New Puppy

Well, I thought I'd better catch up on this week and add a new post. Sharayah was sick with the flu for the first part of the week. She was sent home from work on Tuesday and was off on Wednesday and Thursday...so she had a few days of rest and felt much better when she went back to work....I (being the wonderful mother that I am) bought her a lovely plant from the garden gate and took it over to cheer her up...Check out Derek being a dork in the background! haha Most of the week was pretty uneventful...spending time with each other...the kids were doing puzzles again, here's Emilys masterpiece..

John and Derek worked on one together...

Smokey didn't want to be bothered and found himself a nice 'perch' away from everybody.

and of course I can't forget to put a few pictures on here of the newest member of the Keller family....His name is Walter and he is a 3 month old St. Bernard puppy!

Isn't he a cutie pie? Tootie absolutely loved him!

Debbie thought he was the sweetest thing....

Even though he was a little heavy...

Tootie is basically an outdoor dog..she comes in the house to her kennel at night and we were are gone and of couse sometimes when the weather is hideous...when she goes outside, which she loves to do, she needs someone to play with. Mocha doesn't like to stay out much unless I'm there....So now we have two kittens, one lab, and 2 St. Bernards! Can anyone say no more please!??!

Road Trip..

On Monday, February 2, John and I took Mom to Bloomington to meet Teri. We had a great lunch at the Olive Garden. I absolutely love eating there. After lunch, John and I drove home and Mom went with Teri to her house for a visit. On the way to Bloomington, Mom was reminiscing about the 50's era and all the neat things they did. She talked about how people dressed and things they did. She was talking about going on dates at the local Maid-Rite restaurant and ordering loose meat Maid-rites with pickles and mustard and then drinking an ice cold Pepsi with peanuts in it. The more she talked, the better it sounded. So last night for supper I made maid-rite sandwiches and french fries and I also thru in a little pasta salad. It was delicious! Thanks Mom for the great idea for supper!

You would not believe how much the kids loved them! Later on after the kids went to bed, John and I watched that new movie out called "Fireproof". It was pretty good, we both enjoyed it.

The nest day, Tuesday, Crystal and I went to Galesburg and treated ourselves to a Pedicure and a manicure. It was so relaxing!! Then we went to Hammers General Feed Store (It's a restaurant) and we had a wonderful lunch! After I picked the kids up from school I took Derek to get a haircut...

Derek really like Barber Joe. he's a nice guy....He's the only barber that Derek has ever been to. So far this week has went pretty well.

Having Fun....

Yesterday, we decided to get out of the house and head off to Galesburg and do some shopping. First, we went to the Asian Buffet! Yum-Yum...

Crystal had been talking about how hungry she had been for chinese and it sounded good to everyone else too. After we ate we decided to drop by the Goodwill to see if we could find any great bargains....we all had fun looking at the good and Unusual things....

Ieshia looks hilarious......What a great bargain those glassed were! haha After we left the goodwill we went to the mall , where Derek and Emily watched the train that is in the center court of the mall....

We had fun looking a bath and body works, we all came out smelling horrible after sampling everything we could reach! Then it was off to Fashion bug too look around. Crystal, Emily and Ieshia had fun modeling the sunglasses!

Even though Derek likes going with us...he is always anxious to go home and get back to the dirty "boy" things that he lovesLater on the kids enjoyed their huge suckers that Grandma Lonas bought them a few days before..

AFter a great supper of baked chicken, rice, and biscuits..the kids spent some time with John and watched Open Season 2.

Home Alone

It's not very often that I find myself alone in the house with my thoughts

With Valentines Day fast approaching I find myself giddy thinking about love,

Remembering falling in love, the excitement of the first date, the butterflies in my stomach when the first kiss unfolds..... Finding a lasting love, a secure love, there is nothing like it in the world.

I remember the nervousness I used to feel wondering if I was wearing the right thing, doubting the way I did my hair, not wanting to eat and of course the all too familiar diet that seems to be popular with a new love.

Even many years after my marriage I still experience the flutters when I see my Johnny walking to me.....anxious for the hug he gives me when he comes home from work...knowing that after almost 14 years that he still loves me and I him.

Although there are obstacles to work through I think the love between us just gets stronger with every issue we face and conquer. I am his, and thats what brings an enormous smile on my face but knowing that he is mine tops every emotion I've ever felt.

Happy Valentines day to all............

May You all experience the joy and happiness that comes with finding your true love, not the love you know or think you have....but the sincere security of love that you grow into with your mate years down the road.......

Thursday Jan.22

Well as many of you know, Mom went home today. She thought she was ready and knows she can come back anytime. We all miss her!! First of all I want to tell Teri thank you for the wonderful recipe called vegetable casserole that she gave me the other day! It furned out great and everyone loved it again!!It went beautifully with our porkchops we had for supper a few nights ago...

All the kids really love helping out in the kitchen.....Ieshia does a really great job serving desert...Mom has been feeling better this last week so we have been able to get out more. The other day when we were in Galesburg we stopped at pizza hut for the buffet.....

It was good and we enjoyed it. Derek and Emily have been practicing their reading a lot lately with Mom and I am so proud of them. They are doing such a great job!

Emily was working very hard on her homework tonight.....she didn't even notice that i took her picture! HA

Ieshia was bored tonight so she decided to work on the puzzle...Well, thats about all I have for tonight I'll try to post again soon!

Monday Jan 19

Well the kids finally go back to school tomorrow! It seems like they have been off for such a long time! They had 3 snow days last week, then the weekend, and today they were off because of Martin Luther King Day! They are anxioius to go back and they miss their friends!

They have been spending a lot of time with Grandma. They especially like reading to her and playing games that she makes up........

Mom has really been helping them with their reading....and of course we have been doing puzzles again. The kids absolutely love to do puzzles and Derek is so good at them...here is a few of the recent ones.....

Today it warmed up a little bit and the kids were able to go outside and play! They had a snowball fight with Grandma Keller....

Brian showed up and joined in the fun...While they were all out playing in the snow I was in the kithen making banana muffins...

I also made some homemade vegetable soup for supper and it was delicious!Mom was feeling a little bit better today and she has been trying to use her right arm but she still can't move it away from her body....here is a picture of her helping set the table for supper...well thats it for now I will post again soon!