Happy Birthday AC

Today my eldest grandchild turns 3 -my how time flys! It seems like just last year when his mother was 3.

We had his birthday party at my house last night. It was a Rescue Hero's birthday party, which is no longer one of the "in" party things so Brittney had to make her own decorations and might I say she did an AWESOME job. You entered my house with caution tape across the door - just like the Rescue Hero's use. He really seemed to enjoy the party and his friends. Trace watched AC open all his presents (which included like 8 different "rescue hero's" things with NO REPEATS - what are the odds?) then the minute AC moved from the chair Trace sat down and looked around like okay NOW it's my turn. Luckily Bro. Alan and Ms. Lisa brought Trace a present so he opened his two new puzzles and was happy. AC also received video's, puzzles, books, and sleeping bag with backpack, flashlight, and sports bottle plus more. So guess what the final thing AC was playing with before he left (besides the backpack sleepingbag and all on his back) you got it TRACE's puzzles - go figure!

I think we must figure out a way to slow time down! It is all happening way to FAST - before we know it the grandkids will be grown.

I'll end with AC's favorite saying "Think like a Rescue Hero - THINK SAFE!".

They had to Leave

Nyki, Jeremy, Rylee, Shawn and Tasha left our house Saturday morning for the drive back home (I'm sad) at about 9 a.m. They ran into heavy traffic due to a wreck outside of Tallahassee (3 people had to be care flighted out from it). Which delayed them - making an 20 hour drive into closer to 22 hours. Which they drove straight - after reaching Nyki's house Shawn and Tasha loaded their car and drove on to Amarillo another 6 + hours. Having gotten out of bed at our house Saturday morning Shawn and Tasha didn't lay back down for 38 plus hours, I'm sure they slept in the car but we all know how NON-RESTFUL that is. Not sure when Nyki and Jeremy were able to crash, but to know that my children love me enough to drive that far just to see me means the world to me!!!

The visit was wonderful - I would have expected with 7 people living on top of each other for a week and 4 more thrown in every day for some spats to have occured - but we all got along GREAT!!!!!! Did find out how hard it is for 11 people (okay just 8 adults) to agree on a meal but......hey I shouldn't have been surprised when it was just Randy, I and the kids we couldn't all decided on a single meal.

We did all go have a pictures done - so look for that posting soon!!!!!! It was an absolutely wonderful wonderful surprise!

WOW - What a Surprise!!!!!!

Well I had the most wonderful surprise this past weekend! Randy, R.C., and Eric placed 4th in an offroad bike race. Brittney and I took the boys to meet Julie and her boys (the bike sponsors were giving out helmet's to the first 100 children - along with proper fitting!) We received helmet's for all 4 boys and Britt grabbed some banana's to take to the boys who were riding in the 6 hours race. I was sitting in the van with the 4 boys while the girls ran to see their husbands (mine happened to be on the trail at the time). I turned around while talking to Ethan to pick up a cup for Trace and said "Ethan look at that guy - he looks like Shawn" about that time Nyki walked up beside him. All I could say is "Oh my Gosh! Uncle Shawn is here" (Not to take away from Nyki, Jeremy and Rylee coming but I expected them - not until sometime today but.....) I ran and hugged and cried and hugged and cried and hugged some more. Tasha and Shawn had driven to Dallas Thursday night - then Jeremy, Nyki, Rylee, Tasha, and Shawn climbed in Nyki's van and drove straight through to FLORIDA - so for the first time in many years I have all my family together again (if only for a week). We had planned doing this but Shawn changed jobs and along with it - no vacation for a year so I had resigned myself to Spring Break being no kids. Then a week ago I overheard a conversation between Jeremy & Nyki while I was on the phone with Nyki (actually - I misunderstood the conversation - kind of) later at Brittney's house I asked So when is Nyki & Rylee getting here - she said "How would I know - why do you think they're coming?" I told her what I had heard Jeremy say and she said well they were going to surprise me but now I've blown it, so at least let Daddy be surprised." So for a week I almost slipped just about everytime I spoke to him. Brittney had told me since Tasha & Shawn were already planning to be at Nyki's the first weekend of Spring Break Nyki and Jeremy wouldn't be leaving until Sunday afternoon when they leave to return to Amarillo.

So when Randy pulled in (very short of breath I might add from a 10 mile ride) I was standing there with Rylee in my arms and he said "Who's that" I said Guess - he said "Rylee?" (those of you who do not know we have not seen our granddaughter since September and she was only 2 month's old then so needless to say she's changed since then). When it was all said and done He knew all along that Shawn & Tasha were coming but he was surprised with Nyki and Jeremy's visit. So we were both surprised!

Since the Christmas of 2000 - our kids and families have not all been together without extended family. Not that I don't enjoy my parents and sister and her family's company but I have to say NEVER have I had all 3 of my daughters by themselves to just visit like we were able to yesterday - and again I'm reminded just how God has blessed my family!!

I found out the planning of the surprise has been in the work since right after Christmas - with limit people knowing (because I have a way of taking a few slipped words and forming a BIG PICTURE out of them - not always the right picture but the kids were not willing to risk it) so until right before they left they didn't tell anyone - then they told Aunt Zane because they knew I would probably be talking to Mom but less likely to be talking to Zane. One thing I learned is that my children and spouse are better at keeping secrets than I am - I only knew a week and Brittney, Tasha, and Shawn had to stop me from letting it slip to Randy.

Life is good!!!!! I am jealous of my sister who has her family right around her. But am and will always be thankful for the time that GOD does grant us!!!!

Well Hello

Randy here, not sure what to say since I usually create webpages, not write on them.

Life isn't bad, just not great right now. Well truth be known, we have a roof, food and cars that run (even if it's not the one we owe money on). I guess that makes it pretty good. I have a wonderful wife that puts up with me even when I'm moody and tonight has been one of those times. 6 great kid, 3 by birth and 3 by marriage. 2 grandsons and a granddaughter. You know when you look at it that way, life can't get much better.

My suggestion to those of you that read this, take stock and enjoy what God has given you and don't dwell on the things that can bring you down.

Randy

Waiting on Randy

Okay this is my last posting until Randy posts his thoughts or whatever he wants to say!

Just wanted to say Hello to all of you and let you know that I love each of you. (Oh yeah thought I would tell you about our weekend with the boys)

We discovered Trace can be a bully - he is like his mother was and is a squealer - unlike his Mother he does it when he doesn't get his way, his mother did it when someone was bothering her (You will have to ask R.C. if she still does that but as far as I know she out grew it!). All day Friday and most of Saturday we "corrected" AC for taking toys away from Trace and making him scream (ear piercing, blood curdeling) until Saturday afternoon AC and I were playing with a toy and AC walked off with toy in hand and TRACE immediately screached and Grandpa told AC to give it back to Trace and I looked up and realized it was the toy AC had just 2 seconds earlier so their was no way he could have been taking it from Trace. Not 2 seconds later Trace was off to something else so we decided that we would try to discourage the squeal but not immediately make AC give up whatever he has even to make the bad noise go away.

I know the before mentioned makes it sound like Trace is awful - but he's not!!! He is one of the most loving affectionate little guys you could ever know! AC was hurt and Trace came running to check on him and patted him and loved him so I know he loves his brother, so we just need to teach him to communicate with a "I would like that please brother" instead of EEEEEEEEKKKK.

Oh yeah AC loves Trace also he climbed in the crib with Trace during his Sunday nap (woke him up but that's not my point) when I asked him why he said I just needed to hold him. (I believe he was beginning to get a little homesick by this time.

AC informed me he was Never going home he was staying with me because I need a little boy and his mommy and daddy have Trace. That was really sweet but I think it has a whole bunch to do with the fact that Trace had just smacked him while he was watching TV and very little to do with the fact he thought I was lonely without a little boy. Believe me when we picked up Mommy and Daddy (see Brittney's blog for explanation) Sunday night - there was NO WAY he was going home with me - he wanted his house his mom, his daddy, and his BED. But his sentiment was sweet about wanting to live with us.

This week at work has been grueling but I am surviving! Remember our car situation in your prayers - to fix or to buy that is the question.

Remember you will not hear from me again until Randy has posted something so if you get tired of reading this - NAG HIM!