CHRISTMAS MAYHEM AT OUR HOUSE

I love Christmas, but this year was a bit different for us. My mother left for a full-time mission on Monday December 28th. So Christmas was sort of taking a back seat while we got her ready. Unfortunately--she had no gifts to open, because they had all been given to her earlier so we weren't trying to figure out how things worked in 3 days.
I did have one present for here, however in all of the confusion it has taken up residency in a spot other than where I thought I put it! I have no idea where it is--I even cleaned in the general area two days before and then on Christmas Eve--but to no avail---I just can't find it and just don't remember where it is!

Back to Christmas--it was a day filled with visitors, new friends, and toys coming out every crack in the woodwork and wrapping paper filled almost every garbage can in the house. Our recycling can is pack to the hilt--with no budging and still have quite a bit of stuff to stuff in there. We are going to have to double dip on the garbage tomorrow---as soon as they empty them, pack them up an take them across the street for another round. Even all of neighbors bins were full and they have no children!

On Sunday, Mom gave her farewell talk on Service. She did a great job and was completely overwhelmed by the fact that the back doors to the chapel had to be opened for more guests! She was totally honored.

It was nice to see--even if only for a few minutes--cousins that we haven't seen since the last wedding, I think it was Jenny's, but not sure. Cousin's children we have never met or seen or only saw when they were babies and then they were off to their various homes and families--after all it was the Christmas holiday and they had other places to be.

I promise when she comes home, we will have an open house and it will be in the summer and can be outside and we can talk for hours!!!

I hope everyone's Christmas was wonderful and that you and your families have a Prosperous and Happy New Year!

Computer not working

I am sorry I haven't posted pictures. My computer and I are having a breakdown. It will not bring up any of my pictures. So I am only posting information mostly---because I am a terrible journal keeper and this is a good way for me to remember.

So until I can get the computer fixed--no picture--drats. For some reason though they will post to facebook, so check them out there if you are interested!

ONE YEAR AGO! !

A year ago on December 19th, Andrew Russell Rodriguez made his way into this world. he was 6 weeks early and he wasn't going to wait a moment longer.
Kassie had been in the hospital for pre-term labor on four different occasions. This girl has her babies early and there is no getting around it. The only one that complied with regular term limits was Austin and she didn't have other children running around, so she was on complete bed rest. Ashlynne made her way into this wonderful world at 29 weeks.
But our little Handu made his way in, kicking and screaming, with no problems associated with preterm babies. He was 6 lbs and 6 oz., with a full head of hair, a strong grip on the fingers, and ready to go home the following day.
This year has been pretty eventful with him though; Two and a half weeks after his birth, he ended up in the hospital with seizures, of which he has outgrown thankfully. He was also hospitalized for RSV with a collapsed lung and pneumonia a few months later. But through it all he has not slowed down on the eating and drinking and growing.
He is 12 months old and is in 18 month clothes. He is the joy of our lives (as well as the other two). He brother loves to wrassle with him and play with him and his sister loves to give him kisses.
This child loves his Nana and would love nothing better than to be held all day long. He loves to be read to and he adores music.
For his birthday party Sunday night, the family gave him an Elmo plane and he was thrilled. How many one year olds do you know that have their own airplane?
We have enjoyed having him in our family and wouldn't trade him for anything in this world.
Happy Birthday Handu, we love you to pieces.

INSPIRATIONAL AND FESTIVE WEEKEND

This weekend was filled with a little of everything. From going to my one and only holiday concert of the season to listening to one of my favorite Apostles at Stake Conference.
Friday night mom and I headed to the Salt Lake Men's Choir for a night filled with music and fun at the First Baptist Church across from East High School If you wonder what the Salt Lake Men's Choir is, it is a choir made up of primarily gay men--however any men are invited to be a part of it. I have friends that I went to High School with that invited me to it and I have to say that it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. They were incredible
Saturday morning took us to our ward Christmas party with homemade soup, breadsticks,
rolls, cakes, fruit and Santa. The kids loved it. They aren't afraid this year and wasted no time in getting up to his lap. I looked up and actually saw Ashlynne on his lap before I could take out the camera--so I only got one of her. Austin acted as though he was carrying on a conversation with a long lost friend. And for the decorations: Oh I couln't believe it--they were cylinder cardstock, glues together, with small plastic cups set inside and battery operated tea lights set in the cups, with very simple decorations glues to the outsie. Juniper branches down the table with burlap underneath. Simple. Simple. Simple.
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Saturday evening was our Stake Conference Adult Meeting and we were saturated with the spirit of Elder Vaughn Keach (our Regional Authority for the 14 stakes in our area) as well as one of my all time favorite apostles, Elder Robert G. Hales.
This man has a presence about him like no other, the trials he has been through, the people he has rubbed shoulders with, the stories he tells and he sense of humor is very dry and funny. This man has lived on the brink of death and still comes back with the humor to allow others to identify with him. He would begin to end his talk when he would say " I think this merits a story". I did that about four times.
Today's talk from Elder Hales was of a more spiritual nature, but more to the point and direct on what we need to do to get back to the basic gospel principles.

Today brought a good snowfall and with snow and children come snowballs, snowmen and wet, wild kiddos. It was good for them to have Janessa here to play with them and get wild with--which is usually the case whether it's in or outdoors.

IT'S UP!

Woo Hoo, the tree is up!!! This is a first for me because it was so late this year. Generally it is up on Thanksgiving weekend or at the latest the first weekend in December.

We kept it simple though because of the near one year old who is beginning a few steps and that I quite possibly won't have any help getting it down because Mom will be gone.

Merry Christmas !

BAHHH-HUMBUG

At this time of year, though it is supposed to be a time of "Good Cheer," "Holly in My Heart" and all of that stuff, I have a tendency to turn into a bit of a Grinchy Ebeneezer Scrooge! There I have said it. Yep this is me--especially when it comes to decorating the Christmas Tree. Keith has decided this year, since mom will be gone next year, that he wants a real tree. Fine with me, I love the smell, but I don't enjoy, in the least, putting on the lights and I get really angry and testy when it comes to doing this. "Now why not have Keith put them on you may ask,"? When it comes right down to it. The tree will go bare before he gets the lights on any tree and Andrew will have graduated from college with a PHd before he gets those lights on (Andrew turns one the 19th of December).

Now as you know, I love my husband, however, but when it comes to the not so important things, such as the lights on a tree or new kitchen chairs (which by the way I get to go out and purchase because he didn't keep up his end of the bargain--truly he never does), and also some very important stuff as well, he is a procrastinator, with a capital "PROCRASTINATE" and these letters bolded and capitalized with a size 200 font--it wouldn't begin to make you aware of how much he procrastinates and it would make it that much more frustrating and I don't see it ever getting any better or anything ever finished.
So thus, we have an artificial tree with the lights already strung on, so that Gaylene, a.k.a. Ebeneezer Grinch, doesn't have to worry about getting herself in a huff, getting angry and hating everything about Christmas because someone nominated me years ago to do the lights.
I truly hope that others are not as grinchy as I am and that everyone has a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON

THANKSGIVING PRE-SCHOOL STYLE

I am apologizing to Liz at the beginning for these pictures. Hopefully she got a little bit more serious picture of the Austin and Kyle while they were learning about the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving--but Austin wasn't about to let me get away with a semi-decent picture of his pilgrim hat he made in pre-school. So Liz, I am so, so, sorry he wouldn't pose like a nice little 5 year old!

When I took the pictures he really wasn't interested in talking about why they made the hats and just what the pilgrims represent in this country, but yesterday it all came out--He told me about the Pilgrims and John Smith and the Indians, but I think he was more interested in the fact that they had rifles and went "deer hunting" as he called it! I don't know what Liz told him about Thanksgiving, but I can assure you she DIDN'T go into the "deer hunting methods" of how we get our Thanksgiving Turkey! But, gratefully, he wasn't graphic about shooting the turkey.

I know that I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to live in this wonderful country and have the ability to worship in a religion where we aren't persecuted in the way my pilgrims forefathers were. I am very truly thankful for the family and friends I have in my life. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

ILLINOIS, PEORIA MISSION

Sister Gwen Schmardebeck has been called to the Illinois, Peoria Mission. She will be entering the Provo, Utah MTC on Monday, December 28th. She had been praying for some time to really serve in the Nauvoo Mission. And I think she was a bit disappointed.
When she opened her call, she just had that small look of disappointment, not a lot, just a little. Because I believe she was thinking that she would have to serve here in Salt Lake because of what one of the missionary department people told the bishop, due to some of her physical limitations. I asked her if she was going to tell me where it was or if she was going to let me read the letter from the prophet. When she handed it over, I think she may have been more excited than she let on, but at the same time disappointed. And entire mission away from where she really wanted to serve.
The missionary department sends a booklet of: Who your Mission President is, a map of the Mission, what clothing to wear, what to take, etc.
When she handed me the map and I looked it over I told her, unless Nauvoo was a separate mission in and of itself, it was in the Peoria Mission. Wow, did her eyes light up in a hurry! I got on the internet and looked at the area and found that it is not it's own mission.



So, Sister Schmardebeck will be serving in the Illinois, Peoria Mission, which includes Nauvoo, Illinois--right where she has prayed for a year to be serving
Congratulations, Mom. You will be doing a great work, for a good reason and we will be blessed for you having given up 18 months of home life for mission life as an Office Specialist In Peoria, Illinois.
Now it is time for me to panic and be overwhelmed. That is only "6 WEEKS AWAY" YIKES!!!

HAVE I MENTIONED?

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate being sick? I am the type of person who, if I am sick, can only tolerate one, maybe two days max. I am now headed into day number 5--count them five days. Fever, body aches, n/v/d (abbreviations for other not so pleasant symptoms), Yep it's the flu. Not only have I had it, but Keith, Kassie, Austin, Ashlynne and now Andrew have had or now have it. Mom and RJ, so far, are the only two who have yet to catch this nasty bug. RJ lucked out because he has been was out of town.

So I am going to just mention a few things that send me a little over the top (Sorry for the bad attitude, but after being sick for this long, I am entitled!)

1. Being sick for over two days.
2. Procrastination of others.
3. Not being able to do the things I did 10-15-20 years ago because of physical limitations.
4. Being very impatient.
5. Sick grandchildren--all three at the same time.
6. Being pre-menopausal! That being said, you can only imagine!
7. A house full of several people and no one seems to realize that things need to be picked up, put away, or washed. Or my personal favorites: not hanging up bath towels after they are used or changing the toilet paper roll when it is empty. Do people pealize that you don't die from changing the toilet paper roll!!
8. A car that needs to be turned over to the junk yard, yet need to wit 'til next year to get a new one.
9. The leaves not falling off of the trees fast enough--because I know with all of us being sick, we probably won't get around to them before the first big snow! Generally they are off the tree no later that the 1st of November. Here we are approaching the 7th and we still have a large fully established tree full of leaves.
10. And finally, have I mentioned not having a camera that works because the brand new one that I bought after the old camera was dropped and broken the night before Kassie's wedding had to be sent to Virginia to be repaired, because someone bumped into me and I dropped it while I was taking pictures at the wedding. Big time swear word!!! (for now we are useing my mom's that we barely figured out how to use and there is a reason that it was so inexpensive---it takes terrible picture)

Now that I have gotten that off of my chest--I feel a little better, not much, but a little. Feel free to let me know just how you feel or not. I promise I won't laugh, I will only commiserate with you and I won't even be offended if people don't write any comments, I just needed to blow off steam!

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY AUSTIN

It is very hard to believe this, but Austin is five today. I remember distictly the day he was born. I remember putting my hand in his tiny little fingers and him just squeezing sooooo tight. I thought he might squeeze it off, he was sooo strong. He had a boatload of hair (I wish I had a scanner to get his baby pictures on the computer). This little boy is athletic, funny, loves his brother, plays ball, tolerates his sister (most of the time), adores his Papa, loves to give babies kisses, loves to learn new things, loves dinosaurs, spiderman, and anything soldier or military related.
He is a joy to have around, loves doing things with his dad and papa. He loves to laugh. He has a very hardy laugh that comes straight from the belly. And at any given time of the day he will come up to you out of the blue and say to one of us, "Nana ( or whoever he may be talking to), I love ya! I love ya a lot!" And we love him a lot too.
We acutally celebrated his birthday yesterday because his dad had to go out of town for work this week. Unfortunately, today, he is sick! (Good thing we did it yesterday).
We hope you have a very happy birthday Austin. We love you loads and loads!

HALLOWEEN 2009

These are just a few pictures of the kids in their costumes for Halloween this year. Austin is in Soldier Mode and his birthday is on the 2nd and he wants everything Soldier Related--including his cake. Andrew used his costume as a booster for propping his bottle up so he wouldn't have to hold it. Ashlynne was a cute little witchy poo.
Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

CANDID WEDDING PIX

The centerpieces
the Sign in table
The bouquet
Our little Princess Ashlynne
The Cake
RJ getting Austin dressed for the ceremony
Austin pulling Andrew in the wagon
Ashlynne, the flower girl
Kassie, the bride
Bishop Roger Anderson, Kassie and RJ (reciting his vows)
Kassie Dancing with Andrew
Ashlynne and Karyn Dancing
Kassie and RJ
The Centerpieces lit
Cutting the cake

BRIDALS

These are the bridal's I took of Kassie and some of my personal favorites! We went to two different places and did a one hour shot at Evergreen Park and 20 minutes at the First Pioneer Encampment block. I don't think I did too bad for an amateur.

I will post some candid's as soon as I can get Genette's disk, since I broke my brand new camera a half an hour before the wedding. I only got a few shots of them getting their hair ready and then I was bumped and it fell to the ground. Lucky for us, Genette had her camera there.

And when I say brand new--I mean I hadn't had the camera for 24 hours---because my other one broke the night before (it was on it's very last leg). So I got the replacement Friday night, worked on the camera all night trying to figure it out, and what happens--the lens was out when I was bumped, it fell to the ground--lens out and all, and it wouldn't go back in and it wouldn't take ANY pictures of any kind. And sweet Lesa Taggart(our photographer and friend) was there and even took a looked at it and didn't have a clue what to do. So I have to send it to Virginia to be fixed.

Enjoy the pictures and I will post candid's as soon as I can.