OK, I can't figure out how to delete this post...

I was teaching somebody how to set up a blog and showing him how to upload pictures. This pic of Amanda and Kenny was the first one in my folder, so it got a chance to participate in my tutorial session. Anyway, I guess I'm not as savvy as I thought, because I can't seem to get rid of the post now. So, I thought, "Who wouldn't want to see a nice picture of Amanda and Kenny?" hence this post. Enjoy!
-Jeanine

Dear Tanner

Dear Tanner,

Be advised that you dumped (4) tires with a couple old chicks!!!!!!!

Now I am stuck with them!!!

It cost me $4.00 each to get rid of them.

Please send me your address, I can ship them to you for only $3.00 each.

Forget it Tanner a better idea just came to me!!!!!!!!

Your Mother's Birthday is coming & I have a great idea for some new yard decorations!!

Kitchen Collisions!

Morning ladies & gentlemen let me pose question: is there a room in your residence where accidents frequently happen? Is there a space in your dwelling when you enter alone things fall, break, shatter, splatter, crack or down right disintegrate with out reason or explanation? I have not had this phenomena occur in any room I occupy for an extended length of time, but after several instances of Jeanine being in the kitchen alone and I hear phrases such as “DAMN IT! OH MAN!” or expletives uttered at an exceptional velocity I’ve concluded this room does exist in our home and it is the kitchen. This morning’s incident was especially sweet.
I work at night now to accommodate my school schedule and don’t usually get home till around 11:00PM. I try to unwind by playing Halo 3 and killing as many beefcake looking alien creatures as possible. Helps me sleep at night. I wanted a snack, but the fridge and cupboards were rather bare so I made myself a bowl of cereal. After completing my mission of chomping on breakfast and defeating the invading alien armies of earth it was time for bed. The kitchen is rather close to our bedroom and since it was around 2AM I left some items I used out so I did not make a lot of noise putting them away. (Items left out: cereal, bowl, sugar).
Jeanine crawled out of bed around 8:00AM. A few moments later I heard “DAMN IT!” I did not awaken to investigate since Chloe sometimes leaves us a simmering pool of urine on the kitchen floor in the mornings. I figured I’d had enough of those delightful gestures for eight lifetimes. Not long after Jeanine requested my assistance. I walked to the kitchen door way and saw her on the floor not cleaning up urine but sugar, piles and piles and piles of sugar.
“What happened?” I inquired.
“You left the sugar out and I knocked over!”
I looked curiously at her and asked, “Are you somehow blaming me for you knocking over an entire vat of sugar?” (Seriously it was a vat of sugar! Now I’m wondering why on earth do we have so much sugar? We don’t use that much sugar in a year. I think that’s the same vat of sugar from our old apartment). I suppose perhaps some how it was my fault since I control the appendage, which smacked the vat of sugar sending it sprawling all over the kitchen like the snow we haven’t received in Philly this winter. Now that I think about it, it was a rather festive scene. Thus our weekend has gotten off to a “sweet” start and I’m looking forward to my feet getting stuck to the kitchen floor for the next few days. (Beats stepping in urine)


Calvin

Nice story from Iraq...

Looks like Matt, got to see a bit of home this morning. Click HERE for article.

Vacation October 10 - 13...Wanna Come???

Hi Almons,

Calvin and I have made our vacation plans for 2008. We are going here (see pic). This is called Havasu Falls, it is located on the Havasupi Indian Reservation in the Grand Canyon, AZ. Of all the people who visit the Grand Canyon, only 2% visit Havasupai. The trip is a hiking camping trip (yes, you heard right) and it takes you to the village of Supai, inhabited by the Havasupai Indians, camping under the stars stars next to Havasu Creek, and to 3 water falls: Havasu, Mooney and Navajo. It is a 10 mile hike there and back and Calvin and I added an extra day in the canyon for exploring. It is rated a 3 level hike (in terms of intensity) on a scale of 1-5. The cost is $950 per person with all food, taxes, fees, transportation, all camping gear (including backpack, tents, sleeping bags, etc.) and a guide included. Basicially everything is included except airfare. And they will pick you up from Flagstaff or Pheonix so a rental car is not needed. The company is called JustRoughinit, and they were featured in US News and World Report as one of the top hiking companies operating in and around the canyon. Their hike from the North to South Rim of the canyon was voted one of the best in the country.
Anyway, all of this is to try and convince any of you, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins to come with us. The more the merrier. And if we get a group together, 10% is deducted from the cost.

I am sure some of you are wondering where the heck I heard of this place and why I want to go. The answer is, I heard about it on the Travel Channel, and I want to go because everything I have heard/read about it since says it is one of the most amazing places in the world and it's supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience.

Calvin and I are super excited, and we would be even more so if one or more of you were coming along. Matt you will be home by then, so I think you should give it some serious consideration. :0)

Quarters

Hey Family,

I have a small obsession with quarters, no not the fun game you played in college involving drinking lots of water, but collecting state quarters. I say small obsession but I think actually it is really big and could be borderline on the unhealthily side. I never give exact change in hopes that I will get a new state quarter!!!! I have severe disappointment when I get no new ones, this is where I think the obsession is unhealthy.

Well my mom being the great mom she is, got me a really cool fold out map that has a place for all the state quarters and even the year they come out. I pulled my faithful map out last night to insure I was updated (which I do often, another unhealthy side)and to my HORROR, I am missing two 2007 quarters and I dont know if you all know this but it is 2008!!!!

So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE family I need you to also not give exact change, search your purses, pockets and change jars for the following state quarters:

Wyoming
Utah

I am unsure of what they look like but they will have the 2007 date, also it is 2008 so please keep your eye out for any 2008 ones, I DONT HAVE ANY!!! But they probably wont come out for another month or two. I need my sanity saved here, I am worried I may never find them and my collection will never be complete. I could be losing sleep even!

I love you all,

Emily

ps Grandmom and Pop got a cell phone !!!! How cool are they!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

We heard by phone from Matt on Christmas Day and his birthday (12-30). He did get to open a lot of packages but he had to work on both Christmas and his birthday. He and Bridget did get to see some sites in Baghdad while wearing a gun on their hips. I have tried to send them out to the email addresses. I am not sure if i can put them on the blog. I am very happy that Bridget takes the time to send me pictures and i will pass them on when I can. I asked him if he got to celabrate New Years eve and he just laughed. Things remain very busy for him. I am still planning the road trip if he is unable to come home for the weddings. Happy New Year to all!

Happy New Year Everybody

Top 3 things to look forward to in 2008 (in no particular order):

1. Matt's return to the states
2. Ben and Meredith's wedding
3. Rian and Mike's wedding

So far it looks like it's going to be a great year!!!! Also, if we are going to keep to Tom's prediction for 5 babies in 5 years. Someone is going to have to turn up pregnant in 2008. Get to work people! Errr...get to work married people!