Down a Few

8 weeks ago, work started the weight loss competition and 4 of us in the shop got a team together.  Well last Thursday we weighed in and lost 86 pounds together and we are waiting for the results to be tallied.  Personally, I lost 27 pounds and am proud of myself.  Just watching what I eat and smaller portions sizes was all I did.  I hope I can keep it off now even though I did eat good this weekend(celebrating).  Another good thing is that I was able to wear my suit to Blayne's Confirmation and I haven't worn it in 10 years.

Now a week after the weigh-in the "Baby Back Ribs",our team, has won the contest and are still reigning champs! (4 years ago the maintenance team won the contest) We each go a $50 gift card for Dick's Sporting Goods. Congrats to my "Baby Back Ribs" team!!

Confirmation

A couple of weeks ago was my godson Blayne's confirmation.  I was his sponsor and I had hoped he was prepared for the big day.  He had picked St. Maximilian Kobe as his saint and this was a saint that I knew little about. Blayne told me about him months before and I googled St. Maximilian Kobe before going to the celebration.  Blayne was nervous about meeting the bishop and the questions that might be ask of him.  When we got to church, the kids and their sponsors gathered in the parish hall and waited patiently for the bishop to come and talk to us.  When the bishop came over, he talked to the young adults explained that he would ask questions to them in church and they would give the answer or simply say "Bishop, I do not know the answer."  The mass celebration was beautiful and full of singing.  The bishop's homily was very good and included the questions to the young adults receiving confirmation.  The questions were very difficult and most did not know the answers.  The bishop is a very intelligent man and knew alot about every saint.  After mass, there was a reception and a chance to shake the bishop's hand.  The nervousness in the room was now gone and everyone had smiles on their faces.  I can compare the experience to the Pentecost.  How the apostles were scared and fearful before the Holy Spirit; and after' they were relieved and confident to spread the word to all people!  What a wonderful day!!

Blayne and Godparents

My Kid's picture of the Bishop



15 YEARS

This lastThursday marked a milestone for my wife and I.  We were able to put up with each other for 15 years.  I love more now than I ever did before.  We have accomplished so much.  We have 3 wonderful kids, family and friends who love us, and a roof over our heads.  In our 15 years we have had our ups and downs(seems like more downs than ups) but with our love and God's grace we were able to over come any challenges that came our way.  I love you, Brenda, and here's to the next 50+ years.

Brenda surprised me this weekend by having the kids stay at the Hancock's and Grandma and Grandpa's for the whole weekend.  We had the weekend to ourselves.  We did go to Montana Mike's and to see a movie(American Reunion) on Friday night.  Saturday we cleaned the house a little, went to resale shops, and that evening we DJed at the Sager wedding together.  Sunday after church, we went to Hovey's to eat and after Brenda's boy scout meeting will go out to get our children.  It seems like we may have not planned to do alot this past weekend but the fact we did not have rush around to go anywhere.  We were able to take our own sweet time doing things.  It is good to do this every once in a while.

                                                  LOVE YOU LOTS, BRENDA!!!

Caden's tubes

On Tuesday of last week, Caden had tubes put in his ears.  He has had trouble hearing and fluid behind the eardrums. 

Caden and his friend after surgery!

Everything went OK and in a few days maybe I won't have to yell at him anymore(ha ha)

Easter weekend pics

He doesn't look happy

These are pic to go along with my previous post about Colin's fight with the wire.  He made it through the painful week of not being able to play or run.  Sometimes the pain of not being able to do something is more than the physical pain itself.  He's doing great now that the week is over.


Easter weekend pics:

Caden and his search for the eggs with his cousins.

Kendra and Colin and cousins waiting for Grandma to say GO

so they can hunt eggs.

Looking for the not so easy to find eggs!



The kids got plenty of candy and played with their cousins.  There was 4-square being played and kites being flown after the Easter meal at Grandpa and Grandma Kocher's house.  Luckily there was no school the next day because they would have been grumpy.  And don't worry the Easter bunny did find our house and did hide eggs in our back yard.  Another Easter day successfully came and gone.

Colin's collision

Thursday evening, Colin was at Gavin's ball practice playing with Maddox.  While chasing a ball on the tennis courts, he clotheslined himself on a wire holding a net.  He doesn't remember much of the details after that but he had bruises and a goosegg on the back of his head.  We kept an eye on him thruout the night.  The next day we had the doctor look at him and he said he had a mild concussion.  No activity or PE for a week.  What are we going to do with the boy??  He is slowly getting back to normal but it is going to be hard to keep him from running or playing 4-square for a whole week.  Pictures will come later when I get them off the camera. 

Spring Here Already??

I can't believe and worried about the weather we are having now.  Above normal temps and record highs for this time of year.  I can expect the pollen season will be horrible and my sinuses are going to be bad.  But like my grandpa always said " Not much we can do about it".  A lot of good is coming from it: kids outside playing, furnace is not running, and flowers are blooming.  We are getting a lot of compliments on our tulips in front of the house. 

The tulips have been there for the last 7 years and always look good every year. We will be keeping  an eye out for the rose trees when they start blooming.  They always look wonderful too.

  Now that I got my blogging caught up I have to do another spring time favorite   MOWING!!!

Enjoy the spring!!!