If these pictures seem a little out of order.. that is because I never published our Christmas pictures... I was very surprised to seem them there without being published.. I am sure I started this and then just never got back to it...so my sequence will be a little jumbled to begin with when I start sharing pictures.... but I will try and keep the story line going.. have a great day!!! Jill

Baden opening Play Station Game present. Tina helping with game titles- future player looking on..

Merry Christmas to Everyone!!!

                                                          Keaton with his Skylanders video game!!! Yee-Haw!!!

Leah is having a blast!!!!

Baden  with his Walkie Talkies....Oh Happy Day!!!

Lisa and Erik with his new School Bus!!! Alphabet and Numbers!!!

Luke and Leah opening her first present... a new book!!!

Rylee and Shelby with their American Girl Dolls- New Outfits!!! They look Great!!!

Luke reading the Lil Critter book to Erik!!

Rylee with her Eye Shade on that she received with her new PJ's.....

Al is smoking a turkey breast today for the Olson Christmas here in Britt. He was up a little after 1 this morning getting it started. So needless to say.. we have all been up and down as every time we get up.. the cats get up.. this goes on and on and on....So about 6:00 I finally decided to get up as I was ready for a cup of coffee. My tree is lit.. my fireplace is lit and my outside lights are on.. I feel very festive today!!! We had a great day with the kids and grandkids on Saturday at Ryan's in Plainview. From the looks of all the smiles while opening presents.. everyone loved what they got!!! The 2 older girls were playing with their American Girl dolls- putting on the new outfits... The older boys were playing  videogames in Baden's room.. Erik tried to join in.. but lacks the experience for that level of play.. so he played with his school bus and read the Critter book with his dad. Leah was moving from lap to lap playing with everyone and being such a good girl!!!  Later in the afternoon Ryan and Tina took the 5 oldest ones sledding and they enjoyed that very much. Cori and Lisa got food ready for their return as they were STARVING!!! So we had a great day spending time with family... it is tough to get everyone together in one place..so we did a good job this year!!! Take a look at the pics.. you will see what I mean...

SURGERY!!!

I can't believe that I have let this go so long without updating. It was a great idea to start sharing photos and events with friends.. but then the time got away and I have not been back to share things or post pictures. My family has totally grown and changed since these last pictures were taken at Ann's for Darrell's funeral. Face it.. EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED!!! Mom is now gone too.. so the complete family impact has changed. Al and I are still doing the same things... fishing and camping. We still enjoy Okoboji as much as possible whenever we can.. but we also try and get with the grandkids as much as we can... 2 in Ames and 4 up north Rochester way.. soon to be 5 up Rochester way. I have been home recovering from a nasty surgery... my eyelids were drooping..so time to pull them up.. only  not just the eyelid... but the brow line too.. which made it many times worse!!! Pain.. swelling.. problems with anesthesia and pain medications... I ran out of that hospital to avoid any more drugs they wanted to give me to HELP me.. OMG.... that was not the kind of help I needed!!! Can you imagine taking pain pills/any kind of pill on an empty stomach?? Needless to say.. I had to go home and NOW!!! So Al loaded me up and we left Roch not under the best weather conditions but the sun was shining and we could see the ice on the road just fine and the cars in the ditch... it took us awhile but we finally got home!! Believe you me...."There's no place like home... there's no place like home.... there's no place like home!"

 

I took a picture of my eyes and forehead before the surgery without my glasses so I can see the difference.

This is what I looked like when I got back home...the day after surgery. I was miserable..it was going to get worse shortly!!!

This was Wednesday and I was miserable!!! All I wanted to do was cry...no appetite... hard to sleep in any  position.. especially elevated...my lower lids were so swollen... 

 ice packs on my face for as long as I could stand it...

This is close to what I look like now... the swelling has gone quite a bit..only real puffy in the morning..my left eyebrow is really high.. but that is also still very swollen and frozen in place.. my cheeks have opened up... the swelling in my nose has gone down... the top of my head is coming back to me thanks heavens as my hair just feels dead on the top of my head!! Bruising was limited actually.. unless there is more to come.  So that is my life for the last two weeks.. I don't wish it on anyone and I sure do hope it was worth it when things return to normal for me!!!

It has been a long time since I have sat down and updated this blog. Many things have changed since October of 2008. So it is time to start cataloging my life again-especially updating pictures and sharing experiences. I am never home- so just exactly what am I doing???

This was almost a year ago- we were all together to celebrate Jenni and Corey's wedding. My mother Corinne, my sister Pam, my daughter Cori and her two children Keaton and Shelby and myself had traveled to Weyerhauser to join in the fun at the reception. We had a great meal, great conversations- I had not seen Darrel's brother Kenny in a long time- it was nice to see him and his family. It was nice to see Janet and Don- it had been awhile since I had seen them also. Ann and Darrel were hosting quite a party with all the dancing and celebrating going on while we welcomed Corey and his son Isiah into our family. Zach was also home from Texas and brought his fiance home with him... we got the chance to welcome Lena into our family too. I have more pictures of this event with the kids and grown-ups dancing and having a good time!!


I was not to see everyone again until Saturday when we all gathered together to celebrate Darrel's life and to mourn his passing. Why is it that funerals are not the best time to take photos- but it does seem to pull us all together for a short time and I get my pictures when I can. They are nice to look at when I need to see you all again .... and especially for comparing one year to the next and how everyone has grown and changed!!! I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.. and I also came away with some good memories....We spent some time yesterday in the place that Ann and Darrel have spent many hours creating for their personal enjoyment and also the enjoyment of many other people. Flowers were one of Darrel's passions and it was very evident yesterday that it was something they truly enjoyed together.
















Here is where this family tree started. Mother, Corinne is seated on the lower right with Ann, the oldest daughter sitting next to her. Pam, the second daughter is standing on the right and I, the third daughter am standing on the left. The number 4 daughter, Robin was unable to be with us on Saturday- but I am sure she was thinking of all of us together.






Here is Ann with Mom and Zach and Jenni... how did the spouses not get in this picture???

















Here I am with my family- my mother, Corinne, sitting in front next to me, my husband Al standing behind me, my son Ryan and his wife Tina to the left, my daughter Cori behind me and mom, and my youngest son Luke and his wife Lisa on the right side. Ryan and Tina's children, Rylee is on my lap and Baden is standing between Mom and me.











Below we have mother with all the grandkids that were with us on Saturday. Sitting/kneeling, starting on the left we have Karl(Pam's second son), Jenni(Ann's daughter), mother of course and Ryan(Jill's oldest son). Standing in the back is Jon(Robin's oldest son), Zach (Ann's son), Cori(Jill's daughter) and Luke( Jill's youngest son).

In this photo we have added the spouse's to the shot- Jon and Chris, Karl and Kari, Zach and Lena, Corey and Jenni, Luke and Lisa, Ryan and Tina. Cori - my daughter, the redhead standing behind mother is currently looking for a new beau.

Now we have added all the kids to the mix... Isaiah and Mikaya are down in front next to Jenni, Harley(Karl and Kari's daughter) is sitting on Mother's lap, Baden is standing in front of his mom Tina and Ryan is holding Rylee. And the saga continues.. Those unable to come Saturday to be with us are Geno and Karla( Pam's oldest son and his wife) and their three children-Hunter, Arianna, and baby Gabrielle. They were busy getting Geno ready for his first day of college on Monday. Cori's children Keaton and Shelby were absent as they were visiting their dad for the weekend. Robin's other two sons, James and Jordan were unable to attend as well.

Here is Darrel's brother Kenny's family- his wife Lori and two sons- Dan and Matthew and one daughter-Christina holding one of the family pets. Grandpa Don is also in the picture with his arm around his great-granddaughter, Mikaya.

Here is the complete picture of the current Roeder family- missing Darrel's mother and Don's wife- Janet- as she was unable to come due to her health condition. I also believe we are missing another small dog and 3 more labradors and probably some cats in the mix... Once you add the pets to these pictures... now you are talking family!!!

I apologise for the bright sun- as you can see we have all been squinting.. but what a beautiful day to be outside in the yard with all the flowers that Ann and Darrel have planted for everyone's enjoyment. Looking at this was a true tribute to what they were able to do while Darrel was well. In the past months he expressed his impatience to get out and work in his flowers and yard.. but I guess now, God has someone very qualified to tend His gardens in Heaven. Blessings from all of us to you!!!!