Dreaming of a Royal Flush

A few weeks ago Marc invited a few of his friends from school to have a few beers (ok...a lot of beer) and play some Poker. I know nothing about Poker, but always wanted to learn. So after watching the first game and looked up the rules for Texas Hold'em, I joined in on the fun. As the boys got drunker, it seemed I got better.



I had a blast. For the last two weeks I've been dreaming of a Royal Flush and wanting to play again. So, this Saturday at our house we're having Poker Night. I've invited a few friends from work that enjoy playing Poker, will get some snacks to munch on and am looking forward to playing better this time around.


Word of the day: Royal Flush
This is the best possible hand in standard five-card Poker. Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.

Slacking

I've been slacking on the blog. My one fan who reads the blog daily .. you know who you are (Christine) is complaining that I'm not sharing the 411 on what's going on with the Peeps. And because I aim to please here are the high and low points of what's been going on in our lives since I last wrote a blog post.

• I still have a job. (Thank God)

• I had to layoff a couple of people on my staff and am lossing others volunteerily. (It sucks!)

• Marc has been working a lot. (I've been missing him)

• The boys are the boys.. (Fighting with each other, loving each other and than fighting again)

• I took care of my neighbor Sue's dog, but this time at her house. (0 pillows lost)

That's the best of it..boring I know.

I'm Feeling The Love

I had hoped this week would never come. I'm starting to see my colleagues and friends being layed off (i.e. FIRED). In addition to the anxiety of not knowing my own fate. My bosses have reassured me that I'm safe, but what about the next time?

I also will have to let go a few on my own staff. People I respect and whose photographs / work inspire me. I've never done this before. It's scary, sad and upsetting me as the day nears. Marc says, "It's business." But, I keep on thinking that I'm changing some one's life .. and not for the better.

During these difficult times at the Sun-Sentinel, our visiting picture editor from the University of Miami and my friend, Jim Virga, has been a bright light in our work day. And, although he's dealing with some heavy personal stuff at the moment, he still manages to be positive and uplifting.

Sensing I needed a pick-me-up, Jim got a guitar from another editor and surprised me with a song.

Thanks Jim

Beach Boys

The boys left on Wednesday to Daytona Beach with their Gram and Abuelita till Sunday. Marc and I have been parting since their departure loving the peace and quite having no children in the house brings. Although we miss the boys, it was nice having one-on-one time with Marc.



This trip is the first time my mom has traveled with Peggy and all the kids, so I'm expecting she'll need a vacation from this mini-vacation. I'm an only child and she only had one brother, so being around four kids (their cousin Kaile is with them) should be an adventure.

Traveling with Peggy is also a change of pace for my mom. Although my mom has traveled a lot throughout the years, Peggy is a free spirit that loves to take frequent detours to Chucky Cheese and McDonald's playgrounds with the kids.

I'll never forget my road trip with Peggy a few winters ago to Evergreen, Al. Dalton, Ashton (he was just a baby) and Kaile were with us. A trip that normally might take 10 or 12 hours took 14...or at least it seems much longer. Why? Because we stopped frequently with at McDonald's and a Chucky Cheeses to play and eat. Sure the kids needed to stretch their legs and have a few pit-stops for fun, but by the end I was ready to get to our final destination.



I hope Peggy, Isa and the kids have a blast playing in the sand, enjoying the sun and time off from the daily grind.

Quinten Is Getting BIG & Cute

Here are a few pictures from Saskia of Quinten and Mandy......love the beard.

Happy Birthday Marc!!!!

Happy 33rd Birthday
Marc

We love you and wish you the best on your birthday.
May God bless you with another year of health and happiness.

Your Family

Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. - Jack Benny

Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative. - Maurice Chevalier

Old age is not for sissies. - Malcolm Forbes

Everything I know I learned after I was thirty. - Georges Clemenceau

Whatever with the past has gone, The best is always yet to come. - Lucy Larcom

The old believe everything; the middle-aged suspect everything; the young know everything. - Oscar Wilde

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. - Lucille ball

Every human being on this earth is born with a tragedy, and it isn't original sin. He's born with the tragedy that he has to grow up...a lot of people don't have the courage to do it. - Helen Hayes

Ashton & Me

Sad To See Her Go

We said good bye today to Roxy.

Roxy was ecstatic to see Tim and Amy after two weeks of having to put up with three boys, Marc and I.



Despite all the pillow eating, window screen ripping, hair shedding, barking and radding of the garbage for food .. we enjoyed having her.

Amy asked, "Would you get a dog?" I quickly said, NO.

Not because Roxy wasn't a sweet dog. She was great.
But, with three kids and a husband...I already have my hands full.



A kiss good bye for now ... see you soon.

Pillow #3 1/2

Roxy asleep

Roxy has had enough of us.

Roxy has shredded another pillow.

So why do you ask is it pillow #3 1/2? Because it was my small baby pillow that I"ve slept with for years and travel no where without it. Lots of sentimental value along with a practicle sleeping purpose: it's small enough to go under my neck for support. Marc left our bedroom door open, so Roxy saw her chance to entertain herself while we were away

Roxy begging for forgiveness with kisses.

Rebekah Lynn Dussault

Photo by Lexey Swall-Bobay

Sarah and Scott are the new proud parents of a beautiful baby girl,

Rebekah Lynn Dussault

born at 12:03pm

6lbs. 15 oz, 18 inches long

Sarah was in labor for four hours, which has to be a record for a quick delivery.

Congrats!

To see more pictures of Rebekah, Sarah and Scott go to http://lexeyswallbobay.blogspot.com/

Aren't They Cute?

The Dog Park

We've been enjoying Roxy (with the exception of the pillow eating, door scratching, window screen ripping, dog hair everywhere).







One of the things we've been enjoying are our trips to the local dog park. And she's enjoyed getting out of the house to sniff some dog butt. She also runs around when she's not sniffing butts. (Why do dogs do that?)






The challenge has been fitting Roxy and our three boys in the back seat. It's impossible. Thankfully, either Ashton or the boys (Austen and Dalton) haven't been with us when we've taking her to the park.

Roxy is BIG. When standing on her two hind legs she's taller than Marc (not that he's very tall 5'5, although he says he's 5'7, which I don't believe it).

But, we managed to accommodate her in both Marc's Corolla and in my Passat.

Two More Pillows

One Little,


Two Little,



Three Total Pillows that Roxy has shredded into pieces.

A fourth has teeth marks on it. So, we've had to get a dog sitter for the dog sitters. My next door neighbor was nice enough to come sit with Roxy throughout the day to monitor her. At a cost of course...she's a teenager.

For the record, Roxy isn't a bad dog at all. She's fine when we're home and we're enjoying having her. Ashton even cried at the thought of her going back home. But, when she's home alone and bored, she gets destructive.

So the tab is rising:

Three Pillows (maybe a fourth) $$$
Doggy Sitter $$$$$
New Window Sceen $$
Cleaning all the hair Roxy sheds (doesn't help that we have white tile and she has black hair) $$$

Sending her home on Monday .... Priceless

Marc & I

A few days ago the boys, Marc and I went down to Hollywood Park to let the boys run around, enjoy the weather and get some exercise. The kids are getting big by the minute and a time will come when we ask them to come to the park with us and they'll answer, "Can't. I'm going out with friends." Until than, Marc and I are determined to do lots of family things with the boys and torture the hell out of them. Thus, the smiles on our faces.

Name this Insect

This creature paid us a visit recently at our glass back door. It was huge. As big as my hand. OK, maybe not that big, but close enough. Ashton and I marvaled at it's long legs, big bug eyes and colorful body. But, I'm not sure if it's a grasshoper or a cricket.

Can you name this insect?

Are You Out There?

Let me explain what the concept behind a blog is.
Every day or almost every day I share with you stories videos and (my favorite) photos about our lives. Sometime I share boring facts about stuff like Bronchitus or Nipples.
YOU .. yes, I'm talking to you.. comment about each blog or share your stories about your life.
It's easy. At the end of each blog posting there is the word "comment". Click on it and you can write whatever you want...just keep it G or PG since my kids read this.
By doing this I know you're out there. Hopefully, enjoying the ups and downs of our lives, the funny videos of Austen, Dalton and Ashton and pictures. Lots of pictures.

So, if you're reading this........

DAMIT! LEAVE A COMMENT OR I'LL HUNT YOU DOWN LIKE THE NON-COMMENTING, FREE READING, PHOTO HOAGING, VIDEO FREAK VOYER YOU ARE.

(If no one is reading...don't I feel lame ;(

One Less Pillow

She's done it.

She has eaten one of my pillows.

She escaped from the house and ran down SW 69th Street toward Pembroke Road with me tailing her, stopping traffic like a mad woman and screaming, "STOP ROXY!! STOP"

(You would think someone would stop and help? NOOOOOOOOO no one stopped, but instead they speed up trying to get away from the mad woman running and screaming)

I caught up to her and once home Roxy was put on time-out.

But, she was happy to see us and we were happy to see her.

What can I said, I'm a sucker for a cute face.

I still have my furniture

I'm happy to report that Roxy didn't eat my furniture yesterday. She behaved wonderfully while Marc and I were at work and the boys out with Gram. Besides finding a lot of droll at the window, Roxy left no trace of destruction or mayhem.

Marc said she was ecstatic to see him. The boys are truly enjoying her company and so am I. Last night she slept right next to my bed only waking up when I did or when Ashton at 3:30am tried to crawl into bed with Marc and I crying he couldn't find his Hulk.

Roxy also is eating. Although it's only once a day, she is eating and last night enjoyed a few scraps of Cornish hens Marc grilled up.

My only worry now is that we can't find the remote control to the TV. ROXY!!!!!!!!!!