then and now....

I went through some old pictures lately, and thought i would show the changes on the post....

but first, a silly picture of Staci and Kiane from Thanksgiving
Seth, on the right, with a fellow hot shot crew member from this summer....

and from many years ago with Staci

Kaleia, Staci and Kiane from last year

and the girls from many years ago!!

My how time has flown....

mish mash

This is for Kiane....she has been after me to update this blog for awhile now. And she is definately right, it has been a long time. So, in deference to her, I am updating it by putting on some pictures I had around that I haven't posted yet.

Here is Cassidy, above, going for a block during one of her junior high games this year.

Colorado Chainsaw Massacre

The players:
Mom
Seth* (this name has been changed to protect...well, let's just be blunt, dumb)
A chainsaw

The setting:
Some mountain near Glenwood Springs, CO

The setup:
Seth, an adventuresome child prone to giving his mother gray hair, insists on being a seasonal firefighter. This would be his 3rd year; 2 on a hotshot crew. He excitedly called his mom earlier in the year about how he was going to be "on the chainsaw" this year. Imagine her "happiness".

Scene 1, yesterday:
Mom, has spent the last 3 days in Kansas City for manager training and is driving back through the back highways of Kansas. (Egad.) Her phone beeps. She checks it, only to discover 3 missed calls and a "call me" from Seth. (Darn lack of cell towers.) Now, Seth does check in periodically, (good boy) but likes to text. A "call me" does not bode well.
Background: Remember, Seth is an Alberts, who are prone to practical jokes.
Mom reaches Seth, who procedes to tell her he had a little accident. With a chainsaw. Right, thinks Mom, I'll bite. Seth goes on to tell her that his hand slipped on the chainsaw and he is in the emergency room. Oh, really, she responds, what happened? Well, he says, I cut my hand on the chainsaw. I thought it was a little scratch until I looked down and bone and tendons! Then, he goes on , I have to see the specialist tomorrow, and they're pretty sure I will have to have surgery. I could be out for 2 weeks or longer but they said if it is short term that the boss will hold my chainsaw spot for me, he says excitedly! (Yay, Mom thinks, I can hardly contain myself.)

Scene 2, Today at 10:
Seth saw the specialist and called his mom. Mom can tell he is very unhappy! He tells her, "Even though the ER doctor tells me he thinks the tendon is just torn, he told the specialist that he couldn't even find it! That means I could be out for 6-8 weeks!! Boss tells me, if that is the case, I would pretty much be out for fire season!" He proceeds to tell her that he still has 2 side tendons still attached, which will work but eventually will stretch out and so one of his fingers will then always flap lower than the other one. It could still work, and he could chance it.
Mom is flabbergasted. She tells Seth, Wait a minute... you are 24 years old, it is your right hand, and it will be a problem for the rest of your life. Have the surgery!
I thought so too, Seth responds, I have surgery at 3. Then, he unhappily, tells her he doesn't know what he would do for the rest of the summer. He is afraid that if he doesn't have the surgery, it will affect his dream of being a smokejumper, and if he missed the rest of the season it will set him back a year for sure on being a smokejumper.
It will be okay, mom tells him, let the doctor get in and see what is really going on, and then let us worry about it.

Final Scene:
Seth calls after the surgery, sounding pretty good, after just having the procedure done by numbing his hand with a local. He tells his mom that he hurts, but the tendon is just severed slightly and only took a stitch and it should be good! He sould only be out for 10 days, no physical therapy or anything. Monday he should find out for sure and get a cast on it. Then, he very happily and excited, told her that he could probably go back to chainsaw!!

Awesome.

The end.

A hodge podge of pictures

I have gotten a little behind in my postings, it seems. So, please bear with me as I post my assortment of pictures. :)

Cassidy has started B team softball. Here is a shot of her hitting at the first game held in Wauneta.
At the Wauneta-Palisade spring music program, Chase received the ribbons and certificate from Mrs. Behrends that he earned at the Music Contest he attended. Chase did very well on his vocal solo and trumpet solo. Good job Chase!!!

Here he is playing his trumpet. He has improved very much over the year. I really thought a wild animal was calling for its mate earlier in the year every time he practiced. Thank you Mr. Behrends for spending a little extra time with him! I really think they do not pay you enough to teach beginning band students sometimes!

Chase as one of the narrators for the 5th & 6th grade musical.

Cassidy with the other junior high girls in choir singing at their spring music program.

And he's off again!!!

You would think that I would be used to this. But I believe I get a little sadder each year letting Seth go. Yes, I know, he is 24 years old!! But to send him off and know I can't see him until mid October is hard. Sometimes when he is off, I can't even reach or talk to him for weeks. And the really hard part is making him think I am not sad.

For those of you who do not know...Seth is off to fight fires again. This year he does have a change....for he has become a Wyoming Hotshot!! He could not be prouder or any happier! He really feels this year is a chance to show his stuff and become a Smokejumper next fire season.
Seth reported today for all his pt training. He called me on his lunch break, very excited, he had passed his pt tests, and found out he gets to be a "saw" on the crew. Oh, joy of joys, he proceeded to tell me, that he is one of two tanks, and so he will see lots of chainsaw action!

Though I speak of sadness and jest, I really want to be sure you know that I am extemely proud of him and the man he has become. He is so much his father's son, my heart swells. I love you,

Seth, and I will pray for your safety with every breath I take.

Cassidy's first junior high track meets

A new era has started for me. I have reentered the realm of junior high track meets. Which is a very exciting thing, and also a little bit apprehensive, probably more for me than Cassidy. She has done very well in her events, so far getting better marks each time, which will no doubt get a whole lot better, once she gets the spins down too. The older kids all were jumpers and runners, for the most part. Cassidy throws the discus and shot put ( as Kaleia did for a short time). I do not know anything about either one of those, really. Which I am sure if you ask the others, they will tell you might be a plus for Cassidy, as I can't "coach" her. But, I am a fast learner! ;) Cassidy throwing the shot at Benkelman today. Her best throw was 21' 2", which isn't too bad for being a seventh grader power throwing. Here she is at Grant on a very cold and soon to be storming day. I believe she threw 19feet something.

At Benkelman, Mr Wilson let her run the 400 meter relay run also. They placed fourth.

I didn't get very good discus pictures of her yet, the darn safety nets get in the way! But, in

Grant she received a 5th place ribbon. Way to go, Cass!!

NPCC Basketball Comes to an End

Seth and I went to North Platte this weekend to Kiane and Kaleia's basketball banquet. It was a fun night. It is hard to believe that basketball is over for the year. The exciting part was that the NPCC Lady Knights were the 2008-2009 Region IX Division 2 Champions!! They played hard and never gave up in games. Kiane was fortunate to receive the honor of being chosen to be on the All-Tourney team!The sophomores with an emotional hug.
The 2008-2009 Lady Knights

The sophomores

It will be sad to not watch Kiane play any sports any longer, but still exciting to know that I have another year of watching Kaleia!!!

Chase's Wrestling Meet

Last week, Chase had a PeeWee Wrestling Meet in Wauneta. He went 1-1, and ended up getting third in his bracket. The best part was that he had fun, and we laughed for quite a while at home as he did the reenactments for us, playing both parts! Chase only does this tournament every year, as I really don't think this is his favorite sport. Chase with a Chase County wrestler.

We're having a ........!

Okay, here is where I really want to say what you were all thinkng....a baby!!! No, no, no, not me again. But, I have to admit to having a very bad case of GRAND baby fever!! And, my one and only married child, seems to think I am going to have to wait a few years for one. I realize that is their decision, but, come on, it is just not fair. (Here is where you picture in your mind, me stamping my foot.) I never thought there was any truth to the stories we have all heard about parents bothering their children about babies soon after the said children got married, but darn it, I totally am there. I do not think it helps that at school almost everyone has a grandbaby or an infant, and well....I have Chase. And to be perfectly honest, he really hates it when I refer to him as "my baby". (Though, he is and always will be, but that is another story.) Anyway, Staci and Matt, if you are reading this, tick-tock is going my grandma biological clock...........

Happy Birthday Kiane and Kaleia!!!

January is a busy birthday month for our family! Kiane turned the big 21 (look out world!) on the 8th and Kaleia will be 19 on the 20th! They are terrific girls and of course, I am one proud mama!!
This picture above is one of my favorites from their childhood. Kiane is on the left, which naturally puts Kaleia on the right. Aren't they adorable?Kaleia

Kiane

Happy 11th Birthday Chase!!!

Our little guy is definately growing up! We couldn't be prouder of him!

Flag Football...

Seth and Chase like to play football in the front yard...it has steadily been growing in participants. But, man, is it cold outside!!!Kiane was on kick off team..
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Seth and his girlfriend Kaci, who came to visit the big metropolis of Palisade for the first time. What a nice girl!!

Christmas...

Okay, I have very little pictures of Christmas to post, but it is definately not my fault...I seem to have some uncooperative family members, but I am going to post the few I have, and if they don't like them, then maybe they will pose for me next time!! Right, children?Seth and Kiane make cookie making pretty tough. They are constantly stealing dough or red hots!
Um..

Kiane and Princess.

This one is awesome. Seth has cookie dough on his finger trying to give it to Princess. A little background, Princess is not overly fond of Seth. At all. Notice Ki's face...she is going "NOOOOOOOOOO". It is always quite a circus around here when Seth , Kiane and Kaleia are all home at the same time!!!

It's Official.....

Staci Alberts Applegarth has officially graduated from Chadron State College!Kiane and I went to see Staci graduate on December 19 in Chadron. It was quite the drive up there...we had snow packed roads half way, hit very heavy fog for a while (while on snow packed roads!), and then totally clear weather for the other half of the trip up there. The way home we hit snow, more fog, and a very long drive on a very long day! But, the price for all this....was priceless!! Ki and I wouldn't have missed it for the world!
A picture of Matt and Staci. For those of you who do not know, Staci is a teacher of secondary math, and is currently employed at McCook High School.

Congratulations Staci!!!!