I am in the process of cleaning up the number of blogs that I've started /joined and am wondering if this space remains relevant or if the group that Sarah set up on Facebook is a better family forum.  I am happy to do nothing and let this space settle back into the dust, to change the settings to "private" so that only those with a password would be able to access any information we have posted, or to scrap it altogether.  Please let me know what you think would be best!

xoxoxo,
Susan

Christmas 2011

Giver - Receiver

Elena - Jac
Earl - Sarah
Jac - Susan
Susan - Earl
Sarah - Elena


Merry Christmas, everybody!

Psssst, Jacq

Our wishlist is this: take whatever amount makes you happiest and put it towards the charity that makes you happiest. Toys for Tots is always a good fall-back plan.

And if you just have to send a package to the boy, he'd love one of your favorite children's books purchased to support your (new) local library. Dog eared and well read is fine with us! (Many local library have "friends" of the library book sales. It's a great way to feel good twice!)

270

more days until Christmas!!!! I know! St. Pat's and Valentines Day are long gone and you still don't know who you're shopping for! Well, that's all about to change right now, missy, because there's a new sheriff in charge of this hat draw thingy and she's got time on her hands.

So.......

Lenka gets to get for Jacq
Sis gets to get for 'rah
'rah gets to get for Joe
Jacq gets to get for Sis
Joe gets to get for Lenka


YOU'RE WELCOME!

INFO shared and requested:

OK, this un's for JAC!!

I want to pass on a statement that Daddy made to me on my wedding day:

As he walked me down the aisle... While the drunk trumpeter played, with a clear view of my husband to be, in front of Friends, Family and GOD,...

AS HE WALKED ME DOWN THE AISLE...

He repeatedly said, :

"IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

I CAN TAKE YOU RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED!!"

Well, little sister, the same holds true for you.

But IF you insist on going through with making this lifetime commitment, and IF you are still planning for the ceremony to take place on June the 6th 2009, and IF you want witnesses' in the form of siblings, I for one, really need to start planning. I figure the other's are doing the same, so if you don't mind, would you please let me/us know:
1. at which airport do we need to arrive, (I assume Dallas/Fort Worth), or to what location do we need to drive?
2. What hotels/motels are in the vicinity that we'll be spending most of our time.
3. What do you expect the schedule to be and do we need to plan on being anywhere at any special time other than the wedding itself.
4. Is there anything that you would like for us to do?
5. Are there any activities for which we need to plan?

Any other info or suggestions you'd like to share would be appreciated, and I'll look forward to hearing from you by whatever method you prefer, phone, email, txt, blog, carrier pigeon... etc. And know this: we ARE so looking forward to sharing the moment with you!

Love you bunches, EE

All is Calm, All is Bright...

Thanks to Sister Susie, this has been a complete joy to receive and display and I wanted to share with the rest of ya'll.

I absolutley love it and I love the thoughts that come to mind when I think of the things that this scene represents.

Many Blessings to one and all.

SNOW!

Hey everyone,

Well I left Elena's last night at about 10 till 11, and headed north. This morning found me in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Right now I'm sitting in my new home (until 24 March); It's a balmy 32 degrees outside, snow falling (of course it's not cold enough to stick) and I'm having culture (climate?) shock.

In any event, I wanted to share my new address, seeing as how I will actually be here long enough to make the effort worth while.

2LT Me
4103 Sturgis Heights, Rm 109
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473-8840

I'm going to add a few pictures of my new room, mostly because it is like a palace (or at least a decent room at Motel 6) but it's all mine, no sharing, and I have my own fully (as in 2 pots, some pyrex, and 2 place settings) stocked kitchenette! I'm actually not sure what to do with all the space :-)

Love you all, I'll be trying to post regularly-ish
-Earl

Ok, upon further examination: I have no IDEA if the pictures uploaded, double uploaded, or flipped me the bird, because the ETHERNET internet here is slower than dial-up. Well, we'll see I suppose.

I know what YOU were doing...

... 20 years ago today.

Momma was weepy, Daddy was sleepy

Jacq & Joe were so small.

BUT..

In spite of Dad acting goofy, and Jacqueline's lost toofy...

We all wound up having a ball!!

** just think, 20 yrs ago...

** The whole family still lived in Colorado, and now everyone's spread across the country

**Dad and Mom were younger than Roger and I are now - now they're GRANDPARENTS

** Joe was 3 - now he's headed for the ARMY

** Jacqu was 5 and missing a tooth - now she's a teacher and engaged

** Suze & 'rah were in their teens - now they're Mom's and Wives and have lived in Florida,

California, and Pennsylvania

** We've lived in California, New Jersey, Tennessee and Alabama

** We've got 3 nephews and 2 neices

And talk about looking young...

Check out MY guy!!!

So much has happened in 20 short years, and yet, somehow it doesn't seem possible that we've been so many places and done so many things. I'm so grateful for this life I've been Blessed to live. And I'm not only grateful for my wonderful husband but also for my wonderful family who has been there through it all!!

Hear ye, Hear ye, and Hark!!!

In the days of summer in the year of 2008, a cry went out across the land for the Semadeni Siblings to gather.

… and it came to pass in the month of August that 3 of the 5 Semadeni Siblings who were of age came together in the land of Florida.

Much laughter, feasting, and carousing ensued, both on the land and in the sea. The time soon drew nigh that the Siblings gathered together in the chambers of the host to discuss many matters concerning the family. After much dishing/discussing, it was brought to light that a great fear was in each of them. And that fear was called “buying Christmas gifts for Husbands”. And the fear was growing, in so much as the chances were becoming probable that one family might be in the position at some time to have to buy gifts for 2 other husbands. And the fear was strong.

…and so, after much more talking and after hearing the cries and pleas of the other Siblings, the Eldest, who wore upon her fingers the sign of authority which was pink nails gilded with hot pink tips and polka dots, decided that in the years to come, the drawing of names would only include the Semadeni Siblings. Of course because none wanted the husbands to be entirely excluded, here after, it would be allowed that the gift could be considered as a Semadeni Sibling family gift if the gift-er so chose.

… and thus, the fear was overcome and happiness returned to the land. And much laughter, feasting and carousing ensued.

The decree went out that the 2008 gifting would be as follows:

Elena will “be-getting” something for Sarah
Susie will “be-getting” something for Elena
Sarah will “be-getting” something for Jacqu
Jacqu will “be-getting” something for Joe
Joe will “be-getting” something for Susie

So let it be written,
So let it be done!!!

(that is of course, if it's ok with everyone else?!!)

Rest of the Pix Arizona 5-2008

Here are the rest of the pictures I took while in AZ. in May. I really wish I'd gotten pix of Susie Bubby and Josh, and Alex, Ayshia, and Cecilia, but I guess I just got caught up in the fun and forgot to keep the camera in my hand.

I'd been begging mom for several months, maybe even years to post some pix of the yard since Daddy and Earl did the Windmill etc. because I REALLY want to see what it looked like. Well, I guess it's true that if you want something done, you have to do it yourself... so even though it almost seems pointless to post something I've already seen and I suppose everyone else has seen too, at least I can say it's finally been posted!!!

By the way, it looks really good.



And here's Jonathan.



Earl and his pet hands




Sibs @ the Children's museum

Jacqueline's got a boyfriend.... na na na na na...

Jaque & Paul sittin' in a tree...

... and let me tell you when that dinosaur actually moved...

Yikes...

Hard to believe he's only 3!!

... from

"'Lena, What's WOO-win?"

to "HOOH-AH!!"

My, how time flies!!!

Earl - aka: Little Bro - Gurgi - Joe - and now... SIR

"TR" & Jacqu

Swearing in - by Lt. Col. Gallagher



Pinning - by the short people



Sworn & Pinned

First Salute - by Papa




2nd Lieutenant United States Army

*****

Family and Friends

*****

Here's my all time favorite Picture of the mighty Soldier!!!!

I'm Proud of you Man!!

May God Bless you more abundantly than you could ever imagine

and may He protect you with his Mighty Power!!

Home Makeover - Bedroom edition 5-2008

It was a wonderful trip, thanks to my Family!! I had a blast and can't wait to find a reason for us all to get together again!! Thought you might want to see some of the pix I took. I'm only including the pictures that don't have human faces in them, but if ya'll don't mind, I'd love to post some of the People Pix too, so let me know and I'll do it later. For now, here's what we actually accomplished besides eating too much...

Spiders and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...

Spider Man would move in in a skinny spidey minute!! All we needed was some spider webs hanging from the corners, but hey, it's the boy's room, so I say give it time and it'll have plenty of webs and probably a few cooties if we're real lucky!!

Sugar and Spice and Flowers, sooo nice...

All this room needs is a couple of Susie's Unicorns and some live Fairies!! Hopefully no one has a bad case of allergies to estrogen, because this room is simply bursting with GIRL POWER and FLOWERS and BUTTERFLIES!!

******

And then here's the cake that Sarah bought,
Mom paid for (at first),
Susie, Jacqu, Elena & Earl shopped for,
and Daddy and Paul (AKA: Texas Red or simply TR) helped eat,
to celebrate little Brother's Commisioning.
Two Words: YUM MEEEE!!!!!

God Bless our Amazing Family!!!!

(p.s. let me know about posting the people pix!!)

(p.p.s. Mom, you gotta get Jacqu to post the vidoed "talent" portion of the evening)

The Wedding

I know everyone wants answers....BUT I really have none still. Dates for the wedding are still pending, and I'm sorry to keep everyone waiting but its going to be a crazy ride.

In other news: the Commissioning is still 16MAY and everyone is still invited to that! Dress is 'business casual' or slacks/button up and the like. Nothing too formal, and there's no actual dress code, but that's what I'd wear (essentially, it's a graduation.)

If you need more details, let me know and I'll answer anything I can! We have a few beds at my house that people are welcome to, and I'll happily give up my bed also.

Love you All
Earl

Ew-Da-Lolly!

1. Giftcards: Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Amazon.com, Half.com
2. Household Stuff: um...................yes please?
3. Music: See No. 1 The part about Amazon.com and Half.com.
4. Hobbies: Teaching. So, I would like some body bags, a bunch of bleach, maybe a hacksaw. :-)
Or, if you tend towards the less gruesome side of the hobby, music posters or
bulletin board boarders, or things along those lines.
5. Etc: surprise me! I like smelly bath-type stuff. Or simple jewelry - preferrably silver. Movies to replace the ones stolen from me. Don't worry about the titles, chances are I don't have it.

That's all I can think of right now.

I love you all!

Prop me Up, I'm LISTING...

Wish List #2,345,876

Hey guys, just wanna be sure that NO ONE will be disapointed with whatever they get me for Christmas this year. No, seriously, that's just the kind of sister I am, always looking out for my Sibs. After all, Peace, Goodwill, and the joy of giving the perfect gift, Those ARE the reason for the season aren't they? And so, without further bull, I mean, ADO:

A. Gift Cards
Books*A*Million, Belk Hudson, Pet-co/smart/depot (any pet store is great), Target (we've finally got one close) or Goody's. Pedi/Mani-cure, I'd call Papeete's in Cullman and ask for Cindy Patton, or I've heard that Wal*mart does a good job too.

B. Household Stuff
Seriously, I'm totally in Love with the Willow Tree Angels, by Demdaco. I love them all, but I especially like the nativity scenes. (there are two different ones, and I love them both) (look at giftsandcollectibles.com) The face-less characters seem to just speak to me. Other than that,
I'd love to have a nice centerpiece for my table. Burke's florist here in Cullman knows exactly what I want, so a GC for them would be great.

C. Music
I would love to bring Chris Daughtry "home" for the holidays. I like a lot of the modern adult alternative stuff, (see Susie's list). I've found that I'm really liking Pink's stuff. Of course Vince Gill is always welcome in my house, and he has a new 4cd boxed set called "These Days" that is sure to be awesome. Allison Kraus, and Amy Grant are some of my faves and I'm a complete fan of the old stuff and would love to have some Don Williams, Jim Reeves, etc.

D. Hobbies
Ain't got none right now, the Movie has sucked all the "hobby" out of me.

E. ETC.
I absolutely loved the movie, Ratatouille. If whomever has my name has any connections, a San Fransisco Hoodie would be great. Any of the Danielle Steele books that I don't have. (Be sure to check with Mom, she's been trying to keep an eye out at the White Elephant and has done an amazing job. (I'll have an updated list to her tonight). And I think I'm finally ready to take on the responsibility for Chuck V (a beta fish for my office) since it's been a respectable 5 months since
Chuck IV went to... well... um, sleep with the fishes. (see GC for Pet???)

Other than that, I can't imagine what else I might possible wish for except a wonderful end to this seemingly interminable movie madness.... Yikes.

As for Roger, An elf told me that his has been taken care of. I guess Coal isn't too hard to come by these days... Ba-Da-ding!!

And that's all for now!! Hope all is well for each of you and I can't wait to see who actually looks at my list!!!

LOVE YA, EE

I give up!

Time to resurrect Lenka's post from last year or start mailing out doilies from the local Christmas bazaar. They come in all colors, so don't think for a minute I can't find one for you. And if I don't have your name this year? Chances are good that I'll get it next year. Bwah-ha-ha-ha...

Ladies and Gentlemen! Start your wishlists!

Here's mine:

A. Gift cards – I love me some Target!
B. Household stuff – picture frames - with or without the pictures. Did you see pictures of the house*? You might guess that I have some wall space to fill up...
C. Music - Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin, Coldplay, Sarah MacLachlan, Jack Johnson... (most artists catergorized as "adult alternative"). Currently I'm pining for anything by Diana Krall.
D. Hobbies - paper, stickers, glue sticks, markers, scissors... do I sound like an elementary school teacher or what?!
E. ETC. - SOCKS!!! Seriously? Lenka done good on the socks last year. I love, luv, lurve my comfy fuzzy rainbow smiley face socks! But there's always room in the drawer for a few more!

The better half:
A. Gift cards - REI, Best Buy, Lowes, Home Depot
B. Household stuff - CocaCola memorabilia
C. Music - Rap or R&B... let me know what you're thinking and I'll let you know if he's got it already!
D. Hobbies - home improvement (hey, he's making me write this list!), gardening, running
E. ETC. - travel/guide books

Your turn!

*More pictures to be posted, soon. Well, as soon as I can tunnel out of the boxes and remember that I'm supposed to be posting pictures. By Christmas for sure maybe... 2008.

Your Attention, Please

Please consider this your official reminder to get your tickets if you are planning to join the merriment at Camp Whatalottalovin (aka Lenka's) starting the weekend of October 13th!

Hurrican's a-comin'!

Better get out those raincoats, galoshes and fancy rain fishermen's hats, drink up that last finger of scotch and tie yourself to something stable; it's gonna get interesting in here.

Dad's been composing Blog Posts in his sleep.

I'll see you on the flip side.

Whoda thunk it?

Driving through Amish country last weekend we encountered scenes like this:

and this:

and this:

and this:

and this:

And then we came across this:

Apparently they do exist!

Cackleberries?
But Mommy said Grandpa just made those up!

I'm LONELY....

I'm Oh SO LOWN-LEEEEE

All of my Fam-leeee,

has gone aaawaaaay...

(AAAHHH-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)

Seriously, I can't believe it's over!! We had such a wonderful time, and once again I am reminded of how extrememly BLESSED we are to have such a family. I hope that we will continue to work and plan so that we can look forward to many many more amazing memories being added.

Love and Kisses to you all!! EE