Ma.

  Just thought I would take the time to let you all see how Mom is doing for yourself. This is all within the first week after her surgery. I would like you to note the end of the video when you can see how Ma really feels right now. You figure we all got our attitudes from her????

Here is her incision. Don't tell her I showed her bare legs online. She doesn't even want to walk around in shorts and her TED hose cause she feels naked.

On to the video. When she gets up to walk she always starts pretty stiff and slow and then after she gets warmed up its off to the races. Wish we had a long stretch of sidewalk she could walk on instead of just laps around the hall and kitchen.

Traveling

Hey all. Sorry I have been so lax in my blogging. I will try to better as I know I don't write letters, email, or phone very regularly. This way you can all keep up on the exciting details of my existence.

Since its been so very long since I blogged I can send you the best of my pics from the reunion and a few other things, but not any really exciting news.

As to the reunion, it seems that the water slide was the biggest hit, but mostly I think that was the only time that any one had their camera's out. Sadly I am in the same boat. So here are the ones that I think were the best of the bunch. I think I have Linda to thank for the pictures, as I was too busy playing to actually use the camera.

This was one of my favorite pics, cause Hudson is just so darn cute on the Walrus/Seal or whatever this is.

Then of course we have the big boys playing too, and since they made the slide I thought they should make the blog wall. Shaun and Levi are demonstrating the "safe" slide, and the proper way to catch a little air.

Then I think the next exciting thing I did was the Logan County Fair. Once again this year I played in the sand volleyball tournament. This year there were 11 teams and only one net so we did a single elimination tournament. Our team was named the "Halsteajoedecoys" and consisted of Jenni, Kris, and I, Nicole and Pat Recoy, James Halstead, and Chelsey (Lehmkuhler) Myers. We ended up getting second, which means we each made like $11 and got free smoothies from the Stapleton Market. We should of got first, but couldn't manage to beat the team from North Plate. Half way through the tournament we stopped for the parade, where we got lots of candy, ice cream, money, various toys, and watermelon. Then after the tournament I rushed home to shower and get back for the barbecue and rodeo, which I attended with Penni and her boys. In the midst of all this, I tried to help Penni and Mom get sweet corn put up. So that was a busy day, but fun.

Then of course I got to take Mom down to Wichita to see Nikki and Xandra. I took a day off so I could spend a little more time with them. Again I didn't take a lot of pictures, but I got some cute ones, plus a couple of Mr. Jackson sleeping. I just took these to get even with him for taking pictures of anything and everything.

This one is Xandra being all meek and quiet and sleeping for Grandma. But from the sounds of it, the next one is more true to life, since Action Jackson doesn't seem to want to let her parents sleep at night. Of course it looks like she got her Mama's temper. Look at her scream.

Then of course, here is my revenge picture of Mr Jackson. He can make by blog since I somehow managed to make it into his first book of baby pictures, even if I wasn't holding Xandra.

Finally I am blogging this now because I am taking advantage of Julie's wireless internet, which is way easier than on my dial up. I came up the the big city of Mills, to "Udd-sit" while Julie and Kenley were in DC. To save me some hassle Julie set it up for me to take the kids to PJ's over the weekend. We went to the lake and played in the green water, watched the Huskers game (so disappointing), and generally just hung out.

Guess that is it. I don't really know anything else. I really do have intensions of blogging more regularly. Feel free to keep me accountable, as I am sure you will anyway.

Snack Sack

What do you do when you need to provide snacks for around 70 people for three days? This is a question that I come across each summer as I prepare for the family rebellion. Thankfully my family is very laid back, so I have never had any real complaints. But for those of you who don’t know us well, plus a fun picture for those who do, or are us I thought I would share a little.

One of the snacks I prepared are in these garbage bags. Yes I know, not the best food containers, but they were new and they worked, so don’t be that grossed out. So you may ask, What kind of snack do you carry around in garbage bags?

Well if you take 9 bags of marshmallows, 4 boxes of Jello, some butter, oil, and 26 poppers of popcorn you come up with the following….

An abundance of popcorn balls; if I did my math correctly, there are 152 popcorn balls in this delicious pile of goodies. The pink ones are raspberry and the blue are some other berry. Stored in garbage bags or not, I doubt I come home with any leftovers. For the rest of the weekend we are having the old standbys: icees and chips and salsa.

Rebellion here I come.

Stories

TODAYS TRAINING SESSION NOTES or I REALLY NEED A VACATION

Why do people make things more difficult than they have to be?

Listen to what the man is telling you instead of jumping to conclusions and grumbling about it.

How do you expect things to happen if you won’t do the work to make it happen?

Just shut up and let the man talk.

You learn so much more if you are receptive and not defensive and belligerent.

Lord, give me patience with people

Lord, you love people, help me to do the same.

The above are all things I wrote during the training session we had at work today. I know I don't work well in groups but this was getting very frustrating. It took over 30 minutes to discuss how to print an envelope with the clients address on it.

Yes the process is a little more detailed than it used to be but its not rocket surgery. If they would just do it the way they are shown it wouldn't take that long, but nooooo, they have to argue and complain about it. If they don't wanna do it the new way they could just hand write it and be done. Truthfully I will probably be printing lots of envelopes cause its just "too confusing."

I know you weren't there, but do you think it's me or do I have a valid complaint. Which title is more appropriate?