We are here!!!!

We spent the night at a hotel near the airport. When we got to our room it was a suite. Sweet!! The kids got their own room with a Jacuzzi tub. We got up at 6:00 a.m. this morning to get on our flight. Jag was a little scared on the plane, but all the kids did well. When we got to the car rental place they said they could upgrade us to a minivan for $20 extra. :) One of my customers gave me a bunch of free car rental days so we didn't end up spending much on the rental at all. We got to the Contemporary and our room was ready. We look right out on the Castle. We should have a great view of the fireworks. There is a computer in our room so I can keep up on the blog at least for another day. However I have no way of uploading pictures. We just got back to the room and we are all tired. We had a really good day at the Magic Kingdom. There wasn't hardly any lines. We ate at the Crystal Palace. Winnie just loved the characters.

2007

We didn't plan it this way but we fly out for Walt Disney World on our 20 year anniversary. The kids are excited. We are going to stay the night at a hotel near the airport because our flight leaves early. I am going to try to gain all the weight I lost this summer back in one week of gluttony at WDW. Wish me luck. :) Everyone keeps telling me it's going to be hot down there, well it's been hot up here. We are meeting my parents down there. They took off a few days ago and are driving. It was nice because we sent most of our luggage with them. I'll be sure to post pictures of our trip when I get back.

2006

This year our family was complete with the addition of baby Winnie. We named her Winter Darling Wilson so that she would have the initials that were the same as Walt Disney World. We thought at first we had another sweet, quite, little baby like Lexi but we are starting to think she is going to be our orneriest.

2005

Sammy Retires!!!

My dad finally retired from Anheuser this year. Well he isn't retired because he still works there a few days a week. We went down to Disney to celebrate and my sister and her family surprised him by showing up. We got off the ride It's a Small World and there they were her and her husband and all her kids.

2004

The biggest thing to happen this year was we added an entire 2nd floor to the house. We as in the Amish did it for us. There 3 - 4 guys that came every day during the week. They would arrive between 5:30 and 6:00 am. The moment they got here they started banging and hammering. This year was one of the wettest ever. There was like 80 some days it didn't rain but we got our 2nd story on without any rain at all. The 2nd floor is for the kids it has 3 bedrooms, 1/2 bath and a play area.

2003

Lexi goes to Kindergarten.

It seems like yesterday, that little Lexi got all dressed up in her uniform and got on the bus to go to her first day of school. We followed the bus to make sure she got there alright.
This year when we went to Disney, Chandra's family came along. We rented a 2 bedroom suite that looked right out onto a golf course. We kept a leash on Jag the entire trip. :) He found this Tigger and just loved it. I also became an uncle for the 3rd time. My sister had another little girl. She can hold her own with her brother and sister.

2002

Our sweet little momma's boy was born this year. Lexi was a sweet older sister. She helped out as much as she could. The stuffed horse he is laying on was mine as a kid. I used it as a pillow for many years.

My sister and her husband decided to move out to Indiana, due to his work. We decided to try to sell the barn and buy the house they had just added the addition on for my grandmother. We put the barn on the market and within 1 month we had it sold and was moved out. It was hard to sell the barn because of all the work we had put into it, but the new house was next to my parents and my aunt and uncle's place. It was also off the road more and we didn't have to worry about the kids playing.

2001

This was a busy year. My sister and her husband had decided to buy my grandmother's house. The Weaver family put this addition on the house. It is a nice mother-in-law suite where my grandmother can live. They had their 2nd child a boy that is not as rambunctious as the first but still keeps them hopping.

We flew down the Florida again at the beginning of September. We were at Disney World when 911 happened. They closed down the parks and sent everyone back to their rooms. We ended up having to rent a car and drive back home because the planes still were not flying by the time we had to leave.

2000

Griswold Family Christmas Tree

This was the year my father-in-law, Dave, nearly died getting his family Christmas Tree. It is a unique experience getting a Christmas tree with my in-laws. First you have to find a Christmas tree lot that is selling trees that are at least 12 foot tall. You would be surprised there is not much call for trees that big. Once we find a lot that sells them, we all head off in different directions to find the perfect tree. As we are wandering around you will hear phrases from the "Christmas Vacation" movie being uttered. "It's not going in our yard Russ" is often heard. Occasionally some stops to help Granny up from where she has fallen once again. Don't think you can pick a 10 foot tree or you will her Kris say "That is on the piddlin' side of puny" or "that's a shrub pretending to be a tree"

On this day we picked the biggest tree you could find, at least 20 foot tall. We had parked on top of a hill a mile away. After Dave cut down the beast we tried to drag it up the hill through the deep snow. Granny tried to help pull and she fell getting in the way. Dave, Kris and I started the long journey up the hill about 1/2 way up Dave fell to the ground. The tree had won. After a rest period we did finally get the tree up to the truck. You could not see the truck at all as we were following them home. That was the easy part they still had to get it in the house.

The next year Dave asked the guy if he could drive the truck back to where the tree was and he said "Yes".

1999

Let the spoiling begin.

This was Lexi's first trip to Walt Disney World. (Besides when Chandra was pregnant with her.) This was the first time we had ever flew to Florida. It was great!! In a little more than 2 hours we were in Florida. We were really excited about her getting to ride It's a Small World. We just knew she would love it. The first time we rode it she did not do anything she just sat there. We were kind of bummed that we didn't get a better response. Don't she know how much it cost? I at least wanted to see a smile.:) I think it was just over stimulating at first. The more we rode it the more she loved it. The was also the first time we had went down the week after Labor Day. It was great, this is one of their slower weeks. Nobody was there. We could ride anything with out waiting.

This was one of her favorite things to do at this age. There are little water areas at all the parks to let the kids cool off in. We would leave her with my mom to play in the water while me, Chandra, and my dad would ride the scarier rides.

1998

This way the year our sweet little Lexi was born. Notice how thin I was. I still have the Grumpy hat on. We had just moved into the barn a little more than a week before she was born. The construction wasn't done but we wanted to be in our own place when she was born. She has never lived in a place that was not under construction.

It was a hot day, I had been out shoeing until late and Chandra had worked all day. We eat dinner late together and she said she was feeling a little weird. We both went to bed and some time in the middle of the night she woke me up to tell me that her water had broke. We jumped in the car and took our dog Secret to drop her off at my parents house. We went to the hospital and she was born in the afternoon. I had never seen such a beautiful baby as my Lexi.

1997

This year we took on the massive project of renovating a barn into a house. Everything that needed done was on a massive scale. The best memory during construction was BePa slipping on the roof with his fingers grasping the barn siding as he held on to the drill that was going full speed because of his kong fu grip. All though me and Kris trying to lift the corner of the corn crib by ourselves is a close second. I was convinced if we just got a big enough lever we could do it. I crushed my finger with a hammer and Chandra crushed her thumb with a hammer. When we bought the barn the entire barn was filled 2-3 foot deep of animal poop. It took us all day with a bob cat to clean it out.

This year our parents turned 50.

1996

This year I became an uncle for the first time. Now I am an uncle to 4. =:-0 After my sister had her first little girl we all went down to JC Penney to get our pictures taken. It took 6 of us to keep up with one very rambunctious little girl.

The hat I am wearing is the original Grumpy hat that began my collection. I believe I had just finished my apprenticeship as a farrier at this time. We were living with my Grandma because we had sold our house and had not found another yet.

1995

I finally suckered Chandra into marring me!!!!

It only took us 8 years but we finally took the plunge. It was a beautiful day. We had got up early and blew up hundreds of ballons for our reception. There were streamers every where. My uncle Mark performed the ceremony.

For our honeymoon we stayed the first night in Columbus at the Hyatt. Then we headed down to Florida. We stayed a few nights at Clear Water. We got to see the sun set every night and there were dolphins jumping in the ocean every day. There was a waffle house in the lobby of the hotel and me and Chandra got hooked on the waffle house. It is still one of our favorite places to eat. We had a really good dinner at a place called Adam's rib. We had borrowed my mom and dad's convertible to drive down there. After Clear Water we went to Disney World for ten days :), thanks to my parents. However, they did join us along with my sister and her boyfriend. =:0

Oh No!!!!!!

We were getting ready for Church this morning when I looked out to see that the pool was only 1/2 full of water. I yelled Oh No and ran out to see what was going on. Chandra, Lexi and Jag came running too. We just stood there and watched the last 1/2 drain out in about a minute. We are not sure what happened. Jag is convinced that he will never swim again. The pool is now closed until next year. :(

1994

This was the year Chandra graduated from OSU. She was Magna Cum Laude. This was a hard year, Chandra went away for 3 months to study over in Italy and left me alone to fend for myself. I nearly went nuts. We bought a motorcycle to ride back and forth to feed the horses. We had also bought our first car on our own. We decided to buy a black Jeep Wrangler.

1993

This was the year we bought our first house. It was a ranch house that had 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. It did have a pool which we enjoyed. We had a crazy neighbor that moved in next to us. She first painted her house to match ours, then one night we saw her cutting her grass with a pair of scissors. Chandra stole a exercise bike out of one of our neighbors trash. She never used it. Our favorite thing to do was to bring our mattress out in the living room and lay in it watching TV and eating pizza.

1992

This year both of our sisters graduated from high school. Kris (Chandra's sister) was valedictorian, of course. Chandra, Kris and I decided to rent an apartment together. It was a really nice apartment. It had two floors and a basement. I stayed in the basement and Chandra and Kris got the upstairs. The best memory there was one night me and Chandra hid in the kitchen while Kris was letting the dog out to potty, when she came back in we scared her nearly to death. Kris was anxious not to live with me anymore after stunts like that.

Me and Chandra were working at Bob Evans as servers, making the big bucks. We worked at different restaurants. I had decided not to be a vet by now and did not know exactly what I really wanted to do. I think Chandra was the only one besides me that was glad about me not being a vet. She understood what kind of sacrifices we were going to have to make together if I was to be a vet.

1991

This was the year that me and Chandra took our one and only trip to Disney alone. We stayed at the Polynesian Resort. When we walked in to check in they told us to go to another room to check in. Some how we had been upgraded to concierge status. There was a man named Lito who made sure everything we wanted to do, everywhere we wanted to eat was taken care of. The spiky hair is back. =:0

We would get up early and go to the parks. In the middle of the day we would came back and swim and take a nap and then go back out all evening. Now by 3 o'clock I am done. If you look at this picture you can see that I am eating Chocolate Mousse and Chandra is eating a sundae. You will notice that over the next few trip pictures both of us just keep getting a little heavier each time.

1990

This was our first dog/baby together. Her name was Secret. Yes I know I have the same hairdo as the dog. 8:0 This was my curly hair with blond highlights fad. I believe God is taking my hair away because I can't be trusted with it.

We have been going to OSU Marion. We were driving a bug that got more than 30 miles/gallon. I remember complaining at gas costing 85 cents. By the end of 1990 Chandra had moved out of home and was living on main campus with her brother. I had moved out and was living above a Veterinary hospital. We shared custody of our daughter Secret.

Happy Birthday Chandra

This is a picture of Chandra when she was a year old. I can not believe how much Winnie looks like her mom.

I now know where Winnie got her attitude from.

We went to Olive Garden for Chandra's birthday, thanks to Stacy's birthday gift. We took our 3 kids and Stacy's 3 kids with us. We did get a few looks from people wondering if they were all ours. We had the family over for ice cream cake this evening and Lexi had us play party games.

1989

The year 1989 has a lot of special memories for me.

This was our Senior year, which is just great when you are in high school. The picture above is of our graduation. I worked that morning at a horse barn cleaning stalls. Chandra was Valedictorian, oops I mean Salutatorian. That's a story for another time.

This was the truck we drove to Prom. Yes we drove a truck to Prom. Chandra and I painted this truck with the black and white checkers. It even had pink flamingos and palm trees on the side.

This is what we wore to prom. Hot pink and turquoise was definitely our colors. Chandra had one hot pink shoe and one turquoise shoe to match her dress.

This is our favorite senior picture.

Still have the spiky hair and mullet. =:0

Again we were so cool!!!!

1988

Junior Prom

I have to say it again We Were Cool!!!

Here we are ready to go to our Junior Prom. As you can see I still have the spiky hair. =:) Any hair at all is good! We went tanning for a month or so before prom so that we would look good. Chandra's prom dress was peach & black and I had a matching scarf. We borrowed my cousin's Camarro to drive.

1987

This was our first Homecoming Dance.

We Were Cool!!!

If you look close you can see my spiky hair with a mullet. =:0

You could never have too big of a corsage.

We really liked hot pink and turquoise and you can never go wrong with white pants. Chandra even has a turquoise J & C pin on her sweater.

My dog Daisy is laying at our feet.

This one time at band camp....

It will be 20 years this August 31 that Chandra and I started dating each other. I thought over the next 20 days I would show and tell a little about each year leading up till now.

It really started in 1984, we were both in eighth grade together. I asked Chandra to "go with me" which meant being boyfriend & girlfriend. I could not pronounce Chandra's name right and after a week of saying her name wrong she dumped me.

So I tried again in 1985. We were now Freshmen and I was able to say her name correctly. She agreed to try it again and dumped me the next day.

I did not try at all in 1986 but in 1987 we were at band camp together and everything started to go my way. I had always liked Chandra even after she dumped me. We had always stayed friends and I was able to make her laugh with my amazing wit. :)

There was always a dance one of the evenings at band camp. We were both at the dance and I was dancing with a couple of other girls. Now, me and Chandra were not a couple yet but she did not like me dancing with anyone else. Her and her friend Jill went storming out of the room mad at me for dancing with someone else. So I went after her and grabbed her and told her she was the one I had been wanting to dance with. We have been dancing together ever since.

Relapse

Alright I admit it, I was having Chocolate Mousse Ice Cream withdrawal.
I bought another container today. The kids are excited and I have even turned Chandra into a Chocolate Mousse lover.

Ohio State Fair

I took the day off of work and went to the Ohio State Fair with the family. The kids, me included, could not wait to ride the rides. I go on all the spinning rides with the kids because Chandra hates them.

The kids love the fun houses. They got Chandra to go in with them on a few of them. This one you had to slide down to get out. We watched the lumber jack show and the pig races. Jag stopped and looked at every model train exhibit that he could.


By the end of the day we all were hot and tired. Nothing a little ice cream didn't take care of.

Come On Winter

After shoeing these last few days in what seems to be 100+ degree weather, I am looking forward to some colder weather. I never seem to get cold while shoeing but I sure do get hot. I can always add on a few more layers for warmth.

Roller Coaster

Jaguar begged to go on this roller coaster. The day before he wanted to ride it but he was wearing his flip flops and he wasn't tall enough. The next day he wore his tennis shoes and he was able to ride. Jag decided that once was enough!!

I Wanna Be Like Jesse

A few months ago I was watching TV late one night when on came Jesse Duplantis. If you don't know who he is, he is a preacher down in New Orleans Louisiana and he has a little cajun flavor to him. This night he was on fire I could feel the Holy Spirit come right out of the TV. After 1/2 hour I felt like I had been to a weeks worth of revival.

After it was over I went in and took a shower. As I was showering I was thinking to myself, I wish I was more like Jesse. To be that on fire for the Lord, always seeming to have the right words, and just to have the boldness to proclaim the name of Jesus to everybody everywhere. No sooner did this thought pass through my mind God spoke to me saying "You're supposed to be like me not like Jesse."

I am amazed at how quick I had lost focus on what was really important. With in 2 seconds of being on fire for the Lord I had already put him aside and put Jesse in front of him. Thank God for the Holy Spirit putting things back into the right order.

READY OR NOT HERE I COME

Mickey Freckle

Aunt Krissy found this Mickey Mouse freckle on Jag's leg. We have always been Disney nuts but this might be taking it too far.

If you click on the picture it will go to a larger screen so the freckle is easier to see.

Elizabethan Collar

After a trip to the Vet I had to wear this E-Collar for a week so that I did not lick the stitches.

Sweet Little Lexi

This is another one of my favorite pictures of Lexi. This is a ride up at Geauga Lake that is similar to the tea cups. She is 4 years old. I can still picture myself sitting across from this big grinning face as we were spinning around.

Tired

I am TIRED. It is too hot to be shoeing horses!!!

Even with my big fan it is hot.

This picture is of a rescue horse that had not had his feet trimmed for over a year. This is a nervous draft horse who needed a little tranquilizer to convince him that I wasn't going to hurt him.

I am still losing weight.

That comment is especially for Jill & Stacy!!

:)