And he's off!

About 4-5 years ago my husband Jeff caught this disease. It is really bad and has gotten even worse over time. It does not always have obvious symptoms but there are Flare Ups throughout the year and it a certain time of year, they last for months. And what is this dreaded disease you ask?

He has Nascar Fever... Yep, It's that Bad.
For the past few years my Dad has taken several of his best customers to Talladega Speedway for a Nascar Weekend. They have a RV/Camper they all stay in and hang out /around the track and the while shabang. The company pays for the food and tickets and stuff. Every year Jeff has moaned in agony and coveted the tickets my Dad held. So this year my dad has put Jeff on the "setup-Break-it-down crew" (Woohoo! says Jeff as he leaps in the air.) So Jeff will be leaving early tomorrow morning to head up to the speedway and set up for the guests and stuff. He is in 7th heaven just thinkin' about the fun he intends to have this weekend. Watching Qualifying on Friday; The ARCA Series race and then the Nextel Race on Sunday Afternoon. (I was just corrected that it is the "Nextel Cup Race" not the Nextel Race as Jeff came in to ask a question for those of you who actually care about that sort of thing.) So my husband is really excited. He is now packing and is so cute about it. He is currently digging for our rain parkas in case of rain. (Rain parkas? We own rain parkas? Ok, so we do. He found them. He is now wearing it around the house. LOL)
Anyhow, I better go be a helpful lil wifey. hehehe... Perhaps this will make it so I don't ever have to actually attend a race with him. Personally, I am bored enough just having the noise on the TV. Why should I have to torture myself and my ears even more by attending in person?? At least at home I get to scrapbook while it is on! I suppose it is a guy thing. I am happy he has this chance to go to see a live Nascar race. And the kids and I are sure to find some fun things to do this weekend. So watch for my Jeff as you watch the race. He will be the big guy in a parka with a smile the length of the track!
(BTW- that Tshirt he is wearing in the pic, It's part of this Nascar Fever we are trying to treat. hehehe.... On Tuesday as we TRIED to clean out the storage room, Jeff and the kids found this mini pool game. I am slavin away back there, just sortin' away and then... I find I am alone and upon searching them out I found all three happily clustered around this notebook sized table as Daddy taught them to be pool sharks.)

Where's your Motivation???

He's an Officer Now!

Today we had the opportunity to see my brother Jonny graduate from Warrant Officer Candidate School today. Jonny graduated from College in May and decided the next step would be Military. He would like to be a helicopter pilot. He truly has wanted to fly since he was small. (It was either that or drive a race car.) But now he is prepared for Primary training and all. He is excited. He will be at Ft Rucker for the next year or so training. He hopes to Fly Apache's.
So he received his Warrant Officer Pins from Mom and Dad. This picture is from Right after. Jon had to kneel so mom could reach his shoulder to do it... hehehe...
Congratulations Jon-Boy!

Jenny's Visit

My lil brother Jonny has a friend that lives in Germany and she has come for a visit for a few weeks. (Jon graduates from Officer Candidate School later this week.) But she came in last Thursday and since Mom had Jury duty today, I had the opportunity to hang out with her for a while today. She is very sweet and it is interesting to hear about the differences from Here and There. Today we were shopping for a dress for her to wear to a dinner that Jonny has asked her to attend Tuesday night. I think it is an awards dinner.
Friday we took her to the Beach. She really liked the White sand. She said it reminded her of Cuba and the beaches there. (She is quite the world traveler BTW.) Anyhow, So she has been in our days this past fwe days. We will see her again on Wednesday when we head up to Fort Rucker. (We being the kids and I)

SOOO Sorry!

Family games were an essential part of my growing up. We would play board games or card games often together. I remember being about 7-8 and learning to play Rummy so I could play with Mom. I was so proud when I could shuffle like an adult when I was 12. You know, when you flip the cards back together in a bridge. Having spent several days that summer practicing, I was excited to show my mom, her response was a, "Ooooh, you're a regular card shark." Gee thanks mom, I expected a bit more excitement! It is important for families to do things together. Playing games is one way to converse with one another and get to know each other in a way other than just as parent/child. And light competition can be healthy! One year all my brothers and my parents and grandparents and a family friend got a rousing game of Spoons going. Now you must know that with my 6 brothers, Spoons was a contact sport equal in fervor with normal American Football or wrestling. It was hilarious to watch my dignified grandma diving into the pile with my roudy brothers for a spoon. In the past few years the games have mellowed a bit. (I use that in the loosest sense of the word.) Canasta has been the favorite for several years now, with Baseball and Euchre also making a good showing. But whatever the game it is the spending time with family that makes it great.

Well, in our lil' house we have started playing games as a family. Jeffrey's current favorite is SORRY (A close second is Bee Safe or Bee Sorry.) So at least once a week the game is dragged out of the cupboard and played as a family. 2 yr old Jessa will even play her pieces and often she wins. (Do you think that is because she isn't vindictive and truly doesn't care? :P ) But it is so fun and I love the opportunity to spend special time with my family. One day perhaps my children will also look at games as something that helped bring our family together.

Is this made of Cells??

Cells Cells Cells! The last week of August, one day as part of Jeffrey's schooling we studied what a cell is. Now at least twice a day I am asked, "Is _____ made of cells?" The definition of a cell is the basic unit of life. Every living thing is made up of at least one cell. (I repeat that at a minimum of twice a day since the day we studied cells.)
Is a tree made of cells?
Is a computer made of cells?
Is this toy made of cells?
Is the sun made of cells?

OIy Vey!
Tonight at the table, Jeffy asked, "Is my dinner made of cells?" To which my reply was yes. Most foods were once living plants or animals. Jeffrey's reply......... "Eeww!!! I don't wanna eat cells!"
LOL! I can't win!

Photo was taken last week while working on Nouns and identifying them in a sentance. :)

Splish Splash....

I didn't mention it before because I was talking about the conference and all, But Saturday Afternoon Mom and I took the kids to the new Surf City in Pensacola. The kids have a blast. There was a water slide in the shape of a crocodile, Of course the great big water slides were fun. We had to coerce Jeffy down the first time but of course he LOVED it and then we went down several times throughout the day. The kiddy area had these levers you could pull back and forth and squirt people with water from different animals mouths that were around the area. There was a swift lil river that we rode to the different parts of the water park. It was a real fun day. We all got a little sun but not too bad. Jessalyn LOVES her pink cheeks (cuz ya know pink is her favorite color!)

The Conference...

It's been a busy week. But I wanted to share about my experiences of the last 2 days. Earlier this week I spoke with a woman to see about getting clothes for some evacuees that are staying in my area. We have this "My Sisters Closet" at the Stake Center that has Nice Dresses and work clothes for those that need those. It is an ongoing thing in our area. For like, new converts to the church that can't afford to buy dresses to attend church comfortably like everyone else. or People that are trying to better themselves and get new jobs. You know... Anyhow, I called this woman that had access to it to see if we had anything in the sizes I needed and we got to talking.
For nearly a year now, there was this Single Adult regional Conference planned and this lady was also in charge of that. So we got off on a tangent about that and she explained how so many people had cancelled and stuff due to the hurricane and gas shortages. What was once a very large conference with people from as far as Tennessee was now a VERY small conference. So anyhow, I offered to help however I could and was asked to do one of the classes offered. EEEK! But I took on the challenge. And am I ever glad I did! It was such a neat experience. I did my 2 classes this morning. I think this is the first time I have given the same lesson twice in a row. Each class was unique. But you could really feel The spirit as we discussed things. I loved it. I miss those conferences like we got as Youth. This was for the Single Adults 31 and up, but I think they should have these for married couples too. It would be soo awesome. hmmm... maybe in a few months I should bring up the idea of it! :P See there I go again. Tryin to create more to do!

But last night, one of the things they offered was a concert by Marvin Goldstein Since so many singles were not able to come, they opened it up so Married couples could come for just $12 each. Woohoo! So we went and I just really enjoyed. That man is SOOO talented. I had seen him preform once before at an EFY in Tampa in I think it was 1994. But he is somethin else on the piano! Very fun. Loved it! Anytime you get the opportunity to listen it is definately worth the time and effort (and The $$) to see him preform live. I love the music he plays but to see it is something else. This guys seriously sits at the piano for the entire show and plays these AMAZINGLY complicated pieces and never once it there a single sheet of music on the piano. But he shared "his version" of the primary songs and how they "should be played." He is very talented and spiritual and funny all at the same time. So that's my plug for the day! LOL :)

The Continents Song

One of the subjects we are covering this year in school is Geography. We will be learning the songs that go along with the countries we learn about. There is this Great CD/ booklet called Geography Songs By Troxel. Great Product by the way! Anyhow, so for the past week or so my kiddos have been learning the song It is sooo cute. They are so cute when they sing the Continents and Oceans of the world... Hehehe... I think they made this video with my new camera, on Wednesday so they got a bit messed up in the middle but it's still cute. Lil Jessa is tryin so hard to be like Jeffrey! :). If I can figure it out how to put in an MPeg file I will add it.

A Trip to Biloxi

I mentioned before the project we were putting together so I wanted to update it. (see here ) It was terrific.
Thursday, Mom had a brain storm to ask area merchants to donate items that we put in the Hygiene kits. So most of my Day and hers on Friday was spent asking for items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, handtowels, soap, and Haircombs. The afternoon was spent running all over the area to pick them up. But it was really a success!

• Watson Family Dental donated 288 Toothbrushes and 100 toothpastes.
• Winn Dixie on Dogwood Dr donated 25 toothbrushes, 40 toothpastes, and 100 Ziploc Bags.
• Family Dollar in Milton donated 20 Handtowels
• Kmart on 9 Mile rd donated $35 worth of items
• Plus LOTS of individuals.

On Friday morning, Sis. Maureen Stuckey, Mom, and I took off to Biloxi to disperse the 150ish Hygiene kits the Relief Society had put together. And was it ever an experience. People were so Grateful! It was really neat. We went downt o the people that dealt with the storm surge. It effected people 3-4 blocks inward. Some of the people that we passed out kits to were so grateful for the simple gift of a toothbrush. :) While they had received water and ice, for many this was the first opportunity they found for sanitary hygiene items. One woman noted, " there are 4 of us and we only have 1 toothbrush" I didn't ask if that meant they were sharing. Another said that she was staying with an elderly uncle that wore false teeth and didn't even have toothpaste around. It was humbling to see and be able to provide a small bit of respite.

At the end of the day, we located a chapel and spoke with the 2 bishops there. They had the kits from SLC so we dropped ours at a close by Fire Dept that was a staging area for FEMA. They were very appreciative.

All of us wanted to DO something to feel like we were helping but many of us didn't know just WHAT to do. Thankfully I have some wonderful and inspired sisters in my Ward and we were able to get things together and help there when it was needed most.