ON THE ROAD AGAIN....

IT SEEMS LIKE THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT WE HAVE "LIVED" ON THE ROAD! AS SOON AS WE GOT BACK SUNDAY FROM PLAYING BASEBALL IN VICKSBURG, WE PACKED UP AGAIN THAT SUNDAY NIGHT HEADING FOR NEBRASKA. WE DROVE TO LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS AT STOPPED AT A HOTEL AT 12 AM. WE SLEPT IN OUR CLOTHES AND BROUGHT ONLY TOOTHBRUSHES AND CONTACT STUFF. WE UNPACKED NOTHING ELSE. WHEN YOU HAVE A CAR PACKED SLAM FULL WITH STUFF, AND OH, A LITTLE WHITE DOG, YOU JUST LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE, AND WAKE UP TO ANOTHER DAY OF TRAVELING! 12 HOURS TO BE EXACT!!!

The room was very nice! It had a full kitchen and separate bedroom. Didn't help much that it was 12 am, and i was not remotely interested in cooking anything! I just wanted to use the bed!

Man,that bed was looking mighty good !

THEY LEFT THE LIGHT ON FOR US!! WELL, THE MOON!!!!

HAPPY 34TH BIRTHDAY DANIELLE !

I had a WONDERFUL birthday! I really did not want anything, I just wanted to be surrounded by my Fantastic Four. BUT, I did get a laptop, it just has not arrived yet! With each passing birthday, I feel so blessed to live to see my precious children grow, and I am soo thankful that God allowed me to be a mother!! This is what I have always wanted to be!! Caiden and Bailee tell me how lucky they are to have me as their mother, well, as long as they know they are always wanted and loved, then i have done my job as a mother!!

ELYCE DANIELLE ELLERMAN

AUGUST 6, 1974

BAILEE GRACE MADE ME A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY CARD! LOVE HER IMAGINATION

JERRY AND CAIDEN PICKED THIS CAKE OUT FOR ME. THEY DID GREAT!

EVEN AT 34, I STILL HAVE A GOOD BIT OF WIND IN ME, BUT JERRY WAS RIGHT THERE MAKING SURE I DID NOT NEED ANY HELP!

MY PRECIOUS CHILDREN HELPING MAKE MY DAY SPECIAL

INSTEAD OF EATING OUT, I DECIDED I WANTED GOOD OLD BARBECUE! SINCE WE HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME 2 HOURS AGO, I DIDN'T "FEEL" THE NEED TO GET ALL DRESSED UP FOR 1 HOUR ON THE TOWN. I WOULD HAVE MUCH RATHER SPEND MY NIGHT WITH MY FANTASTIC FOUR EATING AT THE DINNER TABLE AND WATCHING BASEBALL! THESE ARE THE TIMES THAT I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TOO!

MY FAMILY SINGING "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

HAVING A BLAST!

HEY EVERYONE! JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE ARE HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIFE! IT IS SO PRETTY IN NEBRASKA! IT'S HOT, AND WE ARE ALL SUNBURNED! JERRY, AND I, AND THE KIDS HAVE DONE SO MUCH SO FAR, I BROUGHT MY SELF TO THE REALIZATION THAT I AM NOT GOING TO BLOG WHILE ON VACATION, BUT BOY, I HAVE A GOT SOME GREAT PICTURES SO FAR!! YOU WILL ALL HAVE TO WAIT!

WE ARE IN THE PAPER!

HOW COOL!! OUACHITA STORMS MADE THE VICKSBURG POST! YOU CAN READ ALL ABOUT IT! HERE IS THE LINK!! WAY TO GO OUACHITA STORM!


http://www.vicksburgpost.com/articles/2008/07/27/sports/sports01.txt

TAKING SHELTER:COOLING OFF

I AM TELLING YOU, IT WAS SO HOT!! I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT OUR BOYS SUFFERING FROM A HEAT STROKE!! WE MOTHERS MADE SURE OUR BOYS HAD PLENTY TO DRINK!! WE ALSO MADE SURE THEY GOT PLENTY OF REST BETWEEN GAMES AND HELPED THEM COOL DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! BASEBALL IS FUN BUT CAN BE HOT!

2008 GOVERNOR'S CUP BASEBALL: VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI

THIS WAS A WONDERFUL TOURNAMENT TO PLAY IN. WE WON BOTH OUR GAMES SATURDAY!! BUT, MAN, IT WAS SO HOT. TEMPERATURES WERE WAY OVER 100 DEGREES. WE CONTINUED TO PLAY ON SUNDAY, BUT LOST , SO WE PACKED UP, BUT WE LEFT WITH A GREAT SATISFACTION. WE TRIED OUR BEST!

BASEBALL THE "ELLERMAN" WAY

ELLERMAN THROUGH AND THROUGH

WE ARE A TEAM

DADDYS HOME!!

JERRY IS FINALLY HOME, AND HE WAS SURE GLAD TO SEE HIS FAMILY! THE KIDS HAD MADE HIM WELCOME SIGNS AND WELCOMED HIM WITH HUGS,HUGS AND MORE HUGS!! WE ARE SO GLAD WHEN HE GETS TO COME HOME. EVERY TRIP GONE AND COMING BACK MAKES US REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT EACH ONE OF US DOES TO MAKE OUR FAMILY WHAT IT IS TODAY!! WELCOME HOME JERRY!

THINGS THAT I AM GOING TO DO ON VACATION

1. SLEEP,SLEEP, AND MORE SLEEP. I FINALLY WILL BE ABLE TO SLEEP WITHOUT HEARING THE DOORBELL RUNG REPEATABLY AT THE CRACK OF DAWN.

2. EAT IN PEACE: I AM GOING TO SIT DOWN AND ENJOY MY "WHOLE" MEAL WITHOUT GETTING UP TO REFILL GLASSES OF KOOL-AID, AND REPLENISHING "EMPTY" PLATES.

3. LEAVE DIRTY CLOTHES AS THEY LIE: I'M JUST GOING TO LET THEN PILE UP TILL NO CLOTHES ARE LEFT TO WEAR, THEN I WILL "CONTEMPLATE" WHETER IT SHOULD BE DONE NOW, OR WAIT TILL TOMORROW.

4. READ A "LONG" PAGED BOOK. I WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO READ A BOOK WITH MORE A 100 PAGES.

5. YOU ARE WHAT YOU LIVE IN: IF THE KIDS WANT TO LIVE IN A DIRTY PLACE, SO BE IT, IF YOU ARE "CONTENT" WITH THE MESS YOU MADE, AND CAN LIVE IN IT WITHOUT IT BEING UP TO USUAL STANDARDS, SO BE IT, WE ARE NOT AT HOME, SO THINGS SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THE SAME ROUTINE, NORMALLY THIS WOULD DRIVE ME INSANE, BUT WE HAVE TO LET GO SOMETIMES AND NOT BE UPTIGHT.

6. SWIM AND MORE SWIMMING TILL THE POOL CLOSES. I WILL BE AT THE POOL WITH DRINKS AND SNACKS, AND SUNSCREEN (OF COURSE) AND DO NOT PLAN TO OUT OF MY TANNING CHAIR TILL THE SUN GOES DOWN.

7. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WILL ENJOY OUR FAMILY BEING ONE AGAIN, AND EXPERIENCE THE THINGS THAT WE DO TOGETHER. THIS IS A TIME THAT WE CAN ALL BE KIND AND LOVING TO ONE ANOTHER, GETTING TO DO DIFFERENT AMUSEMENT PARKS, RESTAURANTS, AND JUST BEING ABLE TO SIT ON THE COUCH TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. I WANT TO EXPERIENCE IT ALL. THIS IS CONTENTMENT TO ME!

AND.....

WHEN WE COME BACK HOME, THERE WILL A EVEN MORE CLOSENESS BETWEEN US THAN EVER BEFORE. WE ALL COME BACK WITH A SENSE OF CLOSENESS THAT ONLY COMES FROM JUST SPENDING QUALITY TIME TOGETHER!

WE ARE HEADING OFF ON AN ADVENTURE!!

YOGA?

BAILEE ASKS ME TODAY WHAT SHE COULD DO TO MAKE MY DAY A LITTLE EASIER. SHE KNOWS THAT SOMETIMES LIFE'S LITTLE STRESSES GET TO ME, AND SOMETIMES SHE "SENSES" THAT I NEED A BREAK! MAYBE THAT IS THE LITTLE WOMAN COMING OUT IN HER. I WAS A LITTLE HUMORED AND CAUGHT OFF GUARD WHEN SHE TOLD ME THIS TODAY. SHE SAID, "MOMMY , I KNOW IT IS HARD FOR YOU WHEN ALL THESE KIDS COME TO OUR HOUSE. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ALL GET PLENTY TO EAT AND DRINK, AND YOU WANT US TO HAVE FUN. MAYBE YOU JUST NEED A BREAK, YOU NEED TO RELAX. MOMMY, HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT YOGA? I THINK YOU NEED TO TRY IT." OH MY, THE THINGS THAT SHE COMES UP WITH. BUT, I SOON REALIZED THAT I NEED TO BE APPRECIATIVE OF HER THOUGHTFULNESS AND CONCERN FOR MY MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL BEING. ISN'T IT JUST LIKE A FEMALE TO WANT TO ENSURE THAT EACH ONE OF US GETS WHAT WE NEED. TAKING CARE OF MOMMY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS TAKING CARE OF THEM! SHE IS SUCH A LITTLE MOMMA!

VACATION TIME

THE TIME IS FINALLY HERE! NOW ITS TIME FOR US TO RELAX AND ENJOY SUMMER OUR WAY! I HAD BOUGHT THESE DUFFEL BAGS FOR OUR SUMMER TRIPS, AND ITS GOOD TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE FINALLY GOING TO BE USED! WE HAVE A LOT PLANNED FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE WILL GO TO VICKSBURG THIS WEEKEND TO PLAY BASEBALL. JERRY, CAIDEN, AND BAILEE WILL FIND SOME TO GO TO A FAMILY REUNION. THEN, WE ALL HEAD TO NEBRASKA. JERRY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK, BUT HE FEELS SO MUCH MORE AT "HOME" WHEN WE ARE WITH THEM. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING TIME TOGETHER, AND FOR SOME GOOD OLD TIME RELAXATION!

ACCEPTANCE...

IS SOMETHING WE ALL WANT. IT FEELS GOOD TO BE WANTED AND WHEN SOMEONE LETS US "IN" IT BRINGS TO A WARMTH FEELING TO OUR SOULS. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT CHILDREN RELIED ON ACCEPTANCE MORE THAN ADULTS, BUT MY PERCEPTION OF THIS IDEA WAS FOREVER CHANGED TONIGHT. AS ALWAYS, CAIDEN, BAILEE AND I SAT ON MY BED TALKING , WE DO THIS EVERY NIGHT BEFORE WE GO TO BED. WE TALK ABOUT THE DAY WE HAVE HAD,AND IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO SEE EACH ONES THOUGHTS OF THE DAY THEY HAD. I ALWAYS LET THE KNOW THAT I AM SORRY FOR THE THINGS THAT I HAVE PUT THEM THROUGH, THAT MOMMY WAS GOING THOUGH A BAD PHASE, AND THAT I WOULD DO WHATEVER IT TOOK TO MAKE OUR FAMILY WHOLE AGAIN. CAIDEN, AS USUAL, AMAZES ME WITH THE ANALOGY HE USED TO DESCRIBE THE SITUATION. HE TOLD ME THIS" MOMMY, ITS KINDA LIKE BASEBALL, YOU STRIKE OUT SOMETIMES, BUT YOU KEEP TRYING, AND YOU GIVE IT ALL YOU CAN, AND YOU LEAVE KNOWING THAT YOU GAVE IT YOUR BEST, YOU MAKE MISTAKES, BUT YOU CAN HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO PROVE THAT YOU CAN DO IT." HE WAS GIVING ME "CONFIRMATION" THAT NO MATTER WHAT MISTAKES I MAKE, THEY WILL "ACCEPT" ME AS THEIR MOTHER. THEY HAVE REALIZED THE ERRORS OF MY WAYS, BUT THEY KNOW THAT MY "INTENTIONS" ARE ALWAYS OF THE BEST OF THEM, AND THEY FORGIVE ME FOR WHAT I HAVE DONE. WE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT EVERYDAY SITUATION'S THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD. THEY ARE A LOT MORE CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING SITUATIONS THAT WE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR. MY CHILDREN HAVE ACCEPTED MY FAILURES AND THEY LOOK AT THEM NOW, AS GOD'S WAY OF GETTING RID OF THE BAD THINGS SO I WOULD BE ABLE TO LEAN MORE ON GOD THAN MYSELF. GOD WANTED TO GET RID OF THE OLD, AND BRING IN THE NEW. I NOW SEE THAT WE AS ADULTS NEED TO FEEL ACCEPTED BECAUSE IT PLEASES OUR SELF-INSECURITIES .ACCEPTANCE SOMEWHAT FILLS THAT LITTLE VOID OF BEING SINGLE OUT. WE FEEL THAT "BELONGING" GIVES US A SENSE OF SELF-SECURITY.CHILDREN LOOK TO THIS AS BEING WAY TOO COMPLICATED. CHILDREN JUST NEED ACCEPTANCE OF THEIR PARENTS: THAT THEY ARE LOVED AND WANTED, AND APPRECIATED. BAILEE OFTEN EXPRESSES HER SELF THROUGH DRAWINGS. SHE HAS AN EXPECTATIONAL IMAGINATION, AND SHE AMAZES ME WITH IMAGINES THAT SHE VISUALLY SEES THROUGH HER EYES AND HEART. SHE IS SO EXCITED ABOUT HER DADDY COMING HOME . SHE DREW THIS TONIGHT. HER PRECIOUS HEART FEELS OUR FAMILY WILL BE "WHOLE" AGAIN SOON.SHE GAVE ME "CONFIRMATION" TONIGHT THAT ACCEPTANCE" LIES WITHIN THE ABILITY TO FORGIVE, AND MOVE ON TO NEW POSSIBILITIES THAT WILL ONLY MAKE US MORE CLOSE AS A FAMILY. I SEE NOW THAT MY ACCEPTANCE LIES WITHIN MY FAMILIES THOUGHTS OF ME, NOT ANYONE ELSE. SHE SEES ALL POTENTIAL WE HAVE AS A WHOLE, WE ARE NOT ONE PERSON SEEKING LIFE'S ADVENTURES, BUT WE ARE 4 PEOPLE, ON 4 DIFFERENT JOURNEYS, BUT WE EXPERIENCE IT TOGETHER, HELPING EACH OTHER AS WE GO.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Caiden and Bailee love chocolate chip cookies. Bailee asked me if she could help me cook them. I must say that she was of great help!

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 pkg. of semi-sweet chocolate chunks


PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees. Beat butter and sugars in a large bowl with an eletric mixer med. speed until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour, baking soda, salt, mix well. Stir in chocolate chunks.



DROP teaspoons of dough, 2 inches apart onto a ungreased cookie sheet.



BAKE 10 min. or unti golden brown.

Jerry is craving some good old home cookin and can't wait to return home. Jerry, this should help you come home quicker!

WHO DOES SHE RESEMBLE??

JERRY HAS SHARED WITH HIS CO-WORKERS ABOUT OUR FAMILY BLOG. MANY OF THEM HAVE SEEN IT AND HAVE COME TO THINK OF IT AS A WONDERFUL THING. THEY THINK IT IS REALLY NEAT THAT HE CAN BY A CLICK OF A MOUSE, BE IN A "REALITY" OF OUR FAMILIES LIVES. ONE OF HIS BOSSES SAW A PICTURE OF BAILEE AND PROCEEDED TO TELL HIM THAT SHE LOOKED LIKE ME, BUT WHEN HE SHOWED HER A PICTURE OF BAILEE WITH GLASSES, HER PERCEPTION WAS CHANGED, SHE SOON REALIZED THAT BAILEE WAS A REPLICA OF HER DAD! WHAT DO YOU THINK??!!

WHY BLOGGING IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR FANTASTIC FAMILY OF FOUR

AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, JERRY IS GONE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. HE CANNOT ALWAYS BE WITH US IN PERSON, BUT HE IS ALWAYS WITH US IN SPIRIT. OUR FAMILY BLOG ALLOWS HIM TO SEE US IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE. IT SHOWS HIM WHAT HIS FAMILY IS EXPERIENCING AND WHAT ARE DAILY LIFE CONSISTS OF. HE CAN SEE THE PROGRESS OF OUR FAMILY IS MAKING AND HE LOOK FORWARD TO THE UP KEEPING OF OUR FAMILY BLOG. I STARTED THIS BLOG IN THE HOPES THAT IT WOULD GIVE JERRY THE REASSURANCE THAT HIS FAMILY WAS "INTACTED" EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NOT HERE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS BLOG WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE HIM "REASSURANCE" THAT EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT HERE, OUR FAMILY LIFE WILL CONTINUE ON TO BE AS "NORMAL" AS POSSIBLE. I LOVE YOU JERRY, FOR BEING OUR PROVIDER, OUR HERO, OUR ALL. THIS IS FOR YOU, KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS WITH US!