Go Tigers!

I have a new camera - lost my old one here in the house....probably forever!!

;-( So, I am learning to use the new camera - and not doing very well.


We were excited to attend the Detroit Tigers vs the Oakland A's baseball game last night at Comerica Park. Michelle was fortunate enough to get 4 of the Henkel seats for the game so we got to go with them. We were 5 rows up from 3rd base and about 5 seats and an aisle away from the Tiger Dugout.

Sydney was a lucky girl too - the Oakland A's 3rd base coach motioned for Mark to bring her down and she was given a game ball - which she promptly threw back at the coach! Fortunately he gave it back to her and Mark helped her hang on to it that time. When they sat back down she was ready to throw it again - we were fast enough to get it put away for her memory box!

Marcus Thames

Granderson got a triple here!

This is Mark, Sydney and I as we left the game. Everyone had a good time - especially the A's since they won the game!

Enjoy life!

Karla and Russ

Olive Garden Luncheon

What a great day we had yesterday! Karen and I were excited to be able to meet at Olive Garden with several of my cousins and an aunt and uncle. Pictured is (in zigzag order): Pam Raska, Elaine Bokano, Retha Ponticelli, Brenda Bokano, Karla Patterson and Karen Teague. We were also joined by Elaine's children, Amber and Barry (with girlfriend Kara) and Elaine's dad, Uncle Augie Bokano and also Brenda's children, Kathryn and Kevin. A great time of food and catching up for all of us!

Enjoy life!

Karla

Goodbye Dad!

Charlie Lee Teague
February 10, 1928 ~ July 12, 2007

What a fantastic Dad God blessed us with! We will always remember his gentle spirt, his quick wit and his good attitude!

We are sad - for ourselves. But we rejoice because we know that Dad is in the company of our Lord and Savior today!

We love you Dad!!

Happy Birthday Dave!

Happy Birthday to son in law Dave! He just returned from a motorcycle trip to NY. Something I bet Russ would love to experience!

Dave and Kim have just sold their home and are preparing to look for new digs a little closer to work, family and Stoney Creek Metro Park.

VVVVRRRROOOMMMMMMM was the sound of Dave leaving after our June/July birthday celebration and Father's Day yesterday. Pictures will be coming soon - I didn't get many and Michelle is not feeling well enough to get hers posted yet.

Again, we wish Dave a very happy birthday!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Henry Ford Hospital

Due to how my dad was feeling, we managed to change his appointment with the Henry Ford specialists from next Thursday to this Wednesday.

We sure appreciate all the prayers in his behalf!

Enjoy life!

Karla

Happy Birthday to Me!

Can't believe I am this old - when I was the age of my kids I thought of this age as REALLY old! Now I have to say that I didn't know much way back then! I am actually a quite young old person! ;-)

I still look in the mirror and am surprised when a blonde chick in her early 30's does not look back at me! I know I don't have the same energy I had when my kids were in elementary school - but I do pretty good chasing around with three grandchildren under two years old. I think I do pretty good at running and doing for my dad and stepmom - they are not so good at the stairs anymore! If I go up or down the stairs once a day you can figure I will do it about 40 more times before bed.

Russ had a "vacation day" today - he skipped church and went to Carnival of Cars. It is really the only time during the summer when he can just get away and enjoy. After returning home he gave me a very pretty diamond necklace - a big surprise!

I went to church this morning - it was Pastor Ed's last day with us at CWC. When he came to join us he made the comment that he wanted to be the one Youth Pastor to stay the longest - and I understand he did that. (Others have come as Youth Pastors and then gone on to other positions in the church.) We will sure miss his excitement and love for the teens. We do appreciate Pastor Jason who is taking over as Youth Pastor - he has had good teachers!

Russ and I were glad to be able to attend the graduation party for Kirsten Zeiter today too. Cannot believe that she has graduated - we met her when she was two months old - at a child care center where I was working. Each of our kids have babysat for Kirsten at one time or another. She has always just been part of our family - and we love her and her mom too!

Later Kari and Megan came by - we went out for ice cream and then had pizza.

A nice relaxing day!

Enjoy life!

Karla

Happy Birthday Rich!

Pretend it is yesterday - June 9! The hurrier I am going the behinder I am getting!

Rich is off to Alberta, Canada on a bear hunt - so he won't even realize I am a day late!

Last year when he returned from this hunt he talked of how absolutely stinky he was - about 7 days out in the wild with no showers or shaving. This year it will be about 14 days out - so that will make him twice as hairy and twice as stinky!

We will enjoy celebrating our birthdays on Father's Day - and will hear all about the bear he got this year!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Kari is 27!

Happy Birthday to Kari!

We will be celebrating the June/July birthdays along with Father's Day soon. But Kari got a nice little present yesterday when Megan managed to go potty on the potty chair! Hooray!

We love you and are so proud of the woman you have become!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Steve, Steve, Steve

Pretend it is April 27th -

Happy Birthday Steve!!!

We celebrate our birthdays by the week so Steve had his birthday celebration but then I was out of town on his actual birthday and did not have the opportunity to write about him in this blog. After returning to Michigan, it was a good day if I remembered my own name!

So, Steve, you know you are loved and were certainly in our thoughts and prayers on your special day!! And you know how proud we are of you and your accomplishments!!

Almost Heaven, West Virginia....

Dad, Karen and I sure enjoyed our short trip through WV. This is Dad with his only sister, Ruth Ann Moore.

Uncle Cliff and Aunt Ruth Ann

Vee Pack

Lena Wesley

Jimmy, Betty and granddaughter Kaylee

Jimmy with Kaylee and McKenzie

Aunt Ruth Ann with great-granddaughter Kaylee

Something to make Russ jelous - Betty surprised Jimmy with a Harley for his 50th birthday!!

Ootsie and Barbara

Ootsie and Sherry Wooten

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Leaving on a jet plane.....

I will be leaving tomorrow, May 20, to fly to Tampa to help Dad and Karen drive to Michigan. He has an appointment with a specialist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit in mid-June. Karen has a doctor's appointment in early June.

We are looking forward to a quick visit with Aunt Ruth Ann and Uncle Cliff as we come through WV. Maybe even a visit with Arthur Dean and Patti too!

When I asked Russ what he will be doing without me again this week he said he would be working and trying to catch up!

Megan is in Florida for a wedding - with the flu. Sydney is here - with the flu. Karsten is here - maybe getting the flu!! Oh please do not let Grandma get the flu!!!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Some EXCITING News!!

Michelle and Mark gave us some exciting news on Mother's Day - can you guess what it is???

Our newest angel is due in early December!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM!

Where does the time go??? It seems like just yesterday we were carrying you - and now you are the mom carrying your baby!

We love you and wish you the best birthday ever!

Happy Birthday Russ!

Remember when you thought anyone over 30 was old??? And then the age of "oldness" grew older - then they were old if they were over 45. And now old must mean at least 90!!!

Russ is 58 today! We celebrated his birthday with the family this past Sunday and tonight I hope to take him out for dinner.

I used to tease him about being older than me - but he had a great come-back that shut me up pretty good! He said that he was not worrying about being older than me - I could just work a couple of years after he was retired and enjoying social security! (I guess the joke is on both us now though - no one is counting on social security and I sure cannot imagine him retiring!)

Happy Birthday Russ - I love you!

Karla

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!!

Thought for the day...

If you sometimes get the sudden urge to run around naked - Drink some Windex. It will keep you from streaking!!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Happy Birthday Karsten - also March 13!

Karsten, our third grandchild but first grandson!

Karsten shares a birthday with Uncle Mark!! But Karsten had his birthday celebrated first this year!

We gathered today at Chaamp's to celebrate the one and only First Birthday of Karsten! Mommy found him a great birthday hat and bib for our Little Prince! He was enjoying eating some puffed fruit and veggies before he dug into his cake! As you can tell he takes after his Grandma - yum, cake!!!

Karsten has amazed us this entire year - rolling over by 2 months, sitting, crawling, walking around furniture so early. We thought for sure he would be walking alone by 9 months - but that was not in his plan! I finally said that he would not walk by his first birthday - Karsten heard that and decided to show Grandma differently. On his 364th day he decided to walk!

We sure enjoy receiving all the kisses he gives! He loves to watch Go Diego Go - and enjoys dancing too with his one foot tapping!

He is a delightful, good natured baby - and is all boy!! A very much loved little boy!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Happy Birthday Mark - March 13!

After working all day, Mark came home to a not only a great meal but Sydney-friendly (that means non-dairy and no eggs) cupcakes too. The cupcakes were all finished except for the frosting and Sydney was waiting for some "Daddy help" with that. After a few tastes of the product they were all finished!

Mark has had a busy year! He continues to watch Sydney on most days for a few hours before Michelle gets home from work. He has completed the basement finishing project - a great job too! He has found time to play hockey and go snowmobiling a few times. He went on the annual snowmobile jaunt across the U.P. Mark also went to Florida for a week this past May - not for fun but to watch Sydney while Michelle was there on business. Lots of work for Daddy when Mommy was working from early morning til late at night - a job not many Daddy's would take on!

We can't say enough nice things about Mark - we love him and are proud that he is a member of our family!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Happy Birthday Michelle!

This is a picture of Michelle and Mark with Sydney on September 12, 2005 - when Sydney was about 12 hours old.









32 years ago today we were blessed with out second daughter, Michelle! She was born the smallest of all our babies (7 lb. 12 oz.) and the tallest of all our babies (21 1/2 in). She was also the only one born in the evening hours!

As a 4 year old Michelle was quite upset that Kim got to go to school all day and carry a lunch box. (No lunch service at Southfield Christian School at that time). So, we got Michelle a lunch box and each day I would pack her lunch when I packed Kim's. Michelle was so proud to get out her own lunch box and serve herself. She also didn't think it was very nice that Kim would have spelling words to memorize - so Michelle took it on herself to learn all of Kim's spelling words too. One that I remember her learning was encyclopedia - she could spell it outloud and write it also. I thought that was a big spelling word for 1st grader Kim - and a really big one for 4 year old Michelle!

Now she is a loving mom to Sydney and a devoted wife to Mark, a wonderful sister to Kim, Steve & Kari - and a great daughter for us to love.

So, Happy Birthday Michelle, we love you!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Do You Know Your Hymns???

Thought you would enjoying checking your knowledge of hymns!

Dentist Hymn..........................Crown Him with Many Crowns

Weatherman's Hymn..............There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
Contractor's Hymn..................The Church's One Foundation
Tailor's Hymn...........................Holy, Holy, Holy
Golfer's Hymn..........................There's a Green Hill Far Away
Politician's Hymn.....................Standing on the Promises
Optometrist's Hymn...............Open My Eyes That I Might See
IRS Agent's Hymn...................I Surrender All
Electrician's Hymn...................Send the Light
Shopper's Hymn.......................Sweet Bye and Bye
Realtor's Hymn.........................I've Got a Mansion, Just Over the Hilltop
Massage Therapist's Hymn....He Touched Me
Doctor's Hymn..........................The Great Physician

AND for those who speed on the highway:

45 mph...God will Take Care of You
65 mph...Nearer My God to Thee
85 mph...This World Is Not My Home
95 mph...Lord, I'm Coming Home
100 mph...Precious Moments

Enjoy Life!

Russ and Karla

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Hard to believe that 2006 is coming to a close and 2007 is about to begin!

We wish each of you a very Blessed New Year!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Christmas Day 2006

Kim, Dave and Karsten



Michelle, Mark and Sydney (Sydney is following in mommy's footsteps - she wants to take the pictures!)



Steve and Noelle



Kari, Rich and Megan




Melanie and Aaron joined us too!








The best Christmas gift we could ask for - being surrounded by our children, their spouses (whom we claim as our children also), our grandchildren and of course good friends!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

2006 Christmas Eve

We had our Annual Christmas Eve gathering on Sunday evening. We put out a general "come on over" invitation on the back of our Christmas cards - some years we have a few and some years we have a few more - we had 21 for Christmas Eve 2006. Some people come to church, some people come to the fellowship and some people come for both. A very informal evening - just lots of goodies to eat and fun fellowship! Hope you can join us next year!



Getting ready for the chocolate fountain!



Dave and Elaine Robinson



Uncle Joe and Aunt Retha Ponticelli



The Cleveland Family Doug, Kathy, Amanda, Mel, Bill and son Adrian



Jeannie Teague, Tom Teague and Sally Skaggs



Karla with Cousins Sally and Jeannie



Sally Skaggs and Jeannie Teague



Jeannie and Mark Teague



Kathy and Darrell Hagar with Andy Hagar, Dennis Thomas and Helen Thomas







We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Christmas is right around the corner!

As you can see, Megan, Sydney and Karsten are ready for the big day!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

We Give Thanks....

Megan Elizabeth Barch




Sydney Marie Garon




Karsten David Vaughn




Kim, Dave & Karsten




Michelle, Mark & Sydney





Steve & Noelle




Kari, Richard & Megan



The Whole Family!!

We had a Great Thanksgiving Day - complete with way too much food and surrounded by the ones that we love! Had lots of phone conversations with Florida, Alabama and New York to our extended family - who we miss so much!

Enjoy Life!

Russ and Karla

Halloween - Finally!

Thought you would like to see pictures of Megan, our ladybug, Sydney, our pumpkin, and Karsten, our monkey. They dressed up here for their "formal" Halloween pictures - haha - and then dressed again to visit all their grandparents on Halloween.