Wordless Wednesday #35 ~ Homework Time

A beautiful sight for a Mother who is also a Teacher!! Love these boys SO MUCH!!!

GO SAINTS!!!

The Maddens came over to watch the Saints game with my "boys". Actually, we consider them family as well, even though we don't really look alike!! He he he...

Darrell and Curtis...

We had Chili Dogs...football food! Kyle enjoyed himself, so much so that he woke up the next morning with a bad stomache ache. Gee, you'd think the boy would learn by now.

Here's most of the guests...they were way louder than you would believe that 6 people could be. The neighbors were laughing. They all know that Darrell loves the Saints.

Nathan, Eldon, Holly, and my Mom were here also. They were not so much enjoying the football, but were finding different ways to entertain themselves!!

We're ready for the SuperBowl!! Oh, no, does that mean more Chili Dogs???

Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. MORE RAIN!

This is a picture of the flowers outside my backdoor at 5:00 this morning. The pots are overflowing with water and dirt. The pool is overflowing into the backyard and the puppy has to be forced to go outside to go potty. It's a TON of rain, it's crazy rain. This is day #5 of pouring down rain. I'm not sure how many inches of rain we have gotten, it's major. I love the rain, but this is a little overboard...even for me. Trees are down all over the place and people are without power. Do you think the "drought conditions" will be over now??

Wordless Wednesday #34 ~ Decisions...Decisions

Hmmmmm....which is more important....strong toilet paper or soft toilet paper?? Hmmmm......

Nathan, Eldon, and Rain Running in the Gutter!!

Eldon is spending MLK Day with us, and it has been pouring since last night. They have been begging me to play in the rain...and by 1:00 I couldn't say "NO" any longer. I gave them my old gardening shoes and they headed out. It is not that cold, so that's why they are not all bundled up.

What more could a boy want...a buddy and pouring down rain.

Molly got out when the door blew open...the boys chased her down the street...I was cracking up!

Windy.

Get back here Puppy.

The sidewalks are flooding. It is supposed to rain through Friday. I love the rain!

Eldon decided to make a boat out of aluminium foil to float down the gutters.

IT WORKED! The boat floated all the way down the street. Then, Nathan and Eldon came home, undressed in the garage, and now they're in the nice warm shower. Sounds like a fun day home from school to me.

Wordless Wednesday #33 ~ Nathan Up-Close

I Get Paid for This???

Today I was not feeling great and almost called a sub for myself, but since my program is so unique it is difficult for a sub to fill-in. THIS is what I would have missed out on...one of my gorgeous baby girls...her name is Jayden and she is a firecracker!!

AND...my parents, who are also my students, would have carried on without me. BUT I would have missed them and missed out on a chance to be with them and have an hour long conversation at this table, partly in English, partly in Spanish, about child-rearing and losing your temper, and feeding your children healthy food. I'm so glad I got myself up and ready, I learned a lot from them. I hope they learned something from me.

Uh-Oh!!

While putting the Christmas boxes back into the attic, Darrell stepped off of the wood planks and went through the floor (which is the ceiling in the hallway) with one leg up to his hip. I wasn't home at the time, but he was carrying a heavy box at the time...I don't think he knew what happened until he was on two floors at one time. He is okay, just cut up on one leg, now we have more ventilation in the attic!!

Year-End Wrap-Up In Photos

This is a mixture of photos from several Christmas celebrations. This is a photos of Gary and Becky's kids with Kyle and Nathan. There is 16 years between the oldest and youngest grandchild. We went to a Mexican food restuarant the day after Christmas to celebrate "Groff-Style!"

Our newest and sweetest family member...Princess Riley.

Zach helping Riley open her gifts...

Our family on Christmas Day at my Mom's house. We had a great time, we decided NO GIFTS except for the kids this year. It was less stressful and much better.

My sister and her family...love these guys.

Kisses for Mom...

We gave Eldon new binoculars...perfect gift!

And the Peach got a new American Girl doll and new clothes...cute!

The Grandkids got Grammy and Grampy a weekend at the Mission Inn in Old Towne Riverside. We could never give them an approprite gift for all the love, time, gifts, and patience they give to our kids...right Tanya??

Grammy and Grampy gave Nathan and Eldon remote control boats to use in the pool. I wonder if Molly could go for a ride?? He He He

My Love...our 22nd Christmas together. What a lucky guy!!

Grampy won the "unwrap the gift wearing a scarf and gloves" game.

Grammy made decorated sugar cookies.

Christmas Eve, before mid-night mass. I was messing with my flash/no flash/ changing ISO buttons on my camers.

Nathan on Christmas Eve.

Our Sweet Molly Mo...in the middle of the excitement...of course.

Another flash experiment.

Our tree this year was beautiful. We bought it from Kyle's baseball team fundraiser. Gorgeous!

My Dear Friend Barbie sent Christmas gifts from North Carolina...Molly opened her own gifts...thanks Barbie and Nancy. We love and miss you!!

We had a great Christmas and are looking forward to a new year. I will begin working 30 hours a week starting tomorrow, and will be at 3 schools every week. It is a big change from 19 hours per week and 2 schools. The boys are back to school tomorrow, the Christmas decorations are packed away, all the closets are purged and 12 bags have gone to Goodwill. The laundry is caught up and the menu for the week is planned and food purchased. I want to stay organized this year, prepare ahead of time, and keep my home peaceful and tidy. Is this possible?? I say yes, I will try my darndest....

Happy 2010 to ALL of YOU!!!

Christmas Lights

We went with our dear friends to Naples Island, Long Beach (not Italy...darn it) and walked the island and looked at all the beautiful Christmas lights. I am late posting, we did go before Christmas.