Family Fun

Had a good time yesterday with familly.  There was so much food and all the women made every kind of Christmas cookie and candy.  If you went away hungry it was your own fault.  There was 8 little ones 6 and under running around.  At times, you couldn't hear yourself think but that didn't last long and they were off to play downstairs with toys.  Everyone was busy with their cameras taking pictures.  I got to hold my newest great granddaughter for the first time.  She is a month old and a real cutie. A good time was had by all.

Police Car

I think nothing could be more exciting to children than a Police Car.  It has so much equipment inside of it.  They love to hear the siren too.  They are having fun for a few minutes in their Grandpa's car. It doesn't seem that long ago when his children were small and looking out the window of his Highway Patrol Car. It's great fun!

Mother's Little Helper

It is wash day today and Mother's Little Helper is checking it out. He is growing up so fast. Pulls himself up to everything now. He will be walking very soon. His Mom has her hands full taking care of three little ones. Their ages are 9 months, 2 years and 4 years. I remember when all 5 of ours were 5 and under. The last two were twins which made double the work but double the pleasure too. Now they are all married and a couple have grandchildren. How time flies.

Beautiful March Weather

This picture will show you just how warm the weather is here in March. We have been running at least 20 degrees above normal almost all winter. We haven't had any snow on the ground for a long time now. It has been like Spring for weeks before it was officially Spring. Now it is almost like summer. With temperatures in the 80's, it is just hard to believe. Everything is budding out and the tulips are coming up fast.

Children

No matter how many children you have they are all different. We have twins and they are alike in many ways but so different in other ways. We also have two sons that are as different as night and day. They have wonderful mates that we love dearly. My husband is very ill and will not recover so they are all coming to see him one last time. We'll all see him in Heaven one day.

Old Family Photos

My sister has been digging through many old photos and trying to put names to them. I was looking at this photo again and it seems like it is hard to remember our kids being this young. Now they are all married. Some are grandparents too already. Time just goes by too fast. When they are young, it seems like they will be small forever but before you know it, they are middle aged. Hard to believe.

A Child's Delight

Nothing is so much fun to watch than a little child who is very exciting about opening Christmas presents. I have always said that children just make Christmas. It is so much fun to see their surprise and the wonder in their eyes.

If we could all keep that sense of wonder and excitement in our lives, it would be wonderful. I am glad we have grandchildren and great grandchildren around to enjoy all the various Holidays of their lives and ours.

Family is Growing

Our family is growing. Our children have their families now and they are for the most part, grown up and many have married. Now the grandchildren's families are growing too. Pictured here is one of our grandsons and his bride and their two boys. It seems like yesterday we were babysitting our grandson and his twin sister and now he has two children of his own. We now have four generations of family and it's still growing.

Little Children

Little children grow up so fast. Our little great grandson looks so grown up in his suit. He is ready for church and he looks so nice. He and his Mom make a really good looking pair, don't you think? It is so much fun watching the children growing up. And it is fun to get into conversations with them and he has a million different faces he makes.

Animal Sounds by Kaelyn

It is so funny to see little grandkids developing their speech and sounds. Our granddaughter sent a video of her little girl learning to make animal sounds. They grow up so fast. She is ahead in learning words too.



The Internet is such a wonderful way to keep up with her growth and how quickly she changes and learns things. We love getting emails with videos. I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did.

Palestinian Children Die in Blast

Three Palestinian children have been killed after an Israeli tank shell hit northern Gaza. Israel's military confirmed it launched an attack, saying it had targeted people setting up a rocket launcher. Doctors said two boys aged 10 and 12 died of shrapnel wounds. A 12 year old girl, who was critically injured in the blast, died also in the hospital. The Israeli army expressed sorrow for the deaths of the children, but said it held militant groups responsible.

Huge Payout in US Stuttering Case

Six US citizens who, as children, were used in an experiment that tried to induce stuttering have been awarded nearly $1 million dollars in compensation. In 1939, the plaintiffs, all orphans in state care, were tormented for six months by Iowa University researchers. The study was testing the theory that children develop speech impediments because of psychological pressure. In 2001, those involved learned the truth behind their treatment and sued, originally seeking $13.5 million in damages. The six, now in their 70's and 80's, said the experiment had left them with pschological and emotional scars.

Children's Health Insurance

The Senate committee approved a five-year $35 billion expansion of a children's health insurance program that would be financed through higher tobacco taxes. The program subsidizes insurance for children and some adults with incomes too high for Medicaid but not high enough to afford private insurance. The additional spending approved by the committee would bring total SCIP funding to $60 billion over five years which is double what the administration has proposed. The president has threatened a presidential veto on this.

Sand More Deadly Than Sharks

When you are at the beach, waves and sharks aren't the only dangers. Sand holes have collapsed on more than two dozen young people and killed them over the last decade. Father and son doctors have made warning of this risk their personal campaign. At least 20 children and young adults in the United States have died since 1985 at the beach or backyard sand submersions. There were at least 8 others who died in Australia New Zealand and the United Kingdom. This was published in this week's issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. A sand hole can collapse horrifyingly fast.