Here Comes the Snow!!!

The view from our front porch. The roads are not too bad right now. We are lucky to live on a State Highway and it's one of the first roads that they plow......

It started snowing here around 2:30 p.m. so by the time Ben got home from school he was ready to get into it. We are expecting 4-6 inches by tommorrow morning. The kids are hoping for a snow day and I think they may get it. Beau and Gabe were both sick today so a snow day would be good for them too......

Basketball and Birthday!!!

Abby is #53 (with ball).........
Like Ben's face in the corner of my photo??

Ali with her "Birthday Ice Cream" at Lonestar

Last night was Abby's last Home Freshman game. They played Pana and lost by 1 point. It was a very close, intense game. They did really well this season and Saturday they get to play in an Apollo Conference game and that will be the last game for the season. After the game we took Ali to Lonestar for her birthday dinner. Good food. Grandpa Bo joined us along with Ali's new "friend" Josh.

For those not in the area, we had about a 50 degree temperature change yesterday. The morning was bright and about 65 and by last night it was near 10 (with - wind chills)!!! Yesterday we had sun, wind, rain, sleet and snow....all in one day. I guess it's true what they say about Illinois "If you don't like the weather now, just wait a few hours it will change!!!". Crazy....and we are to get some snow Thursday night into Friday AM. The kids a hoping for a snow day.

Happy 18th Birthday Alicia!!!!

I can't believe our first born is now 18!! YIKES... We plan on going to Abby's last Freshman basketball game tonight then we are taking Ali out for her birthday dinner. Should be a good time.....

100 Days of School.....

Today was the 100th day of school!! Kindergarten really celebrates with everything surrounding the #100 (100 snacks, 100 counting, 100 everything!!!). Here is Gabe in his 100th hat he made. Good Job Gabe!!!!!

Poor Ben is Sick :(

Ben started coming down with a sore throat Friday and by Saturday AM he was feeling really bad. I think this is the first time in over 2 years he has been sick. I tried to take him to Marshall Clinic and Prompt Care but they both were closed so we headed to the ER. I really hate going to the ER just for a sore throat but with Brian still having a low immune system I did not want to wait. We did get right in and out of there in less then 30 minutes (which I think was a record for us!). While there Ben asked me if I brought my camera! Boy I sure have my kids trained, however I did not bring it. I did take a few on my phone camera so the quality is not really good. I would love to get a small point and shoot to keep in my purse for instances like this!! HINT, HINT Brian!!!! It's now Sunday and Ben is feeling really good and will be ok to go to school tommorrow.

Last Alabama Post!!!

I really don't know what Brian is trying to do here....do you????
Beau and Grandma Jane......
On the ferry.....

Yes.....He is working........On the Beach!!!

Here are just a few extra photos of our trip......Hope you enjoyed seeing our trip....

Naval Air Museum.....

Abby......Maybe our future pilot??

The Blue Angels.....

What a neat place. So much to see and alot of hands on things to explore. Also alot of history in this building. Abby and Beau rode on a simulator of the Blue Angels and we all went and watched an IMAX movie of them too. The kids enjoyed that fact they got to get in and play around with alot of the planes.

Our last day in Alabama.....we started off by going to Bob and Jane's church (Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church) for mass. Very nice church and the priest was very good. Afterwards we went to Lambert's Cafe. What a fun place (and good food). One of their "claim to fames" is that they throw rolls to you. The kids got a good laugh at that. We later headed over to the Naval Air Museum in Pensecola, FL. The last photo is a place that is both in Alabama and Florida (I think they call it the Florabama). We did not stop but I guess it's a popular place to visit but also a real "dive". It's a bunch of shacks put together. Next post.....The Naval Air museum......

Mardi Gras Parade......

We went to our first Mardi Gras Parade. I forgot the town we went too but it was in a shopping center. Before the parade we had lunch at California Kitchen. Good food and Abby still raves about their "amazing chicken sandwich". We also shopped at Barnes & Noble before the parade (really we went in there to stay warm!!). It was sooooo cold and windy (we thought we went south to get rid of this kind of weather). I am glad it was a short parade cause I don't know how long we could have stayed outside. Once the parade started it was a blast. The parade people were throwing beads (and being this was a rated G parade we did not have to show anything to get some!!), moon pies, toys, stuff animals and cups. Each kid had a bag full of things. It was really fun and can't wait to do it again sometime.

Trains and Ice Cream......

Foley Model Train Station
Eating Ice cream at Tracy's Drug Store in Foley

The Second day in Alabama was raining and cold. We started the day walking around Pottery Barn and then we headed to the Foley Train station. Gabe loved this!! It really was a cool display and the guys running the place sure do like what they are doing! Afterwards we went and had ice cream at an old time Drug store. It even had a jutebox with 45 records!!!

Visiting the Gulf....

After our ferry ride back we went to eat at a place right on the Gulf. Sun & Surf (it's the building in the last photo). Brian eat an oyster sandwich for the first time. After we eat we let the kids go walk on the beach. They could have stayed out there all day. The water (and sand) were cold but they were having a blast picking up seashells and playing in the sand, and of course they had to get into the water. We did not stay too long because of the weather (maybe this is why I have a cold now!!). Later that night we went back to Bob and Jane's camper and had pizza and shrimp.

I'll post more photos tommorrow for day 2 of our trip!!!

More Photos from Dauphin Island....

Their Best Captain Morgan Poses....