USTREAM.TV Video of My parents

Here is a link to watch the Obama rally today in Rolla. My parents are to the right of Obama-Dad in blue polo shirt and mom in green t-shirt with black necklace. Mom is the one you can really see in most of the videos, but it appears in this one, it is hard to see both of them--mainly because of the angle, but you can see them if they are panned out! If the video doesn't link, go to ustream.tv and search obama in missouri and you can see the video.

Link: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/597529

My Parents, TV Stars

Well, I was just watching Cnn and there they were! My parents were on TV! Not to worry, I recorded it! I love DVR! If I can, I will try to post it, but don't hold your breath!

UPDATE: my sister-in-law, Laura, called and informed me they are on cnn.com right now. Yes, mom is in green and dad is in blue! WOW!! They are celebrities!

Obama Mania Hits Rolla!

I guess you could say I never felt my parents were really into elections. We would talk about stuff like that around the kitchen table, but for the most part, we never took part in rallies, signs, or anything related to campaigning. The most they ever wanted me to do was distribute fliers around the neighborhood for my neighbor who was running for a school board seat. I know sounds weird too, but they are also really good friends with the Phelps County Coroner, but again, we never helped him campaign--mainly because he didn't have anyone running against him.

Well--this week, Obama mania has hit Rolla. As you all know, he is campaigning around Missouri in areas that are not traditionally Democrat. I thought it was cool that my he was coming to Rolla--that just doesn't happen in Rolla. I asked my parents if they were going and they thought they might try--mostly because of the historicalness to this situation. So, my mom stood in line in the heat yesterday only to get 30 feet from the door and to find out they were out of tickets. Let me tell you, she was upset! The campaign thought there would be enough tickets. However, around 2,000 people showed up for tickets and they were only handing out 1,200. In steps their neighbor--she was hosting a get together with someone from the Obama campaign at her house and insisted my parents attend. So they did, which amazed me! While at the party, she told them she waited in line and didn't get tickets, so...they had some there from the campaign and gave her and my dad tickets to today's rally.

So, my parents just called to tell me there were at the rally. But the really cool part is they are on the center stage, in the center, behind the podium, right by where Obama will be standing and speaking. They were surrounded by secret service people and all that jazz! I now have to watch them on TV to see if I see them. Mom said she was wearing green pants and a black top or vice versa. So...if any sees them in the video, please let me know and I will post the link here!

God's Big Back Yard

This week has been Vacation Bible School at Liberty United Methodist Church. They called and asked me to help and of course I couldn't say no, so Jack and I headed off to bible school. Now, he just barely qualified (age 3 and potty trained) but we tried it this week anyway. He is a part of a group called Alligators and most have just turned 3--btw there are 10 little ones in his class. Wow! He has done well considering he really hasn't been in a structured day care setting.

As for my part, I taught his class on Tuesday and Thursday. I will say this, there is a good reason the good lord sent me to teach high school. Ten 3 year olds are a handful!!! And then to have Jack in my class was even harder! But, we made it and tomorrow is Jack's last day. The crafts he made were coloring a bag, clothespin butterfly, tie snake (very cool), and a planter with marigold's (also very cool). We have learned very cool songs and made lots of friends.

We also just received a phone call from Creative World--Jack's finally going to attend their school! Ainsley will still attend Bambi's, but Jack will be going to preschool. I know he will miss her terribly, but we are very excited about him attending school! This is a huge step in our lives and are very excited!!!!! Keep your fingers crossed that things go well!!

Home Sweet Home

We made it home from a whirlwind weekend at my brother's wedding! We had an absolute blast! We played with friends and family, stayed up way to late at night and Jack has a new girlfriend, Erin. Erin is David and Carrie Lee's little girl and David was the best man in the wedding. Jack loved Erin. This morning, he went to Bible School for the first time and asked if Erin was attending. I said, no, but there would be other girls and boys there for him to play with!

Congratulations Rob and Laura and have a blast on your honeymoon! I will try and post some pictures of the festivities later this week. I am teaching Bible School tomorrow and Thursday along with the refridgerator repairman coming to fix the freezer, take Jeff's car to get a car inspection and wash and dry the mountain of laundry in my laundry room. Oh yea--I also must go to the grocery store sometime too! Oh it will be a crazy week!

A Camel, a kid, and Iowa

Tonight, Jeff, Ainsley, and I will leave for Iowa for my brother's wedding to Laura Conlee. This wedding has been in the plans for a year and we are super excited! Jeff and I are both in the wedding party and the kids will be hanging out, but with Papa and Grandma Arnold (Thanks a bunch for watching them!)

My parents left this morning from our house with Jack. Their car was packed full as will ours. I never knew how hard it was to pack for a family of four for a couple of days in Iowa. From the clothes to the snacks to the car seat arrangements it has been crazy! Roxy unfortunately had to go to the kennel for the weekend. When I left her, all I heard was a howl! Poor Baby!

The rest of the family will arrive tomorrow sometime. When I mean the family, I mean the family! I have an amazing family and they travel everywhere! I love it!

I hope to have good pictures next week of the wedding. Wish us luck on the drive. I have a feeling we will need it.

If you were wondering about the camel, a kids and Iowa--as my parents were pulling out of town, Jack informed them that I would be traveling to Iowa on a camel. I think it was, "Mommy will ride a camel to Iowa." Hummm...I wonder how long that would take and if I could actually find a camel!

Oh the Funny Things Jack says...

Here are a couple of funny things Jack has said in the past 2 days--mostly at random times:

"She's so cute. I love it"--referring to the Candyland Gingerbread man

"Ahoy Treasure"--Think Little Einsteins

"This leaf is my ticket"--Think Polar Express

"Happy Birthday for Daddy"

I know there are more, but those were the ones I remember!

Happy Birthday Annie!

Happy Birthday Aunt Annie! We hope you have a fun trip in Roachport!

Happy 31st Birthday Honey!

Today's blog is in honor of Jeff! He is officially 31 years young today! The kids and I surprised daddy at work with balloons and a huge cake for the office! The plan had been that Ainsley and I come down for lunch, but with the help of Bambi, our babysitter, I picked Jack up from Bambi's and we picked out balloons and a cake that would hopefully be big enough for the office at the local Hy-Vee. I called daddy to tell him we were downtown and he said he would meet us at the elevator bank. Now, you must understand something, Jeff has been in this current office building for a year, but I still to this day, can't remember what floor to go to. In Dallas he was on floor 46 out of 50, his first job here he was on floor 23 out of 30 and was half of the floor in Dallas. Now he is on floor 5! There was one day before Ainsley was born that Jack and I couldn't figure out what floor to stop on--I tried 6, which is a cafeteria and 4, which you can't get off on unless you have a special card. Oh well.

Anyway, back to today, I had him meet me at the elevator bank because now he moved offices, so now I have to remember the floor and the office. There is no hope for me! Jack carried the balloons and Ainsley (and myself) carried the cake. As we exited the elevator, there was daddy and Jack said, "Happy Birthday Daddy" or some variation of that. Jeff was pleasantly surprised and a bit embarrassed (if you know Jeff, he doesn't like a big fuss). We made him carry his cake a balloons through the office! Jack was cute and performing for everyone in the office and Ainsley passed around to different people. Jeff's secretary, Jennifer, said she had had a migraine until she held Ainsley and that made her world better!

Then if was off to a fast and fantastic lunch at Jason's Deli because Jeff had to hurry to get to a conference call. Tonight for dinner it is Jeff's choice: Grilled steak, corn, grilled pineapple, etc. Happy birthday honey! We hope you have a good day!

My Firecrackers!

Here is my Little Mr. Firecracker! I love this picture and wanted to share it with everyone! Jack just came home from the doctor--routine visit. He is a little guy--10th percentile for weight, 10th percentile for height! Dr. Beard said he was proportional so that was good! He did amazing at the doctor's office! I was so proud of him. Since we left, he has been taking flashlights and acting like Dr. Beard. He is checking my tummy, my throat, my eyes and ears! He even is saying the same thing she was saying--such a funny guy! He even was helping check Ainsley when I was changing her diaper. I'm thinking he needs his own doctor's kit!

Here is my Little Miss 4th of July! I love this photo of her--I could just blog on her everyday because of all of the amazing things she is doing. Yesterday, I put her on the floor on her tummy and turned around to get a mirror for her to look at to find her on her back. She is talking all the time and loves her toys! However, I do ask myself, how can one baby spit up so much milk! I swear we go through 3 to 5 bibs a day! Oh well. I am so dreading going back to work! I think I still have a month, but still...

Happy 3rd Birthday Jack!

At this point in time, Jack was born 3 years ago! We just came home from our birthday party at the Bambi'sand now Jack is asleep! It was a great party! All of Jack's play group friends came over and we had pizza, cake, and played in water toys outside! I haven't been that busy with a birthday party before. We had around 15 kids over to play and Jack was a wild man. You can definately tell it is HIS birthday! He does get a big surprise tonight--he gets a real bike! He rode one at the bike store, so Jeff and I are surprising him with one tonight. I think it says Rocket and is blue and red. It has training wheels, but I have a sneaky suspicion those will be off before we know it!

What an amazing three years it has been. I can't believe how much my life has changed since Jack entered our lives. Jeff and I laugh so much at him. He amazes me! He is a man of many faces, asks tons of questions, is so funny, plays all the time (never slows down) and is just a fun kid. I Love you Jack! Thanks for making these 3 years the best!


I will post pictures soon. We received our camera last week around 3pm and have taken some amazing photos. Now I have to figure out how to upload them on the computer.

Christmas in July

We bought our first digital camera about 5 years ago while living in Texas. It is a Cannon PowerShot G2, which we love and still love. It takes fantastic pictures! However, it is soooooo slow with its shutter speed and the battery keeps running down. We have replaced the battery, but we keep missing the shots we really wanted to take!

During our weekend at the Lake, we got to play with Kelly's camera, which is the Nikon D40 and we fell in love with it! We could take so many more pictures with her camera than with ours! Jeff could take like three or four when I could take one with ours! So...we decided to become serious shoppers for a new camera. We scoured Best Buy one evening to just play with the cameras and Jeff talked to a Lawyer/Photographer and many other people at work and all around about cameras. We decided on the Cannon Digital Rebel XSi. We loved our other Cannon camera and decided this would be our best bet!

So, the real reason I am writing this blog today is because UPS is delivering the camera today. I received a phone call yesterday to inform me that I will need to be available from 8am to 7pm today because they will need a signature for the parcel. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal, but we are leaving for the Lake tomorrow and would really like to take the camera with us. Therefore, I am here all day at home until it arrives with two kids who were crying at the same time a little bit ago until I put the littlest one to bed (she was really cranky) and the older one downstairs to play with Thomas the Train and watch Tigger and Pooh! There is calm again in the house of Arnold, but I still have to wait around all day! With my luck today, the camera will arrive at 6:50 tonight! Oh the joy! Oh the fun!