Sleepy and Stiff...............

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas................. I did !!! I enjoyed being with my family, as well as with Jerry and his family. If you are an immediate member of my family, then you have seen the following pictures. If you aren't, then you must realize you are only going to see a few of the (close to 200) pictures taken from Christmas Eve until this past Thursday. I will start with Christmas Eve at Mom and Dad's.

The Stratman, Pereyo, Freeman, Inman, Arnold Women

* Doing what we do best, being silly!!

Where's Grandma and Grandpa? Our kids are getting SO tall !!!!

Don't ask me what I was doing. Apparently I was being silly hugging Jerry.

Our serious picture...............

Maddi on Christmas Day - more interested in the tissue paper than the treats in the bag.

One of a gagillion pictures taken of Chloe and Olivia opening their presents on Christmas Day!!

Christmas Night..... Olivia and Chloe doing their Yoga video from Mom and Dad.

Now, why am I worn out? After figuring out on Wednesday morning that daycare was closed, I called Jerry (who had to work) to inform him of this travesty. It was not at all what I had envisioned my week to be, but a conversation later, I was keeping the girls for the next 3 days. Did I know what I was getting myself into? Sort of.................. They were actually pretty good and we had our fair share of fits and fun. I am going to need about 4 more days of sleep to get caught up.

As many of you know, I was on the hunt for a pre-lit Christmas tree but was waiting until the day after Christmas to get it. With the girls in tow, I headed to Kmart in Oak Ridge. Was I nuts? Sure I was by 4:00 when we finally left Walmart and the girls were passed out in the back of the car............... this after a major fit. I will definitely rethink shopping with no naps the next time. I do want to say --- Bless Kathy and Kamry ---- they were such huge helpers with the girls. I couldn't have done anything that day without them.

I purchased the tree at Kmart, only to realize that I probably shouldn't have had the girls with me when I did it. Thanks to Kathy and her stellar organizational skills, the tree and 2 booster seats were snug as a bug in a rug. Those girls weren't going anywhere.

I forgot how much fun an empty box could be. Chloe immediately climbed in and many hours later, the box is now a "car". They have insisted on me keeping it for the next time they are here. I do have to say, it entertained them for most of Thursday.

I took them home to Jerry on Friday, where they are today. I slept pretty good last nite except for my stiff neck. It started getting tight on Thursday morning and has gotten progressively worse, even now as I type. Muscle cream, the heating pad, and Advil are my friends, although I don't feel like they are helping. It would be nice to turn Just my head and not my entire body to the left. Hopefully this passes soon.

We are celebrating Kathy's Birthday (which was the 27th -- she turned 36, which rounds to 40 as Kamry told us) this evening by going Ice Skating. I have a feeling I will be watching from the sidelines.

The Stiff and Sleepy Puddle Splasher

Tis the Season......

I am not really sure what to write about, but felt the need to sit here and type. I am thinking Anne and I are taking up the slack for Kathy, who manages to update every month or so : )
Anne updates a whole lot more than I do, that's for sure.
The weekend, including today, has been relaxing to say the least. I am enjoying my break and some extra time with Jerry. It feels weird to sleep in on a Monday, and that today is Christmas Eve................. wow how time flies !!!
I have mentioned it before, but I am amazed at how different my life is from a year ago. I was in the beginnings of dealing with life in the real world, after two months in treatment. I thought I had it made then, but I was wrong as I look back now. Now I am able to stand on my own two feet, say what I feel, and am honestly Happy with me, for me...............and no one else. That is a blessing, a blessing that I actually wanted to decorate a Christmas tree and think about gifts for everyone. I am thankful for those blessings and so much more. Christmas isn't about the gifts, but for me, it is being with my family and watching the excitement in the kids eyes as they open presents and interact with each other. That is the real blessing for me. To truthfully be able to enjoy those moments !!!!
Please pray for my continued recovery and for my family, Anne in particular. That darn Mono bug has kicked her butt once again and it couldn't have shown up at a more inopportune time. Knowing Anne, she will not let it get her down OR she will drive us all nuts!!!!!! It doesn't matter, she's my Anne and I Love her no matter what !!!!!

Merry Christmas to all !!!!

Carol and Maddi

Fa la la la la .............

YIPEEEEEEEEE................... I am on Christmas Break and don't have to report back until Jan. 4th !!!! Of course on my first vacation day, I was up at 5:15 and have a doctor's appointment. The good news is, that I can take a nap in the middle of the day and not worry about getting fired for sleeping on the job!
The 3 days we had school this week were filled with Christmas parties and semester tests. I have all my grades done and in the computer..... ready for them to be put on report cards. I refused to do anything school related this break. I have too many other things I want to do and for once, I don't want to have to worry about it.
I have to tell you all about the influence Jerry has on me............... Last nite, I met him after work at ........................ Gander Mountain !!!! I had never been. What an experience! I didn't realize how many items can be covered in Camo........... even furniture. He had me all over that store. He even pointed out some sort of water britches that I will eventually need when we go fishing. Okay, once again, doesn't that require me being quiet? I am already banned from hunting until enough duct tape can be found! We'll see I guess. I told him that it was too cold to go fishing.
After leaving Gander Mountain, we headed towards Harriman, ate at Shoney's (where it appears that most of Oakdale works), then Walmart ............... oh the joys of shopping with that man!! All over the store......... I lost him, he lost me. Then we found the toy section and that was all she wrote. We had an old man cracking up at us as we made total fools out of ourselves by playing with assorted toys. I have to say, besides the time Yvette and I donned our Club Libby Lu "do's" and laughed hysterically in the card section, it was the best time I have had at Walmart. Many dollars and bags later, the girls Christmas is bought and done ........... I have been done with all my shopping, thank goodness.

Love, peace, harmony, and idiots in Walmart............

Ice Skating and Birthdays........

Skating in a Winter Wonderland....................... Okay, so it was slightly rainy but there was a cool breeze whipping thru the tent down at Market Square. Jerry, the girls and I met an old friend of his and her family for an afternoon of Ice Skating on Saturday. The girls had never been and it has been while since Jerry or I had been. After lugging 2 children around the ice all day, we finally felt the effects yesterday in the form of sore legs and arms. Olivia and Chloe did a great job for their first time and I am sure they are still talking about it today. Enjoy the pictures..... they say 1000 words.....................

Me and Ashton trying to keep Olivia upright.

Me probably telling Olivia which direction we are supposed to skate..... still in teacher mode, even on the weekend.

I loveeeee this picture of Jerry and Chloe !!!! Priceless !!!!

Am I trying to fall or keep my balance????

A typical Olivia face....................

Sunday, we went to Kathy's house to celebrate Joshua and Kamry's Birthdays.......... good eats, good treats, and a house full of people. We had a great time!!! Olivia and Chloe hit it off with the other kids and we stayed for 5 hours, letting the kids play and wear themselves out!!

Jerry and Chloe "cheesing" for me......

Mom and Georgene yacking and cleaning up .......

Angel....... the KG Godfather........ she is a mess. But Olivia and Chloe loved playing with her. Don't let the look on Olivia's face fool you. Angel was talking a mile a minute!!!

Wishing they would blow out the candles already so we could eat cake !!!

The birthday cakes were the 2nd things Kathy had caught on fire ....... a small grease fire earlier filled the house with a small amount of smoke. But thanks to Joseph and the fact that he paid attention in HomeEC, the fire was put out with salt.

Kamry reading her Novel from Grandma and Grandpa.

I do make Joshua clean his face. That acne problem has increased over the day.

MY HOOTIE........ look how precious that face is........

Again, we had a good weekend and I am worn out even today. Joshua and I have to go to school thru Weds, then we are on Christmas Break until January 7th. Yipee............ I have a few doctor appointments and social gatherings to attend, so that will keep me busy.

I am excited about the holidays this year................ I am the happiest I have been and am excited to be excited .................. Plus, I have Jerry and the girls to share the holidays with, along with my Family. I am sure there will be pics and stories in the weeks to come.....................

Until then, Have a Merry Christmas..........enjoy your families.......... and remember what the Christmas Season is really about!!!!!

Love and Mistletoe..........................

Helen Keller meets Charlie Brown

Before I explain the title of today's blog entry, I need to update from the last weeks.........
Last weekend, Jerry and the girls came out to my house so that we could go 4-wheeling for Chloe's birthday (yes, so much like her father). On Friday night, we wanted to take them to a bluff near my house (which we would pass the next day), called Buzzard's Bluff.

As soon as we parked, they were out and on the bluff !!! Jerry is explaining what they are looking at .................. check out their concentration. I love this picture for some reason, maybe b/c they didn't know I was taking it and that the sunset is in the background. While up there, I had Joshua take some pictures of Jerry and I on the bluff................

I thought this one was completely goofy and made Joshua take the next picture too. I tend to like them both.

Our "up close and personal" picture......................
There is a story behind this next picture. Joshua is SCARED to death of heights and had ventured out of the car so that he was not upstaged by Chloe and Olivia. I was very proud of him for facing that fear !!! He was proud of himself too.

Chloe, Joshua, and Olivia............

Our first stop the next day....................... my little cheezers !!!

Yes, this is me........... Yes, I am in Camo, from head to toe, and NO I didn't care. I was warm and toasty inside this camo/fleece ensemble that Jerry let me borrow (no it isn't my camo).
***********Olivia, me, and Chloe taking our own picture.

Fast forward to Thursday evening, Dec. 6th......... Joshua had a JV basketball game. His Grandma, sister, and Mommy were able to come and I know it meant alot to him to have them there. He did Really well, ran hard, had some great rebounds, assists, and passes !!! I did see some "skill" in that boy !!

Joshua is Number 5........... waiting for the other team to mess up so he can take it down court.

I guess he is trying to befuddle the opposing team ........ (he is the one closest to you).
I am soooooooooooooooo proud of Joshua. He is still doing well. We still have our moments, which may or may not consist of a "tune-up". I have had several parents tell me how polite he is and will tell me different stories that make me even prouder of him.

Yesterday, after a week of sniffles, congestion, coughing, blowing, and whining, I dragged myself to the doctor. Diagnosis............. ear and sinus infection. After a 2 hour wait, steroid shot in the butt, nasal spray, and antibiotic Rx, I was on my way home to start getting better.
All I can say today is that I have been up since 6:30, have rearranged Joshua's bedroom, and put up my "Helen Keller meets Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. Now for my poem that will express my true thoughts on stringing the stinkin' lights...............

Ode to Lights

It started with a bang and a clatter.

Maddi ran in to see what was the matter.

She noticed Joshua's bedroom was in disarray,

She knew Christmas decorating was going to consume our day.

I began to pull out pieces and parts of the tree,

Then the strings of lights started scaring me.

I knew what was next after the assembling was done.

I knew stringing those stinkin' lights were not going to be Fun!!

I fought with the lights and Maddi most of the day.

My thoughts and feelings are simple you'd say.

The moral of my day and poem is simple you see,

All I want for next year is a Pre-Lit Christmas Tree.

Maddi lurking from the side of the tree.

Maddi feeling my pain over the lights.

One ornament was harmed during the day.

The finished product..........

I think you can click on the picture and it will make it bigger in another screen, which will only intensify the "Helen Keller meets Charlie Brown" Christmas Tree!!!

**********Click at your own risk!!

Soon to be Pre-Lit Puddle Splasher

The Food Network Thanksgivning

Thanksgiving Day at Mom and Dad's was FUN !! They had a houseful, but it didn't seem that it bothered them one bit !! Anne had suggested we each find a dish or two from the Food Network and replace our traditional sidedishes...... little did we know that our turkey was Cajun, stuffed with rice and baby shrimps. Different but good ---- My favorite dish was the green bean bundles Anne made. Yummy Yummy......
Daddy had designated seating for everyone ahead of time -----
*Jerry, the girls, and I were banished to the kitchen "kids" table.
*Kathy and all the other kids were sent to the "adult" table in the (formal) dining room.
*Mom, Dad, Anne, and Steven dined in the living room.
Jerry bonding with Kathy and Anne while dinner is getting ready.
Is that Joseph helping prepare dinner???

Running off our Thanksgiving meal......
What is Arissa running from????

I think Arissa was almost hit with the football !!

Chloe "slam dunks" the ball !!!

Then Arissa ..................................

Then Olivia................... Such talent in these ladies !!

I am Thankful For.....................

* my healthy mind and semi-healthy body.
* my family......... where would I be without them?
* my friends........... new and old.......... the old friends are still there and the new ones have added insight and advice I needed when I needed it.
* the fact that I get a 5 day Holiday weekend.................Wednesday thru Sunday !!!
* Joshua being in my life. Even though we don't always see eye to eye, he is a brilliant, caring, young man with more insight than I realized. We will survive his teenager years!!!
* Jerry being placed in my life and showing me how Love is supposed to be.......that someone can care about me, unconditionally. He loves me for me.
* Maddi (MadDog)............. even though she works my nerves and licks Joshua's ears when he won't get up.................. we still love her and she can be so sweet, especially when she curls up in a ball on the bed and snores!!!

***** Anything else I have forgot to mention.

Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving...............................

The Thankful Puddle Splasher

Hey...Wait!! Is that Jon and Kate???

Why yes it is...................... Thanks to Kathy and her internet surfing abilities, she found out that Jon and Kate Gosselin ("Jon and Kate + 8") were going to be speaking at a local church. She snagged us seats for the 6:30 session last nite!! Before attending the much awaited speaking engagement, we met at O'Chucks for an early dinner. It has been a while since Mom and her 3 grown daughters have been out in public. I enjoyed the time with them...... cutting up with each other and laughing.

Of course when we get to the church, we immediately find the best seats............call us "front row joe's"......... we tested my camera skills, asking the lady next to us to take our picture.

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of our heroes......... Jon and Kate

Jon and Kate's story was amazing !! I got much more out of it than I thought I would. They talked about things not shown on the show. They also spoke of how God deserves all the glory they recieve each day......... what we all get each day. Nothing is possible without God and He has a plan for us ........ even when we don't realize it. I have realized that lately. When God sent me through the trial of battling an eating disorder (which is still a daily struggle), He knew what would happen and what and who was waiting for me around the corner................. I couldn't see it then. I wasn't supposed to. I was supposed to trust in Him. I feel like I can do that now. Trust in God and live each day of my life to the fullest. We are not guarenteed a tomorrow.....................

Mom telling Jon about Daddy wanting to hug Aiden (the professor). Sorry Jon's eyes are closed. You can't get a decent photographer these days !!!

Today I am walking in the Buddy's Race Against Cancer. The last 2 years I have walked in Honor Mr. Hoskins. Today I will walk in Memory of him ......... As I walk, he will be with me, in my heart and in my memories.

Here we are ............... fired up and ready to walk!!!

The Walking Pea...........

Looking forward...............

If you know anything about me, you know the last year has been full of ups and downs for me, a soul-searching time. Last Thursday marked my 1-year anniversary of the first day of the rest of my life. I knew it was coming, the dreaded November 1st. I woke up that morning feeling alright, not really thinking about "a year ago". My morning was good. Then the afternoon came............. and I recieved a card. It was a card from a dear friend with whom I have lost touch. She told me how proud she was of me.......... that she knew it was an important day for me and that she loved me. It was then and there I fell apart. It was a good come apart........... I realized that I cannot ask for anything more in my life. I have my amazing family, old friends and new friends, and to top it off, my incredible boyfriend, Jerry. I would not be who I am today if I had not been through the last year. I would not be able to be happy and healthy (as I can be) and be able to love someone the way I do him. He is very understanding and was supportive on Thursday, even though he only knows the ME of today.

I am thankful for my life, every moment spent with friends and family. And as for that friend, she knows what she means to me and I feel that afternoon we began making baby steps towards a new kind of friendship................. she will always be my angel.

I spent Halloween trick or treating with Jerry and the Princess and the BumbleBee....Olivia and Chloe.

It was so neat to see them so excited. They were literally leaping from house to house. I was glad I was able to go and spend that time with them. Joshua was able to attend a church function with some friends and ended up winning $50 from a drawing they had. He had a wonderful time, even though I know Kathy is having a hard time letting him grow up, so am I !!!

The past weekend was relaxing yet busy, if that makes any sense. I went to Lafollette again for the weekend so that Jerry could hunt.............. woooohooooo......... what did this mean for me? Hanging out with Becky and Jerry's girls, playing and sitting around until he got back, which was around 10 that morning. We had a good time watching Jerry and Scott work on the building and be silly. Sunday, Jerry and I managed to take some time with the girls and ride down to the river bank at Norris.

After packing up, we were headed to Jerry's where his dad had cooked fried chicken and stuff............... yum yum and then it was nap time. I am still worn out today, especially because of the time change.

On a sadder note, a dear man passed way yesterday after battling cancer for about 3 years. Sam Hoskins was the principal who hired me at Oakdale and became someone I could depend on and talk to about anything. He could bring a smile to anyone's face and would do anything for anyone. He will be dearly missed.