20th high school reunion: I really must have gone to a different school. I don't remember anyone, but I did have a massive anxiety attack when walking through the high school. And I really am an old bitter lady - the whole time I'm thinking that these little whipper-snappers have it so easy now.

The high school still looks exactly the same (exept the gym), and I was all teary eyed over being back in Adrian. Lots and lots of memories all came flooding back.

The only redeeming factor is that Jen and I still look pretty good for old broads :)

Growing like weeds....

This weekend, all 3 kids were sick, so the doctors office took thier vitals. They are growing so fast, it makes my head spin. And I thank God every day that they are healthy and mostly well adjusted :)

Gracie: 5' 6" and 140 lbs

Rudy: 3' 10" and 45 lbs

Doni: 3' 2" and 36 lbs

Well, 2009 is almost over, and I have not updated the blog at all this year. I've been traveling all year, Rudy started Kindergarten, Doni turned 2, and Gracie has brought the courts to our lives this year. It has been stressfull and busy, but here we are, at the end of a difficult and tiring year - my children are healthy, I'm employed still, and I have loving friends around me...

I'm glad 2009 is ending, and am looking forward to a Blessed and loving and fortuitous 2010 for me and my family!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The Perfect Baby Name

by Rick Epstein (Albemarle Family Magazine)

Naming a baby is like selecting the perfect title for a book when you don't even know what it's about.

Here are a few tests:

1) The Playground-Taunt Test.
Any 5th grader can identify the biggest smart-alec in the class. That's your consultant. Give him 5 bucks to work his magic with your likeliest names.

2) The Personalized-Toothbrush Test.
Little Ulysses or Zephyr will be dissapointed when they go to the store and cannot find that little personalized bike-sized license plate with thier special name.

3) The Front-Porch Test.
Take the name you're considering and yell it form the front porch as if summoning a child to dinner. Consider carefully before barking, hooting, or hissing: Mark, Ruth, or Seth.

4) The Follow-up Question Test.
Think twice before giving a child a name that will require a follow-up question or discussion every time it is said.

5) The Are-We-Looking-For-Trouble? Test.
Try to picture the kind of person who would be named what you want to name your child. (i.e. Freedom Rose, Buck Johnson, etc.)

Birth Order Test

I stole this quiz from a friend of mine, and although I'm an only child, it pretty much pegged me here (although what if I really am a first born, and there's some dead scary brother/sister out there that is going to haunt me like in the scary movies? :)

http://www.blogthings.com/birthorderpredictorquiz/

You Are Likely a First Born

At your darkest moments, you feel guilty.
At work and school, you do best when you're researching.
When you love someone, you tend to agree with them often.
In friendship, you are considerate and compromising.
Your ideal careers are: business, research, counseling, promotion, and speaking.
You will leave your mark on the world with discoveries, new information, and teaching people to dream.

Christmas and New Years

Christmas 2008 was a wonderful time. It was a time of learning.....

Doni does not like strangers.

Some people have too much time on thier hands.

And Doni will not look that good in a mustache.

And we went downtown for First Night on New Years Eve, just like we do every year, but this year it was freezing and extremely windy. We rented a hotel room near the mall, and due to the gloriousness of AARP, we got a 2 room suite, so the kids got to have thier own room, and John and I got some peace and quiet. HAPPY 2009!!!

Confederate States of America

For Gracie's birthday this year, we spent the weekend in Richmond, and one of our activities was to spend a few hours at the CSofA Cemetery. Let me add my disclaimer that I am NOT Southern, nor will I ever pay homage to the Confederate flag, and although the CSA had a good idea in the whole 'state law' vs. 'federal law', the entire red-neck nation has since removed any positive connotation to the main principals behind the Confederate States of America. And on that note.... the cemetery was beautiful. It was very cool to see the tombstones from the battles around here, and to see the big names immortilized. To get an idea about how 'proud' the south is of the good old confederate soldiers, there is a monument with the following inscribed on it:

"Fate denied them victory, but gave them a glorious immortality".

Hey Kris - figure out what this one is all about: there was a spot on the map that just said "Black Dog". We got there, and yep - there was a life sized black iron dog. With no marker or explanation.