Christmas 2009......

Let me just start by saying...." I don't like this new way of blogging!!!" There I got that out of the way!!!!

This Christmas was rather different. The kids didn't wake up till about 8:30 Christmas morning. It was nice but that showed me that all the other years IT WAS JEREMY THAT GOT THEM UP SOOOO EARLY!!!!! lol

Anyway, it was a good day over all. I got my Christmas wish by talking to Jeremy. He called right after we had finished opening everything. I sure do miss that boy!! The kids were all happy with what they got for Christmas even though it wasn't much this year. Oh, well that's not what it's all about is it!

Thank you Grandpa and Grannie....the kids loved their presents.

Ashlynn playing Santa's helper.....

Yeaaaa.....now maybe mommy can get me to learn my ABC's and 123's!!!

A Pink DS.......YEAAAAA!

Ben and his Camo from Bass Pro.........

Ashlynn and her Snuggie.....

Ice Storm on Christmas Morning....

So Proud.........

Sorry that it has taken so long to upload these but.....well you no!!!

Well we have been to Parris Island to see our "new" Marine graduate. It was wonderful to see him. Wow...what a trip! We left home at 4:30am on Wednesday and arrived at our hotel around 4:30pm. The kids did great but needless to say mommy and daddy where "pooped"!

We spent Thrusday with Jeremy on base for a few hours. We drove around so Austin could see all his old spots and then we spent most of our time in the PX. Wow....how things have changed. The PX was HUGE. Must be nice...we never had anything like that back in our day!!!! lol After we left Jeremy, we headed back to the hotel to see Papa, Grammie and Grandma who had arrived and were waiting on us at the hotel. It was so great for them to come and meet us. I know Jeremy appreciated it and so did we!!!!

Friday....what a day!!! It was full of emotion. We arrived at least an hour before the ceremony and still had to stand. There were NO seats where you could see anything. So we stood along the barrier and everything was fine.....almost! Who would have thought that people from WV would get cold in SC!!!! Well it was windy and chilly. The whole time waiting and through the ceremony....cold! but as soon as they dismissed the troops....the sun came out and warmed everything up!!!! oh well...I made it thanks to Grammie and Grandma trying their best to keep me warm!!!!!

He did it...........!!!!!

I soooo love this picture....my mom was proud!

Our kids.....they were so excited to see their "big brother"!

Yet another of my favorites......Austin was so proud!

He may be a Marine now but he still has to look up........

The whole gang.....

Pigging out at Pizza Hut.........this was his first meal "out" in 13 weeks!!!

Leaving PI......Took this pic for Jeremy but he informed that he never wanted to see it again....lol

Decorated the car....we got alot of "toots, salutes and honks" on the way home!

Trick or Treat

Carving pumpkins is such fun. Ashlynn doesn't really like the gooooey stuff but she decided this year to be a " big girl" and do it all herself! Yeaaaaa, Sissy!!!

Ben didn't want to do it so Daddy did it. As you can see he is being a typical boy and playing with the knives....don't worry they are not sharp enough to cut yourself but cut pumpkins very well! Notice Whiskers looking on from the window......

Our Big Ben and cheerleader.....

I think Ben is mad....what do you think????

You go boy...he is so funny. Whenever he watchs the Steelers play and they show Big Ben on the screen he says.."look, there's Ben. That's me!" Don't we wish......

A Fall Day.......

These pictures don't really show all the color of the leaves.

Just a few pics from our beautiful Fall Saturday....

A Quick Trip....

We are soooo grateful to Theresa and Keith. They sure did surprise us but what fun we had. It was so great to be able to come to Florida and see everyone. Even if it was a short visit. I was such a bag full of emotion during our trip. From excited to a cry baby. It was just so good to see everyone. Specially since we don't have anyone here and don't get out much...lol. I miss everyone so very much.
Ashlynn and Benjamin loved their time with "the cousins". We kept telling them about all the cousins they had but I don't think they actually understood till they saw for themselves. They sure had fun and surprising they got along with them all.

Waiting on our plane to take us to "HOT HOT" Florida....everyone was soooo excited!

Listening to some music on the flight....

My mommy and three of her grand-kids...

Ashlynn loving the slide...

Gettin some love from "Grannie". That's what Ashlynn calls "Grammie".

The kids and spouses....

Headin home.....sigh

Our weekend trip to Lewisburg, PA

We went to Lewisburg for the weekend. Some of our good friends came in on vacation so we decided to take a trip. The Lewisburg Pen was having a softball tournament for all the prisons in the area so Austin ended up playing all day on Saturday from 7:30am-10:30pm. He was tired!!Meanwhile my friend Bobby and I with all the "chilren" went to the mall to try and get my camera fixed. (Mom Kready... we went to the Susquehanna Mall that you took me to a long time ago when we visited you and dad at Christmas time) Anyway we had a good time visiting and it was just good to get away for awhile. Just wish we had a little more time to drive around and visit all Austins old haunts. Austin said it was weird to hear ads on the radio from his "home" town!!!



This is Ben, Logan and Ashlynn at the softball field. I would have had more pics but my camera had other plans!

One very tired man......

They had a little park there at the field so we stopped and took a few pics....

Love, Love this pic....

Knoebels here we come.....