It appears the annual Ratliff Family invasion of West Virginia has gotten on the road.
Looks like Jeff is doing her usual good job of keeping an eye on the kids and making sure everyone stays safe.
Have the Emergency Rooms in West Virginia been alerted yet?
Photos from Traci via Facebook
Randy, Jeffery, Cameron and Emily will each have their own favorite memories of the vacation to Kentucky this year. Who knows what they will be? I have a pretty good idea that I know what Blair’s favorite memory will be already though… he learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels on this trip to Kentucky.
I guess you could say he learned by accident. You see, his cousin Cameron accidentally broke the training wheels off Blair’s bicycle. If he was going to ride, it had to be on two wheels.
Blair has already learned to push the bike to a running start and jump on to get going. I think he is working on doing wheelies next.
Considering he is only four years old it is really something to see how well he rides. I think at four I was still learning to ride my first tricycle.
Clyde
| Traci's Version:
I saw money in my mind and asked her what kind of job it was. I couldn't have been more surprised nor could I have been more overjoyed when she answered, "Jevon needs a hair cut." I think it had to be the best hour of my life. Between being inexperienced, and Amber picking on him, I laughed my freaking butt off.! MOM, where are the pictures? |
| Jeffery's Version:
Poor Jevon would get up every once in a while, look in the mirror and grimace, come back and sit down, and tell Traci where she had messed up. She would just grin and mess up some more. Cheap haircuts are 'H-E-Double-L'. Oh, I almost forgot. While Traci was cutting his hair, Amber would go over with another attachment and act as though Traci had slipped and cut too deep on his scalp. It was hysterical to watch. He had no idea that Amber was doing it. He would get so upset each time. What we do in the name of fun around here. Go figure! |
| Jevon's Version:
^% )(& %$ Traci (*&(* &%(* (*$ %$%# get you for this. ^*(^% Jeff, stick that #$^*$^*) camera ^$%## (*^&$ sun don't shine. |
The number of comments to the stories on the StalkerClan have been down for some time now. That worries me. Is everyone losing interest? Have I made everyone mad? A year or two ago a good story could draw out 12 or 15 comments. Today's stories seldom get more than 2 or 3, if any.
Is the StalkerClan just going to fade out altogether? I better do some calculations and try to figure out how to fix this problem. Let's look at recent stories to see what we can learn...
Based on this analysis, the obvious course of action to maximize comment submissions and save the StalkerClan must include the following actions:
I'm willing to do my part. Action No. 1 is no problem, I can crank out doctored-up photos of Luci all day long. However, we need to count on the Florida Guinea Girls for Action No. 2. As frequently as they have been cranking out babies it shouldn't be much of a problem.
We're counting on you girls! The future of the StalkerClan is in your... uhhhhh, hands.
Amber was on her way out to pick up Grandmother. She and the kids were riding in their new car, the clean, neat, spotless new car that the kids were not allowed to eat or drink in. She stopped at a Handy Way to get gas and pick up a few things inside. As she was pulling in she saw several trucks with the Get-R-Done tree service logo on the side. She knew her sister had to be around.
Inside, Traci had spotted Amber. As Amber parked her car she saw Traci coming her way. They hugged each other and Amber went inside, expecting Traci to still be by her car when she returned. She looked out the window and saw Traci lean inside the car and leave at what seemed like a very fast pace. She thought this was very odd. Traci always wanted to talk about something.
She paid for her stuff and went on to her car. She got in, started the car and drove onto the road. All of a sudden Caitlyn spoke up and said, "Momma, Aunt Traci said, 'Amber is gong to kick my butt.'"
Amber wondered why she would say that. She asked Caitlyn, "Why would Aunt Traci say that?"
Caitlyn said, "Aunt Traci said you are going to kick her butt, Mom."
"I know Caitlyn, but why did she say that?"
"Mom, look at me."
Amber turned to see Caitlyn with a big jug of Yahoo and a full bag of M&Ms. Caleb had the same. "Yes Caitlyn, Momma is going to kick Aunt Traci's butt!"
eMail from Jeff
Well, if I have said it once I have said it a thousand times, Cameron is just a little clone of his Uncle Clyde. Here are just a few of the similarities I have seen for myself:
Here is just one of his most recent works of art...
This piece has great meaning to it. If you look closely you can see a child in bed sleeping. You can see his mother coming to wake him up. You can make out a large circle going around both of them and a line going through them both, much like a NO SMOKING sign you would see at a restaurant. And, just to make sure his mom gets the meaning of his art work, he has named it...
NO WAKING ME UP PLEASE
Now that Cameron has tried his hand at expressionist art, I have to wonder if Uncle Clyde will do the same. If he wants, I am sure Cameron won't mind if he tapes a copy of his work to the head of his bed the way Cameron did. He can get his crayons out and make a few of his own:
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The list goes on and on. The only problem is that most of his art work would be for his sweet wife. The rest of us may never get to see any of it.
Posted by Jeff
Thank the Lord, we finally moved out of Hoot Owl Ridge and off of Coot Rd. If those names don't say enough for the neighborhood, I don't know what else would describe it. We are now in the lovely town of Hollister and are living on a five acre, fenced in lot. We absolutely love it.
There is an eight stall, horse barn and the woman we bought the place from was kind enough to leave about 40 chickens. These chickens are everywhere! Mrs. Corey wanted to let them be free and happy, but for my happiness, I do believe Danny will be building a coop.
Cameron is fascinated by every aspect of this new life. He spends every second with the horse and when she is eating, he is chasing chickens. I am so glad to keep him entertained.
It is, however, a battle to get him in the house at night. Once he has taken his bath, I don't like him to go back out. He tries everything to get back out. Sometimes we have to go out and he claims he is scared in the house alone. I asked him why he was so afraid. I assured him that we were in a much safer area than we had been in when we resided on Coot Rd.
His reply tickled me to death. It went something like this... "But Momma! People will break in and rob us. They will think we are rich now." I thought he was referring to the new place and how much bigger everything is. Then he spat out... "People will think we are rich because we have all of these chickens and they will know how much money we will save not having to buy eggs."
I about fell over with laughter. The mind of a child. How great it is.
Posted by Traci
One day Aunt Traci came over and brought her a pair of sandals about three inches high. Caitlyn loved them so much she had to wear them everywhere they went. This just about drove Amber nuts. The final straw came when someone asked her where Caitlyn got her 'Stripper Shoes'.
We took Emily and Blair to trick or treat with Amber and Traci's crews in Palatka. The had a blast! We went to a subdivision called Round Lake Park. Most of the houses were decorated and the people were great. I even saw the male counterpart of Meaner there. His wife was giving out candy and he was giving out tooth brushes. I think he is a dentist. We have plenty of candy now, and two very tired children. They loved trick or treat!
eMail from Jeff
Double click the PLAY arrow to start the slideshow.
Another of those Florida Boys is having a birthday today. Hope it's a great one! Cameron's online album has been updated with a few more photos. Click on the photo at right to check them out. |  |
I was at home and depressed when Amber called, "You have to come out to the lake for a few minutes at least. I have a job for you." 
As for the hair cut incident...it was a HOOT to watch. 
)(&* Amber.