The winds of change are upon us...

....and there is no fighting the force!


With heavy hearts, we have decided to close the barn doors at Westwood for full-care boarding...we have experienced a cycle year after year where good stable help can only be depended on from 2-4 months...after the first month, they start to get lazy...then they get complacent....then they quit....we fill the gap until more help comes on board...they start off with a bang...then get lazy....then get complacent....then quit....the cycle just repeats over and over and over again....The difference this time around is that we do not have the time or physical capability to fill the 'gaps' anymore...with my growing belly, and JR's working hours, we just can't get it all done.....So, we made the announcement a couple weeks ago to our boarders...as of December 1st, we are down to our horses and a couple field boarders...


Additionally, I have accepted a new position with a small company that offers me the greatest (and most challenging) opportunity I have been given in my career...I gave notice last week and am excited for the transition!


My college courses are coming along well...straight A's so far...I've submitted a request to VA to extend the delimiting date on my benefits, but am less stressed about making payments on the remainder of my degree now...my new company has agreed to cover the entire expense of my education...I am SO grateful!


Finally, my belly is showing, the Little Brat is growing, and the old man is all-knowing! That about wraps up this update....


I'd love to share a shot of LB at her very first recital this weekend, but our internet connection is NOT cooperating...it took me a week just to get this post online!!! grrrrr


Have a great week!


Happy Trails,
Leah

Warning: Adult Content!

I kinda wish I had gotten that warning. Yes, indeed I remembered to show up to jury selection...and lo and behold, I was even selected! Of course I was...

I won't go into it all, but I thought you might enjoy this little nugget...a highlight of the days festivities, if you will...it went something like this:

• Attorney: Can you tell us what you witnessed on that day?


• Witness: Yes. The defendant was driving beside me on the left. He honked his horn, which caught my attention, causing me to look in his direction. At that time, I witnessed the defendant whip out his *edited* and stroke it.

....later that day as my fellow jurors and I sit down to deliberate....the awkward silence is palpable....I'm thinking to myself, "Seriously? We have to TALK about this?"...yes, we did.

• Foreman: Well, I'll begin by saying I drive that stretch of road daily, and it's dangerous enough what with people using cell phones. He could have really caused a lot of trouble doing........THAT.


• Me: I agree. He could have caused an accident. You know what they say....

....all eyes are now on me, waiting for something enlightening or intellectual, I'm sure....but YOU know me better than that ;)

• Me: I mean, he could have gone BLIND!

....the 'ice' was broken....

I just don't know WHY I can't partake in one single event or activity in my life without something completely out of the ordinary occurring...Assault, burglary, or any of the multitude of other 'standard' cases would have been just fine...but noooooooooooooooooooo, I get hear all about the guy who can't keep his floppy-joe in his pants....sigh. Such is my life.

Happy Jury Duty!

Leah

Happy Birthday, Marines!

Lookin' pretty good for 234!



Semper Fi,


Leah (Formerly: Sgt, USMC)

Random Short Story, by LB...

..who doesn't love silly stories with breakfast?

She's full of these little gems...

Happy Trails,

Leah

The Artist, formerly known as Randi Mae...

The Little Brat's been taking piano lessons once a week for a couple months now...tonight was her first solo! Witness, 'Hot Cross Buns'....her execution was PERFECT...However, the teacher threw a curve ball at her at the end when she asked her to play 'Froggies on a Lilly Pad'...they just learned that one...still, I was impressed she knew the whole first half...we'll get those last few notes next week ;) Enjoy!

Happy Harmony,

The-Proudest-Mama-Around

It's official...I'M CERTIFIABLE!

FREDERICKSBURG, VA 1 November 2009 – We are pleased to announce that Leah Roehl, CPLP has earned the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance™ (CPLP) credential from the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) Certification Institute. Earning the CPLP™ credential means Leah Roehl, CPLP possesses the knowledge and skills to be a top performer in the workplace learning and performance field.

Becoming a CPLP enhances a professional’s reputation by recognizing that they have an overall understanding of the nine areas of expertise for workplace learning and performance as defined by the ASTD Competency Model™, and can apply this knowledge in the workplace. In general, credentials benefit individuals by providing a roadmap for professional development, enhancing earning potential, and broadening career opportunities.

To earn the CPLP certification Leah Roehl acquired industry-related experience, successfully passed a knowledge-based examination, and submitted a work product that met performance standards. “The CPLP certification process is rigorous and it produces candidates with a breadth of knowledge that brings significant benefit to their employers, colleagues and clients,” says Jennifer Naughton, ASTD’s Director of Credentialing. “Employing CPLP credential holders brings respect to an organization’s training function and ensures successful learning programs,” she adds.

“As the association dedicated to the workplace learning and performance profession, ASTD is at the forefront providing information on the critical skills and abilities that practitioners must have to succeed in the field,” says Tony Bingham, President of the ASTD Certification Institute. “The CPLP credential was built to provide workplace learning professionals a tool with which to increase their knowledge, competence and confidence while proving their value to employers,” he notes.

More information about the CPLP program may be found at http://www.cplp.astd.org/. Additional questions should be directed to: certification@astd.org.
About ASTD and the ASTD Certification InstituteASTD is the world’s largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals. ASTD started 1944 when the organization held its first annual conference.To support members’ ongoing development in the field, ASTD formed the ASTD Certification Institute to take the lead in setting professional industry standards. The ASTD Certification Institute certifies professionals through the CPLP credential.

So, I'm pretty happy about it...it was about a year long process...definately a milestone in my professional development...Now, on to my PMP ;)...you know I am incapable of resting for long!

Happy Trails,

Leah

Ye Halloween!

2nd Annual Belvedere Pumpkin Pickin'...

We made our second annual family trip to Belvedere Plantation this year for some fun and pumpkin' pickin'! They made several new additions to the place, like permanent bathrooms, concessions stands, games, and more! You can see pics of last years visit HERE...I had forgotten JR had all the fuzz on his face...



I took a few pics of the games the Little Brat could do this year, that she wasn't big or strong enough to do last year...they grow up TOO FAST! Here's a zip-line thingy she just LOVED!

..and she actually hung on there all by herself...

..all the way to the end...impressive!

...this was a big deal for LB, show is dead set on doing EVERYTHING by herself.

Here is another thing she was not big enough to do last year...she has officially upgraded from the pedal tractors to the pedal go-cart!

..and what's a visit to Belvedere without a trip through the Maize Maze? A Bummer, I tell ya! We threw caution to the wind and scrapped the directions...the truth is, none of us could read them anyways...

Just a nice Daddy-Daughter shot as we waited for the hay ride to the pumpkin patch...

...where we each found the most perfect specimen to make our own...

..and after we got home, we went straight to guttin' them out and makin' us some Jack-O-Lanterns...less the candles...I ALWAYS forget the candles!

..and here are our final masterpieces...that would be JR on top, then the Little Brat, Mommy, Tyler, and Kaiti...the 2 smallest creations are baby pumpkins I carved up for Baby A and Baby B...I am sorry to report that shortly after this picture was taken, Ginger ate the babies...

Happy Holidays!

Leah

Gpa Craig's 2009 Projects...WOW!

In no particular order, I'd like to present to you the most accomplished inhabitant of Westwood, Gpa Craig...In Gpa Craigs short visit each year, he manages to prove time and time again just how lazy the rest of us are in comparison...this year was no different.

Perhaps the most treasured project of 2009 is this swing...we we have all enjoyed to date, but that the Little Brat enjoys the most!

..and then there was the removal and replacement of an old roof on our largest run-in shed...the whole family pitched in on this one...I was busting my booty taking these shots, for sure! I get tired just thinking about it...point, click, point, click...my aching arms!

There are no 'small' projects around here...the addition of this hand rail to the basement (laundry room), is going to help keep us from busting our arses....again.

....and speaking of the basement, Gpa Craig put up some dry-loc (water resistant drywall) in the laundry room and applied some texture to match the plaster walls in the rest of the house...primer and paint are amongst my winter projects!

...this shed here...well, a picture is worth a thousand words. Gpa Craig replaced the roof last year....This year he mended the rest...

...all rotten wood was removed and replaced, including support beams and posts...new concrete footers and all! This man's a BEAST!

He framed in one of the bays to create a workshop area and deemed this project the new and improved 'Garage'...

..and with a new door and a new coat of primer (courtesy JR), it was like new again!

On to other matters....who remembers this tired old horse barn?

Gpa Craig also replaced all the rotten wood in this structure, including overhead beams and support posts....concrete footers and all!

Additionally, he put in an old sink that had been wasting away in the basement, and updated the electrical wiring and lights...

One side is open and currently being used for hay storage overflow, the other side has been turned into a grand tack room for all the lovely extra 'stuff' we horse owners tend to accumulate...

...not to mention a handy overflow are for the boarders to keep their tack trunks and out-of-season horsewear...

..the kids even pitched in a little on this project, and helped add a coat of primer to the siding for good measure...

I wish I would have capture EVERYTHING on film that he has accomplished in his short time here, alas, he often tackled projects when I was away at work...projects like trail blazing around the property, brush and tree clearing around the facilities, light switch fixin', and much much more! He really is an amazing man...and can make you feel amazingly inadequate, to say the least! Thank Goodness for Gpa Craig!

Happy Projects,

Leah

Fall Family Photos!

The sun came out! Lordsy Mercy, the sun came out! Just check out those goofy mugs...we are ALL so happy about it!


JR wanted a shot with his favorite daughter......Ginger. She's grown a little, dontcha think?

..and JR offered to take some pics of me and the Little Brat...I have so very few of these, but I'm not sure I could ever get enough...

I have her convinced that I'll die if I don't get frequent 'baby luv'....don't spoil it for me ;)....it's hard to believe in less than 10 years she'll hate my guts....sigh

Happy Families!

Leah