Just Retired, Not Dead

Alicia and Dani's Graduation

2009-07-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

So, a week after Ryan's graduation we had two graduations at home. Alicia graduated from Manhattan High and Dani from Wamego High. And they graduated on the same day!! Can you imagine what kind of day that was?? Alicia's graduation was at 2:00 in Manhattan and Dani's at 4:00 in Wamego. So we started the day with lunch and pictures because the girls were going to be all over the map afterwards. This pic is a gem with Dani totally oblivious to what was going on, Alicia ready to beat the crap out of Ryan, Bethany trying to get him over and Ryan just being a poop head. My kids are funny.

So we head off to Bramlage Coliseum for Alicia's graduation. She graduated with 401 students though not all went to graduation but it was still a pile of people. We sat kind of at the top so that we could leave soon after Alicia walked. When she came in we saw her looking around for us so Bethany texted her and Alicia spotted us waving like big fools. We got a big wave back. My baby is graduated. No more kids!!!

After Bethany and I went down and took pictures our whole row got up and left to drive 20 minutes back over to Wamego. Wamego had 100 kids graduate and they did it in their gym. Because we were so late in getting there we stood on an upper balcony and had to sneak up to see Dani. We heard the speakers but didn't get to see much. But we were there!!

Then it was home and food! What a hungry bunch we were. It's hard to believe that all my kids are graduated. Occasionally I will go down to the basement and look at pictures of when they were little and get a little teary eyed. But I am happy that my kids are grown. And they are good kids with no problems besides having our genes. I am proud of each one of them.

Ryans Graduation

2009-07-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

So the first thing I have missed writing about this spring is Ryan's Graduation. Yes, finally after 7 long years he has graduated. Now to not make him look like a total dork and malingerer, he did go to University of Maryland at Manheim in Germany. And even though it added two years onto his schooling he got to go to some pretty cool places that he would not have been able to if he had been in the states. So it's a trade off.

Then after a couple of changes in his minor - he finally graduated with a Math degree with a Programming emphasis. Now if he could only get a job. So we all went down for graduation. I was not able to walk when I graduated in 1983 because of... HIM! I was very pregnant and it was very hot and K-State had one BIG graduation rather than the college specific ones they do now. So we made him walk. It was great!

The stadium was very full by the time we got there so we ended up standing along the back wall. My mom and mother-in-law got seats so that was good. The rest of us stood around.

Though my nephew was a little tired and decided to nap.

I didn't get Ryan receiving the diploma but I did capture him coming off the stage. The bigger picture looks like a Where's Waldo photo. He was in the second to the last row so we had to wait on everyone else. It was pretty cool.

It was at this point that JR decided he didn't want to repair appliances the rest of his life and wanted to go back to school. That was a long conversation on the way home! But off to school he goes at the end of July!!

So now its pictures with the family!!

Time flies

2009-06-05T05:57:00.000-07:00

It has only been forever since I have written. Shame on me. So much has happened but the only time I am on the computer is at work and it has been a super busy spring. So first as I play catch up I have to announce the engagement of BETHANY!! While we were on vacation in Virginia the end of May we stopped in Richmond to see her boyfriend. We had dinner with his folks and later in the evening Jason pulled out a beautiful ring!!

Wish I had a picture of the two of them but I can't find one. So anyone, this young man is from Virginia and spent four years in the Army. He was stationed at Ft Riley and thats how the kids met. He got out of the Army the end of October and moved back to Virginia. Bethany went to visit him in February and in March they broke up :( However, Jason called her Mother's Day Weekend and said that he couldn't live without her and wanted to marry her.

He bought the ring right before we went on vacation so we knew he was going to officially pop the question. We are excited. Currently they are planning on a May 1 wedding. Right now they are trying to find jobs in the same place so they can be closer. Keep them in your prayers.

Changes in the household

2008-12-22T13:26:00.000-08:00

On October 9 we put Butch down because of old age. The poor baby was 16 years old and had developed tumors that were spreading way to fast. Bethany, Alicia, Sundance and I took him to the K-State Vet hospital and they were absolutely wonderful. He lay in my arms as the girls sat with me on the floor as he passed away. Very hard but very needed. It was such a peaceful passing. He was so ready.

On November 16, Sundance was killed by a truck out at the grass dump site in town. He died in my arms as I drove back to the house with him. No ones fault. He was running around, saying hi to everyone out there. One of those things, though I still hurt over him.

The house was too quiet with the three cats. It's just not the same without a dog so we got one. She is a one year old boxer named Melanie and boy is she gorgeous. Milo and Otis tolerate her and MoJo can't stand her. She loves to play, run, and give lots of love. She is definitely JR's dog and will love on anyone until he comes home. It's fun to watch them together. It was also a big plus that she came house broke and spade. Yeah!!

She thinks she is a cat and likes to get into the cat box. Luckily for her my friend Chris gave her a bed so maybe she'll stay out of the box.

Not a happy Otis, Melanie had her pinned in there!

It's Christmas!!

2008-12-08T14:43:00.001-08:00

I spent the weekend putting up the tree and lights outside only to have some real help. Here is Otis climbing the tree. He thinks he's pretty cool.

I have a basket of fake poinsettas that I like to have out. Otis thinks this is camouflage for him. He likes to lie in wait for Milo then pounce.

Remember our Soldiers this Christmas

2008-12-08T08:36:00.001-08:00

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, my daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, so I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, you should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, way from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night. It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, that separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December," then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', and now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while, but my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... An American flag. I can live through the cold and the being alone, away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, tor being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, to stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, to know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, that we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Michael Marks, 2000

A Knight

2008-11-25T07:46:00.001-08:00

JR has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for many years. I think since 1994 when he joined the Council in Ft Sill, OK, and became Scout Master for their troop. He had a fun four years with them and then the opportunity never arose again until he retired this year. He joined the Council in Wamego and then decided to become a 4th Degree Knight. The Knights were formed in 1882 to render financial aid to members and their families. They are a fraternal benefit society dedicated to Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. The men enter as a first degree focusing on charity. As they move up, each degree focuses on another virtue. Men are considered full fledge members when obtaining Third Degree. The primary purpose of Fourth Degree is to promote patriotism and active Catholic citizenship. JR decided to join the Fourth Degree Knights in September. Here is a picture of his knighting. They are called Sir Knight but he is crazy if he thinks I am going to call him that. The second picture is when we went to a dinner. Doesn't he look different?

Alicia

2008-11-19T12:58:00.000-08:00

Well, just four weeks till our baby graduates High School. Our last one! YEAH! Kind of bitter sweet to know that part of our life is over. YIPPEE! Here are her Senior pictures. Let me know which one you like and we'll get a copy to you.

Election 2008

2008-11-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

There are no pictures for this blog as we are not allowed cameras at the polling site. But JR and I wanted everyone to know how proud we were of all of our children. This is a banner year for us as all of the kids have voted for the first time. And we know how controversial this election has been. Many people with many ideas, but that the kids took the time to consider the candidates and really look at all the different issues made us feel good. Whether we agree with their vote or not is relevant. That they exercised their right to vote is awesome! So we are proud of Ryan, Kathy, Bethany and Alicia!!

Staff Olympics

2008-10-24T09:30:00.001-07:00

Usually the fall time in our building is super crazy! In September we host the All University Career Fair, which is preceded by a LOT of students coming in for resume critiques. We have a couple of smaller career fairs and we are working hard to get ahold of last years students to find out what they are doing post grad so we can get statistics done. All the while planning the spring career fairs. Really we are busy.

But in the midst of this we take an afternoon and go participate in staff olympics. This is my third one, and it's always fun. This year was no different and the pictures are priceless so I thought I would share. Even the goofy ones of me. Our office has had two teams the last three years. Too many of us want to have fun; we have a competitive team and a let's have fun team. You can guess, I am not on the first team. Even though you won't know anyone, I must point out the only male on either team: my friend Chris. Chris is a budding photographer who takes his camera everywhere!!! And we are glad. He took my girls' pics last year, and is doing Alicia's and Dani's senior photos this Saturday. He is very good. But also very good at getting some real cheesy ones. Enjoy.

A Giant of a Hamburger

2008-10-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

Bethany's friend Jason is leaving in two days to go to Virginia. He has left the military to go home and pursue a normal career/life. As a "I have to do that before I go", he and Bethany went to a local eatery last night where they serve a 3 lb. hamburger. If the plate is cleaned (and they have till closing) the stomach abuser gets a t-shirt.

Jason just had to do this before going. Here are the pics of the hamburger throughout the meal. Here is how it started:

22 minutes into the eat fest:
1 hour into the eat fest:
2 hours into the eat fest:

3 hours and DONE!!!

Don't think he'll eat a hamburger for awhile.

A Conneticut/New York Trip

2008-10-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

I got to looking at my blog and went WHAT!! Where have I been? Busy!! that's for sure. I wanted to post pics of Alicia's Birthday, our KSU football game trip among other things but it just didn't happen. I get into work and get caught up with that (which I should) and by the time I get home I don't want to look at the computer.

Last weekend, I took the girls out of school and we went back east. My cousin, Kristen, hosted a Hahn Womens Weekend. What fun we had. My dad decided that he wanted to drive -- I guess I am not old enough -- so he drove his van and took my mom, me, Bethany, Alicia, Dani & Brittany. What a long drive! We drove straight through going and coming. 23 Hours!! He did a great job.

So we get into Conneticut Friday morning, right ahead of everyone else. We stayed at Kristen's house (it's huge so she could accomodate us). Her poor kids were relegated to the parents bedroom floor so the adults could have beds. My girls slept in the basement on air mattresses.

Friday was a get together day. Kristen cooked lunch, snack and dinner for us. Yeah, No Cooking!! And we just sat around and visited. Here is the motley crew:

Back row: Karen (a first cousin), me :), and Kristen (hostess & first cousin
Seated: Aunt Kay, Aunt Mary Lou (my dad's only sister), Aunt Bette, and my mom
Floor: Bethany, Dani, Jenna (Kristen's daughter), Alicia and Brittany

Then on Saturday we went into the BIG APPLE!!! OMG what fun we had. Kristen drove the girls and I in and we did some sight seeing. The Empire State Building was cool. I was a little disappointed in how small the walk way was. Not like in the movies. They made us stop to take a picture and we didn't want to. Look how good it turned out though!! What a bunch of beauties.

The rest of the ladies took a late morning train and had lunch then caught up with us. We all went to Ground Zero, China Town, Little Italy and a bus ride around town. We ended up in the Theatre District and had dinner at this fun place where the wait staff sang. What fun! Then we went and saw Hairspray. Very good!

The girls and I traded spots with the train ladies, so Kristen drove them home and we wandered Times square and caught a 1 am train. It was 3 before we got back. But we had a great weekend.

Home Improvement

2008-08-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

We have been fighting a cloggy toilet upstairs for several months. Alicia kept telling JR it needed to be fixed and he kept telling her to call the landlord! For about two weeks Alicia and Brittany have been using our toilet downstairs. With Dani's arrival I had to put my foot down. Tooo many people were going to use the downstairs toilet! So we bought a new one on Monday night and JR and a friend put it in. Quite hilarious.

After JR got the old one out, which was pretty easy, they put the new bowl in.... and kept yelling at me not to take pictures! All was going good until they went to put the tank on and it wouldn't fit. They measured and the contractor who refinished the house four years ago did not put the drain hole the necessary 12" from the wall like it's supposed to be. Moving the hole was NOT in the option list, and going back to the old not working toilet because it was too cheap also got booted off the list.

And that meant ... yes, you guessed it! Cutting a hole in the wall so the tank would fit. How funny is that?? But it is working and one day... maybe... the hole will be finished so it doesn't look goofy.

Dani

2008-08-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

On Saturday evening we welcomed Dani. Though, I am sad to say, we were late getting there. Alicia and I went to our standing hair appointment, JR went down to the local barber shop, then we tackled the lawn...s. We actually do three of them, our neighbor to the north and our neighbor to the south. That's a 2 1/2 hour job for JR and I and it's always HOT!! So we took our showers - couldn't show up stinky - what kind of impression would that be?

So anyway, when the girls and I had the training class 4:30 was mentioned in conjuction with the pick up. So true to form, when the email showed up with all the pertinent info -- I did not read it all. Because - yes - I knew better!

We arrived when they let out and kids were going to pick up their bags. Great first impression!

Any way... Dani is a lovely 16 girl. Very quiet and speaks English very well. Thank goodness she likes animals since we have so many. We got her enrolled in school. She likes it well enough. She has three mentors who really help her out. It's good. So here is a picture of the first day of school for Brittany, Dani and Alicia!!

OMG It's August

2008-08-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that a month has gone by already!! I would like to say I have been very busy, but I can't in good conscience.

This last week we had a guest from Australia. Alicia met Nathan last summer when she was "down under" and he came to the states to spend time with different people he knew and came here for a week. It was a lot of fun having him around and what a nice boy.

Tomorrow we pick up Dani from Wichita. It means it is the start of a new year!!

Alicia started school on Wednesday!! She is a senior now and plans on graduating in December! My word we are getting old. We are letting her use the Ranger since she has to drive to school. She decided that the stock radio wasn't good enough for her so she saved her quarters from her waitressing job at Pizza Hut and bought a new stereo with a CD player and a jack for her MP3. It was quite hilarious watching her try to take out the old radio to put in the new one. But she did it, with help from her friend Brittany.

My coworker who does beautiful photography (he did the girls' pictures) is always being asked to take pictures here at work. I hate to take pictures. Not my favorite activity but we were doing a scrap book for a girl who was leaving and had a "Margaritaville" theme. Being the funny "man" I am, I had Chris do a re-creation ---- any one remember this? Yeah I thought it was quite funny!!

Well Chris knows how much I hate picture taking and unfortunately we had to do it again!! for some new staff. All I can say was the sun was in my eyes!!

But the actual picture used was much better than that, thank goodness.

More Blessings

2008-07-11T07:01:00.000-07:00

When we were at the Academy, JR made the wise choice of becoming a sponsor for an International Student. He picked Malaysia because we had never been there. So our student was Musa Haron. What a wonderful man. Of course, when you get one you get many so our house was blessed with an International flair that year. That was the best!

Musa just wrote and informed us of his new position. He is now the Malaysian SMA! It's not a job he really wanted but when the service calls a patriot responds. Here are his promotion pictures. We are so proud to know him.

Blessings

2008-07-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

JR and I have been blessed many times over with dear and close friends. Even though the miles keep us apart we manage to stay in contact.

Last week I was fortunate to go to Lawton Oklahoma for a day and a half. And what a 36 hours that was!! Getting in on July 1 evening, I spent time with our dear friends Willie and Jayne Mattice. We have known them almost forever. Ryan used to babysit their kids when they were little. Not so little anymore. In fact, "Aunt Mary", yes - me - got to hold Lauren's little love bundle. Makaila Marie Grace was born on May 4. This was my first opportunity to see her. She has a head full of hair and is just beautiful. She fell asleep in my arms then later woke up smiling and excited. For those of you who know me, babies usually run screaming from the room. And even though I totally enjoyed holding her and talking to her -- I AM NOT ready to be a grandmother yet.

The second blessing came the next morning when I attended Rich Longo's promotion ceremony to Bridadier General. What an awesome ceremony and what an honor to a wonderful family. All of Rich and Dianne's kids came in for this celebration. Although it was long, it certainly was exciting. Rich joins the 1/10th of 1% of the General Officer's Corps that makes up the Army. JR was unable to make it but we are so proud and glad to know them and to know that our leadership is in such good hands.

Jennifer, Angie, Nick, Rich, Kevin, Dianne

The third blessing for that day was the arrival of a unit back from Iraq. A very dear and old friend brought his brigade back to Ft. Sill and it was his welcome home ceremony. Col Pete Baker was JR's Platoon Leader back in 1984 when we were stationed in Germany those many years ago. So it was an honor to see him safely return all his men under his command.

Pete, two of their boys, wife - Annie

The missing cat

2008-07-09T07:18:00.001-07:00

Last night Smoky was brought downstairs against his will and kind of socialized. So here is a picture of Bethany's 800 lb cat. (not really 800 lb but close!)

The Zoo

2008-07-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, moving around with my Air Force dad, we always had to get rid of any animal we happened to latch onto at that duty station. As a kid, I thought that sucked. We would get attached only to have them ripped away from us. The emotional toll!! Didn't matter that it was really mom and dad that had to take care of them, or the expense of the vet... let alone moving with them and finding a new rental that would take pets. All we knew was the anguish of saying goodbye.

JR and I have had our share of pets and we too had to give them away to homes that were more stable or not moving. That is until 1994 when an 18 month old pug wandered into our yard and our lives. Butch had escaped from a family where the twin 8 year olds were a little ornery. In 1999 we adopted another pug who was the runt of a litter, only survivor out of seven and not really expected to live. Thus came Sundance. (Can you tell JR's favorite movie?) Technically, Sundance is Ryan's dog. But only technically. Butch is on the left and is now 16!! and Sundance is still cute and almost 9.

We moved to Germany and paid for the dogs to go with us. I never thought I would pay to have dogs shipped. While in Germany, we acquired Romeo, a loving 6 month old stray cat which was Bethany's. Though he slept on MY pillow. After 5 years in Germany, we once again paid to have the dogs shipped home. And the cat was to be Bethany's carry on and they still charged us an arm and a leg to carry him aboard. (I am still trying to figure out what I paid for... he didn't eat anything or have his own seat)

Romeo and Sundance loved sharing that pillow. Romeo alas passed away last year. We think mole poison. Six months go by and when mice started showing up in the house, JR relented into letting us get another cat. Only because they serve a purpose, mind you. So then came MoJo. Another 6 month old rescued cat. But a good mouser!! I had new gifts!! And he can catch bats too.

So now we are in a house, that completely belongs to us. And we are thinking two dogs and a cat are good! Nope! Were we wrong. This last weekend saw an increase in our four legged family members. First, Alicia begged for an animal. Ryan and Bethany got an animal when they were 15 or 16. She is almost 18! So what does she get? TWO 9 week old kitties! Yes, we have lost our minds!!

So here is Milo and Otis. Litter mates with different personalities.

And to add to the fun of the Ewing household, we took in one of Alicia's friends, Brittany and her dog Boomer. Boomer is a coon/dachsund mix who is twice the size of Butch who thinks he is a lap dog and a bed dog.

And we babysit Bethany's new cat, Smoky, who is a 100 lb 8 year old cat. Oh and it gets better!! Bethany also decided to adopt a new 6 week old kitty, Harley, to keep Smoky company. But!! She is staying at her bosses house for a week taking care of his animals while on vacation so her two cats are now with us. We don't have a picture of Smoky, because he is the most anti social cat we have ever met!

I think I have lost my mind!!

Claudia's Farewell

2008-07-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

When we enrolled Alicia in Manhattan High in August 2005, we were amazed at how many international students were also enrolled. Alicia and I talked about it for awhile and we thought it would be a cool idea to host a student. Of course, it was too late then. So in the spring of 2006 when a fellow parishioner at church asked me if I would be interested in hosting, of course, I jumped on that bandwagon. Alicia and I looked through the various girls who were looking to be placed.

What an odd experience to pick a host daughter from bio's! It was like catalog shopping. Pictures look pretty but you don't know what you really are going to get. After making a list of what we were looking for in a student, and throwing out those who obviously weren't good candidates for our home (like non animal lovers), we had it narrowed down to two girls. One from Germany, one from Paraguay. I let Alicia decide and she chose Claudia from Paraguay.

It's kind of a messed up system in the fact that we get to pick but the international students have no veto power. So they get stuck with us!!

Claudia joined the family in August 2006. It has been a great year!! She has done everything we have, plus lots of other things. She joined CYO, Cross Country, Track and the AFS Club. She went to Arkansas for Christmas (with us) to meet Ryan and Kathy: Columbus OH with Alicia to NCYC; New York and Washington DC for Spring Break; Oklahoma to visit JR; and all over Kansas. She also experienced all sorts of weather! Her first snow storm, ice storm, no electicity! What fun

Having an AFS student requires us to participate in AFS projects, like the annual Garage Sale; a monthly get together so the students can make presentations on their countries and other gatherings. This is great because we get to know the other kids also and develop a bond with them. Quite a fun bunch!!!

But yesterday we had to say goodbye. We had a party for her on Saturday evening. Lots of kids, food, and fun. They played frisbee, sat and talked and hit on a pinata! What a blast. Then Sunday she spent the afternoon packing. She had a lot of stuff. We have already sent home six boxes of clothes and stuff. She packed two full suitcases and we have another box to send.

We left the house at 5:20 am Monday morning and headed to Wichita. We made a side stop at JR's mom and continued down. We were supposed to be there between 8:00-9:00, we got there at 9:03! But we weren't the last ones, so I don't care. We weighed her luggage in. She was under the 50 lb limit per bag. Another girl was unloading stuff because her bags were too heavy.

Then we hung out in a building as they did last minute instructions. Then came the goodbyes. How tough! Not only did we say goodbye to Claudia but the other international students that we got to know. After a tearful goodbye we left.

That was hard leaving Claudia. I know she is going home to her mom and dad, grandparents and family. I know that we will keep in touch often. But it's like sending a child off to college but knowing that it will be a very long time before you see them again. I miss her. And I always will but she knows she always has a home with us, and she will always be our daughter

Disney World!

2008-06-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well if we weren't crazy enough, vacation time rolls around and we go on vacation to Disney World in Orlando. Of course, we don't do this half way. We go with my WHOLE family. Yes, 15 fly to Florida to spend ONE week together. Unfortunately, Ryan and Kathy could not join us, nor my brother-in-law Jeremy. We still had a crowd!

So after leaving my folks house at 3:30 am and driving to Kansas City International Airport, we hung out, ate breakfast and took up most of the passenger line. The trip down was pretty uneventful.

A van service came and picked us up to take us to the hotel. Of course, not everything can go smooth and my family waited till the second bus showed up. We stayed at Shades of Green, the military hotel. Very nice.

We spent the week going to the different parks. Monday was Hollywood, Tuesday Epcot, Thursday Magical Kingdom and Friday Animal Kingdom. Wednesday was Pool Day. My first cousin on my dads side came and joined us. I hadn't seen her in ..... 32 years!! I can't be that old! It was fun.

I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Unfortunately, my nephew Stephen got sick with an ear infection the last two days. We were dog tired by the time we left. Ready to come home and rest from the vacation. It was a blast though.

More Tornado Pictures

2008-06-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

This first picture is really awesome. This is the Chapman tornado. I do not know who took it but WOW is all I can say. Then to my dismay I found out that it was a doctored photo. The buildings really do belong to the Coop in Chapman but someone added the tornado.

The other pictures were taken by a faculty member of campus. He reported for work on Thursday with the rest of the faculty, took pictures, helped with clean up and then went home to do his own clean up as he lost his whole house.

Good friends from El Paso now live in Chapman, and they were very lucky and the tornado missed their house. A co-worker's house was affected by the tornado only in an odd way. The house shifted on the foundation but because of the lack of structural integrity it's pretty much a total.

In Manhattan, 31 houses were destroyed and 50 houses had major damage. This last Tuesday we had a bad lightning storm and several houses were hit with major damage. One home was left standing amidst many tornado destroyed homes only to be hit by the lightning and destroyed. Weather is such a freaky thing.

Tornado in Manhattan follow up

2008-06-17T14:28:00.001-07:00

After I posted I noticed that the link was missing!!! Copy and paste into your browser:

http://labrisaphoto.blogspot.com/

Tornado in Manhattan

2008-06-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

I wasn't able to blog last week as we were on vacation in Florida. My plan is to catch up and post some pictures of our trip but of course I had to do some catch up at work first.

Before I start blogging about our trip. Last week, while we were gone a tornado hit a town just 30 miles west of Manhattan, which then continued through and hit here. Chapman is 80% destroyed. Many of our friends lost homes there. Even if a home hadn't taken a direct hit, some were moved on their foundation which now makes them structurally unsafe.

My photographer friend Chris, who took the girls' pictures, drove around and took some amazing pictures. This link will take you to a slide show that shows the devastation.

We are fine. Wamego did have a couple of funnel clouds go over but nothing touched down. We are blessed.

Our House

2008-06-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

After 26 years of marriage and moving around, from Army post to Army post, living in rental apartments and houses or in government quarters we made the leap and bought a house!! OMG!! I have never been through such a scary process. The night we signed up our realtor I thought I was going to be sick.

We had looked all through Manhattan and couldn't find one in our price range. Let me rephrase that: we couldn't find any thing decent to live in within our means. So we expanded our area to include Wamego. A quant little town about 15 miles east of Manhattan where JR's grandparents, aunt and uncle and cousins live.

So we took a Saturday and drove around with our realtor. What a riot. Many houses, many rejections. Then we stopped on Walnut in front of a small home with a for sale sign outside it. Our realtor told us the listed price and we thought it was a bit outrageous. So much so that we had to look at it.

We walked in and both fell in love with the house. After much negotiation we signed for the house on Feb 28. Wow, we are now home owners! After moving in 1 April, the house is as settled as possible. I am still hanging pictures, I figured that will take a while. Considering my hesitation at this home ownership I must say I love it.

As you can see we have a LARGE yard. The house sits on two lots and there is a detached 2 car garage in the back. A small patio comes off the back door. It's enough room for my lawn table and chairs and a water fountain JR got me for my birthday.

It is a 1 1/2 story, 4 bedroom, 2 bath, full unfinished basement. This is our till they take us out on a stretcer!!

Everyone is welcome anytime to come and visit us. Our door is open and we can find a space for you to crash on.

My girls

2008-06-03T11:07:00.001-07:00

My friend Chris, from work, has really become an excellent photographer. He did a great picture of the family last year for our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

And just a couple of weeks ago I asked him to do pictures of the girls for me. I thought I would share a few.

New at this

2008-06-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

Looks like I'll join the bandwagon and see how this works. Now that summer is here I think that I'll have a bit of time on my hands. My immediate supervisor quit before the end of the school year so I am unsupervised!!

JR is 2/3 of the way retired. April 30 was his retirement ceremony. Very emotional. Lots of family there!!! Here we have my mom, Great Aunt Lena and JR's mom.

Both JR's sisters, husbands, nieces and nephews were there.

Of course the girls were there, along with good friends. This is Alicia and our host daughter from Paraguay, Claudia. See who is hanging out with Bethany??

AW..... this is fun!

JR then signed out on "Transitional Leave" on May 22. He has been hanging around the house doing things on my honey do list, and Aunt Lena's honey do list, and Bethany's honey do list.... We are keeping him busy. He may get a job just to get away from the honey do's.

Let's see how well I do at this. It's been fun seeing others' blogs. See you all tomorrow maybe.