After a two day drive...we are finally back in Kansas. I was sooo shocked to walk into my house and find it a mess, including a dirty diaper in the kitchen trash (so it sat for a whole month rotting)! It made me realize how in a hurry I was to get away. The kids seem to be happy to be back and play with their toys, sleep in their rooms and play with their friends across the street. However, we do really miss being with Mimi, Papi, Meagan, Sarah....and Grandma, Grandpa, Brian and Casey. I really miss having bread, milk, pop and dinner magically appear in the kitchen and someone for Josh to wake up when he wakes up at his very early hour.
The one thing that I am especially grateful for is that Josh and Kylie get to know there extended family. While some may criticize me for going to Michigan for a month at a time, I am so glad that Josh and Kylie know who their family is when we look at a picture and have memories of them. For those of you who don't know this, my grandma (mom's mom) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 50. She died 3 weeks after her 60th birthday. She was so young and I was lucky enough to be born while my mom and her were still young....so I have some memories of her before Alzheimer's took her away...but not a lot. I really want my kids to know who their extended family is and have their own memories and to love them as much as I do.
Also Kylie is extremely shy around strangers and I think very few people get to see the real crazy side of her. Both families I think got to know my shy child and hear her laugh without me right next to her.
Until next time mom and dad...enjoy the quiet and get some sleep for me! Love you all in Michigan and please come visit us in Texas...I love company!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
So, so sad...
I just found this article on my mom's computer....I thought it was so sad.
Updated: Ann Arbor News to close in July
by Stefanie Murray The Ann Arbor News
Monday March 23, 2009, 9:18 AM
http://annarbor.com/
The Ann Arbor News will cease publication in July. A new company, AnnArbor.com, will be launched at that time.
Editor's note: This story has been updated.
The Ann Arbor News will close in July after publishing as the city's daily newspaper since 1835, publisher Laurel Champion announced today.
Heavy losses in revenue drove the decision. Champion said the current "business model is not sustainable."
"This isn't about abandoning local journalism, it's about serving it up in a very different way," Champion told employees.
A new Web-based media company called AnnArbor.com LLC will be launched later this year. In addition to publishing continuously online, AnnArbor.com will publish a print edition twice a week.
RELATED STORIES
• Letter from Ann Arbor News Publisher Laurel Champion
• Future of Ann Arbor News building unclear
• AnnArbor.com will offer more than local news to an Internet savvy community
Champion, who will be executive vice president of AnnArbor.com, told News employees they can apply for positions with the new company, although job losses are inevitable. A total of 272 people work for the newspaper at both its main downtown Ann Arbor office and its Pittsfield Township printing plant. The newspaper has a daily circulation of nearly 45,000.
"We have an extremely talented staff at The Ann Arbor News, and they have done a tremendous job through very difficult times," Champion said in a letter to readers. "There is nothing they did or didn't do that would have sustained our seven-day print business model."
Employees gathered in a first floor conference room at 9 a.m. on Monday to hear Champion's announcement. There was an audible gasp when she told workers that the newspaper would close, and some people could be seen wiping tears from their eyes.
Afterward, reporters, editors and photographers appeared dazed as they huddled in groups to discuss the news. Ed Petykiewicz, editor of The News, looked visibly shaken as he paced the newsroom. Several times he could be seen removing his glasses to rub his eyes.
On Friday, Petykiewicz announced he would retire from The News this spring after more than 20 years with the company.
Sports reporter Dave Holzman said the announcement of the paper's closing was shocking.
"It's devastating. I didn't really see this coming today," he said. "I thought there would be a final day for the paper ... but I really didn't think it would be this soon." He said he had expected the paper to continue publishing for a couple of more years."
Holzman, 47, has been with The News for 19 years.
"It's been my life for a long time. I can't remember what my other job was before this."
Many people in the community said they were shocked to hear the news as well.
"My biggest worry is is there going to be an adequate amount of news that will get out to the community," said Ann Arbor City Council Stephen Rapundalo. "It is a serious concern of mine."
"I sort of have tears in my eyes," said Joan Lowenstein, a former City Council member who currently serves on the Downtown Development Authority board as well as the City Planning Commission. Lowenstein is a lawyer who once represented The News.
"First of all, citizens find out about government from reading the newspaper, but government officials also find out what is happening with the citizens by reading the newspaper.
"You lose that kind of mirror as a government official. Citizens will lose the ability to follow all kinds of information."
Employees at The News will be given a severance package. Meetings were scheduled on Monday and Tuesday for current News employees to meet with Matt Kraner, president of AnnArbor.com, to discuss the new company and its job openings.
Kraner, formerly chief marketing officer of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, was named president and chief executive officer of AnnArbor.com, and Tony Dearing, former editor of the Flint Journal who also served as business editor and managing editor of The Ann Arbor News in the 1990s, was named chief content leader.
Champion described AnnArbor.com as an innovative, community news and information service. AnnArbor.com also will produce a twice-a-week newspaper, published on Thursday and Sunday and a total-market coverage product once a week.
The Ann Arbor News will continue publishing a daily newspaper through July, she said.
Champion said AnnArbor.com will be more than a Web site with articles. For example, social networking features will allow for real-time conversations, reporters will be equipped to report news as it happens, and reader input will drive features on the site.
Community forums about AnnArbor.com will occur Thursday, April 2 at the Campus Inn at 2 p.m. and on Friday, April 3 at Weber's Inn at 10 a.m. Information on additional forums will be posted on AnnArbor.com.
Updated: Ann Arbor News to close in July
by Stefanie Murray The Ann Arbor News
Monday March 23, 2009, 9:18 AM
http://annarbor.com/
The Ann Arbor News will cease publication in July. A new company, AnnArbor.com, will be launched at that time.
Editor's note: This story has been updated.
The Ann Arbor News will close in July after publishing as the city's daily newspaper since 1835, publisher Laurel Champion announced today.
Heavy losses in revenue drove the decision. Champion said the current "business model is not sustainable."
"This isn't about abandoning local journalism, it's about serving it up in a very different way," Champion told employees.
A new Web-based media company called AnnArbor.com LLC will be launched later this year. In addition to publishing continuously online, AnnArbor.com will publish a print edition twice a week.
RELATED STORIES
• Letter from Ann Arbor News Publisher Laurel Champion
• Future of Ann Arbor News building unclear
• AnnArbor.com will offer more than local news to an Internet savvy community
Champion, who will be executive vice president of AnnArbor.com, told News employees they can apply for positions with the new company, although job losses are inevitable. A total of 272 people work for the newspaper at both its main downtown Ann Arbor office and its Pittsfield Township printing plant. The newspaper has a daily circulation of nearly 45,000.
"We have an extremely talented staff at The Ann Arbor News, and they have done a tremendous job through very difficult times," Champion said in a letter to readers. "There is nothing they did or didn't do that would have sustained our seven-day print business model."
Employees gathered in a first floor conference room at 9 a.m. on Monday to hear Champion's announcement. There was an audible gasp when she told workers that the newspaper would close, and some people could be seen wiping tears from their eyes.
Afterward, reporters, editors and photographers appeared dazed as they huddled in groups to discuss the news. Ed Petykiewicz, editor of The News, looked visibly shaken as he paced the newsroom. Several times he could be seen removing his glasses to rub his eyes.
On Friday, Petykiewicz announced he would retire from The News this spring after more than 20 years with the company.
Sports reporter Dave Holzman said the announcement of the paper's closing was shocking.
"It's devastating. I didn't really see this coming today," he said. "I thought there would be a final day for the paper ... but I really didn't think it would be this soon." He said he had expected the paper to continue publishing for a couple of more years."
Holzman, 47, has been with The News for 19 years.
"It's been my life for a long time. I can't remember what my other job was before this."
Many people in the community said they were shocked to hear the news as well.
"My biggest worry is is there going to be an adequate amount of news that will get out to the community," said Ann Arbor City Council Stephen Rapundalo. "It is a serious concern of mine."
"I sort of have tears in my eyes," said Joan Lowenstein, a former City Council member who currently serves on the Downtown Development Authority board as well as the City Planning Commission. Lowenstein is a lawyer who once represented The News.
"First of all, citizens find out about government from reading the newspaper, but government officials also find out what is happening with the citizens by reading the newspaper.
"You lose that kind of mirror as a government official. Citizens will lose the ability to follow all kinds of information."
Employees at The News will be given a severance package. Meetings were scheduled on Monday and Tuesday for current News employees to meet with Matt Kraner, president of AnnArbor.com, to discuss the new company and its job openings.
Kraner, formerly chief marketing officer of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, was named president and chief executive officer of AnnArbor.com, and Tony Dearing, former editor of the Flint Journal who also served as business editor and managing editor of The Ann Arbor News in the 1990s, was named chief content leader.
Champion described AnnArbor.com as an innovative, community news and information service. AnnArbor.com also will produce a twice-a-week newspaper, published on Thursday and Sunday and a total-market coverage product once a week.
The Ann Arbor News will continue publishing a daily newspaper through July, she said.
Champion said AnnArbor.com will be more than a Web site with articles. For example, social networking features will allow for real-time conversations, reporters will be equipped to report news as it happens, and reader input will drive features on the site.
Community forums about AnnArbor.com will occur Thursday, April 2 at the Campus Inn at 2 p.m. and on Friday, April 3 at Weber's Inn at 10 a.m. Information on additional forums will be posted on AnnArbor.com.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A girl's night out...
I finally feel like myself again...thanks to Codi and Cassi. They went to Chicago for their spring break and invited me to come crash their party...so what mom of 2 with free babysitting could say no to that??? On Tuesday I hopped a train..(barely) and went to Chicago to see my girls. I had sooo much fun. As you can see below we did a lot of touristy things along with ALOT of walking. My muscles are still burning and feet still hurt...but it was so worth it.
or to see the whole album....
http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e143/amswarner/2009/chicago/?albumview=slideshow
or to see the whole album....
http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e143/amswarner/2009/chicago/?albumview=slideshow
Sunday, March 15, 2009
A warm day in MI...
Today was the first warm day outside where you actually didn't need a coat. After family dinner I decided to let the kids play in Mimi's park and run off some energy. They had a lot of fun running and jumping. Kylie really liked the trampoline and it was really funny to watch.
Friday, March 13, 2009
This is for Aaron...
We have been gone now for two weeks and today Aaron really wanted to see pictures of the kids...so here is some of what we have done. We are having fun in Michigan and today we were able to catch up with our friend Julie S. and her kids at Chelsea's Treehouse...we had soooo much fun. Anyways, not much else new...
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Old School....
So, in case you don't already know this...we decided to come to Michigan for most of the month of March....very last minute. Now that everyone is adjusted we are starting to have a lot of fun. I love being able to sleep in sometimes, having dinners cooked for me, and someone can usually watch Kylie while I take a shower...so I don't come out to permanant marker on the walls!
Last night I was playing on my parents computer and found these old pictures. My mom is going to kill me for posting them but hey, I love looking at these and so do the kids. I hope Peggy and Terry don't mind that I added a few from what Aaron had copied here too! Enjoy!
Terry, Grandpa Warner, Brian and Aaron swimming in the old pool in their backyard
The day Ryan was brought home from the hospital, Sarah is 4, I am 6 and my mom is 27 and my dad is almost 30.
A dad teaching his son...
Ryan, Sarah and me at our Great Aunt and Uncle's cabin near Jackson Hole
Senior year for Aaron with his parents
Our second jeep...look at how skinny we ALL are...
Mom and I visiting Meagan in the orphanage for the first time!
Mom being a kid!
About to have Josh...
Papa V with Josh...I think he was 2 days old.
Ryan and Amy's wedding...if you hadn't guessed!
Thomas and Kylie in a baby carriage...Kylie is almost two months older.
Dunt and Thomas
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)