveniers, drove through the needles and wound around on the Pigtails, visited the Mammoth Site (very interesting) and hung out at our campground's pool and slide. It was so much fun and the weather was great. We stayed at Beaver Lake Campground. We've stayed here before and just love this place. (I highly recommend it) Of course the best part is the heated pool and the super fast slide. It rained twice in the evening but during the days it was perfect temps. Miniature golf was a blast. We went towards evening and while we were playing some deer came down in the meadow next to the course. They stayed about 30 yards from us. Very cool! It was such a great time. We're looking forward to next year's trip already.


Sorry about the slide show. It's my first time setting one up - obviously I have a lot to learn yet. It took me three tries to get it to look like this - good grief!! Any advice is soooo welcomed. Why can't I get the slide show to copy into my other post? How do I get the "Family Vacation 2007" off of every photo? So much to learn and not enough time to sit and experiment with this. Anyway - hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Apparently, this is the hair style you get when you take a dip in the hot tub and then go for a 4-wheeler ride.

Or, maybe it's just a sign that his Mother should get his hair trimmed. Hmmmm.

Yesterday was Kale's 9th birthday. We really didn't do too much to celebrate since we're going to have a party at the pool another day. Nevertheless, I just have to say......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

KALE

I LOVE YOU BUNCHES!

Step Inside My Office....

Welcome! I know I've been MIA lately but I've been a little busy at the office. Let me give you a little tour around the place......

This is the outside view of my office.....

Just another view with a little different background. Pretty huh!!!

This is the inside view of my office.......
(obviously a man decorated it, I would have chosen a different color scheme)

This is my employers office......

(once in awhile he lets me sit at his desk and run the thing)

This is the view from my office.....

Nothing like an office with a view...........

This is a co-worker of mine.....

(sorry, bad picture, it's a semi)

Sometimes I get "ride alongs".....

Sometimes I sit and think about how big my butt is getting from sitting in my office all day.....

Oh, got to go, the boss man needs me. Tour has to come to an end.

I'd love to come see your office someday.....