I know it's been awhile

I' m probably the worlds worst at keeping up with this thing ! It's just time has not been my best friend lately . Every one is doing well so far. We are enjoying a most beautiful spring break ! the weather could not have been any better than it has been so far . Grey has finally got a reliable truck that should last awhile & it's one that justin will be learning to drive soon . ( Ugh!! hard to believe he's old enough to drive !) He is not playing foot ball this year but is taking some pre AP classes like intro to engineering & some other stuff . He is very interested in his acedemics this year . One of the classes he signed up for ( solely on a dare) was dance . He said it a 1% chance he"ll actually get picked for that class but if he does he'll just dance for credits ( Hmmmm..... not a bed title for a reality show!) He has also started seriously checking out some universities one of which is the University of Arkansas ( No surprise there 0 they have already started to send him information which has got him REALLY excited!!
Hailey is the typical 13 year old . doing better in school after a minor struggle with classwork . she continues to enjoy speech & I have learned the best tool for a teen to keep up with friends UNLIMITED TEXT!!!!! It's the best investment we have made for her so far. Her best friend lives about an hour away & they text all the time . She went with friends to see the Jonas brothers movie & had the best time . It was funny because we showed up a few minutes early to pick them up & all you could hear in the lobby was unified screaming !!!! this was just for the movie!! they are comming in concert just down the street from our house at the new stadium this summer . Imagine the traffic!!!!
As some of you may know , we found out that Megan is pregnant. The plus is she seems happy & seems to be in a stable relationship. I'm still not sure how to take it though . Grey is concerned about her along with myself but becoming a grandma at almost 40 was unexpected. the baby seems to be doing well at this point and all prayers are that it continues .
We are also placing membership at the church we have been attending . Even though it is massive in size I plan to get myself plugged in as much as possible. our kids are at the age where they don't need me as much or in the same way they used to & it makes me sad. So , i plan to use that to my advantage to help someone else .
That's all the news for right now .
Love ya!!!

Update

Well, the school year is off to a most excellent start! the football season is off to a 2 win 1 loss start which I think is pretty good . We go to Seguin high school here in Arlington tonight. Justin had four really good catches in the last game so hopefully things will continue to go in their favor . He is also doing very well grade wise - all a's ( no big surprise there )
Hailey is doing speech this year & really enjoys it . she is getting ready for her first tournament in October. They are doing what they call Readers Theatre which I'm assuming is similar to OM. They also have been doing alot of improv in class . She has also decided to join the debate team . We are really proud of her for that . It's something she seems to enjoy & she has had lots of practice arguing!!
Ashley has been discharged from the army as bad as I hate so say it. Don't know a whole lot except it was the phsychiatrist who decided she could no longer stay.That's about all I'm going to say about her because it is frustrating to me & I don't feel like being mad today. Hey, it's Justin's night & I'm not gonna let a bad mood spoil it .
Grey & I are okay . We are taking a fiancial class at a local church & are really liking it. This is something they need to teach in school!
till later Familia !!!

more news

Well, Ashley is progressing nicely through basic training . Every letter she writes seems to become more & more positive. We are really happy that she is doing so well . she said that they did a training exercise in which they have to go through a gas chamber of sorts with respirators & other stuff on. Evidently upon completing the corse smoe of the recruits get sick to their stomach. Not Ashley! In the last letter we got she said " i made it through the gas chamber & didn't puke !!'' We hear from her in the mail on a fairly regular basis although we have yet to talk to her .
Justin & Hailey have started their school years off pretty good . Of course it's only the second day! Football kicks off this thursday with a trip to Carrollton Creekview high school . I got to admit , I love high school football. Hailey started Jr. High this year. It seems okay for now. i think she will do very well as she progresses. she takes to change fairly well . grey & I are still looking for another vehicle. Since the truck bit the dust , we've only had the one & when you work opposite shifts & got kids, one vehicle is not hardly enough.
that's about all I have for right now. Will post more after the game & as I hear form Ashley

Love to all !
Michell & Grey

I know it's been awhile

I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything but it takes us awhile to generate news sometimes . This summer has been an interesting one. Justin has had his first work experience at a local chicken place by our house. it was close enough for him to walk & he earned a good chunk of change in the process .He recently resigned so that he could focus more on getting ready for football & his upcoming sophmore year.
Hailey is also doing well . She seems to be pretty ready for her first year in Jr. High but there's always those little pressures that knikd of scare her . She's so well grounded that I think she will do very well with whatever comes her way.
I guess the biggest news of the summer has been for Ashley. she has enlisted in the Army!
This is one decision that she has made that grey & I support 1000%. she is in the reserves for now but will roll over into full time Army once her basic training is over . She left for Fort Jackson South Carolina on Wed. I heard from her yesterday & she said that not too much is happeninig yet. she's still processing. Once i get her address I will pass it on to all of you. This is such a tough time for her & she needs all the encouragement & support she can get .
Once she is done with basic training she will go to Virginia for her AIT training as a cook , Come home for a little while & get her drivers license & then go to fort Leonardwood in missouri For MP training. It's so good to see her with a plan for her life !
Our summer visit to Mary's was a strange one . I went to the cemetary where my dad is only to realize that someone had dug up the headstone I had put out there . It was replaced with a military one that his stepson put in it's place . I had no idea where the other one was . Megan was friends with my stepbrothers kid & found the head stone at their house so they brought it to me & we replanted it at the same cemetary Ronnie is at way out in the woods . I was a bit upset that someone would do that . I also found out that my stepmother had died about a year ago & they placed her next to my dad with no head stone or anything . kinda strange . Grey is in the process of selling the truck with bill's help. It's a huge gas guzzling thing !!!
Well, maybe once school starts & ashley gets more into basic training & i'll be able to generate news a little quicker !!

Love to All !!!
Grey, michelle & Kids .

P.S, Please keep Ashley in your prayers. i have also asked everybody to try to commit to writing her one day a week so that she could be getting mail at least every other day . will send more infro later .

Year of total transition

This has been a most interesting year for us here. Every one seems to be in a transitional period that has really got me to looking at things in a whole new light . Justin has begun a new chapter in his life with his first year of high school . It is so hard to believe that when he started he was so tiny & sickly. Now, He has remained in the top ten percent of his freshman class & has already managed a starting wide receiver spot for J.V next year for the arlington high colts. He is also considering honors classes for next year & junior year & possible I.B school for his senior year which will take him to greece for a little while . I don't know a whole lot about it yet.
Hailey is graduating elementary & preparing for jr.high . This one seems to make me the saddest of all . It's just so hard to realize that your babies aren't babies anymore . We have gone from babydolls to doing hair & nails , from singing with barney to singing with the Jonas Brothers & high school musical 1& 2 . She has gone from a rompin' stompin' kid to a beautiful, young lady right before our eyes . She's so amazingly strong willed & opinionated that I know that no matter what, she will stick to what she believes is the right thing . Peer pressure is so hard these days and I am extremely impressed at how well her & Justin handle it all .
Ashley is working part time at a fast food place by the house . she is no longer in school & we are sad about that as well . I feel as though she knows where she wants to go but is taking the scenic route on getting there . I pray every day for her , that she will learn what she has to know to get by these days. I feel as though I have failed her in a way but Mary always seems to reassure me that i had done all a mom can do .
We also got the chance to meet megan . she is a lovely person & we try to keep in touch on afairly regular basis. We text all the time ! I was extermely apprehensive about meeting her but I'm very glad I did . Hailey is happy to have another sister .
all in all, it's a good time . we're all healthy & happy & we can't ask for more than that .

Till next time family !