We had a secret!!!!

Well, have you wondered why we didn't update this last week? Here is the answer...we were very busy, we were waiting on good news from USAF, and we had a secret that we couldn't share until today.
As some of you know were were supposed to get the final signature on our papers for the USAF this last Monday. But, as we expected, the General was out of the office this last week. We think the USAF might be in need of some Exlax as they are very slow at getting things done. So, supposedly, we will get the final signature on Tuesday. We shall see.
Now for that secret...you all know (if you have been reading this blog all along) that Kraig's grandfather has been needing full time care. So far, most people have done their share, but the "care givers" were in desperate need of relief. So, it was decided that I (Jennifer) would go to Oklahoma for a month or so to help out. However, as we were preparing to buy the tickets, things changed once again. I was offered a job overnight and we decided that Kraig would go instead. Kraig just hated to quit Staples! But here is where the secret comes in...Kraig's mom thinks she is arranging to have ME picked up at the airport today.....little does she know I am still in MD! We are all amazed that he didn't tell her. He is horrible at keeping secrets, especially from Frieda. And, we din't want to post it here until today, just incase she read it. She will be sooooooo excited to have her "baby boy" for almost a month!
As for the job, I am working for a good friend of ours...Dr. Rob VanFosson (a "foot doctor"). It is pretty interesting, I get time to breathe and sometimes to use the bathroom, otherwise I am always busy.
Hmmm. What else? Well, Kayla spoke to Aunt Mel, who said Kayla's camp cost was covered. And, she is singing the praises of 2 family members who have given her money to go towards her flight. She is very, very excited.
Other than that, we are just busy trying to figure out who is where each day. It seems our day to day schedule is never consistant.

The Smiths

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

I recieved some pretty cool things this morning. So, I figured I'd share. First was a 2 page letter from Kayla in which she said that "no one escapes my love". It was very sweet. I will have to blow it up and frame it for when she is a teenager and needs a reminder. She also gave me a coupon for her to make supper for the family one night...she valued it at $100.00. I didn't realize she was that good a chef yet!
Anyway, Sierra wrote me a poem...

My Mom
Pretty as an angel.
Smells like roses.
Feels like a warm blanket.
Kisses me all the time.
Loves sandwiches and me.

Now wasn't that cute??? Who knew that Sierra ranks right up there with sandwiches? And just for the record, I prefer ice cream.
Oh, and before I go...someone wanted to know how much Kayla needed to go to Aunt Mel's camp. Well, Aunt Mel updated her site with the prices ($250.00 for the class). However that doesn't include transportation. All those intrested in contributing, contact Kayla.
Well, I'd better go.
Jen

May 13, 2006

Hi! It's Kayla's turn to do the blog today, but she is tongue-tied, which is unusual for her, so I (Kraig) am filling in until she tells me what to write!

I spent the last Thursday through this Tuesday in Oklahoma with my Granddad. He has congestive heart failure, and was barely able to get out of bed when I arrived, but was able to go for a wheelchair ride around his farm by the time I left! I guess I just have that kind of curative effect on people. The next day, he was bad again!!! I was supposed to return home late Tuesday night, but my flight out of Oklahoma City was delayed, and I was unable to catch my connection out of Detroit. So, . . . . . . . . my wonderful in-laws came to the rescue. It went something like this--
Hank: "Hello?"
Kraig: "Hi, Hank. This is Kraig."
Click------buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Okay, not really. Hank was happy and overjoyed to pick me up from the airport, take me to his house, serve me some really good leftover roast, potatoes, and carrots, all washed down with Motown's famous Vernor's Ginger Ale! I really enjoyed my time with them, and thank them for their hospitality.

Okay, Kayla has decided to speak now, so pay attention!

This week has been a tiring week. I'm tired from homework, allergy season, and housework. At the same time, it's been a really interesting week as well.

Daddy showed me the first paragraph of Aunt Melanie's blog (see the link on the side of our blog for Armada Bay). In it was an advertisement for her horse camp this summer. I was really excited. I want to go, but Mom and Dad say I have to get sponsors. They think they're funny (Insert by Kraig-it's that, or get a job!). I still haven't called Aunt Melanie yet to get further information. Aunt Mel-PLEASE CALL ME WITH FURTHER INFORMATION!

This week is Mother's Day, and we have lots of cool surprises for Mom. Actually, maybe not that many. However, we are taking her on a picnic today, if it doesn't rain.

We are getting our house painted, and Mom decided to paint the mailbox as well to match the house. Of course, now the mail carrier has no place to put the mail because Mom hasn't replaced it yet!!! Kind of awkward. While painting the mailbox, Mom painted Sierra's nose as well!

Mom and Dad went on a date yesterday, and we were babysat by a friend--Tessa! We had lots of fun, especially because we watched Narnia!

Sierra and Daddy went to the zoo in D.C. yesterday with her class. They had a lot of fun, and Sierra was really glad that Daddy went. Her favorite animal was the porcupine with a prehensile tail.

Talk to you next week!!!

Kayla G. Smith

My, My, My....

It has been very busy here while Kraig has been away in Oklahoma. (He went to visit his grandfather.) I don't feel like I have stopped since he left. Although, allergy season tends to put me in a fog. Anyway, he was supposed to come home last night, but instead spent the night at my parents house in Michigan due to a delayed flight. I felt bad for the girls because they woke themselves up earlier this morning to peek in our room to see him. Instead all they got was me, and orders to get ready for school. But, he should be home in time to get them from the bus stop.
As for the USAF, all our paperwork is in and now we are waiting for word that it has the final stamp of approval. Then, we must wait again to find out when and where.
Anyway, in the mean time we are having the house painted (to get ready to sell it). It looks sooooooo much nicer! It's a bummer we have to move now. "Pete the Painter" is a very nice man and seems to enjoy laughing at the silly things my girls do and say. He says they remind him of his grandchildren. He was quite impressed with Kayla because she would not allow him to come into the house to use the bathroom when I was out running an errand. She told him he would have to wait an hour! He kindly understood. She is such an obedient child...to bad she is gonna be a teenager soon.
Speaking of Kayla and teens...it has begun. She now seems to have the phone attached to her ear regularly.
And Sierra, well....she told me that she has a "boyfriend" and she "loves" him. Hmmmmmm, don't tell her dad - I don't think he's gonna take it too well.
Well, I will go back to impatiently waiting for the USAF and my husband to return.
Jennifer