NEXT.....

Well...on to the next adventure. I fly out of Ohio on Thursday, headed to Oregon briefly. Then off for vacation with my new family!! How amazing of them to share with me...(wink) yep, that was as good as a hug for you two, mommasan and papasan. Looking forward to seeing you!
So, getting a few last minute things done here....will be coming back it sounds like. Just not sure exactly when.
Thanks Arlen and Jessi, for your love and care.

A Beautiful Day

Don't you love days like this?? Perfect clear blue sky....cold..mmm.. Had to get a few pictures to share with y'all..and good thing because now its foggy AND melting and dirty. Oh well...we also get to leave our down coats at home for a change=)

Girls' Night Out

Yep, we had a girls' night out....who is going to take pics when we are all having fun??! But I took these three pics at Cici's..just to record the event!=) So, Arlen and Jessi had a date night....good planning, Arlen. And I took the girls, thanks to A & J, to Chillicothe. We started at a pizza all-you-can-eat buffet. Pizza, salad and desserts...and a video arcade. So, they stuffed themselves while I introduced Paige to chicken pizza with white sauce. then they raced off to play games, and they were allowed to do whatever they wanted with the money and eat as much as they wanted....so after plates of pizza, cinnamon rolls, brownies and many games....we were moving on to the next activity. Off to the bowling alley....which turned out to be crazy busy!!! Like a 30-45 min wait for lanes!! We put our names on the list and waited....and waited...and waited...and finally started talking about other options. How about home to watch a movie?? No dice. How about going to Cold Stone and then home to watch a movie...yep, a winner!!=) So, off to get loads of ice cream....then home to put Paige to bed and watch Huck Finn. We had a great girls night....they wore me out!=)

the pups

My walking partners....up and down the hill. I had to get these pics of how deep the snow is up on top. For those who know the area, you will recognize the top of the hill. And know how big these "pups" are! The snow was right up to their bellies! All melting now....

Wow...winter...

Snowing every day here....some of these pics were taken last week and some this morning. Hard to tell exactly how much snow is on the ground. It melts a little once in awhile, but piles up again. Up on top of the hill, the snow is up to the dogs' bellies.. actually even some places down below. There was a big, wet snow, then it froze.....now powder for days...very nice sledding conditions for a perfect sledding hill right in our backyard....which is good when you can't go anywhere and the kids are home from school for days on end...

Who has the camera this time??

Funny story actually....Elena "borrowed" my camera and figured out how to draw and write on the pictures while they are still on the camera....had no idea. The hearts and border on the one picture of Ryann and Paige was Elena's genius. Anyway, just thought I would have an author's posting....what do I have to confess? Ummm....I like potato chips? No.. I LOVE potato chips. And steak, and red shoes, and a good deal, and this is a silly posting.....
Oh yeah, and the random picture is for you Kev....a picture of my corner next to my bed that I stare at every night when we talk until too late....FYI...

More arts and crafts...so to speak...

Arlen's projects....he built two rabbit hutches...one for the buck they are going to buy soon, and another bigger one for all the babies...the girls helped him and painted them. The other project is a chicken coop....chickens will soon be residing here. He and a buddy also built a sheep shearing stanchion....the buddy took that home with him, since he is the one with sheep. I should mention here that these were all built in the middle of the night, since he does work...sometimes during the day, sometimes at night...

Calendar Making

Perfect snow day activity...thanks babe. These pics are mainly for you....and any who don't know, Kevin got the girls this calendar making kit for a gift when he came out. They love arts and crafts. They haven't finished all twelve months yet, which is good, since we will probably have another snow day tomorrow! The last picture is what Paige was doing while they were making "months".=)

Happy Valentine's Day

A very nice Valentine's Day surprise...Jessi had gifts for everyone. She bought me that really nice card, gifts for the girls...and Arlen bought Jessi that really nice, soft brown blanket she is wrapped up in. The girls are giving their mom chocolate kisses... It was a sweet way to start the day! And, but of course, happy valentine's day from my mom....love you mom!!! And love the shoes!

Cutie Patooties

Gettin' cabin fever, we are....some shots of the girls on all these days off they have had. Three last week, three this week so far... Ryann on my computer...Elena in a self-portrait....Ryann and Paige goofing off together... Ryann insisted on a picture of Paige's eating hairdo that I did ( I quite liked it myself)

Awards Night: Ryann

The series of Ryann was easier to shoot, but no less hysterical....pick, pick, pick at the lip...This is not so fun that people are looking at me... Two awards for honor roll and one award for perfect attendance. Good job, Ryann! Awesome!

Awards Night at West Elementary: Elena

Trying to take pictures of children in a line when they are supposed to be standing still should not be difficult...that is why I had to post the whole series...Elena standing still simply doesn't happen....we are unsure exactly what she is doing but it appears to be some kind of victory dance... Two awards for perfect attendence and two awards for honor roll. Good job, Elena!

A few Kevin shots

This picture of Kevin and Elena was on my camera so wasn't added last time....I think it is pretty adorable. While he was out here, Mr. Wilson gave me my first hair cutting lesson....Why didn't you let me have the clippers more often, baby? And for the interested viewer...a picture of where he proposed to me...in the middle of the Columbus Airport lobby...yeah, wow.