My Baby's first real Valentine ( pardon me while I cry)

and not just from one girl........


But the whole 7th grade cheer leading squad !!!!!!!


BTW..... Gabby is Robby's girlfriend( or whatever 7th graders call their main friend of the opposite sex) but he is a good friend of most of the cheerleaders as he loves to dance and practices with them. They have nicknamed him Turbo

Still not happy !

Michael and Robby both had a snow day Wednesday and Michael ( at the career & tech school)had another today then they are on a four day weekend. Even with a six day weekend Michael is not happy. No he isn't ungrateful for the days off but his drivers licence exam was supposed to be tomorrow and was canceled due to snow. Hopefully the weather will clear up enough for him to test within the next couple of weeks.

Will you watch the Super Bowl ?

I am not a big sports fan unless you count ShotoKan Karate tournaments. The only exception is when the Steelers play the Browns.( I do always cheer for the Steelers but I don't necessarily watch every game) This for years has stirred up a ton of fun between our family's Steeler fans(My brother's and I were raised less than an hour from Pittsburgh)and My Mom and Dad who, for a few years lived in Cleveland. Oh did mention that since my older brother and I were born in Cleveland(they moved when I was only weeks old) my parents are disgusted that Jim and I could turn our backs on their Browns. The highlight of these bi annual games is that the fans of Cleveland ( Ummmm I mean the losing team) must dress up in the Steeler ( ummmm the winning team's) jersey, hat and other accessory and pose for a picture. Anyway.... Since Pittsburgh is not in this year's Super Bowl and the world has not yet ended ( ummm I mean, neither are the Browns) my interest is just not there. I will probably turn the game on and catch some of the commercials but that will be it. What about you ? Are you cheering for the Colts or Saints ? Will you even bother watching ?

Snow snow snow

Isabella pops out of the deep snow



Clancy seeks shelter under the trampoline


Isabella tries to get a piggy back ride through the snow


Isabella helps Cindy shovel an area for her and Clancy



Michael uses the snow blower to clear two elderly neighbor's drives and ours

Birthday E mails

Because I am getting seriously close to my birthday,I have been receiving many e-mail birthday offers. They started with clothing stores like Fashion Bug and
Woman within, Stores that I buy bath and body products from, and even a coupon from Ambiance. None of these surprised me however, I just opened one that made my jaw drop. It was birthday wishes from Proctor & Gamble. Now it could have enclosed a coupon for a room freshener or a cleaning product that would make my life easier and I would have said OK but honestly coupons for OTC arthritis medication is not appreciated. Yes I will be 41 but gee...

A daybook

Outside my window … there is a only a dusting of snow left and the temps are now above twenty five degrees, which means I can leave my winter coat in the car and get by with a hoodie.

I am thinking … and praying for Cindy's Godmother who is in the hospital with a ruptured appendix and an abscessed gal bladder which is ready to rupture. She is stable but will be sedated for the next forty eight hours while the IV antibiotics work to enable surgery to remove the gal bladder

On my mind … and also in my prayers is Mike who worked eighteen hours yesterday only to come home get two hours sleep and go back to work four hours early this morning.He just called to say that he will be home at his regular time but will go to bed after dinner ( for four hours) so that he can go back for a double shift tonight


I am thankful for … Delphi offering and Mike being able and willing to work the overtime so that we can live a little more comfortable as well as afford to do some repairs that need done to the house

I am hoping … and praying that the procedure that has once failed, will work on my upcoming surgical date( march 4th) so that I will not have to have the major surgery that will be done immediately if the procedure fails again

Noticing that … Clancy and Isabella (are starting to get along pretty well and even playing lately


From the kitchen … I baked one batch of friendship bread(coffee cake) today which consisted of two loaves of cinnamon strudel ,one loaf of banana nut with chocolate chip , seven mini loaves of the same, and two loaves of cherry cheesecake. I am also in the process of making beef stroganoff and homemade bread for dinner

A few plans for the week … I have three more batches of friendship bread to mix up and bake as soon as I can fit them in with my full schedule this week

Around the house … Mike and I are planning to do some floor covering work in four rooms, stain my secretary desk, replace an old garage door, and a host of other improvements.Mike did use this weekend off to replace Robby's ceiling fan( the globe fell and broke and since 13 is really too old for a crayola ceiling fan anyway, we decided to replace the fan)and also replace our outside light that got cracked., filled up with rain,snow and sleet, froze and shorted out during our December series of snow storms


One of my favorite things … Is seeing one ( or all) of my children so happy that they are bubbling over. Unfortunately two, well actually all three at one point or another have had some disappointments within the last year and are now working to get where they had hoped to already be. I can't wait to see their happiness when this long awaited and worked for events arrive.


A picture I am sharing …
A shot of a worn out Robby after competing at the ISKF National tournament last November

Bump +

Have you heard of Bump+ ? (http://bumptheshow.com/) It a an Internet series that seems to be widely misunderstood. At first sight it appears to be a reality show where three women, each early in an unplanned pregnancy are struggling with the decision of either carrying their baby to term or having an abortion.The decision though, as I understand, would, in the end, not be the pregnant woman's but be voted on by the Internet audience. In reality, this is pretty much as I explained , except for one big thing, being that this is a mock reality show. The show is done by actresses who play the role of a woman pregnant unexpectedly and confused.( some more than others). Though this is all fake, in the end the audience will still have the opportunity to, after watching the episodes and seeing each situation, vote on whether they feel that each woman( if she were in fact in the portrayed situation)should choose life or abortion. Believe it or not, it is my understanding that this series is put out by a pro life group. This intrigued me and I watched the first two episodes ( at the above site) this morning. and wow, it is definitely food for thought.( especially when you hear the situations and then hear their answers to questions like "what kind of Mom would you be" to "when does life begin") Even for those who are either rock solid pro choice or pro life.I am not saying that this will change any minds but it just may give a look into how others feel or why people see abortion as their only option. Being a person who was a Psychology major in college, myself and totally fascinated at figuring out why people do or feel as they do, I am hooked. I will not give my opinions nor disclose which side of the pro choice/ pro life debate that I am on but I am excited to be along on the journey. (even though it is scripted) I do recommend, no matter what your opinion that, if you have the time, you take a look. Perhaps it will make those pro life people outside of an abortion clinic more compassionate to those who are confused. By the same token, perhaps it would make the pro choice, more understanding of why the pro life are so desperate to change laws. Just some food for thought and that can always , in my opinion be a good thing !