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.

Another gift

This is a gift my son gave me, he's had it wrapped since the beginning of Dec. I've taped it to a piece of paper, but he keep this balloon from someones birthday, and he cut out these words and put it in an envelope.

Christmas Gift

Today I took Chelsea, Vanessa & Ashley and dropped them off at the mall, 41/2 hrs later I picked them up and Chelsea bought me this necklace with mom on it, I was speechless. I thought it was so beautiful that I had to share it.

Christmas eve with the Poole's

Finally it was midnight and time to open gifts, the girls didn't want to at first until they found out it was midnight. When they were all little they couldn't wait and we had to open early; now that they're older they want to wait and make Alex wait. He sure was happy to get started. He went around finding his gifts to open instead of waiting for us to pass them out.



Alex with his remote controlled truck.




Chelsea looking happy with her fuzzy socks.

Christmas at Home

I had to get everyone up at our house to open gifts. After having Christmas eve at John's parents house; we got home at 3am so everyone always sleeps in on Christmas day except me. After the gifts were opened we went next door and had dinner with mom, dad & lisa's family.

Alex got a guitar: he's been wanting. Chelsea with her tube socks she wanted. You can't find the ones with colored stripes just anywhere around here, Just one shoe store at the mall has them.

Alex & Chelsea in front of our tree after all the presents were opened.

Christmas at the Stapletons

We got mom & dad matching recliners for Christmas; the old ones were to big and her head doesn't rest comfortably, especially after she hurt her neck a fews years back. So far these seem to be working out good.

I walked in with my camera & Mom decided to pose, so I snapped her picture.


Lisa, Jessica & Michael in line for food, Alex and Lisa at the dinner table eating, Alex with a look as if saying enough with the pictures.


Chelsea & Vanessa getting food. Vanessa with a big spoonful of mashed potatoes, she ate it all and came back for more.
Alex & Chelsea playing operation, when Alex tried to operate it buzzed he jumped and didn't want to try again at first.

Ashley came over and spent a big part of the day with us.

Babies

I love christmas time, especially opening my christmas cards and finding baby pictures.
This little baby is my cousin Danny and his wife lindas baby Nathaniel. According to the pictures the one with the hat was taken at the beginning of the month and the other just last week, you can sure tell he has grown in just a couple weeks. It sure is great to see him grow, It will be real great when they can take him home from the hospital.














These 2 children belong to my cousin Joeyleigh, There's Dalton and Skye. She sure is growing up, she looks as if she may be a little bossy pants.

Cooper & Carsyn

My cousin Courtney sent these pictures today.
I just couldn't resist. Just look at Coopers face. It's says: You can't prove I've been into the presents.

With Carsyn you could just nibble on those little chubby cheeks all day.

Christmas at Neinas

Thursday his class had a little Christmas party, they didn't have much time to party. They had alot of snacks and the teacher put on music but just a handful danced, Alex refused to.










Wednesday was Christmas hat day, the children who wore a hat got their names put into a box and some were chosen to get a gift, Alex got a joke book, he found one joke in that book and has teased my mother with that joke that whole day.
It goes like this: Did your mother ever lift weights?
answer: Then how did she raise a dumbell like you.

Notice his funny looking hat, I wasn't in the mood to go through the attic and look for my santa hat, so I made one. The burg. was felt from Chelseas grad party, I put to pieces together hand stitched then hot glued the batting on, and he had a hat good enough for the day. That's all I could come up with the last minute without having to go to the store.