THANKFUL

Just today as I was moaning and groaning about the Consumers bill that just came in the mail and ranting about the darn taxes....I ran across this.....and I am now a happy camper...and

I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE HE IS HOME AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS HE IS AT HOME, NOT IN THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

This really bothers me....

This is exactly why my kids get bent out of shape - and say that I am 'constantly in their business'


12-Year-Old Boy Raped By Guy He Met On Xbox

January 27, 2009 5:16 PM

Utterly horrifying. Police in Parma, Ohio have arrested Codey Hawks, 19, for allegedly raping a 12-year-old boy he met on Microsoft's (MSFT) Xbox Live service.
Here's everything we know so far, from local media:
Parma police arrested a teenager accused of repeatedly raping a 12-year-old boy.
Police said Codey R. Hawks, 19, met the boy via his computer through Xbox online live a year ago. Xbox is a video game system.
Hawks then traveled from Michigan to Parma Jan. 15 and was staying with the boy, officers said.
Hawks was arrested Monday. He is in the Cuyahoga County Jail.
He was charged with rape and sexual imposition.
We've long known all sorts of anti-social behavior occurs on the videogame console online services, but this obviously is a different order of problem. Expect congressional investigations into videogames, calls for greater restrictions on videogame sex and violence, lawsuits, etc as this one plays out.

Lazy day

Oh my - we had a completely low key day today. We did not do a single thing we had talked about doing....no movie goin', no payroll, no movin' cars.....

• I slept until 8am when my hubby woke me with the tv on and the smell of coffee
• I cooked three meals
• I researched cell phones and plans
• We cleaned house...all 5 of us
• We watched a couple movies from On Demand!
• I finished my book....laughing outloud many times
• thinking that about wraps up my day

and it feels good for a change!!

Saturday news

Saturday busy-ness. I woke very early - just could not sleep....so I got into my Janet Evanovich book, Plum Spooky....it has laugh outloud parts and I gigled enough to wake up the hubby! oops- oh only 15 minutes before the alarm!!

Started the day early with a wrestling invitational in Napoleon for the middle school boys....their very first! It was very exciting- Steve had one win and 3 losses....good for a beginner!! :-) Steve's first match was against his cousin...second cousin I guess, Steve Sr's cousin's son...the boys knew one another and actually started the match laughing as they saw who they were up against!! OMW- Steve wrestled a young man that was a big guy, looked very mature for 8th grade, 200#....Good Lord, the boy had more chest hairs than my husband - the kid has a 5 o'clock shadow and a full chest of hair??????? Not sure how many years he had been in 8th grade?
*Jake did not wrestle today - he was struggling to get his grades up this week. Child does the work but forgets to turn it in....thinking I need to pin his homework to the back of his shirt for the teacher...like they used to for little kids with notes home!!

wrestlers' dinner request....Coke floats and pizzas from Walmart deli. The boys love those pizzas...more than Caesars! Give them a TRY!!

Walked in the door after the invite and Jake got a call from Alex who wanted to come over and hang out...so they've been watching movies OR on the XBOX all night!

Thinking tomorrow we may go catch a movie and I have to go to work and play with payroll a little, as I also have a big meeting on Monday to attend to go along side my payroll deadlines...ugh, not the best way to start a Monday!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

wrestlers gung ho

Here we go...tomorrow Koda - J High wrestlers do not have a meet- but the middle school boys do!! Now comes the FUN of 3 wrestlers ...wish me luck!
Tomorrow Steve will wrestle his first match- sooo exciting!!
Jake did not make the grade this week....hoping sitting this one out will be enough to get his attention!! ( I personally LOVE that they watch the grades and make the kids sit the bench if their grades slip!!)
You know I will have loads to post tomorrow......

Thank you Treximet!

This was me today - woke at 2am with a terrible headache..and it did not go away until I went to the dr and got the new MIRACLE drug....oh my.
I had been migraine free for some time now....but this one hit me hard!! Went to work as we had a computer upgrade this morning and I am the only one that knows how to complete it! ugh. Went to the doc at 945 - was in bed asleep by 11am! Woke at 230p feeling much better - and the best I ever have after a migraine. (most of the time I woke feeling 'hungover')
there is just one downfall....the dr said she does not think my insurance covers this drug...OF COURSE! Mom, do they have it in Mexico?

Love it...so true

MICHIGAN WINTER POEM.
It's winter here in Michigan,
And the gentle breezes blow.
Seventy miles an hour,
At twenty five below,
Oh, how I love ole Michigan,
When the snow's up to your butt,
You take a breath of winter,
And your nose freezes shut,
Yes, The weather here is wonderful,
So I guess I'll hang around,
I could never leave my Michigan,
Cause I'm frozen to the ground.

snow snow and more snow

We drove north for the weekend including WAAAY overdue Christmas celebrations. It was snowing when we left home, snowed all the way up, snowed almost the whole time we were there and was still snowing when we left. :-)

All in all ...we had a great weekend. Celebrations followed by more celebrations!! Christmas, birthdays...which means we ate all weekend long. ugh, no good for my new years plans!!

Help!

Help! I am planning a fundraiser crop to support the wrestling teams of JPS. They need uniforms- and fundraisers are tough at JPS!

(all 3 boys are now wrestling - 2 for Middle School of Parkside and 1 for Jackson High)

Need suggestions and ideas.
How much would you pay?
How long should we have the crop? thinking 8a-5p
What will be provided?
lunch served by wrestler and cleaned up by them(Ceasar pizza, salad/ dressings, pop and water)
Curbside drop off and carry out of suppies by wrestler - pull up and they will carry in and out
50/50 drawing
Vendors
Goodie bag of some kind
Raffle for some donated supplies?

Will you come?

No dates set yet. I do have the permission and agreement from coaches. Step one. Check!
Date-
Details-
you can email me your ideas or comments kasandra.barton@gmail.com

winter again

We received a heavy blanket of the white stuff yesterday - about 9 inches I'm told. A good reason for boys to get outside...sledding - we missed the Hamlin's!!

Riley was shocked - she has her daddy and brothers trained to clear her space for her to get out and potty- so she rarely gets in the deep snow.....until she spotted a squirrel today and went on a chase....she dove into the snow on the outside of her cleared area - it came up to her shoulders and she STOPPED!

Then she thought it was fun to jump in!!

OH MY - hometown news that blows my mind....

This makes me SICK...

Taken from MLIVE Muskegon Chronicle Edition

UPDATE: Whitehall school officials offer student counseling following coach's arrest
by Eric Gaertner The Muskegon Chronicle
Friday January 09, 2009, 8:23 PM

WHITEHALL — Two days after a popular Whitehall teacher and coach was arrested on suspicion of sexual conduct with a student/player, letters went out in the mail to parents and guardians of students enrolled in the district.
Whitehall schools Superintendent Darlene Dongvillo sent letters expected to touch on the school district's response to the situation and the counseling options available to those students who want it. Letters were mailed to parents of high school and middle school students Friday and being sent home with elementary students.
The school district and community have been rocked by charges of third-degree criminal sexual conduct against Jared Timothy Bays, a 32-year-old teacher and varsity girls' basketball coach at Whitehall. Although the police investigation is continuing, the charge stems from alleged incidents involving oral sex with a 15-year-old eighth-grader. That student is now 17.
School officials placed Bays on indefinite administrative leave, meaning he is not allowed to be on campus.
In addition to the letter, school administrators have met with the varsity girls' basketball team and alerted teachers to keep "an extra eye out for any students who appear upset," so they can be referred to a counselor, Dongvillo said.
Dongvillo said administrators, including herself and Athletic Director Dick Morley, met with the players on the varsity girls' basketball team and their parents during the team's normal practice time Wednesday evening

BRONZE

Saturday's meet was awesome. It was an individual tournament - Koda took the bronze for his weight class. Hoorah!! ( I love the pic of him looking at the mats)


Koda's best friend, Kyle, took the silver for his weight class....awesome meet boys!


*Sunday was supposed to be our Christmas up north - again it was cancelled due to the icy weather. Maybe come spring?

Thanks Mom !!

Thanks Mom for sharing this one. Read chapter one last night before I fell asleep. (late night on New Years and early morning on the first!)
Woke up today when Steve got up for work and READ it all by 8am! OH MY was it ever a steamy one! and she has a new release coming on Tuesday. Plum Spooky
This author is my favorite - as she combines FUN, humor, suspense, steamy hot love, and so much more her books....they are addicting...keep ya reading and waiting for the next one. I have 7 girls at work reading her books now. They have all read all of my books and starting buying their own as they cannot wait for their turn with my copy!
Judy Blume + Harlequin = Janet E
Have you read?






When Amy Klasse loses her TV job to a dancing chicken, handsome veterinarian Jake Elliott rescues her with an offer to be his receptionist. Jake just can't resist a damsel-in-distress and Amy certainly doesn't mind Jake's charming sincerity.Then suddenly the job-stealing chicken disappears and Amy is suspected of foul play! Amy and Jake search for clues to prove her innocence-- and uncover a sizzling passion for each other along the way. Jake wants to investigate that passion further, but Amy's got a reputation to save! Will Jake have enough time to prove to Amy that love, too, is a mystery worth solving?
**Above copy taken from the original printing of Foul Play**

Goodbye 2008 and Welcome 2009

Good Bye 2008 and Hello to 2009

Fond memories of the last days of 2008- great friends, great fun and smiles!!


Welcome 2009- ready for change and new adventures!

Do you make resolutions? wanna share?
I'll share..........

1. Spend QUALITY time with family AND friends
2. Enjoy life more
3. Manage my money a little better
4. USE my gym membership
5. Get organized
6.Learn something new
7. MOVE out of Jackson- ok, that's a HOPE, WISH, DREAM, ok, on my To Do list!!

Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday My Friend

Happy Birthday Beth!!

a few pics from last summer and a few from 2003 crop !!

So glad that a handmade birthday party invite opened up and started such an awesome friendship!

Hope you had an awesome day!

See you MONDAY!

Christmas pics to share

*cheeser grins by Mr Barton - happy Santa man!

*Steve II gaming in his pjs.....lovin the new head sets for XBOX 360.

*Koda cracking up- love these pics.

*Jake wearing his new hat and sweatshirt and Riley in her new purple bed!

*Koda thought the Miller Lite box was the best- and when he found his new coat inside he was a happy boy!

Christmas was wonderful and I cannot believe it is back to work tomorrow already!

*********************************************************************************

The boys got Guitar Hero World Tour - and have been rockin all day long! I had a blast playing with them today!

Then we went to the movies and watched Marley and Me. Awesome movie - but oh bring a tissue or two!

and of course, I was behind the camera AGAIN! I asked for a group shot today but seems we never made time to get one.? Maybe this weekend.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas to YOU!
It's been a CRAZY busy week at work and home. I think the kids out of school complicates my life more! :-)

Our normal Christmas Eve traditions....dinner together usually our big holiday meal. I made baby back ribs in the oven and they were awesome....2 slabs and none left.
After dinner we watched the Christmas specials for awhile and then went on seaching for awesome Christmas lights and a tour through the fairgrounds lights. Below are shots from the light show ...Riley is a crazy dog as she seems to love the lights as much as we do...



Merry Christmas !!

Very cool article and a good day review

365 Days, 365 Ideas for Photos check this cool idea out that was in my email inbox. :-)

Saturday recap....all day wrestling meet in Lansing. Koda is making awesome improvements - learning loads. Hate to see them growing up so fast but on the other hand it is great to see them developing into young men. He actually had a 1 win - 3 loss day.

Hope the next storm comes and goes soon. I hear that tomorrow we will be blessed with high winds and more snow? and temps below ZERO! oh boy

Michigan weather impacts us

SNOW day on Friday. The first for us this year!! The boys were very happy!!


Out my office window just after 8am! Michigan Theater.


My drive in yesterday was super fun- there were drifts to hop through IN TOWN!



Koda is such a sweetie - woke up just in time to shovel to get Mom out to go to work. HIS idea and he insisted!! Gotta love them boys!

We postponed the Christmas celebrations up north that were scheduled for tomorrow. Weather channel says we have more coming, negative temps and wind tomorrow......we will get together on Jan 3rd instead!!

Headed to Lansing today - Koda had to be at the school at 630AM to catch a bus...hoping he gets a boost of confidence....he needs it. :-)

Have a great weekend

Role Model

Thanks Mom! I received this from her in my email tonight....

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL??? Try it without looking at the answers......
1) Pick your favorite number between 1-9
2) Multiply by 3 then
3) Add 3, then again Multiply by 3 (I'll wait while you get the calculator. ..)
4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number….
5) Add the digits together
Now Scroll down ..............













Now with that number see who your ROLE MODEL is from the list below:
1. Einstein
2. Nelson Mandela
3. Abraham Lincoln
4. Helen Keller
5. Bill Gates
6. Gandhi
7. George Clooney
8. Thomas Edison
9. Kasandra Barton
10. Abraham Lincoln


I know....I just have that effect on people....one day you too can be like me.... :-) Believe it! P.S.: Stop picking different numbers. I am your idol, just deal with it!!!! NOW CHANGE YOUR NAME IN NO. 9 AND SEND IT ON!! HAHA