NEW BLOG

Hello all my sweet friends..... , and prayer warriors we have had.

Back from a long "journey" of sorts. Shall we just say that the last year was certainly up and down. But several months ago a new chapter was started.... albeit SLOWLY. Thanks to my dearest friend and her husband, Char and Gary. Praise Father for you both.

Since I hadn't blogged and barely emailed anyone, it seemed perfect to start a new blog to go with this "new" chapter of our family life. We are all so blessed.

So click on the title post and it will take you over to .... Life on the 21st Chromosome

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
The Blocks - Deanie,
Jesse-Ray,
Andrew Jon,
Maxim Noah-William,
Alexander Eric,
Nikita Gabriel

Red shirt Friday

091019-M-3699S-030 BALURAN, Indonesia (Oct. 19, 2009) Navy Lt. Yesenia Astorga, assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) as a general medical officer, checks the heartbeat of a young patient at a clinic. Marines and Sailors of the 11th MEU are in Indonesia for an exercise focused on medical and dental assistance, engineering projects and military interaction. (U. S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn M. Spitler

A Day at the Zoo

First Stop/Last Stop


Love those Lemurs..... Awwwww


Biggest Brother with just a wee-bit of attitude


Bug and boobah playing in the "Zone"


Caught in the "Piders" web

"Wah-er Wah-er Wah-er" Everywhere

I hear that toddlers... especially boys, do not like baths. Gosh, my 5 boys, both little and big, want to stay in FoorrrrEVER! There's music and bubbles, toys and books, laughing while playing "slip n slide." I am so blessed by these Angels.

No Bones About it.............

I'm as cute as can be.

Bon Jovi announces N. American tour

YES, Oh YES, Oh YES YES YES
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The rock 'n' roll band Bon Jovi has announced plans for a North American concert tour to begin in May in its native New Jersey.

The rockers made the announcement at New Jersey's New Meadowlands Stadium during a concert and media event Thursday.

Band members Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres performed a set for a select group of 5,000 contest winners, fan club members and on-site construction workers building the new stadium. It was there the group announced it is preparing to spend nearly two years spanning the globe on The Circle World Tour, which is to start at the stadium May 26-27. Bon Jovi said it expects to perform 135 shows in 30 countries.

"It is often said that the third time is a charm, and in the case of the Bon Jovi/AEG Live relationship, this axiom certainly holds," Randy Phillips, president and chief executive officer of AEG Live, said in a statement. "AEG Live has been honored to serve as the band's worldwide tour promoters, from the 2005 'Have A Nice Day' tour to the highest grossing tour of 2008, 'Lost Highway,' to the upcoming 'The Circle World Tour' in 2010. Bon Jovi is one of the most prolific and exciting live rock bands in the world."

YES..... February!

Red shirt Friday...........

Navy Seaman Samuel L. Blanco, a hospital corpsman, hangs out with Iraqi children during a recent patrol in Husayba. He and the Marines of Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, paused the patrol to spend time with the kids. Blanco, a 25-year old from Justin, Texas, serves under Regimental Combat Team 5

For the Littles fun

This should make you smile.....

Helping bring orphans home and Coffee?

Heard of Lifesong for Orphans? NO, you say?..... http://www.lifesongfororphans.org You must go see, you don't know what you are missing. I absolutely love their work and the way they "LIVE THEIR PASSION." They share my biggest passion... bringing orphans HOME. Lifesong offers adoption loans and grants. and they are BELIEVERS. Lifesong is based on Christian principles.

Lifesong for orphans is partnering with Gobena coffee and 100% of the profits are being reinvested in the lives of orphan children through charity programs.

100 percent, Yes, true; they are amazing.

So if you are trying to come up with an awesome gift for someone- check them out. http://www.gobena.org/proj.html

Helping orphans and fantastic coffee- does it get any better than that?

BIRTHDAYS Galore

Andy's birthday was September 9th......
His big day featured "Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey" .... including 9 kids, 3 parents and Grandma Rose; first circus and first cotton candy for little brother Max. Back at home there were additional Aunties, Auntie Char's famous gourmet "Mac n Cheese", chocolate cake, ice cream, and presents galore.

Brandon, a "cousin" had a birthday on October 7th.....
Sixteen kids, 7 parents, Grandma, lots and lots of homemade Chinese food (by Char... his mom), fresh apple crisp and chocolate cake..... followed by Yes, Yes, presents.

and last but certainly NOT least ...........................................

Niky turned the big 5 on October 9th, oh Yeh!
Being overwhelmed is pretty easy for Pookers; in consideration it was a reasonable day with just "the fam" ........ 9 kids and 3 parents. A day of play, presents.... only a few, and cupcakes for the other kids. Of course Niky had his "stage 2" food but was happy to hear "Happy Birthday" sung to him and to blow out the candles. Ya gotta smile :)


Tomorrow is Debbie's birthday, Auntie's roommate........
Dead of winter popular time to make-a-baby? Gee, YA THINK?

Overheard at the Pediatrician office:

I did not participate in this conversation, however I listened intently and politely, not wanting anyone to feel uncomfortable with the fact that I thought they were raving lunatics.

"Does your cat do that thing....you know, where you try to leave the house....and the cat follows you to the door....and you know, you're running late and you really have to get to the office. But the cat is batting at you as if to say, 'Hey, where are you going?'....It's just so hard to walk out when she's acting like that. Don't you just hate leaving when the cat is acting like that? Sometimes I'll just call the office and tell them I'm just going to have to be late."

Here I'm thinking: "No. This has never happened to me and will never happen to me."

But the nicer woman involved in this conversation, actually does get it.

She joins in with: "Oh, yes!!!! I know what you mean. You know my puppy....she is so beautiful. So beautiful!"

At this point she sounds as though she might start weeping with the beauty of the dog.

"You know those eyes, she's a malamute...and those eyes, they get me everytime. They get me Right. Here. [motions to heart] You know? I'm like putty for that dog with those eyes. My grandmother...even my grandmother has fallen in love with those eyes."

Here I'm thinking: "No. I have no idea what you are talking about. I've never 'been gotten' by the eyes of a dog."

But the other animal lover, did know exactly what she meant. I wondered silently if the dog is playing mind games with those eyes...using mind control with those irresistable eyes.

I felt bad, because I am far from an animal lover....very far.

The one lady did say something that I kind of agree with. She thinks animals are a lot nicer than people...in fact, she likes animals more than she really likes people.

I can actually see that, however, I don't really like the general population...and I'm not extraordinarily wild about animals either. Oh my.... now what??????????

Change of Seasons

A breeze of giddiness emboldens me, I felt it.... the first signs of autumn. I opened the back door onto the deck and got blasted by a cool wave. I don't mean the beach kind either.

There is this calm, serene feeling about fall. There is an assuredness defined by a blast of screaming Crayola crayon colors. It's as if there is this echoing voice beckoning with open arms to get out and explore the woods. I can see the leaves changing colors slowly in the backyard as if summer doesn't want to relinquish control of it's green glory. Be gone summer, it is time to feel cozy.

Living in Florida, the word autumn is used sparingly. Not that they don’t like to use the word; they just don’t see it very often.
I lovingly look for deciduous hardwoods whose leaves turn colors like blazing fireworks; trees colored in gold, burnt sienna, raw amber and fiery reds.

I love backyard apple trees laden with crisp, shiny apples for children to pick. Gentle breezes that blow in from that first movement of autumn are like soft whispers from a baby’s breath.

My love for autumn is unshared by all but unmistakably beautiful in the landscapes painted by the hand of Mother Nature. We all see the coming of autumn differently. Some see mountains of endless leaves to be raked. I see opportunities to teach small children shapes, colors and sounds that go “crunch.” I feel cleanliness like fresh linens hanging on the line. There is a desperate yearning to hear the simple solitude of silence echoing in my ear.

Every year when autumn comes I reflect and listen for the silence to come. For the past few years the silence has been replaced with thunderous sounds of children running and giggling in the “non-tourist time” gulf-coast waves, pelicans and seagulls laughing overhead. When autumn bares its kaleidoscope of colors I find I am giddy with having the silence return and the ability to show my children the peaceful, full-color spectrum of autumn.

ALSO....... there is always.........................
wait...wait WAIT for it......................................
baseball in October.............. Yippee!

Along the way.... the Gypsy Life

First night of the trip... Hotel

Florida into Mississippi

Welcome to Alabama and the Crimson Tide

Beautiful New Orleans' Carousel.... and attentive eyes

Market Quarter Band

Alexi loved this waitress... I think it was mutual

Milk... or Cafe Au Lait, in the French Quarter

Back to Texas....

Colorado Mountains... outside Trinidad

Playing at Auntie's

Crusin with a Rock Chic

Hi from Andy

We were hailed upon

Wrestling with Uncle D

the ER along the way

Alexi calling ahead... "ALMOST THERE"

....the Market.........

...We're HOME and there's ....YEAH... a sun break

Ahhhh...peace

Last day in Florida

Ahhhhh, Florida... still missing