Hi, I'm Barbra. I think.

Happy Anniversary!

2010-08-03T07:58:00.003-05:00

We took the kids with us for our anniversary dinner. No big deal right? I must admit I've grown complacent with the kids and the diaper bag. I stopped packing extra clothes because they never need them. Yeah. Brilliant. Half way thru' dinner I notice Elise has uh, had a blowout in her carrier. I haul her into the restroom, clean her up and return with a naked baby save for a diaper. Hello. She's already embracing her redneck heritage. Why...I should have kicked off my flip flops, I was already wearing a plaid shirt...and joined her embrace the Arkansas hills that are bred deep in her Daddy...and done a jig around Olive Garden with her. I tried to avoid the stares as I toted my naked girl back to our table. Oh yes. Must also make sure to have adequate wipes on hand, not just two so that I get to ask the server for extra napkins. Happy Anniversary Baby! Is there any hay in my teeth??

Barbra's blog reinvented....

2010-07-08T16:17:00.002-05:00

How many of us can say they have their own Blogger?
I can!
I'd like to take all the credit for these new postings and awesome design, but alas, I can't.
My wonderful friend Amy does all the hard work for me because I just don't understand all the HTML stuff. This looks great Yames. I love it.

Oh yeah, my little boy rolled over today! From his back to his tummy! Twice!!

What Heaven must sound like

2010-07-06T17:02:00.004-05:00

Alright. I know my blog is neglected, but do you have any idea how hard it is to get enough time with two little twins to do anything with this thing?? By the time they go to bed at night, I just want to veg and watch my shows and do a little light cleaning. (Light is the operative word)

I wanted to post the story of The Peanuts, how they came to be with an awesome photo story board, but well....it's going to have to wait.

For now, I'm posting a video if I can figure it out....of my angel son John Samuel. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Super Tissue Fun!

2010-06-29T20:07:00.003-05:00

Elise rolling herself at the dr's office with the table tissue paper.

5 Months Old.

Flying with the Peanuts

2010-06-27T07:59:00.005-05:00

This is how Samuel flies with daddy. This is how Elise flies with mommy. She's fine dad!

Priceless

2010-05-30T07:51:00.000-05:00

Sunday after church. I can't believe even the Siamese got in on the nap action.

4 Months Old

2010-05-27T16:59:00.002-05:00

Someone has found his smile...

2010-05-18T16:58:00.000-05:00

...and loves his mama!

Baby Blessings

2010-04-26T16:41:00.005-05:00

3 Months Old / Baby Blessings

Had an absolutely wonderful day yesterday. We celebrated The Peanut's baby blessings at our home afterwards with family and friends. John gave them beautiful blessings and made me cry. Mom and Judy made their adorable outfits.

Tax Deductions...

2010-04-15T16:52:00.003-05:00

... Looking forward to next year's tax day.

Playing outside...

2010-04-12T16:54:00.003-05:00

... and loving it!!

Big Boy Sam

2010-04-04T16:48:00.000-05:00

What a big boy! Right After I snapped this he crumpled and had enough.

It's 4 am, time for milking...

2010-03-29T16:36:00.001-05:00

Samuel looking cute as ever.

2 Months Old

Elise chilling with her lunch.

Expressions of John Samuel

2010-03-04T16:28:00.005-06:00

The Peanuts are HOME!!

2010-03-04T16:26:00.002-06:00

Whenever I lay them down together, this is how I find them.

Always touching.

Tag! You're it Sissy!

John Samuel

2010-02-06T15:06:00.000-06:00

Elise Christine

2010-02-06T15:02:00.004-06:00

The Peanuts Arrive!

2010-01-28T14:05:00.007-06:00

Dad with Elise

Elise in the NICU

John Samuel in the NICU

The Peanuts: The Beginning

2009-07-27T13:59:00.000-05:00

This is what hyperventilation looks like. Uh yeah, take another look.

July 20, 2009

Jon and Kate, I'm irate.

2009-05-28T09:46:00.002-05:00

I'm sure many of you follow their show which I feel has gone downhill year after year. I stopped watching altogether last year. I did watch the season premiere this week and my blood boiled over. I have some things to say and they are not very nice. Feel free to run away!

I have absolutely no sympathy for these parents. All my sympathy goes to those beautiful children. Watching Kate whine and moan about how hard her life is made me furious. She is traveling to promote her books, leaving her kids at home, angry at Jon for his choices, and angry at the paparazzi because they follow her and her children. I'm sorry, what about the cameras, staff and microphones that follow around those children constantly by your choice Jon and Kate?? What is the difference? Who is exploiting who?? Your marriage is disintegrating in front of the world's eyes, why would you continue this garbage?? It's easy. Money. How on Earth is Jon going to feel useful as a provider for his family if he's not providing and staying home while Kate gallivants around the country soaking up the fame she so craves. Why would both of you not say "Enough is enough!" Put your family first contract or not and stop this madness. I refuse to watch your show any longer and I hope many others follow suit and do the same. TLC should also be ashamed of their behaviour and do what they need to to drop this show. Of course, that's not going to happen. TLC LOVES this controversy and knows the show is a cash cow for them as well.

I'm sorry my thoughts are all over the place. I'm writing this post at work between calls. I'm sure that my frustrations and pain regarding our attempt at expanding our family has much to do with my strong feelings, so I apologize if this comes off too harsh.

Tulsa Tea Party

2009-04-14T12:56:00.003-05:00

Just a quick note regarding the Tulsa Tea Party scheduled for tomorrow at Veteran's Park, 5-7p. John and I plan on being there. I encourage all my friends and family who are sick of the direction our government is taking us to attend whether it's here in Tulsa, or wherever you are in another city and state. If you need help finding a group to attend tomorrow, let me know, I'm pretty good at doing internet research.

Capitalism, not socialism. This is my new motto.

Long live our country, long live the USA!

Bahamian excitement

2009-03-26T09:02:00.006-05:00

Well, we are in the home stretch of waiting for our vacation of a lifetime to begin. John and I are like kids, all we do is talk about what to bring, what we need. We keep buying things, looking at pictures, imagining me chickening out of the underwater sub adventure etc.

Isn't our ship pretty? I know you can't see it well, but we'll have a balcony cabin on the 2nd deck down. I can't believe we're actually going to the Bahamas! Whoohoo!!

Here's a little photo of our stateroom. The balcony door is open and there is a little table and set of chairs out there for us to literally hang out over the ocean. Ok, the panic is setting in. Where are the lifeboats?

And finally, the highlight of our trip, (well hopefully anyway if I don't chicken out,) the SUB adventure we'll be doing in Nassau. Yes, my head will just be in an air bubble and the rest of me will be shark bait in the ocean. You can actually drive this thing around. It's like an underwater motorbike. In my case however, it might be an underwater drowning machine.

The bad, bad blues

2009-03-11T12:16:00.002-05:00

So I haven't blogged in months. I just haven't had any motivation to do so. I do enjoy reading my friend's and family's blogs, but I just have nothing to talk about. I've been suffering with a very bad case of feeling sorry for myself depression. I have no kids to talk about, no cute pics. See what I mean? My world has collapsed into a little ball. I just want to be with John, the dog and the cats. I'm trying to feel better, be more hopeful about our family expanding, trying to find my faith. My friends probably think I'm nuts as I don't talk to anyone. I'm sorry if I've hurt feelings.
Becky, you inspire me. You keep on trucking and here I am wallowing alone by choice. I love you dearly.

Introducing Annie

2008-12-24T16:39:00.004-06:00

Many of you probably don't know that I have another sister besides Christine. It's been something I've rarely talked about. I don't know why and I'm ashamed that I haven't really shared Annie's life with any of my close friends.

Anne has lived her whole life in a state home in NY. She is the daughter of my father and his first wife. Her mother had Rubella while she was pregnant and Anne was born with many problems and is very delayed emotionally. She is close to 50 yrs old. We used to go down to West Seneca to visit her even after my Dad died. I used to go down and sign her out and bring her home for visits on Christmas and Easter. I used to be afraid of her. I was young and dumb, but when I got to be about 17 I realized there was nothing to fear. She makes lots of funny sounds and gets excited looking at fish tanks, glass, sparkly things (just like me!) and bobbly necklaces. Well, for the past 10 years, we haven't seen Annie at all. Her birth mother who abandoned her contacted the state and told them the Fronckowiak's were not to see her. My mother who loved Annie as her own daughter was cut off. I should have done something years ago. I am her sister. They shouldn't be able to keep me away. I regret letting so much time go by, but I was prompted very strongly that it was time to see if we could see Annie again. It just took a few calls to the state of NY and a return call from Annie's social worker. It turns out that another one of my sisters (from Dad's first marriage) is her guardian now that Ruth, the dad's first wife died. Mary agreed to let us visit with Annie. We went to her group home which is in a residential neighborhood and had a great visit with her. Annie remembered Mom and warmed up to Chris and I very quickly. Even though Mary does not visit Annie at all, we still have to be respectful of her wishes. I looked over the house guest book, it goes back about six years. Annie has not had one visitor other than my brother Mark. Mom is so excited to be able to start going back down every two weeks or so and visit with Anne. She loves walks and crocheting. She is so smart but she cannot speak. She cleans like no one else I know and she loves to fold clothes and work with tools. She is always happy and gives great big hugs and squeezes. I have really missed her and I'm so bad our family is complete again with her in our life. I just wanted you all to meet her. You all know my sister Chris. Now meet Annie Fronckowiak, my sister. I love her.

Holy Moly she smoked some Macaroni!

2008-09-22T08:03:00.002-05:00

Da da da da!! I made it in finally thanks to the one and only Yames Krieger! A lot of folks think her name is exotic. Well she is, she's Svedish!

Wow, I'm at work so I can't post any neat pics but I'll give a quick update. I work for the huge conglomerate Coca Cola full time now. I'm definitely not getting my adrenaline rush of saving people's lives by selling Coke accounts but hey, it's money and I can stomach it for now.

On a bit of a downer note, most of you know that our boys, Jeff and Matt, have refused to come home. They are living with their Mother at their Grandparents (since she can't take care of herself, why not have the boys full time for her parents to care for) and it's been extremely hard for John and I. The sudden loss of our family has thrown us for the biggest loop in our marriage. All I can say is thank you for all the prayers that have gone up for us and ask you to continue to remember our whole family when you can. We have felt the blessings coming down on us and we are so grateful.

On a happier note now, we do have some good news. John and I have been in the process of adopting for almost a year now. We have jumped thru' all the hoops, taken all the courses, done a mountain of paperwork, had plenty of in home visits by strangers assessing our parenting skills and personalities, been fingerprinted twice, had DNA samples taken (ok I'm kidding on that one) but really, it has been an ordeal! We are waiting for the final approval of our case and at that point we will be able to meet some children. We are hoping to adopt two little ones but we will see who the Lord directs us to. I just wish that all parents have to go thru' what we have gone thru' because it just isn't right that any moron can have children and then those kids have to be taken away from them for terrible reasons. We are adopting thru' the state of Oklahoma. It is absoultely atrocious how many children are in desperate need of loving homes. John and I are honored to be able to do this for these wonderful children. We just hope and pray it happens soon.

Well, phones are getting busy, I better vamoose. I promise to do much better with my blog and get more links up of my family and friends. Yames will have to help me with that.

Love and miss you all.
-Barbra

2008-09-09T13:08:00.001-05:00

She says she's going to blog. Barb, you actually have to log in to delete this post....
maybe I should see what pictures I can dig up.....

You need a new post.

2008-03-01T21:13:00.010-06:00

How are ya? You need a new post. I hope people who read this blog don't think less of us after reading this post. We were creative. We had fun. Good times to get us through the bad.

The other night I was driving and having some trouble with my vision on account of a migraine. I was seeing things out of my peripheral vision that wasn't there, and I knew that. And yet, I still fully believed that a deer or another car was flying out of the trees into my lane. I was totally freaking out. But then I distracted myself with thinking about some fun driving times with you. And I got home safe.

Do you remember the time we were driving at night - on Maple Rd. I think we were headed to the church (did we take off and skip out of YW?). Was it the "survey" day? Anyway I guess it doesn't matter. We were having a grand teen-age time goofing off and laughing. It was very dark outside. All of a sudden we see a teenage girl in the middle of the road (yes, sitting cross-legged on the yellow line!), wearing all black and crying! I've never screamed louder in my life. That totally freaked me out!

Then I started thinking about other times we screamed in the car. Niagara Falls Blvd (?). To secretly check out Thobbit.... when you were driving the WRONG WAY! And there was a concrete median so we couldn't get back on the right side?!? Oh my goodness.

Then there was the time with Jen that we knocked down traffic cones...by sticking out our arms/legs out of the windows/doors of your mom's van. Jen lost her watch and we had to scour the shoulder of the road. Lucky we didn't get caught on that one. Oh yah, and lucky we didn't break a bone! (That episode was ALL Barb's idea by the way).

I have no idea why MommaPayne didn't like us driving around together (and she hasn't even heard the stories)...

Thobbit!
No you Thobbit!

Post something so we know you are alive.

Yo Barbrelli, Are You Snowed in?

2007-12-13T18:10:00.001-06:00

To get this post off your blog, you are going to have to actually blog. I was wondering if you guys were hit by the recent snow (and more snow to come). Maybe you don't have power right now so you can't get to the internet. Let us all know how you are doing.

Side note: Remember the time we hooked a sled to the back of your mom's van and you drove us around? We were so stupid.

Finally, the anesthesia wore off!

2007-09-26T18:26:00.000-05:00

I'm alive! I'm sorry I've taken so much time off. It's been a very busy summer with the surgery, our vacation, and back to school now for the boys.

First of all, the surgery went very well. No complications, no pain by 3 weeks. Amazing. I just saw my Surgeon; Dr Fisher yesterday. I have lost 60 lbs since June 4th, the day of my operation. Lots more to go, but I'm very excited to be in clothes I haven't been able to wear for years and out of Lane Bryant's largest size of pants!

The photo at Niagara Falls is from this past summer and I was down about 25-30 lbs.
The photo in front of our home is actually from today and I have lost 60 lbs since surgery!

I want to get this posted quickly before I get distracted doing something else. I need to give updates on my family and will do that very soon. I also will discuss the surgery in more detail. Lucky you!

June 4th, 2007, tick.....tock....tick...tock

2007-05-19T13:05:00.000-05:00

Well, I've finally found some time to make my announcement. Am I preggo? Are we adopting? Am I having major surgery? Am I gay? The answer is one of those......

On June 4th I'll be entering St. Francis Hospital here in Tulsa and having weight loss surgery. This has been a long time coming, it'a a decision John and I didn't make lightly, but it's a decision also that has the best chance of saving my life and giving that life back to me.

Food addiction is a terrible demon. I never turned to drugs, smoking, alcohol, gambling, or other bad vices. I turned to food. It never talked back to me. It never left me. It never hurt me. It soothed me if I was sad, it celebrated me if I was happy. It even is a cure for boredom. To be honest, I wish I had just stayed bored. The worst part about this demon I've been carrying around is that everyone, from the pharmacist, to the clerk cashing me out at the store, everyone can see my demon. Imagine being an alcoholic and having to wear a shirt that said "I'm an alcoholic" everywhere you went. Wouldn't that be so painful, the shame it would cause? What about the embarrassment, the anger for being stared at because of your alcoholism. That's the worst part about having such a terrible food addiction. Everyone knows. That causes pain. Must be time to eat again to forget about that pain for now.

Due to my health getting progressively worse, and I'm sick and tired of watching my husband and sons do things without me, it's just time. It's time to stick it to my demon and get him off my back for once and all. It's time for me to go bike riding with my family, to travel more and not worry about squishing people on planes. It's time for me to move and not be in so much pain. It's time for me to stop abusing myself.

Mom is flying to Tulsa the day of my surgery and staying with us for a week to help. I'm so grateful to her for that. I will be very limited the first two weeks after surgery. I just ask for prayers to go up on my behalf that I will make it thru' the surgery with little or no complications. I will post a before picture on this blog when surgery gets closer. I also plan to post a picture every month, not just so others can see my progress, but so I can see where I came from too.

I love you all and would be no where without you.

My fly catchers

2007-04-27T13:58:00.000-05:00

Does anyone know who these belong to? They're kinda cute when they're unconscious. Jeff and Matt were on their way home from an all night 10 mi scout hike, repelling, and canoeing trip. Their YM Pres. sent this to us and I couldn't help but post it. You know, I was reading AM's blog, Meaty Girl's, and also Nataflea's. EVERYONE is way behind in their blogs so I can't be yelled at for taking a few months off. Fine, I confess, since it changed to this new google blogger, I forgot my user ID and pw. What a pain in the behind!

AM, I did enjoy seeing your fam on vacation. What a fun place you stayed at! My boys would have spent every waking second and also their time asleep in the pool, they would have just slept on rafts if they had their way.

I should also have some big news hopefully later today. Now that I've baited you all.... ta ta!

The Good Ol' Days II (posted by Yames)

2007-02-04T00:50:00.000-06:00

I couldn't sleep. For quite some time I have been thinking about digging these pictures out for you. They are good for a little laugh. Samurai Sam's. 1999. A little after midnight feeding the munchies. Our sexy Ballet Boy is crazy. Did he have toilet paper wrapped around his head? Fun times. Thanks Adam!

Another classy Barb moment....

2007-01-23T13:49:00.000-06:00

So imagine, having to call your husband while at work and ask him to come to your office for some, uh, help. Now picture your husband taking you into a corner of your office and pulling out a pair of pliers. What? Do I have a toothache? Nooooo. My unders are stuck in my jeans zipper. Priceless.

A very Summerhill Christmas

2007-01-04T19:25:00.000-06:00

*sigh* What a hunk!

Heavy Christmas Reading from Richard and Nancy

Focus Anyone?

My two favorite sons
Matt on the left, Jeff on the right

The Good Ol' Days (posted by Yames)

2006-12-29T13:14:00.000-06:00

I thought I would post some things to make you smile Barb.
I was out shopping yesterday, reminiscing about good times. Let's see if you can guess who popped into my head. Here are the clues:
1. This person had a very funny sense of humor...
2. This person loves animals and had a bunny rabbit that was REALLY annoying at night when I was trying to sleep...
3. This person loves the movie "A Little Princess" and sat crying on the sofa after it ended. That was such a bonding time for you both...
4. This person knew Marion, "Mmmmm...these rocks are good!" Too bad she spent all day with her sweater on backwards...
5. This person never tried to 'put the moves' on you the whole time you lived together...
Hopefully that put a smile on your face Barb. If not, feel free to take away my contributor rights... I hope things are going better for you. And this mystery person is...

It's been a while....

2006-12-12T12:47:00.000-06:00

Well, I have a little time today while at work. I thought I'd update my blog. I know I've been away a while. Things have been very stressful for me. As most of my close friends know, I suffer from anxiety, and it's been really bad lately. Our boys are struggling emotionally due to the joint custody, going back and forth between their Mom's and Dad's. I've been afraid, because I'm not in control and I can't fix this situation. It terrifies me. That's it in a nutshell, and because I already had anxiety, anything throws me over the edge these days.
I'm feeling better at least. Our family is getting help from various resources. All I can say is how grateful I am for the Gospel and that it is the centerpiece in our home. It's holding us together. Blessings are pouring in. My faith is getting stronger, that not only will our kids get thru' this, but so will John and I. We had the chance to go to the Oklahoma City Temple last Friday. I was pretty much at my worst emotionally and in a daze. Once we arrived and got inside, I forgot all of my worries, I was calm, I felt peace. I love the temple and am so blessed to have a convert husband whose faith and testimony towers above mine. Where would I be without him and the boys? John often jokes I wouldn't be so stressed. I wouldn't trade my life now for anything. Not only was it a conversion story when John married me, it was also a conversion for myself.
Sorry for rambling my friends. Holiday pics will come shortly.

Time off

2006-11-18T14:00:00.000-06:00

Hello all. I haven't posted the last week and haven't really felt like it, even now. We're going thru' some very difficult times in our family. Please keep us in your prayers, especially for our boys. When my anxiety settles down (I hope,) I will get back to my blog.

You people have no sense of humor.

2006-11-12T23:57:00.000-06:00

Fine. I give in. Happy now? This is John and I outside the Palmyra Temple. I know I look like a construction worker in all orange. It was the end of September. I thought I was being festive wearing that and a black skirt. I now realize I should have been standing by a traffic cone waving a little orange flag on a stick.

You have to treasure the look on my husband's face. He just realized that he has been sealed to this family.

Onto other matters...
Today was the primary presentation. I'm exhausted. We've been working so hard and it came together beautifully. My pianist didn't play the wrong songs at the wrong times like she did last week during practice. The kids sang their little hearts out. I sweated buckets and waved my arms around conducting and praying that while we sang "Scripture Power," no one would throw their scriptures in the air like last week also. The death threat I issued must have taken hold. Overall, I'm very pleased with how well the children did. So when is that primary leaders paid cruise I've heard about? My bags are packed.

For all the skeptics out there...

2006-11-09T22:56:00.000-06:00

I've been getting complaints. Complaints that there are not enough pictures on my blog. Complaints from someone who doesn't believe John and I even went to the Temple. Hopefully, this will settle matters.

Humble pie anyone?

2006-11-09T01:48:00.000-06:00

Well, here's the weird part. I never had a title section and when I run Safari browser (Mac) I don't have the option for fonts, size, colors etc. But, if I run Netscape, voila', there's all the bells and whistles.

Yames, thanks for bailing me out. And how can you complain about coming home to save me? That's what you live for. I was SO excited when I found your embedded secret message to me in the Html code. "BARBbarbBARBbarbBARB" I was SO proud of myself that I was able to add a meaty link all by myself.

I do what I can.

2006-11-09T01:34:00.000-06:00

Testing to see if this works....

When you "pick a new template", it loads the new template over the old one and over any customization... You know I love coming home from work and staying up late to fix your blog so FYI for next time. :)

I wasn't sure what you wanted your font to look like....so let me know if you like-eey or if you want something changed. I can customize the post settings.

Start adding titles to your blogs!! It's easy - just enter something in the title box. ( I added it as an option) And one more thing, click on your compose tab when you are writing your entry - you have more control over the font without having to know any html.

We/you can delete this entry....if you don't know how lemme know.

2006-11-08T17:36:00.000-06:00

Well I've done it now. I messed with my template, lost all my links, and now I don't even know where to put them. AMY HELP ME! BOSS? ANYONE? Also, I can't figure out how to change my font on my posts now. What have I done?!?! Oh the horror!!!

2006-11-07T12:28:00.000-06:00

Oh my heck, I learned how to add a title to my post!

I think I did anyway. Umm. Yeah. I am sooooo tired. I'm sitting here at work watching my last two candidates test for the day. I realized that there was a scary noise that startled me. It was me snoring, I had fallen asleep in my chair. Classy. Sexy. I love the way I look with my mouth hanging open, don't you?

Rat a tat Nat, I am going to create a blog of your own for YOU. That way you can be bored in Dispatch and then add your own posts and rudie-tootie comments to your own blog. If Boss thinks I am amazing, well I am. I double checked her post and she actually titled it "Barbra Allegedly" I'm so glad your Utard edumacation is paying off Nat. Oh wait, you were skooled in Kalifournieh. That explains it!

2006-10-27T12:41:00.000-05:00

Meet my Arkansas family. Oh wait! This is just some of my NY family! Amy's husband had just told a seriously bad joke while taking a pic of the whole family outside the Palmyra Temple.

Q. Why did the Mormon cross the road?
A. To get to the other bride.

I told you it was bad. There is a larger version of this photo that I want from Yames. But Melissa, you just keep on laughing.

Hey, who's gorgeous orange shoulder is that??

2006-10-26T15:01:00.000-05:00

Wow, nice memory I have. I forgot to talk about chickens. Northwestern AR is LOADED with chicken farms. I kept seeing these buildings that looked like long greenhouses. We'd drive from town to town on a 2 lane road for miles and miles at at time. (Leslie AR has a pop. of 400) We'd pass these buildings, they were lit up at night, and they STUNK to high heaven. Dad told me they are chicken coops and there are about 5000 chickens in each one. They are raised and then sold to Tyson and Pilgrim's Pride. I learned a lot about chicken processing (from Dad) and decided I'm just glad they come in styrofoam containers at the store and I don't need to think about it. If I did, I'd probably make my own chicken run movie saving all the chickens in AR.

2006-10-26T14:46:00.000-05:00

Arkansas, beauty, and chickens. Do you have any idea how pretty the Ozarks are? We did a whirlwind 24 hrs trip to Leslie, Arkansas for John's Grandmother's funeral. This was my first chance to meet many of his family. They were all really nice and seemed happy to meet me. The boys had a blast with two of their cousins. One of John's cousins came up to me shortly before we left the Baptist church where the funeral was, and told me how handsome she thought my husband was. (Play Deliverance music now.) I thanked her and told her I agreed, he is a hunk o' burnin' love.

I wish I could have met his Grandma before she died. She looked lovely in the casket. The Pastor said lots of nice things about her. She was a member of the Eastern Stars. That is the Masonic women's group. There was an Eastern Star service built into her funeral. It was interesting. At the internment, the Pastor said a few more words and people then left. John waited for most everyone to leave, then he dedicated the grave with his Uncle Jim standing by his side for support. We had no idea that Uncle Jim was a member of the Church until just a few months ago. He converted about eight years ago when he married an LDS woman. We hope to get together with them in the future and go to the temple together.

2006-10-24T11:35:00.000-05:00

Alas, I've taken even more time off from my blog. I just don't see how one can find the time (and energy) to keep up with keeping you up to date. Does that make sense?

John and I are going thru' some challenging times with the boys. Jeff was suspended from school yesterday for five days. He used his younger brother as a punching bag and did this in plain sight of a campus police officer. He's lucky he wasn't arrested as the charges would have been agg assault. Have I mentioned John's hair is almost all grey now and mine, well, it's just falling out from the stress. Our boys are good boys, the concept of thinking before acting is the problem.

We leave this evening for Arkansas to go to John's Grandmother's funeral. It will be my first chance to meet MANY of his family. I didn't really want to meet them over a funeral, but it is what it is. Our plans are up in the air for Turkey Day. We were planning on going to AR for that as well, but we'll have to see what happens. Enough for now, better get back to work and supervising Jeff's makeup work since he's here with me today.

2006-09-19T22:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, OK! So I took some time off from my blog. Excuse me! Now I know how movie stars feel, I'm letting down my fans.

So after the roaches captured me, I was held hostage for several weeks. I managed to escape, and during the time I was gone, the project house sure looks a lot better! We're hoping to be done with it for good on Sat.

On to more exciting news. John and I are so excited for our much needed vacation next week. I'm so looking forward to seeing my old friends and fam damily. Of course, The Temple will be our highlight next Fri. We're so excited!!

Rosco, our dog, has become a tunneler trying to escape from the nazi prison camp of a home we provided for him! He is so grounded. He has fallen in love with the puppy next door, they must play CONSTANTLY and if that CONSTANTLY is interrupted, well there is whining, whimpering, and of course, well executed escape plans. Rosco and Bubba help each other get into the other yard. They have even escaped both houses barbed wire electric fences and trotted down the street, 2 by 2, smelling garbage together, saying hi to people and generally disregarding their owners calls and rants and raves. Because of this problem, Rosco has a tag with two phone numbers on it. I should have realized there was a problem when I heard both phones ringing and didn't recognize the numbers. Turns out Rosco is friends with the people at a small fabrication business that's on the main road. He goes over there all the time now, he gets free beef jerky, cookies, and slices of pizza. He also goes in and out of the shops as he pleases. (Some sort of metal shops.) Imagine my humiliation at going to reclaim my dog after I had just woken, (due to both phones ringing over and over) and going with my lovely medusa hair to meet "Joe" at the shop and retrieve my abused dog.

John stopped at Home Depot today and bought more fence wire, he is attatching that to rebar he also bought and is hammering the bottom of the fence into the ground. Both dogs are still trying to find the weak spots. I am at my wits end. We're next going to build the Berlin wall around our property because Rosco must be living in communist Germany and not free Germany. I am waiting for him to escape in a hot air balloon.

2006-08-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

Well it's been a few days since I posted anything. We've been busy up to our eyeballs in roaches. Our Bishop has given us another house to fix up for him. This is no ordinary fixer-upper. When he first showed us the property, there were tens of thousands of roaches, on the floor, ceilings, walls, counters, everywhere! We've been killing them off with professional exterminator juice, really. I strap a huge container of poison onto my back and walk around and spray everywhere. There is SO much cleanup and repair work to do, it's overwhelming. We're glad for the extra income however. We've been working evenings and Saturdays. John is exhausted, I'm completely run down, but we'll keep truckin'!

The boys start school tomorrow. Whoohoo!! They are very excited actually, strange kids. = )

2006-08-10T12:39:00.000-05:00

Alright, I have some scores to settle. First of all I should say this is the boys from LAST years vacation to NY. OK, I know my photos are a little out of date. It's not like we don't have a digital camera. We're just lazy. I will be taking some new pics of the boys, house etc. Ah yes, and this pic is Jeff and Matt in the Sacred Grove. Pay no attention to the cheesy grins.

Secondly, a certain Dispatcher in SLC who goes by the name Tokin' Nat is a big boob! How can I be blamed for her lack of computer skills? She could have actually been pro-active and LEARNED since I've been away. No. Not Nat. She plays the blame game. "Barbra's not hear to fix my 'puter, I don't know how to do all this technical stuff, WAAAHHHH!!!"

Oh yes, and for THE COP and Nat, I completely agree with Oklahoma's complete lack of creativity with their state slogan. Oklahoma might as well go by "The Mediocre State."

P.S., don't take your vacation here. You thought the dust bowl was over?? I worry my house is going to spontaneously combust due to extreme heat convections. (Doesn't that sound fancy??) I mean, I could bake my bread outside of the oven. No need to turn on the stove to boil water, just go put it outside on your car. The car doors have welded shut.

Where are comments from my family? Seester, Ma, Don, Kirk, whoever, build your own blogger page at blogger.com. It's free! This message provided by Blogger.com. = )

2006-08-09T17:49:00.000-05:00

Helloooo!

Welcome to my world of rants and raves. If blogs drive you crazy, you can blame it 100% on Yames Krieger and the rest of the Paynes. She sent me a link to her blog and I was entertained looking at pics and her comments, I just KNEW I had to make one of my own. My hope is to get my whole fam-damily creating blogs and all linked on each other's pages.

So here it is, my first blog comment. Isn't this exciting? Can you feel the elctricity in the air? Oh wait, that's just Tulsa's 105 F temp. Have I mentioned that 18 people have now died in OK from the heat? Needless to say, Mrs. Airconditioning (my new name) has stayed inside for weeks at a time. Mr. Diebold doesn't have that luxury. I really worry about him working outside. He comes home drained and not very uh...fresh. He doesn't complain. My husband has such a good attitude. Jeff and Matt don't play outside, I don't blame them, so we have a lot of reading time, gamecube time when it's earned, chores and games. I think we're all excited about school starting a week from today. They've been practicing getting up at 6a. The problem is they set their alarms (this was all their idea) and then ignore them when they go off at 6a. I wake up to weird music and digital sounds and have to go bark at them. Fun times with Mom! No wonder they want to go back to school. I was not like them at all when I was young. I dreaded the first day of school, and mourned the countdown of remaining vacation days. I have a vivid memory of leaving PuttPutt the last day of summer vacation. I was in the car and Mom was driving Donny and I home. I remember thinking "It's all over, no more chances for fun" and I started crying. I'd start to get sick and nervous about the first day of school. Oh yeah, fun times for me!

Well, that's it for now. Let me know what you think. I'll have to post some pics. Ta ta!