it's almost time

Who's excited!!!??

I know that Kyle has prepared with lots of orange bullets! Are you ready for the war!? Get ready ;)

Christmas Plans 2009

Hey everyone! Not sure how many of you still look at this from time to time, but it was still the best way to get this message out to all of you at once. I'll send an email out as well just to make sure. Anyway, here's the plan:

Arrive any time you can December 31, at 1627 Seagate, Houston, TX. 77062.

Tradition dictates that we eat tamales and chili that night. (around 6:00) We'll make the chili and buy the tamales, you bring something to go with it. Just let me know what you intend to bring. (By the way, tender tummies at this house require a milder brand of chili, so if you have a more adventurous appetite, you are welcome to bring a hotter brand of chili with you.)

Gift exchange. The list below will show who gives to who. For the adults, who include anyone out of high school, we originally agreed to exchange ornaments in some kind of white elephant style gift exchange. However, over Thanksgiving, we agreed that we all had more ornaments than we needed already and decided to exchange "real" gifts in a white elephant format. So, to make sure you understand the intent. We are not looking for "white elephant" gifts like a used toilet brush, instead it will be nice gifts but given in a "white elephant" style. We agreed on a $35 limit. So instead of zeroing in on one person, you will need to think broadly, or generically. (Yes, in hind site, I think this is even more difficult, but hey, lets give it a shot and see how it works. It could be fun.) For couples you can either buy for one or two other adults, and then play accordingly. Hope all this makes since.

Kay/Mark to David
Tim to Elizabeth
Russell to Blaine
Chrissi/Asher & Kyle/Vanessa to Dalton (the intent is for thetwo of you couples to share the gift to Dalton, not give two seperate gifts, unless they are two smaller gifts. Ya'll just talk it out together and let me know if you have any questions. )
Keith/Crystal to Caleb
Doug to Cody

Fireworks: Tim's neighborhood allows firworks, and honestly it's a lot of fun out there. It's kind of like a war zone with with all the noise, but without the blood. Anyway, he has invited anyone interested to go out to his house late that night to shoot fireworks. So bring some money and we'll have a lot of fun shooting fireworks. If you prefer a quieter form of fireworks, you can stay with Crystal at our house and watch them on TV.

Friday: It sure would be fun if everyone stayed around for a second day. Both Tim and I have some limited bedspace, but lots of floor space, and would love to have anyone who wants to stay with us. Otherwise, I would recommend the Best Western at 889 W. BayArea Boulevard, Webster, Texas, 77598-4003, phone: 281/338-6000. Rates start at $62.99. Russell stayed here last time and liked it.

On Friday, we could do any number of things, some cheap to free, others not so cheap. On the cheap to free, we think it would be fun to begin the first ever "Rogers Video Scavenger Hunt!" We think it would be fun to send out teams to do some crazy stuff on video for all of us to watch when we got back. If not that, maybe could all go watch a movie, or do some other Houston thing. Basically the object would be to have some fun together without just waiting for someone to fix the next meal.

Then eveyone could leave some time Saturday. So what do ya'll think? Just let me know, call if you need at 281-286-0669

Looking forward to seeing all of you!
Keith

I Love Texas jokes!

This is a must read for all Texans, used-to-be Texans, adopted Texans or wanna-be Texans,

JUST TEXAS
Pep , Texas 79353
Smiley , Texas 78159
Paradise , Texas 76073
Rainbow , Texas 76077
Sweet Home , Texas 77987
Comfort , Texas 78013
Friendship, Texas 76530

Love the Sun?
Sun City , Texas 78628
Sunrise , Texas 76661
Sunset, Texas 76270
Sundown, Texas 79372
Sunray , Texas 79086
Sunny Side , Texas 77423

Want something to eat?
Bacon , Texas 76301
Noodle , Texas 79536
Oatmeal , Texas 78605
Turkey , Texas 79261
Trout , Texas 75789
Sugar Land , Texas 77479
Salty, Texas 76567
Rice , Texas 75155
Pearland , Texas 77581
Orange , Texas 77630
And top it off with:
Sweetwater , Texas 79556

Why travel to other cities? Texas has them all!
Detroit , Texas 75436
Cleveland , Texas 75436
Colorado City , Texas 79512
Denver City , Texas 79323
Klondike , Texas 75448
Nevada , Texas 75173
Memphis , Texas 79245
Miami , Texas 79059
Boston , Texas 75570
Santa Fe , Texas 77517
Tennessee Colony , Texas 75861
Reno , Texas 75462
Pasadena , Texas 77506
Columbus , Texas 78934
Feel like traveling outside the country?
Athens , Texas 75751
Canadian, Texas 79014
China , Texas 77613
Egypt , Texas 77436
Ireland , Texas 76538
Italy , Texas 76538
Turkey , Texas 79261
London , Texas 76854
New London , Texas 75682
Paris , Texas 75460
Palestine , Texas 75801

No need to travel to Washington D.C.
Whitehouse , Texas 75791

We even have a city named after our planet!
Earth , Texas 79031
We have a city named after our state
Texas City , Texas 77590

Exhausted?
Energy , Texas 76452

Cold?
Blanket , Texas 76432
Winters, Texas

Like to read about History?
Santa Anna , Texas
Goliad , Texas
Alamo , Texas
Gun Barrel City , Texas
Robert Lee , Texas

Need Office Supplies?
Staples, Texas 78670

Want to go into outer space?
Venus , Texas 76084
Mars , Texas 79062

You guessed it.. It's on the state line.
Texline , Texas 79087

For the kids...
Kermit , Texas 79745
Elmo , Texas 75118
Nemo , Texas 76070
Tarzan , Texas 79783
Winnie , Texas 77665
Sylvester , Texas 79560

Other city names in Texas , to make you smile.........
Frognot , Texas 75424
Bigfoot , Texas 78005
Hogeye , Texas 75423
Cactus , Texas 79013
Notrees , Texas 79759
Best, Texas 76932
Veribest , Texas 76886
Kickapoo , Texas 75763
Dime Box , Texas 77853
Old Dime Box , Texas 77853
Telephone , Texas 75488
Telegraph , Texas 76883
Whiteface , Texas 79379
Twitty, Texas 79079

And last but not least, the Anti-Al Gore City
Kilgore , Texas 75662

And our favorites...
Cut n Shoot, Texas
Gun Barrell City , Texas
Hoop And Holler, Texas
Ding Dong, Texas and, of course,
Muleshoe , Texas

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Texas ...

If someone in a Lowe's store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Texas ;

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Texas ;

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Texas ;

If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Texas ;

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas ;

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Texas ;
If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Texas ;

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Texas

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph --you're going 80 and everybody's passing you, you may live in Texas ;

If you find 60 degrees 'a little chilly,' you may live in Texas ;

If you actually understand these jokes, and share them with all your Texas friends, you definitely live in Texas ..

Here are some little known, very interesting facts about Texas .
1. Beaumont to El Paso : 742 miles
2... Beaumont to Chicago : 770 miles
3... El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas
4... World's first rodeo was in Pecos , July 4, 1883.
5. The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built over water. Destroyed by Hurricane Ike -2008!
6. The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman who was the first full-time coach at Rice University in Houston .
7. Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America
8. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America 's only remaining flock of whooping cranes.
9. Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978.
10. The worst natural disaster in U.S.... history was in 1900, caused by a hurricane, in which over 8,000 lives were lost on Galveston Island .
11. The first word spoken from the moon, July 20,1969, was " Houston ," but the space center was actually in Clear Lake City at the time.
12. King Ranch in South Texas is larger than Rhode Island ..
13. Tropical Storm Claudette brought a U.S. rainfall record of 43' in 24 hours in and around Alvin in July of 1979...
14. Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, (known as the Constitution of 1845 by the Republic of Texas to enter the Union ) instead of by annexation. This allows the Texas Flag to fly at the same height as the U.S. Flag, and may divide into 5 states.
15. A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.
16. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.
17. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period in Dr Pepper..
18. Texas has had six capital cities:
Washington -on- the Brazos, Harrisburg , Galveston ,Velasco, West Columbia and Austin ...
19. The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S. which is taller than the Capitol Building in Washington DC (by 7 feet).
20. The San Jacinto Monument is the tallest free standing monument in the world and it is taller than the Washington monument.
21. The name ' Texas ' comes from the Hasini Indian word 'tejas' meaning friends. Tejas is not Spanish for Texas ..
22. The State Mascot is the Armadillo (an interesting bit of trivia about the armadillo is they always have four babies. They have one egg, which splits into four, and they either have four males or four females.).
23. The first domed stadium in the U.S. was the Astrodome in Houston .
Cowboy's Ten Commandments
(Posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie , Texas)
1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff.

Y'all git all that?

Quick update on the Graduation Bizness

Got an email from my adviser this morning and wanted to let you all know how things are progressing;

"Hi Kyle,

Your transfer work has posted and all we are waiting on now is your In Absentia paperwork to clear (it will take a few weeks). Your graduation application will be approved once that happens. As of right now, there is nothing left for you to do.

Congratulations on the completion of your degree!

Best,
Aida"

Don't go queuing the Hallelujah chorus just yet but I think a little woohoo is in order so...WOOHOO!

Reminising: Last year Halloween

Caleb's pirate pumpkin. Pretty impressive!

We had fun times last year carving pumpkins with the Fink fam. Kyle and I LOVE carving pumpkins and it was tons of fun with everyone last year! Here are some fun pics to reminisce over.

I think this was Asher's pumpkin...hmmm.. interesting interpretation

Caleb took this one of himself.

Our pumpkins. Kyle's is the one eating the smaller helpless pumpkin.

The Fink Family :)

Chrissi looked a little dangerous with that knife! :)

We had fun times last year carving pumpkins with the Fink fam. Kyle and I LOVE carving pumpkins and it was tons of fun with everyone last year! Here are some fun pics to reminisce over.

A Good Cry

I once sang a solo at Trinity and one of the lyrics really came to mind the other day, "He traded a song for the tears and the sighs, broken dreams and goodbyes." I was young and still bullet proof so I sang the song and blazed right through the words. Tears, sighs, broken dreams and goodbyes seemed far away from my experience. The evening of Mom's birthday they seemed all too real. As I sat remembering the last year the tear count was pretty high. The hurricane, Mom's death, the job change, it all seemed overwhelming. I have spent the last couple of days in a little bit of a funk. But today, it was really funny, Blaine put on the Avenue Q CD and played the final song, "Everything in Life is only for now." It's a riotously funny song about how everything is moving and changing, no one is completely satisfied, and it's all okay because it's only for now. The cycle will turn again. Dawn is coming. Once more into the breach...

Caleb's turning 12!

I still can't believe I'm the mom of a middle schooler! I don't FEEL that old! Haha...
Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know that we are celebrating the past dozen years on Saturday October 10th. If anyone is in the San Antonio area and wants to drop by we would love to have you. It will be at our house about mid day-ish. There will be an airsoft war going on early that morning for any GI Joe wannabees and I was thinking we'd do cake, ice cream, and gifts around 1:30. If anything changes I will be sure to update this post.

Mom's Birthday Favorites

I've been thinking about mom a lot the last few days and I've realized that it has been a very long time since I was actually with her on her birthday. It may have been my senior year in high school. So I'm stuggling to remember what some of her favorite practices were on that day. What can any of you tell me? What did she like to do? Where did she like to eat? Did she have a favorite dessert she liked to eat on that day? (Having just typed the word dessert reminds me of how I remember how to spell it. It was mom who told me that desert had one s and dessert had two s's because you always wanted a second!)

I think about you guys a lot more than I ever tell you! My bad!

Keith

Olmos Pharmacy

Well, another landmark from our past has joined the ranks of what was. Friday was the last day of operations for the Olmos Pharmacy. It nearly closed a few years ago until one of the waitresses, who had been working there for 30+ years, bought it and kept the fountain portion open. She's decided to retire and our memories go with her. I vividly remember them making cokes the old fashion way; squirting syrup into the glass then filling it with carbonated water. Some of the brothers preferred the milkshakes but I loved their cokes. What made it more special was the times with Dad when he'd skip "big" church and take us there. I hope you are all making these types of memories with your children.

Houston here I come...

Just wanted to let you all know that I FINALLY got a job and am packing my bags and boxes upon boxes and heading to Houston next week. I accepted a job in the ER at Houston Northwest Medical Center and start Septemeber 14th. Thankfully, the hospital will put me through a paid internship program for 3 months, so I won't be hurting people right off the bat. After a couple of weeks of classwork, I will be paired with a preceptor and will be working nights from 7pm to 7am. I can't wait!!

Now that I am not in El Paso, I expect that I will be seeing you all more frequently, especially those of you in Houston!!

I love and miss you all!!

Jessica Rogers, RN

I'm starting to think no one looks at this blog anymore. Am I really the only family member who is already thinking about Thanksgiving??

Thanksgiving

Has there been any talk about the holidays yet? I know it's still a bit early but I love looking forward to happy family gatherings. And for some reason it seems like forever since I've seen some of this Rogers Clan. Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts please let us know... Or we can start the thought process now.
Love you all.

Chrissi

Perpetuum Jazzile choir aka: Team Awesome

For all you musical folks out there. I think you will appreciate this!

THE VISITOR

Jake and I had a disagreement the other night. He wanted to be fed at 1am and I wanted to strangle him. So, in his frustration to get me to understand that he was STARVING, he pooped on the floor and buried it under some dirty clothes. I discovered it when I picked up those clothes to put them in the wash. We weren't on speaking terms for a few days. Last night Jake brought me a peace offering.
A mouse.
A live mouse.
In my bed.
Of course I handled the situation with utmost dignity. I quietly explained to Jake, while we chased the mouse throughout the house, that while I appreciated the gesture a mouse was not a suitable gift. He on the other hand, was delighted that we could share in this raucus adventure together. At times we seemed at odds with our purpose of removing the mouse from our abode. It appeared that Jake didn't want the mouse to leave. I'm sure that was just my imagination though. Eventually, we cajoled our visitor to leave via the back door and Jake and I congratulated ourselves on our mouse herding technique. Jake chose to make sure our guest got home safely while I calmly changed my shorts.

P.S. Any reports of a man screaming like a little girl are completely without merit.

Mark is on TV

Way to go Father-in-law!

Our Near Death Experience

You will not believe what Dad, Dalton, and I just did. Well as most of you know, we are in Colorado right now. We have been enjoying the weather and scenery and today we decided to take a wilderness tour. The tour takes you up a mountain on a very rough road in an old army truck, you stop at the top and enjoy a steak meal and a campfire sing along. We left in the bright sun, somewhere around 70 degrees. The ride up was very bumpy but enjoyable. It took about an hour and a half to get to the top. As it got dark, we enjoyed some great food and a fun singalong. When it was time to head down, it was pitch black, and some clouds around us were beginning to sprinkle, but it didn't seem too bad. As we discovered, it doesn't take long for weather to change. Within 5 minutes we were in the middle of a Lightning AND hail storm, in a roofless old army truck, speeding over rocks and boulders, down a mountain, in the dark. We joined the other 20 passangers in singing many songs to trying to keep our mind of the deathly experience. By the end we were drenched from head to toe, covered in hail, and freezing. Now, thankfully, we are sitting at the condo finally warming up. Suprisingly, even though we nearly died and were all super scared...it was still incredibly fun and exhilarating.

Father's Day

I'm sitting here in my recliner on Sunday afternoon--my shoes and socks are at my feet, the Sunday paper too (no, the comics are not in the bathroom). From El Paso, Jessica mailed me a father's day card with some joke about "resting my eyes." Couldn't help but think of dad. There are so many things I miss: his hand rubbing my back until I'm asleep; his choked-back laugh/cry (though I've seen the family resemblance in some of you); his devotion to mom (and her's to him); his teasing that turned to needling that turned to frustration that turned to anger; his sweat pouring off his face as he stood at the grill, working hard so we could enjoy the feast; his laugh; and his massive hug and gentle "I love you son," anytime I departed. Thinking of our father in all of you.
I'm grateful.

A New Adventure

Just when you think you've got everything figured out, life tosses you a curve ball. My curve ball came about a week ago. It seems our superintendant has decided to shift around some assistant principals. I have been reassigned to Space Center Intermediate. So instead of being with Blaine and Clear Brook, I'll be with Elizabeth at SCI. I am still adjusting to the news. Leaving behind the people I have worked with for a decade is very difficult. But change is good.

Some new pictures...

1st time in his walker to play...he loved it! Talked to that teddy bear for a LONG time. =)
I love this one...look at those ears!

Ok, so this one isn't so new but I still love it...

My handsome boys on Mother's Day.

Cody and Luna playing under his jungle gym.

Who needs a bed rail or pillows when you have a Luna?

Love this one of Daddy and Cody hanging out on the couch.

Subscribing update

So I know there has to be a way to fix it but I can't figure out how to make the blog both private and have a subscription. The subscribed people might have noticed a new message in their in-box and that is because I made the Rogers Clan public once again. Any suggestions would be great from all you computer geeks out there.

Great Experience

Not to ignore the significant post from Russell, but on Friday before I got the call on Saturday morning, I had the chance to participate in a team-building experience provided by this group called The Drum Cafe (http://www.drumcafe.com). I'm pretty jaded when it comes to "team building experiences," but this was really good (and different). Thought all of you other guys/gals who work with groups might be interested.
DWR

I ain't dead yet!

I AM HOME! Didn't think it would be this fast but I am home and feeling terrific. There is still work to do on my heart(maybe) but for the most part I'm fine. Yes, this has been a wake up call. Yes, I realize I have a second chance. Yes, I am going to change a bunch of things. I have a prescription for one of the new stop smoking drugs...and yes, I will use it. Thank you everybody for your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you

Thanks for all of your support and prayers. We are doing much better and working things out. I feel so sorry for people who don't have a wonderful family like we do. We are truly blessed.

Testing the subscription

Testing testing, 1, 2, 3...

I have been getting reports that the subscription for whatever reason is not working. I am still troubleshooting...

And now we wait...

Prayer request

We are having some problems right now. I won't go into detail and I'm sure things will be okay but I thought some prayer to help it along couldn't hurt. Please say one, or two, or twenty for us that we can work things out and come out a stronger family very soon. Thanks. Love you all.
~Chrissi~

Mission Trip in Costa Rica

All,
The School of Education will be taking a group of students on a mission trip to Costa Rica during spring break 2010 (yes, that's next spring). This past week, I and 2 other faculty members went to meet with churches and schools in the San Jose area to plan activities and make arrangements for next spring. Of course we had to try some of the local area attractions to make sure they would be safe for our students.

P.S. Russ, I think the story idea is great; I'll work on my contributions soon.

IT'S TIME

For several years now, I've been toying with the idea of putting together a book for the grand kids who may not have vivid memories of Dad and now Mom. Some of them never knew Dad and poor Cody will never know either of them. I think it is time we put down on paper some of our favorite memories. While we are still grieving over the loss of Mom, those memories are in sharper focus and I think we should take advantage of them. Perhaps it will bring us closer to letting go and moving on. I'll leave the psychology to the PH.D's.

So, here's what I'm asking all the brothers, those wonderful women who joined our family, and the grand kids who remember a special time with Pop Pop or Dee Dee, to do. Write down your favorite 2 or 3 memories, and send them to me. We all recognize how special these two people were. We need to share their lives. I undestand that not all memories are of peaches and cream and neither was the journey we shared with Mom and Dad. Those are important as well. I'm asking for your most poignant memories. Those that have shaped your life. And, since the brothers are getting older and their memories are slipping, as evidenced by the fact that Mark thinks it was Tim who rode his bike into the wasps' nest, we probably shouldn't wait.

I'll start with a quick one that has given me the working title for Dad's volume. Before we moved to the house on Savannah, which became the house we associate as 'home', we lived three blocks over on Beryl. Yes, we moved three whole blocks. But, when you're seven, that move seemed like a relocation to Mars. Life on Beryl wasn't mundane. There was the guy next door, who was Mark's age, who showed us that airplane glue could burn doodle bugs in the most fantastic way. And, the twin sisters down the block who had to wear neck braces...I don't know why. But none of that matters. What matters is the fact that we had bunk beds and that Dad came in every night to kiss us good night. Before your sentimental hearts melt, let me set you straight. This was not a pat on the head and 'sleep tight'. This was an assault from a man whose whiskers could strip paint from a Buick. It is truly amazing that we we grew into men considering the number of times we screamed like girls when Dad came to tuck us in. We ran for the sanctuary of our flimsey sheets and our double decker fortress of solitude, vainly trying to escape those 'hairy kisses'. But each night we were vanquished with an 80 grit smacker and a simple 'love you, son'. How my heart longs for just one more.

So, send me your stories for "Hairy Kisses" and its' companion volume "Uh-oh, she said DAMN!"
My e-mail is russell_rogers@hotmail.com. If you have pictures that coincide withyour stories, send them too.

subscribing

After a lively discussion about the pros and cons of subscribing, it has been decided that a subscription button would be an added benefit. I actually have been trying to put this button on for a while, but it continuously told me that the address wasn't valid. I thought the validity checking site was not working so I kept checking back and it kept giving me the same message. And then it dawned on me, it was one of those light-bulb moments: the blog is privatized! Ah ha! Soooo.... I unprivatized it, the validity website recognized the site, I placed the subscription button on the blog, and re-privatized it. Now, I am not sure if it will be a problem that it is private, so if anyone has any problems with the subscription business let me know, and I will try and trouble-shoot. And I don't know why the button looks different than on my website, but I figure you are all smart folks who can figure out how to click on a link. So there ya go! Subscribing is up and running!

House Videos

Kyle helped Russell and I paint this weekend, and on Monday morning he helped me make these videos touring the house. (I was hoping to show you all how wonderful it looked painted and with the carpets cleaned, but we just didn't get it all done before I had to leave. Sometime during the day Sunday - when I was thinking about Mom and trying to just paint instead of get emotional (huh, fat chance) - I realized it was possible that I wouldn't be back in the house again before it sold.

So I thought I would tell something about the place we called home for 45 years. Afterwards, I realized there were dozens of stories that could be told, just by cueing off the places in the place.

Feel free to add your own comments, stories, etc.

Turtle Yard

Mother's Day Garden

Front Steps

Garage Bedroom

Table and Bar

Stove

Back Yard

Living Room

Furnaces

Back Bedroom

Front Bedroom

Mother's Day

Spent a lot of time today, thinking about you guys and our parents (especially mom) on this day. She really was an amazing woman. I am dumbfounded as to how she managed to do it all. Today, my house is a wreck--there's laundry to be done, dishes to be done, cleaning to be done, and bills to pay and I don't want to do any of it! It just seemed to "happen" with mom. I know we all did our parts, but it didn't feel "heavy," like it does now. Maybe that's the blissful ignorance of childhood (or lack of memory brought on by aging), but I don't think so. Something about the way mom handled it all appeared seamless--moving in and out of multiple activities. I get tired just thinking about my day, but mom survived her days and made many of them special for me and I know for all of you too. On days like today, I miss them both VERY much. I know we said we would think on the epitaph again. Here's another phrase that I wrote as I was thinking about mom today, "...she lived simply, but loved extravagently..."
DWR

Well looks like i am going to be helping clean out grandma dee dee's house. If I had known about this earlyer I would have gladlee voluntered. But my mom says I have to get money somehow to replace my phone (screen cracked :( ). I feel weird doing it for money but I am geting paid anyway.

( btw i just read the full blog congrats blaine , hopfuly I get some of my family's musicle skill next year )

A few more pics

These aren't real recent but I'm going to just try to upload a few at a time so as not to bombard everyone with a million pictures of our gorgeous boy!
Cody is awesome at making faces...

Our little sleeping angel...

1st Cold

So, Cody has his first cold plus ear infections in both ears. Today was supposed to be my first day back to work but instead we spent the day at the doctors office and getting antibiotics... speaking of antibiotics, it's next to impossible to get an infant to take his medicine. Not sure how we are going to get enough down him to get him well. Poor baby is so congested and choked up. And I have to leave him tomorrow to go back to work. At least my mom is watching him this week, and I trust that she knows what she's doing. =) Oh, and at the doc we found out that Cody weighs 12 lbs 9 oz and he's not even 7 weeks old. He is definitely a little chunky monkey!
Nothing much else going on here. Caleb is getting ready for middle school, we are filling out registration forms and talking about band instruments. He has to list 3 choices in order of preference so he picked percussion, flute, and saxophone. He's pretty excited. Oh, my dad and Asher built him a new bed too, I'll have to post some pictures here when I'm on the desktop computer. We don't have them on the laptop. It's TOO cool. Anyway, I hope everyone is well. Can't wait to see everyone again. Love to all!

Thanks David

LOL This is the most hilarious video. I don't thin I will stick my finger in Cody's mouth while he is teething. If you think this is funny you should look for Blhuud. I know it is spelled wrong, but it is the way this kid says it. XD

Just a Little Warning for Caleb

I saw this video too and thought it was appropriate that I warn Caleb of the dangers that come along with a baby little brother as fun as he will be. =)

TRIUMPHANT TRUMPET

I know how hard it is for Tim to brag on his kids. He just hates it. So, I'll do it for him. For those of you who don't know yet, Blaine auditioned for the Clear Brook band last week. And, no surprise to us, he made second chair in the top band! Not bad for a shrimpie little incoming freshman. Congrats Blaine! We're all proud of you.

Hello!!

Hello!!! (echoing sound) hello hello hello

Anybody out there? (echoing sound) out there, out there, out there?

The blog is feeling lonely.

I can hear it crying at night... "Rogers family. My Rogers family, where art thou? Can anyone hear me?"

That's what the blog says at night through it's tears. I wouldn't lie.

A few pictures...

Cute video

I found this video randomly, but I thought it was appropriate considering there is a new baby in the family. And although these little guys are laughing and smiling in this video, I bet your glad you (Chrissi) only have to deal with one at a time, rather than four!

Cody Jonathan

Just wanted to let everyone know that "whatshisname" does indeed have a name. We are still in slight shock that our little princess turned out to be a prince but needless to say we are completely in love with him. We are at home recovering and adjusting well. I have to go to a computer away from the house to upload our pictures since our computer and laptop are on the fritz so as soon as I can I will post pictures. Can't wait to introduce our little man to the family!
~Chrissi~

WHATSHISNAME FINK

I'm sure you all know by now that Chrissi had her baby yesterday. Surprise! Surprise! It's a boy! As has happened before in this family, the sonogram wasn't exactly correct. The little girl we were expecting is a strapping young lad of 8lbs 10ozs. Mother and child are both doing fine. We'll post some pictures as soon as we can. They are at North Central Baptist Hospital and Chrissi does have her cell phone if you'ld like to call her. That number is 210-831-4086. Oh yes. one more thing. Sorry Elizabeth. I did everything I could to get another girl.

GREASE is the Word!

Just thought I would show a few pictures from our production of GREASE. It was a great two weeks. We made a profit of nearly $20,000. Over 3500 people came to see the show. Thanks to Russell, Keith, Crystal, David, Elizabeth and Blaine and Dalton for coming to see the show. We haven't chosen the show for next year, but finalists include Footloose, Music Man and a wild hair thought Peter Pan. (Yes we are talking about rigging for flight. How cool would that be!) I really enjoy performing, but producing is a total gas. Thanks Russ for talking me out of murdering the entire creative team a week before the show opened. It's nice to have a safety valve when you have to blow.

Missing the updates

I couldn't help but notice the lack of updates from the fam. Maybe you guys are chatting amongst yourselves, but way across the world, I can't hear you. It sure would be nice to get some news now and again about how everyone is doing :)

Baby Shower

Each family should have received a baby shower invitation via email sent by my cousin Dani. I realize it's a heck of a trip to make for a day so even if you aren't planning on coming could you please RSVP either through the evite website or just reply to me? I need to get a head count for my family who is providing the refreshments. If for some reason you didn't receive an email, the shower is on Sunday Feb. 22nd at 2pm. If you need more information, please let me know.
Thanks!
~Chrissi~

Rogers of the male persuasion: watch and learn....

The Doghouse

Still waiting

We seem to always be without answers to these questions, but in case you are wondering: No we don't know anything yet. Kyle's paperwork is not here yet... it is very slow in coming. That means his visa hasn't been started yet. That means we don't know when he will arrive :( Hopefully very soon I will have more answers. I wanted him here by valentine's day but it doesn't look like I will get my wish.

REALLY Funny (Worth Reading)

These are two jokes my friend sent me...Dad and I couldn't stop laughing they are absolutely HILARIOUS!

At a computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated: "If GM had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."
In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release (by Mr. Welch himself) stating:
If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:
1. For no reason at all, your car would crash twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines on the road, you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally, executing a manoeuver such as a left-turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, and you would have to reinstall the engine.
4. When your car died on the freeway for no reason, you would just accept this, restart and drive on.
5. Only one person at a time could use the car, unless you bought 'Car95' or 'CarNT', and then added more seats.
6. Apple would make a car powered by the sun, reliable, five times as fast, and twice as easy to drive, but would run on only five per cent of the roads.
7. Oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would be replaced by a single 'general car default' warning light.
8. New seats would force every-one to have the same size butt.
9. The airbag would say 'Are you sure?' before going off.
10. Occasionally, for no reason, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key, and grabbed the radio antenna.
11. GM would require all car buyers to also purchase a deluxe set of road maps from Rand-McNally (a subsidiary of GM), even though they neither need them nor want them. Trying to delete this option would immediately cause the car's performance to diminish by 50 per cent or more. Moreover, GM would become a target for investigation by the Justice Department.
12. Every time GM introduced a new model, car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
13. You would press the 'start' button to shut off the engine.

A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine."House" for instance, is feminine: "la casa.""Pencil," however, is masculine: "el lapiz."A student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?"Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun.Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.
The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computadora") because:
1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine ("el computador") because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves.
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time, the ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
The women won.

More Awesomeness

Here are some other cool videos my friends have been passing around, enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2gWhX7WDzk&feature=PlayList&p=BF0097A7E6414560&playnext=1&index=19 (This is a Beatle's Medley played by the Canadian Brass, a really cool arrangement played by and awesome quintet)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg (This is called the Evolution of Dance, it's a comedian, it's hilarious, but it'll probably be even funnier for all you old people who were actually alive when most of these dances were actually popular) :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crTCgkjX9K0 (A really funny Captain Morgan commercial)

Hope y'all enjoy! I'll try to post cool things my friends and I find. :)

Awesomeness

Hey, my friend sent me this really cool link. It's awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSsawz4

Check it out, it's a four part acapella john williams tribute, sung by the same guy by synchronizing abunch of videos. It puts all William's awesome themes together and adds some really funny lyrics! Enjoy! :)

Jake's New Home

Well, Jake and I are starting to get our rhythm living together. It's been awhile since I had a roommate so it's taken some getting used to. I picked him up last Wednesday in what can only by described as an emotional whirlwind for both of us. My first attempt at getting him into the carrier was traumatic to say the least, not to mention unsuccessful. After we both calmed down abit I tried again and managed to get him in without getting clawed. He was NOT a happy camper. For a cat with such a pathetic meow he sure put up a holler while riding in the carrier. After a couple of accidents, he said they were accidents, that first night Jake has taken to the litter box without a problem. I still tread very carefully first thing in the morning.

So far I don't think I'll need to teach him to fly. When he gets in my bed he stays at the foot and doesn't bother me. He's also extremely curious. He hates closed doors. He's tried opening all the lower cabinets in the kitchen, my bedroom closet, and the spare bedroom which he has decided is his. He was a little clingy and very skittish the first couple of days but he's adjusting. I just can't get him to spend any time outside. He'll got out, roll in the dirt, and come back in. Maybe when he's more comfortable he'll spend more time out. Anyway, we're both doing fine.

CONGRATULATIONS KYLE!!! OUR NEWEST COLLEGE GRAD!!!

Poll

Ok, so I posted a poll to the right. For some reason I cannot edit the text color for the choices. You can edit every other aspect of this blog BUT the polls...go figure. Anyway, if you can squint enough to see it and vote I'd appreciate it! =0)

Hey there. Happy New Year everyone!
Does anyone know how to post a poll on here? I can't figure it out.

Happy Birthday Travis Reed Rogers!!!
What did you do to celebrate, or should I ask?
Hope you had fun. How cool to be a New Year's Baby.
Love,
Aunt Kay

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope that everyone's New Year has started on the right foot. A group of teachers went to a casino, which was only for foreigners. I am not sure what the exact law is here, but it is illegal for South Koreans to gamble but it is ok for foreigners. So in order to get in, we had to show our alien registration ID's which I had just received a couple days prior. It was a pretty odd New Years as they don't really seem inclined to celebrate it like we do. 10 seconds before the New Year, they put up a video of downtown Seoul with a count down. We, the teachers, screeched out the count down as the other foreigners, mostly Asians, stared at us as if were crazy. When the time changed, we jumped around kissing each other and wishing each other a happy new year, while the gamblers resumed their card games or slot machines. It was my first time at gambling, and as I am not very good, and didn't want to give the casino beaucoups of money, I only spent $10 at $1 roulette table, after just learning the rules, and didn't have much luck.

The next day we had class again at the usual time. So obviously we were all bright and bushy-taled! Ha, rather we were walking zombies! So, at this point, I think I have caught up on my sleep and this weekend is our ski trip. Almost all 20 of the teachers are going. I have never skiied in my life so it should be a very interesting trip. I am sad Kyle isn't with me to go skiing for the first time together, but we will have to make it up when he gets here by going on another trip!

This week, instead of 6th graders we have 3rd and 4th graders. And I have decided that I love that age. They are so sweet and always up for playing games. It also helps that my homeroom class LOVES me and they always come and hold my hand. They can't speak hardly any English, these adorable little ones, but they are so cute and cuddily, I just want to take them home with me.

So there is my little update. Can't wait to hear more from ya'll!