Permit

Hey guys I'm taking Rules Of The Road on Monday that determines if I receive my Driving Permit or not
I'm really excited
All the material is really easy
and it's great to have a ... WONDERFUL mentor like the Magnificent Stuart Roach aka Father lol
SARCASM btw but yeah it should be pretty easy
very very very very very excited.
Careful all
Mandi Will be ON the road soon! love ya guys!
~Mandi~

Virtual Tour: Violet's Room

New Job, Old Job News

kids

Well now both of the kids are sick and so am I AGAIN!!! Nathan is getting better though. I think he will be over it pretty soon. The doctor thinks the kids have RSV. A really bad respiratory virus to have. Madelynn is on Nebulizers when she is wheezing and before she goes to bed at night. Its funny because after you give it to her she acts like she is high!! Last night she talked for like a 1/2 hour straight, with her eyes closed!!! They seem to help her though because she slept a little better last night. So keep us in your thoughts and prayers. The worst thing about having kids when they are sick. You just feel so incredibly helpless. I am a nurse and I feel like I forget all of my medical training when they are sick!

Hows it going?

Jason how is the new job going? I bet you are enjoying sleeping at night!!!

Hi all! I just uploaded more pics on flickr- mostly of Ava since Noah isn't wanting to have his photo taken lately! All is well. We're having a family brunch this morning w/ Josh's parents & sister's family, so I can't write much. I'm starting a "3rd Sunday Brunch" where we all get together the 3rd Sunday of every month & have brunch. Today, in honor of Barb's mother (who died 2 years ago) we're having SPAM SANDWICHES!!! A delicacy in this family (YUCK!!!). I have to admit, I was a little embarrassed asking the grocery clerk where the SPAM was (Stephanie will understand). And then I made the mistake of looking at the fat content... 16 g for 2 oz! Not to mention the fact that sharp cheddar & mayo is ground together with it. So, I'm making the sandwiches in honor of the late Grandma Helen, but I won't be eating them!!!
Love & miss you all- wish you were here for SPAM SANDWICHES! xoxoxoxoxoxoxox- Kath

Barack Obama's Victory Speech in South Carolina

Okay, so I know that you guys are very likely not nearly into politics as I have been lately, but I really wanted to share this with everyone. Last night was the South Carolina primaries, and Senator Obama routed Clinton to take the state. This is the speech he gave last night, and I'm not kidding, it gave me goose-bumps. This man is one of the most inspirational, dynamic speakers I've ever heard, and I really think he's the right man for the job.



The Illinois primary is Feb 5th, so don't forget to vote!

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Click here to clean it up.....

disgruntled PackFan

chunkycheerleader

PACK FANS REELING!!!

AP PRESS RELEASE; Packers fans reeling from their devastating loss on Sunday are currently realing from another one. It has just been announced that the packers have hired the chubbiest cheerleader in the NFL to date. Disgruntled packer fans already enraged from the game say this is a great travesty. Says Packer fan Nathan Kolthoff ,'I mean what the heck are we supposed to look at when the packers are losing.....You take away are dreams of a super bowl and replace them with chubby chicks...I have had it with this team (See photo below). The team captain says, 'She may have 3 chins, no neck, cankles and thunder thighs, but you have to admit she is cute!' The new hire Madelynn Kolthoff just shrugs off this attention and says, ' Somebody has to be the bottom of the pyramid. So tune in for next year folks, not only will you have a geriatric quarterback but now a chubby chearleader!!!

plague

The plague has attacked us again. I went to work on friday and by Saturday morning was lacking a voice. The weird thing is I feel perfectly fine. My throat doesn't even hurt. Nathan is currently running around in a diaper because his temp was 101 this am. He is fine as long as you keep him drugged but once that wears off it is soring again. Hope everyone else is doing well. I can't wait until the end of cold and flu season!!!

It's been awhile!

Hi all! I know it's been awhile- I love the pics of Jennee & Jason & of Steph- BOY, she is GROWING! Ava is growing as well- she is finally getting baby fat rolls- though she has NOTHING on Madelynn (haha). She is 13 lbs & 25" long. She's a very happy baby & is doing so much better in every way.
Not much new w/ the rest of us- all is well.
Love & miss you guys- I'm putting new photos on Flickr. XXXOOO-Kath

The New Baby-Belly Shot!

I know it's far past due, but here it finally is. It's been about a month since we last took a picture, so there's some pretty obvious growth in that time. Apparently the majority of the weight gain and growth happens in the last trimester, so the next few shots should be interesting. The baby is moving pretty often now, and a couple times Steph says she has actually seen her belly moving when she kicks. We've spent the last couple days going to a couple of local store to register for the shower (Babies-R-Us and Baby Depot at Burlington Coat Factory), but we haven't quite nailed down the shower details yet. We'll let you all know when it will be. In the meantime, I hope you're all doing well!

Me and My husband last summer

Growing children.

Well Madelynn went for her six month check up today. Kids are supposed to double by six months and she has almost tripled in size. She is now 18lbs and 6ounces and 26 inches long!!!! She is huge. She started sleeping in her crib last night...even though mom misses her in her room. Nathan is starting to really talk more and more everyday. We really have to watch what we say around him because you don't think he is copying and then he will randomly say something and blow your mind! We are convinced that he is a silent evil genious and is able to talk but is playing us all. Last week he looked out the window and said..."Its snowing!" Today that was all he talked about on the way to the doctors. Snow, snow snow! He is growing more and more attentive to his sister as she is now rolling over and getting into his toys. He surprises me everyday by giving her his toys to play with. We are starting to plan our move into Moms house. We are thinking that around June we will be moving and finishing the house and put it on the market. We are going to do a quick remodel on the bathroom and kitchen before we sell it. By the time Jason gets it all fixed up I am not going to want to move! I absolutely love our new bedroom and basement. But, we will be slowly room by room fixing up my Mom's house so the fun is just about to begin. We will miss this house a ton but will be glad to live in the country and have 2.5 acres for the kids to play on. Us being country kids can't stand this living in town crap. To many people shoved in small area. I am excited about getting some animals.....shhh don't tell Jason!!! I don't think he is to excited about those prospects. I will be nice to be in their this summer so the kids can play outside in our huge yard. Anyways, I have now began to ramble.....hope everyone is doing well. Love you all. I can't wait to see new pics of Steph's belly!!! I wish you guys lived closer. I would love to watch the baby for you:)

John Lennon glasses, Mandy!

Yesterday while I was home sick, my glasses jumped off of the computer table unaided, hit the soft rug here in the living room, and promptly broke in half. Well I didn't think they'd like me showing up to drive today, with no glasses (just a hunch) The eye doctor gave me a new pair. That's right I said gave. Well, they're wire rimmed. Stephanie says they look like John Lennon glasses. Mandy, going for the coveted "Jennifer Erin Koltoff" smartass of the year award, took one look and said, " So tell me Einstein, how'd ya come up with E=mc2?" I looked at her and said, "Just a hunch I had."

Leaks and Tanks

What a day. Our hot water heater has been leaking, and after a visit from our plumber, we found it had to be replaced. Unfortunately for us, we have a pretty specific type of heater, and they are quite expensive. Since we don't have a separate chimney for the exhaust (it's a gas heater), we have to have a "powered exhaust" water heater. Basically, you go from a standard heater at around $400 to a special one at around $1,100. Pretty freakin ridiculous, but an unfortunate necessity. After installation costs, we were over $1,200.

I've been a bit lax lately with taking pictures of Steph's steadily increasing belly, but I'll be taking a shot tonight. The baby has been kicking pretty vigorously, and it's always a treat for me to feel that. Steph said she kicked her so hard the other day that she could see her belly moving under the assault. We're both really looking forward to early May when she finally gets here. It's creeping up on us!

I Got the Job!

Tonight is my last night at Chrysler. I interviewed at Total Logistics Control in Rochelle, and they offered me the job! I start orientation on Monday, January 21st, and my first day in the warehouse is on Wednesday, January 30th. I'll be working Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 6am to 6pm, with some overtime and one Saturday a month. It sounds like a good opportunity with room for advancement, and frankly, it's a relief to know I don't have to go in to Chrysler anymore after tonight.

I'll still be going to a few other places next week to check them out, but it's unlikely any of those places will be able to match the $16/hr TLC is starting me at. It is a freezer, after all, so I'm still keeping my options open.

ANOTHER Interview

I didn't go to Lowes today. On Monday afternoon, I went to two other places, one in Rochelle and one in Dekalb, and now I have another interview for tomorrow. I decided not to go for the Lowes job because it only started at $11/hr, and I just couldn't realistically take a job that starts that low. the place I'm interviewing for tomorrow is a distribution center in Rochelle, and it starts at $16/hr. Much better. To top it off, I'd be working only 3 days a week, so that would minimize our need for daycare after Violet is born. I'm also going to look into a couple more places in Dekalb next week (we're off again next week), and I've sent my resume to two other places in the area. There seems to be much more out there since the first of the year, so hopefully I won't have too much trouble finding something soon!

Another Interview

I have another job interview for Wednesday morning. This one's for the Lowes distribution center out on Route 20, but I'm not quite sure if I'm really all that interested. It's a unique situation that I'll really have to think about. All my speculation is assuming, of course, that I'm offered a job. The starting pay is abhorrent, $11.00 an hour, and it's a weekend shift. Sounds terrible, right? Well, it may be a crappy schedule, but it would allow Steph and I to completely take day care out of the equation. At $200 a week, the daycare plus family health care from NIU would nearly zero out any benefit we would have by keeping Steph working. If I take this job, we wouldn't need a day care provider, I'de be off Monday through Thursday, so our combined income would be much more comfortable than if only one of us were working. Add to that potential advancement at Lowes, and it could turn out to be a pretty good situation. That being said, going from $20/hr to $11/hr is a pretty intimidating drop.

I've also sent my resume to Warner Electric in South Beloit, and there are two other places in Rockford I'm interested in. This is by no means a done deal, but it's a very interesting situation, and I'm sure it will end up to be a very difficult decision. Meh.

Hi! New pics added...

Happy New Year everyone! I added Xmas pics to Flickr- hope you like 'em. XXXOOO, Kath

Ava's Smile 1/4/08

Ava smiling in her bath 1/4/07

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Ava Mae talks, and Talks, and TALKS...

Local News Sucks

The local news outlets are reporting that now we will begin being layed off on Jan. 31st.  I don't know where they got this information, but it seems to me they may just be regurgitating old stuff.  I'll let you all know if I hear anything.

The cutest pic of Madelynn EVER!!!

Paper Airplane

I never thought something so mundane could have such beauty.

weather

It never ceases to amaze me how random Illinois weather is! Today it may reach into the negatives....brrrrrrr.....and this weekend it is supposed to be in the low 50s! How does that happen??? Hope everyone survives the cold. It is funny that half of us are freezing and the other half are in nice warm weather. I would love to join the other side! The winter/flu season blues are killing me:(

It's Over!

12 months, nearly 4,800 hits, and over 400 photos later, and my Photo a Day Blog has come to an end. Thanks everyone for visiting the site, and thanks for all the kind words. The final post was put up today, so go take a look! I Haven't really decided yet, but I may start up another blog soon for my photos and ramblings. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

12:08 decided to tell everyone
Happy New Year!
ttfn
(ta ta for now)
"Mandi"