out with the old....

and in with the NEW! Bring it on 2011! I'm ready for you! I'm not going to "recap" 2010.   l.o.n.g. story short, the year just stunk. From beginning to end! So..... I'm holding my glass up in the air and saying..... 

                       2011..... just BRING IT ON!                     

Happy New Year!

just love it......

I just LOVE this! 

Spritz the bowl..... and no one else will ever know! Yes! That is how it works. You actually spritz the bowl.... before. Then the poo-pourri traps the smell below the spray. THANKS LaDonna!!!  And you are welcome Jessica, Michele, Gabe, Mom & Dad! You WILL be thanking me for this gift! You WILL love me more when your poo don't stink! :-)

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

We love you so very much! Enjoy your day!! {heart} {heart}

Merry Christmas Charlie Brown.......

......................

 Merry Christmas to all.......

And to all.....

Goodnight.

eve.......

 

Christmas eve.... eve. I'm sure that the clocks at work were on "slow" today. It sure seemed like it took forever!  And having tomorrow off probably made it feel even slower. Why can't we just be happy with what we get? Why do we always want more? So...... I sit here. Waiting for Jessica to make the trip across the state safely. I've been able to see her more lately. First Michele's and my trip for the weekend a couple weeks ago. Then my meeting in Topeka the end of last week. And now for Christmas. I could really get used to this. Before long, Michele will be making that move across the state too. How different things will be. But at least the girls will be together and that is a good feeling. I think though...... that I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy! Enjoy the holiday! Enjoy my family! Enjoy the time!

Merry Christmas Eve....eve

keeping warm......

whew......

What a week! But glad to be home. This was my facebook status this morning.......

You know you were overtired when..... you wake up during the night, can't figure out where you are, can't figure out who is snoring in your ear, get up and find the light, turn it on and go.... ohhhhh..... it's my husband! Glad to be home!!!!!! :-)

So........ my meetings went well. Not very informational for the other ladies, but since I'm fairly new it kind of answered some questions for me. Glad I went. Enjoyed bonding with Jessica! But there just wasn't much time in the evenings to do what we wanted to do. The best part was being able to take Jessica & Gabe out for supper Wednesday evening. It has been many years since I have been able to see Jessica on her birthday. The middle of December seemed to always be finals. What a nice evening we had! I hope Jessica enjoyed it as much as I did. So yesterday I was glad to be heading home, but wishing I could spend more time with Jessica. It will be so good in May when Michele moves that way. 

it's your birthday......

Happy 24th birthday Jessica!!!! Love you lots and lots!

A Christmas letter.....

As my children keep saying.... I'm a scrooge this year. We do have the tree up. And it is decorated... thanks to Michele. She just wouldn't take no for an answer. Thank you Michele! As we were pulling the decorations up, I ran across three boxes of Christmas cards. And no, I'm not sending them out this year. But if I were to send them out, this is what the letter would say inside.........

Dear Family & Friends,

      This year has been a very busy year for our family. A lot has happened and we are waiting for the new year to start. In short.... this year has really stunk!

      ~ We lost my sister Charlene the end of May. It is so hard to have that ray of sunshine.... just be gone. They say time heals.... but I'm still waiting for that to happen.

      ~ Michele has had three knee surgeries. April 15th they went in and reconstructed a few things in her knee. In short words, they broke the bone under her knee. She ended up with 2 screws, a pin and a small pin that was drilled into her knee to hold the new ligament.  On June 17th they had to go in and break the scar tissue that was preventing her knee to bend. Very painful! And then on November 24th they went back in and took 2 of the screws out. She is healing well, but will be "taking it easy" for a couple more months so the bone where the screws were taken out can heal and get strong. We know that there is not a true fix, but hope it helps. 

       ~ Jessica is keeping busy in Topeka. She switched jobs in May and now is the Assistant Manager for College Hill. She is still looking for that "perfect" job in her degree of Marketing. And I'm sure with her determination, she will find it. It just takes time.

       ~ Roger is "STILL" driving the truck. I'm sure he just drives in circles every day! :-)

       ~ Me.... well..... I'm just hanging in there. I have went to working 3 1/2 days a week. Just need some extra time for myself. Taking care of the "home" and holding everything together.

      This year has been rough. But we did it together. Together as a family. And from our family to yours..... We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

                                                                     Love, 

                                                            Roger, Corina, Jessica & Michele

just rambling....

 

~ Sometimes life is so hard! Sometimes you ask why? I know why, but that doesn't make it any better. I miss my little Sis so very much! But I do know that she is enjoying Heaven, and that is what makes it all okay. A couple days ago a high school friend of mine lost her grandson in a tragic truck accident. He was 2 yrs old. And  this was the second grandchild she has lost. How do you handle that? Do you just keep going thru the motions of each day? This babies life was just beginning. Now his family will always wonder what he would have been when he grew up. And while I muster in my sorrows..... while I miss Charlene till my heart hurts.... while I cry until my tears are dry..... I am so very thankful for all the years my family got to have her in our lives. For everything she taught us. For all the love she gave us. And I'm so very thankful she flew away to heaven in such a peaceful way. I miss you Charlene Ann! I know you are now enjoying a life that you never got to see before. That you are running and jumping and screaming....... I'm alive!

back to the real world....

I had so much FUN this last weekend! I'm tired! Michele is tired! Jessica is tired! We are ALL tired! Whew.... what a weekend. We shopped till we dropped, but had a GREAT time together. But it was good to get back home to Roger. Today Michele's appt. went pretty good. They took the stitches out. It is still red and swollen. The Doctor thinks it might be getting irritated from the gauze. I know that sounds silly, but I guess they are the ones with the education. So now she is to keep it uncovered. And will go back to the Doctor in 2 weeks. Her stomach is still funky, but hopefully that will be better by then. If not, she is suppose to go see our regular Doctor to see if something else could be causing it. It sure will be nice when she feels better and this is DONE and over with!

Next Wednesday I'm heading BACK to Topeka. I have meetings on Thursday & Friday there. (December 16 & 17th.) Isn't that so cool that they are in Topeka??? I'm thinking so! Wednesday (December 15th) is Jessica's 24th birthday. Wow! It has been a few years that I have been able to be with her on her birthday. The other ladies that are going are staying at the motel, but me..... I get to stay with my baby!! :-) Yeah me!

bonding....

We are in Topeka! Bonding!! I had signed up for Roger & I to go to my work Christmas party for Saturday evening, but then Michele had asked if I wanted to go to Topeka. Yes... no... yes... no... yes... no.... YES! I thought that maybe I would be more help to Michele helping her drive back home this evening. She left earlier this morning to go to Kansas City. A friend of hers was going to tutor her in one of her online computer classes which has been giving her some problems. The things we do for love. And to be really honest... I wasn't sure I really wanted to go to the party anyways. We left Friday as soon as I got off work. Boy was that a long day! Then yesterday we just hung out and did some shopping. The girls both found some things that they wanted. As they get older it is so hard to get what they want without them picking it out themselves. So.... while Michele is in KC, Jessica & I are going to have a early lunch and then go to the Mall. Yes, we went there yesterday, but didn't spend too much time there. Michele's knee was hurting pretty good, so we decided to do our clothes trying on today. Michele is not good on waiting... hehe. Hopefully all three of us have a good day. We will be heading back west this evening.

Tomorrow Michele has a checkup on her knee. It is still draining a little and pretty black & blue. They will be taking the stitches out. I have a doctor appt. for my back and then even Roger has an eye appt. CRAZY! And here it is suppose to be my day off! Guess I'm not getting any rest these days off..... :-)