Darn snow and ice!!!

Big melt and then a freeze so the roads were covered with black ice. But just to keep us on our toes there was first a 1 hour delay.....so everyone was up at the regular time and just sort of sat around. Then they went out, got on the bus, rode for 10 minutes, and then were told school was cancelled. What a big mess. When I was in school they would cancel it if there was the slightest doubt that it was safe. Now it seems that there must first be a fatality before they get out.

Oh, day 1 of the diet. I have a job "assessment" on March 8th. For those of you reading this I just found out last night. I applied to the Dept of Corrections and I had to wait for a background check to come back to know if I could test. Wish me luck....this was a hard decision.

Got to see Gary Paul.

Gary and Brett in Carbondale at the Holiday Inn.

Baby shower for Lindsey.

Leslie, Me, and Tonia. At my sister's baby shower.
Me, Kay, Tedgie, McKenzie, and Lindsey.
Asher Basher and Brett.

Oh baby!

Me and Katy.
Brett and Katy.
Kandice and Jace.

Movie night.

A sample of the ice storm.

Valentine's Day!!! (and a small vent)

Roger walked in the door last night with flowers, steaks, asparagus, and baking potatoes. He also purchased an expensive bottle of wine (Chardonnay) for me. He cooked, cleaned, and served me dinner in our room. It was so great. I didn't do anything but enjoy it.

My mom and I watched something on tv once where a girl was in a beauty pageant and she was asked what her favorite day was her response, " I wish every day was Valentine's day so that everybody would love everyone everyday of the year." I used to say that in a mocking voice all the time and it would crack her up. I miss her. She passed away on Jan. 31st, 1999 at halftime of the Superbowl. I remember Jennifer Lopez was performing. I have no idea who was playing but I remember JLo before she was JLo.

My brother's little girl (Katy) is sick with pneumonia. I feel extra bad because I have not been a good aunt to this little girl. I will attempt to tell the short version.....When my mom died my dad lost his mind, decency, family, and job. In that I order the best to my knowledge. So, I became Steven's legal guardian when I was 28. I already had 2 children and my sister was living with me (which was the best thing ever, made us closer). I became angry over the years and resentful. After all my dad wasn't dead he just didn't want (maybe couldn't?) care for him. So at the ripe old age of 16 he moved out, told me he was sick of me, dropped out of school, got his gf pregnant, (in that order) all w/i a month. BUT he was sick of me. The irony was that he was really sick of responsibility. Sick of helping with the younger kids, sick of cleaning his room, sick of me calling his school counselor twice a week, sick of being told to brush his teeth, sick of not being able to be alone with his gf, etc. How ironic, I cannot possibly think of anything that requires more responsibility than a baby. THEN my sister became pregnant with my niece and I felt like her pregnancy should be celebrated and I was mad at my brother for "stealing" some of her attention. I know, dumb but I am trying to do better. I will do better. I don't have much family so I need to take care of what I do have. Yep, short version.

Tuesday evening.

This is what you do on snow days.

What a face!

It never ends....

More snow, 8-10 inches,on its way today. We still have snow everywhere as it is. I'm sure school will be out again too! I hope it is all over with by Friday. I get to see my oldest son, best friends, and my sister. I will post pictures later today.

Here it is.

Before and a little during the big snow.

Will post more in a couple of hours.

Patrick cleaned the boys room today. Brett said, "Mom, my room looks scary." He did a good job.

Kisses from Braeden!

Gary Paul and Brett.

This was taken when Gary Paul was visiting one time. I always make them watch some corny movie with me and from the look on Gary's face it was very corny!

Patrick, before and after....

1988!!

Wow, I cannot believe the Aquanet I used on my poor hair. Poor ozone layer. My sister saw some Aquanet the other day and she reminded me of the "good ol' days." Hahahahaha.

NO School, again!!!

Another day out of school for the kiddos! It's too cold for them to be outside. I have never heard of missing school because of the wind chill but my husband says, "It is dangerously cold out." AND we are getting a pretty big snowfall later in the day. I hope to get a few pictures if I can brave it. I will post them too.



I hate cats. Always have and I make no plans to change that. BUT a few days ago a kitten came up to my back door and was crying. It was very cold outside ( 10 degrees?) And she had frost bite on her nose, so I fed her. Roger came home and said if we didn't let her in she would die........so I let her stay with the boys in their room. 2 days later the kids and my husband took her to the Humane Society. The women said they usually don't take "drop offs" but she would make an exception. So what do people do with homeless kittens in horrible weather? I was just wanting to show the kids how to properly handle something like that. We even donated kitty litter to them.

My sister, Lindsey.

She is 28 weeks pregnant with my niece, Jilianne. I am so excited!

Fergie!

Ferg looks scary here, she is really cute and the sweetest dog I have ever been around.

DATE NIGHT!!!!

Braeden tried on my new boots.

Think I will get him some too. Maybe not....