Thanksgiving 2007

OK Here's the story. When I went to post this I saw that the photo system has merged with this system. With this merger I can have slide shows right on this page. Well after two days of trying to figure it out, I finally got it. If you look to the right you will see a side show. These are the same pictures that you can see if you click on the link below. This slide show holds the 20 newest pictures that were uploaded so there are some Thanksgiving and some football mixed together.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20233836@N03/sets/72157603282164388/show/

Click above to check out photos from Thanksgiving. Some of the boys, some of the girls, most of the babies. Great time, great food, great company. All in all a GREAT day.

We're Back

The boys came storming home on Tuesday. Not only did they come storming in, but so did their laundry. While I do miss my two children, I don't miss the mess they bring. Dan even made the comment, to them, that we are not suffering from having an empty nest.

Matt was all excited when he got home. He had a 6-9 class that night. Of course, only half the class showed up - him being one of them. They reviewed a test they had taken. There was a question that many students got wrong. As the professor was talking about that he asked the class (what there was of it) who knew the answer.

Matt - as you know- is not the most outspoken person in a room. Well, he raised his hand and answered the question correctly. The professor handed him $2.00. In true Polish fashion, this made Matt's evening.

Check out Pics

I was messing around on the computer and came across a site called Flickr. This is a great web based picture software program. I have posted links under My Favorite Sites (along the right of this page).

I like the site because anyone can view the pictures and it seems to have a faster upload than smug or snapfish. We'll see.

Football season comes to an end

This weekend was the end of football for the English Family. Dan and I attended two games. First we were in Adrian watching the Bulldogs come back from a 21-3 deficit to beat the Alma Scots. Once that was over, we said our hellos and goodbyes to Matt and headed back to Hillsdale to watch the Chargers attempt the same come from behind win against Saginaw Valley. Sadly the Chargers ran out of time and ended up losing 24-21.

Dan and I thoroughly enjoyed spending out Saturdays cheering for the Bulldogs and the Chargers and look forward to next year.

Nate is 52 on the sideline.

Polish kids vs American kids

American kids: Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.
Polish kids: Move out when they're 28, having saved enough money for a house, and are two weeks away from getting married....unless there's room in the basement for the newlyweds.

American kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake, and you sip coffee and chat.
Polish kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings 3 days worth of food, begins to tidy up, dust, do the laundry, and rearrange the furniture.

American kids: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them,and it's usually only on special occasions.
Polish kids: Are not at all fazed when their dads show up, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00, and starts painting the window frames or mowing the lawn.

American kids: Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need to have something done.
Polish kids: Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done...cash deal. Know what I mean??

American kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get only cake and coffee. No more.
Polish kids: Will come over and get cabbage rolls, pierogi, roast chicken , salad, bread, fruit, cheesecake a few before, during and after dinner drinks.

American kids: Will greet you with 'Hello' or 'Hi.'
Polish kids: Will give you a big hug, a kiss on your cheek, and a pat on your back.

American kids: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
Polish kids: Call your parents Mom and Dad.

American kids: Have never seen you cry.
Polish kids: Cry with you.

American kids: Borrow your stuff for a few days and then return it.
Polish kids: Keep your stuff so long, they forget it's yours.

American kids: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
Polish kids: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.

American kids: Know few things about you.
Polish kids: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

American kids: Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on soft mushy white bread.
Polish kids: Eat kielbasa sandwiches with dill pickles on caraway rye bread.

American kids: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
Polish kids: Will kick the whole crowds' ass who left you behind.

American kids: Are for a while.
Polish kids: Are for life.


Maybe this will help my friends undertand why I am like I am

Cool part about my job

One of the first writing assignments that my students do is a letter writing piece. With this, they have to write to a famous person and try to persuade that person to send an autograph picture to the school. I then take the pictures and hang them up around the room. Most students write to actors or sports heroes.



This year I had a student write to Prince Charles. Apparently they share a branch of the same family tree. I never in a million years thought that she would get anything back. Not only did she get a picture back, she also got a beautiful note from his assistant. In the eight years that I have been doing this, this is the best picture that has been received.

Even lucky shoes couldn't help the Hornets

Every Friday night my friend Kyle has worn the same thing-down to her shoes. She has worn these fruitty flip flops faithfully as she cheers the Hornets on to victory. Well this week even special shoes couldn't help the Hornets overcome the hard hitting Onsted Wildcats. Hillsdale ended their playoff run with a score of 31-10.

Everyone will get over the loss. Early in the game one of the Hillsdale players was severely injured. His leg was severely broken. The type of break he suffered is called a Joe Theisman fracture. This is where both the tibia and fibia are broken in half. Shawn was transported to Bixby Hospital in Adrian and then transferred to U of M for surgery. Hopefully Shawn can recover from this and go on to be a great D1 football player.

Keep Shawn in your prayers as he works to overcome this setback.

Halloween in the country

When I was little we had a neighbor across the street who gave the big candy bars to special kids in the neighborhood. We were the special kids.

Now that I live in the country Halloween has a whole new look. Most kids don't bother coming to our house because of the 1/2 acre long driveway. Generally we get only the neighbor girls and Maria. Because we only have three kids who come to the house I decided to give special candy. The kids each got the full size Snickers bars. I only had to buy six. I hope the kids don't tell their friends - or next year I could really be in trouble.

New addition to the family

We have been waiting for the arrival of Delaney. "Delaney" was born Saturday November 3 @ around 10 am. The only thing is that Delaney is not Delaney; Delaney is Neil.





Much to the surprise of everybody Brian and Heather gave birth to a healthy baby BOY. Neil Hadley weighed in at 9lbs 9oz and was 22 1/2" long. All are well.

While Neil was being born - big brother Bennet worked on mastering walking.