Road Trip

Today I was Sherrill's chauffeur.  He needed to go to two jobs, so I offered to drive him. First we went to North Topsail Island. It was cold outside, but the sun was warming things up. 

Guess where was next on the grand adventure?

Yes, Jacksonville. We rode right by Saigon's Sam's and kept on going. If Chris had been with us, we would have stopped for sure.

We made it on to New Bern for our last stop. We were just riding around, and of course we ended up in the hood.....the real hood! The streets were so narrow only one car could go down some of them at a time. 

We finally found a Schlosky's Deli for a late lunch. I haven't eaten at one of them since they closed the one here. 

Then on to Uncle Rudy's, and back home. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Name this Child

Remember this picture?

Name this child........

Isaac's Song

Do you remember back in August 2007 when Eli learned this song to sing to Isaac?
Today marks 1 month since Isaac left us.

Happy Birthday Lauren

Happy Birthday Lauren.
I know the pictures aren't perfect, I know there are a lot of years missing. I let the computer choose which ones it wanted, and this what we got. Any of the really goofy I took out. I didn't take time to correct the red eyes, or blurs. This is life, and Grandma likes to make it simple. We love you.

You have got to be kidding me!

Sherrill went to Andy's to pick up our dinner. Look what he brought back for Jack.

He went to Burger King to get one of the 99 cent burgers.

You have got to be kidding me!

This One is for the MOMS!

So moms, how's the laundry?

I'm not one to complain about doing laundry. I kind of enjoy it. But with all of this snow and ice that just doesn't want to go away.....REALLY?

Sherrill goes off each day with 3 layers of shirts, and 2 layers of pants and long johns. Then he might change into work pants to walk Jack, then his pajama pants to lounge in. It seems like I am doing laundry every day!

I wait and put them in the dryer right before bedtime to give the heat pump a break. But them I am folding clothes, some nights at midnight. I am ready for some warmer weather. I can throw 5 pair of paint shorts into one load, and do laundry once a week.

I can imagine what you moms are going through! Wet socks, gloves, mitten, scarves, jeans....... I remember those days very well. I did it simple back then, I just threw everything in the dryer, and reused it again and again until the snow was gone!

Stay Calm........spring will be here soon!

And the Winner Is............

Good job Olivia!
We are so PROUD of you.

Blake

Just stylin'

Best place to read

Thanks for the pictures Kelli!

Having Fun!

Hey Liv,
I can't believe the amount of time your parents spend with you and your dancing.
You are quite a little "pro".  Grandma is so proud of you. Hope you are having lots of fun.......
Thanks for the pictures Wendy!

Happy Birthday Joe Roller

Happy 40th Joe Joe! 

Remember these?

What is going on with that bleached hair? What was their mom thinking?

Happy Birthday Grandma Lessie

This is Grandma Lessie, (grandaddy Joe's mom). I was talking to Dad the other day, and he told me that Grandma was either one day older, or one day younger than George Washington.  He said that's what she always told them. I reminded him.... and a few years.

I looked it up, and yep, he was right. She was born Feb 21, 1896.
Just thought you might like to see what she looked like!

This was her in her younger days!
Oh, and her husband Fred.

Enough Already

After the first snow/ice Sherrill cleared off most of the patio, and the front steps and sidewalk. I could walk about anywhere I wanted to go, except to the garbage can. And then.....it rained.....and sleeted, and totally froze everything he had cleared.
Then, the sun came out and melted a lot of it. The melting caused even more water, and you guessed it, more ice. Now the patio is still covered with snow, ice, and more ice. The sun doesn't shine a lot in the patio, except during the summer. So, it looks like I will be surrounded by ice FOREVER! Every trip out with Jack is an adventure. Is that a wet spot, or ice?Sometimes it is hard to tell.
Jack takes it all in stride, and just slips and slides without complaining!
As for Sherrill, he is back on a new construction house today, which means NO heat. His heater died last year, and he hasn't found a new one. So, he's using a borrowed one. How can ANYONE work in this weather? Poor baby.

"Miss Lynne"

I sent "Miss Lynne" (Isaac's teaching assistant for the past 2 years) a message today. I asked her sometime when she was in the area would she stop by and check in on Isaac's grave. She went right after I sent the message. She said while she was there she played a video for him. She had forgotten to carry anything. I have not told her yet that they remove everything on the grave every Tuesday.
So, the Muno and rose she left there after his funeral were probably gone.

But look, she did take the rocks and make a little heart for him. I just LOVE "Miss Lynne"!

Rousch Yates getting ready for Daytona 500

My friend David is at the 47 second mark, walking through the door (Dude with the mustache).
Cute little fella, huh?

Grandma and Minecraft

I received a phone call this morning. The caller said "Judy, this is Hunter, do you know who I am?"
I immediately told him that yes, he was the grandkids that lived across the road from Grandma Cat and Grandaddy Joe. He told me he was at Grandma's house visiting, and he and grandma were playing Minecraft.
Well, everyone knows that Grandma DOES NOT play Minecraft.  But, Hunter does, and he had his iPad and had built Grandma a log cabin.
Hunter and his sister Kylie had moved in the neighborhood a few years ago. They were immediately adopted by Grandma Cat, and are there all the time. Hunter likes to drive the lawn mower through the garden, and helps out Grandaddy. I think he is 7 or 8. Kylie is about 10 or 11 I guess.
It takes this little boy to bring Grandma Cat into this century with his iPad. Then I was thinking......maybe Grandma Cat does need an iPad.

What is he Thinking ? ? ? ? ?

I receive a call tonight around 11:30 ........ (me and Jack were up watching tv.)
"Hey Grandma, I know it's late, I just want to talk to you."
"OK Chris, what's up"
"I found a BYU I want to go to."
Now, I know there is something going on. There is BYU Provo, BYU Idaho, and BYU Hawaii.
So, I am assuming he will say BYU Idaho or Hawaii. But, no, not my baby.

"Grandma, I want to go to BYU Jerusalem".
"Where" I replied.
"You know.......Jerusalem, in the middle east."
Me......Chris, there's not a BYU in Jerusalem. He informs me yes there is, and he wants to go there.

I continue to talk to him, asking about work, school, life in general. Everything seems to be falling in place for him. Once the call ends, I decide I better start checking this out......before he actually applies.

Yes, here it is. The white building in the upper left corner with all the arches. BYU Jerusalem Center.

I found all about it on Wikipedia. What in the world is this boy thinking? ? ? ? ?

I better go ahead and get my passport renewed. I might need to go rescue him from a foreign country!

Jack and the Cat

Sherrill is at work, and Jack is sitting at the sliding glass door waiting for him. The mama cat is also sitting outside on the step waiting for Sherrill. The cat "Meows" and Jack barks. The cat "Meows" again, and Jack continues to bark. This goes on for about an hour.

I open the door, tell the cat to "Shoo", and out walks Jack. Jack goes down a step, and the cat climbs up a step to come inside. They keep chasing each other up and down the steps, until the cat realizes Jack isn't playing.....he is MAD! The cat is in his space. So, the cat jumps over the fence, and Jack sits in the cold and waits, and waits, and waits. He doesn't realize that "fat boy" isn't coming home tonight.

So, I guess we are in for a 'cat fight' before the night is over. Mrs. Eva across the street leaves her garage door opened just a little for the cats to go in to sleep, but for some reason, Mama cat doesn't want to leave here. I went out and fed her, but she still won't leave.

Snow!!!

Long kiddos take over NASCAR hall of fame

Beware of Fraud

Well, it happens again. Yesterday when I was doing my Valentine JibJab cards for the kids I had to pull out and pay with the credit card. Oh yes, they do charge you now if you want to download the cards.

Within a few minutes I received a call from a Credit Card company. The person that I was speaking to did NOT speak English, so I requested that they write me a letter. Now this morning I get up and have an email asking me to call their fraud prevention department. So, I did. Here again I get a person that does NOT speak good English. I tell them I am hesitant to talk to them, so she suggests I call the number on the back of my card.

Voila! I finally get through to someone! Guess what, she does speak English, but with some type of foreign accent. What is this world coming to? All they were trying to do was to tell me that my account had been compromised, and they would be sending out a new card.  Why does it take a foreigner to tell me this?

Another Valentine

Can you identify these kids?

Happy Valentine's Day

A Very Good Valentine's Day!

Loving Isaac

Love and miss you Isaac.

News, or lack of it.......

I talked to Abby this morning and James should be picking them up from Duke around 1:00 pm.  I'm quite sure both of them will be glad to get home and sleep in their own beds, and have REAL food!

Christy is learning the trials and tribulations of being a landlord. She has one family moving out, with another family moving in March 1st. I can just imagine the potential problems she might find.

This weekend is Meg and Seth weekend.....that is if their dad decides to cooperate. You just never know about this.

There is a beautiful picture of Tristen on Facebook. Make sure you check it out. I am awaiting Kathy's comment to see if she approves!

Kelli was at the circus, but no pictures. Did you take any photos?

Chris is a manager at Dunkin Doughnuts in Draper, Utah, supervising a group of teenagers. Can you imagine that one?

Eli still wants to be home schooled. He does not appreciate a public school education.

The Murray kids I guess are still dancing and playing indoor soccer. I don't think I have talked to them since I have been back, they are always on the road traveling to somewhere.

I am still popping my antibiotic and antihistamines. Now Sherrill is getting sick. He's working in Chapel Hill, so has quite a commute this week.

Grandma Cat is still having problems getting in and out of the bathtub. She is still trying to get grandaddy to put up her grab bar. So, if you talk to her....avoid this subject.

I received a phone call from Louise (Uncle Jimmy's wife) last night. This was the first time I can EVER remember her calling for me.......after 35 years or so. I guess miracles do exist. She has been real sick, that's why it really surprised me!

Any other News and Views ? ? ? ?

Valentine Cards in the Mail.............

Valentine cards are in the mail. Some were mailed Saturday, the rest today.

Sherrill picked them out this year, and we got them late, so they are not as cute as they could have been. I should have just printed out this little man and made my own! The last cards that were sent out, I think Luke got his about 2 weeks late. So, hold on to the cards until each child in the family has gotten theirs. If someone's gets lost, just let me know, and I'll send out another one.

February birthdays are as follows

4th       Cindy Marie

22        Joe Roller.......  let's surprise him this year and EVERYONE send him a card, he will be 40!

25        Travis

26        Lauren

  

Medstat....... a Girl's best friend

Yep, I'm officially sick. Rhinitis, Sinusitis, Bronchitis, and asthma. What more could you asks for?
This junk started Thursday at church. It only got worse. Then tonight when the sun went down, and the coughing really started, I dragged my but to the Dr office.

Flat Stanley was with me of course. I got a picture of him in the waiting room, one lying on the examination table, and I had him hanging from the cabinets when Dr Le walked in. He just laughed with his regular, "Judy, Judy, Judy". He has seen me so many times over the past 20 years, he can diagnosis my problem with just looking at me. This is the same stuff he treats me for, the only thing as a matter of fact.

So, back to bed. NO cooking. I did do laundry today. Tomorrow will be a day of rest.

Izzy, I will get you a present, but I can't go see you. One look at me, and they would turn me around at the front door!

Flat Stanley

Meet Flat Stanley.
Flat Stanley arrived at the Roller house Monday night. He was sent from a young girl, Sloan,  in Prosper, TX. Kat is supposed to take him on adventures, but of course now is not the best time to do this. So, I took Flat Stanley with me. We have big plans for the coming month.
This is what we have done so far......

Video games for adults only

Gotta have a Pepsi and Hawaiian pizza

Looking out the window of plane
Look, I am even reversed!

Grandpa holding me under the Southwest emblem.

Whew, finally arrived.

So, not only do I carry him around, I have to dress him too. So, today I am taking him and having him "blown up" just a little bigger. Then I am turning him into a girl.

I am going to find a way to cover him with flannel, so I can make clothes to stick on him/her.

Any ideas???? Come on kids.... you can think of something!!

Happy Birthday Cindy

Decided to make you a quick new one.

Happy Birthday "sweetie"!

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Cindy
Happy Birthday to YOU!

Sorry I don't have a new picture. This was all I had in this computer!
We love you girl !

Honey...... I'm Home

We made it,
We made it,
Yes we did, Yes we did....... But just barely! ! ! !

Our flight was delayed in Reno......Then we got to Vegas about 10 minutes before the plane left.
But SURPRISE...........SURPRISE.........
The guy on the ground in Reno knew we were nervous about missing our connecting flight (they had already bumped one couple off with connecting flight to Orlando...and we would have been next).......
so HE had them save us the front row seats!

The plane was already half loaded when we got there, but when we checked in the girl told us to tell the flight attendant that we were the ones they were saving the seats for. What a relief! ! ! It was a very enjoyable ride, except for the turbulence.

So, we are back home........ no gift yet for Cindy. Lots of catch up work for dad. And Uncle Hallett is still in the hospital not doing very well.......and Uncle Rudy has also been in the hospital with his heart acting up. Looks like I will be back on duty here.

Let me be the first to wish you

Happy Birthday Cindy............
May all your birthday wishes come true!

Today..... Part 2

All things considered, today was a pretty good day. Kat got Eli up this morning and off to school. She went to work until well after lunch. Ma and Pa Roller came over with Carrie and spent the afternoon with us. Eli came home from school with lost of cards made by his friends. I was able to sleep in late after Kat left for work. Eli was invited skating tonight with a family. All of us adults were able to sit around and visit with a meal from Outback. Then to top the evening off.........this came.

    At first we thought this was the star that they put up in the building at Make A Wish. But after reviewing all of the paperwork, it is an actual star, near the Orion constellation. It is named Isaac Joseph Roller, and has been carefully mapped out, and registered. You can even go to google to find it. The Make A Wish Foundation bought Isaac a star.......a real star. I will get the details so you too can see it.   

    Along with this came about 25 cards. They got both of yours Wendy. These cards mostly came from Joe's work, lots of heart moms, and friends though out the US. They would read the return address (the state) to see if they could figure out who it was sent from. Kat wasn't up to reading all the messages yet.  I think it might take a couple of days before she can do that.

   Eli got 2 cards in the mail, plus all those from school, so he's "The Man" right now.

   Just one more thing to show you before I sign off.......

Meet Eva.......the dog that Kat said DOES NOT get on furniture. Joe was up most of the night just resting on the couch. When I got up .....here she was. I just had to take a picture to show them.
Eva's real name was Diva, but they didn't like that, so they just call her Eva.
     We will be leaving Kats around 11:30 tomorrow morning. We will be arriving at RDU on that 11:30 PM flight. Our layover will be in Las Vegas, so Sherrill should have time to get in a few slots.
Hopefully things will return to the "new normal" soon! Thanks for all of your support throughout all of this.

Today.....

Today they are trying to start a normal day for Eli's sake. Kat got up, got dressed, and got him of to school. He still did not want to go of course. She is back now and has gone to lay down for a little while. She is going to work this morning, just to let her boss know where things stand. She is still sick, but kind of wants to go in for a few hours each day to get the new life up and running.

Everywhere you turn Isaac is still here. The dog can bump the toy box, and a Yo Gabba Gabba song breaks out. You look on the counter top, and there are his meds and medical tubing. You can go to wash clothes, and there is one of his little shirts.

Chris left yesterday to go back to Utah. Sue and Dean leave tomorrow morning, and Sherrill and I will be leaving around lunch. Maybe then they will have a quiet house where they can spend just to themselves.

Let me tell you kids, this is difficult for them, extremely difficult, but they have faced it with unbelievable courage and strength. I hope none of you ever have to o through it.

A lot of people have called, texted her, emailed her about church yesterday, and all of the good things that were said about their courage and strength. Joe had carried Eli to the bishop's house to watch the game with some of the youth, and he even commented about everyone bearing their testimonies and talking about the strength that Joe and Kathy have. About how Joe could do a 30 minute eulogy for his son, and never break down in tears, plus sing a song in the end.

It's been a long, long week. I really do hope that things only get better!

Isaac Movie .......(no sound)

Review this before you show the kids. There are pictures of Isaac.
If you want a video to be able to show the kids, I can make one of them too.
The laptop isn't allowing me to connect the song I want for some reason.

Eli/Isaac's Necklace

This is hard to see, but while they were in the hospital, one of the ladies helped Eli make some of these. It's some type of ceramic, with Isaac's thumb print heart shaped, shaded over in silver, with the word I, the shape of a heart, then Isaac's name. I'll try to take another picture later. He made enough for his mom, grandparents, and I don't know who else.

Cloe, Kyle and his family, and Christy and her family are all leaving today. Last night everyone was over, and Christy and Kurt cooked an old southern breakfast with bacon, eggs, pancakes, french toast,
grits, the works. A member brought in pork and chicken enchiladas, beans and rice, so we had plenty of food.

Hopefully today will be a quiter day.