Mr Bojangles

Well GaGa and Poppy (Kelli's Mom and Dad) made the girls day! Rylan and Reese are officially cowgirls.

On Saturday they were given horses! We thought Rylan was just getting Mr. Bojangles (BO), and when we showed up we were surprised to see Brandy, a little pony for Reese. Both horses are very tame and do not mind being ridden at all! To my surprise Kelli mounted a horse and looked like she has been riding all her life. Me on the other hand struggled a little bit at the beginning. I think I need to rethink the boxer vs. Brief issue before I ride again. Kelli thought it was sooo funny that this was an issue so she started running the horse everywhere. Uncomfortable is "all I can say about that!" The girls loved riding the horses and we had a very hard time getting them out of the saddle.


Thank you GaGa and Poppy!

Later

Does Anyone Care Anymore?

I am just testing the waters to see if anyone checks this anymore. I know it is my fault... I have not entered anything since Thanksgiving. I am thinking about returning to my blogging supremacy, but I am not sure my fans are ready!!

All kidding aside I wanted to share some photos from our Mexico trip. We had a wonderful time being bums on the beach and hanging with the family. Playa (just south of Playa) is an amazing place. I can see why people would want to live there and get away from the fast pace life we lead in the states. I really needed the trip and so did Kelli. We have both been working hard and I needed the quality time with the kids. Although they just wanted their mom the whole time.
oh well, I can't blame them!

Kasey if you read this I wanted to say congrats on the engagement. He is a great guy and I know he loves you very much. Great job on the proposal Alistair!! I think you crushed my proposal, and you gave my wife ring envy. For those of you who want to read their proposal story go to http://www.kaseyfarrow.blogspot.com/ .

This is fun! I think I am back. Let get Kelli to start again! Everyone send he an email and tell her you miss her blog!

To See photos of our trip go to:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=7arnh9i.1fijftoa&x=0&y=-p4ywsa

Let me know what you think.

Thanksgiving

***********10 reasons I am thankful Thanksgiving is over!**********

10.) I think I gained 10 pounds in 2 days! I do not want one more helping of stuffing.

9.) My children do not sleep well away from the house. Up all night with 2 kids is not what
I am thankful for.

8.) As I love my family, They get a little bit stranger every year. They could probably say
the same about me.

7.) I was not able to sleep in the same bed with my wife. We slept on separate twin aerobeds
for 2 days. I can not wait to sleep in my own bed.

6.) Have a lot to do before Christmas and needed to get back in town and get started.

5.) I love my house! It just feels good to be home. It makes me feel good to be at my house
with my family (Kids are sound asleep as well).

4.) Rylan is sick. She has been coughing for a week now and is fighting a fever. I am glad
the running around is over so she can get well.

3.) I can not wait until the Christmas movies start. I love the Christmas Story!

2.) I love sharing what Christmas is all about with Rylan. She loves talking about
Christmas. Even though it is mostly about Santa, it makes me melt when she talks
about the real meaning of Christmas.

1.) It is a tradition to decorate the Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. I love
decorating the tree and the house for Christmas.





I know I have not blogged in a while and I am sorry about that. Since I have not blogged in a while I will probably be the only one who reads this. I have found it more difficult to blog than I thought it would be. My wife takes all the photos of the children and I never have updated photos to share. So, My blog from now on will be void of pictures unless I have a specific group of photos to share. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Later,
Lane

My Family

I was at lunch today with a buddy of mine and some emotions were brought up that I feel I want to share. At lunch Stacey (the buddy I mentioned earlier) said he was thinking about writing an "Ode To Ron Ladewig" on his blog (Ironmen ministries in my links). He has been overwhelmed as to the way my Dad shows interest in my life. My dad has become the team dad for our softball team, bringing us Gatorade and ragging on us in the dugout when Mom is not there. Stacey loves the way my parents are still so involved in our lives. I must say I felt terrible after lunch! I feel bad because I am not sure I really tell my parents on a consistent basis how much I appreciate them and love them. I have been reflecting on my life and how much it has changed and realized that the only thing in my life that has not changed is the love my parent have given me since the day I was born. The amazing thing is that I bet if you asked my sisters they would say the same thing. I hope my children will say the same thing about me!! My family did not grow up going to church, but they have brought me and my sisters up in such a way that I am sure that the good Lord is smiling down on them and is waiting to give them a big hug. Mom and Dad if you are reading this I just want to thank you for all you do for us and all the love you give with no strings attached. I have been blessed to be your child and to have the sisters that I have. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

Please read Kelli's blog if you have a chance. It is amazing the amount of courage and selflessness by brother-in-law has shown throughout his battle with cancer. Every week during his treatments he has taken the time to update us on his condition. He can not eat, can not sleep, can not relax, and yet he takes the time to communicate with us when he feels horrible. Robert and I used to work together, and I know how much he loves his job. For him to not have that part of his life has to be hard on him and my sister. I talked to him and he went in to work today for a couple of hours. Thank you God for this answered prayer. Robert if you are reading this I want to let you know that you have been a inspiration to me and my family. I love you for the way you have handled this situation. We love you and will continue to pray for you and Laura!

Later,
Lane

Fish Camp

Ok, so I haven't blogged in a while. Give me a break!! So your thinking why now!! Well, I will tell you in a little bit. That is called a teaser for those of you who do not know. The last couple of weeks have been real busy and for lack of a better excuse I just have been real tired lately. I posted a couple of pictures above of a fishing trip we took with the Merriman's down to the coast. We had a blast! Even though Reese would not sleep and we were up all night we still managed to have a great time. The weekend started out on the right foot. My boss let me head down to the coast early so I was able to meet up with my wife, Angie, Ryan and all 4 kids which were piled in my dads Escalade like sardines. Ryan who was sitting in the middle of the car, not in a seat, was probably the happiest one to see me. I have never seen him move so fast to get out of that car and into my truck. I do not know if he was just uncomfortable or if it was that he was sitting between 4 kids under 4 years of age. You decide! I can not tell you how much I appreciate our wives after that trip! 14 hours in that car would have sent me over the edge!

The trip down was so peaceful wasn't it Ryan. We got to listen to the radio, talk, sleep and most importantly sit in silence. The only bad thing about the trip down was that my wife got a ticket. I think it was the car, otherwise she would have gotten off. I do not know how that works! Every time I get pulled over I get a ticket unless I am with my wife. She always get a warning and a smile. I get a ticket and another ticket just because. I guess I would give her a warning as well ,but it still is not fair!

We arrived a fish camp at 8pm and settled in for the night. We ate dinner and put the kids down for bed and thought all was well. Ryan and I set our alarms to wake up at 5am to go catch dinner and fell asleep. At 12am Reese decides to wake up and visit with her daddy. To make a long story short we did not fish until 2pm on Saturday. We decided to sleep in and put in some family time at the beach with the kids. Ben is a wild man! That boy loves the dirty sand and the water. He was all boy and it was great! I do not get to see that very much so I had a blast watching him run around. All 4 kids had a blast and I am so glad we were there to play with them that morning.

We piled everyone on the boat and drove around for a little while and then dropped the wives and kids back at the dock and went fishing. On my first cast I caught a 24" Red and we were PUMPED. We could not cast fast enough we were so excited. Shortly after Ryan caught a trout, then a Red, then another trout. I went from pumped to pissed in about 30 minutes. Until I caught another big red. Although I was out fished on my own boat I had a great time. I guess I am just a good guide!!

That night we had a great dinner and the kids played real hard and went right to bed. Until about midnight. Reese and I were up until 4:30am and the fishing was officially over. We left around noon Sunday and got home around 7pm. It was a tiring trip but I had a great time with the Merriman's. They are a very relaxed family and our kids get along great. Thank you Kelli and Angie for traveling with the kids. We love you both for your patience.

Now for the reason I am blogging tonight. My wife started her blog tonight. Yes my wife, Kelli. So the competition is on. I guess I am going to have to be more consistent on my blogging. So for all you bloggers out there, Kelli's link is posted to the right. She is excited and when it is all said and done she will be a better blogger than I. I know I will check it out!

Sorry it has been so long. I will be better I promise.

Rylan Quote of the day #1: "Daddy, did you know when I am 16 I can drive?" SHE IS THREE!!

Quote #2: "Daddy you make my heart sing all the time!" She makes me melt sometimes.

Quote #3: "I love telling you questions!" She says this alot and it cracks me up.

I love my girls! All 3 of them!

Later,

Remarkable

I heard this message from my boss Monday in our monthly meeting and I thought I would share it with you. It has for some reason stuck in my head this week.


Remarkable by Max Lucado

Every day I have the honor of sitting down with a book that contains the words of the One who created me. Every day I have the opportunity to let him give me a thought or two on how to live. If I don't do what he say she doesn't burn the book or cancel my subscription. If I disagree with what he says, lightning doesn't split my swivel chair or an angel doesn't mark my name off the holy list. If I don't understand what he says, he doesn't call me a dummy.
In fact, he calls me Son, and on a different page explains what I don't understand.

Remarkable.

At the end of the day when I walk through the house, I step into the bedrooms of three little girls. And one by one, I bend over and kiss the foreheads of the angels God has loaned me. Then I stand in the doorway and wonder why in the world he would entrust a stumbling, fumbling fellow like me with the task of loving and leading such treasures.

Remarkable.

Then I go and crawl into bed with a woman far wiser than I, a woman who deserves a man much better looking than I, but a woman who would argue that fact and tell me from the bottom of her heart that I am the best thing to come down her pike.
After I think about the wife I have, and when I think that I get to be with her for a lifetime, I shake my head and thank the God of grace for grace and think,

Remarkable.

I am learning not to take these everyday miracles for granted.
I am discovering many things: traffic jams eventually clear up, sunsets are for free, Little League is a work of art, and most planes take off and arrive on time. I am learning that most folks are good folks who are just as timid as I am about starting a conversation.
I am meeting people who love their country and their God and their church and would die for any of the three.
I am learning that if I look and if I open my eyes and observe there are many reasons to take off my hat, look at the Source of it all, and just say thanks.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I really like this message from Max Lucado. I read it again this morning and it reminded me of how lucky I am to be surrounded by the beautiful women God has entrusted to me. It also reminded me of what an idiot I am for the way I acted to my wife yesterday. For some reason, I do not know why, I get caught up in myself and don't think about her emotions. She is stressed out to the end of her rope, and instead of giving her a little more slack I continue to pull.

Sorry for snapping at you!!

You all know what Kelli and I are going through right now and I ask that you keep us in your prayers. Kelli has handled the closing of her stores with a faith and strength that I admire. In doing so she has continued to be a light to her children even when she can not take anymore. We do not know what is going to happen, so we just have to keep faith that their is a reason we are going through all this. Thank you to everyone who has helped us the last few months. You guys mean the would to us.

Later,
Lane

******************CHECK OUT THE FLICKER PHOTOS*******************

*****ODE TO THE BLUE PORCUPINE*****

Ok, for those of you who do not know I like to write Poetry. Further evidence that I have a sensitive side. Some of it is good and some not so good! You can let me know if you like it or not and feel free to be honest. I can take it! I will try to post one a week so keep checking. As I get in more of a routine with my blogging I might dedicate a day to the poetry, but for now I will just post them as I feel my artistic side arise inside of me. Enjoy!















It’s Friday and the wife is finally home you see,
Something is different,
I don’t know what it is, can you help me?

She left on Tuesday and came back today,
I missed her this time.
She looked beautiful as she walked in the door I must say!

But her head, it looks a funny shade of blue,
I think that is it,
No wait she kind of resembles a porcupine too!

It’s just a hat guys I am not going crazy!
She was just gone to long,
When she is not around everything is just a little fuzzy!

I love you baby even when your hair is pointed and blue.
I am glad you are home,
Now all my girls are together again and we don’t have to miss you!


Later,
Lane