BOO

Summers Over Picture Overload

OK, Here are some more pics from this summer. After Michigan, we went to VA to visit family, and this past weekend we went up to the Hill Country for someone's Birthday. A lady I work with offered to loan us her trailer for the weekend. The kids really enjoyed getting away and doing something different. We even got to stop by and see Nancy, Audrey and William who moved out that way. Nancy watched the kids at her house for the first bunch of years after they were born. It's her sister's daycare that they still go to now.

These next pictures were from the Michigan trip.

Now some shots from VA

Bailey's 2nd 4th Birthday Party:
Bowdy's First Day as a First Grader:

This has got to be the cutest thing you'll see today.............

We did get a unscheduled trip up to Tyler and Dallas to escape Ike. The kids enjoyed visiting with our hosts (Thanks Pat, Jake, Sherrie and Tom!!) and seeing friendly faces while away from home.

The house did well during the storm. We lost a palm tree (we wanted it gone anyway(not the big one!)) and some fence along the back and side of the house. Lots of leaves in the pool turned it into pond Green by the end of the 8th day without power.

The neighborhood next to ours took a real beating with the number of trees down and power line poles broken.

These are some pics from this last weekend for Anna's Birthday bash in the travel trailer

This is Nancy and the kids

OK, so who knows how long till the next post, but keep checking!! Till then, it's off to bed....

Cold North

Ok, well from us Texas folk, it was in the 50's last night. Yesterday was cool, with overcast skies and wind and it never got out of the low 70's. We didnt do too much yesterday. Kids played Wii and computer games. I've been jumping on the trampoline with the kids. I impressed everyone with my backflip ability. But I'm stretching out muscles I don't think I had when I was a kid. I told Anna I would either be in better shape or crippled by the time we leave.

Last night we did a small bonfire and roasted marsh mellows. Bowdy takes after me and couldnt leave the fire alone. The kids all ran around Nana's place dodging mosquitos. I thought Houston was bad, but MI was just as bad last night in the woods.. We had all the grandkids there. Bailey ended up as the casualty again last night when she shut her finger in the door. A small scrape and lots of tears later (it was already past her bedtime) we made it back to the kids house (well, they don't have parents here right now!! Come home Michael!).

I'm driving the Escalade this week and Anna has a Altima rental. We fill them all, and the kids want to race from their house to Nana's. the vehicles are about even due to size, but Uncle Bobby has less restraint so he usually wins.. Though it is gonna cost me in gas money..

The kids were all running around last night so the shots are those who stood around the campfire. Apparently my phone got dizzy from the smoke, so excuse the blurryness.

MIchigan and Strawberries

We are in Michigan this week. Last week I finally finished my last certification at work. I am now certified to work the Launch and Entry phase of the mission from the front room. It was many years and lots of simulations that I eventually got there. So this week of vacation is a good start to not having so many simulations!

We are also going to miss Michael this week. If you haven't heard, he is at the MAYO clinic in Minnesota being treated. You can keep up with him and his family as they battle cancer on his blog http://www.michaelvinecki.blogspot.com/ .

The kids are all having a blast playing together. We are planning to do some fun stuff this week, like canoeing and maybe camping. Weather is iffy though.

Strawberries are getting toward the end. They are small but still good this year. The kids were out in the field yesterday picking and playing. But of course, it's all fun and games till someone gets hurt! Payback from Bowdy putting a mark on Winnie's face, Yukon returned the favor at the expense of Bailey!

She was a trooper for having a long cut like that.

Slacker

OK, so some of you may have given up on our blog. I'll make excuses later. The family is doing well. School is out for the summer and we have some trips scheduled so that will help fill up the time. Our Kindergartner successfully made it through (he takes after Anna, what do you expect!) and will be going into 1st Grade next year. Our 3 going on 10 year old is probably ready for Kindergarten now, but she has a couple years to work on that! She will need to get over her "don't mess or talk or wake or touch or help me" in the morning attitude first.

I'm working nights this week while the Shuttle is flying. Very successful mission without any issues in our hardware. Actually too quiet sometimes

What have you missed?

Bowdy played dirt, I mean T-ball this spring. other than the shock to Anna and I about making practices and games and shelling out cash for this little thing and that, we all had fun with it. His team improved greatly over the season and came in 5th out of 13 teams overall. They then went on to win the post season tournament defeating the undefeated season winners. Bowdy was very proud of that (he still needs to learn how to catch!)

Bailey is growing up and is now swimming like a fish (taking after Bowdy). All they want to do after they get home is go swim. She is a smart one, probably will be more ready for school than Bowdy.

Tucker is our tank. He eats and eats. He also has some very good coordination for 18 months, kicking balls and throwing and sorta catching and hitting and the such... If only we could get him to actually go to bed by himself. He will jump in his crib for hours if you arent in the room with him. Keeps opening an eye checking on you till he finally falls asleep. Not sure how we got into this one. Bowdy and Bailey would just talk themselves to sleep...

Anna completed her lead mission, and took over as a manager(she is still in her same group). She did Hang the plaque for the mission which is an honor bestowed upon only 1 flight controller for the flight. She deserved it.

Me, Bobby. I am doing the same thing. Working on my final certification for my group. It's the Launch and Entry Front room one, also the hardest and most challenging. I am scheduled to get that in July, and will work the Hubble mission in that position if I pass.

Now for what you probably want to see, some pics...

Sorry

Well, I have been a little behind on trying to keep up on this thing. December 16 already. This year has been a fast one.

We didnt launch last week, so this not only makes Christmas seem a little silly by staying home now, but we are coming up against a vacation in January that we were going to go on. Maybe, just maybe, we will launch at a time that will allow us to do it still. Kids really want to see snow this year, so if nothing works out maybe we will sneak out west and go skiing.

Now, what you really come to this site for. Since the last time I wrote, Tucker turned 1 year old.

Wheel Stop

November 9, wow. Well, the last couple of weeks went by fast. The last mission is over and was a pretty good success. The orbiter worked very well, so my time on console was pretty uneventful. Anna is ramping up her work with less than a month to go till her flight goes up. Busy end of the year for this house!
Kids are doing well. Tucker had a stomach virus this week, and daycare was actually closed a day since everyone was sick. Looks like the next round of colds in the family may be starting though.
Santa's Naughty and Nice list is up on the fridge already. Bailey and Bowdy are splitting them down the middle so far.
I still owe some new pictures on here. I'll get some up soon. Neighborhood garage sale tomorrow. probably get the kids out and go around the block when they get up.