Mom has RETURNED!!

Well, the house is still standing, and mostly the way I left it. The girls are just as sweet and giggly as ever. BUT, the husband is in sad shape indeed. It has been a long time since I have seen such a bad case of the chickenpox. The picture only gives you some idea. Kayla and Sierra are glad I am back so they can finally rest! They did an awesome job taking care of him. I couldn't be more proud. We also had some fantastic friends who stepped in where the girls couldn't. God certainly does provide.
Kraig is healing, not as quickly as he'd like, but healing none the less. Like I said, the picture gives you the general idea, but I left the truly bad stuff for your imagination. Besides, it really would gross you out! Right now, he is up and about and tends to wear out quickly. Hopefully, going back to work next week won't kill him.
Anyway, I had an awesome time at Melanie's. She has a very nice facility and it was fun helping her make it better. My muscles were very sore from the long week of working and playing. I was afraid the airport would do a "cavity search" because I walked so funny. Fortunately for me, they passed me by. I should also note, in my desire to be politically correct...I decided to try "tree hugging". This is not recommended when skiing as I quickly learned. Thankfully, I made it home with all my limbs still attached and working as properly as they were when I left. Well, I must go now, the "spotted one" will need my help again soon.

A Week of Adventure and Excitement

Kraig--This has been an interesting week. Jennifer left last Friday for Colorado Springs to visit my sister, Melanie. Her week has been filled with shopping, eating out, being creative, watching movies, and skiing! Her biggest complaint has been that she is sore from skiing.


My week, on the other hand, has been filled with sickness. Sierra came home Tuesday after throwing up at school (and then in the car). I was diagnosed on Thursday with CHICKENPOX!!!! Yes, at the age of 35, I have chickenpox. It hasn't been too bad, except yesterday, when I had a fever (102 degrees) all day long. I tried to get Jennifer to come home early, but she was too busy eating bonbons. One good thing is that Kayla has let me borrow some really good books to read, and the girls have done an excellent job of taking care of me.

Sierra--I made a model, in school, of the stages of a butterfly. Stage One--It's a tiny, yellow egg (modeled by rice). Stage Two--A caterpillar hatches from the egg (modeled by a spiral noodle). Stage Three--The caterpillar turns into a chrysalis (modeded by a shell noodle). Stage Four--A butterfly hatches from a chrysalis (modeled by bowtie noodle). My stomache has been upset all week, especially after I threw up.

Kayla--I have a few things I want to say. I have been dealing with being the oldest girl in the house, taking care of somebody with chickenpox, and having to deal with a few arguments. I have had to make food and do things I've never done before. I have had a little fun--watching a movie with Dad and Sierra, serving Dad, and buying the food at Wendy's. We have all missed Mommy terribly.

Who'd have thunk that she is so valuable that we all fall apart without her?! Hmmmmmmm, it must be love. Of course, this all means that my physical has to be put off yet again. When I called the recruiter to tell him, he said that the place where I get my physical done (MEPS) had lost my paperwork, and I wasn't going up Monday anyway!!!!!! So, we'll try again in a week.

Lunch with the girls--03/20/2006

Being unable to have my physical done today, the girls decided I should put my time to good use, and asked me to eat lunch with them. So, here are pics of us in the lunchroom! Enjoy.

An Experiment!--March 19, 2006

What's all the Smith family news that's fit to print?

**Let's see--Sierra has lost another tooth, and is truly gappy!

**I went up for my physical at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) last Monday, only to be told that my recruiter had messed up, and Air Force applicants weren't being processed that day!!! Since I had awoken at 4:00 a.m., and had a lousy night's sleep on top of that, I was not a happy camper. Also, as I had taken the bus onto Ft. Meade, and left my car at the hotel, I had to wait until 9:00 a.m. to get a ride back to my car!!!! :( Aaaarrgghhh. But wait--it gets better!!!! I rescheduled for tomorrow, only to be told on Friday that the doctors who reviewed my medical prescreen want the requested medical records BEFORE I go up. Consequently, my recruiter is driving down here on Monday to pick up these three pages that I have so he can take them back up to MEPS so I can reschedule my physical. Please pray that God will straighten the path and remove obstacles so that my family and I can begin to have a life, and get out of waiting mode. Kayla says that we are very low on patience, and she's right.

**Jen is currently in Colorado Springs (actually, Falcon, CO) with Melanie. I sent her out of the state so that she can get a break. I'm wishing that I had gone instead! She left on Friday, and doesn't return until Sunday. I'm sure they'll have a great time this week.

**Kayla continues to bloom into a beautiful young lady before my very eyes.

**We put a new top on the convertible last weekend, and it looks really good. You can tell that amateurs did it, but it isn't as "ghetto" as having duct tape all over the top! The weather is finally getting warm enough to use it, which makes it all the better!!!

**Our pastor preached a very good sermon on "Community" this morning. If you are interested, check it out at www.southpoint4u.com.

Okay, can't think of much else. Hope you have a great week!

Kraig and the girls

Dad calls me "Gappy"

This week I (Sierra) lost 2 teeth! Dad keeps calling me “Gappy”. I have 2 others that are loose. Mom says she will have to feed me just applesauce and runny mashed potatoes if I lose any more this week.

We decided this week that unless the Air Force gives us dates sooner that we will be moving to Mimi’s in Oklahoma for awhile. But not until after school is out. I am excited about going there, but sad about moving away from my friends.

Tomorrow is Aunt Mel’s Birthday. We called her today so we could be first, and not forget.

Tomorrow is also Super Silly Sierra’s Soup, Sub, and Salad Shoppe! It will be our restaurant for Sunday instead of going out to eat. The VanFosson’s will be coming. They just had a new baby 2 weeks ago. I am excited to see her and her brother and sisters too. One of Dad’s friends might come too.