San Antonio Visit

Happy Valentines Day

Paul drove me to San Antonio for the day. The trip was my valentines gift which included a visit with Melanie and her family. I had the most fun seeing Mel and playing with Brendan, Rylie and cooing at Carson. I brought them the birthday box since I'm terrible at mailing things. Remember people you are very priveledged if I get my christmas cards out in the mail:)

Enjoy the pictures:)

Mel and Carson

This is the only glimps of Jeff I was aloud. He was busy preparing to fly back to Minn.

Brendan and his Planet Heros

Please forgive me Brendan and Carson for the next few pictures there is nothing like a little princess and her pink pretties. Right Rylie?

Yes, Darling I agree!

Even when your wand helps playing with the boy toys:)

She is just too sweet!

When our visit was over we tried to get together

for one family picture

of all three

here are the results.

Brendan and Carson

Rylie and Carson

so good so far;)

Well here they are:)

Carson and I at least he wasn't a year and half when I finally met him.

Graduation 12/14/2008

Okay it's time to celebrate I finally made it to my college graduation a twenty some years in the making to get to this day. Yeah!

Even though my Dad could not be there. I just wanted to say Thanks Mom and Dad for all your support. Daddy I never would have made it through the rough patches without your pep talks. I love and miss you. Mom thanks for everything from the moment you enter into my life all was right in my world. You were the best teacher I ever had.

Before the ceremony just hanging around on a cold and wet Sunday afternoon. This cold weather I do not miss at all.

The procession into the auditorium. Paul happen to be sitting on the right side of the aisle not just for the procession but also for which line I happen to be in for being seated. Honor students come right after those recieving their masters. Hmm maybe thats a new direction for me.

Good Luck Finding me I am somewher among the gold tassels sitting about 8 rows behind the stage. Our guest speaker was Dann Florek (the Captain from Law and Order: SVU) - he had attended Eastern and was bitten by the acting bug before graduating. He was a Honoree Graduate of my class.

Tokens of the day - Program, Tassel and an empty Diploma holder.

But I had finished in August so I received my Diploma in Sept '08

Seeing Old Friends

On my world wind trip to Michigan for graduation I stopped along the way to see Family and Old friends who have helped me along lifes way to reach my goal. It was a wonderful time to visit with my mom, canton ward and paul's parents. I will cherish the trip for a lifetime. Thanks Paul for making a memorable trip, for driving 45 hrs(round trip) instead of flying 8 hrs, so I could visit and catch up with the ones I miss the most.

The Simmons who will soon be my neighbor (keeping our fingers cross will be moving to Texas). Not exactly living next door but just a few minutes instead of 21 hrs.

Bitter Family - I believe the Lamb is a new addition:)

The West (partial family with new addition) the girls where on stage waiting to see Santa

Bro Nielsen and his Beautiful Girls

Dalton Family (Brendan has been turned into the Gingerbread boy)

The Loving Lewis Family - with out Sister Lewis I would have been lost. Thanks for inviting me to the Ward Christmas Bash it was meaningful and just magical to get to see everyone at one time.



Johnson Crew - my how everyone has grown

you do see the pattern as I catch everyone before they leave the festivities

Barron troupe - with my look a like son Chandler/Daniel

I love you guys- you could always cheer up the boys and make me smile.

And One of my most favorite red headed families the Tarbet's - thanks Christina for the late night chat and ride home in the snow. I wish we still lived close:(

A few pictures I took for the boys (Sam and Dan) to show them how much the boys and girls are now young men and women.

Christian, Logan and Matt



Chelsea, Shelby, Nicole, Heidi, and Sister Huch



This was such a bitter sweet trip - I miss my friends in Michigan, loved the new additions and hope to see them all soon one day.

Pirates II

Climb aboard Maties and set sail with Pirates II 08

All ye dinosaurrr lubberrrs walk thee plank

ENTER IF YE DARRRE

Bewarrre Ye too can lose ye self in the Caverns of Shel Ton Isles.

Here lies Goldy Bones bewarrre

he take ye fer all yer galleons and candy bootey too.

Captain Ghostly and Captain Jack be collecting yerr pieces of eight fer safe passage.

Move slowly on ward through Davey Jones Lockerrr

only this time he be werkin' with the Grrrim

Ahh Good Job Matey ye be almost ter thee finish line

This here be the Knaves Inn

with thee lovely new help

make sure ye pay yer farrre or ye be hangin'

a lot longerrr then ye barrrgain fer.

especially with a knave like Long John Skelly.

Go ahead these herre shipmates arrrgh jest holdin' up thee wall.

But bewarrrry of the mad docterrr - he mite knot make ye sea werrthy.

Aye Mates ye made it. Lookin' fer ye next year arrggh.

Ike's Visit

On Sept 13, One year and One day after my father passed away Hurricane Ike decided to pay us a visit leaving a path of blackouts, flooding, destruction and devistation in our surrounding areas of where we live. Although we were one of the lucky ones our pictures are not as dramatic as Galveston,

Master bedroom - in the dark the ceiling fell in, after a couple of days carpet had to be ripped out the ceiling debri removed

Here's the Amazing part the leak came through the ceiling fan and sprayed rain water everywhere Dan thought he was at the Ocean:)

Foyer:

Again water came through the light fixture ruined the ceiling now the entire upstairs ceiling has to be painted because its one open continuing space. there are several of these little pocked holes in the ceiling.

Outside:

The fence was blown down in 3 places our little pin oak was one of the many uprooted trees that happened throughout our neighborhood.

This is the backyard Paul's shed had just exploded and all the lawn items were scattered across the yard

Fourteen days without electricity. We had the opportunity to meet our neighbors and get to know them very well. After all was said and done we were lucky and blessed. It could have been much worse if we had not been home to do water bucket brigade.