Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we went to Rod's older sister's house to visit for a few hours. We had a good time and lots of laughs. Always good to be with family during the holidays. Below are a few pictures from the evening









Rod talking with brother-in-law Dan



Two of Rod's nephews, Justin and Jason along with Justin's wife Emily



Rod's older sister Janiece




Zach playing around with some deer antlers from one of Dan's catches



The kids playing with the nintendo Wii. A favorite!

We arrived!

We got to my parents about 12:30 AM Saturday night. We were so tired and thought we would wait to unload the van. But decided we just better do it and get it over with.BRRRRR was it cold. We surely woke up out in the wind. Needless to say it was a long process because the van was not cooperating. The fender kept getting stuck on the dolly. We finally got it off and visited a few minutes and headed to bed about 1:15 am. It made for a short night!! We were up and to church on time believe it or not. Without breakfast and coffee in tow. Thus the video below of Meagan chowing on cherios in church. It is quite chilly here. The temperature after church was 30 degrees with a wind chill of -1 degrees and 30 mile per hour winds. It definately felt like the wind was going through you.
We got to see and talk to several people after church. It's always nice to see familiar faces.









We got to see Stephanie Burley and her new baby Allison. She is a cutie! I tried to smuggle her home with me. Think anyone would notice?





After lunch we had a ear waxing party. It's really interesting what you get out of your ears.






Brittany decided to take this video in church of Meagan chowing down on her breakfast. She was one hungry little one.Guess that's what happens when you don't have time for breakfast first.Sorry it's sideways. I did turn right side up, but it downloaded wrong. I really don't want to figure out why.




Later Sundy evening it really started to pepper down the snow. It didn't last too long. And this video doesn't really do it justice.

On the Road

This has pretty much been the gloomy scenery we have seen



Aren't my blondies cute?



We pretty much all look like bums on the second day of traveling



Lucy makes herself at home inbetween the front seats



Rod gets the fun job!



Zach by a big truck in the racing store



On one of our gas stops, Rod and the kids spotted some cars across the street. I think it was some type of racing store. So they stopped and went in, While Meagan & I stayed in the Motorhome and made sandwiches for lunch



This is Meag barely out of Hobe Sound!

Well lets see, where do I begin. The ultimate goal was to try and be on the road at noon on Friday. Lets just say that was a goal but it wasn't met and I knew going into it after Thursday it would not be realistic.
After a late night on Thursday I slept until almost 9 AM. That's late for me. But givin the circumstances it was needed, but yet not long enough. I woke up tired and remained that way all day!
We started with Breakfast and from there proceeded to clean the house and pack the motorhome. Now I usually like several days to do all this, take my time and organize as I go, do laundry etc. But it just didn't happen this time. My boss wouldn't let me off work to do any of this. He just can't live without me or find anything at the office if I'm not there.
I saw right away this was going to be a one sided thing. I was going to kill myself doing it all because the kids were too interested in checking out their presents they had opened. This was definately not the way we like to do Christmas. But circumstances just made it this way this year. Anyhow, I finally realized after awhile that trying to clean and pack at the same time wasn't working other than washing clothes and drying, so the program had to change. We decided packing needed to be the priority and then cleaning last.
Lets just say, my house isn't as clean as I would like it to be when we leave, but it will be there waiting for me when I get back.
We finally proceeded to get in the motorhome and try and head out about 3pm. Hey only 3 hrs off schedule, not too bad. Wrong! Rod had a few stops to make and I did too, so he went with the kids and motorhome and trailer and I went another way and we met up and hooked on the van out by 95 at cracker barrel. Well, of course we still needed some groceries and we had failed to eat lunch, so a stop was in order. We made it to Pt. St. Lucie and grabbed McD's and got some things at Target and hit the Ft, Pierce Turnpike about 7pm. Where did all that time go?
Needless to say, we drove untill 12:30AM , we were just south of Valdosta Ga when we stopped. We slept and got on the road about 8AM this morning.
It's 6:30pm and we have just hit the Kentucky line. Yeah! only about 4hrs or so to go. I guess it will be a late night. It's cold!! 50 degrees.

Christmas at home

This week has been so busy at work and just packed full with last minute shopping and whatever else you want to throw in there. We finally came to the conclusion we were going to try and leave for Ohio on Friday. Thats a whole other blog! We worked a little late on Wednesday and then headed to the mall to try to finish up some shopping. That proved to be a late night of about 11:30pm when we got home. And up early to take the motor home to get the oil changed before heading to the office at 9Am. After trying to finalize things before leaving and giving the office a good cleaning we headed home to wrap presents and eat dinner. When Grandma Kathy got there after work about 10:30 pm we had our Christmas. Meagan was tired and not a happy camper for the first part until she realized what was happening. The other kids were more than ready to tear into it and we were up till about 1AM playing and trying to get some kind of organization done of everything they had just received. needless to say I fell into bed exhausted but yet my head spinning at the thought of packing on Friday.

So much to do, So little time......

Here we are set up with our mobile office in a development that we received the go ahead to quote and write several homes in that area.
We have been super busy with about 300 homeowners to talk to and see.




This is a picture of the big tree in our church that we sang in during the annual singing tree. Here the school band is playing for the Birthday offering for Jesus.





Rod decided we were going to paint our house in the midst of me singing in the tree. I came home to him and Britt painting one night. Unfortunately we have been so busy it still isn't done. So I have multicolored walls. Beautiful!!




This past Saturday evening our development wanted everyone to participate in lighting candles in bags along your property. Not everyone participated, but those who did looked very nice. Several people also had food and people walked around looking at lights and sampling food. It was nice to be able to take a little time to socialize with friends and neighbors in the rush of the season.


And finally we were down the street visiting with the Martins. She had some great cajun caviar. Yum!



I am looking forward to closing the office and heading home for a few days to Ohio. Hopefully we won't hit any nasty weather. I have plenty to do to get ready to leave, a motorhome to pack, house to clean and paperwork at the office to finalize and an office to clean before leaving. Someone give me some energy!! I Need A Vacation!!

Taking time out to enjoy a program

Friday morning at Andrea's school all the kindergarten classes had a little christmas program. Each class got up and sang a different song along with a pre- recorded tape (well probably a CD) and each class had to dress the part. Andrea's class sang about Santa so they wore a santa hat, others sang frosty and therefore wore a black paper hat like frosty and so on. We were then invited back to their classroom for a treat.
I wasn't sure we would really be able to go because of the work schedule. But decided that work would just have to wait because my kids were more important. It's sometimes hard to put things into perspective, but I have to step back and look at the big picture. Andrea was happy we were there, but also a little shy about the whole thing.




I also have a short video of Andrea's class singing their song. Unfortunately from where I was I couldn't see her very well. She is behind a little girl who is just going to town at her dancing and singing. Andrea isn't putting much into it herself.

The Christmas Parade

packing for the parade



The packing crew eating dinner



More of the crew eating dinner



We spent the better part one evening packing bags and things to hand out in the parade. We can't say we don't spend alot of time at the office. I think it has become our home and we just visit our house occasionally. We have alot of fun working together. But time does seem to be a big factor.

That's just a portion of the local parade. Seemed smaller this year. Alot to get ready. But I guess they enjoyed being in it.

Thanksgiving and beyond

This is a little glimpse of Thanksgiving and days after. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of our meal. But it was yummy!Plenty of food!
Only a few pictures from that day and the rest are on Saturday after putting up the tree.
Life has been super busy, and unfortunately I just don't have much time to blog.
As we speak here , I am sitting at the office waiting for the parade to start with Rod,Kevin and the kids in it. Pictures will follow hopefully later.