New Year's Eve:

1990

I was a lot more patient in 1990 than I am today. When I look at this picture, I wonder what I was thinking!! The kids were excited to celebrate the New Year and wanted to throw confetti like they do on TV. So, I let them each (Chad, Todd, April & my nephew, Troy) have a basket and toilet paper to shred. Imagine at midnight 4 baskets of "confetti" tossed in the air. It really was fun to watch the kids have such a good time. They did clean up their mess, after they tossed confetti in the air a few more times.

We put a lot of emphasis on a new year, as if some magic will make it better than the year before. We should appreciate each day on it's own merit. But I, too, am looking forward to a better year in 2010. I pray for good health, children's life to become better, my parents. The list goes on. Then I think, Connie, God has blessed you with so much, appreciate each day and blessing.

So my wish for 2010 is to become a better person and accept each day as it comes, for that is a blessing in itself.

Holidays: (& the flu season)

Christmas Eve:
I worked part of the day then went home to get ready to go to Mom and Dad's that evening. We were a smaller group this year but we had a good time. We cherish our time together celebrating with our parents. Mom read the Christmas story out of the Bible and the kids sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.
After Mom's, we went to the house for our celebration. April had found a recipe for shrimp appetisers and let me tell you, they were very, very spicy!! If we have them again, we will have to cut down on the chipotle peppers and cayenne. We all received nice gifts and just sat around visiting.
My boys:
Todd & Chad


April & Mike:


Christmas Day:
This was a first for me and Dwayne in our entire married life and before, we were alone on Christmas Day. I thought I would be sad being by ourselves and not going to any family functions but I actually enjoyed the day relaxing. We went to Denny's around noon for breakfast and then just watched TV the rest of the day.
Flu, the beginning of the season:
No one likes to hear the phone ring at 3:30 in the morning. Your first thought is it has to be bad news, Mom or Dad sick, a wreck, the boys are in trouble, a million thoughts running through your head. It was Chad saying he was sick, could I come down. So Dwayne and I both took out to Chad's in a rush to get there. We always seem to panic a little when Chad gets sick as any infections seem to trigger his kidney disease and it takes longer for him to heal. When we got there, he was laying on the bathroom floor, too weak to get back to bed. We stayed for a couple hours as his temperature was high and he was so sick. We then went back home for a couple hours sleep. I told Dwayne he could be "Mr. Mom" and take Chad to the doctor. Luckily for us, a local doctor was in Saturday morning. Chad has the flu, strep throat and a sinus infection. Dwayne even brought his bed clothes home to wash and went back and forth to check on Chad during the day. Since my immune system isn't that strong, we figured Dwayne would be the nurse. (Unfortunately, he came down with the flu Sunday morning).
Rowe/Akridge Christmas:
April and I went to my nephew's house (Tony Rowe's) for their Christmas celebration. We had great food and lots of fun watching the kids open presents. We then had a "white elephant" gift exchange. The adults had a good time but the kids just didn't seem to understand the whole game of stealing gifts.
The rest of the day I made cookies and pies for our Elrod dinner on Sunday.
Sunday, Elrod Dinner:
Dwayne put the ham on and then went back to bed. He had come down with the flu and could barely get out of bed. I called David to see if they still wanted to come down since Dwayne was sick. They had their flu shots so we went ahead with the dinner. Good thing as I had alot of food cooked. Chad was still sick and unable to come over, Dwayne came into the living room a couple times but went back to bed. Trevor and Xander had fun with their presents and kept us entertained.
Before they got there, my sister, Judy called and said Dad was in the hospital and that he had the flu. She called again later and said Dad had a bowel obstruction and was going to have to have surgery. The rest of the day was spent visiting and playing cards with the worry in the back of my mind about Dad. Last night I went up to see Dad and he was feeling better. They were giving him medicine in an IV to hopefully keep him from having surgery.

The holiday weekend was a time of reflection on past Christmas' and missing Grandma Dodie and Grandpa Andy. Dodie loved Christmas and always made it a special time for everyone. I hope to carry on her tradition of celebrating Christmas surrounded by family and creating new memories.

Movie Night:

Occasionally, my sister Kate will rent a movie and bring it down for us to watch. Last night, she rented "It's All About Steve" with Sandra Bullock. Talk about a nerdy person, Sandra Bullock played the part to a tee. I like to watch Sandra Bullock's movies and she usually plays a funny part. I think it will be hard to watch her play such a serious role in her new movie, "Blind Side", but I'm sure she will do a great job as she is a very talented actress. I think I even have Dwayne talked into go to the theater to watch it instead of waiting for it to come out on DVR.
I fixed enchiladas for supper and April supplied the dessert. Along with me, Dwayne and April were Kate, MacKensie and Zach. We had a good evening with family and I love that we all live close to each other.

Nathan:

Nathaniel Lane Rowe
December 23, 1999
Nathan is the son of my nephew, Tony Rowe and his wife Billie.
Nathan was the highlight of our Christmas Eve family gathering at Mom's that year.His hair was almost the same color as Chad's was.
At the time of Nathan's birth, my sister, Judy (his grandma) lived in Ellington. I had the wonderful opportunity to play "grandma" to her grandchildren. We watched Nathan for the first time when he was just a couple weeks old. We took him to our friend's house for Mike's birthday. It seems to be a tradition for the great niece or nephew's first outing with us is to go visit Mike and Susan.
Nathan has gown up to be a remarkable child. He does very well in his schoolwork and helps out at home quite a bit. He loves horses and would ride most of the time if he had a chance.
Happy 10th Birthday, Nathan!

Weekend:

Friday:
End of the work week and just a relaxing evening at home.
Saturday:
My great nephew, Nathan had a birthday party in the evening. I will do a tribute to him on the 23rd, his actual birthday. Blake went with us as he had got to know my family when April babysat him. Billie (Nathan's Mom) always has neat ideas on decorations and activities. She had the kids form teams and they were to see who could make a snowman the fastest. They used toilet paper to wrap around the child chosen to be the snowman and she had construction paper cut outs to pin on of boots, nose, etc. Blake was voted the best snowman, he stood so still and serious through the game.
Charlie Tynes

After the party, we went to Sput's Place between Vichy and Rolla for a College Graduation Party for our friend's son. Charlie now has his Masters in Business Management and the party was a nice tribute to all of his hard work. I enjoyed visiting with friends but I think I'm getting too old to enjoy being at a bar with all the noise and loud music. Showing my age!! LOL
Sunday:
I played hooky from going to church, no reason, just didn't go. I did finish up wrapping presents for Christmas. My Sunday evening family meal time isn't going as I planned. The boys are usually busy doing their own thing and don't make it. So it is usually just me, Dwayne, April and Mike; which is okay but I do wish the boys would make more of an effort to come over.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and takes the time to enjoy being a family. What greater gift from God, the birth of Christ, and continuing on with the birth and life of each one of us.

Kara Leigh:

Kara Leigh Cross:
December 16, 1992
Kara is the step daughter of my nephew, Wayne Feeler, Jr. I do not like to use the term, step, as Kara is very much my neice. Kara came into our family when she was three years old. What a delightful child and very talkative. Kara loved to ask questions and used the word why alot. One day she said, Aunt Connie, I can use the big words now. I asked her what words those were, she said how come? So we were then answering how come questions instead of why? So cute!!
A few years ago we were at a barbeque with some friends and Kara and Tess were with us. One of my friends said, you can certainly tell Kara is your neice Connie, she looks just like you and your side of the family. She could not have said anything better and I did not correct her. We never talked about it but I know it made Kara feel even more a part of the family.
April used to babysit Kara and her sister, Tess in the evenings while their Mom was at work. Kara loved to fix Uncle Dwayne's lunch for the next day. It took extra time to help her but it was so worth it to see how proud she was to help.
I have so many memories of the times Kara has spent with us through the years. She is well mannered, caring, smart and a great big sister, just an overall joy to be around.
It is with great pride I wish Kara Leigh a Happy 17th Birthday!!

In Loving Memory of Doris "Dodie" Elrod

April 29, 1932 - December 14, 2003

It's been six years and our hearts still ache in sadness,
and secret tears still flow, what it meant to lose you,
no one will ever know.

Lovingly missed by,
Dwayne, Connie, Chad, Todd and April
David, Dustin, Andy, Cody and Trevor