Monday, August 23, 2010

a sad day

yesterday our young puppy got sick and she died overnight. This was isaiah's dog and he took care of her every day. she must have gotten into some poison or even eaten somthing that got lodged inside of her. Well the kids are kinda sad today (me to). she was a good dog. we could let her loose in the yard and she would just stay right there with us. She was also very wild and jumpy, she was alot of fun.

-rick

Monday, August 16, 2010

a new week

This week we are starting school with our kids, well i should say that kristi is starting school. She is the one that really teaches them. i teach then music on friday's and that's about it. we started a coin system in our house. if the kids finish their work on time they get a nickle, if they behave and do good things they get a penny for each one. At the end of the week they can use this money to "buy" things like, candy from the candy jar (.10) or miniuets on the wii or x box (1 cent per minuet). We are hopeing this will go good for them. especially isaiah because if he dosn't focus on his work it takes him all day when it should really only take him till noon.

We went rollerblading last night and Isaiah took the new dog. She pulled him while he rollerbladed and he thought that was soo cool. Julean took his lightning McQueen with him yesterday and he has this really big one. he calls it his "big, big Queen" he is obsessed, kristi got his a lightning mcqueen comic book and he wanted me to read it to him several times last week. Matthias is turning into a real stubborn kid. he will not eat. I don't know why but he is just not that interested in much food. Maybee we will just start feeding him candy? that should work. Adriana is doing good too. the other day she said she wanted to be a boy so she could do fun things like cut wood and work on the farm - thats daddy's girl.

Things at chamber ministries is going well. We are a little tight on our finaces for activities. I was hoping that our paintball tent at homecoming would be a good fundraiser for us but we really didn't make much off of it. WE have a couple of fundraising things coming up in October so things will just have to be a little tight till then. The ministry is going well. we are getting excited about starting the new school year and starting up PTO, and Chamber. I think we are going to call the after school program "spotlight" again.

-thats all for now.

-Rick

Thursday, August 12, 2010

where did the summer go?

This is the last day that my sister Renae will be here. her kids and mine have really enjoyed playing together this last month and they will surly miss them. I have Isaiah, Julean, and Matthias with me today and they are playing together really good. They have moved all the couches into a square and are playing on the all. Matthias is just joining in too. Kristi and Adriana went yard saleing today so i have the boys and the girls get to go out.

Things are starting to get really busy again too - as if they ever slowed down. The chamber and PTO start up next month. We have been having paintball outings and in October we have our corn maze. We are praying about doing chamber on death this year. I would really like to do it but i am not sure if we will have the helpers that we need. Football is starting up soon too.

I have been training for the marathon on October 17Th. I have been running alot and even biking some. That keeps me in pretty good shape but it also tires ME out.

-that's all for now - Rick

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

week 4

This is homecoming week! I am in charge of the Deckerville 5k for the track team and also chamber ministries is having paintball at Wilson park. We are busy trying to get those things together and it seams like everything comes up at the last minute. All is well though. We had an amazing blessing! someone donated 900.00 dollars to fix the ac in the Chamber ministries Van! That will be a huge relief when all those kids are piled in it!

Most of my family is here this week. My brother and his two kids are here from Florida and Renae and her family is here from Texas. Rochel was here a couple of weeks ago. It is nice to see all my family in the summer. Last night we went out to the break wall at pt sanilac and jumped off. it was alot of fun. Isaiah even jumped off! all by himself. Adriana is having fun with Chloe and Carly. They had a sleep over last night and Kristi made a big tent that they all slept in.

I have been really busy lately. I am training for a marathon and we are building a garage onto our house. it is busy but things are going well for us. The Lord has really blessed us with a great family, good health, and alot of fun this summer!

-rick

Monday, July 26, 2010

3rd week

last week was a good week. We finally got our permit to build our garage and now we just have to start working on it. They are supposed to come and dig out the footings this week, and i hope to get the block foundation put in soon afterwards.

This saturday we are having a paintball night out in the woods. this is our first one of the year. i hope we have several kids come out. we are trying a new course. It is a two on two course that is in a tent. if it works out well we will bring the tent up to wilson park and have a tournament during the homecoming. It will be fun and i hope we have a good tournout.

I have been running and biking, trying to train for the detroit marathon in october. last week i ran Sunday and Tuesday for 8 miles and then i biked 22 miles on Saturday. I am supposed to go for a 10 mile jog today at 9am. I am alittle behind on my training schedule but i am just going to have to push through it.

The kids have been playing with their cousins from Texas. My sister is here for 4 weeks and her kids are the same age as my three oldest. They are having alot of fun together. At bed time my kids are out very quickly because of all the fun they have had all day.

-thats all for now - see ya next week!

- Rick

-Rick

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

2 weeks in a row

Dear loyal and devoted fans,

This week is going by good. I know its only Tuesday but i had a good day yesterday. i worked on the farm most of the day and we were taking off the wheat. I enjoy being outside and working in the field and on the tractor. Last week went by good also. it seemed like i got more accomplished than usual. I got the corn maze cleaned out and it is starting to look really good. the corn is easily 8' tall. i think i will be a little harder this year.

I took 12 kids to cedar point on Wednesday last week. there were 3 adults including myself. I had alot of fun. Kristi was supposed to go with us but she got sick the day before and decided roller coasters was not good medicine. We were supposed to have a paintball outing last Saturday but the dates got mixed up and we had to cancel.

The kids are doing good. We got a new puppy! it is a female black lab and the kids bought it with their own money. They named her shadow. It is mainly Isaiah's dog and his responsibility. All the kids really like her and there have been a few fights over who gets to hold her. She is pretty cute.

- Rick

-some of the meals from last week - Chicken fajitas, pizza and salad, steak and potatoes, Chicken and rice.

Monday, July 12, 2010

well, how long has it been?

Rick, Signing in.

Last week provided its challenges. Our air conditioner went out and we found out that it will cost about 1,000.00 to fix it. That was not good news. It seems like things are starting to pile up on me too. THings that shouldn't take very long seem to take an hour, and it seems like i am rushing to get things done all the time. These are just some of my frustrations.

I am doing good though. I have started to train for the Detroit marathon. Last night i went for a 24 mile bike ride. My tire blew out at the farthest distance from my house and i had to get Kristi to come and pick me up. That's one way to get out of a hard workout. Tonight i am supposed to jog 6 miles. Me and Kristi might both go and take the kids. Kristi will probably walk and run 3 miles. Isaiah likes to ride his Bike with me and he can go along ways. Adriana can't quite keep up and Julean and Matthias ride in the Stroller. Its nice to all get out and do something athletic.

This week at the chamber we are going to Cedar Point. We leave Wednesday morning at 6am. We are also doing paintball this Saturday. I am not sure just how many kids will come out, but it is still fun when only a few come out.

Thanks to all who read my blog. I know i have been absent for quiet a while. I'll trya and do weekly updates.

- Rick

oh yeah, we had left overs for dinner last night

Monday, April 5, 2010

no title

Yesterday was easter and it was very nice. All of the kids got spoiled of course. They each got 3 easter baskets (except Matthias), so there is alot of candy in the house. We also celebrated Julean and Matthias's birthday party. Mattias really made a mess with his cake. He loved it, he even tried to eat the paper plate it was on. Julean got a bike for his birthday. He is still trying to learn how to pedal it but he thinks its so cool. He also got a toy tractor from great grandma and he loves it, HE drives it all around and pretends he is working up the field (where did he get that from?).

Things are going well around here. I have to work at H&R block today. Just 2 more weeks left and then i'll be done. actually it is only 5 days! It has gone by fast.

It is spring break around here so i have only a few voluntary track practices this week.

-Thats all for now, - Ham, What else would I eat on easter?

-rick

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

What? I have a blog?

Yes it has been a long time since i updated this blog and there is no excuse. Things have been going well for me and my family. Days are quickly passing by and it seems like lately all i can do is just survive them. It also seems like things just keep piling up and i will never get ahead. I guess that come with spring time and running a ministry and coaching track and working a H&R block. Things are good though. We have our first track meet on Thursday. We have chamber today at 3pm and i have to work today from 9am to 2pm. I also need to change the oil in my van and smooth out the yard where the old driveway was.

Isaiah and Adriana slept in the same room last night. it was a special thing for them. Kristi and I built them a tent out of sheets and they got their sleeping bags and pillows and slept in it all night. They loved it. Julean is starting to talk clearer and clearer, and Matthias is growing up so fast. He reminds me alot of Adriana when she was little.

that's all for now

-Rick - colorful ham and pasta

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Pressing on... Philippians 3:14

Today: Dodge ball tournament

This is an event that i particularly enjoy because i usually get to play. I don't think i have played dodge ball since last year at the dodge ball tournament. Afterward my arm felt like it would fall off. This year i am speaking for about 10-15 min and i am giving the gospel message to all who will attend. Pray for the kids hearts to be open. Hopefully you'll be able to see pictures on the website within the next couple of days

Kids are great. I had movie night with Isaiah, Adriana, and Julean last night at the youth center. We watched monsters vs Aliens, they loved it. I didn't watch it with them but they have fun staying up late and watching a movie on the big screen. I worked on my message for today.

that's all (for now)

-Rick

Monday, December 28, 2009

Yes i am alive

After nearly a three week hiatus, i am back and blogging (does that even make sense?). It is nearly the new year and 2009 went by way to fast. My kids are getting so big and i am feeling older (That seems to happen every new year). I had a great year and i look forward to what 2010 will bring.

We had a great Christmas day. Isaiah got a gun that shoots foam discs and he thinks its so fun to shoot me 10 times in the back while i am trying to do something els. He also got "sonic unleashed" for the 360. He got a car that you have to build too. it is made of wood and had screws and everything, so he keeps asking if we can build it, one day we will. Adriana got a stroller again for Christmas. this is the 3rd year in a row that she has gotten a stroller for her baby dolls. Every year that she has gotten one the boys play with it and crash it into the wall or try to ride it. by mid summer it is usually broken. She also got a foam shooter but she is not as into it as Isaiah is. Julean got a big play dinosaur that walks around and growls. We thought he would like that the best but he plays with this little car that he also got the most. He got a Mater from the movie "Cars" and he loves it. We bought Matthias a toy phone that lights up and he has really like playing, or slobbering on it. We bought a game for all the kids called 'Later Mater' also from the movie "Cars." Mater has a bunch of parts that you have to put on him before he brakes all apart again. Well the first time we did it i was showing them and Mater "popped" and the pieces all went flying and the kids all jumped. It was hilarious.

Kristi got my Halo 3 and it isquite fun to play. I got her a gift card to the antique store and she seamed to really like that. It is nice to have all the family here for the week. however, it seems like my moms house is getting smaller. I wonder if over time the house has shrunk due to CO2 and global warming. Our kids have had a ton of fun playing with their cousins. They just get so warn out by the end of the day they are out in a matter of seconds.

That's all for now, Have a happy new year

- Rick

Thursday, December 10, 2009

the daily...

Today is supposed to be the day off but things aren't quite working out as planned. We were going to go to pt huron to pick up our vacuum but it isn't done yet so i might switch my day off with another day. This week has gone by fast. I have gotten quite abit done though. I have started lifting weights and that makes me very sore. hopefully by next week i will have gotten used to it. It snowed here the last couple of days. The first snow of the year.

all the kids are doing great. Adriana is getting very good at reading, she might even pass Isaiah. Matthias is not crawling yet but he gets up on all fours and wiggles back and forth.

- thats all for now

-Rick - Taco salad

Monday, December 7, 2009

The Daily grind XIII

Its monday and here is the schedule:

8 thankyou and christmas cards
10 candy bars
1 h & R Block study
3 unload cement blocks
5 dinner
6 plan fundraiser dinner

i had a nice Sunday. We went to Croswell and the service was very nice. I went running yesterday for 8 miles. it was nice. I didn't time myself or try to push it real hard, i just had a nice leasurly run. This morning i went to weightlifting and i think i am going to be sore tomorrrow.

The kids are doing good. I got my Lionel train out and they are just lovin it. Julean thinks its so cool to push the whistle button. I made it go behind the couch and Isaiah really likes that.

-thats all for now

- Rick - Roast and potatoes

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The Daily Grind XII

Three days in a row! maybe i'll keep the 'daily' in my title after all. Today i am moving cement blocks out of my drivway, again. Hopefully this will be the end and i will finish.

Isaiah got knex for Christmas from his grandma lawhorne. He has been playing with them and me and kristi and him made a glider and he has been flying it around the house.

-thats all for now

- Rick - Chicken burgers - they were very good

Friday, December 4, 2009

The Daily Grind XI

heres the schedule:

8 Finances
1 Thanks yous
3 Planning
5 Family time

Somewhere today i have to find time to unload 2 trailers full of cement slabs (watch out thumb!) I also have alot of financial work to catch up on.

My in-laws made it to Word of life last night. They traveled all day. Isaiah and Adriana did very well in school yesterday. Things are starting to go back to normal around our house. Julean started peaing in his diaper at nights during the last couple of weeks but the past 3 days he has woke up with a dry one. I think he needed things to go back to normalcey (is that a word?).

thats all for now

-Rick - home made pizza

Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Daily Grind X

Yes, its called the daily grind but i havent written for over a week. MAybe i should take the word 'daily' out of the title. We had a great holiday. We went to Pennsylvania for thanksgiving and then Kristi's parents came to our house for about 5 days. It has been fun but it seems like time went by really fast.

Last Saturday i smashed my thumb on a concrete slab that i was moving. It hurt.

Yesterday we went to Saginaw and the kids went to a Xtreme fun. This is in the mall and it is a large room with about 10 huge inflatables. They had a blast.

Anyway, today i have alot of planning to do for Chamber Ministries. We don't have any activities planned for December so I am going to try and get the activities planned for Januray - Apiril. I also have to get some things done before we get a big winter storm. Things like getting a wood stock pile and staining my deck, and Removing all the concrete from my drivway.

Thats all for now

- Rick - Qdobe (a mexican grill)

Monday, November 23, 2009

The Daily Grind IX

This is the schedule today:

6am Finances
8am farm
1pm Make frames
2pm change oil
3pm take trailer to dump
4pm PTO prep
5pm Calling

Yes i am starting at 6 this morning because i am behind from last week. Things are starting to get back to normal though. Just when i have the chance to start having a regular schedule we have a short week. Thats OK though because I need a break, i have not had a day off in 3 weeks. Yesterday i did take a nap though for about 1 hour. I am starting to get a cold and that just seems to slow me down. Its not enough though to be sick just enough to be annoying.

Yesterday we celebrated Grandma's birthday. We had a party after Church for her. At Church Adriana told me that she asked a little boy named Jay if she could be his girlfriend. And he said yes! She was all giggly about it.

Anyway i gotta go I need to put a new picture up or something!

-Rick Pizza (not delivery, Digiorno)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Daily Grind VIII

I didn't make a schedule this week so I've been flying by the seat of my pants (is that the correct expression?). I have to fix a trailer so i can haul off some stuff that the dump wouldn't take. I also need to build some shelves and fix a couple of beds. I have been busy with farm work this last week also. We have started drying corn and it has been busy but yet kinda fun. Anyway thank you all for your prayers and the help you've given!

-Rick - Chicken Alfredo

Friday, November 13, 2009

the daily grind VII

The schedule today is varied, I am off schedule and into panic mode. My schedule is what ever i can get done. We have our dedication service tonight. It will probably be a small group, we just invited a few people. This will be a time that we pray for the building and thank God for the work he is doing.

Yesterday our kids were just wild yesterday and that is the result of them being slightly neglected the past couple of days. We missed our family day this week and that usually is a good time for us to have fun and just spend some quality time with the kids. We will be looking forward to next Thursday.

- That's all for now

Rick - Spaghetti

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Daily grind VI

Today is supposed to be my day off but I don't think that is going to happen today, or even this week, so i will just have to look forward to next Thursday.

Schedule today is: cloudy with a chance of a lot of work

I didn't get to see my kids very much yesterday. I had a seminar all day in Saginaw. We also are watching 9 kids for a friend who is in the hospital, it was kind of an emergency thing. That has kept Kristi and I quite busy.

that's all for now

-Rick - I had Taco bell last night