Merry Christmas Everyone!

MARRIED NOVEMBER 27TH 2006
FRANK AND LINDA

For those of you that do not know, Frank and I were married on my birthday! We plan to have a ceremony and small celebration at our house in the fall so that you can all attend. We will keep you posted as to the date and time.

CHRISTMAS SEASON 2006 BEGINS

Our Christmas season begins with a trip to the Grand Ole Opry to see the Christmas show featuring the Rocketts. We also did lunch at the Rainforest, toured the Opry Mills Mall (Which took 6 hours to walk!) We visited The Grand Ole Opry ICE SCULPTURE SHOW. It was great. Below check out the photos! We had a great time! CLICK ON EACH PICTURE TO ENLARGE.

Frank sings Ava Maria!

You kids would love this!

We had a great dinner at the Rainforest

Opry Hills Mall

SFC Brian Sickler

There was a request to have Brian's military history posted on the blog. So here it is!!! Enjoy! Thanks Kim!

Here is the info on Brian's career: He started out in the Reserves after basic training in 1990 C. Troop 9th CAV. In July of 1991 he was stationed in Fort Carson, CO in HHC 2/77AR. In September of 1992 he moved to Wildflecken Germany and was in G. Troop 2/11ACR. They were in the process of closing that post when they moved us there so the very next year September of 1993 we moved to Vilseck, Germany where he was in HHC 1/37 AR. After Germany there was the three year stint in the PA National Guard 1/109th INF. After that it was back to Fort Carson, CO and he was in L. Troop 3/3 ACR where he deployed to Bosnia. From there is was on the Fort Drum, NY where is was in A. Troop 3/17 CAV where he deployed to Kosovo. It was then on to Fort Knox, KY where he was an instructor at the United States NCO Academy. It was here that he received his current rank of SFC or E7 and for those of you that don't know his job in the Army or MOS as the Army calls it is 19D or Cavalry Scout. He was then transferred to Fort Lewis, WA where he is currently stationed in C. Troop 2/1 CAV. He is part of the 4th Brigade 2nd Infantry Division which is one of the new Army Stryker Brigades and he's schedule to deploy to Iraq in April. There you have it...it adds up to a whole lot of moving! We're kind of hoping to be a part of this unit or at least this post for the next six years....it never hurts to dream. Then maybe his last two years at Fort Drum. Love, Kim

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I worked Turkey day then we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner. The food was great. Then later we got out second visitors to our new home! My younger sister (by one year), and Jimmy. We had a great visit. They stayed two nights and are now on their way back to PA. as I write. It was so nice seeing family. Our house is now pretty much ready for company if anyone feels so inclined!!! Post on your blogs and tell me what you all did for Thanksgiving! Have a great week-end!
Linda & Frank

Super game ...Ohio/Michigan! Ohio still #1! Now the up-date on Richard. They were able to reattach the eye verses removing it. For that we're very thankful. We're not sure yet how much vision he'll have in that eye or any at all. He tells the story like this. He was feeding wire through a machine @ work and it got jammed, so he cut it. It whipped around and right across his eye and bridge of his nose. When it first happened he didn't know he dislodged his eye. He knew the bridge of his nose had a deep cut. He thought he couldn't see because the blood from the nose was running in his eye, until he went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. He said that was a horrible sight! The white of the eye was shredded and the shape of his pupil was like out of a horror magazine! He put his hand up to his eye and instead of being hard it was mushy! By the way...he was wearing safety glasses. He is in a great eye hospital in Philadelphia. He's hoping to be discharged in a couple of days. The Dr. told him today that it'll be a long time before he'll go back to work. He also told him that he'll have to have another surgery in a couple of months because it's already forming a Cataract. So he has a long haul. I'll keep you all posted.

Well, we had our first visitors! Friends from FL. Jack and Connie Karby. Jack & Frank were friends many years in N.J. We had a great time. The guys were suppose to golf all day and we were going to shop but it poured rain all day so we all shopped, ate and had a great visit. Connie gave me a couple of great decorating tips! Thanks Connie! They are on their way to the Ohio/michigan game this week-end! (Go Ohio Buckeyes!) I'm so mad at myself for not taking a picture to share with you all! The guest room is ready for anyone that's ready to visit! I'll post a picture later! My son Richard (Richie) had an accident @ work last evening. Something broke from a machine and hit him in the face & eye. He is in Jefferson eye hospital in Philadelphia. He's having surgery this morning to either reattach the eye or remove it. They will know more when they can look behind the eye. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Hope you all are well. Have a gr8 day!

Okay...I know I've been a little quiet! As you can see by the photos below, I've been sewing curtains, draperies and pillows! Also been doing lots of decorating! Still a lot to go though! Hey Joan, I'm even doing all this sewing without patterns! Actually Frank drew the pattern for the dining room! We wanted something that didn't cover the windows but accent them. I think together we came up with a pretty good plan! The weather has been great but that is suppose to end in a couple of days. Sorry Jack & Connie, but it just won't hold out until your visit! You'll just have to bring that winter coat!

I know one picture below is posted twice...but I can't get it to erase. Help Al!!!

Fall has finally arrived and we are enjoying the fall colors in TN! We didn't realize how much we actually missed the seasons living in FL. The leaves are just starting to turn here. We can lay on our bed or sit on the couch...now that we have one...and see all the beautiful trees. We have so many windows that we can see from just about anywhere! We both are doing great. I'm adjusting to my new job & loving my pt's, and Frank is busy with floors. Our living room arrived today so thought you'd like to see some pictures! Hope this note finds our friends and loved ones doing well! We love you all!

A TAD TOO WARM!

Do you all think it might be just a tad too warm for this fireplace!!!???

Frank's Office Arrived Today!

Brian is to deploy to Iraq in the near future.

Just wanted to let you know that Brian's unit is selling t-shirts for support. They have his 2/1 CAV on the front and his unit emblem on the back. They are 15$ and all the money is going to go directly to the soldiers in Brian's unit to support activities before they deploy. They also want as many family members to wear the shirts across the country while the soldiers are deployed to show our support. They have small, med, lrg, and x-lrg and the body of the t-shirts is gray colored. If you are interested in purchasing a t-shirt to show your support you can send out a check or money order made out to me and I will mail you your shirts. I will pay for the shipping!Love,Kim

Please contact me...Linda, via e-mail and I'll give you Kim's e-mail address for direct contact with her. Thanks for your support! Linda

Do you like the new bouquet of flowers over our bedroom fireplace?? Frank even picked them out all by himself!! Great job huh??

The kitty cat in the photo isn't quit as innocent as he looks!!! As a matter of fact he is totally the opposite!! Frank was charging his cell phone over night and the sweet little cat chewed the cord completely in half....that costed us $49.99 amoung many other expenses from the crazy cat breaking things!!! Anyone have any suggestions to settle this silly cat??!!??! He had a brother but he ran away...probably couldn't put up with his brother!!! Actually I think that the cat couldn't adjust to all the building going on. Perhaps someone saw him wandering and took him, we're not sure. He was a real nice cat. Hope you all have a great Sunday!

This is the outside of the house! We are just getting started on the landscaping, so you know they'll be pictures to follow!! God is being nice and watering our plants as I write!! Isn't that nice of him? We are hoping to get some decorating done inside soon. Hope everyone is doing well! I Love you all!

Do You Think The Cat Likes The New House???

Well, we finally have internet and phone...thanks to Bellsouth!! But....we have no camera! We didn't want to leave the camera in the house while people were in and out during construction so we left it in Frank's truck..in the heat of course....Now you know "the rest of the story!!" Will post final pictures soon! I will up-date in a couple of days. Hope all is well with you all. To Joan and Heidi family. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Happy anniversary Heidi and Carl!

Just to let everyone know that we still have no internet so therefore can't post final pictures. There are no phone lines in the subdivision yet. Big mistake...we are the first in the development!! We hope soon!!! We moved into the new house in TN and the house in FL sold! That was a real relief! Everything is going fine. Frank is busy doing hardwood floors. There's a lot of work here. He's happy being out of Home Depot! We go back to FL on July 25th to close on the FL. home on the 28th. There is no way I can make it to the cousin reunion this year with everything going on but will come home to visit as soon as I can get the time off. I Love and miss you all. I wish so much that I could be there to help Joan and Heidi through the tough times they face. My thoughts and prayers are with all my family and friends that lost so much in the flood. May God be with you all!
Love
Linda & Frank

If Joan Visits In July

This is where she'll stay!!!

And this is where She will go to the bathroom

Thought some of you would like to see Brian, Kim and Family!

Jennifer..Erika..Brian II

Erika's Eigth Grade Graduation

Frank Busy At Work!!...And Enjoying It!!

Family Room

Mirrored Dining Room

Frank's Office

Does the sign say "STAY OFF THE FLOORS???"

Sod came today!!!

Frank gets to do the Floors! Great Job!

Night Shot!!!! Check out the mail box!

Entry Trim

Lights are being installed and hope they will be done tomorrow! Slowly but surely we're getting close to DONE!!!
Will post pictures probably on Friday or Saturday!

Mirrored Dining Room. Frank will sand & finish floors on Thursday.

Fireplace Almost Done! Trim needs painting, Doors to be installed in bottom, And of course shelves !

Now Things Are Starting To Come Together!!

I know I haven't posted pictures this week...and that is because they have everything covered with plastic to paint. So therefore I'm waiting for some of the latters and the junk to get cleaned up, then I'll post some pictures. Probably around Tuesday or Wednesday when the painters finish. The shelves around the fireplace got finshed yesterday and painted, except for a little trim left to do above the fireplace. The arches are all done in the entry way and dining room and mirrors are on dining room walls and trimmed out. Basically all that's left to do is finishing the paint touch ups and laying the bamboo flooring in the bonus room, hanging the lights (probably on Wednesday) and Frank sanding the hardwood floors, Probably on Thursday & Friday.) I think the plumber is finishing on Monday. He has to install the toilets and install the kitchen sink and all that fun stuff! Then the "clean-up" crew comes in. That's the part I'm waiting for. The bank has our closing date as the 28th. That's what I'm really waiting for!! It's been a long process! Other then that everything is fine with us. Hope everything is good with all our family and friends!

Making Progress!!!

The front is done except for the pillars on the porch.

The landscaping is getting done next week sometime!

More pictures soon!

Kitchen will be finished on Monday or Tuesday.

We are waiting for the counter to arrive for around the sink.

Trim is being painted today.

Living Room Fireplace...will have built in shelves.

They are working on that today.

Bedroom Fireplace