Oh MY....what a Cat.

Not much to chat about today. The boys played their first games in the church rec league. Neal scored more than Noland, believe it or not!! I think that the "finger" had something to do with it.

So here's my Romeo....he's all stretched out on the couch, and happy as a clam. Has anyone ever seen a happy clam? It's amazing. He and Rudy don't move much in the chaos. RoseMarie, on the other hand, runs and hides.

Thanksgiving Details (edited)...Noland's Finger

Hello Again,

Here are our Thanksgiving pics. We were at Grandmother's house. Aunt Lisa's family also came...so there were 15 of us!!!

The girls liked being with Drew and Neal helped Henry with his videogames.

Uncle Kurt showed me his "happy" finger as I took his picture.

Niah posed with Grandpa Jack.

All in all, a good time.

AS FOR NOLAND'S FINGER.....no surgery. AT ALL!!! Hurray!!! Just a couple of different splints and physical therapy!! Thanks to God.

Football Owie & Mom Gets Another Job

Greetings all,

Hopefully it's getting snowy where you are. We're supposed to get our first in the next week. I'm so excited!!!

Anyway, here's the latest. Noland dislocated his right pinkie finger in the November 9th pregame warm ups....so we thought. It was swollen and purple. Now we're three weeks later....North made it to the final four, but was stopped by Pike. The pediatrician had it x-rayed...it's broken. Take a look at the x-rays. The broken chip is in the middle knuckle area. So we went to the orthopedic today....honestly, I expected something to be done today...end of story.

NOT

We go to the Indiana Hand Center at Indiana University Medical Center tomorrow for a pre-surgical consultation. The surgery is to include pins....UGH!!! It's called a
boutonniere deformity. Can you believe it?

In the meantime, I interviewed for a teacher's aide position at one of our elementary schools. Did a very poor job in the interview, I might add. But I charmed someone....and was offered the job on Monday, just as we were leaving to see the pedatrician for Noland. I was supposed to start today....

Changed that start date to tomorrow....yesterday....and changed tomorrow's start date to Monday today, since we're going to Indianapolis tomorrow. WHEW!!! My new principal probably thinks that she hired a total FREAK!!! I'll work from 7:45-2:45, get the boys, get the girls and go home. The AHH work will be done completely in the evening now. I think I can do both.

Things are Happening!!

WOW!! What a Friday for the Andis Family.

1. The CNHS Bulldogs won the REGIONAL!!! Now they play Pike High School at Pike on the 16th. The Pike Red Devils are the only team who has beaten the Dogs his season.

2. Denver and The Mile High Orchestra....now on the FOX "Next Great American Band"....made it to the top 8!! Denver was a student of mine in Plymouth, Indiana. Unbelieveable.

3. Neal had a great opening night of "DEAR AMERICA" at Central Middle School.

I got up at 4:30 this morning to come to AHH for class. Following class...I get to have a wonderful Chinese lunch with my friend, Leah!!! Hurray. Then I think I'll go shopping. I don't get much time by myself.

Just FYI

Finally the pictures from Halloween are posted. Although I'm biased....I think the girls were adorable.

We've had Greg's 44th birthday....He'd love to know that I posted that. We went to Red Lobster and ate like KINGS!!! We always spend WAY too much there, but it's all eaten, nothing left over. This mama likes that. I gave him a wallet pic. It's a cool little credit card sized digital photo album. So he can show off his family with 58 pictures.

What else....Neal is the assistant director of his middle school's Veteran's Day Tribute. This goes up on Friday. It's been fun for me to help a little...not as much as I'd like. The girls are okay hanging out there for an hour or so, but the 3 hour rehearsals of late, are NOT a workable thing. There's also the small issue that I'd like to KILL the majority of middle schoolers involved. Was I like that? They're like HUGE 3 year olds on steroids and caffeine.

Then I go off to KY for the second to last class at AHH. After the 17th, there will be very few, if any, classes at the office. The idea is to allow families to do their PE online or with DVDs. I don't get to have fun seeing them, but we chat online. I'm hoping to start a support group here at some point.

Moving on....CNHS plays Jeffersonville on Friday night for the REGIONAL championship. WOW!! The 4-years-in-a-row state champs, Warren Central, were beat last week at sectionals!!! So who knows!!! WE may go to the dome!!!

I'll post new pics as I can. Call me if you need me.

Hugs,
T

SECTIONAL CHAMPS!!

Fantastic.....wonderful....the boys in blue...Columbus North, are sectional champs. We play Jeffersonville next Friday in the Regional. I'll post pictures as soon as I can. Blogger is having issues.

BOO!!

So I'm taking time to sit and post. Can anyone actually believe it? The kids are all off at school, and I'm sitting in front of the fireplace with my cats and my coffee. It's Halloween, and the scary movies have been on TV this entire month!!! I watch TV more in October than I do any other time of year. Today there is a "HALLOWEEN" movie marathon.....yeah, Michael Myers. I know it's crazy, that an all-American mom, like me could just love those old 80s slasher movies...but I DO!!

It's probably an escape. Things have been moving so fast....Daddy just passed 8 months ago....and we've moved...and Sis has moved....and the kids have started in new schools...and...and. Sometimes I just want to crawl into a hole, and wake when it's all settled. Does that ever happen?

Isn't it written somewhere that when you have a major life change, like a death, that you're not supposed to add to it, or do anything drastic for a year? Well....Sis and I didn't follow that rule. Since Mom passed in 2005, we've had 2 children, moved once....her TWICE.....travelled to China...Sis watched Niah.....Dad passed....good grief!!! I guess that it all just takes time. I'm so thankful that Bev and Kenny have moved here with us.

It looks like this Christmas we may have everyone here. Seems kinda funny that we can manage to that AFTER our parents are gone. What's up with that??? Anyway, enough doom and gloom.....

Happy Birthday, Naricyn!!

While she's only 4...she filled the house with family and friends. What a joy this girl has brought to our lives.

News....

Just a quick note and a couple pics of my bro with his family. They are so cute!!! The news is that our biggest baby...well, she's not the biggest...Noland is the biggest....but the oldest....anyway....Kwan may be able to come home for Christmas!!! I'm so excited, but trying to keep it in check until she can determine her work schedule.

It would be great...everyone...everyone home for Christmas.

The Pumpkin Patch

Fall Break has finally arrived. Neal, the girls, and I are visiting Aunt Jenni in Fishers. Poor Noland has football practice...so he's home alone...I'm sure he's a couch potato.

On Wednesday I was lucky enough to be able to go with the girls' classes to Whipker's Pumpkin Patch. It was foggy and damp, but they had a blast picking a pumpkin. Then they lead me into the corn maze. So many "dead ends"....and giggles.

In Philly

What a wonderful boy!!! I've spent the last 24 hours with my newest nephew...Dylan Jacob....see earlier posts. But....let's talk airlines.

I asked when I got to the airport yesterday, now much it would cost me to take a later flight. I got that I should stand by for the later flights at a cost of $25. WELL>>>>>

As I called to check...now that it's WAY TOO LATE to get there....I may lose the value of the ticket and have to pay a $100 change fee!!! I just LOVE the American airline system.

Oh well...I'll get back in Indiana eventually. I've still got one change of clothes. Hope Greg doesn't mind more time with the kids alone.

Can you tell that he didn't like his first bites of cereal???

Welcome To Our Home

So here it is finally....the updated pictures of the house. I'll post more later. We're all doing fine...with only the office/guest room left to be done. Well...of course the garage is still full too!!!

Fall is Finally Here

It's starting to get FALL-ISH. At least it will be after it's 92 degrees today!!! The girls are at school, the boys too. At 2:30 I pick up the girls, go to Central for drama club, run home for a meal, then off to Bloomington for Noland's football game. It's the next to last JV game. It doesn't seem possible...but it's true.

Friday, North plays Southport, so both Andis boys will be there...I almost said ON THE FIELD...but Noland won't see playing time. It's going to be fun, nonetheless.

Tonight, I'm hoping to get pictures up.

Almost there..

Sorry for the lag in postings. We're getting closer to getting our "stuff." Jen and Co. close on the 11th and then move their stuff that weekend. We should be good to go the next Wednesday. I have to get the carpets cleaned, so we'll be here with one couch and mattresses....but we should survive.

I've enjoyed having Romeo join us. Greg brought him up a couple of weeks ago. He's wonderful, and Jen's cat, Superman, has a blast with him. (See pics)

RoseMarie is still with Greg and she's happy that way. She never did accept Romeo and I'm not sure that she will.

Cinnamon is here too and doing great. With all the boxes around, things are a little dark, and she's used to brighter surroundings...but that will change when we get it all together.

Another happening is my new little toy. I'm not posting a picture yet...at least of mine....blue daisies will be added, and I want the full impact when you see it. But here's a picture from Honda. It's a FIT. Believe it or not, all the kids fit into it and it gets FANTASTIC mpg!!

What else can I tell you?

First Day of School for Girls

Niah had her first day last Friday, and Naricyn today. Naricyn wants so much to stay all day like Niah. Maybe second semester.

It was amazing. Noland has never experienced anything like this before.....6000 people at a high school football game....cross town rivals. The Dogs beat the Olympians 20-10. The fans rushed the field. Here is the trophy after presentation. See for yourself.

The Girl's See Their School

It seemed just like home to my girls. They walked right in and "took over."

Niah starts for real tomorrow...all day....and lunch too.

Naricyn is jealous; she wants her school too. So she and I will do something "school-ish" tomorrow.

Football Success

The first Varsity game was Friday night. After the varsity win, I thought Noland would be thrilled. It's not like his former teams shut out opponents!! But was I WRONG!!! He didn't play and it didn't matter to him that they won.

So as we watched the JV game, I prayed that he would play. If he didn't, things would be VERY unpleasant at home. As the first half waned away, Noland still stood on the sidelines. I was starting to sweat. Then with only 10 seconds to go in the half, he got in. THANK GOD....at least that was something. Then he played most of the second half, had at least one good tackle and was great at center. WHEW!!!

He was a charmer after the game. So the rest of the night was nice. We came home and started homework, which didn't get completed until after 11pm. A great night......Aunt Lisa/Uncle Dodge and Aunt Jenni/Uncle Adam called to see how he did.

Tomorrow the girls go to their school for an OPEN HOUSE. They're ready to go!!! News on that later.

Almost there...

We're almost there.....Jen is moving this weekend. So that lets us into the house. The house will be full of boxes and stacked furniture, but who cares? I'm praying that we can all find some peace with our lives and get settled again. If you haven't lost your parents, then you have such a blessing. It doesn't matter what your relationship is with them.....it's a different world when they're gone.

My sis and I are still finding our way. Personally, I may never feel completely at ease again. My goal is just to give the kids a home that they'll want to come back to, the way I did.

Greg has been trying to transfer positions to Indiana, but so far nothing. So we're still only seeing him on the weekends. Sometimes, when he works on Saturday, we only see him Saturday night and part of Sunday. It's a lot of driving for less than 24 hours together. The kids miss him; I miss him. Even when we get the house all situated...it won't be home until he's there.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a brighter day.

School Starts

Finally the summer ends and the boys head off to their new schools. Neal seemed nervous, but managed to find a couple of friends the first day. Noland is still mostly a loner....but says that he's talking with football guys more. I know that they both miss their friends in Berea, and are already planning their return to Pirate Country for Spring Break. Pray for the boys. There are so many vital choices to be made at this point.