Taylor wins bookmark design contest for Library!

Taylor amazes me.  She has more talent in her pinky than I have in my entire body!  Taylor has won many art contests and once again won 1st place in the Hickory Library bookmark design contest.  Her art work will be distributed on bookmarks at Patrick Beaver and Ridgeview libraries and are free to all library patrons so stop by and grab one.

In addition to family we were thrilled to have Taylor’s teacher, Mrs. Parker, join us for the awards ceremony.  Below is the picture of the bookmark, my photo does not do it justice.  Where the glare is, Taylor placed a boy reading a book.  She represented three children from different continents and they were reading books about each others continent.  Taylor has a brilliant mind…comes from her mother I guess…

Taylor's winning bookmark...sorry about the glare from my camera.

Taylor and her 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Parker

Strange art work hanging in the boys room…

Jolene has hung several of our kids art in the hall leading to the boys room.  The other day as I walked in their room I had to take a double take at the arrangement.  Here is a picture of what I saw…and yes that is a Kentucky Fried Chicken picture/ad!??!  I still haven’t asked who hung this up but I will have a good laugh when I do.  You never know what you’ll see going into their room!

Notice the top middle picture???

My plea for help…

My dearest Jolene,

I tried very hard to be your personal plumber but after several lengthy attempts I must admit failure.  Today I cut my hand and both our bathroom as well as the kids are leaking…WORSE!!!  I’ll stick with social work from now on and leave the plumbing for the plumbers.  Would you be so kind to call the plumber and tell them your husband is an ass and let them know I stripped the “seats”.  I’ll pay for my incompetence just send me the bill.

Love  

Roger

Working at Grandma’s

This past Saturday my dad invited his sons and grandsons to come till up my grandmothers front yard so we could plant new grass seed and cover it with hay.  I awoke and although the other kids had soccer, Grant volunteered to be the “big man” and come work with me.  It was a little chilly but perfect for working. 

My dad and Jason had a fire built, burning brush and fallen limbs.  It took some time to till, rake, plant, fertilize, and cover the yard wih hay, especially with the extended breaks we took to stand around and talk.  I’m looking forward to seeing what a great stand of grass she will have.

Mama and her favorite grandsons! They are her favorite because they work hard for her!!!

 

The Great Grandsons hard at work!

The answer to many of life’s questions…

There are many questions I have which have never been answered.  Here are a few…

Why do I find empty Little Debbie boxes in the pantry?

Why is the grocery bill going up every month?

Why does my sanity keep slipping?

Why am on my hands and knees in the bathroom cleaning up a child’s throw up?

Why am I laying here listen to this woman snore?

Why is there moldy fast food under the back seat of the van?

Why is my bank account so low?

Well the other day while shopping Jolene found this picture that matched our bedroom/bathroom perfectly.  When I saw the inscribed message I knew it was the answer to all these questions and many more.  Behold…the great wisdom…

The answer to life's questions...

Taylor and her “Little Trees” Car Fresheners

Taylor has been obsessed with “Little Trees” after I bought one home a few weeks back.  She got on the website and reviewed the many different scents available.  As we drive around she has made a hobby of identifying other drivers who have “Little Trees” hanging from their rear view mirrors and she loves to try to figure out what scents they are.

I promised her I would take her to Wal-Mart and let her pick one out.  We went today and she ended up selecting Vanillarama.  She is planning on getting the watermelon next time.  What fun. 

Taylor making a selection at Wal-Mart

My “Bachelor Finale” Party Surprise

Jolene has been almost religious about the Bachellor show this season.  For the first time even she invited her friends over in a Superbowl-like party for the finale.  I have been trying to convince her that she has the real deal with me and have tried to be evrything the bachelor is. 

When I proposed to Jolene I had very little money and unfortunatly didn’t buy her the biggest diamond in the world.  I purchased a second one a few years back that was an upgrade but I know she secretly wants a huge rock.  As a gag of sorts I purchased a huge JLo fake diamond ring to give to Jolene in front of her friends during the “half-time” show during the bachelor.  Her are some pics of the rock.

The Rock

Jolene's new bling bling

Snow Day 2009

Most adults transform into children at the first sign of snow.  Jolene and I also get giddy with excitement but haven’t had many reasons to be excited in recent years.  The March 1st, 2009 snow was different, it was a good one. The first thing I did was call my sister who lives at the beach.  I hate when she rubs in that she is at the beach so snow here mean revenge.  I boasted to her for a while and then we all were glued to the windows.  The snow was so big, as big of flakes as I can remember.  After school was cancelled I rested easy knowing the snow could pile up.  The kids ran in and out a lot and Jason and Landon visited for a while.  Jason headed home as the roads started looking sketchy.  The next morning we awoke and headed out.  Taylor, McKay and I made a snowman family in our likeness (a snowman for each family member). 

Benson collected snow and Jolene transformed it into wonderful snow cream.  We had a relaxed day.  After the roads cleared we went to Hickory.  The kids sleded at my dads house.  McKay, Benson, and Taylor rode through the woods and had a great time with Alan “boosting” their rides.  I hate I did not have the camera for the sledding.  They looked as though they were having a grand time.  A few of Taylor and McKay’s busts were Youtube worthy had they been caught.

Roger and his snow angel

Benson testing the snow

Camping in 18 degree weather…not recommended.

The smile before the freeze!

Benson and I went camping last night.  I didn’t prepare because I was sure his Scout Master would cancel since it was so cold.  As I was leaving work Friday afternoon, Jolene calls and says they are still going.  In a panic I threw as much camping gear I could fit in my car and Benson and I left.  All things considered, we had pretty good equipment.  Benson set the tent up and did a great job.  We wisely choose a flat spot which was free of horse poop (we were camping in a field that was previously used for horses).  Before dinner we roasted hot dogs as a snack.  Several boys including the scout master burned the stick holding the dog, causing it to land in the fire.  It was pretty funny to watch.  For dinner one of the scouts prepared and cooked “hobo” meals for everyone consisting of hamburger meat, onions, carrots, and potatoes.  The food was wrapped in foil and cooked in the coals of the fire.  It was pretty good.    happy to eat anything warm as it was already around 39 degrees when we ate.  After the meal the boys played football in the dark and after a fireside partially presented by Benson, I retired to the tent.  It took about half an hour to stop shivering.  I popped open some hot hands to speed the warming.  Benson and the boys could be heard running around playing hide and seek and other games.  Around 11:00pm Benson made his way to the tent where we got comfortable and took a few pictures.  We both placed hot hands in our socks and didn’t take too long to drift into sleep.  I was up about every hour.  Benson woke me with his shivering and a fellow camper (I believe Tyler Gillespe) woke me once with some snoring.  At one point I began hearing a rooster and was so excited that the excruciating night was about over.  Well the rooster cook-a-doodle-dood for what seemed to be hours.  I dozed back to sleep and when I awoke the tent was bright, morning had come.  As I sat up I noticed frost on the outsides of our sleeping bags…now that’s cold.  We lay in our quasi-warm beds and talked until Benson braved the chill and joined his fellow scouts around the fire.  It took m a while to separate from my hot hands but I began taking down the tent and we returned home for Benson’s Odyssey of the Mind meet.  As we pulled out my car themometer read 18 degrees!

We walked in the house and Jolene’s first sentence (and seriously stated) was, “It was so cold last night, I had to turn up the heat”.  I’m still not sure if she was making small talk or rubbing it in that she had a warm, soft bed.  I type this with a throbbing headache, sore muscles, and with some unforgettable memories…believe me, I’m trying to forget:)!

Mission accomplished...tent up!

Scoutmaster Melanakos and his dirty dog!

My favorite nephew, Landon!

I love Landon.  He reminds me so much of Jason when he was a little lad.  I loved (and love) my brother like no one can understand.  Anyways I like watching Landon on occasion.  This week when I was watching him, I caught him in Taylor’s room…playing with Barbies!!!  Here are the pictures.  Don’t get mad Jason, it’s good to be in touch with the feminine side.