Christmas Letter 2009

December 2009

Are you like me? Do you blink and it’s Christmas again? I know I say this every year, but I really feel like I just sent out these letters not too long ago. It has been a wonderful and busy year for us. Kids are growing up leaving us adults to quieter times at home. This time of year is always a little crazy with basketball games, band and vocal concerts, parties (Christmas and birthday), and just the awesome festivities of the Christmas season. We hope this letter finds you and yours healthy and happy this Christmas.

Caden is a sophomore and is turning 16 in a little over a week. He was a varsity letterman in football and is playing JV basketball. Wildcat singers and band occupy some of his extra time, and he was selected to District choir again this year. He earns a little income by umpiring in the summer and refereeing youth basketball. He is excited for a missions trip to Peru in June 2010. His highlight this year was seeing his Steelers play in KC.

Kobe just turned 12 and is a 6th grader. He had a great football season and has started basketball. Hard to believe this is our last year for youth sports. Kobe plays the piano and trombone, but his newest passion is the electric guitar. He loves music and was so excited to be recently selected for honor choir.

Mia, my beautiful niece, turned 1 in Sept. We were able to fly to Cali to celebrate with her. This past summer, we made the 35 hr road trip through the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Vegas, LA, San Fran, and Yosemite. It was a long trip, but we got to see Steve, Stephanie, and of course, Mia. We are looking forward to them being closer as they are moving to Dallas this month. I know my mom is excited for sure but, she really did enjoy her many trips to the sunny state of California over the past year.

The girls are growing up fast. Sara (16), and Valerie (15), both had great volleyball seasons. Emily (12) is the only one playing basketball this year. Sara manages to be a responsible driver and all three girls are a little “boy crazy”. We don’t get to spend as much time with them as we would like, but they are turning into gorgeous and confident young women.

Michael is still working for Agco is Hesston. The company has laid off many employees, but so far he is still safe. He is currently off for a 2 month shut down, but is keeping busy with our roofing company and our bathroom remodel. I really don’t want to talk about the remodel. This is a happy letter… He is enjoying his time off hunting as well. I am still working 3 days for Dr. Jensen in Hutchinson. Most of my extra time is occupied with the kids’ activities and sports. I realize that my time with them is short, so I try enjoy every moment I can. I get to travel to Peru with Caden in June, and am really looking forward to sharing this experience with him!

God has truly blessed our family this year. We know that no matter what happens, God is good. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a great 2010!

Love,

Michael & Kim Caden & Kobe Sara, Valerie, & Emily

Read our family blog - klittlejohn2008.blogspot.com

Caden 15
Kobe 11

Valerie 15
Emily 12
Sara 16

Mia age 1
photo taken by Aaron East

Caden's Sweet 16!

So, Caden turned 16 yesterday! Last Friday was the last day of school till the new year, so we decorated the yard in honor of my oldest child. It was adorned with skunks and a sign saying, "Our little stinker Caden is turning 16!". I still can't believe he is that old. I remember his childhood like it was yesterday. He always wanted you to look at him and what he could do. He loved being photographed and especially videoed. When Kobe came along and Caden had to share in the spotlight, he had a time adjusting. He loved his baby brother and was always looking out for him (not always the case nowadays). Even though I am sad to see him grow up, I am proud of his wonderful compassion for life and those he cares about.

Caden had his first bball game last night. He is playing JV. They played @ Clearwater and lost by 6. Caden had 6 pts.

Kobe's 1st 6th gr game is today. Hopefully he will be able to use what he's been working on, the drop step.

This evening is Caden's mixed choir KMEA performance. He has been @ WSU all day practicing.

Happy Thanksgiving! Unless your name is Kobe.

So, Kobe is sick. He has strep and is down for the count. Non-functional, and in pain. I feel so bad for him. I have had my share of this sickness until I finally had my tonsils removed when I was 25. Haven't had it since. Not sure how he got it. We went to the KC - Steelers game last weekend. Did some shopping in Lawrence and in KC. Could have been exposed pretty much anywhere. Praying the antibiotics kick in SOON. Poor guy.

Non-the-less, I am so thankful for my family and loved ones. We have lost some dear ones this past year. But the memory of them still lives strong in our hearts. We are blessed to have so many of our family and friends nearby. God has led us to a wonderful church and some amazing pastors. We have a place to call home, food on the table, and clothes on our backs. Thanks be to God for the greatness in our lives!

Kobe is 12!

Twelve years ago today I gave birth to my youngest son. I can remember it like it was yesterday. He was a good baby, and loved to watch his older brother dance and jump around him. He's grown into a young man whose sensitive side makes him an awesome kid! He got straight A's this quarter, is musically skilled in piano, guitar, and trombone, and is friend to many! He just learned he made honor choir after auditioning in sept. I am proud and full of joy to have him as my son!

Both boys have started basketball. I was unable to attend Caden's football award banquet cuz of a CE trip to Vegas. He earned a letter this year, which was great! Caden was also selected for district choir which is a big accomplishment!

Thanksgiving is a week away, with Christmas not far behind. Time is a flyin by! Birthdays definitely make you realize that...

Another last day...

Today is Kobe's last football game in grade school. We are headed to Kingman in a bit. I know he is ready to be done, but there is something about this being it. No more youth football for me...ever. Caden has one more game left also. My children are growing up too fast.

Caden has 4 friends over last night for a movie. I was up till midnight baking cookies and making pizza. Caden played really well, and had a great solo tackle. Even though we didn't pull out a W, there were no injuries!

We are excited to go to the Chiefs/Steelers game in Nov. Tim was able to get us tickets! I haven't been to a Chiefs game in a long time. Caden is super excited cuz he's a big Steelers fan. We will see KU play MU after Thanksgiving. Mom's coming too. Now that Kobe is done with Sat. games, we can actually do stuff.

Tomorrow is my 36th birthday. Not that thrilled. It's not fun anymore. Happy Birthday to me...whoop-ti-doo...

I have PT conferences on Monday. Kobe got straight A's, with a few A+'s! Not sure about Caden. We will see.

November is a busy month, so not sure I will blog much. I have to work in Colby, then Kobe's piano recital, then on to Vegas for TBSE(dental convention), then Kobe's 12th bday, then Chiefs game, then Thanksgiving and Black Friday, and then the KU game. I'm tired just thinking about it.

On top of all that, basketball starts! YES!

Tomorrow is Caden's last JV football game. It's a game that they have a pretty good chance of winning. His sophomore year of football has been trying. But he has been able to get a lot of playing time and experience out of this season. The last 2 games will be quite difficult as they are playing Andale and Buhler to end the season. Honestly, I wouldn't be too upset if Caden missed both of these. He is going to be up against some rather large guys on the line and frankly, I'm a little nervous. I'll definitely be praying for his safety, as basketball is right around the corner. Caden finished up his bball league today. I think he enjoyed it, and he made some new friends.

Kobe has one more game and he is ready. He has been injured most of his season and finds himself not ever getting healthy before re-injuring himself. Both boys have made many trips to the chiro and hopefully once football is over, they can recover quickly. Kobe is excited for Halloween. He is going to dress up as the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. His costume is comical and I'm sure he'll be able to play the part well. I am sad that I will miss the Halloween parade this year though. His last march in the parade...I'll be at work.

My dental office will be headed to Vegas again this year for our annual seminar. Luckily, I will be home for Kobe's 12th bday! I had to miss it last year. He is already planning for it of course!

The weather was beautiful today! After a week of bitter cold temps in the 30's, it was great to see and feel the sunshine! It was also a great day for the KC Chiefs as they finally won a game! Sadly, KU had their first loss of the season yesterday against Colorado. Not sure we will end up making a football game this year! Might get to see the Chiefs and the Steelers play, but not sure.

The boys and I get to go see Wicked at the end of the month. We really wanted to see this show in NYC on Broadway, but couldn't get the tickets for our group. The show is on tour and is in Wichita! We are very excited!!! Michael didn't really want to go.

Time for bed.

Caden and I are going to Peru in June of 2010! It's a mission's trip for Westside's youth. Caden really wanted to go, but not alone. So, now I'm gonna tag along! We are excited and are starting to save up for the trip. Caden is doing childcare at the church during small groups and will eventually send letters asking for contributions. I think this will be a great opportunity for him to grow in Christ. Looking forward to it.

Today is also my grandma Unruh's birthday! She has been such a great inspiration to me and my kids. If it weren't for her and my grandpa, our family wouldn't have the strong faith in God that we all have. Praise the Lord for them!

Can we get into a routine already???

Trip to Cali was great! Mia was taking steps, 15 was her high while we were there. She was attached to nana at the hip of course, and I'm sure is having a bit of withdrawal now that she's gone. My brother said that all she wants to do is walk...with support...all over cuz that's what my mom did with her the entire week. We celebrated her 1st birthday with a gigantic cake and gifts. It was a good time. Walked around Stanford campus one evening, drove to Big Basin (redwoods), and went to the Aquarium at Monterey for Mia's bday! The trip was short, however, and we miss them so much.

Caden marched today at the fair and the band received 1+ ratings! They have a great marching band, and this year's theme is the Beatles.

Caden started his first Varsity football game on the 4th, and had a great JV game tonight. Even though they are struggling to get their first Win on the season, a visible improvement can be seen. Kobe has his first game this Sat, as last weeks was rained out. He is pumped for sure.

I wish we could get into a routine around here. It seems like it's busier than ever. AWANA starts this wed as well. Crazy thing is, Christmas is right around the corner. Enjoying my time though. It's precious.

We had Sunday school this past Sun in our newly built children's dept. Adult classes met also. It has been a year since we put a halt to all SS to begin the expansion project. "Kidstown" looks great!

Peace.

More to note...

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that Caden has officially moved into his room. I can't even really remember how long ago we started it, but thankfully he is in. Michael still has some final touches to do, and the bathroom to complete, but that's it. The girls can finally have their room all to themselves.

Speaking of the girls, I went to Sara and Val's matches last night in Halstead. Was very impressed with Val's improvement since last year. She is hitting and serving with great control and power. Sara did awesome as well. She had some great plays at the net and stuff blocks. Her team struggled with passing so she didn't get as much opportunity to hit as she could. I enjoyed watching! Em hung out with me while I was there. Great night!

Caden's first Varsity game

Tonight Caden is starting in the Varsity game against Smoky Valley. He is playing on the D-line, but is second string center on offense. I'm excited for him, but really, I'm quite nervous. I pray for his safety out there. I know he can compete, it's just he's young, and smaller than a lot of those guys on the line. I don't worry as much when Kobe is on the field...except for the kids on the other team.

We fly out to Cali tomorrow for the holiday weekend and Mia's first birthday! Everyone is ready...well...not quite done packing yet. We enjoyed having Mia here a couple of weeks ago when they all flew in for Steph's interview in Wichita. Mom kidnapped Mia from the airport as soon as they landed. They were only here 48 hours. A friend of mine took some photos of Mia at Dillon Nature Center, which turned out so good! Mia spent 2 nights with nana, and part of the day with meemee and papa Unruh. She is getting so big, and finally took her first steps just a few days ago! She'll be one on Sept 8th.


Time is flying.

1st day of the last year of grade school

Kobe's first day of 6th grade went by just as it came...uneventful. His teacher is Mrs. Napier, who he wanted, and he had a great day. Caden starts tomorrow as a sophomore! I've said it before, time is going by so fast these days. I can still remember both of them starting pre-school. Seems like yesterday. Even my niece Mia is getting so big! We get to see her in a couple of weeks as they are flying to Wichita for an interview for Steph. It will be a short visit, but non-the-less, great to see them.

Looking forward to a great year.

Back to School!

Only 5 days till school starts here! Kobe goes back on Thurs and Caden on Friday. Finally some order around the house and food in the fridge! This also means that it's time for some football! YAY! Kobe will play for Haven's 5/6th grade team again this year. They just finished up pad camp and will start practicing next week. He isn't overly excited this year for some reason. I know he doesn't enjoy the "conditioning" part of the sport. Especially when it's close to 100 degrees out and dressed in full pads. UGH. Caden will probably play on the JV squad as a sophomore. I'm excited to see if our team has improved this year. Anyway, school shopping is done for now. Got supplies, and some new gear. I'm not a big fan of buying a whole new wardrobe every school year. Just the necessities. I'm just always on the look out for a bargain!

Michael and I celebrated our 4th anniversary on the 4th. He surprised me with new diamond stud earrings. Kobe picked them out. Bigger than my older ones!

Michael is back to work after 3 weeks off for plant shutdown. He was able to get several roofs completed which helps out with him not working as many hours. The weather has been very hot this week. We have had an unseasonably cool summer.

Headed to Cali again next month to celebrate Mia's 1st birthday. We are all going by plane this time around. This will probably be the last time we will ever visit them in CA. Can't wait!!!

Peace

Rest peacefully Aunt Elsie

Earlier today, my aunt Elsie passed away. She lived in South Carolina and even though we didn't get to see her often, I remember her wacky sense of humor and smile. My mom and my uncle Derick's family are driving the 20 hr distance for her funeral on Sat. Unfortunately, I cannot go, due to previous plans for a trip to KC to do some shopping with some friends. We have already booked our hotel. Elsie was my grandma's sister. My grandparents were able to be with her during her last days here. She battled illness over the past 5 years or so and had been under-going dialysis over that period of time. Her last several years were spent hooked up to a machine, and not feeling the greatest. Even when I could tell she felt horrible, she managed to smile and joke with all of us. She will be missed.

Go USA!

So, we had an awesome experience this weekend watching the USA men's volleyball team play the Netherlands at WSU for the 2009 world tour. I went on Friday nite with some friends, Tiff and Brenda. We had great seats on the 1st row on the end line. Many power balls came our way and I even laid a hand on one! Sat. eve we took the boys, Sara, Val, Michael's bro Zach, my cousin Kayla, and my mom. We sat with Tiff. We also were able to move down to great seats. We stayed after and got autographs and photos with the players. Most of the team were also members of the 08 Olympic Gold medal squad! I particularly enjoyed visiting with Tom Hoff! He is my fave. Tiff and I got a pic with him! All in all, a great weekend.

Changes - some good, some not so good

Changes are being made around here. Slowly but surely things are getting accomplished. Caden's room is painted, and Michael has started on the floor. Once that is done, he can move back in and finally have his own room after almost 2 yrs of sleeping in the girls' room. Michael tore out our front porch step and cement patio and laid a new concrete step and path. We still have to figure out what we want on the porch itself. Right now, it is tiled, and we will probably do something similar. We also have to do some landscaping, but it looks good.
Michael's job at Agco is beginning to shift some. Layoffs have been going on for awhile now, but recently major stuff is happening. Michael is off for a total of 10 weeks before the end of the year. He is currently off for 3 weeks this month, then 2 in Sept. and finally the 5 weeks right before Christmas. He will also have a shortened work week for the rest of the year. We are trying to budget carefully since all 5 kids' b-days and Christmas are coming up quickly. We are trusting in God to pull us through as always. It's quite amazing how things just seem to work out, and even though it's sometimes a struggle, we usually come out ok in the end. Thankfully, God has given our roofing company some great business to keep Michael busy while he is off.

Finally, I've been itching to go back to Cali to see Mia. It would be great to be there for her 1st birthday in Sept. I feel so guilty going alone since the boys and Michael would also like to go. Been looking at flights, and it's so expensive. Not sure what we will do. It's only money, right? Easy to say, but hard to do. Anyway, I've been praying for some guidance with this. I really struggle with being apart from my loved ones. If I could, I would spend every last dime just so we could all be together. With that being said, I also have to consider the well-being of my family and our financial stability. So, yes, I'm basically waiting for some cash to fall from the sky!???

Peace

Caden has a new ride

Caden purchased a '98 Mustang on July 3rd! He is very excited and can't wait to drive it. It's a standard, so he has to learn first. The car is nice and will be perfect for him. He got a great deal and I can't believe I am the mother of a car-owner!

The King of Pop is dead

Worth mentioning, this sad news. Only because one day I'll will look back and read about this day in music history.

Michael Jackson died on Thursday, June 25, 2009, of cardiac arrest. Final autopsy results haven't been released, and speculation of a drug overdose is being reported.

I have always been a big fan of MJ and his music. Every time I hear one of his songs, I flash back to days long ago. Back in the day. Even my kids' middle names are "Michael" and "Jackson", haha. Many people don't understand all the hype over his death, but just look at Elvis.

Music impacts people. His music impacted the world.

RIP

So, Kobe came with me to Hutch today. He needed to get allergy shots, I had a dental appt and trio practice. Caden started his babysitting job today. He is watching 3 boys, ages 11, 8, and 4. He's great with kids so this should be good for him. Anyway, back to my story. Kobe and I are in the van going from one appt to another and he says...out of the blue..."I can't wait to go back to church". He has been gone for 3 straight weeks so far this summer. I say, "I've never heard you say that before". He says, "Ya, well it's boring without it". I just couldn't help but smile a little bit. Seems like church can sometimes be the "thing we do every Sunday". Especially for the kids. We are in the middle of a huge expansion project in our Children's dept. and we haven't had Sunday School for 6mos or more. So, they have to just go to "big church" each week. Not as exciting. So, for Kobe to say this, well, it was just priceless. I'm glad he sees the value in worship and not just the routine.

Trip to California (and 9 other states)

Ok, so our road trip was delayed a little. Kobe's flight from NY was late.
DAY 1:
We got on the road around midnight on June 5th. Stopped at the Petrified Forest in Arizona and the Meteor Crater. Purchased a National Park annual pass for $80 since it costs everytime you drive through one. UGH. We decided to go ahead to the Grand Canyon in order to get an early start on Sat. It was amazing and beautiful. It was also surprisingly very cold. Kobe had to bundle up in a blanket. Drove throught the park and stopped many times for pics. Kobe stayed in the van half the time. He was worn out.
DAY 2:
Up early and drove to Vegas. Took a tour of the Hoover Dam, which was interesting (to us, not the boys). Checked into Circus Circus in Vegas and drove the strip. Took boys to the indoor amusement park to ride some rides. Kobe got a day pass, Caden just rode the coaster. While there, we saw Criss Angel sighning autographs. Got some pics. That was cool. Had tickets to see "La Reve" that evening. Walked the strip some, the show was great. The boys really enjoyed it, we had seats in the splash zone, 2nd row. Went back so Kobe could ride more rides, then bed.
DAY 3:
On the road early toward Hollywood. On the way passed through Death Valley (which is another national park). Walked up to the top of a small mountain and had a great view. Once again, Kobe hung out in the van. Temperatures can get to 120 there, but we had mild temps in the 60's. No need to turn off our air conditioner as recommended. Drove through LA and stopped in Hollywood. Walked Hollywood Blvd. and saw many stars. Also saw the handprints. Caden was in heaven. Took some pics with characters. Saw the Hollywood sign and Kodak theatre, and where Jimmy Kimmel is taped. Stayed around 3hrs then continued on to Steve's in Menlo Park. Got to his house arond 11pm, and were greeted by Mia, all wide-awake! She was excited and would not go to sleep until like 1am. LOL.
DAY 4:
This day had no plans. Up, fed Mia, did a load of laundry (we had Kobe's suitcase from his trip), hung out with Steve. Mia had a dr's appt and then we drove up HWY 1 so the boys could see the Pacific Ocean. They found some clams, shells, rocks, and jellyfish. It was still really chilly out. Ate lunch at In-n-Out Burger, which is now my children's favorite. We would eat there again later in the week. Animal style, YUM-O! Visited Fishermans Wharf and about froze.
DAY 5:
Toured San Fran on a bus. Mia's first bus ride! Saw the Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks (view of the city), Hoit Tower, City Hall, downtown San Fran, the crooked road (can't remember the name of the street), China Town, Little Italy, Botanical Gardens, and Fisherman's Wharf again. Kobe slept half the time. Steph was able to join us for the tour of Alkatraz. She was off work. We took a ferry to the island and had an audio tour of the prison. Interesting, but very crowded. This was Mia' s first boat ride too! Mia of course, is so good, and rarely gets upset. So, it's easy to take her along.
DAY 6:
Slept in. Hung out. Steve played video games with the boys. He also took them to the park to shoot hoops. Made them sprint, and do lunges all the way home. Kobe pulled his groin and had to be treated with ice. You'd a thought he needed surgical attention or something. Went to IKEA. Kobe stayed with Steve. Steph had been very busy with work and a lecture. She hasn't been around much. At this point it seemed our vacation was flying by.
DAY 7:
Drove to outlets about an hour away. Did a little shopping. This was the day we had In-n-Out again. Out to eat that evening with Steph too. Ate in downtown Palo Alto at a 50's diner. Mia got some too! Drove by Stanford's campus. Hated that we had to leave in the morning. Mia was so excited to have company over. We blew up her new pool from Nana and she played inside. It was too cold out. She is crawling her own special way, and gets into everything. She giggles, squawks, and is so happy. She definitely has her mommy and daddy right where she wants them!
DAY 8:
Left around 8am. Drove to Yosemite National Park and its awesomeness. Breathtaking view of God's creation. Had lunch by a river in the mountains. Drove through the park and saw amazing beauty. Got to hotel in Winnemucca, NV around 11pm. This day was trying on us. Very tiring.
DAY 9: Left around 7am. Drove through Salt Lake City and saw the Great Salt Lake. We also drove throught the Salt Desert. Looked like snow on the ground. There was an accident that closed the only hwy around SLC for 4hrs. We sat at a dead stop for 2.5 hours. There was no other way out. Deidra, our GPS, couldn't even help us. Finally after about 12 hrs on the road, we got to our hotel in Denver around midnight. Didn't set the alarm...
DAY 10: Slept in till 9am. Kobe wanted to swim. Left hotel at 10am and decided to go to Casa Bonita. Boys or Michael had never been. Stayed 2 hrs there with all the entertainment and arcade. It was fun. Got home at 9pm. Unloaded, and hit the hay.
This vacation was one of a lifetime. I was glad we decided to see all we did. Most likely, we will never go back. Out of all the great things we did or saw, being with Steve, Steph, and Mia was the best. Mia is getting so big, and turning into a little girl! Being so far away from them, well, just sucks.

All in all, we drove over 3500 miles, through 10 states*, and over 10 days. It was quick, short, exhausting, and WONDERFUL!

*Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, California, Wyoming, Utah, & Colorado. WOW

California dreamin

We leave tomorrow night, late, for California. This will be the longest, farthest, busiest, road-trip ever. We are stopping at the Grand Canyon for the first night. Will head to Vegas where we will tour the Hoover Dam and hang out in sin-city. Yes, we are taking the boys, but only for 1 night. Shouldn't do too much damage, haha. We will drive the next day to LA and Hollywood. This was a request by my oldest, star-struck child. After the day there, we will end up at my brother's near San Fran around midnight on Sunday. It will take 35 hours of driving to get there. We plan on staying 4 days with them. I will update later on all the activities we have planned. Maybe... Our trip home will begin on Friday the 12th. We have tentatively planned on going home through Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. After a hotel there, we will drive through Utah and the salt flats. 34 hours of driving later, good-ole Haven, KS. Whew. I'm actually tired just writing it all. Anyway, will have fun NO MATTER WHAT! Wish us luck and safe travel!
Peace.

Trip to Indiana.

Gonna re-cap our (Caden and I) trip to Indianapolis this past weekend. It was short, but fun. We left around 6am on Thursday from my grandparents home in Burrton. My cousin Kayla came along as well. We had to stop 3 times before leaving their drive-way as someone apparently had cat poo on their shoe. It was grandpa...lol. We made 4 stops on the way, once of which was at Valapria(sp?) which is the oldest courthouse in Indiana and where Pres. Lincoln once presided. Took 11hrs to get there. Friday, my uncle Darian drove us around downtown Indianapolis. We visited the Indianapolis Speedway museum and the Indiana Colts stadium. Shopped a little at the half price book store, which was awesome! Ate lunch at Chick-fil-a. Oh and we also ate that the night before for dinner. Went to Brandon's graduation that evening and ate pizza afterwards. Saturday, I took all my cousins and Caden to the NCAA Hall of Champions Museum for the morning. It was a lot of fun. Lots of interactive displays. Would recommend for anyone. We had B's reception that afternoon. Caden, Kayla, and Jordan went swimming in the neighborhood pool while I snoozed on a towel. LOL. B had a lot of people attend his party. Went to J's baseball game that evening and had a BBQ at home with all the family. Carol's family was in from Pennsylvania. Watched the Stanley Cup as Carol's fam are huge fans of the Penguins. Had some stormy weather later, even the sirens went off. Sunday we were on the road bright and early. Stopped 3 times and made it home in 10.5 hours. Interestingly enough, we were passed on the interstate by a large, orange cat going over 70mph. It was a great time for all.
On a more somber note: Dr. George Tiller was shot down today at his church. Unfortunate for his friends and family; fortunate for thousands of un-born babies. The suspect in the murder was caught outside of Gardner. We saw what was possibly the scene of the arrest as we were flying down the highway. It's interesting how this incident has sparked lots of comments and facebook status dedications. Where were all these people when innocent, living babies were being brutally murdered? Hmmm. God be with us.

Why do they even have school these last 2 days? What's the point? All they do is play and party...
Caden didn't even have to go today, cuz he doesn't have to take any finals. He did well this year, grade-wise. Algebra was his hardest, but in the end, proved himself. In track he was awarded the "Most Improved" award! He was excited. I have to say, he did quite well in Javelin for his first year. Hopefully he will continue...
Kobe is getting a few awards also. His assembly is tomorrow. Unlike Caden, Math is his favorite. It comes easy.

Making a run to town, for Caden's ortho appt., and some errands. But before I close, a funny story, out of Kobe's mouth...
He's watching TV this morning before school, and I'm in the kitchen. I hear, "Mom, come here...hurry! You got to see this." I say, just tell me, I'm trying to clean up. He says, "There are these new slimming pants, this girl lost 6inches with them. You should get some." Then he proceeds to tell me the website. Wow. He really cracks me up. However, speaking on slimming....I am trying to do just that. Will let you all know how that works out for me. haha.

Peace and sunshine people....it's summer!

The end is near

School is officially out in 8 days. Caden will be a sophomore, and Kobe a 6th grader.
Summer plans are building. Will let you know later. I'm ready for bed.

But, a couple of milestones to announce. Caden threw a PR in Javelin on Monday. Of course, I wasn't there. He threw 100.11 ft. Yeah! His coach was even impressed. He has really enjoyed this track season. Who knew?

Oh, and the infamous Mia said the precious first words last week. She said, "DADA". I can hear it now. I can't wait to see them in 3 weeks. Our trip to Cali is slowly taking shape. Much planning is going into the exact route. I'll let you know about that one later also.

G'nite. Peace. And do you even realize how long ago my kids said their first words? I definately need to get to bed.

Wait! Is it May? Already???

Today is my parents 36th wedding Anniversary. We celebrated by taking them out for lunch at Applebees. My dad forgot about it, until I reminded him @ church. 36 yrs is quite the accomplishment. Yay!
The school year is winding down. The month of May is ridiculous. Concerts, class trips, parties...etc. Caden's academic banquet is tomorrow eve. He maintained a 3.5 GPA, and was one of his teacher's TOP 10 students. Good job! The high school variety show, ENCORE 2009, was last week. Caden performed with the choir, jazz band, and he was in a skit. The skit was humorous as Caden played a patient who mimicked the symptoms of others. Was probably one of the best acts of the night. Caden also gets to travel to St. Louis with the band on Friday. They are performing and having some fun time as well.
Kobe's art show and vocal concert is on Tues. He is quite the artist. If anyone wants to check out his artwork, go to Artsonia.com. His name is Kobe86. His concert is featuring songs by the Beatles, and Elvis. If I hear "I wanna hold your hand" one more time... Kobe leaves for DC/NYC at the end of the month. I'm a little nervous about this, since I am not going along.
Our month is also full of graduations. Valerie has 8th grade promotion, my cousin Kayla graduates from HS, and another cousin, Caleb, from the 8th grade. We also have gotten a couple other invites from church youth.
I travel to Colby for work this week. I will be missing the AWANA awards. This has been a trying year, as we are in the middle of a big expansion project. Kobe finished his 3rd book and gets to go to laser tag on Friday. He has only one more year of AWANA. Sad, really.
The month is busy, and the time is flying by.

As Usual...

April 15th

Well, today is tax day. We got ours done YESTERDAY! Whew. Having a business kinda stinks when tax season rolls around. It's not like the old days, when we got them done asap, and got a real nice return. Oh well. The law is the law.

Today is Caden's 1st high school track meet. He is throwing the shot and discus. With that being said, the weather stinks right now. It's freezing, windy, and has already snowed all morning. No news yet whether the meet is still on or not. I vote..NOT! At least his events will be over at the beginning.
Had lunch with Kobe today. Chili and cinnamon rolls were the perfect meal for such a cold and depressing day. Made me smile on the inside, if you know what I mean. We had the luxury of sharing our meal with Haven's Superintendent and the Curriculum Director as well. Kobe was on his best behavior. Yay!
Gotta get tax stuff done. I have one last pile to go thru before Greg, our accountant, can get busy. I feel bad for waiting till the last minute, and every year I vow to be more efficient, but it seems to creep up on us. So, I guess I should go. The 15th is right around the corner...

Peace

I'm home. California was great. The weather was absolutely amazing, especially since there was a blizzard here while I was gone. Mia is getting so big, and still so happy. She practically has a smile glued on that little face all day and night. My mom was also there. We drove over the Golden Gate bridge, and spent some time driving up Hwy 1. It was beautiful. Mom left on Sat. and we went downtown San Francisco. It was hard to find somewhere to park, and we had to walk a distance to get to Old Navy. We wanted to check out the 3 level store. Crazy big store. Lots of designer stores as well. We were grossed out big time by a bum doing his "business" on the street in a bucket...that's all I will say about that. They live in Menlo Park and we also walked around the area almost every day. It's a neat neighborhood town with adorable homes, parks, and a great atmosphere. We even went to the local Goodwill a couple of times. Designer clothes, nothing like our Goodwill here. Anyway, it was great to visit and hang out with everyone. Now I'll just have to count down the days till June when we head back...

Peace.

Not so much luck

Stomach flu has come again for the 2nd time this year. Kobe and I were sick on Sat. and he is still recovering. I had the 24hr fun stuff, while the boys got stuck with the "it could take a week to clear" fun stuff. I leave tomorrow night for Cali and even though I am so excited to see my brother and his family and kiss all over Mia, I am slightly concerned about leaving Kobe home since he still isn't feeling well.
We are headed to Caden's basketball banquet tonight. Last hurrah for the year...
KU did win against Dayton last Sunday. It was pretty effortless. ON TO THE SWEET SIXTEEN!

Peace.

KU on to 2nd round!

KU beat North Dakota State by 10 yesterday. I was a nail-biter, with a good ending. They will play Dayton on Sunday.

Kobe is sick. Caden started it. I leave Wed. for Cali, and I am praying this stuff passes over me. It's not fun having the runs...

Rock Chalk!

Caden gets his braces on again tomorrow! I will try to post a pic soon. He is soo thrilled.
I booked a ticket to Cali. Leave next Wed. Will only be there for 3 days, but it will be great to see everyone, especially Mia. She is growing so fast.
Report cards are out. Both boys did great. Time to dish out some good job $. I couldn't have it much easier. Both are excellent students.
Caden finished his interim today. He went to the Juco National Tourney and followed a team's progress. He would love to be a sports journalist someday, so this was fun, yet educating for him. If only he enjoyed the writing part...
Track is in full force. Complaints also. Caden is a thrower, so the first few weeks of conditioning, he hates. At least he gets some new shoes out of it...
Kobe is playing dodge ball. That's his new career choice also. It went from a "pro-football player to a pro-dodgeball player...or last resort is an orthodontist"...lol.
We are sooo excited for March Madness. It starts tomorrow! Our annual family competition is underway. We all have completed our brackets and the winner gets to choose a restaurant of their choice to go along with the bragging rights. Can't wait. It's my favorite time of the year!

Rock Chalk!

Wow, time really does fly by

Finally able to post. I thought I would have all of this extra time now that basketball is over, however, I have realized that I have a ba-zillion other things to do in order to catch up from lost time. March Madness is right around the corner. Our Hawks have done well this season, surprise to many. Their presence at the Big 12 Tourney was short-lived as they were upset by Baylor. I hope they can make more of an impact in a couple of weeks in the NCAA tourney.

Hard to believe it's already been a year since that historical victory and the National Championship. Hard to believe Caden is almost done with his 1st year of high school. Hard to believe my baby, Kobe, is old enough to take care of himself, and will soon be in Jr High. Hard to believe I have worked for almost 8 yrs, and been married to Michael for 4. I really envy time. I honestly have a grudge against time. Time is my biggest enemy. There is never enough, it likes to go by faster and faster, and it's hard to keep track of. We were scanning old pics just the other day, and even Caden commented on how he couldn't believe how fast time is going by. I heard today that my niece, Mia, is scooting around...geez...can't they just lay there for awhile? Can't they just rely on us for a little longer? Can't they just NEED us a little more? I guess that's the unfortunate reality of life. Thankfully, we can enjoy time as we have it. Why waste it being sad, right? Well, just tell me that in say, 3 yrs, when Caden goes away to college...

Peace

Ila Mae Waller - strong, dedicated, & faithful to the end.

It has been awhile since I posted. A lot has been going on around here.
Sunday, the 15th, the nursing home called the family in because my grandma wasn't doing well. We visited and waited, and grandma seemed to improve. She wasn't alert, but her stats were better. Stopped by on Monday evening, spent 5 hours watching and waiting again. No change. On Tues., I went by in the evening, and grandma wasn't doing well at all. Her body just kept breathing, even though it seemed she was already gone. She didn't respond at all, and at one point opened her eyes and starred at me for a min or so. I thought that was the end, but she, (being the stubborn, strong woman she is), kept going. Most of the family was there, my mom, aunt Sandy, many cousins, and once my uncle Greg and Aunt Darla arrived, it was late. The hospice nurse had visited as well. It was just a matter of time. Right before midnight, my grandma opened her eyes, looked at my uncle Greg, and let go. It was her time, she had lived a long, prosperous, and eventful life. She had inspired many, and taught us all the value of hard work, strength, respect, and faith. We all shared many memories and stories over those few last days of her life. Her funeral was nice, with many people sharing memories. She was featured in the Hutchinson News on Sunday with a very nice article about her life. She can now be with her family, friends, and son Marc, who left us a month ago.
My brother, Steph, and Mia were able to come home for the funeral. Mia has grown so much and is so active. She is still a very happy baby, and easy to please. She rarely fusses, and usually it's due to hunger. It was great to see them even under the circumstances.
In the midst of our family's loss, I was scheduled to have knee surgery. I went ahead with it, as I had already taken the following week off from work. My surgery was on the 19th, the funeral was on the 21st, and my bro left on the 23rd. Needless to say, I didn't get much rest until Tues. I practically spent much of Monday in bed, and am feeling much better.
Caden had his last game of the season last night. He didn't get to play, but was excited to score 4 pts in the JV game last week. I think he saw about 3min of playing time...
Our lives are so busy, but time keeps on going. Time is precious, and I hope we all can appreciate that. Losing a loved one makes us realize how important it is to share the time we have with those we love.

RIP Grandma. We love you.

Caden finished his career on the freshman team on this past Saturday. His final 2 games were not as we hoped, but he did his best and had the last rebound and shot of his last game. Even though the season was frustrating and trying, he battled through it. Final record was 3-12, I think. He did receive some exciting news as he was moved up to the JV squad for the remainder of the season. He will practice and suit-up for the last 3 games.
Kobe's season ended on the 7th, but he will play in another tourney next weekend. I vow to not yell at the ref's, unless my child gets punched again...
I am scheduled to have orthoscopic surgery on my R knee on this Thursday. The Dr. knows my meniscus needs repaired, however, it is a possibility my ACL is damaged. I have a week off from work, and am not looking forward to it. Anyway, Michael has been working like a dog today...He has done many loads of laundry, finally put away the Christmas decor, paid some bills(which he NEVER does), and is even cleaning up. He claims it's to be ready for my surgery, but little does he know, I have a list prepared for the 2 days he is off to take care of me...
Went to visit my grandma Waller today. The nursing home called my aunt Sandy and told her she wasn't doing so well. My mom, dad, uncle Greg, Aunt Darla, aunt Sandy, and Carrie were all there. She wasn't very responsive, very sleepy, and wouldn't eat. Hospice said they thought she was just exhausted. It's hard to watch her like that. She has lived longer than any of us ever thought she would.
I am so excited because I might be flying to Cali in March to visit Mia...oh and my bro and his wife. I hate that I am missing out on her life, and it kills me not being there. So, I might try to fly out on a Wed eve. and return home on Sun. Not sure yet, but I just don't think I can wait till June...

Until later-

Things have been so chaotic around here the past couple of weeks. Here are some highlights, which are not all proud moments. 1. Michael and I were ejected from a 5th grade basketball game in which my son was punched in the face with a fist (long story)... 2. Haven girls won the Wildcat Classic for the 1st time ever!... 3. Haven Boys won the Rupp Tourney in like a decade... 4. I get to have knee surgery on my GOOD knee soon... 5. I have started using a LASER on patients (ok, I know, who cares. Well, it's really cool and if you want to hear about it, then just ask)...6. LOST is back on tv.
This is what I do.
Peace.

A SMILE in the midst of sadness

Kobe had a ballgame yesterday that I had to miss because of my Uncle's funeral. I rarely miss my kids' games, but I had little choice. So, I anxiously awaited news of his game results when I received the following text...as written by my 11yr old son:
"We won on a last second shout in doble OT! And it was a shot that I assested!"
It had been a very long day, in fact, 4 days. I smiled when I read this. It was just what I needed.

My uncle Marc Waller passed away on Wednesday, January 14th, in the afternoon after a short battle with cancer. He was diagnosed in Sept. 08 and tried to fight it with chemo & radiation. The treatments wore his body out and he decided to stop chemo just a day or two before he died. His service was on Saturday and was attended by many family and friends. The chapel was full, the music played reflected some of Marc's faves. We all know that Marc is in a better place where there is no suffering. I know that one day I will see him again. Rest in Peace Uncle Marc. We love you and you will be missed.

Long week, this was.

Ok, so I know it's not even Friday yet, but this week has been a killer. Time has passed slowly and I am exhausted. Our other hygienist was sick Mon and Tues, so I had to take on the extra load. It wasn't too bad, but the days seemed long. I'm off through Tues. so I should recover. However, the laundry is crazy and I still haven't taken down the Christmas tree. WOW. That is my weekend goal.
Kobe taught me how to play "Smoke on the Water" tonight on the guitar. I serenaded Michael and Caden on the acoustic, and even the electric guitar. They weren't too impressed. Maybe I'll just stick to singing.
OU is playing Florida in the BCS National Championship tonight. It pains me to cheer for the Sooners, but hey, Big 12 Pride, right? It's a good game, tied 7-7 at half. I told Kobe I would let him stay up for it, but it's already 9.15pm, and only half time. We'll see how that goes.
Sounds like a nerf war in the other room, and not the requested quiet time spent watching the game. Time to go do some refereeing of my own...
Peace.

Back to life

Well, it's back to reality tomorrow. Of course, I am dreading it. But getting back into a routine will be nice. Hopefully I can get the boys to actually fall asleep on time. They have been staying up late and sleeping till noon over the past couple of weeks.
We are busy this week with 4 ballgames. Thankfully I don't have to make the trek to our Colby office this month. I have 2 months off. Our office is for sale out there, so maybe I'll get lucky and it'll be gone by March.
Caden plays Tues, Fri, and Sat. Kobe on Sat. also. Jessica has a game 2moro so that means 5 games in 7 days. Yea, this is the life. I love it.
2009 has arrived. Peace.