Good Mornin... Good MORNin'...

Good Morning all you people that are asleep as I write this.

I was out of town last weekend. Went up north to my Sister-in-law's house for the final Family Christmas on my wife's side.

Oy Vay. That is all I am gonna say. We had our fun moments, but, oy vay!

The kids did put on a pagent. That was cute. I use dmy projector to cast a background for them to use. Next year I will take more time and actually create various scenes and stuff!

Nice to be back. I have so much stuff to do though!

1. Scrapbook night on Friday
2. Pinewood Derby on Saturday
3. An online presentation on Thursday
4. finish up PRC stuff this week

Just a lot to do!

Riley is talking nicely, more sounds than actual words, but he is getting there.

He knows some sign language that Amy is teaching him. He can ask for a bottle, food, more and toys. They aren't the actual signs, but he understands when we sign them and he has his own version (with a sound to go with) to tell us what he wants.

He is so smart too! I can't get over how smart he is for his age!

We have a meeting with the Dean of the Elementary and a few school teachers in regards to Dominic.

They think there is some issues there and I think they need to know how to handle him. His actual teacher had no problems with him, when she went off to maternatiy leave, all of a sudden we are having issues... oy vay!

Well, got to get back to the imaginary work to do here...

Christmas Photos

In case I missed anyone, Here is our Christmas Card for this year:


And our "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" one:


And one of me:


And of course, my funny pose:


As usual, all photos were taken by me and the Christmas Card is a Bert Jones Original! Enjoy!

Christmas Memories

Well, Christmas is over. Seems like it went by so fast this year.

The kids got a lot of presents this year, I think they got everything they wanted.

Where to start, where to start?

This was Riley's first Christmas, so of course I had to videotape them coming down the hallway. Seeing all the presents and then reading Santa's note... too bad I didn't hit the record button. So they had to 'do-over' the whole thing! LOL.

Riley was his usual smiley self. We tried going round-robin style with the presents, but he was getting unhappy, so we had him open all his. (Grandma helped). He liked ripping the paper open.

Mikayla got a doodle bear, some other toys and hair stuff.

Dominic got He-Man toys that he was really excited about! Lego Star Wars (which him and I played on Christmas day and Yesterday. We have finished both episodes and only have episode 3 left!

Courtney got hair stuff and a few other goodies (I honestly can't remember what thought, I know some stuffed animals).

The kids all got Guitar Hero II. I thought they were gonna pee their pants they were so excited! I also got the whole family a 300GB network storage drive to store all their files, since we all shared computers around the house.

Amy got the food dehydrator she wanted, a makeup kit from Mikayla, A bath set from Courtney and one from Cindy. A crystal Lamp (pink) from Dominic.

I got some scrapbooking supplies (Oh and so did the girls!) and a pajama/sleepwear set and a replacement white long sleeve shirt that got ruined in the wash.

I will be getting the World of Warcraft Expansion Pack in January as well.

then the family became sick (except me). So that was tough, missed a day of work (add to that getting no holiday pay) so this weeks hours are gonna be really short!

Still really tired from having so much fun though this weekend... Can't wait for New Years Day when I can get drunk in World of Warcraft!

You Made This A Christmas to Remember...

If you know me, you should know what that title is from...my absolutle FAVORITE Christmas Song.

Okay, you should know me pretty well...like family member well.

Anyways, it isn't Christmas unless I can hear that album... and fortunately for me, I have the original TV special that goes with it on VHS (that I happened to convert to DVD last year!).

Don't know how or when, but I know will meet again. Blowin back to somehwere, like some wild restless winter's wind.

Sorry, can you tell I am listening to it right now?

Tho the fire is hot, will just have to let it simmer

Sorry...

Everytime I listen to this song, I think of Amy. Actually, any of those mushy kind of songs I think of my wife... You would think after being together for 10 years I would be over that... nope!

I have a feeling that I will be rambling in this post. It is 4:41 in the morning and NOTHING to do at work...

CHRISTMAS... The snows comin down,
CHRISTMAS... I'm watchin it fall
CHRISTMAS... Lot's of people around,
CHRISTMAS... Baby please come home

Sorry, another good Christmas song I like just came on. Ya know, I didn't used to like Christmas. Okay, I did...but only because I got presents. But then I met Amy. And she totally changed my attitude about it.

Okay, I still like getting presents the most. But just having the house decorated, Christmas music playing, baking cookies, making fudge...you can't help but get into the spirit.

All I want for Christmas is you....oooooooo Baby!

Hehe...I just got caught by a co-worker rockin out to my Christmas music...I am just sittin here boppin my head away, like there is no tomorrow...hey, at least I am staying awake! Unlike the rest of this week when I was sick...sick for 1.5 weeks!

Okay, back to my wife and Christmas...would you like to know what my most favoritest and memorable Christmas memory is?

When I met Amy in '97, it was around October. We started dating in November (November 30 to be exact) and my Mom and I were the only ones you liked to decorate the house for Christmas.

My dad, the regular scrooge when it came to decorating (he liked the gift part) had us always put up decorations on my mom's birthday (Dec. 16) and take them down the day after Christmas.

Not a whole lot of time to get into the Christmas mood.

Well, the year of 97 was pretty rough. I lost my job, my sister was having personal problems, My mom was working 3 jobs (found out later to avoid my dad) and my life was very confusing.

So my mom and I were not going to decorate for Christmas. Add to that we didn't really have money for gifts, so Christmas was pretty bleak. I was really bummed out, because it was a tradition with my mom and I as we decorate the tree with ornaments my sister and I made throughout the years.

I don't remember the date, but I think it was in the beginning of December, Amy, My mom and I were gonna go to the Mall of America. Except I was really sick that Saturday, so my mom and Amy were gonna go, while I rested. I literally slept the whole day.

Finally that evening, Amy comes into my room and wakes me up. The room is pitch black and I am just out of it and not sure what is happening.

She helps me to the door and I can't figure out why the hallway is so dark, it can't be that dark in my house (I am still in my bedroom at this point)...

So I start to walk into the hallway and there is paper covering my door! Turns out it is wrapping paper! So I open my "Gift", which is the rest of my house and walk into the livingroom.

There is our Christmas tree, all decked out, decorated. The railing is all decorated, the works. Top it off, there is presents under the tree too and a few of my friends are over as well!

Amy spent the day with my mom gathering my friends, buying decorations and presents and decorating the house and wrapping gifts while I slept!

That was my favoritest Christmas ever! (Well, next to the sharing my children's first Christmas')

Isn't she sweet. A year later we find the actual presents she had bouht for me, but lost in the move to the mobile home in Hilltop. She bought me two Nike Brand Shirt and Boss Brand Jeans. The first actual brand name clothing I ever had! I still have the jeans! I lost the shirts over the years.

Well, almost time for lunch for me...so I guess I should sign off now...

Have a Merry Christmas all and a Happy New Year!

Oh, and in case you didin't figure it out, here is my favorite album and the lyrics to my favorite song:

Dolly & Kenny's Once Upon A Christmas

A Christmas to Remember

Both:
You've made this a Christmas to remember
Springtime feelin's in the middle of December
Strangers meet and willingly surrender
Oh! What a Christmas to remember

Kenny:
Almost went to Aspen but something told me no
I considered Mammoth but there wasn't enough snow
And I even thought of Gatlinburg, it seemed so far to go
So I headed up to Tahoe for a Christmas on the slopes

Dolly:
And I had fantasized about Christmas in this way
Curled up by a fireplace in a Tahoe ski chalet
With a fast talking lover and some slow burning wood
But even in my wildest dreams it never got this good and

Both:
You've made this a Christmas to remember
Springtime feelin's in the middle of December
Change the radio and I'll turn the lights down dimmer
Oh! What a Christmas to remember

Strangers when we met, lovers as we leave
Christmas to remember, too good to believe
Don't know how or when, but I know we'll meet again
blowin' back to somewhere like some wild restless winter's wind

And you've made this a Christmas to remember
Springtime feelin's in the middle of December
Neath the mistletoe you kissed me warm and tender
Oh! What a Christmas to remember

Dolly:
We loved and laughed and played and joked
Sang Christmas songs and talked to folks
Sleighed the fields and skied the slopes
Then to the lodge for dinner
Now it's time for us to go
As our hearts melt like chimney snow
There's just one thing I want to know
Both: Can we do this next winter
Both: Oh! What a Christmas to remember

You've made this a Christmas to remember
Springtime feelin's in the middle of December
Though the fire is hot, we'll just have to let it simmer
Oh! What a Christmas to remember

You've made this a Christmas to remember (Dolly: I'm gonna remember)
Springtime feelin's in the middle of December
Though it's cold outside we'll just stoke the burning embers
Oh! What a Christmas to remember

Other Favorite Christmas Albums are:
Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas




Celine Dion's These are the Special Times

A few updates.

Okay, this will be a long blog. I realized that I went off on a tangent regarding Christmas Eve, but never detailed the other party. Check previous posts, also, because I added some photos.

First of all, let me talk about the Bares/Koener/Scott/Hotchkiss/Jones Christmas Eve Party.

As soon as we got back from my relatives brunch party, we had to hurry up and finish cleaning, putting out the food. I still had to make Apple Crisp. So I had my mom, core/peel the apples (with our corer/slicer/peeler) while I got the rest ready.

Everyone seemed to arrive at the same time. Which was kinda cool. No waiting!

We visited and ate first. Then had the kids get started on their Christmas Present dice game.

It was really funny, because everytime Devin got "doubles" he would point his two fingers (like a peace sign) at the dice and go "DOUBLES" in this crazed kinda voice. He was so funny.

But at the same time, the kids would get upset that they didn't get doubles and sort of not-so-gently-toss the tray with dice at the next kid. So there was a lot of reminding to be careful going on.

And the kids had a TON of gifts to pick through too!

After that was all done, the adults started in on their version of the game. A lot of stealing was going on! The candy was being fought for so fiercly!

Then we moved on to the Indian Bingo game. Where there is one present per person and you draw a number. 1-?. You want the highest number. So I had #1. So I picked a present. Then whoever had #2, picked a present and then could trade with me if they wanted (not knowing what it was). #3, could then trade with #1 or #2. And so on. So whoever had #14 could trade with anyone.

I got stuck with some JONES SODA. Which is nasty soda that is a "whole meal" There are 6 bottles. One is Turkey and Stuffing, one is Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and so on. NASTY!

After that, we visited a bit more, had family photos taken and then people slowly filtered out.

All in all, it was a FUN night and I can't wait for next year!

A Merry Christmas...with a sad ending.

Christmas morning went well.

We opened all the gifts, the kids played, we saw Courtney off to her dads for the week. I took a nap, woke up and started making dinner.

Right before we sat down to eat our dinner, I went off to go to the bathroom before I sat down to eat and I walked in the bathroom to see Pitter (Amy's cat) laying in on the rug in front of the toilet. Her eyes wide open and her mouth hanging open... I didn't know what was wrong, but I feared the worst. She wasn't moving.

At first I wasn't even sure it was Pitter. I immediately screamed for Amy and she came in and my mom followed closely behind. My mom confirmed that Pitter was no longer with us.

Of course, everything is closed. So we have to wait until Tuesday to find out exactly what happened. We knew she was having problems breathing, but we thought she was okay with the medication we were giving her. Although as time went on, she would stress out more when it came time to give her the medication.

So we had to try and explain to the kids what happened. Courtney is not here, so we are going to wait and tell her when she comes home. No reason to spoil her winter break with her dad, with bad news.

I can't get the image of how Pitter's face looked out of my head.

The eyes and mouth wide open. Did she suffer? She was all alone in the bathroom (the steam helped her breath and she needed to be apart from the other cats) for who knows how long, did she know she was loved? The last time I saw her I was napping and she was laying on me and I pushed her off, did she think I didn't love her?

I will miss her constant vocalizing around the house whenever we walked into the room she was at, she was our only talkative one, and always let us know she acknowledged us.

Farewell, my Purrfect Princess Pitter, may you find happiness wherever you are and know that we love you very much and miss you even more.

Christmas Eve

What a day.

It started out good. We went over to my great-aunts and grandmothers in the morning to do gifts and brunch. My dad wasn't there yet, so we did our gifts and helped finish the get the food ready.

Finally my dad shows up and we said hi, he came in and set his stuff down. And the most horrid thing happened...

My ex-uncle, Skip, walked in (my dad's older brother). I immediately got a headache.

This man verbally abused me for 20 years. This man is so vile, that whenever he was around, my dad would even join in with him and verbally abuse me as well. I think it was a control issue. This man had such an influence in my father's life (as an authorative figure) that my dad became this kid that needed approval.

So he walks in. And I am immediately pissed. Pissed at the fact that they had mentioned that he would be in town and we specifically said we didn't want to see him, if he was going to be there, we would not. They said he wouldn't. For weeks they said he would not be there.

So we were pissed that he was there.

I guess I should explain, the main I reason I don't want to be around this man, was that the last time I saw him, we got into a HUGE argument, because he was trying to do the same thing to my son, that he did to me. Telling us to make sure he doesn't become a fag, etc. And saying this to Dominic, who was only 4 or 5 at the time. And he kept calling him sparky.

So I was extremely pissed, I immediately moved all our dinner plates to another table, away from them. But then they all ate in the living room, so that didn't help matters. Everything was pretty much okay, he didn't try to talk to me or my family. But the tension was in the air. Especially, with my dad, like he knew I was pissed and he was pleased at it. Which made me even more aggravated.

As we were getting ready to leave, they were talking about Mikayla in Dance and Dominic mentioned that he used to be in dance, but now he is wrestling (which he isn't) and then my ex-uncle says, "Good, we don't want you to become a sissy boy" (or something to that nature.)

I was so glad we were on our way out, that I let it slide and we immediately left.

So then we left and came home, and got ready for our next party. Which was such a HUGE hit. We had lots more fun. Everything turned out great and we loved seeing everyone!

Thankfully tomorrow is Christmas and it will be a better day!

Tis the Season to be Jolly...

Fa La La La La, La La La.....BLAH!

I haven't posted in a while, but a lot has been going on. Well, not a lot, but enough to keep my lazy.

I may have a job beginning in January, so hopefully that will go through.

We are busy, busy, busy making Christmas presents for everyone.

Not much else is going on. Amy has had to take it easy for awhile. Riley has been a little too active. She had early contractions a few weeks ago. But she is okay now, she just has to take it easy and relax.

The holiday is over...

Well, Christmas is over... and boy am I sick.

I have been having an upset stomach since Friday afternoon and it won't go away. On top of that, I bought Amy the West Wing Seasons 1 & 2 on DVD and we snuggled on the couch all day Saturday and all day Sunday watchin all the episodes. So now my back really hurts.

But it was worth it. The food was great, the kids got a ton of presents, I got some things that I like and Amy actually didn't know what 2 of her presents were for once (Cause she didn't buy them)!

Now if only work would pick up, I would be happy. Last week I worked only 2 nights. 12 hours. Thank God for holiday pay. That brought me up to 20 hours. I just hope that this week is a nice full week.

Well, I hope everyone else had a wonderful holiday and they have a safe new years!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I hope you are all having a great Christmas.

We visited some relatives and had some relatives over yesterday. Had a wonderful time!

I just loves this time of year...

A little off topic, just recently I started reading the book, "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" to the kids. They love it and can't wait for the next time we get to read.

I have the entire boxed set and after we read all of the Narnia series, we move on to the Indian in the cupboard. I even find myself enjoying the time. Even thought I read the books a few times, I find it more fun to share it with my kids.

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Turkey Day is over...time for a nap!

Wow... One holiday down, two more to go!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had 14(?) people at our home.

I put together a photo slide show on the DVD player so everyone could look at photos while waiting for the food to finish (Which was just about as soon as everyone arrived--Amy is perfect at planning how long to cook a turkey) Speaking of which, the turkey was absolutely delicious, so moist. All the food was good.

Yesterday, we went to say goodbye to some relatives who are moving to Virginia, MN about 3 hours away from us. We are going to miss them. We went over for the day with the kids, visited and ate. Then took the kids home and my mom watched them while we went back and visited some more and stayed there until about 12:30 am.

Amy is leaving to go get her little brother and have him come over and visit with us. I love her little brothers--they're 15(?)--but they're my boyz!

I have never had brothers, so it's cool to have some little brother to teach how to shave (I bought them they're first set) and instruct them on different patterns (I have had many through the years and had to teach myself, so it's nice to teach them and not have them go through the same mistakes I did) I love dem boyz!

Other than that, not much else is going on. I hope to have my family Christmas photos done soon so I can start color correcting, composition and fixing them for print. Hopefully will have them printed in 2 weeks. (Kinda cutting it close!)

Till next time, God bless!

'Tis the Season to be....

Jolly, I guess...

Well, the season is upon us.

We are going to be putting up Christmas decorations today, or tomorrow. I think Christmas is our favorite holiday.

We are hosting so many parties...

We have everyone coming over for Thanksgiving, Amy's Aunts and Uncles coming over Christmas Eve and then in January we have her sisters and brothers and family coming over for a whole weekend for Christmas.

So much to do... so little time.