The Rich Life

Last of the SSBS

2009-08-04T21:41:00.003-05:00

Tonight was the last of the Siesta Summer Bible Study. We have all sorted out our thought closets and are ready for the next season. I feel like a cold hard winter is coming since I am going to be taking Anatomy and Physiology this semester. I am going to have to study, study and study so more! I am very grateful for the opportunity to go back to school but I think the road is starting the uphill climb toward the top. I have to keep my heart focused on God and mind focused on school so I don't slide off a cliff.

I will miss the fellowship with my siestas but I have stored up lots of good memories to carry me through until the next season. I loved our 6 hours sessions where we discussed our weekly studies and encouraged each other. The accountabilty keeps me straight and I so value that part of the fellowship. I don't need somebody to fluff me all the time but I need to be given an objective viewpoint which is what true friends do for each other.

Rod's turning 50

2009-07-30T20:33:00.004-05:00

Happy 5oth Birthday!
Rodney was almost 19 when we first meet and he is more handsome then ever!
We had a cook-out at Lake Reece yesterday for his birthday. I think he was really surprised. Kelsey and I usually get together on Wednesday with my friends for dinner but he is always fishing so they just brought the party to him. We are so lucky to have such good friends.

Here is Rod with his "girlfriend" Mabel:

Camping Trip

2009-07-30T19:41:00.004-05:00

We went on our annual camping trip this past weekend to Indian Creek Campground in Cherokee. It was a blast. At one time there was 15 people there. Leah and Kristen came up for a few days and it was so good to spend time with them. I miss them so much. They are growing up, correction they are grown up. I just hate to admit it.

We went tubing at Deep Creek which is where Rod and I found out we might just be getting old. I flipped out of my tube and hit my hard head on rocks and then Rod almost broke his leg trying to catch me. After that Leah had the great idea that next year maybe we should go tubing down a calm river with a cooler! Sounds good to me! Rod and Adrian went trout fishing and caught our supper one night. There is nothing better than fresh fish cooked outside beside a stream.

We took the girls to the casino for a big gambling trip. We each had $20 to blow so it didn't take us long to be out of there. I think we ended up coming out $12 ahead between the 4 of us. It was K's first trip and so I gave her $20 and she ended up winning $25,gave me back my money and then she stopped. I am glad to see that nobody has inherited the gambling gene.

Here are some pictures from the trip:

End of the Month Already?

2009-07-30T19:12:00.004-05:00

End of the month already! There is so much going on that I can't keep up.
KK made it back from London and we were so glad to see her. Even though I don't see her everyday the thought of her being that far away was scary! She had lots of adventures to tell us and she has memories for a lifetime. She came back with red hair of all things.

Sunday Night

2009-07-12T21:00:00.005-05:00

Kristen is off to London for 10 days!

I took her and Anna to the airport yesterday for their 2:45 pm flight and they landed there at 3:00 am our time. Anna has a global phone so she contacts her mom who then calls me. They are safely there.

I made it outside and into the jeep before the tears came. I cried all the way to a Krispy Kreme store where I drowned by sorrow in a chocolate covered, creme filled donut and a big glass of milk. I don't know why I felt the need for that sugary treat but it made me feel better. I think the boy taking my order thought I had the swine flu since I was sniffling, coughing and my eyes were red. He kept his gloves on the whole time and stood back as far as his arms would reach.

I don't see or hear from K everyday but just knowing that she is on the other side of the ocean is a lonesome feeling. I am praying for the Holy Spirit to guide her and give her wisdom to make good decisions. She ain't in NC any more! My country girl has hit the big time!

Leah has been traveling quite a bit in the last few years and I am very grateful everytime she gets back home. I am so proud of both of them but my hair is getting gray enough on it's on without the added stress.

Here are some pictures of my world traveler:

Kristen and Anna

Me and Kristen

Checking her bag one last time.

One last pic then I have to go Mom!

Have fun and be safe.

A Peaceful Goodbye

2009-07-06T21:11:00.005-05:00

It has been the longest day! I got up early, showered, check the oil in my jeep and headed to the store to fill up before Julie and I took off for Virginia. All was going good until I got back in the jeep and click,click, click, oh no, it wouldn't start. There I was stuck and Julie was suppose to be at the house in 30 minutes and then we had to pick up Scott to get him there for the funeral. So I got on the phone, first, I called Julie, caught her just as she was leaving so she wheeled back in to get her other car then I called my hh who had left home at 4:00 am for a day of fishing with his friend. I knew he couldn't help but it just made me feel better to let him in on the fun. I then called our family mechanic, no answer! Then I noticed this man patiently waiting until I got off the phone to ask if I needed help. Heck yeah I needed help, I was losing time and had the gas pumps blocked. He came around to jump me off which I confused me at first since his battery is in the trunk of his car and after trying that for several minutes he declared that my battery was dead. I was insistent that it wasn't since the jeep had been sitting for two weeks and started right up this morning. He then proceeded to totally dismantle my battery cables and clean the posts and hook back up the cables. A miracle....it started up and ran fine. When I asked how much I owed him he just smiled and said"Just have a blessed day and praise the Lord" It turned out that he was the manager of the drug rehab camp that is one of my church's ministries. Now how is that for a God ordained meeting. I told him that we were going to celebrate the life of a fellow christian and that we would be praising the Lord all day.
I have to say that at first I was very reluctant to let on that I was home alone. Of course out walks a neighbor who keeps questioning me about the location of my husband, "Is he home", "no", "is he at work", "no", "is he fishing", "yes" "well then just call him because the lake is right across the road", "well he isn't fishing near here". I just wanted to shout, "If you aren't going to help then please shut up and leave"
We made the trip just fine and I am so grateful that we were able to go today. It was the most peaceful goodbye. The ceremony was in the outdoor chapel with a light breeze blowing and Daniel playing the fiddle. I can't imagine a more fitting tribute to a great man.
Julie and I were like the secret service, just following Elizabeth around, ready to step in if we saw the need. We really should have worn black suits with wrap around sunglasses and cords coming out of our ears. I pray for peace for the family as they grieve.

Cindi

2009-07-05T20:02:00.003-05:00

I am laughing my butt off at my clever daughter's comment. I called her #1 daughter in the previous post because I didn't want to use first born or oldest. Of course she used it to one-up her sister. A ongoing struggle which is a waste of time. I love both of them equally! They are my favorite people in the world even if they do correct me on my herb knowledge. By the way bee balm is another name for Lemon Balm , Miss Smartie!!!

I am glad for a bit of comic relief since I have a heavy heart today for my dear friend, Elizabeth, who is dealing with the lost of her beloved brother-in law Hubert. He married her sister when Elizabeth was 3 years old and then when Elizabeth lost her father at age 6 Hubert was there to fill in the vacant spot.

I only met Hubert once at Elizabeth's mother's funeral but he made such an impression on me that I feel the lost too. I am so sad for Elizabeth's family because he was such an important part of all their lives, a special uncle to her boys, a good buddy to her husband, a wonderful husband to her sister, a father and a grandfather. He will be missed.
They were on vacation together when he fell sick and God ordained some precious memories that they will draw on in the years to come. He and Elizabeth attended church together on Sunday and that story is so awesome that it brings tears to my eyes when I think about it.
Elizabeth made the comment that he was the picture of Jesus on earth, now how is that for a epitaph.
Julie and I are off the Virginia tomorrow for the memorial service. Keep us in your prayers as we travel.

Love to all
Cindi

Blogging Again

2009-07-02T20:55:00.005-05:00

It's a new month so I thought I would try to blog again. I have so many things going on my life right now and I would love to share some of them with the rest of the world, as if the rest of the world would be interested in my stuff. Anyway, I am going to let some of the thoughts in my head escape and see where they end up. I hope nobody gets hurt by my runaway thoughts, I really don't intend to offend anybody but I am sure that is what will happen so just send me a comment and I will respectively consider your views, now I don't promise to agree but I will consider publishing them unless they would hurt somebody's feelings beside mine. I have pretty tough skin but some of my other readers may not so don't be surprised if you don't see your comments published, especially if it contains ugly, hurtful contents.

So here goes, my first try at verbalizing my thoughts:

The Herb Garden
I have an herb garden, well a herb group, on my deck. It all started about a month ago when I asked for herbs and his help in planting a small garden for my birthday So on the day of my birthday my hh (handsome husband) and I went shopping and after scouting out all the garden centers in our town for the best prices and the healthiest plants, (not my method, I would just grab and go) hh, the thrifty shopper, and I retired to our favorite mexican restaurant where we proceeded to eat a healthy lunch consisting of a huge fajita burrito with a side of cheese dip and to compare notes on which garden center we would favorite with our substantial buying power:) After stuffing ourselves we were heading to Chick-fila to finish the banquet with a milkshake, (we were going to share it so it wasn't as gluttonous as it sounds and it was my birthday), when my sister send me a text, which I thought was going to be a Happy Birthday older sister message but no, it was a emergency, my nephew was having seizures so I stepped on the gas, ran through a yellow (red) light, to get to the hospital and didn't get back home until 24 hours later. Thanks be to God he recovered, which will be a later post.
Anyway, I have had to outfit my herb garden with herbs gathered willy-nilly instead of a planned out process. Which if you know me proably won't have happened anyway so now I have all kinds of pots on my deck with a variety of herbs growing in them. Leah (daughter #1) gave me a Bee Balm plant and it is doing wonderful. Sister-in-law found basil at a flea market a couple of week ago and HH bought me lavender at the same flea market this week. I had about 30 minutes to spare Tuesday so I ran in the nearest garden center and wiped out their $1 herb sale so now I have parsley, thyme, rosemary, verbena, chives and something that I am not sure about since I lost the tag. I have planted them in every empty container I could find. They are doing well and the next step if figuring out what to do with them.
I did get the most wonderful book about herbs with a gift card from my sister. It has big pictures and lots of information on how to grow them, harvest them, use them for medicinal and craft projects. Maybe I will be a witch doctor instead of a nurse. I bet I can find an online degree in it from some college for only $99. Let me know if you know of one so I can graduate before I am too old. Wait, I am too old now. Oh well, age is only a number but my number is getting mighty high.
All for now. Have to work tomorrow so crashing for the night.

2009-05-15T10:45:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a wonderful God I got to spend the weekend with my favorite ladies in the beautiful town of Sevierville TN. We praised our Lord with the raising and clapping of our hands . They praised Him with their beautiful voices and I hummed along with my off-key singing.

I thank God for this amazing group of women who allow me to hang out with them and absorb their spirituality as they show the world what God's hands and feet looks like in this world.

2009-05-12T21:40:00.000-05:00

More Graduation Photos

2009-05-12T20:44:00.000-05:00

Graduation/Mother's Day

May 10, 2009

She made it!!

The Entire Graduating Class

(She's the one in blue)

Leah, Kristen and Nicole
Clay, Kristen ,Adam and Cade (the clown)
Our Family
My Girls!!!

2009-04-11T11:06:00.000-05:00

I realized that I have turned into a bag lady!! My organizing method involves bags for everything. So I took pictures of all my bags so you could see how well organized I am!!

1. gym bag-work out clothes, towel etc.

2.Book bag for on-line classes

3.My pocketbook-should be used to transport money but since I don't have any I just fill it with candy that we sneak into the movies since I don't have any money!!!

4.Lunch bag- I use this to take food to Kelsey's since she is a eating machine! I also take it with me on Tuesday and Thursday so I can have a nutritious snack (candy, chips, coke) after I work out at the gym.

5.Library bag-keep in the car for library books, cd's etc and for all the junk mail that I would just throw in the floorboard of my car.

6.Church bag-bible, sunday school lessons, bulletins, checkbook, notes

7.Book bag #1-this is the one that I carry to class with my math book, and my calculator which I would be lost without.

I also have a "green" shopping bag in my trunk along with my everything bag which has a first aid kit, a sewing kit and ponchos in it so that way I am prepared for anything!!

All this is just me laughing at myself for all my bags. Honestly sometimes my arms aren't long enough to carry all my bags. I am sure glad God takes my burdens off of me or I would just fall over from the load!!

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T22:18:00.001-06:00

2009-02-05T20:05:00.000-06:00

Dear Kristen,

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!! You have been surprising me since your birth! First you were suppose to be a boy by your strong heart rate but I told the midwife all along that you were going to be a feisty little girl and I was right! Then you were so active in the womb that you tied a knot in the cord and should have died but here you are 22 years later still being my feisty girl. They say that good things come in small packages!!! I am so excited for you this year. College graduation and then on to the real world. I am not sure the world is ready for you but I do know that you are ready for world. Just remember that Dad and I are here for you always!!! We love you so much!!! I know what's in your heart and it is all good!!

Love Mom

2009-01-21T22:09:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Myra!!

This picture looks just like Cade. I am sure you went 100 miles an hour down the hill after this picture was taken. You were quite the little dare-devil so Cade gets it honest. I hope you have a wonderful birthday and we will celebrate on Sunday with your favorite foods, just make us a list and forget the diet for the one day.

Love
Cindi

2009-01-21T22:07:00.000-06:00

Make a Smilebox invite

Christmas 2008

2008-12-28T20:09:00.000-06:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2008-12-27T19:12:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the late post but you know how time flies during Christmas!
Haley's birthday was on Friday but she and Cindy didn't get to NC until late
Friday night so we celebrated on Sunday Dec. 21.

Remembering

2008-12-20T14:21:00.000-06:00

Love you, Bro!

Celebrating 25 years of Leah!

2008-12-16T17:00:00.000-06:00

Leah's World

We celebrated 25 years of Leah on Sunday

Life with Leah has been an interesting ride with lots of laughter,

smiles, fun and a few tears.

I can't imagine my life without my brown eyed girl!

She makes me proud to be her moma!

Logan

2008-12-16T14:05:00.001-06:00

Family

2008-12-16T13:21:00.000-06:00

Leah's 25th Birthday

2008-12-11T20:54:00.000-06:00

It has been a joy to be your mom!

Catching Up!

2008-10-22T11:03:00.000-05:00

I haven't had time to post lately so I am doing a quick catch up.

Aug. 17, 08

I Graduated from GTCC at at NAI

Sept. 2008--VJGC

Shirley's 70th Birthday Party

Oct. 19, 2008

Panthers vs New Orleans

Sorry, Didn't realize this was sideways

Clay "Panther Mania"

The Nanny

2008-09-25T20:43:00.000-05:00

Leah is the cutest nanny of the cutest kid.

Thrift Store Find of the Year

2008-09-25T20:13:00.000-05:00

I found this cute desk at a thrift store in Chapel Hill. It has wheels on it so I can be mobile. I can move from the loft to the bedroom if I need quiet or if I want to watch something on tv that Rod doesn't want to watch, like Grey's Anatomy. It has my printer, keyboard and a lamp on it and they are all plugged into a strip so I can just roll and go and it was only $10.
I found these two runaways hiding on my bed. I guess it will be fleas and hair tonight. I really hope they weren't using the controllers. I will never get to watch my favorite shows if they have learned to channel surf. I am sure they won't be watching "Dog Whisperer". That would be way to stressful for my laid backed, no rules pack.

A day in Chapel Hill

2008-08-29T21:08:00.001-05:00

My senior girl!

2008-08-27T22:49:00.000-05:00

Kristen is starting her senior year of college. I can't believe it. It just seems like yesterday that we were sending her to kindergarten, then it was middle school, high school and in the blink of my eye we were packing her up to go to Chapel Hill. I am so proud of her! She has grown into a wonderful young lady.

2008-08-06T13:51:00.000-05:00

I wanted to blog about the picture but I got bumped offline.
This is absolutely the greatest group of spiritual women of substance in the world and they let me hang out with them.
We attended the Beth Moore simulcast on Friday night and it was awesome and of course we had to head to Starbucks for some deep (and not so deep) discussion. After we solved the world's problems we headed home for a few hours sleep then they headed back to see Beth and I headed out for my long day at the nursing home. God is so good, we finished up early so I got to catch up with them at Mimi's for dessert, well I had dessert, they had of course, coffee!
I am so blessed to have these women in my life!!

Spiritual Women of Substance

2008-08-06T13:15:00.000-05:00

Happy 49th Birthday

2008-07-28T22:29:00.001-05:00

1st day of clinicals

2008-07-24T21:27:00.000-05:00

This is a self-made photo!

July 24th

I have made it to clinicals!! This means that I will be working in a nursing home for the next two weeks. We toured the facility tonight and start back on Monday. It is the same home that my nanny was in for rehab on her hip.

I am anxious to see how I like this kind of work , Iguess time will tell. I like wearing scrbus but wish they weren't white. Makes me think of "the men in the white coats" or that I need a hairnet to serve food.

Lazy Daisies

2008-07-17T14:16:00.000-05:00

Ike and Izzy loved being in the airconditioned house. We have been making them stay outside because of the fleas but I just couldn't do it today. As you can see it makes them so lazy which means when they go outside again they are so spoiled. I have fan on the front porch for them but Rod turns it off all the time. He says that is just going too far!!

Chiggers

2008-07-17T13:52:00.000-05:00

I hate chiggers. This is 6 days after the initial contact. I have scratched and clawed until I am crazy. I have to wear long pants in July because I look so disgusting and of course I should not be scratching because I could get an infection so I have to just bear it. I have used Clorox, tea tree oil and benadryl and am finally getting better. I am the only one of the family who got bite. I played outside with the boys all day on Thursday without a bite but then on Friday I walked out to the building looking for a cat carrier and looked down at my ankles and they were covered with little red bugs. I ran inside and scrubbed them off but too late! I woke up Saturday afternoon, (went to bed at 3:00 am after moving Leah) itching like crazy. I had to run out of church Sunday before I stripped down and started scratching. I put tea tree oil on before I go to school which smells like pine-sol and I usually make it until about 9:30 then I have to go and put something on them or if we are busy I have to just scratch. We have been in lab this week and it was impossible to hide them because I have to be the patient sometimes. I did beg off being the patient for the white hose. I got to just demonstrate!

I am on the way to getting better and I have sprayed our yard twice so maybe this is the only bug incident for the Summer of 08.

Logan's 1st visit to the Rich House

2008-07-13T15:46:00.001-05:00

This was Logan's first visit to our house.

He was passed around and admired by all the family

and of course he loved it.

Photo Shoot

2008-07-03T22:16:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Moma

2008-06-30T12:55:00.001-05:00

Happy 70th Birthday

Back To School

2008-05-22T10:24:00.000-05:00

Well,
Can you believe it? I am going back to school. I started Nursing Assistant I on Monday night. I will go 4 nights a week until Aug. 14. I have 3 night behind me and a long way to go in front of me. I dug out some leftovers from the girls school days, a book bag, pencil case, paper, notebook and a highlighter. I have a test on Tuesday!!! I need prayer!!!
God has sent me on an amazing journey and if this journeywere to end today I will be blessed by all the Christian people that have crossed my path.
To my delight and amazement, during orientation the lead teacher said My door is always open and you can come and tell me anything and I will listen except you can NOT tell me that I am not a child of God and that Jesus Christ didn't die for my sins" I just felt the Holy Spirit radiating out from her and I gave her a big thumbs up. The head of the program witnessed to me when I meet her and she had an amazing testimony. I know that God has placed me in the class, but I also know that doesn't mean it will be an easy road, it never is if the journey is worth anything. A smooth straight road usually doesn't go anywhere, you just keep going and going......until you fall down from exhaustion. So as I navigate the curves, bumps and road hazards I will keep praising God and trusting the Holy Spirit to keep me on the right road and to make sure I don't detour off on a road that Satan will sure place before me.
I only have plans until Aug. 14 which is to pass this course and take the state exam. God knows what comes next so I am not worrying about it and when He shows me, I won't worry then either. He has never let me down and never will!!!
So until next time I will be reading, and reading and then reading some more.

Cindi

Welcome to the world Logan

2008-05-11T21:02:00.001-05:00

We welcome the newest member to our family

I have another nephew to add to my collection.

Welcome Baby Logan

Adam being Adam!!!

Nanny Annie's first time holding Logan

Proud Aunt Myra

Welcome Logan

2008-05-10T08:47:00.000-05:00

He is here!!

Born 5-9-08

Weight: 7lbs. 11oz.

Length: 21 1/2"

Hail In May

2008-05-08T20:53:00.000-05:00

As you can see we had a hail of a storm!!! It covered our back deck in no time and you can't imagine what it sounded like on our tin roof. We don't seem to have any damage, Thank You God!!!

Happy Birthday Brittiany

2008-05-01T21:10:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Cade

2008-04-17T12:21:00.000-05:00

Women of Joy

2008-04-17T10:03:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I had the honor of attending a "Women of Joy" conference with the finest bunch of godly women in the world. We left Friday morning after a prayer for traveling mercies which is extra important since I was the driver!! After a wonderful weekend of praising the Lord, crying, shouting, singing and lots and lots of laughter we headed back home. We stoped in Asheville for Mellow Mushroom and then we headed on home. I thank God for the chance to be with my friends and to hear some wonderful speakers. I am very thankful that my sister was able to go with us. I am restored and recommitted to put God first in my life. Thank you Jesus for your wonderful love for us.

Pocketbooks

2008-04-09T10:56:00.000-05:00

2008-04-07T21:09:00.000-05:00

I have finally figured out how to use Photoshop 6. Well, I am learning anyway!! So here is my first post!!!

"25 Years"

2008-04-07T17:50:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow will be our 25th wedding anniversary. I can't believe it!!! How did the years go by so fast. We were so young and now we are soooooo old.

Off to the Oyster Bar.

Saturday morning we got up and decided to go on with our celebration trip despite the yucky weather. Rod and I took off to Cary to pick up Leah and Kristen and then off to Elizabeth City. We headed first for C & H Oyster bar where we feasted on steamed oyster, shrimp and hush puppies at the bar. They crack the oysters open in front of you then you eat them with butter, salt and pepper. Kristen wasn't too sure about them at first but then she was addicted too. Leah was already a oyster lover. We ate all we could hold then we headed off to watch the game. First the girls surprised us by paying the bill. What a nice surprise!! Thank-you!!!

We ended up at Applebee's to watch the game and that is all I am going to say about that diaster.

But we had a good time between the dessert and the drinks!! After the game we decided to just drive back home. Leah was going to drive the first leg but she ended up driving all the way back to Cary and then I took over for the last leg. Rod and I pulled into the driveway at 4:30 am. We hit the bed and didn't get up until 12:00 pm. Despite the weather, high gas prices and the tarheel loss we had a wonderful time. We just might make this a yearly trip. Especially if the girls are footing the bill.

Easter 2007

2008-03-24T11:29:00.000-05:00

Easter Weekend 2007

We had a great weekend with everybody home for Easter.
We went on a picnic Saturday afternoon. We walked to a pond behind our house, spread out a blanket and watch a beautiful sunset over the water. Of course the dogs went with us and gave us lots of watery kisses and stinky showers. We really enjoyed just being together and the sandwiches that Kristen labored so hard to put together for us were delicious. Poor Kyle had to tromp through the woods with shorts and flip-flops but he was a good sport and didn't complain.
I would rather have a sandwich in the woods with my family then the most expensive meal anywhere in the world. Good times, good memories, like Ruby smearing mud all over Leah with her wet feet and ants crawling up our legs and the detour by the engravings and how can we forget Rod falling down the hill and Leah falling in the old moonshine still. Love it!!!

Happy Valentines Day

2008-02-13T21:15:00.000-06:00

To Leah and Kristen,
Happy Valentines Day!!
I am so thankful for the chance to be your mother. I finally realized how much God loves me when I understood that He loves me more than I love you. How awesome!!
You both are such wonderful young ladies. Smart, talented, beautiful, funny, loving, free-spirited and loyal are just a few of the qualities I admire about you.
I remember each of your birth days, not the pain buth the incredible joy of seeing your face for the first time. What a sight.
Leah, you poor child, I didn't have a clue how to be a mom but we survived the first few days and you have been teaching me how to be a better person everyday since then.
Kristen, you came into the world fighting and it was been a wild ride every since. You love life and live it to the fullest. I have learned so much from you!!!
Thanks to both of you for the memories. I love both of you very much and I can't wait for the future to unveil all the wonderful things to come for you. Have a great Valentines Day!!

Love and Hugs to you!!
Mom

Happy Birthday Kristen

2008-02-04T19:54:00.000-06:00

Kristen,

Happy 21st birthday. We love you!!

Mom and Dad

Christmas 2007

2008-01-03T08:36:00.000-06:00

Christmas Day at Nannie Annie's House
The Grandkids (Cade won't be in the pic)
Myra and Dean with Cade ( he decided to be in this pic)
Brittiany, Leah and Kristen
Mom and Brittiany
Terrie and Adam

Leah 24th Birthday

2007-12-13T14:54:00.000-06:00

Leah's Birthday Celebration

December Sights

2007-12-06T21:53:00.000-06:00

I have been wondering about what kind of tree we could afford this year and look what the Lord provided. A big beautiful assembled, pre-lit tree for free.

Thank you Glenda for the tree!!

As you can see our dogs are quite spoiled, they are just napping beside the wood heater until next meal time.

More Thanksgiving photos

2007-12-06T21:30:00.000-06:00

On Friday we had a cold day at Haley's lacrosse game then we went to Annapolis to tour the Naval Academy.

On Saturday we went to the airplane museum.

Haley and Kristen at the harbor.

Leah and Kristen strike a pose while Rod is just bumbling along behind them.

Thanksgiving From Maryland

2007-11-26T20:15:00.000-06:00

We celebrated Thanksgiving in Maryland this year and it was great!!! Cindy cooked a ton of food everyday,not just for the main meal. We all gained about 10 pounds in the 4 days we were there. We had such a good time being with family and seeing the sights of Maryland.

We ate a huge lunch then the girls went for a walk in the neighborhood. Just as Cindy and I had settled down in the recliners to watch a movie they called--too far from home to walk back, they were cold and scared. Now this was from the 23 year old. The young one wasn't worried at all so anyway we had to go pick them up. We then had another turn at eating all the food Cindy had cooked (still couldn't see the bottom of the bowls) then staggered to the sectional and played Scene it. It was about Disney movies and we found out who had spent a lot of time watching movies. It wasn't me, Shirley or Cindy for sure!!! Rod didn't do so great either. Leah, Haley, Kristen and Archie were the experts. Larry was dozing and he only offered anwers when we woke him up.

On Friday we went to see Haley play lacrosse and it was so cold, only in the low 40's and the wind was blowing so hard. We then had lunch in downtown Annapolis and then went to the Naval Academy. We got there late so we only got to see a small portion of it but it was on the water and the view at sunset was awesome. Then we split up into shoppers and non-shoppers.

Larry took the non-shoppers (Haley, Shirley and Archie) back home. Rod and I followed Cindy, Leah and Kristen to this huge mall that must of had a million people there and we shopped at Bass Pro while they hit the sales. Rod and I made it about 45 minutes and I was calling Larry for directions home. We were smart enough to have our own ride. The real shoppers came home about 2 hours later.

The next day we got up early and went to the Steven Udar-Hazy Airplane Museum in Chantilly Va. It is part of the Smithsontian Musuem and it is filled with airplanes. Rod and Archie were in heaven. Thankfully there was a Mcdonalds in the museum so Shirley and I could take a break when we were overcome by all the planes!!! After about 4 hours of plane sightings we headed back to Cindy's where she had us another meal cooked. Cindy and Larry had rescued the girls from a day with the airplanes by taking them to Baltimore for lunch and sightseeing. They really enjoyed but it was still really cold.

Cindy sent us off with a homecooked breakfast and we hit the road about 10:00 am. It took almost 9 hours to get home because of slow moving traffic but Thank You God for the safe trip.

We stopped for an emergeny bathroom break for Leah, a fuel stop and supper where we split from Archie and Shirley because we had to take the girls to Leah's apartment. We are so thankfully to Cindy, Larry and Haley for their graciousness in sharing their home with us and being the absolutely best host and hostesses in the world. We want to book another trip to the Fila Bed and Breakfast real soon!!!

Leah's Newest Home

2007-11-26T18:47:00.000-06:00

Clay In the Leaves

2007-11-19T06:16:00.001-06:00

Clay was raking leaves at my house Saturday but the dogs were unraking as fast as he piled them up!!

Kristen's great photo's

2007-11-08T12:49:00.001-06:00

Kristen,
Your photos are gorgeous! I have made some beautiful cards with them

Love, Mom

Bye-Bye Table

2007-11-08T12:37:00.000-06:00

Crash!!!

I forgot to close my umbrella and the wind

picked up the table and slammed it down and shattered

the top.

Clay's 6th birthday

2007-11-08T12:05:00.000-06:00

Happy 6th Birthday Clay

Little Brother Cade is right by his side

Adam was scooting around

November 5th 2007

More Halloween Pictures

2007-11-02T08:35:00.000-05:00

The Poole Family

Josh-The Butcher******Greg-The Pimp

Megan-The Pirate*********Kim-Hot Biker Chick

Michelle-The Call Girl

Shirley-The Fortune Teller
Kristen and Stephanie

(K found the hat)
Rocking Alien

Halloween Party 2007

2007-10-29T21:24:00.000-05:00

Halloween 2007

Oct 28, 2007

Emma

The Blues Brother

Kristen and HaleyKristen and Jeremy
Princess Lexie

Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf

(Brit and Jared)

Ian, Chris and Kristen
Go-Go Amy

Ninja Abby
Amy

Watch for more pictures on tomorrow's blog.

Cindi

Pumpkin Carving 2007

2007-10-22T07:43:00.000-05:00

This is our annual pumpkin carving event. Everybody has their own unique design and they always look great. Adam designed ours and I did the cutting. As you can see I am not the best carver in the world but they look really good all lit up at night. Rod of course has something unusual going on with his creation, this year it is smoking a pipe!! The dogs were dying to help out but their idea of fun is grabbing pumpkin gunk and running all over the yard and then trying to help us with the carving so they were banished to the deck. We actually didn't have as big a mess as usual because the pumpkins were so dry.

Ike is watching, ready to grab a bite.

Rod's pumpkin
Adam-designer Cindi -carver
Kristen's owl-o-lantern
Leah's happy/sad jack-o-lantern
Leah

Kristen
Adam
Rodney
Please let me out!!! I want to help.

Em's wedding

2007-10-21T21:07:00.001-05:00

Photos from Emily and Bradley's Wedding

Oct. 20, 2007

Bradley is taking off the garter Kristen and Daniel
Keith and Emily
Toasting with champagne
Leah and Jessica
Cindi and Kristen
Luke and girlfriend (Luke had shed his wedding outfit)
Leah, Brett and Kristen

Leah and Brent dancing

Leah and Kristen before the wedding

Jessica, Emily, Kristen and Leah
Emily and Bradley's first dance
The Cake
The Beautiful Bride

State Fair 2007

2007-10-19T11:09:00.000-05:00

State Fair 2007

Goats

Biggest Pumpkin
Leah and Cindi on Ferris Wheel
Rod and Kristen flying off in space

Just starting out!!

Cindi and LeahBrittiany and Jared
Corn Fed Girls
The Group at the "dry" Fountain

Adam and the Pumpkins

2007-10-17T07:49:00.000-05:00

Adam and the pumpkins

Izzy was suppose to be in the picture

but she just couldn't be still.

Look behind Adam to see who is watching.

Clay and Cade at soccer practice Oct. 16,07

2007-10-16T22:20:00.000-05:00

He looks so serious.

Ike misses you!

2007-10-16T13:07:00.001-05:00

Ike sure does miss his big sisters. His little sisters, Ruby and Izzy, wear him out.