Happy Holidays

We went to our company Christmas party. Here's a quick snapshot of JJ & I with some friends of ours.

Happy Holidays!!!

I don't know if this little bit of information will be helpful, but I thought I would share it. For those of you who read this and own your home. If you are ever in a situation like we are in and all your food is spoiled due to power outages, your home owner's insurance will cover it with no deductible. At least I know mine does. It literally took me 5 minutes and they told me they would have a check in my account within 48 hours. I am not sure if this works for renter's insurance, but I would highly recommend you check into it.

Ice Storm 2007

Well as many of you probably already have heard Kansas has been hit hard by a bad ice storm. It rolled in on Monday night and WOW did it carry a punch. As of Tuesday morning over 67% of the city was without power. Ft. Riley also had about 40% outages and Junction City was only about 15%. As of today, Thursday we still have no power. UGH!

As a family, we through in the towel last night. We got tired of freezing during the night so went to one of my model apartments at one of my communities. I think our model apartments have become First Management refugee sights. But I guess that beats having to stay in a local shelter.

They did open up a couple of gyms on post for shelter for military families but JJ said it was horrible. Not to get into specifics, but definitely "WT". As far as "Westar" our energy provider they are stating that we should receive power sometime within the next 7 to 10 business days. Are you f$#@*&^ kidding me.... UGH! What really sucks about that is the if you look around our neighborhood, our street and a few streets directly behind us still don't have power. BUT, at the end of our street a newer subdivision, they have had power 99.9% of the time. We are all about half tempted to go to that person's house, (because he is proudly displaying his Christmas decorations) and tear down his decorations. The other idea was to buy a large extention cord and run it down the block.... Think he would notice?

The houses at the other end of our street also have power. What is with this? All Westar can say is that they tend to help the areas with more coverage first, then they will get to the smaller communities. Where is the justice? I haven't had power since Monday and individuals who live down the street have maybe lost power for an hour. I know, I know... I am babbling but I had to get it out there. I have attached some pictures of the area with some of the lovely ice. Enjoy!

Chiefs Game~~~ Chiefs VS Raiders

Well Sunday we had the opportunity to take Tanner and Jack to their first NFL Football game. And of course with being near KC their is only one team. MY TEAM!!!! Well I had to set some guidelines in order for them to attend. Let's start out by letting everyone know that JJ is a die hard Steeler's fan and Jack is following in his footsteps. Tanner use to love the Chiefs but has lately became a HUGE Chicago Bears fan. What is up with that? I think he likes saying... da' Bears. Anyways, one of the guidelines is EVERYONE had to dress up to support MY TEAM! OH YEAH BABY!!!!! I have HARD evidence that they are truly not Steeler's and Bear's fans. Take a look......

Shelby see's SNOW!

Well on Saturday we had our first snow of the season. We received about 1/2" of snow, but it was the first time our puppy was able to see it. She loved it! As you can see she decided it was YUMMY!!!

Baby girl turns 8 months on Friday!!!

Shelby turns 8 months this Friday. We are so happy she is part of our family. She is truly a diva! I have no idea where she got that from.... LOL =)

For those of you with BOYS.... Check out this site!

http://www.ridemakerz.com/


Tapping into America's love of cars and the massive car-customizing movement, RIDEMAKERZ™ offers kidz from 6 to 106 the opportunity to customize and "trick out" their very own RIDE. RIDEMAKERZ is led by ZEO Larry Andreini, noted entrepreneur. In addition, legendary car-customizer Chip Foose, host of TLC's "Overhaulin'", serves as an advizor for the experiential retailer.
Start Your EngineuityThe RIDEMAKERZ experience invites guests, or "Customizers," into the ultimate car-customizing shop where they can CHOOZE, SONICIZE, MOTORIZE, MOBILIZE, CUSTOMIZE, PERSONALIZE and CRUIZE™ one-of-a-kind RIDEZ. Between the body styles and colors, tires and wheels, lights and sounds, accessories and decals, RIDEMAKERZ estimates there are more than 649,000,000 possible combinations, not including individual decal placement. Simply put, RIDEMAKERZ is about the joy and fun of creating something great, something artistic, something unique and original.
Car Culture InspirationThe car culture has inspired everything from the shop design to the smallest automotive details. The durable, molded plastic cars and trucks have been designed with great care. Styles range from a red Fire Engine to a flat-black retro Hot Rod inspired by legendary car designer Chip Foose. The line also includes race cars, pick-ups, and concept cars and trucks. The company has not gone without notice by the automobile establishment. Already RIDEMAKERZ has secured licensing arrangements for some of the most popular body styles developed by car manufactures, meaning "customizers" can "trick out" their own Dodge Challenger Hemi or a Ford Mustang GT, for example

Navy Pier & Beautiful buildings in Chicago

These buildings are amazing! If you haven't had the opportunity to visit Chicago, I highly recommend it!

ALL ABOUT "SUE"

Timeline of Events
About 67 mya
A Tyrannosaurus rex died and its body was quickly covered by riverbed sand and mud. Over time, pressure and some remineralization turned its bones to fossils.
August 12, 1990
Susan Hendrickson, an amateur fossil hunter discovers three huge bones jutting out of a cliff in South Dakota. They belong to the largest, most complete, and best preserved T. rex ever discovered. It was nicknamed Sue in honor of its discoverer.
October 4, 1997
The Field Museum purchased Sue at auction with generous financial support from McDonald's Corporation, Walt Disney World Resort, and private individuals.
October 20,1997
Sue’s bones arrived at The Field Museum.
November 18,1997 -January 11, 1998
The temporary exhibition "Sue Uncrated" displayed Sue’s newly-arrived bones in their protective plaster field jackets.
April 22, 1998
Field Museum scientists began cleaning some of Sue’s bones in a newly-constructed fossil preparation lab at DinoLand USA in the new Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
June 10, 1998
The McDonald's Fossil Preparation Laboratory, a permanent public facility, opened at The Field Museum.
1998-2000
Simultaneously with preparation of the bones, Field Museum paleontologist Dr. Chris Brochu conducted scientific research on the specimen. His research will produce the first complete scientific monograph of a T. rex skeleton.
August 21, 1998
Sue’s skull was packed in a protective crate and shipped to California, where it was CT scanned at The Boeing Company's Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power Santa Susana Field Laboratory.
April 1999
Field Museum scientists began making molds of Sue's bones. The molds were used to make cast replicas of the dinosaur.
May 1999 - March 2000
Sue’s prepared bones were sent to a team of artisans and engineers in New Jersey. There they designed and built the special steel armature that holds Sue’s bones on display at The Field Museum.
May 29, 1999 - March 5, 2000
"Sue the Inside Story " temporary exhibition featured discoveries about the T. rex , based on new research and CT scanning.
June 1999
National Geographic magazine article features Sue.
Summer 1999
Some of Sue’s bones are CT scanned at Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, Illinois.
April 10, 2000
Sue’s bones returned to The Field Museum for permanent residence.
April 10 - May 17, 2000
Sue’s bones and the supporting steel armature were assembled on site at The Field Museum.
May 17, 2000
Sue’s real skeleton went on display at The Field Museum, along with an exhibit about her.
June 2000
A second National Geographic magazine article features Sue.
June 23, 2000
The first of two identical traveling exhibitions opens at Boston’s Museum of Science. Each exhibition features a 42-foot-long cast skeleton of Sue. McDonald’s Corporation is sponsoring the exhibitions as part of its millennium gift to the country.
Summer 2000
A life-sized cast of Sue’s skeleton goes on display in Union Station in Washington D.C., allowing members of Congress and visitors to the nation’s capital to view Sue.
Summer 2000
One of three life-sized casts of Sue’s skeleton goes on display in DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.
August 11, 2004
Field Museum Dinosaur Curator Pete Makovicky, PhD, and his colleagues determined T. rex’s growth pattern and lifespan using an innovative technique that could be applied to many other dinosaurs.
March 18, 2005
A cast of Sue makes its overseas debut in Japan. Sue is the star attraction of Dinosaur Expo 2005: The Evolution of Theropods from Dinosaurs to Birds, an exhibition that opened at the National Science Museum in Tokyo on March 18, 2005 and will travel to Nagoya, Osaka, and Kitakyushu through April 2006.
May 14-17, 2005
Where does a 42-foot T. rex celebrate her birthday? The Field Museum is happy to announce that Sue has chosen to celebrate her fifth birthday with four days of festivities at the Museum, May 14-17.

SUE

The Field Museum unveiled Sue, the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil yet discovered. Sue is a permanent feature at The Field Museum, and there is no additional charge to see her. The real thing Male or female, king or queen, no one can be sure. But of one thing there is no question: Sue rules! You may walk around her slowly. Examine the bird-like feet, the massive legs and pelvis, the surprisingly graceful tail. Stare into her bottomless eye sockets, her razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaws.No question about it: this is the real thing. Not a plastic model or a plaster cast. Not a patchwork or composite of bones from different specimens. These are the fossilized bones of the single largest, most complete, and best preserved T. rex fossil yet discovered. At a time when many museums are displaying replicas of dinosaur skeletons, The Field Museum has strengthened its commitment to authenticity. This is Sue.

After walking through park & downtown Chicago and taking in all the sights, we decided to go to the Field Muesum. This is where we got to see "SUE"

Chicago - Millenium Park

We had the chance to visit Chicago on our world wind trip across the U.S. the first week in October. We took in some amazing art in the park.

October Vacation

Worldwind road trip

Well we just got back from our world wind road trip. We started off by visiting the in-laws in PA. The boys had a fun time. They got to go fishing with Pappy & Grandma. Grandma has Alzheimers and she's not doing well so we wanted to try to spend some quality time with her. I have attached some pictures of the fishing trip. Jack caught 24 sun fish, Tanner caught 20 sun fish and Grandma with Pappy's help caught 20 as well. Needless to say Pappy & JJ did not catch any.... LOL.... ;0)

Shelby is now officially 5 months old!

Shelby is now offically 5 months old as of August 23rd. She has been doing very well in the Walker household. She is definetly spoiled. I think we counted her toys the other day and she already has 12. She even has a purse. LOL :0) For those who know me will get that one. The boys are really happy that we were able to find a pet that I am not allergic to. The greatest thing about her is that she does not shed. She is onery and has a lot of energy. She has finally learned to walk on her leash. Now the entire family takes walks together. =)

Boulevard Brewing Co.

We stopped by the Boulevard Brewing Co. while we were hanging out in KC. We took about a 45 minute tour of the brewery and the kids thought it was cool. At the end of the tour you could sample as much beer as you wanted within reason. Jack & Tanner stepped up to the bar and ordered a "ROOT" beer. Jack said, it was a "stout" of course JJ loved that.

We decided to be tourist in our own back yards. Believe it or not, this is the Liberty Memorial in KC and I am from the area and have never been up by it. We spent a weekend in KC and had a really good time.

The boys getting to play in the Pacfic Ocean

Peer Pressure =)

Well, I changed my blog from the yahoo website because it was difficult to add pages and pictures. All of my friends have been giving me a hard time because I haven't taken time out of my schedule to sit down and update it. Well, here we go. I will upload some pictures that many of you probably have already seen and maybe even some you haven't =)

These are my two handsome young men. Tanner is going to 10 in just a couple of months and Jack is going to be 8. Wow the years go by so fast!