Catch up

We have been a busy family. Caleb packed up and went to Youth Challenge this week. That left me with out a babysitter. I packed Daniel up and sent him to Cincinnati to my friend's house for the night. I had to go get him on Friday. Of course, I had to stop by our house in Middletown to see if it was standing. I sure am praying that house sells soon.
So Daniel got lots of priveledges when big brother is out of the way. He talked his dad into taking the boat out on the water. Does it look like they are having fun? Well let me tell ya, I was having fun. I had the whole day to myself while they were doing all this. It was cold out there for them, but their smiles were warm!
By the way, I'm impressed that this photo was taken with Chris's cell phone. His phone takes good pictures.

Exciting Day

One day last week Chris was waiting for the people he flys around in an airport in Wilksbarre, PA. He looked up and saw a really tall guy with a big belt buckle walk in the door and right after him was Bill Gaither. He realized that the whole GVB was walking in the door.

He walked up and started talking to Mr. Gaither. He told him that he used to do barbershop music and he really appreciated the a capella stuff they do.

Anyway, he asked if they would sign something for his wife. Mr. Gaither said they would and Chris got a piece of paper and all of the sudden Chris' people showed up. Chris had to go haul luggage and get his own airplane ready to go! He handed the piece of paper to Mr. Gaither and said

"Here would you take care of this for me? I have to go pack our airplane." Mr. Gaither said he would and he did!

All of them signed it. Chris said they were very tired and looked like they needed rest but still gracious.

Fall 2007

The first Sunday we went to church when we moved to Newark I saw this bridge on the way to church. I knew then and there that I was going to do part of my fall photos with the boys on this bridge. Today was the day. I drove up there and couldn't find a place to park. I appeared to be private property, and judging by the size and grandeur of the house next to it, I probably shouldn't just make myself at home!







Let me explain something about my 13 year old. He says I embarrass him all the time. I mean he is embarrassed if I take the teller at McDonalds to task about my order! "Mom, of course they don't understand you! Everytime you drive up to one of these things you start talking in Chinese!" If I know a situation is coming up I just tell him to get down on the floor of the van because it "ain't gonna be pretty!" We do this in a lot of good fun, but bottom line, he is VERY 13!






o, back to the bridge. I couldn't find a place to park. Hmmmm, must be private property. So I started to drive away. I have been looking at this bridge for 4 months just knowing that I was going to take pictures there.






On a whim I whipped into the driveway of the grandiose house drove the paved drive all the way up to the house. Caleb is laying on the floor of the van! I got out of the van, up the steps and rang the doorbell. Ya know, one of those door bells that play Westminster Chimes...the whole thing, anyway, finally this nice looking man about late 50's early 60's answered the door and I stammered around (ya know, talking chinese as Caleb says) finally I got out that I would like to take some pictures on the bridge and did he have any objections to that. He said I could do it for a million dollars. I said I didn't have that much. (I would have to liquidate my off shore accounts, but I didn't want him to know that!) He said "OK, you can do it for free then."










Every year I take the boys out for their "photo shoot". I have home schooled them for 5 years. I have to be innovative to keep their pictures up to date. I like to use these pictures for my desktop photo, I set them up as screen savers and my main use for them is making cards. Every years when they make out their thank-you cards at Christmas I make one with their picture on it.





Here are some of my favorite ones.

Sometimes they are goofier than others. When I get one looking good the other one is all messed up. How do you moms that have more than 2 do it??

The Big Boy!

And the Little sweetheart!

Caleb on my bridge

Having trouble uploading the picture of the whole bridge. Guess I better let something waituntil next week.

You all have a good weekend. I work the weekend so I know I will be useless on Monday.

Sarah Derscheid (tacomom) you need to send me your blogsite url and your email address. you really had me going! I could not figure out who you were. I studied and studied your picture and still could not make it out.

jmillardrn@yahoo.com

Happy Monday!

Whew! What a weekend. We took off at 10pm on Friday night with a boy that was sick and a van that was sick and went to Chicago to pick up this boat. We drove until 2am Saturday morning and got a motel for about 5 hours. We slept quick. Got up and drove to the boat place.

On the way out of Chicago we figured out the Toll System and that we had not paid toll one time on our way through the other way. Of course they probably took our picture every time we missed one. When we figured it out we asked the toll booth carnie (thats what he looked like!) what we should do. He gave us a form that gave directions how to go on line and pay. You only have 7 days to get that done. I did it early Sunday morning when I got up and could think straight.

Daniel did real well on the trip. He went to the Dr. and she upped his dose of Benedry to 75mgs (3 pills) at a time. Plus he was taking steriods and all. He didn't have one break out once we got going.

The van did well also, but it is at the dealer this morning getting worked on.

Life is good this Monday morning with a good cup of coffee. We got some rest last night. I work today. It is 57 degrees here in Newark with a high of 77 today. Sounds about perfect. Laundry and shool are getting done. I must go get ready for work.

Hope all had a good weekend.

Daniel is sick!

Caleb and Daniel were home alone Thursday evening. Chris had a run to make to Pontiac, MI to pick up some people. I was working in the ER. Caleb called and said Daniel was all swollen up and itchy. Chris delayed his trip to come home to look at him and called me. I left work and came home. He was totally broke out in hives. Being the good nurse that I am I went immedialely to CVS and bought him some Benedryl and gave him some. 3 hours later he was doing the same. So, we had a little ER visit of our own.

Since, he has broken out at least every 6 hours even with the medication. He has had almost 100mgs of Benedryl in about a 12 hour period. I should give him more, but am waiting on our Dr. visit this afternoon. He won't let me show his chest and back but they look really awful.

New Family Addition

We have arrived! I have never bought anything bigger than a book off Ebay. Well, can't say that anymore. My husband bought this boat. Chris and Caleb love to fish. Please pray for me because I hate cleaning those stinking things. I was happier when they were just doing "catch and release" Anyway...they have graduated to needing a boat. Ya know, they want to get the fish that aren't swiming by the shore. So, we now own a little 12ft long john-boat. I am happy that it is small for my novice boatmen! We have to drive to Chicago to get this thing this weekend. I'm lovin' it!

Transformers' Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet. This was the begged for prize gift. So much for teaching the children the value of useful toys. We parents see no use, but he loves it.

A Cars coloring book with markers to go with it. He got clothes too, but those are too boring to show off.

There was golf with Daddy early in the day, then out to eat at Red Lobster in the evening.

Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Daniel. Happy birthday to you. Just thought I would give you the words so you could sing along.

Money being exchanged and favors promised? No, not really. Just count the birthday haul.

Daniel's Birthday

We have finally arrived to Daniel's birthday. He has planned and looked forward to this for about 3 months. He was worried that his grandparents didn't know where he lived so they could send their cards to him! Check out the blue teeth. The Transformers Birthday Cake had really bue icing. It was good!

Tagged?

OK, I've been tagged. I guess that means to share 7 lesser known facts about myself. Hummm, I wonder if there are 7!!:-)

1. As much as everyone knows that I love coffee with french vanilla creamer in it, I usually only drink 1 cup a day. If I pour the second cup I usually don't make it through it. The exceptions being great with friends and exciting conversation or a wonderful too rich dessert!

2. While I read tons and piles, and even heaps (my husband would say) of Christian romance books, my very favorite author is John Grisham. I wish he could just be a writing machine and produce a book every year!

3. I take medicine for high blood pressure. A very boring fact, eh?

4. My parents divoriced when I was 9 and remarried when I was 38. Oops, now you know that I'm over 38! I know you're shocked!

5. Related to #4, I have a half brother. That means I am #2 of a family of 7. 4 boys and 3 girls.

6. I am a 3rd generation nurse. My mother is an LPN as was her mother. I declared one day ( around summer 1976) that I would NEVER be a nurse!! She said "you'll see!" I graduated from nursing school in May 1996.

7. Probably the least known fact about me is that I like rock music. I like all of it but usually curtail my listening to Christian music. My favorite CD right now is Toby Mac's "Portable Sounds" Don't listen!! It's rock!