We're Still Around!

Boy time has really gotten away from us this past week or so! No fun pictures to post tonight... no time for pictures!

Mike's been battling a bad cold all week, and his job has been keeping him super busy with crazy hours. Our friend Jim moved here from Ohio last week (Jenni and the kids to soon follow)... so he and Mike watched Wake Forest kick Dukes rear end in basketball Wednesday night. Mike had his annual inspection at work yesterday that he prepped for all week... and he passed with flying colors!

I, also, have had a busy week at work. I took on a new role/responsibility at work and am now responsible for my building, as well as a skilled nursing facility in Mount Airy. I'm a bit nervous, but looking forward to the challenge! I've been doing water aerobics for a few weeks now on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I go and walk a few miles. I feel soooooo much better and have already dropped a size!! Last, I stepped out of my comfort zone and joined a Bible Study on Sunday nights... The Book of Romans. For a newbie... it's hard, but I love the new friendships I'm developing and learning more about our Lord and Saviour!

Devin and Kayleigh had the end of their midterms this week and I think they'd both say "thank goodness they're over!". Those two kids studied like crazy!! They've now started their 3rd quarter/2nd semester with new classes and are on the down slide of the year. Devin is going to attempt to run spring track... guess we'll see how that goes! He's still recovering from that anterior tib-fib injury he had in winter track! Devin and Kayleigh's D-Group (Bible Study) resumed this week and they've been working hard on it. Devin especially reads a lot of scripture and really studies it hard. I've been going to him with help on mine!

Paige and Chase are doing great as well. We've escaped the flu and respiratory stuff so far (knocking hard on wood) this year. Paige's asthma has seemed to really improve in the last 6-9 months - Praise God! We had her first parent/teacher conference this week... let's just leave it at "She's Paige!". She's been funny at church too... one week she'll go to KidROCC, the next she wants to go to Sunday school! Chase has been busy participating in his first science fair: The Effect of Video Games on the Heart Rate. What a perfect project for him! Chase absolutley loves KidROCC at church and is looking forward to the "TweenROCC" - it's a youth group for the younger kids.

So - that's it in a nutshell... we've just been busy with work, school, church, exercise, eating, sleeping, etc.!

Happy Birthday Ascher!

Happy Birthday Ascher!

I'm so very proud of you for taking a huge leap of Faith and traveling to Africa with your Dad! What an awesome experience and way to serve God! You're such a fine young man and I look forward to all the things you will bless those around you with!

The Game Was Good, Dinner Was Better!

L to R: Mike, Elijah, Megan, and Michelle
(Megan's husband Dan was there too... he took the picture)

After the game we met up with the Portas at Eddie's Place Restaurant!

Dan and Megan are in North Carolina (from Minnesota) visiting Megan's parents for the week. The timing was perfect because Mike and I were just 15 minutes away from where her parents live... so we met for dinner for the first time face to face.

First - little Elijah is even cuter in person!! He's such a happy boy and played so quietly while we got to know each other. So content... even so close to bedtime! We enjoyed watching his little grins all evening.

Dan and Megan are super nice people and so positive! Though many of you know Mike and I feel like we've had more than or share of medical problems in our family... it doesn't even compare to what they have gone through with Elijah.

We hope to see Dan and Megan again next year... who knows... maybe I can talk Mike into a trip to the Mall of America and visit them on their turf!

Spurs 86 -vs- Bobcats 84

Mike and I were given tickets to the San Antonio Spurs/Charlotte Bobcats game today... a "friend of a friend" happens to play on the San Antonio Spurs team. It was our first NBA game and we had a good time. The game was pretty back-and-forth, which kept us on our toes, and the Bobcats Arena is fairly new - so it was fun to be at. The scoreboard was HUGE! We took a picture of it because we knew Chase would love it!

Who knows... maybe we'll go back and let the kids experience it first hand!

Thank you, Tric!

It's Been a Long Night...

Before Mike left for work tonight, he said he thought it was going to be a bad night... he wasn't kidding!

Mike works for a large movie theater company here in Winston... about a year ago they opened a sister theater in Greensboro - less than 30 minutes away. Mike helped with the training there and a few of the Winston managers were transferred there permanently.

Tonight... there was a shooting at the Greensboro theater. Took a while for details to unravel... but suspicion is that the shooting was gang related and that it was a movie-goer that was shot, not an employee. No word on whether or not the shooter was apprehended. The theater had over 700 customers in it at the time and was completely evacuated with people running out the doors... mass chaos!

Mike's theater here in Winston has increased police presence and they will even escort Mike out of the building at 3:30am if he wants them to (Mike's the very last person to leave). They're now sold out for the remaining shows of the evening. I know I won't rest until he's home, safe and sound!

I think a new line of work wouldn't be a bad idea.....

I Can't Wait!!!

Remember little Elijah? I sent out a prayer request for him a while back during one of his recent hospitalizations. He's a "heart buddy" of ours that lives in Minnesota with his Mommy and Daddy, Dan and Megan. They'll be visiting Charlotte next week... which just happens to be about an hour south of us AND we will be in Charlotte on Monday to attend a NBA basketball game.

So........... Megan and I did a little planning and we all get to meet face to face! After the game we're going to meet up with them for dinner and drinks at a restaurant in Charlotte. I can't wait to see those little chubby cheeks for myself! Absolute cuteness! Although Chase's heart trouble doesn't come close to the difficulties little Elijah had, it will be nice to spend some time with another family who experiences the same fears of their child's health that we do and learn from eachother ways to handle the stress that comes with it all.

Dan, Megan, and Elijah - can't wait to finally SEE you on Monday night!!!

Happy Birthday Tricia!

Happy Birthday to Mike's sister, Tricia!!
Hoping to see you all soon! Miss you, Bill, and the kids!

Happy Birthday Bill!

Happy Birthday to our brother-in-law, Bill!
Miss you guys and hope to see you soon!

Happy Birthday Neal!

Happy Birthday Neal! You and Dawnya are such a huge part of our life! I can't say there's anyone Mike is closer to than you - like a brother to him!

We will certainly be praying for you and Ascher both as you journey to Africa in the coming week! May God travel with you both, and be with you as you spread His love and truth!

New Years Eve In Times Square

Tonight was Kayleigh's dance recital at Reagan High School, titled "New Years Eve in Times Square". They wouldn't allow us to take any pictures or videos, so this picture is the best I could do. She had a few costume changes, this was the last outfit her group wore so it's all we got.

I have to say I was quite impressed by the entire performance. I sat in the front row with Paige (who LOVED it!) and I'm so glad I did! I was able to see Kayleigh up close. It was fun to see her loosened up, on stage, and having fun! At the same time... it was so hard for me to watch her. All of the sudden, she was so grown up!

The LONG Drive Home!!!

Our drive back to North Carolina from Ohio was probably the WORST travel day we've experienced yet. We left Dad's around 6:30am because we knew the weather would be not so friendly. I drove initially so that Mike could get some extra winks in.

We did great until we hit Celina, OH... then the snow started... and kept at us for about 3 hours!! In that 3 hours we saw ONE snow-plow! This meant 40mph for over 3 hours... yucko!

Then... coming into Columbus we entered the ice part of the snowstorm. Even with the defrost on high heat, the windshield was quickly covered with solid ice and the roads were as slick as a skating rink... but we kept on going (cautiously I might add).

Mike woke up in the middle of the ice-storm and I was able to pass off driving to him on the East side of Columbus where it became sleet & freezing rain with mega-fog. Not exactly the best conditions, but much better than the mucky mess I got us through. The top picture above was taken off I-77 south near Marietta and is what we saw for the next several hours!

Finally, as we neared Charleston the freezing rain stopped.... but it wasn't long before it was dark and then it started to just downpour on us with horrible winds!!! The bottom picture doesn't even come close to capturing what it was like...

We finally arrived back in Winston around 7:30pm last night!! That's right... our normal 10 hour trip took us over 13 hours!!! Through it all the kid were sooooo good! They all knew not to fight or complain about anything in weather like that!

We were able to have some fun on the trip. Paige sleeping gave us the biggest cackle... she was catching flies for well over an hour!

We had a great time visiting friends & family in Ohio, but we certainly are thankful to be back home in North Carolina!

Spending Time With the Castos...

Even though we stayed at my Dad's house while in Ohio, we didn't get to actually see him until late Sunday night. He and his wife, Cassie, were in Kentucky with her family. So when they got there, the kids were very happy!!!

Paige's favorite spot at Grandpa's house is always on his lap! She spent most of the time cuddled up on him or sitting on his lap giggling with him. It's so fun to see how she can make him light up! We spent time opening gifts, playing Scrabble (oh - Devin and Grandpa both cheat... I'm sure of it!), and we also played our new Apples to Apples game - Grandma Cassie wasn't too sure of that one though...

Monday we were able to spend the whole day with Grandpa Casto relaxing and talking, and then had a nice diner with Grandma Cassie. My step-sister even stopped by with her kids for a while so they could all play. The day went very quickly and before we knew it was time to pack up and go to bed early.

This ended our 2008/2009 trip to Ohio for the holidays. We had a good time and miss everyone already, though we are happy to sleep in our own beds!!

Christmas With the Lyons

NOTE: You can scroll over the pictures and it will tell you who is in each one.

Day 2 of our Ohio trip was spent with the Lyons side of the family. Aunt Anita and Uncle Jarrick were there, as well as Uncle Jason and his new wife Aunt Megan. All the kids had fun playing before dinner... then it was time for presents!

Devin and Kayleigh both knew what their big gifts were... or had a pretty good idea. Devin asked for a big bookshelf, Kayleigh asked for a HUGE bulletin board (not sure how that's going in the van!). Paige got more small gifts and had fun opening all of them! As for Chase... Santa gets one less cookie next year... payback for bringing Chase an electronic drum set!!!

But, the surprise gift of the night... our "blast from the past" gift from Ray & Judy (my in-laws)... a framed junior prom picture of Mike & I!! Boy did we laugh over that one!

After leaving the Lyons house we stopped at Dallas Lamp Retirement Center to visit Mike's Grandma Lyons and then went to Grandma Molitor's house before ending our second day in Ohio.

Happy Birthday Dawnya

Happy Birthday dear friend,

There are no chance happenings in life, there is no luck. It is all part of such a bigger plan and I believe that we meet people in our life with the helping hand of God. We've been friends for 10 years now... and so much has happened in that 10 years!

You and Neal, have played such a huge role in our life, witnessing to us, praying with us, and helping us to find a new, exciting Faith. You mean more to us than you could ever imagine! You have been there through happy, joyous occasions, and prayed with me during some of the most difficult events of my life.

Today, I pray for you, for blessings of happiness, health, and peace.

Have a Blessed Birthday!

First Stop In Ohio: Reinharts, then Hobecks

First stop on our Ohio trip was to Mike's Mom's house to celebrate the holiday with the Reinharts. Paige and little Anna spent a great deal of time on Great-Grandma Rosie's lap... I don't thinks he minded one bit!


Usually, Devin is the little kid playing and rough housing with the little cousins... but with his leg in a walking cast, Kayleigh took that job. Chase and Jack had a blast just plowing her down (I think she enjoyed playing with them too!). Little Anna followed her around all afternoon as well.


After dinner Uncle Jarrick pulled out the Wii... all I can say is Wii MUST be crazy! (OK.. that was lame, I know...). It was a blast! Chase and Jack raced Mario style for quite a while.. then it was time for the rest of us! Uncle Jason even taught Paige to play tennis... then she kicked my bum! They even convinced Mike and I to box eachother... that could be a great tension reliever!!


After a few games we broke the big surprise to the kids... we are using the money that we got from Grandma & Grandmpa Reinhart to buy our family a Wii with some accessories... and of course Mario Kart!

After leaving Grandma Reinharts house we stopped in at Jim & Jenni's for a supper. The kids played more Wii then we came back to Grandpa Casto's house to crash.

Next stop: Grandma & Grandpa Lyons house tomorrow...

A Day At The Ice...

We must really like the cold.... New Years Eve we hiked in wind and cold weather, New Year's Day... we ice skated!!!

Dawnya and I took the 4 younger kids (Paige, Chase, Emmi, and Abram) to LJVM Coliseum to skate. We were certain that Abe would out-skate us all considering he's a hockey player... but I gotta say, the girls did pretty good too!

The first go-round Paige would NOT let go of me, but 2nd time around she was on her own! By the time we left she was saying to me "Go AWAY Mom! You're taking all my focus and making me fall!" Emmi gained confidence the longer we skated also. Chase even did great... after we realized he put his skates on the wrong feet!

Dawnya and I are both wiped! We had fun... but it was definitely a workout!