I'm burried!

Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork! Seems everyone wants something in writing these past few days! Between work, schools and insurance companies - I'm burried in paperwork!

Randy had parent teacher conferences today......I am so proud of him. He (again) had four A's and three B's. He's even getting an A in Trigonometry - which he says is easy! LOL His hardest classes - Honors English IV and Forensic Science he's getting a B in both!

Dollinger Family Farm

We went to a fabulous place today (10/18/08). Dylan had been waiting for this for a long time. It was a Civil War Days Re-enactment complete with authentic clothes, guns, horses, and even a battle scene.

The place is called Dollinger Family Farm in Channahon, IL and it is also a pumpkin farm. So we killed two birds with one stone today. We got there for the Battle and then there was so much to see and do that we were there for five hours! Miranda was in seventh heaven with all the horses around. Joshua and Justin were so excited and they were actually really good for quite a while until Justin decided he just wanted to sit down and play in the rocks! I guess I have passed on my love for rocks to my kids! I remember going to places when I was a kid and wanting to bring a rock home from every place we have visited........I still do this LOL So they get it honestly!

Dan ate so much I thought he was going to blow up - he can't seem to pass up huge pork chops on a stick. These things had to be almost three inches thick and tender and juicy from "Dad's Grill"! Justin ate a whole hot dog - even the bread! Everyone ate well that day! LOL We will be making this a family tradition according to the boys in the family.....we missed Randy being there, he was busy and didn't come with.

Here are some pictures of the day and a video of the battle.

Miranda in her bonnet.....

They had their faces painted too. Joshua was a scary cat (see the fangs) and Justin had a spider web with a spider on his nose!

Joshua and Justin did NOT want to get off the train!

Finding his wings

Okay, so I've been a little melancholy lately. I've been doing all kinds of financial aid paperwork for Randy to be able to go to college and it has unknowingly made me a little upset. I can't believe my baby is going to be leaving me! I am so worried I can barely function. All I keep thinking about is how is he going to manage without me - LOL But what is really scary is how am *I* going to function without him being here! I'm not going to be there to remind him to do things, and tell him he needs to shave - LOL

I truly can't believe I have a son old enough to go to college when I'm still dealing with the totally terrifying 2's! LOL I just hope and pray that our family is going to be able to handle all the changes that are happening around us. My heart is breaking just thinking about it - how am I going to live through him leaving? I know we have done our best in raising him, so I guess now is the time to let him find his wings.........

My worst nightmare....

Okay, so you all know that my husband is a police officer. I thank the Lord daily that we have never had any horrible incidents, but these little ones are enough for me!

A couple of weeks ago, there was a shooting and they were chasing the car. Dan and another officer cut the car off and one of the offenders jumped out with a gun and started running. Dan ordered the guy to stop at gun point, but he didn't stop. Dan quickly caught the guy and tackled him. He continued to fight.

When Dan tackled the guy, he pulled the guy to the ground and when they fell, he twisted to knock the guy face first into the ground and in doing so his side hit the curb with a lot of force. Other officers ran over to assist, as the offender would not stop fighting, so another officer pepper sprayed him. Needless to say, Dan got it too, as his face was right there and the type of pepper spray that was used is like aerosol and is the police issued kind. The particles go EVERYWHERE.

Anyway, Dan got the shooter and the gun! He called to let me know that he would be late, as he needed to go get his face and eyes flushed. This has happened before so I wasn't too concerned, until his Lieutenant called to let me know he would be late also....Dan DID NOT tell me that they took him to the hospital via ambulance! Or that he had hurt his back! Then I began to get very worried, but he soon called to let me know he was okay, just bruised and burning from the pepper spray. That stuff is horrible. When he got home, his face looked like a tomato and the white part of his eyes were bloody, not just blood shot!

So he was off of work for about a week to heal his bruising and let his eyes get some rest.

Please keep him and all law enforcement in your prayers! We thank God daily for our blessings and for keeping him safe all the time!

A little bit about us...lately

Okay, so I decided that I needed to make a family page instead of everything being all about the twins......They are special, but so are the rest of my kids....So much has been happening lately and this will also give me a way to share our wonderful life with the rest of my family and friends. So I'm venturing into the BLOG world! So this one is probably going to be a little longer than most.........

We had a great summer enjoying the kids. We pretty much stayed around home this year. Gas prices are killing us! LOL We did, however, have to take a trip to Tennessee for my Granny's funeral. She was 101! She outlived my mom, and two of my uncles. She was an amazing woman and I'm so glad that my kids met her several times before she passed, but I just wish they could have known her as I did! She was a true mountain woman, all the way through her dark, weathered Indian skin.

On the way back home, we stopped and visited Nashville Auto Diesel College. This is where Randy wants to attend. Little did we know that his acceptance letter was at home when we visited the college. It's not in the best of area, but it is a great college. They offer free refresher courses for a lifetime once you complete their program. For instance, when new technology comes out in the automotive industry, he can go back down there and take the classes FREE, even if he's 50! LOL So he is accepted, now the paperwork beings. He is taking and entrance exam and Scholarship test next Saturday..........Please keep him in your prayers.

School started off without a hitch. Kids did really well. They both are realizing that school gets harder and harder the older you get, but they are doing great. Dylan is in 7th grade, and Miranda is in 3rd, and of course our Randy is a senior this year! Can you believe it?! I can't! I still look at all of them and think they should be little kids at home playing! Time does fly by too quickly!

Dan is still working the police department, fire department and for a hobby does firework displays - LOL

I am working at home still for Home Educators Resource Directory. It is an online directory for homeschoolers. I enjoy the work and love to help the homeschooling community as homeschooling is in my blood!

Okay, here is my first post.....I'm officially a blogger!

Above is a picture of my Granny! We love and miss you Granny!