The Old Man's Day

Today is Dad's 66th birthday and we got together and had pizza and cake & ice cream. Dad got a small digital camera for his birthday, mom gave it to him before his birthday and we showed him how to use it. Here's dad opening his cards and alex close by.

Just a pic of mom & lisa setting around. I went and picked up Chelsea from the dorm so she can join us for the little get together. Here she is with her pizza acting silly for the camera.

Alex got my camera and wanted to take some pictures, so he got this one of me & mom just sitting around. He also took this one of Chelsea & Vanessa sitting on my treadmill, Vanessa has the oddest expression on her face, sorta looks like a confused puppy.

Alex also took this one of Becky, she also wasn't feeling well today. He tried to get one of Michael but he wouldn't cooperate.

We went to Baskin Robbins and got a birthday & anniversary ice cream cake.

Here's dad using his birthday present and taking pictures of his cake.

Here's mom and dad blowing out their anniversary candles.

I always seem to get mom doing silly faces, she'll probably hurt me for posting them.

Chelsea Just being silly

After all the pizza and ice cream cake, I got this picture of Dad & Lisa relaxing. Lisa claims she was only resting her eyes and wasn't sleeping.

Vacation Week

Well this is the 4th day of vacation and we've done nothing. Alex has been sick since monday, I took him to the doctor and it's nothing serious but a virus and she said there's nothing to give for a virus. In this picture he has a headache, and the chills, It's been like this since day 1 of our vacation. Well our house guest finally went home, I don't think she very happy with me. I think she was getting to comfortable in the house. This week the weather has been in the 30's warm enough for her to go home, and so she did but not of her choice.

Sunday Lunch

I took my son out to lunch Sunday after church. He had a free coupon for pizza hut, because he has been reading 10 books or more a month for the book it club, after each month if they read they get a coupon.

Here he is trying to hide from me, after a few suprise shots he decides to pose.

Valentine's Day

Since it's Black History month the school had the black history program today, the children did mostly sing and recite a few poems. All the second graders sang Follow the Drinking Gourd. The best class was one 3rd grade class that sang a couple old black gospel songs, those kids did an excellent job.

Since we had a snow day on Wednesday (valentine's day) his teacher did the party today, thursday she had 2 preps and not enough time to party. So here he is passing out his valentines cards. I wasn't able to attend but only for a few minutes. Because it is the last day before we have a week off, teachers were leaving early going out of town. The subs were taken, and there were only 2 aides working today the other 3 were off. They had me double booked, I had to ask them to cancel the last science class so I could go to the other class I was already promised too.

I did figure out a way to make my way to his party, I took the kids on a water break to the basement. They stood there for awhile, so when the teacher put on some music (happy feet) I told them they could dance. The boy in the front has some pretty good moves, so I had to snap his picture.
I can't believe Alex got up and started dancing and he was the only one until this girl came and danced with him.

I always seem to get pictures of his teacher giving me looks. I'm not sure what they were studing at the time but all the kids made chef hats. I had Alex try it on for a picture.

Snow Day

Which means a day off school/work.

Well we have at least 6 inches or more of snow plus very cold temp, wind chill makes it at least -10. Every thing is a mess here, freeways aren't cleaned off, salt isn't working because temps are to cold. Dad is out shoveling snow, was going to use snow blower but no gas. I offered to shovel but he insisted he'd do it (didn't have to insist to much).

The Wee Little One

Here is Nathanial, everyone is so happy that he was finally able to come home from the hospital. He's weighing in at 5lb 10oz and the family is all doing good. Looks like daddy is very proud, what I understand is that Nathanial has some big beautiful brown eyes.

Count Down

There's nothing much going on here, nothing exciting like getting a new house or even looking for one. Maybe something interesting will be going on after the weather warms up.

Well I'm counting down, there's 5 working days til we have winter break; then I'll have a week off. It should be a quiet week, it's only been about 10weeks since my husband decided to get mad at me and not talk. At least Alex will be here he talks enough for everyone.

Back to Work

Well It was back to work yesterday, It's still cold but only in the single digits not the minus digits. We didn't have many kids at school yesterday, each class was running around 1/2 or just over. Alex didn't go he hasn't been feeling well. I'm ready to get him out of bed and see if he's feeling ok today.
The afternoon teacher I work with on wednesdays had the window open. I grabbed my work and told her I was doing it in the hallway it was to cold for me in the room. She came and got me after she closed the window, because she needed me to speak to the kids in and explain the words.
The teacher may be at that age when a woman changes, so I'm not going to get to upset, I will be there one day. (not really looking forward to it).

Another Cold Day

Well another cold day; only it's a little bit warmer today. Instead of -3 we're at 0 degrees, with a wind chill of -15.

I just can't believe Detroit public schools are closed again today, it's not like them, they usually don't care about the children.

So I have another day off, Yippee!

Bitterly Cold

Well the past couple mornings it has been below zero. Yesterday someone didn't turn the water on to a stream and our pipes froze. It took him most of the day to unfreeze them.

Believe it or not Detroit schools are closed today because of the temps. Most of these children little children walk to school, and there's an advisory out; if you don't have to go out then don't, It's -3 and feels like -20. This means I have a day off work hopefully it's paid.

Burrrrr!

It's very cold out today and it's going to be that way for the rest of the week. That means we have a house guest for at least a few days. Her favorite spot is close to the wood burner, which is where she is in this picture. Her and I are the only ones home right now. John left, and Alex is next door bugging mom and dad. Last I heard he was having mom playing puzzles with him. I can only imagine what my mother is saying, (probably wishing I'd come and take him home).

I've got lots of things to do but just can't make myself do them. Sounds like the wind is up an looks like it's snowing pretty good.

It hasn't been snowing long, but it looks like whiteout conditions outside.

Round 3

Here we go again, and each time it has gotten worse.
My dog started barking non-stop this morning about 5am, I had no choice but to see what was going on. The last couple times she barked like that someone had broken into the back of my truck, but because of her nothing was taken, we got there on time. When I opened my back door all I seen was light coming from the vacant house. I took a look and ran inside called 911 then got John & Alex up, I woke up mom & dad so I could send Alex over there. My first instinct was to grab my camera ( wonder why) . This is the first picture I took when finding out there was a fire I was in the back yard.

I came out front to wait on the fire department to get here, and I kept an eye on how fast the fire was coming over to my house. As you can see it's getting my house.

The firefighters are here and taking their hoses to spray my house and the fire.

This is the firefighters spraying water from inside the burning house onto ours.

Here is the damage to the vacant house, and here is my Char-b-qued house. It's not to bad (but it shouldn't have been) Our bathroom window did get broke and my mini blinds a little melted and water in the bathroom. I thank God we're all safe and that it wasn't worse than what it was. I'm also grateful for the dog, she has saved us at least 4 times; 2 from fires and 2 from someone breaking into my truck. (Keep watching for Round 4 I'm sure it'll happen soon.)

New Glasses

We went and picked up his new glasses today after school. He didn't want his picture taken, that is until I took the first one then he wanted to pose.

I Didn't think we were going to make it out today. Due to the fact that it was snowing again when we left for school this morning and by lunch time it was all snow covered. This it what it looked like when I walked home for lunch. I guess we got a couple inches, but not enough to have a snow day. :(

It's Snowing Again

Not to much to report, except it's snowing. It started before school was out, and of course I'd made plans to go out grocery shopping for Chelsea. I went anyway even though it was snowing, after that I picked Alex and me up a pizza. Then I headed down to the college, It had quit snowing where I was at (only about 7 miles from Detroit). Once I got into Detroit it was still snowing and it was about 2 hrs after we left school. Well the second freeway I had to take was backed up and slow moving; It took about 10 mins to go a mile. It looks like nothing has been done to the roads; even the freeways were snow covered and you couldn't find the lane lines. Once I got home there was the task of shoveling snow, I did the front and back walks for myself and mom & dad.

I say if it's going to snow we need to get at least 6 inches, so we can have a day off school. :)

The Twins

I just love these faces, I think Cooper looks like his mother and Carsyn Looks like her Father. If you look close enough I do believe he has a couple teeth. These babies are growing up to fast, they're going to be a year old in a few months. I'm happy that my cousin Courtney sends me these pictures, this way I can keep up with how much they're growing up and changing.

Snow

We woke up this morning with snow on the ground. The past few days we've had nothing but rain, and with the colder temps. some areas got freezing rain. We were lucky the freezing rain didn't get us, just a little north of us got. Where the ground hasn't frozen and all this rain, when the ice came, alot of the trees couldn't handle it and became uprooted, there were alot of power lines down also. Usually around this time of the year we've had snow and very cold weather and usually wishing for it to go away and get warm. I guess we can't complain (right now)

New Refrigerator

Our new refrigerator and upright freezer was delivered today. This is the picture of the refrigerator, it's the new french style doors with the freezer on the bottom. I love the fact that everything in the frigerator part is at eye level. Mom and dad gave us the reverse one, but it would make an awful noise. I did like my side by side, we were still using it but it was 20yrs old and the inside was falling apart.

FYI: I know it's not mine because I didn't buy it, but I'm just thankful I get to use it.

Just Because

I'm so happy that my friends and family are getting new houses but it upsets me because I'm still stuck in this LITTLE starter house. If we wait too much longer no one is going to give a loan to a first time home buyer who's at social security age. So here's just a little tour of my falling apart house.
This pictures shows a board that has to be there because coming out of my kitchen into dining room the floor is about to fall through.

This is in my kitchen on one side of the room as you can see it's peeling and falling apart.

This is the other side of the kitchen and it's worse, this is where it leaks when it rains a good steady rain.

This is the laundry room another part where the ceiling is falling apart, and it leaks as well.

Here is another part of the floor that is week and we had to put a board on the floor, so it won't fall through.

We also need a roof, 20yrs and nothing has been done to it, so you can imagine how bad of a shape it's in, Then the windows in the house were probably the first and only windows ever put in the house. My dad has done a few things but I don't feel that he should keep up the maintance since he's letting us live here.

This picture is of my truck? Well you see I have been told since we've had this that it's not mine and I lucky I get to drive it. So I guess I'm very greatful that I do get to drive it. I am aware that I have nothing in life except my children and a few material things that I have aquired myself. I do get reminded of this often, so I'm not to forget it.


I love Chelsea very much, and I guess in her own way she loves me too, but she acts like she hates and I can never do anything right. She's just like her father.

Sometimes I feel that the only person on this earth that loves me is my son Alex, he tells me all the time and always gives me hugs and kisses. I hope he doesn't grow up and act like he hates me like the others do.

Good luck to every one who is getting a new house, I am very happy for you just wish it was me also.

My Chevy

Well I took my truck in yesterday because the driver window was off track (I thought) and falling down. Of course it could never be nothing just simple, I got it back yesterday, that's the only good thing about it was same day service.

Back to College

Today Chelsea went back to her dorm. She starts her new classes tomorrow, what I could get out of her she did really good on her first set of classes.

For her going away dinner I had a gift card to Applebees so the family went there tonight. She had to pack all of her stuff into John's little car, my truck needs to go to the shop tomorrow, I hope they don't keep it to long and drain my wallet too much.

Jordan's Baby

Here's Jordan's baby Maddox, I think he's about 5 months.