What a Way to End

Well, without getting into the gory details, let me just say that the end of the semester was bad.

So, what now? I don't know. I try to believe that every experience is given to us for a reason. Sometimes it is to test us to see what we are made of. Sometimes it is to for us to learn from. I'm going to try to be more positive next semester and believe that everything will work out for the best.

What else is going on? Just trying to get ready for Christmas.

Pictures of the Girls

Here are a few pictures of the girls. We thought you might enjoy. The girls really like to dress up. It doesn't matter if they use sunglasses, hats, headbands, or a full costume.

Looking Ahead

From time to time I think it important for people to revisit their goals and those things they wish to accomplish in life. As many of you know, this process has nearly become a lifestyle for me. It’s really not a healthy way to live, but deep down inside neither I nor Amy are satisfied. This became strikingly apparent this morning while I was changing my mother’s tire in the cold, pouring down rain. It wasn’t that I cared to change her tire, or even really that it was horrible weather. Without vilifying her, let me just say there are problems that surround our relationship that I don’t think will ever be solved. They get worse as time passes, and to be honest, the future doesn’t look good in that area.

Amy and I had a long talk today. We both agree that Mt. Vernon is heading down the wrong path. Of course there is tremendous potential here, but how long should we wait? The way things are right now, I don’t want my kids to grow up here. When you combine that with family problems, the negative experiences we have had with churches here, and the lack of solid relationships we have, it would sound pretty easy to just up and move someplace better.

That’s easy to say, right? But when it comes down to it, it’s just not quite that simple. Today we tried to think of the steps it would take for us to move. First off, we would have to have a job someplace else. But where would we start looking? I think I could get a teaching or administrative job someplace else in the country, but how do you decide what a good community is in which to raise your children? Searching the internet gets tiresome. I know what we are looking for, but I just don’t think the perfect place exists.

We do have good things here. We like our house and our neighborhood. We really like our neighbors. Amy can homebound tutor for the high school, and the positive family relationships that we do have are here. I am thankful to have a decent paying job here, and as I said before, there is a ton of potential.

So, I guess the question becomes, does the good outweigh the bad? And how long should we wait for things to get better? If I had to guess today, I think I would say that at some point we will venture away to greener pastures. Life is just too short. I think we should live it to your fullest potential. Thanks for reading!

Difficult Week

This past week was one of the more difficult weeks at school. I had a lot of discipline problems, one of which involved an alleged threat of some kind directed at me. That evening we closed the blinds and kept the gun handy. It is a shame that teachers have to deal with some of the things they deal with. It really got me down, mostly because I felt like it wasn’t that big of a deal to anyone. But it was to us. Public education has changed, even since I first started my career.

On a happy note, Cassidy and Callie got a new bed today. We will try to post some pictures of it soon. They are really looking forward to sleeping in it. Hopefully they will finally sleep through the night!

Thanksgiving Break 2007

Each year I (Ryan) greatly look forward to the Thanksgiving Break. Unfortunately, it absolutely flies by, and I end up wondering what in the world I did that made it go by so fast. So, here is what we did this year.

On Thursday, like millions of other Americans, we had a Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, etc. That afternoon and evening Amy and I watched Spiderman 3 while the kids watched The Little Mermaid.

On Friday Amy went shopping in the morning. Then we had a wonderful treat! Our friends Cary and Stephanie had driven up from Texas and were in town. They came over for lunch and we visited the rest of the afternoon and evening. Our kids all played very good together. We then took a trip out to Marcoe church where we all used to attend. To our surprise, the lady who cleans the church was there, and let us in to look around. Finally, we ended the evening with dinner at Bob Evans, and reminiscing about good times we used to have together. I sure hope it isn’t so long before we see them again.

Amy did more shopping on Saturday, and Dad came over to help me hang 10 sheets of drywall! I think we were both worn out, but the room sure looks a lot better.

So that was how I spent the Thanksgiving Break 2007. I not too excited about returning to work, but I think we only have about three weeks before Christmas break! Thanks for reading!

Everything is Going Well

Myspace Thanksgiving Graphics


We just wanted to let everyone know we are still here and everything is going well. We are planning a quiet day on Thanksgiving. It will just be us and the girls. Ryan and I are going to prepare the noon meal. We are planning on making our favorite Thanksgiving foods.

It will be nice for everyone to have a few days off for the holiday. Cassidy doesn't have school today. Her school is getting out early today, so they canceled the afternoon classes. Ryan will start his vacation this afternoon after the high school lets out. Callie and I will enjoy having them around. Sometimes it is lonely without them.

Everything is going well with the baby. I posted a few pictures last week. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. I feel like I look more pregnant now. The baby really makes herself known. She is always moving around. I love that feeling. That is one thing I miss after the baby is born. It is such a unique feeling. There is nothing else like it.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. If you are going shopping the day after Thanksgiving, maybe I will see you. Have a great day and a great weekend.

Pictures of the New Baby

Ultrasound Results

I went today and the lady said the baby is a girl. Now I can start planning a little more. Both Cassidy and Callie wanted to have a baby sister. I am so happy I was able to find out today.

Still Working With Paint

Here is another picture I spent a while working with. I think it is a little better.

Playing Mr. Mom

The above picture is one of my attempts at using a new program I downloaded called Paint.net. It is a free program, and offers quite a few things. I had the chance to play with it this morning while watching Callie. The following is a record of my time watching her. Enjoy.

Today, Amy is leaving Callie at home because she is still asleep and has not been feeling too good. I will attempt make record of the events. What will it be like to play “Mr. Mom?” Well, it’s been a while, but I’ve done it before. It’s not always pretty.

8:20—Callie wakes up and I change her diaper. We sit together watching a cartoon for a while. It is a nice, peaceful time. Wow, I wish the day could go this easy.

8:45—Callie said she wanted to go pee. That usually means she already peed, and just wants to sit on the pot. So, once again, I changed her diaper and allowed her to sit on the pot for a while.

9:00—The room was starting to stink, so I checked, and you guessed it, diaper #3. The second worst thing in life is dealing with a soiled diaper. I am very sensitive to smells, and it usually makes me gag if I can’t hold my breath long enough. Thankfully, I was able to hold my breath and got the stinky diaper changed. Man, I hope things don’t go like this all morning.

9:05—Callie is hungry again. She wants a fruit roll up.

9:10—She ate most of the fruit roll up, but spit the rest out in her hand. She now has sticky yucky stuff all over her hands and mouth. I got her washed up. She was still hungry so I gave her a piece of cheese. Having learned from the fruit roll up, I fed her the cheese piece by piece.

9:15—She is thirsty, so I made her juice. Of course, I don’t think she was too happy with the Little Mermaid cup, but it will have to do. Now, I’m wondering if I got the lid on it tight enough. I better check it.

9:20—I tightened the lid, and it was a good thing I did. That could have been bad. I’m now thinking that putting the soiled diaper in the regular trash can was a very bad idea. The entire kitchen is stinking.

9:22—Took out the trash. Sure wish I could find something to spray to make things smell better

9:24—Took away the telephone from Callie. She was trying to call someone-it’s a good thing it wasn’t 911. Took away the books she was trying to rip up.

9:25—she is crying because she wants M&M’s and I won’t give them to her. I don’t think having the Halloween candy still out is a good idea.

9:30—she is finally sitting down in front of the television. People often say what a bad idea it is to use the television as a baby sitter. I thought that too before I had children.

9:35—she is walking around with a doily on her head saying something that I can’t understand. I know she wants me to do something for her, but I just don’t know what she is saying.

10:30—we have been watching Dora the Explorer. I think we have went through three episodes now. I’m SICK of Dora! I’m thinking about taking Callie for a walk around the block in the wagon. I’m trying to decide if it is too cold to go or not.

11:30—Callie didn’t want to go for a walk, so instead we went for a drive in the jeep. She said she wanted some hash browns from McDonalds, so we went there. Unfortunately, after sitting in the drive through for like 15 minutes, they had stopped selling breakfast by the time we got up there. So, we drove across town to the other McDonalds, but they too had stopped selling breakfast. We settled for a large order of fries. Wow, $2.04 for French fries, and they were not even very good. So, we are back home now, and Callie is watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Once again, the television is the babysitter. I know that is not good, but she says it is too cold to be outside. Maybe I will bundle her up in a while and take her for a walk in the wagon.

12:15 Diaper #4. Callie wanted apple sauce, so I fed her applesauce and then read her a book.

12:30 We went outside and walked around and then I took her swinging. We came back inside, and then it was just about time for mom to be home.

12:40 We made it! Mom is finally home!