The End of 2008

I'm looking back over the last year on this blog and it's amazing how much has happened in the past 12 months...the many blessings we have been granted and the trials we have faced.

Our Blessings include the birth of our Granddaughter Savanah in June, the wedding of Jessica & Josh in July and our trips to Branson, South Dakota, and Louisiana.

Our Trials of losing family members and friends and our struggles to survive the economic down turn we have all had to endure.

I'm sure we are better people for it and through it all I know God has truly watched over us and blessed us.

Since Mid-November we have been to Louisiana and back. We had a very nice time visiting My dad and Joanne. I was able to see my Aunt Carol and Uncle Bill. Dad did all the cooking and everything for our Thanksgiving fare was WONDERFUL. Dad is really a Wizard of the culinary arts!

The weather there was nice temperature wise but it decided to rain on Friday and Saturday so it squelched our excursion to the gulf and the French Quarter! Darn it!! And when we came home on Sunday it was to an amazing snowy vista across southern Iowa. It was so pretty I took pictures of it. Of course after the past month of ice and snow I have had quite enough! It's not quite so pretty to me now!!!

I worked 'til noon Christmas Eve, did some last minute shopping and spent the evening with my Mom and Ralph. Mom made Oyster Stew...it was yummy!! And we opened gifts, of course!

Yesterday was Christmas. The boys were up way before we were...typical!! We open gifts, cleaned up the mess (have you ever noticed it takes such a long time getting everything ready and it's over in 15 minutes??). We spent some time together and the boys played with their Nerf Guns! In the afternoon, we went to Des Moines and enjoyed some time at Mike's niece, April's home with Mike's sister, Sue and her family. Then we visited Mike's mom at her home, as she was feeling poorly, and couldn't join us at April's. Then we finished off the night at Grandma Penny's home. A long and wonderful day! The best part?...The boys are happy with their gifts and with those two that is saying something!! :-)

We hope your Christmas was wonderful!

We wish you all the best in 2009.

So, until Next Year, God's blessings to you!

Have a wonderful and safe holiday!

Happy New Year!!!!

Almost Thanksgiving!

Wow! Where did October go??

I'm amazed as always that time just flies by! The stores all have Christmas stuff out and I'm starting to stress about the Holidays!

I've had the Boys' Pictures taken for Christmas.

I'm sure all the Grandmas will be happy.

And now I'm think I'm ready to get the Christmas Cards filled out and sent!

On November 1st, my Mom and my daughters and all the Grandchildren got together and did a 4 Generation Photo shoot! It was chaotic & stressful (at least for me) but fun and we will have those memories to share forever! Savanah smiled for almost every picture and the rest of the kids were very well behaved considering all the chaos and the long wait to just get the pictures taken!

I hope you can see the pictures...this one is a little small but I love it!!

I'll blog more as the days get closer to Christmas. In the meantime, have a great Thanksgiving with your Families!! We are off to Louisiana to see my Dad again this year. I'm hoping for good weather!!!

2 month update

It has come to my attention that I've been lacking in my blogging...2 months worth to fill in for everyone.

I'll kind of start where I left off...Mid-August. On the 15th of August our very good friend Eddie Bice, died suddenly at Mercy Hospital. He'd been sick and had surgery and complications set in and was in ICU. We didn't even get to say good-bye since only Family is allowed into ICU. It was a very sad time for us...especially Mike. He and Eddie had been friends for about 20 years.

Three days after Eddie passed away , Mike's 1st wife's father, Ralph Ramirez, passed away. He was 86 years old. It was hard for the whole family, especially Lisa. She'd been caring for her Grandpa for quite a few years. I know she and her kids miss him a lot.

So 2 funerals in 2 days plus visitations...we really hope that's it for a good long while...That kind of finished off our summer since right after that the boys went back to school. It seems like school starts earlier and earlier every year!

Both the boys are in football this year, so between practices and games, I'm running most every night. Alex is in 8th grade and his last game is tonight, clear down in Leon. It's going to be kind of a fun game because my step-cousin's son, Russell, is on the opposing team, Central Decatur. Alex and Russell are great buddies and they are really looking forward to this friendly competition!

Hunter's team lost last Saturday and I don't know if that means he's done or what. Guess we'll find out soon enough...I think he's supposed to play this weekend.

Mid-terms came back for all three boys and no one had even a D on their report card. Thank God! So for the first quarter it's looking good. For Alex, what a complete change. We are very proud of him! Hunter usually does well and it's great to see he is continuing to do so.

Zac was doing fairly well last year at the end of school and I'm glad to see he is still trying, in spite of his situation. I'm told his attitude has improved and he is doing better at the group home. I hope that means he won't be going to Woodward...time will tell.

For fun, I took all my grandkids to 'Walking with Dinosaurs'...It was Awesome and they really liked it...from Brighton, who is almost three, all the way up to Tate, who turned 6 this past July. They were so good!! Shannon went with me to help with the kids and Josh and Josie were good as gold watching...asking questions now and then but what a great experience for all of us.

When I got the tickets to take the Grandkids Alex and Hunter didn't want to go...as the time got closer they saw the preview on TV and decided they did want to go after all so I took them on a different night with Hunter's friend Sammy and his Mom and brother, Danny. And even my crabby Alex, who just wanted to 'stay in the car' enjoyed himself!!
It's tough to get Alex to have fun some days!!!

Back in August, both the boys had to have minor surgery to REMOVE the tubes in their ears. They'd been in there since November 2001 and were causing more trouble than not...so the doctor decided they needed to be removed. I'm happy to report their ears are healed and their hearing is intact!! Now they have no excuses for not listening to me! ;-)

After Mike's dad passed away, Mike's step-mom, Penny's grandchildren (Autumn and Abby, I think) decided that we Cain's had not been doing a very good job of keeping in touch. The whole "life's too short" and "family is important" thing! So we are doing a family get-together every month. So, on August 17th we all gathered at Abby's house (Abby is Mike's niece) and had a great time just visiting and eating a nice potluck meal. Mike and I hosted the September get-together and we all had a wonderful time! This month we will be gathering at Mike's sister, Brenda's house. The hostess cooks the main dish...Brenda's doing chicken, and everyone else brings something to go along with it. I'm going to take a pasta salad, I think. It's just great to see each other and catch up on all the goings on with everyone. Way to go Abby & Autumn!!

Well, I'm sure I've forgotten some important tid bit of news but it will have to wait for next time. I'll try to get some pictures attached to this edition in the near future. Until then...God Bless you all!

Zac Update

It has been quite a while since I mentioned Zac. Matter of fact, looking back, I haven't said much since Thanksgiving. Well, Zac finished his Sophmore year at Ames High School with decent grades and will offically be a Junior. Two more years and he will graduate, I hope. It might be a tough two years...

Zac had been staying in a foster home in Ames since leaving Rhonda's back in October. While there, he has grown a lot, both physically and emotionally. Also, while living there, he has made some very bad choices and has gotten himself in a heap of trouble. He was on informal probation and messed up big time and now he has been placed in a group home.

Currently Zac is residing at Youth Homes of Mid-America in Johnston. Hopefully, he will receive the counseling and care that he needs to so that he can stop doing the things he does that gets him into trouble. Unfortunately he made a bad choice and ran away from the group home during the time Mike's dad was in the Hospice. He missed the funeral and everything leading up to it. Many of us in the family are very upset with him. His timing was beyond poor.

He has since been caught and is back at the group home, but his attitude is not good. His next step, if he keeps on this path, is Woodward Academy ...aka. Boot Camp. He says he hates it at the group home, that's why he ran...he's going to hate Woodward more, I'm sure! And it's harder to run from Woodward!!

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. He has a lot to get through, if he's going to make it in society. He's 16 now and it's really time for him to realize he can't do the things he does and get away with them.

The group home has a school right there on campus and they use the Johnston Schools curriculum. If he ends up staying there for the full two years that he could be there, he will graduate from Johnston Schools.

I'm not sure what the future holds for him. I would like to see him, at least, get his high school diploma.

Beyond that...it's up to Zac.

Adventureland '08

What has 36 legs, 36 arms and knows how to have fun??? 18 fun loving people at Adventureland! We had way too much fun!

Especially me...I got to sit in the shade, care for Savanah, and watch my favorite bunch of kids and adults have fun and ride rides. Kokimo Cove, a new water attraction at Adventureland, was really neat. And watching Bighton go down the slides and run back up to go down them again and again was a blast. He was very patient, waiting his turn and just as happy as he could be!

I really hope we get to do this again next year!!

Where do I begin?

OK...it has been 5 months since my last blog. I will do the best I can to update everyone.

In April, the 25th to be exact, Mike and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. Can't say it's been all roses... but for me, He's still the one!! For our Anniversary we went to Branson for the first time. It was wonderful! I will try to find some pictures to add to this for all to see. I believe Mike had a great time too!













We went to the Titanic Museum, which way cool to see and rode the Ducks. We went to the Dixie Stampede ...I loved it! We also went to another show, The Grand Jubilee, that was a Hoot!! Then We drove to the dam in Branson, in 40+ years they hadn't opened all the gates to full capacity, it was quite a site to see.

We really did have a good time! Just the two of us!

In May I gave Rhonda (and Savanah) a baby shower...problem with that is I can't find the pictures...Don't know what happened! There's still hope...they are in my house SOMEWHERE! I know they will turn up when I'm looking for something else and not even thinking about them! It's Crazy!!

June 4th brought us our beautiful baby girl, Savanah. Please go to Rhonda's Blog...there's a link from my blog to hers...the story of Savanah's birth is Crazy and wonderful at the same time. Besides, Rhonda does a much better job of pictures and slide shows than I ever could!!












June 20th weekend was the Sinclair Family Reunion and we went camping for the weekend at 9 Eagles State Park down by Davis City, Iowa. A good time was had by all, I think!

When we got back from there, we worked a couple of days, then on June 25th, Mike and I left with some friends of ours for Rapid City, South Dakota. We went to Mt. Rushmore & Crazy Horse. We drove through Custer State Park to get almost run over by a herd of buffalo...excuse me, Bison! We rode the 1880 Train from Keystone to Hill City. Went to two different Caves...let's just say one was short and boring... the other had 137 steps down, it was very cool! But then, Oh my GOODNESS...137 steps UP!!! I almost didn't make it!! Then we drove all the way to Devil's Tower in Wyoming for a day...well worth the trip!!On the way back we stopped in Deadwood. (for me, the town is named well...it was dead!) That's where Wild Bill Hickok was killed. Lots of slot machine gambling, not much else...two streets...boring!

We went through the Badlands which was AWESOME! We saw the most beautiful scenery during the whole trip...it was wonderful. The Hotel we stayed at was up on a hill overlooking Rapid City...I swear you could see for a hundred miles. At night it was magnificent!















After we got back from So. Dakota, we worked for 2-3 days and took off for Louisiana on July 2nd, just Mike, Myself ,Hunter and Alex. It was great to see my Dad & Joanne, as always and I got to see my Aunt Carol and Uncle Bill. A Must do at least once a year. We stayed at a La Quinta Hotel in Slidell with the pool just outside the door...Hunter loved it!! He has turned into quite a little fish this summer! We, (Alex, Hunter and I) went to this Global Wildlife Safari thing about 40 miles from Slidell. It was an animal attraction (so to speak :-) ) where we could feed the animals, as we were driven through the property in these wagons. We saw most every species of deer on the planet, I think! A camel and a Dromedary, Some Giraffes...which chose to stay in the shade that day and didn't eat. A bison and a buffalo and several exotic cows, which did eat, I must say, with exuberance. All in all, a different type of experience for the boys (and Me)!













Mike enjoyed spending time with my Dad...Cooking and grilling...I swear they get along better than Mike does with his own dad!!


Which brings me to a very sad event. On July 7th...right after we got back...Mike's dad, Robert, fell and hit his head. He had bleeding in the brain and in his spinal fluid. Now, understand, Robert has had Alzheimer's for several years and wasn't in great shape, so this was very bad.
On Friday, July 11th, the doctors said there was nothing they could do and gave him 7 days. He was moved to the Kavangh House in West Des Moines that evening. Robert Melvin Cain died on July 18th, rather peacefully with his family all around him, if not physically, in spirit.





























Bob was buried with full Military honors at the Hartford Cemetary on Tuesday, July 22nd.
His smile will be missed by many.



On a happier note, one other event that I have failed to mention is a very nice outdoor wedding. My best friend, Mary's daughter, Jessica got married on July 12th to a nice young man, Josh Devilbliss. She was such a beautiful bride and the day was picture perfect.

Congratulations to Josh & Jessica Devilbliss. I wish them a long and beautiful marriage, with a lifetime of wonderful memories.





So June & July were busy months...a birth, a wedding and a death...the complete circle of life. Not sure I want another 2 months like that, but I don't know that I'd trade the experiences for anything!

2008 Disney Adventure

As you can see, we've been there and done all that and more besides!!!

We landed at 10:30 PM Thursday, February 14th. Our flight was at least a 1/2 hour late! We got out of the airport by maybe 11:15PM, after a very long line of other folks getting their rental cars from Alamo! We finally got to the hotel and to bed by about 12:30 PM Florida time!! We got up the next morning had a nice breakfast at Denny's (all of ours are closed so to me that was a treat!!)and then at 9 AM we had to go get all of our tickets from the See & Do Welcome Center which was about 10 miles away.
Tickets in hand, we decided to go to Sea World, mostly because we found out that Animal Kingdom opened at 8 AM and here it is about 9:30. And partly because, according to the guy at the Welcome Center, Sea World was 'just down the road' from the Welcome Center...yeah right! I went the way he said thinking 'right down the road' meant just that! Well, I doubled back too soon and ended up retracing our 'steps', so to speak, only to find out that we needed to go just a little further.
Anyway, we found the park, got the car parked and got just inside the gate and realized...no camera! Dang it! I'd left it at the hotel...not in the car, the hotel!! So I purchased one at the concession...$15. And then...after going through the bag check and the ticket gate...I realize... I can't find my credit card...we are NOT off to a good start! After searching through everything & retracing our steps, we were directed to the customer service counter and thank GOD, there it was!! Someone had actually turned it in...my faith in mankind was suddenly boosted to a new level!
Credit card recovered and much calmer, we started our adventure. We saw the manatees and turtles & took time to pet the Dolphins and the manta rays...wish we could have afforded the Discovery Cove thing...but $200...WOW!! We saw Shamu and walked most everywhere...no we did NOT ride the Kraken!! WOW! that thing LOOKED scary! After Shamu we decided that we would head for the beach to see the Ocean! Yeah!
We went back to our hotel, grabbed clean clothes for the evening and swim suits and towels and took what I thought was about a 40 min. drive to Cocoa Beach to see the Ocean. Well, that ride turned into about an hour or more! But we got to the Ocean after Mom made a couple of wrong turns! The boys swam for about an hour, I got my feet wet...all the way up to my thighs...waves are so fun! We were on the beach just about sunset. Very cool!! It was about 5:30 -6:00 and unfortunately, we had to hurry and change and head back for Orlando because we were supposed to be back to Arabian Nights by 7:15 PM for the VIP treatment and then the 8:30 show.
We were doing really well for time when all of a sudden...brake Lights!! Traffic jam!! Oh my goodness!! It was awful!! I can see bright red tail lights for miles ahead of me. I'm trying to get to I-4 from Florida 528 & we were like 2 miles from the interchange and everything just stopped! I freaked out, panicked and got the phone number to Arabian Nights from the brochure and called them. They were understanding, very kind and gracious about the whole thing and actually kind of waited for us...as it turned out, we weren't the only one's late do to the traffic. When we got there, they swept us through a back entrance and we got right in to where all the neat stuff was happening. The VIP treatment was: front row seating for the show, a special gift bag, we got to go pet some of the horses,...That was cool... and we got to meet some of the cast...that was way cool! The meal was wonderful and the show was outstanding!! I loved the whole thing and the boys seemed to really enjoy it too!!! Bonus!
We got back to the hotel around 10:30 PM and fell fast asleep...I was up at 6:30...don't ask why...but I got showered and got the boys moving and we headed to Animal Kingdom, by way of McDonald's for a quick, cheap breakfast. Animal Kingdom, as it turns out, was pretty much just down the street and behind our hotel. Very cool!! We got there about 8 AM...Camera in hand, this time...and went straight for the Safari ride. Enroute we took time to walk slowly around the front part of the Tree of Life and then across the bridge to Africa. While there, we each got a couple of souvenirs and then we were off on Safari...it was great just as you said it would be. Then we went to see the Gorillas, & the Hippos. Walked a couple of the trails, took the train to Rafiki's Planet thing, looked around...the boys were bored with this part, took the train back...we were looking for what we thought was a boat ride down the river in Asia. We found out that they had stopped doing it...bummer. I am, in the meantime, taking pictures of things I think are cool which includes the back side of the Tree of Life and Mount Everest. Now the boys are really bored and I in turn am ready to KILL them!! I take them to the 'Happiest place on Earth' and they are bored and crabby!!! I was NOT happy with them. In a little while they came to realize that MAYBE they needed to quit their crap. We rode the Dinosaur ride...that was fun, even they thought so. We got our picture taken! And of course, they always exit you from these rides right into a souvenir shop. The boys each got a set of really powerful, really cool magnets.
It's now about 1 PM and we decided it was time to go to Disney Hollywood Studios( AKA. MGM) After all, we did have a 2-day hopper pass and we weren't going to get to use it to it's fullest potential if we didn't get moving.We got to MGM rather quickly and hopped a tram to the front gate and started looking around. Right away we discovered that we had time to kill, about 3 hours worth, until 4:30 PM, because that's when the stunt show started. So while we waited, we did The Great Movies ride and had a late lunch. We found the Star Wars thing and watched a show they were putting on outside of it. Then we headed to the Lights, Action, Movie Extreme Stunt Show. Even with a Fast Pass (which we decided we liked very much!) the wait was quite long to go in, but the show was great and the boys really liked it. We came back by the Star Wars ride and rode that...one word...vertigo!! But even at that, it was fun!! The boys Loved it!
By now it's 5:30-6 PM, we took off for Epcot. Standing at the entrance to Epcot, Alex decides to try rubbing one of his magnets on the magnetic strip of his 2-day hopper ticket. Contrary to the Myth busters...this DOES deactivate them...his card wouldn't work...we had to wait while they fixed his card... by getting him a new one!!! He is apologizing and blaming the Myth busters!! I wanted to kill him...but I refrained.
One of the very first things we did was the BIG Epcot ball. Of course, by this time it's dark and Epcot really shines in the dark!!! Spaceship Earth...The boys loved it...it was worth the 30 minute wait, believe me...they really didn't want to leave. We went to Mission: Space and Alex rode the spinning version and Hunter and I did the Non-spinning version. (After the Star Wars ride I thought I'd pass on anything that spins!) Again the ride exits you through the gift shop! And of course we had to have a little souvenir from the ride...it was rather awesome!! The girl in the gift shop was great and told us the best place to see the Illuminations fireworks show was in 'Mexico'. So we headed for 'Mexico', we went inside the Inca Temple building and there was this neat boat ride...we went on that and then found some food near the water and sat and ate while the fireworks went off. They are, to say the least, spectacular!! By now it's late enough that the park is closing and the whole crowd at Epcot left, all at the same time...crazy!! We are talking a virtual sea of people!!
We got back to the hotel around 10:30 or later. I stayed up and packed everything, except what we would need the next day for Magic Kingdom.We had specific things we wanted to do at Magic Kingdom...ride the monorail...did that to and from the parking lot! Cool...Got breakfast. Went to Tomorrow land and did Hunter's must do...The Buzz Light-year ride! We had to have our picture taken in front of Cinderella's Castle, Alex wanted his picture with Walt Disney and Mickey and we wanted to ride the train all the way around the park...we did that... 2 times. I guess we liked it a lot!! While all this is going on we find out there is a blizzard at home...we were so hoping the flight got cancelled...of course, no such luck!!! Funny thing though...we got in on time even with the weather being so crappy but then we ended up being stuck on the plane for 1/2 hour 45 minute until they could get the jetway out to the plane!! Then we had to wait like andother 1/2 hour for our bags...Not sure i want to fly Allegiant again. They maybe cheaper but you do get what you pay for!!
None the less, we went, we traveled, we saw, and at least one of us wants to go back...SOON! Next time...I want a week at least...no rushing around. After all that we did in the three days that we were there, I think we could have slept the whole next week!!! I went to bed earlier every night the following week that's for sure. But we have all recovered and life is back to normal and we all have the memory of a Wonderful time at Disney World.
Check out some more pictures at http://www.disneyphotopass.com/default.aspx Keep checking back to this site too...I'm planning on downloading all the pictures we took to this site. I'm working on a photo book from Disney. Pricey, but it will be way cool!

Enjoy the Pictures!!

Great Living Tips

I received this from a good friend and wanted to sure it you...

Some POSSIBLE suggestions for an Exceptional, Superb, Powerful Life!
1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.
2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3.) Tape your late night shows so you can get more sleep. (Watch the shows tomorrow.)
4.) When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement,
'My purpose is to________ today.'
5.) Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6.) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year.
7.) Always pray and make time to exercise.
8.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of Six.
9.) Dream more while you are awake.
10.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.
11.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13.) Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15.) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class .......but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card?
17.) Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18.) You may not see life as fair. It's still good.
19.) Life is too precious to waste time hating anyone.
20.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22.) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
23.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24.) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear our fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.
25.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26.) Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
27.) Forgive everyone for everything.
28.) What other people think of you is none of your business.
29.) Time heals everything. Give time, time!
30.) However good or bad a situation seems, it will change.
31.) Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.
32.) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
33.) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
34.) The best is yet to come.
35.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36.) Do the right thing!
37.) Call your family often.
38.) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
"I am thankful for __________." "Today I accomplished _________."
39.) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40.) Enjoy your ride through life and make the most of it.
LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH.
LIFE'S A GIFT ... UNWRAP IT!

Happy Valentine's Day

I know I haven't been Blogging lately, but work has been demanding and time just seems to have slipped by, day by day. Really, nothing special has been going on. I've been working on getting my sewing/craft room in the basement rearranged and cleaned up and that's taken some time. It also is part of my Less is More campaign for my self. In line with that I finished an afgan that has been around for about 25+ years and gave it to our good friend, Eddie. He just loved it. SO, I finished something and as an added bonus, I made someone happy!!! In addition to that, I do have to mention...on 01-07-08 I weighed 208...This AM 02-11-08 I weighed 200...not a great deal of weight in a month, but I'll take what I can get!!

And just for the record ...This weather has been unbelievable...we got 10-12" of snow last Wednesday and I had to stay home all day. That put me behind at work and I already had something going on to make me miss 1/2 of Thursday, so now I am playing catch-up at work!! And we leave Thursday for Orlando so I'm missing 1/2 of Thursday and all of Friday!! So I really shouldn't be blogging NOW!

Anyway, Yes, I said Orlando...Alex, Hunter and I are flying out Thursday evening to Orlando, Florida to see Mickey Mouse (and other various things)! And yes, I'm getting excited and nervous. (I think the boys are too!) The last time I was there, Rhonda was living in Florida and she did all the driving and planning...this time it's all on me. I have to get us everywhere and keep us safe. I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm nervous about it none-the-less.

The weather is supposed to be in the 80's in Florida while we are there! WOW! Here it has been below freezing for so long, it seems like forever! I will be so grateful for a few days of WARM!

Our tentitive itinerary is as follows: Fly out of DSM on Thursday @ 6:20 PM CST. Land in Orlando @ 10 PM EST. Get the rental car and drive to our Hotel (Best Western Lakeside, just 2 miles from Disney World!!) Next morning we have to get our '2-day 4-park hopper' tickets to Disney World, tickets to Sea World and also the Arabian Nights Dinner Show.

Hopefully we can do Sea World and one of the Disney parks (Magic Kingdom) in one day (along with a late Dinner Show) and

two Disney parks (Animal Kingdom & Epcot) the next day.

On Sunday, the day we leave, we are planning a trip to the east coast...Cocoa Beach...to, at least, see the ocean and maybe Alex can do a little ocean fishing off the boardwalk. (His wish, not mine!)

And maybe Hunter can get in the water...he would like that, I'm sure!!

After that, our flight leaves Orlando @ 3:45 PM EST and arrives back in DSM @ 5:45 PM CST. Trip over.

I know that's a lot to cram into three days but that's all the time we have and I intend for us to as much as possible in those three days. I know we will be tired when we get home, but it will be so fun while we're there!! I'll fill you in when I get back.

We hope you all have a Wonderful Valentine's Day!

Self-Portrait Tuesday

Stop for a minute and take a self-portrait, a snapshot of you in the here and now. What ARE your dreams and goals for 2008? What is your word? What are you thinking about right now as we plunge head-first into the new year?

My MANTRA for 2008 is

Less is More

Less is More...Less of Me...More of Healthy...
I want to start eating healthier. I have been working toward drinking more water and less of everything else. I need to be more active. I'm not getting any younger and I have really been feeling it lately!! I need to start moving more!! So I have joined The Culver Judge 100 DAY HEALTH CHALLENGE in conjunction with Lighten up Iowa

and Live Healthy America.



The Challenge starts January 16th and goes to April 24th...100 days. We have formed a 10 person team in our office...Contracts for Fitness...I was voted Captain. We all keep track of our own weight loss and activiity. Then we each have a 'dashboard' on the website to log all of our information into weekly. The program is full of helpful tips on eating healthy and staying active. It even gives us recipes to try. Maybe it will motivate me to do more to get healthy and MORE Active. Remember TEAM is ...Together Everyone Achieves More... that's even more true in this endeavor!!

Here's to getting fit and feeling great!

Less is More...

Less Clutter...More Houshold Space.
I'm going to clean out my storage closets and clothes closets. I have stuff in my storage closet I haven't seen since I lived in the mobile home in Ankeny!! It's time for some of that stuff to go! If I haven't seen it in 7 years I probably don't need it!! I have started on my and Mike's clothes closet...I sent 5 Large garbage bags of clothes to an adult group home in Osceola. I have too many belongings and most of it is unnecessary. It's time for it to go.

Less is More...

Less watching TV...More Family Time.
This one will require help from the husband, but I'm going to give it a try. We watch too much TV and we don't go outside and do something active...this gets back to raising my activity level!! I want to spend more time with the two boys I have at home. After all, Hunter is 9 and in 3rd grade...it seems just yesterday he was in pre-school. And Alex, already 12...I just want to slow him down and I want to be able to watch him grow into himself...he seems to be in such a hurry to be an adult. They are such little men (and babies too).

I also want to spend more time with my older kids and my grandkids. The little ones won't be little forever. Rhonda's kids are growing so fast (& multiplying!). Brighton is 2 and Tate is 5 and Savanah will be arriving in a few months, Shannon's little ones, Joshua just turned 4 and Josie is 5 now. Soon they will be in school and half- grown before we know it. I don't want to miss anymore of them growing up than I have to...anymore than I already have.

Less is More...

Less Procrastination...More 'Do It Now'.
I have things around the house that need to be done. Example...I bought blinds for all the bedroom windows this past year and they are still in the boxes and waiting for me to get them hung. I have to polyurethane all the window sills first but it really needs to be done. I have a tough time getting things started too. We have to paint all the rooms in the house...just one of those things I hate to get started and then have a room torn up for months on end (like the laundry room was). I have a tough time finishing things, as well, obviously! I have been very guilty of not completing a lot of things...sewing, knitting, quilting and such, these things need to be finished, as well. This is the year I'm going to get a lot of it done!

Less is More...

Less Stress...More Calming down.
I read somewhere that our mind can only handle so many stressors (things left undone), before we feel the stress of knowing it's not done. I will try this year to finish a lot of those undone things and relieve my stress as much as possible. I will try to be less stressed when things don't go quite the way I want them to. I will hope for the best and settle for what may come. It's pretty much in God's hands anyway and I will learn to accept that and not be stressed about every little thing. I'm sure the boys will appreciate a Mom who's not freaking out over the little things all the time. Take a deep breathe and Calm Down!

So, in a nut shell, my New Year's Resolutions/goals for the year 2008 are:

I want to enjoy more time with my family at every opportunity.

I want to be a smaller, healthier version of my present self with the energy to complete the tasks I have set before me.

I want to end the procrastination in my life and complete my many projects and in doing so, lead a stress free life!

Pray for me!!!

Some exciting news

Rhonda had an Ultra-sound Friday the 11th and the great mystery of boy or girl has been solved. It's a GIRL!! Her name will be Savanah May and she is due June 11th...give or take a few days! I am so happy and excited...now I have to start on that pink baby blanket I almost made when Brighton was born!! And I only have 21 weeks to complete it. And I can tell you, the time will go by so fast! Go to Rhonda's Blog (the link is on my blog) and see the Ultra-sound picture of our little Savanah. And thanks to all of you who did THINK PINK with me!!!













I thought I'd share a few pictures from Christmas Eve. All the boys were together at Grandma Newsom's house and we had a great time. I made Clam Chowder for dinner and we celebrated Grandma's 83rd Birthday too!!

Mike had to do inventory at work on the 29th so we had to wait to have Lisa and the rest of the kids over for Christmas on January 5th. They were here for 6 wonderful hours. It's always great to spend time with the Grandkids. Here's a few pictures of that happy occasion...you can tell the little ones don't like Papa Mike too much!!

We hope you all had a great Christmas with friends and family too!

Happy New Year!!

WOW! 2008 is here. Crazy! I'm still trying to figure out what happened to 2007! We hope you all had a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve. We traditionally stay home and watch movies or whatever is good on TV. Too many crazy folks out there on the road.

We've survived the Caucus...hope you did your civic duty and went to the Caucus...I did. Now we just have to wait to see who gets nominated in a few months!! It's also Tax Time... God has blessed us this year with good incomes and now we have to go see just how much Uncle Sam & Uncle Culver get to keep!! Maybe if the right person gets into the White House, the taxes won't be so much in a year or two. Yeah right!! No matter who gets voted in for President and all the 'promises' made about change or whatever...that person still has to get their wants approved by Congress...and there won't be a darn thing done!! It's going to stay the same and the 'Good Ole Boy Club' will get what they want done and nothing else. It won't matter what the people really want or need! Sorry...sometimes it's hard for me to be an optimist about this stuff. I guess we hope for the best and expect the worst. Keeps one from being too disappointed about everything. Enough about politics!

January is a busy month for us. Lots of birthdays in January...including mine!! To celebrate, this Friday I'm having very minor foot surgery and will be gimping around for a week or two. Not really looking forward to that!! But better to get it done before spring and summer when I'm going to want to be wearing sandals and be outside in the yard doing stuff! Mike's daughter, Lisa's birthday is the day after mine, so we are planning to go to Lunch at El Rodeo in Des Moines on Saturday the 19th. This has become the tradition every year and we have a great time getting together with everyone. That I AM looking forward to!

The boys started their 2nd semester of school. Boy, that 1st semester seems to have gone quickly! It will be Spring and Easter before we know it. Time to start thinking about getting ready for Easter since I heard it is the earliest Easter in like a 100 years!! March 23rd! I must admit the earliest I ever remember was like April 8th or something like that!! The boys usually get a 4 day weekend for Easter, but looking at our school calendar, this year it falls during Spring Break!! They get March 14th through the 24th off. That's 10 days, almost the same amount of time they had off for Christmas!! And then School will be out for the Summer, May 22nd!! Now, there were about 4 days for the ice storm, so the end may not be until May 30th, but that's still better than June 4th like last year!!

Backing up to February...The boys and I leave Valentine's Day evening for Orlando, Florida!! Disney World, Epcot and the Animal Kingdom...Sea World, if we have time and the last morning we will be at the OCEAN!! This is going to be a very exciting thing for the boys, I hope. They have never flown anywhere and then to see the ocean! WoW! I'm very excited just to be able to share this with them. Hunter likes to travel in the van on long trips, but we will see how he does flying!! Alex is a little nervous, but that's just Alex! We will only be gone until the evening of the 17th, so we will have to pack as much FUN into our trip as we can. The boys don't even have to miss any school because the Friday we will be gone is a day off from school! Yes, I planned it this way!! And flights were cheapest for us then too! I just realized it's only a month away!! But trust me, we will fill you all in when we get back!

For now though, we hope you all have a healthy and prosperous 2008!