Another Actual Conversation With Ben

You might remember this conversation last year. Well, he topped that today.

While enjoying a 10 peice meal with the fam at KFC today, Ben says: "Mom, you know all this chicken we got here...I bet they had to kill like 20 pigs to make it."

"Yeah...but it's chicken."

"Then...what is it?"

Seriously considering Christian school for him.

Jonah wins $5 from his Mother

I can't tell you how, but check out the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDfQzP3vcIs

Our money thing

So, Chris and I are working to get out of debt. We are in a Dave Ramsey class called Financial Peace University at a local church. Dave is a Christian money guru who has practical steps for eliminating debt. If you are interested see the link in this post or in our favorite links area. I do recommend this program for anyone with debt or for anyone who does not know how to invest after you are out of debt. Check it out or email me if you have any questions.

Home Health Care

So I got off work Wednesday night thinking that "I have 7 days until I have to go back!" Life was good. I got my first positive influenza swabs from patients, so flu season is starting...very busy. I get home and my lovely wife Chris is hacking away. Thursday, she is bedridden and Ben is coughing and funning fevers over 103. Chris has been pretty sick since, although started to turn around yesterday. Still hacking and sore throat. Ben's fever left Saturday, but still he coughs. Andrew is coughing and Eli has a runny nose.

The life of a nurse is never over, but it does remind me of Dwight Schrute's take on health care:

In the wild, there is no health care. In the wild, health care is, 'Ow, I hurt my leg. I can't run. A lion eats me. I'm dead.' Well, I'm not dead. I'm the lion. You're dead.

Happy Birthday, Elijah

February 1st was Eli's first birthday. Unfortunatly it was a holiday and got missed on this blog! Much like his Mom (Opening Day of deer season), Eli's birthday fell on a holiday. He's

none the wiser! Just a riminder, Elijah Leon was given his Great Grandpa's name (Leon). He has been a lot of fun to watch grow up. It is amazing to me to think that soon he will pass Andrew developmentally in many areas. Andrew will be 5 in May, but is not yet conversing or potty trained. Elijah has been a blessing for us and for Andrew. They really seem t enjoy each other. As stated on a previous post, Eli is walking and has been for almost 3 months. He loves to dance, play with his brothers, and climb stairs! Enjoy a few other pics that show how he has grown this year.

Been a long time

Well, much has happened since my last post. Deer season has come and gone, with many hours in the woods and nothing to show for it. My beloved wife and matriarch of this family turned 39...only 10 more months until deer season...I mean, until she turns 40! Jonah, Ben and Andrew trick or treated at Grandma Kelley's.

Sylvester, Tweety, and Granny. The masks stayed on for about 5 minutes of trick or treating and Jonahs hair about 30 minutes (after that he was just another boy in a dress).

Thanksgiving came and went and I didn't have to work for the first time in at least 5 years so we headed to Detroit to enjoy dinner with my family. Dinner was great, and once it was over and my Mom took her Valium, the company was great too! Just kidding Mom! One piece of advice if your attending Thanksgiving dinner at my Mom's...sit in your assigned seat!

It was around Thanksgiving that our basement ceiling caved in and missed landing on top of Ben.

Chris's step-dad Bernie and I had put it up about a month earlier...we just put it back up last week!

As for the kids, well, Jonah signed up to play basketball for Oceana Christian School and while he thinks he should be starting and shooting a lot, he is learning about coming off the bench and being part of a team. He is in a league for 5-6th graders, but his team is made up mostly of 4th graders (if which he would be in). The team is 0-3 now, but he is learning and having fun.

Ben's doing well. He is participating in Shelby Public Schools basketball drills program every Saturday morning and playing scrimmages at halftime of some of the JV games.

Andrew was a lot of fun to watch opening presents at Christmas. He had really great expressions and really enjoyed opening gifts for the first time that I could remember. He is also having a good time being a big brother to Elijah. Check out Andrew being helpful.

Elijah started walking at around 9 months old (also around Thanksgiving time). He is now trying to climb up anything, presumably to get away from his well intentioned older brother Andrew! No talking yet but loves to dance and listen to music. Just the other day I was teaching Andrew, Ben and Eli how to do "The Hustle" to Stevie Wonders "Superstitious." So far though, those kids ain't got any of my Detroit blood in them, although Ben thinks he wants to try breakdancing, and I think that may be a fit for him!

Well, that's how we are. Hopefully I will do better updating this thing, but if not, well, what can I say?

Special Day...

October 1 is a special day in our house. The leaves are changing their colors, the air is cooler, Chris has a birthday, and OPENING DAY OF BOWHUNTING SEASON IS FINALLY HERE!!! It's so exciting! Jonah can hunt this year. I get to spend some time in the woods. Venison is so tasty. I am looking forward to a great month, but first, I need to make my wife feel special. No hunting today. Sleep in. I'll get the kids up. I'll take her shopping. It'll be a happy birthday for her.