Another paradise is created...

My good buddy Fickel's brother got married this weekend. Fickel, Robinson, and I were on hand to take pictures. Here are some that I took.

Feel free to leave constructive criticism.

whimp

(deb's brother in law, and father)

groom and father

(groom)

(Bride, Maid of Honor, Bridesmaid) (bride and groom listening to a letter from the groom's friend)

Time for some pictures!

here are the pictures from this weekend, and some of miss riles FIRST soccer game...

Mom gets to come home..
tomorrow...
We are getting together today to have a prebirthday celebration, and so brandy can give her the quilt she made. I can't wait for her to see it.
will post photos tonight.
whimp

Cooler weather...soups on!
It got down to 46 degrees here last night. I woke up to a cold house this morning. I refuse to turn my furnace on. I decided to search all recipes to find a soup recipe I could try. I looked for chicken tortilla soup, didn't find one i wanted, so I decided to search for potato soup recipes.. FOUND ONE! OMG this recipe is good. Of course I tweaked it a bit, and it soooo rocks.

Baked Potato Soup

12 slices bacon
2/3 cup margarine
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups milk
3 cups chicken broth
6-7 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 green onions, chopped
1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Garlic


Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain, crumble, and set aside. (I sauteed garlic in a little tiny teaspoon of bacon grease, and added with the onions).
Bake or boil potatoes (I boiled mine, just cause I am lazy like that) drain if you boil
In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk and chicken broth, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.
I added more cream cheese, a bit more salt, and more than a teaspoon of black pepper.
This was such a good recipe.
whimp

I had some 'splaining to do...

I talked to emilee today. We talked for awhile, and understand each other now.
I apologized for being an idiot. She explained what happened. I think we both were given misinformation.

Sorry jake and emilee

whimp

Turtis and Stacy...

I took their engagement pics tonight.. here they are..

peace out,

whimp

(cheese!)

he is so good for her, i am glad she has found someone worthy of her.

Goin to the river, goin to the river!
We are getting ready to head out to the river. I made BLT salad (cause aunt brammy didn't want to!), and tortilla roll ups. Yeah me. I am a good cook...just don't like to. I don't like the whole process of it all.. i bet chris is just wondering what happened. When we lived together (shh..don't tell) and first married, I cooked awesome meals. Now, he makes chicken on the grill. I tell ya tho.. the man can cook anything in a crockpot.
I took some ok pics at the river yesterday. I am taking turtis and stacy's engagement pics today. We'll see how they come out. I think i have my settings fixed on my camera, so the sharpness is better. Fickel and I are supposed to take their wedding pics in Oct. I am nervous. I wish she would have gotten a professional photographer. this is too special of a day for me to do the coverage! lol.. i am a bit nervous. It will be okay tho.
Gearing up to welcome 17 children into our classroom on Wednesday. I wish I had more time to get ready. Of course, are you really ever ready?
Well.. i need to go add the ranch dressing to the blt salad.
peace
whimp

When I thought....
this school year would not have any major glitches in it... I was wrong. We received word today, that after almost 20 years of leasing, the company needs their building for office space. We have to move our entire center by November 1. We have to FIND a building, and move a center in 59 days. I am hoping they find something for us. At least I have something (subbing) to fall back on in case they end up closing the center, but the girls I work with don't. They would need to find other positions, and not many people are hiring.
SO if anyone knows of any buildings about 1200 sq ft. in my area, pass the word please.
I decided there is nothing i can do about it. I am just going to teach like I had planned, and let the powers that be decide the fate of our building.
On another note...i am disappointed for how a friend has been treated. I thought the people were better than this.
peace.
whimp

So way back when...

I started a myspace page. I did it to connect with an old friend from CB. She is the mother of a very, very, very, exboyfriend (one of the decent ones i dated anyway). I guess I don't understand the hype of myspace. It could be the possibility that I just don't understand how to use all the features too. My page is really cute. It's got spongebob on it! lol..

whimp

Heavy Heart and Mind...
I am sitting here with a heavy heart and mind tonight. I don't really know what is wrong. I know I am worried. I know I am anxious, confused, and not understanding my role in life. I am not understanding where I belong, if what I do matters, and where to go from here.
I guess I am at a point in my life where I feel I should be in "bigger" places, contributing more to others lives.
I am anxious to get my "kids" back. To start the school year with eleven 4 year olds (instead of eleven 3 year olds!). I will have a total of 18, but 5 of them are 3's.All of the 4 year olds, but one are a returning child. I feel I didn't fit enough in, that I failed them in their learning. I know it isn't true, and I know most teachers feel this way. How lucky am I to get them again?
I am questioning life in general tonight. Chris and I have been laying awake at night just talking. I forget what it was like (pre-riles) to just lay in bed and talk. I missed that. I have been feeling a bit neglected from him lately. I felt unappreciated, and unnoticed lately. I was equating affection, appreciation, with monetary items, when in reality, he shows me he appreciates me everyday. He lets me sleep in. He takes his shower first, so I can sleep 15 more minutes. He does the dishes, most of the laundry, and never complains when I want to go scrapping all day on saturdays. He never complains about the money I spend on it either. He almost always puts supper away, and in the winter time he goes out and starts my van 15 minutes before we leave. Now granted, i usually leave him a note somewhere (notebook for work, in his wallet in the middle of the cash he has, his shoe, his sock, somewhere, where it will be a surprise to find it. I buy him or make him cards, gifts, etc. He is not like that. He doesn't put thought into those things. Does it make it right. No. But he does do things to show me he appreciates me.
I have been worried about mom today. Some things came up today that scared me, (nothing serious, just got me thinking) and have me worried for the road ahead with chemo. What if she can't beat this? What if her bottom just keeps breaking down, and she just keeps having set back after set back? What then? I haven't had her in my life long enough for her to NOT be in it. I want her for many more years. I counted how many siblings she has left. Six...out of 16..there are six. Aunt Peg, Uncle Gary, Aunt Did, Uncle Butch, Mom, and Aunt Evie. I remember going to the family reunions and having the best of times. Especially the water fights and camping at the Water Works, and playing in the mud.
I am worried about danny. Will he turn out ok or am I damaging him for life? I wish I had more patience, more wisdom, and the sanity to know the difference. lol..
I remember a prayer ronnie and I used to say to each other when he was over seas..
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
It is helping me tonight.
Love ya,
whimp

Dude turned five..and other river stories...

We went to the river this weekend to celebrate Dude's bday and have a good time. We had a ball of course. I am off this week. I am currently waiting to go pick up the double trouble team (who are riding the bus to aunt tachelles), riles and dude are having a playdate. I even made homemade chocolate chip cookies for them to snack on.
Here are some pics of the weekend..

whimp

Life of a sixth grader and kindergartener

It was the first day of school today. I put riles and danno on the bus at aunt tachelle's and bawled like a baby. I couldn't believe how small she looked, stepping onto that big yellow bus. I couldn't believe how brave she was, stepping onto that big yellow bus. I couldn't believe how excited she was to ride that big yellow bus.

Riles was beyond excited. Danny was less than thrilled. He said his summer wasn't long enough. I think aunt shell begs to differ with him! lol.. Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday, I was putting HIM on the bus for the first time. I can't believe how much he's grown.
Here are the pictures of the first day of school. Complete with ms riles' new haircut.

enjoy

wendy

Nine more days till school starts!
Riles and Danno are already for school..well..at least ONE of them is excited. lol.. danny is just not happy about school. Even tho this year he gets a locker and everything. Riles is happy as a clam. She loves school, and loves to go. I hope she always has a love of learning.
I went and registered them tonight...thanks to jason for reminding me! lol..
The cost for school this year:
1. 2 children elementary fees 50.00
2. Back to School supplies approximately 50.00 with backpacks included
3. Clothing 150.00 (they really only needed shoes and jeans)
4. School lunch and extra milk for riles in the pm.. 20.00 a month (I am making my children take their lunch.. school lunch is up to 1.55 a day. Danny doesn't eat it, and riles will want to take hers cause he is..lol..) They each asked if they could eat hot lunch once in a while.
5. School pictures ONE week after school starts..undetermined amount..don't have the info.
6. Getting rid of the little buggers so i can enjoy my ONE MEASLY week of summer vacation...priceless.. (not really) i miss taking them to the elephant museum, the zoo, the movies, and just lounging around the house eating ice cream and popcorn.

have a good wednesday
whimp

He's a Husband



Jake and Emilee got married yesterday. It was hot, stressful, and they were both gorgeous. Fickel (THANK GOD FOR FICKEL) and I took the photos yesterday. All in all I think we took close to 800 pics. We are not professionals, but I think we did a very fine job. (For some reason, I have messed with the settings on my camera, and a lot of my pics were not as sharp as they should be. I will have to fix that. )

Here is a preview of the bride and groom. The Mr. and Mrs. Jake.

whimp

WHEW!
I couldn't access my blog tonight. It kept coming up with an IE abort message. Turns out, needed to delete my sitemeter code cause they majorally messed up an upgrade. my little bloggy friend is ok..
i would sure miss this if I didn't have it.
whimp

What can ya do?

When you find out your ex-husband's gonna be new exwife and her new boyfriend have a child (a girl) and name it...







RILEY?
It shouldn't bother me, but it does. Why it does, I don't know. Probably because i want to be petty like that.
whimp

howdy friends..

sorry about posting..spare time is a rarity these days.

Mom had a set back last week, and went back into the hospital on Saturday. She was septic from an infection in her abdomen. She is now on an even longer road to healing, but she is doing much better than she was last Saturday. Much better. We have taken her her own coffee supply to make at the hospital, and she is now a bit happier. I hope. Cindy has been working hard on mom's flooring. I am going to try to get over there this week and help out. I hate laying tile. I am not good at it.

Anyway, I took the kiddos to wally world today and finished buying school supplies. Riles is ever so excited to being going to kindergarten. The only thing is is upset with is Mister isn't in her class. (lucky for that teacher...no trouble twins on the loose!lol). I told her she will still get to see lots of him at school.

I hope everyone is doing good. A big shout out to my nephew Isaac and good wishes on the newest journey of his life. Good luck buddy, we will miss you.

I will leave you with the cutest picture (outside of the frogs of course) of the trouble twins..aka..double trouble.

whimp

Hoppy Fourth of July!

Sounds like mom might get to go home today. She will be in skilled nursing for a few days so she can get some more strength. Shell and I are going up today to transport her. My sisters and I have been working on her house. We painted the entire downstairs, (kilzed and painted), replaced tile in her sewing room, and are looking into retiling the kitchen and dining room. We are checking with her to see what she wants.

We will be going to the river on saturday. My kids are so excited. Since it flooded terribly, we were worried it wouldn't be ready to play at.

I hope everyone has a wonderous 4th, and god bless america.

peace,

whimp

Thanks for all your prayers...
Mom sailed through surgery and has begun the long process of healing. She is in a lot of pain, but is stable. I am hoping her pain will be better managed tomorrow because they will be getting her up and sitting her either on the side of the bed, or in the chair.
Thanks for thinking of us, and for all your good thoughts.
whimp

Please say a prayer for us..

My mom has her surgery on Monday. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers, and ask that everything go smoothly, that she won't be in any unnecessary pain, and she recovers quickly.
Thanks for thinking of us.

whimp

(pictures of grandma and the kiddos) love you mom

Butthead...

he poses for aunt "deeyanne" but makes me pay him! lol.. I love this pic. Gonna get it printed this weekend. Thanks aunt "deeyanne" for sending it to me. love it.

whimp

Papas, girls in boots, and a hired boy,

Riles and Danny love to play outside with sticks. They gather the sticks up and place them in one of their forts which is either in front of the bay window outside my bedroom, or under the big pine tree that sits next to our driveway. I love to watch them gather their stash and store it. It is so fun to watch them together.
Blackie came down today to put his mower away. Riles walked back with him, and they talked the whole way. Sometimes I wonder what they talk about. Knowing Blackie he is pulling her leg somehow.

In order to get danny to pose for pictures today, I had to pay him $5.00! The little scamp. I hate not having pictures of him to post, or scrapbook, but he just doesn't like me taking pictures. I got some today tho! lol.. and man are they good. Not much going on in my world. How about you?

whimp