Feb.6,10

Okay, So, here I go again but now that I've found out that I can actually print this blog off in some sort of orderly fashion I'm a little more willing to journal about our life. For so long, I just felt like I was writing to the air and really, who cares about whats going on in my life except me and my family. So, maybe it will be nice in 20 years to look back on what I was thinking and what the kids were doing b/c we will surely not remember even though today, I can't imagine not remembering.

This past week has been the worst week since moving to Hoover. You know how you think someone will just always be there? Our neighbor and dear friend, Donna died on Wed. Yep, died. Very strange to actually write that but thats what happened. She was so sick with lung cancer, something I know she desperately feared. We didn't know she was so sick, but we did know that she hadn't been herself for a long time but we certainly didn't think she was going to die. I'm a little peeved at her for suffering all by herself and then again, I can respect that she did what she thought was best. She wasn't one to bring attention to herself and she would never have wanted all of us fussing over her and worrying even though I worried about her a lot. I know she is in a wonderful place, I hope she visits me in my dreams so we can chat and say hello and goodbye. Ralphlette will miss her like crazy. With out Donna, Ralph wouldn't be so great. Really, she trained him and we all learned from her so hopefully, we can train little Owen the same way. Rick and I are blessed, we have wonderful kids, a beautiful home, great friends and really so much to be thankful for. Bad things happen to good people. thats just the way it is and there's a plan and I have faith in God and trust that He knows best. We really have so much to look forward to. Kate has had a wonderful year. She has learned so much and we are so proud of her. Now, there are days when i look at her and think oh my goodness. haha. But, I know that is just the teen years talking. I don't think we could have endured another year like last year. However, I say that and without last year's experiences, she and I wouldn't be the people we are today. She is so excited about making Hoover Belles. Over 200 girls interviewed for Belles adn 35 made it. wow! What an accomplishment. She will make a beautiful Belle. We've had fun picking her dress out and thinking about her fabric. The Belle's meeting is next week and I know all the girls and mamas are excited to get going. Sadie Hawkins is coming up too and then we get Owen. It will be fun having a little puppy around the house. Ralph will not be happy at all but hopefully, he'll be a good uncle. This is Kate's puppy. She wants this puppy to love her and the only way that is going to happen is if she does everything! We'll see. ;) Jack is all signed up for baseball. He is excited. He'll be playing at the park and he'll also be doing some traveling which will be a good experience for him. He's been getting up early the past three weeks for football workouts. So proud of him for being dedicated. The things he does today, being committed to a team will help him be a good team worker in the "real" world. He desperately wants to grow, I think he almost wills himself to grow. He is already wearing a size 8.5 shoe, so I think he'll be taller than Rick. This is sort of funny, Rick noticed that Jack was walking strangely the other day and he had on his new shoes and Rick said, "Jack, why are you walking like that?" Jack said, "I don't want to wrinkle my new shoes." haha Oh Jack! What a goober. Next week Jack starts spring football. I know he is excited to get in there and get going. 8th grade will be very different than 7th grade. A lot of boys aren't returning to the field this year so hopefully the one's who didn't get to play a lot last year will get some playing time. We keep telling him to hang in there and keep on keeping on and hopefully the hard work will pay off. Middle school is such a strange time for the kids. Some kids peak early and they're super good and the ones who are late bloomers may not grow and get fast and strong until 9th or 10th grade. We'll see. It's always fun to watch. Joe is not playing baseball this spring. :( He didn't want to, he said he hates it and thats it. Well okay then. He is doing so great in school. He is enjoying reading and learning the up and down way in math. He's my xbox boy but he will be doing camps this spring b/c he cannot just play xbox all the live long day. His birthday is coming up soon and I think he wants to have a couple of friends over for a sleep over. I had sort of given up on spring break this year but I'm thinking now that maybe a few days at the beach would be nice. I'm sad Lauren won't be joining us but Jayne is planning on coming and then mom and dad will be here and maybe they'll get to see kate going to prom, if she gets asked then karyn and rick and the kids will be here then confirmation for kate then kate's birthday then schools out then Lauren graduates from college!! Sooo proud of her. She is amazing and just doing so great. Hoping to hear from her soon to see how Dance Marathon went. I know she'll be tired. I'm headed upstairs to work on several projects. This is a good start for my journal.