A Day off Work

I took the day off work today and went to Tyler to watch Sean play in his last tournament of the semester.  He had a couple close matches against guys from Lindale and Kilgore.  It was a great day for tennis.  The weather was about 80 degrees with rolling clouds to shade us from time to time.  Sean is really improving his tennis game.

after the tournament we took Sean with us and headed to Dallas.  Page wanted to get my birthday present, but when we got to the LDS bookstore, what she wanted to get wasn't there, so we headed back home empty handed.  But we did make a few stops along the way.  We stopped at my favorite hamburger stop- the Dairy Palace in Canton, on the way to Dallas.  We also stopped at the outlet mall in Terrell because Sean wanted to look at some Big Dog shirts.  On the way back we stopped at Michaels in Tyler to look for Young Women supplies and ate at Jason's Deli- an excellent sandwich shop that started in Shreveport and has expanded into East Texas.  We got home pretty late but we covered a lot of miles today.

We opened today!

My big project that I have been killing myself over for the last month finally came together and the end of last week and we opened up the doctor's new office.  We got the new furniture, they finally got the right ceiling tiles, we got the signage on the door, the movers showed up and we got the pictures on the walls.  The new refrigerator came damaged, and they sent a new one on time.  Ads went in the paper, notices went to patients, insurance companies got notified, phone systems were put in and work!- and even new computers.  There was so much to do in only a month's time.  I can't beleive it worked out and the place looks WONDERFUL!  I am very happy.

Here is a view of the waiting room.  The doc wasn't happy how small the plasma screen TV was, but the patients liked it this morning.

The doctor loves purple.  Purple chairs, purple accent walls, purple in the carpet, but believe it or not, it doesn't look like Barney lives here.  It really isn't overpowering and looks good.

View down the hall.  There are 6 exam rooms.  We worked hard to get things on the wall, things in place.  The ceiling went in late wed. night.  The place was dirty on Friday, but by Monday (today) it is gorgeous.

I love the nurses station the best.  Nice and big and can see down the hall.  See those cabinets?  I had to fight for those.  As of last Monday, we weren't going to get them, but we needed the storage. The boss finally gave in. There is another set to the left that you can't see.

Surprise Party

We went to Shreveport yesterday.  After work we ran up to Shreveport to join in on Lynn's surprise Birthday Party.  She was surprised.  We had such a good time.   We ended up staying until about 11:30 last night and didn't get back home until 1:30 a.m this morning. 

(above) Frank, Lynn, Page and me.  We laughed all  night talking about old times, complaining about kids, you know, the usual stuff!  We had hamburgers, chips & dips, and soda.  At the end of the night we had ice cream cake, but the best part was good friends all getting together for a fun evening. (below) Here is the gang:  Brent Martin is in front, then left to right:  Leta, Deborah, Frank, Lynn, me and Brent Merrill.  B. Martin and Frank were my counselors when I was Bishop in Bossier.  Lynn was my Relief Society President.  Leta was in Primary and Young Women.  Deborah was my music chairman and seminary teacher and B. Merrill is still the Stake President.  (Page is taking the picture).  We love these guys!

Lions, Tigers and Bears.... Oh my!

Lacey took Brandon to the Zoo today. She said they were the only people there except for the three zoo workers. So they had all the animals to themselves. Here you see they braved the wild Lions and lived to tell about it.

National Honor Society

We are so proud of Sean. He was inducted into the National Honor Society at his High School tonight. They had a nice ceremony honoring the inductees. Out of 2500 students, 85 were allowed into the Honor Society tonight. Lacey came too (she is taking the picture).

There is our talented son, getting inducted into the National Honor Society.

Letterman

Sean came home with a letterman's jacket from school today.  At his high school, all academic honor students get a letterman's jacket... free!... as a gift from the school. He also found out today that they accepted his application into the National Honor Society.  There will be a special induction ceremony on Thursday night.  Good job, Sean!

President Bush is right on Israel

US President George W. Bush said he hoped to resolve the nuclear dispute with Iran with diplomacy, but warned Tehran he would "use military might" if necessary to defend Israel.
"The threat from Iran is, of course, their stated objective to destroy our strong ally Israel. That's a threat, a serious threat. It's a threat to world peace," the US president said after a speech defending the war in Iraq.

"I made it clear, and I'll make it clear again, that we will use military might to protect our ally Israel," said Bush, who was apparently referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for the destruction of Israel.

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The above was on the Drudgereport tonight. I'm afraid it is going to come down to this eventually...a horrific war on the soil of Israel. But I agree with the President. We have to stand by Israel. He had to make that clear to the Iranians and others that want to destroy Israel. I couldn't imagine living in Israel, knowing everyone around you wants to see you dead...trying to raise your family there to live in peace and finding none. But the President was bold today in his declaration. We will defend Israel.

How about an Irish Disney Movie

to end our Paddy Party- we watched Darby.... great movie! Made in 1959, it's fun to see Sean Connery, young and singing. The best is Albert Sharpe as Darby. The Irish countryside is breathtaking. King Brian and the leprechauns are fun. But I can't believe how scary the banshee is. Sean said he used to be scared of that part. I don't blame him. If that is how death really is, what an aweful experience. But King Brian outsmarts her. Sean says leprechauns are smarter than banshees. I never knew that...

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Ok- have to show you our St. Pat's feast.  Corned beef and Cabbage with potatoes and Irish Soda Bread.  The beef was delicious.  It cooked in a slow cooker all day in a gravy of onions, potatoes, cabbage, cider vinegar, sugar and pepper. Mmmmmm!  The Irish bread was heavy.  If you were a starving Irishman, a piece of that bread would give you comfort.  It's dense wheat bread and fills your tummy.  Do you like our green glasses?  We tried to celebrate our Irish roots today.

Page's yummy dessert.  Chocolate pudding and green whipped cream!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

It's great to be Irish!

Dogwoods

I got so excited today driving back from Jasper.  I noticed hundreds of dogwoods in full bloom along the highway in the Angelina Forest.  They are so beautiful.  Spring has arrived in the Piney Woods.  Dogwood is my most favorite tree and now is the time to enjoy them.  I pulled over and snapped this shot with my cell phone.

Brandon (Lacey's friend) got baptized on Sunday

Bachelor Days Ending

Page comes home tomorrow after a two week trip to CA to help out with her Mom. Her Mom is doing a lot better, but still is recovering. I know Page will be happy to come home (we miss her too), but it will be hard to leave her Mom and Dad. So I guess I will have to learn to share the bed again. It's been fun stretching out and hogging all the covers.

Yesterday the Huntsmans invited me and the kids to dinner, feeling sorry for us being without a wife and mother. It was really fun. Jared went to Spain on his mission too, so we ended up talking a lot about missions, plus he is the ward mission leader. Afterwards Sean said he likes listening to adults talk and get involved with the conversation. He isn't a kid anymore.

Lacey's friend Brandon got baptized yesterday too and Lacey gave the closing prayer at the baptism. They asked Brandon who he wanted to stand in the circle to be confirmed next Sunday and he said, "Lacey". We all got a chuckle, and had to explain that it had to be somebody with the priesthood. I think Lacey was flattered.

Lacey turned in some applications today to work at two local movie theaters. Hope she gets a job soon. Sean went to the zoo with some of his friends from church. You can see the pictures below...

Sean's day at the Zoo

Sean had to go see the Hippo

and found a Lion!  Ride 'em Sean

Todd got a turn

and Jared just decided to snuggle.

If my head wasn't attached....

Yesterday I had to make a visit to one of my clinics. The Plant Operations Manager had to go too, so he drove. He picked me up and I jumped in his truck and away we went. While down at the clinic, I took of my jacket and layed it down in one of the offices. When we were ready to go I walked out without my jacket. Didn't realize it until we got back to my office over 50 miles away. As I get out of his truck, I reach into my pants pocket for my office keys.... not there! I then realize my keys are in my jacket, but where is the coat? I look in his backseat... nope. I ask him if he remembers me even wearing the jacket (maybe I left it in my office here?). He said I was wearing a jacket earlier. Oh my! My jacket with my house, car, church and work keys is in an office over an hour away. He offers to drive me back, but I tell him no. I know an employee that lives here in town and can bring it up at the end of the day. I get spare keys from the business office to get in my office. I have a plastic key I carry in my wallet that can actually start up the truck. So I'm feeling less stressed.

This morning I get a call from the employee that was going to bring me my jacket. She forgot it last night! Sorry. So I have to drive down and get it, so I thought. I just got a call. A patient has to come up for x-rays and she is going to leave it at the hospital in the x-ray department. So I should have my keys and coat sometime today. I'm so absent minded sometimes.

Bad, Bad Dog

The dogs have been banished from inside the house for two days. I know it's Liberty's fault, but just can't prove it! For weeks, loaves of bread have been missing from the counter. We can set a big loaf of bread on the counter, and when we come back home from somewhere, there is an empty wrapper on the floor. At first I'm like, "how did that wrapper get on the floor?" thinking that the dogs pulled an empty wrapper from the trash. After a couple times I figured out one of the dogs is jumping up onto the counter (I mean front paws) and reaching over and grabbing the bread with its teeth and pulling it down to the floor and eating the bread! So I have been putting the loaves of bread out of their reach.

On Sunday, I made a pot roast for the kids and me for after church on Fast Sunday. It was really good! I also made a red velvet cake, double layer, with butter creme frosting. We all had a piece. I had the cake sitting on a plate on the counter. I didn't even think! Well Monday morning, I come home for lunch and I walk in the kitchen and the cake is gone. I mean, not even a crumb! No crumbs on the floor! nothing. I ask Lacey where the cake was. She said she just woke up and didn't know. I knew! Those bad dogs! They ate half a cake. I was so mad. They got banished from the house for two days. It is supposed to rain tonight so they will be back in, but I can't beleive it! And you never see them doing it, they wait until everyone is asleep or out of the house..... bad, doggie, bad, bad dogs!

Must See Penguins

Yesterday in the local paper there was an article about the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler receiving 5 pairs of African Penguins. Lacey is nuts about Penguins and I knew this was a trip she would want to take. I asked Lacey and Sean if they wanted to go to the zoo today. They both were very interested in going. Tyler is about 1 1/2 hours from home, so we got ready and headed out to Tyler. The parking lot was packed. I guess a lot of people heard about the new Penguins. We went there first and the exhibit house was packed. We did manage to get some pictures, then I somehow deleted the shots, so we had to head back and take more pictures of the penguins. It's actually a nice zoo with lots of animals. We rushed passed the deer and buffalo (been there done that! living in Montana). We saw elephants, lions, giraffes, panthers, chetahs, leopards, monkeys, rhinos, aligators, flamingos, parrots, tucans, anteaters, warthogs, ostriches, otters, eagles, mountain lions, zebras, and many other interesting animals. We actually had a good time together. It was a really nice day.

A Day at the Zoo

Sean and Lacey with the Giraffes

Lacey is in love with the Penguins

This Ostrich was really funny- banging on the glass

This bird was busy building a nestT

The Lioness was feeling a little lazy today

Not a big surprise

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Liberal Teachers Gone Wild

Have you noticed the increased news stories about liberal teachers bashing Bush? The teacher in CO that compared Bush to Hitler and the American Flag to the Nazi flag is one example. One of the students was taping his lecture or we would not know anything about it. He was suspended by the school board. His lawyer was on TV last night saying that the teacher was let go unfairly and the school board took away the guy's 1st amendment rights. I'm all for the first amendment, but do we keep kids hostage in class to spew our political opinions? Maybe in a Political Science class.... but this guy was a Geography teacher. And from what I understand, he only gave his liberal opinons. No conservative viewpoint was discussed. Shouldn't he teach both sides and remain objective? It was so obviously a propoganda tool for him. I wonder what liberals would think if a teacher was endoctrinating his students to the conservative movement? Or worse, Christianity? There would be marches in the street if a teacher was saying Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the World and everyone must come unto Christ, but doesn't a teacher have a right to teach it based on his 1st amendment rights? It will be interesting how this thing plays out, but I saw on the Drudge Report today that another teacher held a Trial in his classroom on Bush's crimes. Hmmmm, I wonder if the teacher is pro-Bush or anti_Bush????

Going Texan

Yesterday, I finally registered the cars in Texas. Hey, it's only been 6 1/2 months, what's the rush. I actually tried to do it on Tuesday, but I guess I didn't have all the paperwork. I was missing my title for the truck. So Lacey and I left empty handed. So yesterday, I showed back up with all the necessary paperwork, and got my new license plates for both vehicles, minus $350. It was a little tough taking off the Montana plates. Such good memories.

This morning, I decided to keep the ball rolling and stopped into the DMV for a Texas Driver's License. I thought I was all ready to go with my registration, proof of insurance, MT license, and social security card, but oh no, that isn't enough, I need some other type of ID, like marriage license, birth certificate, school records, divorce papers, gun license, or vehicle title (which I just gave to the tax office when I registered the truck, so that they can re-issue a title from Texas instead of Montanna..... ugh, the frustration). So needless to say, I didn't get my license today. Maybe tomorrow. Sean has the most hoops to jump through since he is a minor. I have to get a letter from Park High in Montana (on their letterhead) stating he went to drivers training and the hours he put into classroom and driving time, plus he has to get verification from his current High School that he is enrolled. I guess minors in Texas cannot have a license unless they are going to school. He also has to take a driving test. AND, it is only good for one year (if he gets it now, he has to re-apply in May on his birthday- I think I might have him wait until May to transfer over the license to avoid applying now and then in 2 months again), and he has to go through the process every year until he is 18. He also will have restrictions on the license as a minor. In MT, he got his license at age 15 with no restrictions.... don't think he is going to be thrilled when I tell him.

So I'm tryin to go Texan, really. Just a little bumpy....