Merry CHRISTmas

We just wanted to wish you all a very Merry CHRISTmas. It's been fun to write to all of you and keep you up with what's going on in our lives! (like there's thousands out there reading my blog!)

We especially hope that you discover the true meaning of Christmas this year. That you take time to thank God for all His blessings in your life. We truly have many many blessings to be thankful for. It's been a year of change and challenge for us. We are excited about what God has for our future and are enjoying the path God has laid out for us!

Take time to enjoy the gift of family....
~joanne

Proud Moment....

You all thought this was going to be about my kids and some nice thing they did...nope!
This was my first attempt ever at making Peanut Brittle. I found a recipe on allrecipes.com (a wonderful site, by the way!!) yesterday. It was for a microwave brittle and I decided to try it today. It was a proud moment for me when it all worked out!!(what could be bad, sugar and more sugar!) I've never tried it because I always thought anything that needed a thermometer, would be too difficult for me! It was actually pretty easy and fast. It only took about 10 min. plus cooling time! I think I will make some more tomorrow! If I don't hurry and give it away, I will have to get a new wardrobe to ring in '08! I will have to enter this in my Christmas memory book!

The recipe-
Mix 1c. sugar & 1/2 c. corn syrup in glass 2qt. bowl on high for 4 min.
Stir in 1c. peanuts (I used dry roasted) microwave on high 3 1/2 min.
Then stir in 1t. butter & 1t. vanilla and microwave 1 1/2 min.
Stir in 1t. baking soda until light & foamy. Pour on well buttered cookie sheet, let cool, break in pieces...enjoy!

(mine didn't cover whole pan, I just spread out best I could with wooden spoon & let cool. I'm going to try and double batch tomorrow and see if it works and makes more! =)

Let me know if you try it and it works out for you!!
~joanne

Ho Ho Ho...

Santa arrived by train here last Saturday. He came to pick up all the wish lists. Trent wants a Wii and an x-box. He's not to hard to please? Troy wants a cell phone today. Friday it was a bb gun and the day before that it was a MP3 player. Sunday he wanted LL Bean Snow shoes!! He is so funny! Snow shoes?? For those of you that are still buying for little ones ....enjoy the puzzles, books, dollar store stuff.... because in the not to far future you will be trying to get a game system, TV, cellphone MP3..... We used to get our kids all this stuff...mounds of toys, now it's like one big thing. Less to trip over and clean up!! I think I will be ready come Tuesday!=) Tomorrow is wrap day!...

~joanne

Parties....

This party was last Friday night at Mangiamo! in East Grand Rapids (formerly Gibson's). We were treated to a wonderful meal with the owners and sales staff of Spencer Mfg. Steve and I both enjoyed Walleye...very delicious!! The restaurant was a mansion years and years ago so it is filled with ornate wood and trim! You can't see it here but it has a fireplace decorated for the holidays behind us. Good food and good people!

On Saturday night we enjoyed a meal with the Pastors, Deacons and all the wives at Arnies in Rockford. We had a room all to ourselves, which allowed for a lot of visiting! We had great meals (even though I never got my Chicken Pot Pie) and a fun round of a White Elephant gift exchange! We went around the first time and allowed people to pick a wrapped gift or steal an already opened gift. Let's just say there were some steals the first round! Then, when everyone had a gift we went around once more. You could at that time, keep what you had or trade. There were actually some really nice gifts~some gifts made more trades than others!! We had a lot of laughs and an very enjoyable time. We have really grown to love & respect a lot of these couples. They are our second family!

Steve will spend his last year on the board as Vice Chairman, as Tom Lutke will be Chairman.

Good Job Tyler....

We attended the Tyler's Soccer Banquet on Tuesday night. He received his Varsity Letter Award and the numbers of his graduating year! WOW.....2011!! Sounds far off till you think about Trent's year...2020!! 11 doesn't seem quite so bad! He also received a Recognition for "Most Dedicated"....great job Tyler!! We enjoyed an assortment of desserts, all you need this time of year~more sweets and calories!

After the awards were all handed out we had an indoor soccer game...parents vs. kids! We weren't to sure about the fitness of some of the adults?!!? I personally didn't play...I thought I might be more of a detriment to the parents side! Although Steve came ready to play! You play 5 against 5, 2-15 minute quarters. OK mind you, our goalie had never played soccer!! The coach, Mr. Oxford played with the parents, at least we had that going for us! First goal...our own parent, Jeff Johnson...amazing. The kids came back with a score-1 to1! End of first quarter! All parents have a slight collapse (they were actually holding up pretty good!)
Start of second quarter. A lot of running back and forth and not a lot of scoring! Diane Johnson was the only mom to play...way to go Diane! (did I tell you, the Johnson's were running for the door after the awards, when we spotted them!) We told her they would be easy on her! Now comes the exciting part....Steve scores goal #2...way to go man! Timer runs out and the parents win 2-1! They still can beat the kids! Very exciting and fun! Thanx Mr. Oxford for all your hard work and encouragement!

The tree....

Here we are with our '07 tree! We were able to cut it last Saturday at Kahler's Plantation...as they call it! Troy was actually the cutter this year(see him under the tree in pic #1) (notice the saw in pic #2)...Trent asked if he could cut next year?!? Notice the mammoth height of it. They aren't real tall but the price is right! =) We have it half decorated (lights) and Trent put on some of the ornaments like in a 4x4 space! Decorating has been a process for me this year...as Trent nicely opened the totes and spread out the ornaments on the dining room floor. It's kinda like an obstacle course in the the dining room.
It will be ready by Christmas morning...guranteed!
~joanne

It's final....

They finally did pay so I can reveal the amount it sold for.....Drum roll please....92.00!! Not exactlly $280, but not bad for a 15.00 investment! I had to threaten to leave bad feedback before they would respond. For those of you that E-Bay, you know that is your only recourse for bad E-Bayers! Unfortuanetly for me, they had only purchased 2 items prior to this, so not a big feedback rating to destroy!

The BIG green...

For those of you that have been waiting for me to post the price of the Big green machine...I can't! The item was purchased but not paid for ...I think I will have to relist! We've never had someone not pay...maybe a first! I will keep you posted when it is sold and paid for!!
Sometime soon I will have to post my top ten hints for listing things on E-bay!

Hot News....

OK...for all of you that have been sitting on the edge of your computer chair waiting for the "buck story", here it is. It was a cold Saturday morning. It was just starting to get light when the buck saw Steve and ran like the wind. Steve then got out of his blind and proceeded to sneak up on bucky. Bucky didn't see Steve, so he had a shot at him. He got all ready to shoot and bucky saw him and came at him grunting and snorting!! Steve was so scared, he thought he was done for. Out of nowhere came a shot whizzing by Steve's head missing him by only a fraction! It was Troy, behind him, taking bucky out! Wow that was close!
Actually, that isn't at all how it happened..the other story was kinda boring. It was a 5 point buck on Saturday morning. It was in Bridgeton with some kind of weapon?? See I told you, kinda uneventful!!
The best part of it was having Troy there. He loved watching it all play out, like a real live movie! He has spent hours in a blind in the cold waiting to see the big one or little one just to be like his dad! He loves his dad and everything he does! If Steve is doing something...Troy is right there beside him. Kinda humbling & scary all at the same time! He is a great example of a dad and husband for our three boys! They are lucky, in this day and age, to have such a fine example!...thank you Steve!

Our Thansgiving....

This is 1 of the 3 tables. We had a total of 23 people and 45 lbs of turkey! We of course didn't eat all that for the noon meal!

Grandkids in front of the fireplace













Downstairs table

Mid-Adult table

Here the kids are "fishing" from the loft. They get yarn and tie objects on the end and try to see if they can hang it over the logs. It made Grandma a little nervous as they were swinging hard objects around her windows and sliders. If we had told them to do this kind thing they would have poo poo the idea! Instead they had great fun doing it! No windows got broken!
We had a lot of food and it was all delicious! In the afternoon we did some crafts, played some Euchre, watched the Lions, hunted, looked at ads, slept, visited, cleaned the kitchen...
The top picture is Neil & Bonnie, Uncle Ron & Aunt Marty, Steve & Joanne, Dad & Linda, Grandma B and Suzie (she takes care of grandma)
Grandkids are Drew, Tyler, Trent, David Nick, on the floor is Florin, Madison and Troy

I made you proud!....

I made the Rexford name proud!! I was up at 3 am to get in my shopping!! Caryn picked me up at 3:30 and we were off! Our first stop was Toys R us, were we were quickly disappointed, as they only had 11 of what we were after. Off to Kohls for a Candy Land game for $3.99, whick we quickly got! We weren't so prompt in the check out line...45 min. Off to Radio Shack....standing outside the store for 1 1/2 hrs till they opened...not sure yet if we will get what we were after there! They said they would call us?!?!? (don't wait by the phone!) Then off to Meijers...ghost town. Then our trek took us out to Rivertown Mall. we had a $10 off coupon off a $10 purchase at Younkers, we couldn't pass up a free item. We hit a few other places then off to IHOP. What? a 45 min. wait to eat...don't they know we have been up since 3am! So off to Bob Evans...they seated us right away. We could barely muster the strength to get out of our booth after our meal...onward we thought! Then to Hobby Lobby and we even hit Grice's in Kent City on the way home!

Thanx Caryn for coming and with standing the cold with me...it's always more fun with a friend!! You are a fun friend to have!

Will they start next years sales at 3am?? Good grief!

~joanne

Be THANKFULL...

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Wanted to wish all our you a Happy Thanksgiving!! Take time to remember ALL that you have been blessed with! We are so blessed, we don't even appreciate all we have!

Remember to take time to Thank whom is due your appreciation...GOD! Not by any of your good works have you been blessed, it is only through God and His mercy on your life!

Enjoy your family gatherings...pass the sweet potatoes and feed the green bean casserole to the dog! (if he will even eat it!)

See ya out shopping tomorrow. Kohl's opens at 4am!! That might be a little much!

The BIG Green...

This is kinda an odd post...if you haven't already guessed! We are official E-Bay junkies! It all started with this simple carpet cleaner a couple of months ago. I had it in my garage sale for 2 years for $10, no one took a second glance at it. We decided after looking at them on E-bay that we would list it and at least move it to someone else's castle. We did and it sold for a mere $285! WOW. Double WOW!!
Okay, we decide that there are some crazy people out there!! I need to tell you that the buyer was in California...need I say more. I'm totally perplexed at why someone wouldn't head out to there local Target and pick themselves up a brand new machine!! Very confusing to me. We would have been delighted to get $50 out of it!! But hey, we will take $250ish...after we paid to have it shipped !! Not a bad return on our investment...we traced it back to our purchase date, some time in the early 90's! I will have to say, it wasn't a fun job to pack that baby up!
Odder yet...I came across one last week-end at a thrift store...guess what I purchased it...surprise! Maybe there is still some crazies out there! There is! We listed it and have like 5 watches on it already. It will probably not sell for $285 but I will be ecstatic about$50... Maybe I will post when it sells and give you the end cost!
It's just like a garage sale...one mans junk another's treasure.
Life is so fun (or funny!?)
~joanne

Captain Jack...

A little late! Here is Captain Jack Sparrow...it kinda looks like him! He was soooo wound up that day...sugar or party fun?? He was running to houses and then running back to say Thank you. He covered all of KC in about 9 min. I know some of you are thinking 'that sounds about right' !! We told him he had to keep going because he was 'carrying' the whole family for candy.
Trent is with Nicholas, aka a hunter, Craig and Kristi were able to be here for Halloween and walk withus. That was Nicholas 1st. time tricker treating. Krist said they normally go bowling. The guys were in charge of the candy handing out. We had somewheres around 300 kids. I think I got this picture on before all the candy was gone.
When we wer kids my sisters and I would keep our candy for months. We were so afraid of it being gone we just saved it! I think about Christmas Time we threw it away....not real great logic, huh!

PUMPKIN TIME....

It's Pumpkin carving time!!! Trent's pumpkin has a split personality, he wanted it to have a face on the front and on the back. So everynight we flip it around to show the other face! This is the first year Troy totally carved his own pumpkin...he did a great job and no blood! Tyler, well you know, no carving for him...till he gets a girlfriend and she wants to!
Trent REALLY enjoyed the cleaning out of the pumpkin...wierd! He actually put globs full of seeds and goo back in the pumpkin, so he could get it back out?!?!?! He must have got that from the Buckner side, I don't think the Rexfords enjoy getting their hands that gooey!
Well gotta run....party time....
~joanne

Lost Art....

This is a picture of a lost art, It's called cookie baking. You mix sugar, eggs, flour and a few other ingred. and Viola... dough!! Amazing...you thought dough was only purchased in a plastic tube by the rolls...nope! Troy actually made this gluten free dough while I was making Sunday dinner. We rolled it out later that night and enjoyed some warm cookies. We made pumpkins with no frosting...crazy, I know! Troy doesn't like them frosted?? I'm not sure he is really mine! These were great cookies, especially for being GF, not known for their good taste & texture! I'm not sure any of you could tell the difference. I couldn't help but snap this picture of them watching them bake.

Speaking of GF cooking, I made my first trip to the Asian market last week. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, they were very helpful. They didn't even laugh and point at me and speak another language, I'm not sure why I thought they would!! It was the gas station I stopped at after that, that was a bit more challenging. I wanted to buy gas and a car wash, then you got 10 cents off per gallon. Oh, did I tell you it was Asian run! The gas wasn't so hard, it was the car wash and the lady explaining it to me that was scary! She kept saying NO brake NO wash, NO brake NO wash.... I made it out and didn't have to place a call to Steve explaining how I was stuck in a car wash in GR.

~joanne

Oh Well.....

Ok, so we didn't move on in the Districts. We kinda figured that!! We actually didn't even make it to the 2nd half. We got mercied (meaning they were up by 8 pts at a certain point in the 1st half)!! They played hard but it's hard to beat a team rated 12 in the state! They will try again next year....
~joanne

Believe It or Not....

This will be just a short post...promise! Tyler's Varsity Soccer Team won there first game in Districts!! I know we were all in amazement too, they played there hearts out. The other team, a 'B' school (KC a 'C') was not impressed! They didn't have a stellar record, but who wants to be beat by a smaller school! We play again on Wed. (just betwen me and you, I think this might be the end of the road...but who knows)
It's been fun watching the team grow and develop along the way. They really have come a long way......GO RED! I'll let you know how it turns out.....
~joanne

Me & Trent....

Me & Trent attended the Annual Hayride while the 'big guys' were up 4-wheeling. It usually falls in October. We have a potluck, hayride and bonfire at Uncle Jim & Aunt Karen's place, better known as the Ponderosa! Since they have moved up there, I don't call it that anymore.
It's hard to believe this is a picture of the hayride...that is a picture of the shoes I wore up there...flip flops! Can you believe it? Believe me, it has not always been so desirable! It seems like when we had little ones, it was much colder. We would bundle them up in snowsuits, boots, mittens, hats...the works! Now that they don't need all that, it's 75! Go figure! Some of the kids were actually wearing shorts, tanks & t-shirts! We were wondering how we could cook our hot dogs without building a fire (certainly didn't need a heat source!)
Dad and Linda came with me and Trent. Dan & Sherry Wylie, Jeff & Diane Johnson, Neil & Bonnie, Mike & Carrie & kids, Aaron & kids, Dave & Lynette & boys, Jim & Renee & kids, Amie & siblings. So we had quite a group, plus some spare kids that came with others. ( I think 23 kids in all!)
When Craig & Kristi adopted Florin this was the first family event they brought him to...I wonder what he must have thought? Talk about culture shock! He loved the 4-wheelers (still does!). At the time, Neil & Bonnie were living in their motor home while they built their house, he had a hard time understanding house with wheels!
We had a fun time visiting, walking, 4-wheeling, motorcycling.... When the kids were little we used to have a pumpkin carving contest (sometimes knives-sometimes markers) We had prizes for the scariest, cutest.... Those were the days when a boat load of dollar store toys would keep them quite for hours!
Now, where have all those little toe-headed kids gone? They have turned into a bunch of teens...WOW!!! What are we in for next? It's so weird how life goes fast but yet slow! It seemed like our kids were little and needy forever. Now it seems like forever ago that they were just little guys running around. We longed for the time when we could sit at the fire and not chase them around. Now where here and wish for those cute little voices to ask if they can sit on our lap! Life is just crazy....are we ever happy were we are??
Enjoy life were you are.....don't long for the next stage of life.....it will be here before you know it!
~joanne

Where Boys Become Men!....

These are pictures from the latest 4-wheel 'in excersion. Steve, Tyler and Troy headed to the UP early Friday morning for some fun, they met Uncle Craig, Florin and Nicholas. They were able to do some riding on Friday before the rain set in on Saturday. It rained on Saturday pretty much all day, hence the rainsuits...for boys that's just more mud to ride in!! The picture of all of them was at Lake Superior after a full day of riding. Middle is Nicholas going through a mud hole, that's his headlight! A picture I didn't post showed Craig pushing him out! Lower is Nicholas dumping out his boots, which I hear, happened more than once!! This sounded like a boys dream trip come true...good thing no mom's were aloud! I think they could have done without ALL the rain...but oh well, you can't always know the weather here in Michigan! They had a wonderful time rain and all! What a memory this will be for those boys! I wonder what the story will sound like in 20 years!?!?!?

Speaking of weather, it's been like 30 degrees above normal temps for this time of year. We actually turned on our air yesterday...isn't it October??? Is this global warming?

Check back later to see what Trent & I were up to while they were gone!
~joanne

Soccer Mom??....

I guess I never thought I would be one! That's Tyler out on the field at one of his soccer games. He has had his haircut since that picture, just in case you were wondering if that was a girl!!!

They have not been what you would call a winning team. Let me start by telling you why.... 1) Kent City doesn't have a 'team' till you start high school 2) We lost 5 seniors! 3)Gained 5 freshman 4) program started 4 years ago..... WA WA WA

Also....we started this year with a team of 8! (if you know anything about soccer, you will know you are starting 3 short of a team!) We are up to 20 now!!

But best of all Tyler is enjoying the sport! I think with some confidence he will get pretty good at it! At least he is out trying something and learning the basics of some sports. He plans to play on the Golf team in the spring, not a real spectator sport.

They only have 3 games left this year...I'm pretty sure they aren't going to Districts!

~joanne

Braceface....

Here is Troy with his new braces. He has not enjoyed this week of being with wires yet. We told him to 'get over it' or it was going to be a long 2 years!!! He picked black and blue elastics. I told him not to pick green because it looks like lettuce in your teeth!! Any advice anyone has for Troy and his life with wires....besides loooong!!!!

~joanne

Fun Filled Week-end....

The group from KCBC! Renee, Kristi and Me A view fron the chapel Caryn and Me
Kathy, Me, Renee, Cathy, Kristi and Caryn (not looking so smiley!)
I was able to attend a Ladies Retreat this past week-end at Lake Ann camp near Traverse City. We had a wonderful time of renewal (not by sleep!). We slept in the boys cabins otherwise know as Otter #2 not to be confused with Badger #3! (sorry girls!) I got to spend time with my sister-in-law Kristi, with long time friend Renee (and her friends) and ride home with special friend Caryn. My social tank is full (some of you are thinking....right!?) One of the other perks was, I didn't have to cook !! YEH! We did all have to share an outside bathroom...not literally outside, just out of our cabin!
Ken Rudolph is an exceptional speaker and motivator...if you ever get the opportunity to hear him...GO! He can communicate the scriptures like few can! Time whizzes by when he is speaking, even when you are sleep deprived!
As a kid, I attended Lake Ann many times, so I had some time to re-live some of my childhood memories! I was actually a Tepee Village Alumni....I know, hard to believe I would sign up to sleep in a tepee all week! I sometimes wonder myself! Harder yet to believe we had to go into the "BOG", eat outside, use outhouses and be outside all day! The amazing thing about that week, it stands out as one of the weeks I remember the most about! Maybe I'm still in shock over it....more likely, I did things outside of my comfort zone! Isn't it those times in our lives, when we go outside of our comfort zone, that changes who we are and where we are going! Some have gone on pilgrimages and come back with a different attitude and memories that will stay with them forever!
Camp obviously holds very dear memories for me. One year my dear Grandma (aka Aunt Marian) took all 6 of us grand kids to camp with her (3 Rexford & 3 Watson girls!) We had so much fun with each other and at camp! My Grandma is a saint! The next year she took 4 of us for 2 weeks to Camp Dottie! My Grandma is a Saint! No...she really loved her grand kids and other kids and wanted to see them give their lives to Christ at early ages. I can't imagine her crown in Heaven! What a Godly example of a Christian woman, life, grandma, servant.... I am soooo blessed to have you in my life grandma!! You Rock! (well sometimes, literally you do now!) I also must thank my dad and mom for making it a priority to send us to camp!
One of my favorite memories was when my cousin Dawn and I went to Tepee Village. We were given a compass and we were suppose to be hiking to a huge crater/pit. Which we managed to do, the problem arose when we didn't realize we were there and we continued walking and walking till we hit a road, I think then we decided we had gone to far! I mean this pit is so huge, you would wonder how we could miss it! Okay I'm still directionally challenged today..maybe that was the start of the problem! (no comment Renee!)
Okay, did I just write a chapter to a book? Sorry, I wasn't planning on this long dialogue, I was just planning on a few pics of camp!
Well, to some it up, send your kids to camp and go to retreats!! We all need them!

~joanne

Trent...

Just to update you on the Trent/school situation. It's great...two days now with no tears! At least I know he likes me! Hoping for number three tomorrow...
~joanne

Roscommon....

Last weekend Steve and I spent three days at the Fireman's Memorial in Roscommon MI. It is a Fireman's Dream!! It is held outside in like a fair type setting. Steve was there to represent the Spencer Manufacturing line of firetrucks. So as long as he is in this business, he will be there. I was there as the lunch lady. Actually it was a week-end for a little break from every day life for me! I certainly didn't fill my sleep bank! I did get to go the the outlet mall with Renee (she drove over to spent the day with me...isn't she sweet!)
This year it was the 28th annual memorial. They do things like parades, a ceremony for fallen fire fighters, exhibits, pancake breakfast, chx barbecue....
It's quite a big shin-dig for fire fighters and families. Not being brought up in the fire world it seems quite foreign to me! They are proud of there trucks and equipment, they all have bumper stickers, lights on their trucks and monogrammed jackets! Steve received the plaque for the longest traveled in the parade, they'll keep it at Spencer. What we learned....1,ooo pieces of candy isn't near enough candy to throw in a parade! Lots of sad faces along the side of the road :(!
I had a pic of Steve and George in front of the truck but had to return the camera it was on...so I had to delete the pic! I know you are all bumbed!
Special thanx to G-pa & G-ma Buckner for letting the boys stay with them!
~joanne

96!!!!....

She's 96! On August 21 Grandma "B" turned 96 years young! She still lives on the farm where she raised her 4 kids. She does have a lady that lives with her there. Even at that, it's pretty amazing. She's trying for the Willard Scott Smuckers Jar. She moves a little slower but she has a great mind and memory! We were able to have Cake and Ice Cream to celebrate with her on Aug.25.
She's still got a lot of spunk! Congratulations Grandma! (as if she is going to read this!)

I warned you...I was going backwards for a while to catch up!

PS Trent still not real fond of staying at school!
~joanne

Hoem Schol?

Bonnie,
Were you suggesting in your comment that I home school Trent? I'm not sure I have it in me!
~joanne

Baptism....

Here we are at Crockery Lake for the Annual Picnic & Baptism 'o7. Troy had decided that this was the year for him. He did a great job sharing his testimony, he didn't even seem nervous! Grandpa Bill prayed for him and Steve was able to go in with him and assist on the baptism. How cool is that! Grandpa Neil & Grandma Bonnie were even able to come to show there support. (Happy Birthday Bonnie) What a special day for our family! We are so blessed that our children have chosen to follow the Lord.

~joanne

It's Official....

We are going backwards in our efforts to get Trent to stay at school. He's now started to cry at home before he ever gets there! We have tried to bribe him with gum/candy...didn't work. He is fine after I make him stay but I don't think he is himself...bubbly and full of life. I can hardly wait till Monday to start this all over!
He doesn't appear to be just manipulating me around. He really appears to be upset and scared....I don't know!

Back to school...

Here are the boys on the morning of the first day back to school '07.

Tyler was very excited to get his picture taken for this family memory.

Trent has had a rough start as a Kindergartner! For some reason he isn't real fond of staying! He would kinda like me to hang out with him all day! I thought by the third day he would be okay with staying...nope! We will see what Friday holds. I think maybe Steve should try taking him?!? This is so unlike him it just baffles us. After going to pre-school and church you would think he would be used to getting left?! I'm just thinking after tomorrow we will have to start all over again on Monday!

Tyler says High school is going well as a Freshman and Troy has mastered his combination on his locker in the 7th grade hallway. No tears for either of them!

We have one kid in every school...what were we thinking!

I'm so behind on my postings....I have about 3-4 posts I wanted to get to. So....I'm going to go backwards and play catch up.

~joanne

LNO '07...

Here dad is entertaing the ladies with his Magglio hat...cute huh! See what some of you missed!! You won't miss the next LNO will you??
Here we are playing Bocce Ball. Theresa, Glenna, Linda, Jill, Norma, Caryn and Nancy. We had to let Jill win! (don't tell her I said that!)

Here we are enjoying an update from Denise Thomas. We did sneak in some group games, eating, pontoon boat rides, eating and campfire with our own Theresa Leseman at the guitar. Ask her about the Mr. Mom song she sang for us...so cute!

Sorry these are coming to you with such delay...I left my camera at Grandma B's birthday party...pics of that will be coming soon.

What's a girl to do without a picture to post with!
~joanne

Viola`...

Look how easily the Feedblitz was added...thanx Steve! :)
Thanx Sue Black for the correct spelling...my French isn't to good!

Comment challenged...

This is for some of you newbies to the "blog" world.


I was just going to offer some helps. If you would like to comment on a post you can "click" on the "comments" at the bottom of each post. Sometimes it will say "0" or "2" showing how many have already commented. If you click that, you can read others comments and also comment yourself. You would then type your comment in the box and then click "other" or the "anonymous" box, either one should work. It will ask you to "preview" or "publish" you can push either. If you "preview" you then have to push "publish" after you preview.

I know this all seems a bit much for the comment challenged but it walks you through most of the steps. I have faith you all can figure it out!! Like I have stated before, if certain others can do it, anyone can (don't worry Bonnie I wasn't thinking of you!) Now everyone try it tomorrow and see if you can do it. If you do leave a comment, come back and check it, I often comment back to you.

It is fun to see who is checking in, so don't be shy! I would love to know you are out there.

I hope to add a Feedblitz to my blog soon (when Steve helps me!) Hopefully when he reads this, he will add it for me! For the Feedblitz challenged..you would add your e-mail to a list that would get notified when I post to my blog. This is a way for you to know when there is a new post with out checking my blog daily. So basically it E-mails you when I post to my blog. So when you see it added...sign-up!

I know, I know, some of you are light years ahead of this post but some are still trying to figure out where the backspace key is! So bear with us slow ones. Especially the "aged-challenged" in our world. Personally, I'm totally impressed with those that feel they fall in to that category....but attempt the computer world anyway. Thanx Al Gore for the Internet.

Have a good night all...

Hurricane Evelyn--Category5...

We've been hit! Send help! A category5 hurricane hit. We could see it approaching but yesterday it came ashore. We've had our eye on it, but we never thought it would grow to this magnitude. It did minimal damage to structures although, toys were severely tossed around. We witnessed Beanie Babies, Legos and Army men all being tossed around by the heavy winds. We have never seen any thing like this before! It is going to take some major clean up on Troy and Trent's part. Believe it or not, they are hidden in there...see if you can find them!

I used to think a nice clean room was so beautiful and orderly. I still think that, but I have come to realize that those are un-played with toys! I wanted my kids to play in the room touching only the two toys that they appeared to be playing with. My thought was...keep them nice so we can give them to someone else or sell them in our garage sale. I know it sounds crazy...saving there toys for someone else to play with. I realizing in my maturity that it is a short while that those toys will be all over. There will be days in the very near future that I will clean their rooms and no one will enter them for months. Is that tears of joy or sadness I'm wiping from my eyes?

I do think there is a time to clean things up and to take care of the toys and "stuff" God has given us. I'm trying to keep a balance. This does seem a little out of balance.

We will have to get this in order before school resumes...recently that seems to be my time line. Good thing events come so we can get things accomplished! At least for me, that's how I get things done!

Everyday is a blog day! Watch out, you could be my next subject....

~joanne

the King rides again...

Aunt Julie, aren't you glad you got him this cape and crown? We often wonder what Trent will be when he grows up? Wouldn't it be great if we all could go out and ride bikes with a crown and cape on? I mean, to be so okay with yourself, as to not care if people point or laugh. He definitely has that trait...at least for now. There is something, shall we say, unique about that 3rd child!

Sometimes parenting is a lot of work and a little fun...at least it seems that way some days for me. This is one of those joyful moments when you can thank your Heavenly Father for kids. Our boys make us laugh, cry and crazy (a lot!). But we love having each one of them, with their special (I mean that in the best way possible! :) ) gifts and abilities in our family. God always knows just what we need. He uses our kids to teach us so much about ourselves...it's kinda scary. Moral....if you don't want to know about yourself, don't have kids.

That's as deep as it gets here...

~joanne

Your the man...

precious!
Two wheel Trent...

We are so proud of this milestone! You have a little determination in you boy! He wanted the training wheels taken off his bike Friday pm, which Steve did! He promptly hopped on and did amazingly good! Saturday he went out to practice again....and away he went...around the block !! I think having two older brothers played a role in him catching on so fast! He wants to keep up with them. The boys took him up toward the school where there is an incline toward our house and sent him down. They told him it was called the "man hill"!

The video isn't the best but it was so funny we had to put it on! We actually were using our regular camera which probably isn't the best for video! He thought the black fro wig added a nice touch! He looks like he's heading to the circus!

I had taken another video earlier, as I hit the off button he proceeded to hit the back of Steve's truck...that would have been some good footage!!

I hope most of you can enjoy the video. I'm not sure how long it will take to load. For those of you who can't, I posted a few still pictures!

Hope you all enjoy the pics! Everday is a blog day!

~joanne