Here are some more pics of Kyle doing his volleyball thing.

Kyle had another game tonight and it was an exciting one.
That is Kyle hitting the ball over the net.
I took pictures with my 35mm and Leighton took these pics with the digital camera. When I get my other pics developed, I will post them if I have any good ones. Kyle's team won after 3 games and it was very close as the last game was 26-24. Kyle was amazing! He had many good plays (I don't know if that is what you call it but I am just learning about volleyball). Go Kyle!!!

Here is Josh with his new haircut. And the shirt Christine gave him looks great! We miss you, Josh. Go UNC!!!

Kyle and I went to see two sweet sixteen games tonight. We saw Florida beat Butler and Oregon beat UNLV. We had a good time, mostly eating junk (very expensive junk)!
Keith, Kyle is eating your dippin' dots!
Here is our view from way up high. I could still see Joachim Noah's ponytail flopping around! Even though I have no chance of winning the bracket, I still say...GO UNC!!!!

To _____ Music, when Soft Voices die

Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory;
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live with the sense they quicken.

Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heap’d for the beloved’s bed;
And so they thoughts, when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.


Percy Bysshe Shelley. 1792–1822

Kyle made the volleyball team at school and they had their first game today. I brought my camera but my memory card was not in it so no action shots for this first blog of volleyball. Kyle played almost all of two games for the JV and he did terrific. The game is more complicated than I remember from my gym days but he sure knew what he was doing. They won their first match. This is the first time O'fallon has a boy's volleyball team so it is a new program but they have a good team. This is a new sport in our family, it is sure fun to watch though. Go KYLE!!!

Keith flew yesterday for the first time in over two years. He had such a good time and I could really hear it in his voice how excited he was. This is his passion and it is fun to watch someone live their passion, especially after being away from it for so long. I am so happy for you, Keith.

When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." -- Leonardo da Vinci

Keith and I went to Oklahoma City this weekend. I had not been there for 7 years so I saw some real changes there.
Here is the reflecting pool at the Oklahoma Memorial where the bombing was.
They put a chair for each of the victims and their names are on each one. I found it very chilling.
I was able to see Millie, one of the best people I know. That is her sweet sports car behind us. She is so cool! I also saw my friend Roberta while I was there and all of her grandchildren. Roberta is a terrific grandmother, so much fun. I wish Al would have been there.
For St. Patrick's night, we went out to drink green beer (ok, Keith did, I drank water) but we found a great bar at Bricktown brewery with the tv on with basketball so I could watch my bracket go to heck....We had such a fun time and I am sorry it ended so quickly.

Happy Birthday, Joshua. My St. Patrick's Day baby. You took the hard way coming in to this world but I am grateful everyday for you.
You are so much fun to be with. You are always up for anything and so creative! I love how much you love everyone and you think the best about people. You don't let anything keep you down, you are such an optimist. These are qualities I admire so much in you and continually try to emulate. We have missed you so much these past two years and can't wait for you to come back and spend time with us again on a more permanent basis. At least for a while! Thanks for being such a loving and supportive son. We love you so much!! Have a great day.

Happy Birthday, Jordan. You sure are growing up fast. We miss you lots and love you!

Happy Birthday, Keith!
You sure are getting older....
but so much better. I hope you have a great day. We'll be thinking about you all day. Good luck on your test, too. Love you lots and lots.

Here is Leighton and I on the serving line at Emergency Communities, the organization we went to work at in New Orleans. It serves about 500 people everyday.
Me and Lauren are standing in kitchen. Lauren is in charge of the kitchen and planning the meals there. She is only 23 years old but somehow can feed all those people on donated items. She is a brilliant, incredible woman who is doing this for free.

Here I am with Alex, the other longtermer in the kitchen, cutting up vegtables. I cut more vegtables in one week than I have in three years. Alex is from New York City and wants to be a sports journalists so we had lots to talk about with March Madness around the corner!
One morning the Times Picayune came around and took this picture. It was in the paper today. It was the only morning I cooked breakfast, those are eggs I am putting in a pan. I probably cooked about 200 eggs. It was crazy.

On my way to New Orleans I was able to (kind of) surprise Christine for her birthday. Happy Birthday Christine! Jenna cooked an incredible meal as usual and I was able to see her before she gets all big and pregnant. I just wish I could have stayed longer....I miss my family!
Brandy is very excited about baby..........
The cake was almost too pretty to eat but with our family, well, it got ate.

Today is Josh's last day and he and I decided to go eat breakfast. We didn't go to bed until 2am, as you can see in the tired faces. I'm so glad he got to come down and we got to hang out. When i was working, Kyle was home and when I was home, Kyle was at school. So I haven't seen Kyle in a few days so he's not in the picture. I can't wait until May when Josh is here for good. We miss you mom.

Josh made it here after so many trials and tribulations. He's sick, his car was broke and he worked all night long but he surely did not let any of that stop him from coming here. We were so happy to see him and he is happy to be eating some of Michelle's awesome chicken and sausage gumbo!