OH My Gosh... Look What Was In Our Back Yard This Morning...

Is it a sign of some kind?? I know I have read online about similar happenings and from what I can remember... things like this are a sign that Alians have visited and left a sign of good will (or something...) Well, they have visited my yard in the wee hours of the night and so I had to get everyone out of bed to see it. I have taken a picture for my posterity to see and have recorded this exciting event in my journal.
:-)

Jeannine's 80th Birthday Celebration...

On Sunday, 21 December we all gathered together to celebrate Jeannine's birthday, and we did in big style. Most of her children made the trip even in the snow and COLD, COLD weather. It was a nice party and she was very pleased. She had several of her friends show up to surprise her and several of her nieces and a nephew, and everyone brought gifts to share with her. What a great time it was... and the best part was to see her smile with delight at seeing all her family and friends!!
S-u-r-p-r-i-s-e !!!!! Alex sent out a cute video of his daughters (Jeannine's Great Granddaughters) singing a birthday song which I plan to post here too, once I figure out how to do it!! Keep a watch for it... it's so cute!!

Christmas 2008

We want to wish all our family and friends a Merry Christmas!! It's been a great year and it's always sad for me to see another year end, but because I'm trying to be positive and know and have faith that Heavenly Father has another great year in store for us... I will just say to all "Merry Christmas and lets all keep the special feelings we have at this Christmas Season all through out this coming year". Thanks to everyone who have made this blog so much fun to do... thanks for all the personal comments and the good feelings you shared with me. I will keep posting pictures as my way to keep in touch.
I am posing our Christmas picture... if you only knew about all the many different poses Mike and Briggs did in the 24 pictures we took trying to get one that was satisfactory to use for the card we sent out... but after looking through the many poses, I decided to post the one where none of us have a double chin!! This is important... but, I do have the... all teeth pose, or the celebrity pose, or the HE-Man pose, or the King and his servants pose, or the back-side pose...
Enjoy and Merry Christmas to YOU!!

Keeping Busy with Scouts...

Briggs has been busy earning his ranks up the Boy Scout trail to Eagle. He was awarded the Life Scout Award this last Wednesday night at the Court Of Honor. Along with his advancement he also earned his Personal Finance, Rifle Shooting, Shotgun Shooting, and Sports award that night. He has a total of 28 merit badges with 9 of those required for the rank of an Eagle. He is on his way!! He was also elected to be the new Scribe for the troop, which he is looking forward to. In the picture he is pinning the moms merit badge on me!! I particularly like this one... it has a heart on it and he is a big part of my heart!! Ok... he makes me proud!! :-)
Plus... I'm the one who's always on him to work on his scout stuff!!!

Briggs and Basketball

Just thought I would post of picture of Briggs and his basketball team in action. Briggs is number 4!! The games are fun and well... kinda funny at times. We really enjoy seeing them all run around like lost little chickens, but hey, it means something to them!! The first picture is of the stars of the game... and their half time necessities!! See what I mean!! Gotta love 'em!!! November 2008

MY GRANDCHILDREN !!

I feel like the luckiest Gramma in the world. Not only do I have gorgeous grandchildren, but my son and daughter in law know how to take beautiful pictures!!! Ashley is lucky enough to have a great camera and I feel like I am the lucky recipient of her talents!! Oh... life is GOOD!!
Ashley, I need you here to take pictures of Briggs at his sporting events as my camera just can't capture a good pictures no matter how hard I try.

Thanksgiving 2008

What a great day it was... Mike got up early and got started on the turkey. The smell of cooking turkey was so delightful!! The kids showed up about noon and before we all knew it we were sitting there at the table stuffing ourselves silly with the delicious food that had been prepared. I love the times when we get together as a family and have a great time together. Memories are made and pictures are taken!! I have posted just a couple. We all sure wish Alex and Ashley, Anny, Ellie and Jack were here with us... That would simply make life so wonderful!! I know I complain a lot about missing my son Alex and family so much, but I do miss having all my boys around me. I know that I am blessed by just the fact that they are mine, but only wish that we were closer to where I could see them much more often then what I can now. But, aside from that I want to report that our family has been blessed in so many ways, we have a lot to be thankful for. I know where our blessings come from and for that I am so very thankful. This is a great time of year to look back over the year and give Thanks to a Heavenly Father who knows us and takes such great care of us.

National Hunting League Names Briggs Newest Member

At about 10:30 AM on Saturday morning a deer makes a deadly mistake, by running in front of the newest master shooter "Briggs Kellogg" who acted quickly and accurately in his first time ever shot at a deer in wildlife. Excitement rang for miles as he couldn't believe his eyes when the deer fell, yelling "WHOOOPEEE" signaling to other deer to steer clear of this little man dressed in florescent orange!! This was a day to remember!!

HUNTING KELLOGG STYLE !!

I got a call this morning at 10 o'clock sharp with word that Oliver was the first one to get a deer. There was so much excitement on the phone, it was crazy!! Then later today, (while I was out SHOPPING!) I got word that Briggs was the next to get a deer. Oh... Poor, poor Mike... how will he ever be able to live it down that his boys got the first deer this weekend?!! I guess there's a first time for everything!! :-)
I will post some pictures from the hunt later... Don't be distressed... I wont' post any pics with deer in them...I would rather forget that little detail myself!!

Halloween Fun in Arizona

These are this years pictures from Halloween at Alex and Ashley's house!! The goblims are: Anny, Ellie and Jedi Jack!! They're the cutest little goblims I've ever seen!!
Sure do with they could of Trick or Treated at my house!!

Halloween 2008

I bet your wondering why in the heck I am allowing Briggs to go Trick of Treating at the age of 13... That's a good question... as originally he told me he was too old for that stuff, but when he found out his friends were going... so much for the idea of him being too old!! He met up with his buddies and off they went!!
Pictured are: Andy, Briggs and Myron... don't they look like cute little goblins?? :-)
--Hope they don't scare the little princesses and pumpkins running around!!

Jack Attack!!

Here is our cute little Jack. I cannot tell you how badly I wish I was there to love him up... I love those lips and cheeks... those cheeks remind me of ME !!!!!
I think he is singing to me in the last picture... I think he is saying " I Love my Grandma Debbie"... I'm sure of it!!

IT HAS BEEN 4 YEARS !!! BUT NOW IT'S DONE !!

We moved into this house four years ago, all this time we have been dreaming of painting the house a color that is substantial, not a Easter Egg color like all the other houses in our neighborhood. So, yesterday we got it done!! If it wasn't for our sons to come and bail us out.... we would still be painting yet this morning!! It took ALL day, but we gotter done!! :-)

Briggs' First GIG

Briggs has been practicing with friends from church over the last summer and TODAY was his first gig!! They set up early and practiced for hours beforehand and the end result was great!! Each of them played three songs together and then each of them played a solo and Tate (dark hair boy) played a solo of a song he wrote himself. VERY IMPRESSIVE GIG especially for their first time ever in front of a neighborhood crowd!!
Those playing are Briggs (drums),Spencer (guitar blond boy), Tate (guitar dark hair) and Megan (piano), tho Megan isn't in the picture I posted. What a great day!!!

Grand children are the BEST!!!

Look at these cuties!! This is what I got in the mail today from Alex, how did he know I needed a nice picture of all three of my "G-kids" for my blog??!! :-)
Ellie (left) is 5, Jack (middle) is 7 months, and Anny (right) is 7. They are really growing up so fast, and they're doing it without my permission!! I guess they are like all kids.... they have to grow up!!! I'm coning to see you soon I promise!!!

OK, I will be the first to say...

I don't know anything about football, I don't know the moves, plays, or well, even why anyone would want to play this game, but I do want to show my son Briggs in his second football game out of the 4 game season for his middle school. Just the fact that he is let out on the field is good enough for me. Picture taking is hard, as when I downloaded the pictures from yesterday, I had tons of sky and field with no players... guess they move too fast for me!!! So proud of Briggs, he is loving playing along with his buddies, but I am hoping that I will be able to go to football games next year and watch him play in the band instead... :-)
Briggs is the furthest right player, closest to the ball!!

I Told You!!

Now look at this cute little boy playing in his backyard... isn't he adorable??!!
Briggs had this same kind of swing when he was a little guy so when Jack was born, I HAD to get him one just like Briggs'. Jack's father Alex would spend hours it seemed outside with Briggs swinging him on the airplane swing, so I hope Alex is ready to spend hours swinging Jack!! Oh... and look at that hair!! Grammie loves you Jack!!

THINGS ARE RETURNING TO NORMAL

Now that the laundry is done and the house is straightened up I can begin to settle back into reality!! Briggs kept telling me that nothing new had happened when I was away, which made me feel great, but then he went on to show me his mid semester report cards and that totally made my day. He is making all A's again and it makes me so proud of him. He is in the 8th grade this year, all new stuff and so far so good. He has been accepted to participate in the Show Choir again this year and is currently working on the music for the All State Band, which is causing him to work hard at it. He is playing the French Horn and I can honestly say that for the first time I can stand to listen to the music he makes from that instrument. I know what your thinking... what kind of mother is she... but those old memories of Ryan and him learning the clarinet came flooding back in and I had to hold tight just to get through his practice times. Really!!!
He played the Trumpet for Jazz Band and I really LOVED that... his band teacher is awesome and made this whole learning process fun for us parents. His Jazz concert at the end of last year was awesome and I was so pleased with the fun they had and also the music they played. Great job.
Briggs has a goal this year to stay on the Honor Roll at school and if he does this he will of been on the Honor Roll for all three years of Middle School. I am giving him as much positive reinforcement as I can. I am posting his latest sculpture he has made in his Art class. He tells me he has another one that I will just love. (It's the Phantom of the Opera). I will post that one too later!!

I'm Back!!!

It just seems unreal to me that I was in New York City and now I'm already back home and sitting at my computer once again... It was the fastest 5 days on my life. I don't think I have ever toured, sight saw, eat or slept, walked and talked as fast as I did these last few days... The pace in New York City is crazy, your up early and going to bed late, and not relaxing for a second when your there... There's just too much to do and see!! But, this is the life style of New York City dwellers... it was fun to watch and sit back and consider for a while. When we think of going to work or somewhere, we get in our car and cruise to where ever we're going... in NYC they get up and get on a ferry or walk to wherever it is that your going. I guess it's not so different, just a different way of doing things.
I can tell you this trip was worth every dime I spent, truly a life experience.
We got to go to the Manhattan Temple while we were there. It is right on the busy street, as if it were a store, but of course, the inside was just like we expected it to be and I am so grateful that I got that experience also. I am going to post a couple of my most favorite pictures cuz... I have literally 100's of them, but only my favorites will be posted here. Next time your going to NYC, let me know... I'll go with!!

Pictures From New York

I'm havig such a fantastic time here in New York City, I have tons of pictures but I can only post a few of them. The picture I've decided to post is of the New York City Shoreline coming back from Staten Island. We took a ferry over to Staten Island and came back to New York in just a matter of a few minutes. Here in the city you can buy a perfessional picture of this same thing... but I will post one that I took.

NEW YORK CITY... IT'S A MUST SEE!!!

This is me when I got back from 6 hours of shopping in the middle of New York City,
this was an experience I will NEVER forget!! I think I now have only $4.00 left in my pocket book!!!! Anyway, it's been the greatest experience. No one can describe New York City with any accuracy... you gotta see if for yourselves. The buildings, the shoreline, the people, the fast pace... all this and more!! Next time I will visit here with Mike and Briggs... they've gotta see this place.

LOOK AT THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OCC !!!!!

Look who I ran into at the Minneapolis Airport!!!
Yeah... that's right... it's me asking for a picture
for Briggs and the guys... they were cool and Dawn took
it for me!!! Mikie and Paulie without their bikes!!!
They traveled to New York City with us!!
Just a side note... when I got home from NYC, all Briggs wanted to know
about was meeting Mikey and Paulie, he heard me talk about the statue of
Liberty, skyscrapers, all the people,and ground zero, but all he really
wanted to know about was about Mikey and Paulie... Whatever??!!! :-)

I'm Off to New York City!!! See You Soon!!

First Day of School for Briggs!!

These cool guys were on their way to their first day of 8th grade. How will the school deal with two such cool dudes in one grade... together...
We will just have to wait and see!! Andy and Briggs August 14, 2008

Oh Jack... we just can't help but want to love you up!!!

Look at my cute little grandson Jack. He is 7 months old and is just a cutie. He is eating homemade baby food now and we can thank his mommy for that!! It has been 3 months since we've seen him in person and this picture that Ashley sent to me was just what I needed to see!! Oh... how I want to squish those little cheeky's!! And kiss and kiss and kiss them too!!!

Ok... I had to do this... after this whole situation has turned around I can now giggle and smile at this picture that was sent to me by Ashley!!!
When we asked Alex to fly out here to help us to roof the house it was a couple of weeks later that we found out he had never told Anny about it. So one day I get this email from Alex saying " I finally told Anny that I was coming out to grandpa/grandma/s house and this is what happened"... I clicked the attachment and here was the picture he sent to us...

School Days, School Days, Happy Golden Rule Days...

Here is a picture of my two grand daughters Anny and Ellie on their first day of school. Both are dressed in pink... which is because gramma Debbie loves pink and they love me!! ( I know this is why they are wearing pink!!:-) )I wish I could of been there to walk them to school... Briggs wont let me walk him to school any more... in fact... he would love it if I DIDN'T even have to pick him up from school!! HAHAHA

SURPRISE!!

I had a great surprise this week!! I got a surprise little gift on Tuesday when I got a surprise call from a friend from long ago that she and her daughter were traveling through Omaha on their way to Chicago and wanted to meet up.... It was so exciting, of course, that was the longest 5 hours to pass, but it was so worth the wait to get to see my friend once again and have dinner with her and her daughter Amy. My friend Christine is someone I met during my high school years... (that's been a LONG time ago)but it was like yesterday when we sat there together visiting. I have been blessed in my life with great life long friends all of whom I'm so very thankful for. I forgot my camera, but she didn't and so I will post a pic of us when she sends it to me. This year I have gotten to see many of my friends and it has been such a sweet experience getting back together.

Weekend With My Boys

One of the greatest things about being a "Mom" is the fact that at any age... your children always love you... and I have four boys who are so good to me, who show me their love and respect and I'm so thankful for them. Heavenly Father has been so good to me. We got to spend 5 days this last week with all the boys together, and when we all get together... it is always so much fun. Aside from all the work that they got done there were a lot of time spent making memories, eating great food and just... spending time together. Look at this picture... I know you can understand what I mean when I say I'm the luckiest mom in the world!!

The Front of our House with a New Roof!!

Roofing With the Kellogg Guys

Busyness on 201st Circle. Mike flew Alex into Omaha to help him with the roofing of our house. The need for a new roof was a result of a recent storm we had this summer. We love the new roof, it looks so nice as you can see from the pictures. So many great things have happened since all my guys got up on the roof, one of which is that I got a new roof, the other is the spectacle they have made while doing it!! Yeah... that's right... 5 great looking guys up on one roof, and that roof being mine!! We were the hit of the neighborhood!! Olivers comment summed it all up... "even Big Butts can do a mean job up on the roof". :-) It's just been great to see all my guys getting together and with combined effort the job gets done and all can sit back and enjoy the satisfaction!!

Come Home to Kanesville

This great production is coming to a close... What a GREAT experience is has been for our whole family!! We have met new friends, gotten to know people who are completely dedicated to the show, church and gospel. This whole production has been a huge commitment, but one that we will never forget. Tonight is our last night, looking forward to the testimony meeting afterward to hear how this has affected the others, wonder if it's affected them as much as it has affected us. The Mormon pioneers and the story there is one that we all should get to know better, it has been a real testimony builder for me of patience, hope, faith and fully understanding our dependence on our Heavenly Father.

Just when you thought I couldn't possibly have any more cute people around me...
Well... You haven't met my Grandson Jack Alexander Kellogg yet...
oh... isn't he a cutie... And did you see those blue eyes??!!

The greatest thing about gathering a family together, other then for the opportunities to spend quality time with family... is the awesome opportunity to get some awesome pictures!! This is one taken of Ellie, that I just love... see how awesome it is??!! So awesome that I wanted to get a picture of me just like it, so that she and I would have something in common!! The picture of Ellie was taken 17 May, 2008 at Ryan and Dawns wedding!! Picture of me taken shortly afterward!! :-)

Come Home to Kanesville

What a busy summer it's been, but the most fun we've had is being a part of the "Come Home to Kanesville" production. It's been long and a major commitment, but I know we all are better because of it!! The cast is fantastic and a lot of fun to be around. It has been great to see this thing come together and now to see it done all the way through with a crowd every night that is enjoying every part of it. I will post a picture of the cast later.

Our family is growing... and I have to say this is a most exciting time for us. It has been a great story so far. Of my four boys... all three of the oldest are married now, and I have to admit... I am just fine with the knowledge that it will be a few years before Briggs gets married. And we do have a secret in our family..... Your not going to believe it... but, we have princesses in our family too!! I will add pictures to prove it. Actually, I have it even better then that... I have two princesses and two princes.... one is 13 and one isn't even 1 yet... Do I have it good or what??!! Look at how wonderful they are!!!

Ok.. I've added a couple pictures of my family... I will add the new daughters next!!

My First Attempt At This...

Not t be outdone by my children, I thought I would try and create a blog for our family. And I'm doing this without any help...so don't give me any garbage about it!!!