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.