Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Concussions, erector sets and calls Home.

Ahhhh.  Christmas decorations have officially been put away as of....
25 minutes ago.

Which means my Christmas bloggy sabbatical is over.

And before I officially move on from the holiday shuffle, I need to recap a few things that have happened over the course of the last few weeks - just to catch you guys up on the drama of that which is my life.

In November, while setting up some Christmas decorations, my mom fell off a ladder and decided to take on the solid surface counter top.
With the back of her head.

the countertop won.

This earned me a trip back to their house sans children to keep an eye on her for the night.
Everything turned out ok
and I had a night off of kid- duty

She had a concussion, took a few days to recover, and we are now all a little wiser to ladder usage when no one is around.

Lesson learned.

__________________________________________________

In December,  we celebrated A's birthday on the 12th with grandparents.

I took this picture of my dad (wearing A's birthday present) before cake and ice cream:

As I took this picture, I had a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach.  I literally heard my mom say, "I'm at the hospital....with your dad."
I brushed it off thinking I was just being a nervous nelly about the weather forecast and their drive home.

Until the next day at noon.  When I received a phone call from my mom's cell:
"I'm at the hospital with your dad..."
He fell on the ice and shattered his tibia and fibula.

Then he crawled to a hardware store (which was closed), crawled back to his truck, and decided to DRIVE HIMSELF to the ER.  Oh, by the way...his truck is a stick shift.  I have no idea how he did it, but he made it there.  Then, he laid on the horn for a wheelchair because he "got just about as far as [he] was going to get on [his] own."
Then he sat in the ER by himself because he wouldn't let anyone "bother" my mom until she was done teaching for the day.

Let me tell ya, they don't make men like this anymore.

So, they did surgery late that night to put pins in to help align the bones.  He's got quite an erector set going on that leg.

We're hoping that he won't need more surgery.  Time (and healing) will tell.

My dad is holed up in their family room with hospital bed and walker.  He's completely non-weight bearing for at least 3 months.

Dave and I decided (insert sarcasm) to give my mom a break and fore go the traditional meal of  prime rib and crab legs this year.


So, we had a very low key Christmas picnic gathered around Papa Ken's "sleigh."

It was actually a fun memory that I know the boys will remember for a long, long time.

__________________________________________________________

On Wednesday, Dec. 22 we received another phone call early in the morning.

Dave's grandfather had suffered a massive heart attack.

About a half hour later, we received another call informing us that God had called Grandpa Home.
It felt very surreal since the day progressed rather....regularly.

And that afternoon, I got the mail.  In that stack was a Christmas card.
from D's grandpa:



In all honesty, I must admit that my interactions with grandpa over the past 11 years have been less than 40.
They were usually limited to Christmas, weddings, funerals, and basic familial get-togethers...

The only time I've really ever had a conversation directly with him was when he and Grandma Betty took us out for our engagement dinner.

But, even though I didn't know him as well as many others, I usually try to make a conscious point to remember three things that I appreciated about people who have passed on, so here's my three things:

1.  This man appreciated the value of a hard day's work.  (sound like anyone else you know?  Anyone I may be married to?).  After grandpa retired, he STARTED a carpet cleaning business to keep himself busy.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again...this family:  born and bred workers.

2.  He loved his family the way he knew how.  Grandpa was always mindful of his "number."  This was the number of his great-grandchildren.  The total, I think, was up to 25 when he died.  My most vivid memory of grandpa was shortly after I had A.  He was no more than 3 weeks old, and the whole family gathered at a local church for Christmas.  The first time Grandpa held A, he let me know that he was WELL AWARE that even though A. was his 6th great grandchild, he was the first fourth generation boy to carry on the last name.  He looked at A and said (teary eyed, of course), "A, wear our name well."  Later that night, we took the following picture of A, D, D's dad and Grandpa (far left).

I really treasure this picture.  My family only goes back three generations.  Having a four generation picture of all males (with the same last name) is quite rare in my picture books.

3.  He loved and knew God.  He said the prayer at (almost) every grandchild's wedding - including ours.  These prayers were often teary-eyed with some heavy microphone breathing.  He held a great deal of comfort in the fact that most of his grandchildren had a living relationship with the same God. 

It really made me think as we were going through the visitations and funeral over the past few days.  D. and I decided to let the boys come along and allow them to be exposed to death and what it means.  A. asked a lot of questions, and made a lot of family connections.  When he realized that this was his grandpa's dad, he asked me if his dad would also die someday.  I told him the truth that "yes, we will all die someday, but then we get to have everlasting life with God, and that it's not really good-bye....more like see ya later."
A. replied:  "You mean like John 3:16 everlasting life?"
Yes, A.

So, as the family filed past grandpa for one last good-bye before the funeral our little foursome family was last.  D. placed his hand on his grandpa's arm and said good bye.  I told C. to wave goodbye to great grandpa.  He said, "No...mom.  I'll wave See ya later."

Monday, December 20, 2010

Christmas letter 2010

Hi family and friends!

If you've stumbled on this page you're either 1) a recepient of our Christmas card which had our blog addy on it, 2) a regular reader of our blog, or 3) a combination of both (Hi, Melody and Kathy!).  Whichever you are, welcome!  This blog started as a way to keep family and friends posted our our Love Shack progress, but when progress came in small clumps with years in between, well... I found other things to write about.  Now, I post our Christmas letter here because I'm too lazy to write it out, copy it, fold and stuff it into 72 envelopes going green.  (that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!).



Ok, quick recap of our year:

D. is still working for himself.  He's going on 7 1/2 years now.  He still has yet to advertise.  All work he has is by word of mouth.  I cannot tell you how proud of him I am!  He has built our house with his own hands (with help from a few others). He's also plowing, again, this winter and serves our church as an elder.  In his spare time, he loves taking the boys on hikes through the woods, playing catch with footballs and baseballs, and shoots hoops with A. in the driveway.  Now that the boys are older, they're identifying more and more with their dad (read: not so much the mama's boys anymore), and its so fun to watch them blossom under his guidance.  He really is a great dad to them.  (Which makes me love him all the more).

I am still working out of the house as an auditor.  I'm enjoying it, and the adult interaction it gives me, but its quite a challenge to balance everything.  I also serve on my MOPS steering team (crafts!), and am the PTL president for A's school.  I'm also the coordinator of the SCRIP program there.  I gave up the Wedding Coordinator position in October to make a little room on my overflowing plate.  This year, I was asked to be a blog contributor for a local website, and love doing that.  I'm figuring out that I'm much more right-brained than left, so anything that gets my creative side going really rejuvinates me.  The boys are my little helpers, and they still love cuddling with me while we read books and watch movies.  I love that!




A. is in first grade this year.  He's LOVING school.  He's achieved the top reading group and is excelling in math as well.  I was shocked pleasantly surprised to see straight A's on his report card this fall.  He played on a Jr. Basketball league last winter (D coached), and took swimming lessons over the summer.  He really enjoyed both, so we're going to continue those throughout 2011.  He just received the Flat Stanley books and U.S. map for his birthday, so if you live far away from us, be prepared to see an envelope in your mailbox in the coming months.  Stanley has lots of traveling to do!



C. started three year old preschool this year.  It's really used as a day care to give me some uninterrupted work time, but he's LOVING it.  He's learning all kinds of social things that I don't think to teach him, and making all kinds of new friends in the process.  He follows his big brother everywhere, and wants to do all the things A. can do.  C. is, by far, the biggest mama's boy of the two, but growing out of it faster than I'm willing to admit.

We have a huge update on our house!  As of September 21, 2010, we received four APPROVED stickers for our final inspections.  All of our inspectors made comments on how they admired D's work, and loved that we were doing it debt free.  They all also said that they admired my patience (every single one said their wives would NEVER go for that).  I simply replied that, "I'm not a patient person, by nature, but I do believe in my husband and his ability to finish anything he starts.  That's what got me through."  So, we moved into our addition shortly after.  It's been so much fun to decorate and make the space ours.  The boys are loving their new shared room complete with bunkbeds.  We have more room to move and aren't on top of each other all the time.  The kitchen hasn't moved over yet, but will by the end of 2011.  Now, we get to save and save and save more before we're able to tear the existing Love Shack down and rebuild in its place.  Stay tuned for updates on that saga in the next four years.

Well, that's it for our little corner of the world.  Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The fearless one

When asked about differences between the two boys, I usually say:
                                    A. tends to be more apprehensive,
and C. jumps in feet first and asks questions later.

This has happened in almost every situation...until now.

We were at Walmart last weekend quickly (at least, TRYING quickly) returning a few things and picking a few other things up.  We had finished the loop, and I was starting to make my mad dash to the registers.

Then, we heard it...

"HO, HO, HO..."
(have you ever seen The Christmas Story?  That Santa?  Yeah...sounded just like him)

Then, he said it again...louder
"HO, HO, HO"

Only this time, he was motioning for us to come see him.

(sigh- so much for my mad dash to the registers...)

A. said he wanted to go see him...so off we went.

A. walked right up to him and said,

"I'd like an official NFL football for Christmas this year, please, Santa."

He got a cookie, a candy cane, flashed a smile for the camera and left the "christmas area"


C., on the other hand....

I couldn't get him close to Santa.

He wanted nothing to do with him.

Wouldn't talk to him.

I told the picture elf to just snap the picture as soon as he looks up.

Finally took a cookie....after I played the middle man.


So much for my fearless one...

Monday, December 13, 2010

Seven


I blinked.

I shouldn't have, but I did.

And in that blink,

we went from this:


to this:

Yesterday, my boy turned seven years old.

Seven.

How did that happen so quickly?

That's it.  No more blinking for me.

This time is going by too quickly!

Happy (day after) Birthday, A!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

If you give a kid a hat

If you give a kid a hat,

He'll want to bring it to preschool to show his friends.


And since he's in preschool, he's a big boy now, and

he'll ask you for privacy when he goes potty.


And when he asks for privacy, he'll close the door right in your face.


And since that door is closed, he'll probably get a little curious in the bathroom.


And chances are...if he opens the drawer, he'll find the hair grooming kit.

And....he'll probably open it.


And once he sees the oil in said kit, he'll probably see if he can open it.

And perhaps even apply some to his hair.


And while he's in the kit, he may just decide to help mommy out and give himself a haircut.


And after the door has been shut for a few minutes, his mommy may just come in to find the kid up to
"no good."

And she may just find this: 


And if he looks like this, his mommy may just dig out that hat and give it to him.


 At which point, he'll ask to wear his hat....the next time he goes to preschool.

Monday, December 6, 2010

ONE DOLLAR craft/ gift idea!

Yes, ONE dollar!


This is a great idea to make for those people that you want to give something to, but don't want to join the rabble of candles and lotions on the teacher's desk.

I found these at The Dollar Tree:
Just plain air tight flip lid glass jars.


I have a Cricut machine (the OLD schoool Cricut machine- it's old, but it does the job)
You do NOT need a Cricut machine for this craft.
These can be done by hand - you just need more patience than I'm capable of.  :)
I used the Opposites Attract cartridge, 2 1/2" width.  Medium pressure.


Do you see that black oval button?  Yep, fourth row down, fourth from the right.

I cut it out of clear vinyl Contact Paper:


You don't need the oval part, you need the outline part.

Clean a side of the jar and place it on the jar.

Make sure all the edges are sealed.


Then, using the same cartridge, but dialed down to 1".
I cut the word "yum."
(In order for this to show up right, you need to cut the vinyl with the clear side up)

Stick it to the middle of your oval.
Again, make sure all sides are sealed.


Pull our your Armour Etch acid and paint brush.
(Latex gloves too!)


When applying the Armour Etch, try to do a thick layer and apply it from the top down (like blotting it),
 not brushing on.
To avoid bleed through, go easy on the edges, but make sure you apply a thick layer.


Wait 90 seconds.

Wash off with warm water.


YUM!



Fill with candy and giveaway to someone special.

Or, in my case, someone(s) special.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Random Friday List

1.  A chest cold on the heels of the stomach flu is cruel and unusual punishment from the germ gods.

2.  Especially during the Christmas season.

3.  I am tired.

4.  But I'm getting a ton of stuff done.

5.  Which makes me a healthy sloth and a sick producer.

6.  Wha?

7.  I have ZERO shopping left!

8.  And I'm under budget.

9.  I'm in full-on craftista mode.

10.  I need coffee.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Deer hunting season: 2008.

The straw that broke the camel's back.

The year the words deer hunting made me cringe.



I believe this is the year my in-laws coined the term "Saint Sandy" in regards to my patience level with our living situation in The Love Shack.

Let me preface this by saying that it's been TWO YEARS, and I'm now living to tell the tale with a sort-of-smile on my face.
Ok:  Deer Hunting 2008

After putting the boys to bed, I was working at my computer.


I had heard a critter (scratching, chewing and fluffing fur) in the ceiling over my computer desk in the kitchen.

And, while it was mildly disconcerting, I comforted myself by saying, "Well, at least its contained to the ceiling."


Shortly before bed, the scratching ceased.


So, I went down tot he basement (directly under the kitchen) to go to bed.


Got my jammies on, climbed into my cozy flannel sheeted bed, and closed my eyes for slumber.



Then, I heard a THUD.


Like a thud of something about a pound in weight thunking down on our HVAC ductwork.

Then, nothing.


Closed my eyes to sleep. (again)

Opened them to look at the baby monitor.



I saw a bushy tail silhouette cross in front of the indicator light on the monitor.







This is the point that I tell you that the monitor was on my dresser...which was positioned right next to my side of the bed.







Right next to my head.



Well, crap...

I pulled the sheet over my head (which is my assume-the-position when there's a bat in the house)

And started whispering to myself,
"this is not ok.  this is not ok.  this is not ok."
That's when IT happened:


I felt four paws THUNK right onto my head. (my face, actually)

THIS IS NOT OK!!!
AAAAHHHHHHH!
And, as I'm screaming, the animal (I didn't know what it was yet), scurried down my body between the sheet and the comforter.

Yes, scurried.  Paws, running, bed, sheet, my body.  Scurried.

So, I did what every calm person would do:
I screamed as loud as I could, threw the sheets (with animal somewhere inside) as far and as hard against the brick wall as I could and took the stairs up by 3's- screaming THIS IS NOT OK!!! the whole time.


Figuring that it was contained to the basement, I called my husband and left him a voice mail that when something like this:
"MISTER!  ANIMAL WITH BUSHY TAIL IN MY BED!  BASEMENT, SCURRY ON MY BODY!  LANDED ON MY FACE!
THIS IS NOT OK!!!"

So, I laid down on the couch in the living room and tried to catch up on some sleep.

Then I heard it....  chewing.

In the corner of the living room.

Behind my head.

Crap, here we go again.


Then, by the light of the LED of the VCR player, I saw it scurry across the living room floor.  Right past my sleeping 85 pound lab. 

She stayed sleeping.  (Thanks, Molly)






So, I woke the dog, and told her to "Go get it!"

Which resulted in her mohawk getting raised, a lot of barking, and a lot of hiding....


...behind me.



Again, thanks, Molly.



So, I put on my "gotta be a big girl hat" and formulated a plan. 

I opened the front door, opened the screen door, baited the animal with a grape in the middle of the floor.
I grabbed my "extraction equipment" (which consisted of a couch pillow and a fuzzy Elmo Chair).  One in each hand.


Sure enough, that bushy tailed demon emerged from under my couch and took the bait.

At this point, I did what any good hunter would do:  I fanned and flailed that Elmo Chair and that pillow for all it was worth.  With "guard dog" safely BEHIND me.

I showed that animal the EXIT.



It quickly fled out the door.  Apparently, Elmo Chairs are quite scary to a little bushy tailed demon.

By this point in the night, I was so jacked up on adrenaline, I decided to call my husband again.  This voice mail went something like this:

"Hello DEAR.  Yes, I'm calling at TWO FIFTEEN in the morning.  I hope your crazy ringer woke everyone up.  THERE WAS A BUSHY TAILED ANIMAL IN THE HOUSE.  I think it was a squirrel.  I think its gone now.  You're welcome.  Molly was of NO help.  The boys slept through it.  I, on the other hand, YOUR WIFE, will probably never sleep again.  THIS IS NOT OK!  I hope you're having a GREAT time.  GET ME OUT OF THIS HOUSE!!!  Love you."




He had our bedroom finished in the addition less than 3 months later.  :)


Monday, November 29, 2010

What I learned in the last month:

Ummm, apparently, I'm a slow learner.  Or a glutton for punishment...or both. 

But I figured I had better post these lessons learned so you can learn from my mistakes:

1.  Twizzlers are NOT gluten free.  And even if they haven't bothered the digestive tract in the past, they are still NOT gluten free, and therefore need to be avoided.  They will wreck havoc.

2.  When you have written the last check in the register, kindly go get the next book and insert it into the folder RIGHT AWAY.  There's nothing more embarrasing than waiting to write the tithe check until you're sitting in the pew (cause, you know, I'm incapable of filling it out ahead of time), and having no checks to write.

3.  Just because the entree you ordered for your husband's birthday dinner was gluten free, doesn't mean that the seasoning they put on your steamed broccoli wasn't.  Ugh.

4.  Painting walls with two little boys while trying to surprise their dad who is away at deer camp is only an adventure for the first 5 minutes.  This project is likely to take 2-4 hours.

5.  Rehydration after the stomach flu (when you have adrenal insuffieicncy) takes longer than others.  Take it easy and don't overdo it.  Pushing yourself will likely cause relapse in adrenal issues.

6.  Be thankful for friends who are willing and able to hook you up with a cocktail during a meeting at their house- especially after a long hard day and weekend.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Random Friday List (and some 5QF!)

1.  I did not step foot in a store today.

2.  It felt great!

3.  I did shop, however.

4.  D. did end up getting sick....ish.

5.  He had a whonky stomach for about 8 hours.

6.  Today, my dad is sick.

7.  Again friends....sorry for sharing.

8.  Our Christmas decorations have been up for a week.

9.  My house feels cozy.

10.  D. as making furniture for me today.  Yahoo!

Ok, Five Question Friday!!!




1. What is your favorite part of a Thanksgiving meal?


I love the smells and the feeling of cozy family time that accompanies a meal like Thanksgiving.  Food that's been made over and over again seems to envoke some awesome memories of holidays past and the wonderful people who made them:  My Aunt Corrine used to make the BEST cranberry sauce, my grandma R. used to make lefse' that I LOVED, and my grandma B. used to make pickled peaches.  It's amazing how certain sensations can bring you right back.



2. Are you a host or a guest for Thanksgiving this year?
I'm a guest.  I've actually always been a guest.  I've, fortunately, never had to tackle the bird.  However, this year, I started contributing toward the dinner.  I'm assuming it will only be a matter of time before I'm mastering the art of the Thanksgiving dinner as hostess.



3. When you think of one Thanksgiving tradition, what comes to mind?
Church, family, Macy's Thankgiving day parade...



4. You have two pieces of pie in front of you and you HAVE to eat one...do you choose pumpkin or pecan?
Pumpkin....all the way.


5. Are you a Black Friday Shopper?


I used to be, but not anymore.  Not only do the boys put a damper on getting out, but by the time BF rolls around, I'm pretty much done with my shopping.  Plus, I tend to get a tad sickened by all the people RUNNING and SHOVING each other for a stupid piece of merchandise.  Really, people?  Willing to compromise integrity for a little out of control stuffitis?

I really used to love the hunt of bargins.  I think the last time I went out on BF, I was 38 weeks pregnant with A.  My sister-in-law was visiting and came with us.  She made it through one store before she was puking outside of Target.  Early mornings apparently aren't for the faint of heart.  :) 

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Random...random...random...numbers...numbers...numbers

- D is still healthy and now 34 - thanks for your thoughts and emails.  Knock on wood.

- I have tackled 12 loads of laundry today.  No joking.

- I have 1 laundry basket filled with probably no less than 1000 socks.  Perhaps a slight overexaggeration.

- I had one awesome delivery today, and one 13 days ago.  Same things, but different.  Can't wait to share them with you.

- I went the library today to get books and videos.  There was "something wrong with my account."  My lack of counting my due dates ended up in $20 of late fees.  (sigh)

- I'm getting a full foil low light on Saturday for $40.  Can't wait.

- Jon Bon Jovi looks SO much better with 6 inches less of hair.

- I have 8 Christmas presents to make this weekend.

- I will be doing ZERO shopping this weekend.

- I lost 4 pounds with the stomach flu.  I knew it was good for something.

- I have not been on my treadmill in over 7 days.

- Ok....8 days.

-  Well, more like 10 days.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Mount Va-SPEW-vious

Apparently, 'tis the season for stomach flu.

And apparently, C. started it.

And it dominoed from there.

And, apparently, we inadvertantly exposed a rediculous amount of people on Saturday.

If you're reading this from the rim of your bowl, I deeply apologize.

Three out of four dominoes in this house have fallen.

Wondering when the other one will drop..

Today?  (on his birthday, no less)

Tomorrow?

Thanksgiving?

And I have now dubbed the ever growing pile of sheets, pajamas and towels in my basement:

Mount Va- SPEW-vious.

Apparently, I need to put "go mountain climbing" on my 101 list.  :)

Friday, November 19, 2010

Random Friday List (and some 5QF!)

1.  I'm living in a pressure cooker.

2.  And I've lost my blogging mojo.

3.  I have a date with A. this weekend.

4.  I'm hoping it will help ease his "behaviors" as of late.

5.  I have paint in my hair.

6.  I got D's birthday present for FREE.

7.  His birthday is on Monday.

8.  He's hot.

9.  I need to clean out my car.

10.  Christmas decorations come out this weekend!

Ok, some 5QF...head on over to Mama M's if you want to play along.



1. What Christmas song do you loathe?



Hands down, Feliz Navidad.  You hear it once, and it sticks in your head forever and ever.

Not to mention one loooonnnng trip to Wisconsin with my grandma in the back seat with me singing it over and over.  I think this was the beginning of her senility.  I sang along...trying to join in on the insanity before it overthrew me.  No luck.



2. Do you and your significant other cuddle at night or sleep on opposite sides of the bed?


Oh....there's no touching.  Unless, of course... (well, TMI).  No, D cocoons himself in, and I have pillows on all sides of me - thanks to pregnancy for getting me used to them, and now I can't sleep without them.






3. Have you ever had surgery?

Yes, I had a tonsilectomy and adnoidectomy 2 days after Christmas in 4th grade.

And I had a DNC in 2001.




4. When do you typically have your holiday shopping done?

I start the day after Christmas.  I don't like crowds, and I'm really a stickler on the holiday budget.  So, I like to be mostly done by now.  Which, I am.  Except for the kid name excahnge on D's side of the family and a few little things for my mom and dad.  Otherwise, I'm going to sit back and enjoy this holiday season.




5. If money were not an issue (and you HAD to pick something), what would your ultimate luxury item be?


The best camera equipment money could buy - and it would be a package deal with a studio and editing software...oh, and printing capabilities too.  :)

Friday, November 12, 2010

Random Friday List (and some 5QF!)

1.  I'm hoping for a visit with my bestest bestie today.

2.  More deets. to come on that.

3.  It's family pizza/ movie night tonight.

4.  We're going to watch "Furry Vengence."

5.  I hope its as good as I think it is.

6.  I made apple crisp last night.

7.  There wasn't enough ice cream for all 4 of us to have it with our crisp.

8.  I "fell on the sword" for my family and ate my crisp dry.

9.  Don't ever say I don't do anything for my family.

10.  It's 10 am and I'm now craving Bryers Chocolate Crackle ice cream.







Five Question Friday:  Here we go!

1. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?


When I was 8, I was bit by a dog right over my right eye.  Yeah, that hurt.

When I was 11, I had plantar warts on the bottom of my foot.  That was when co-pays were really low, so my mom took me weekly to the Dr. office to get them scraped with a scalpal and burned with acid.  Once, there must have been acid on the Dr's glove, because half way home, the TOP of my big toe started to feel as if acid were burning straight through to my bone.  That 4 minute drive has never been so long.  The top of my toe was black.  I still have scars on the top of my toe from the acid.  Oye.

And, of course, child birth.  A's delivery was particularly more (a lot more) painful.  14 inch head, posterior delivery, inadequate epidural.  Every contraction I could feel his skull bone grinding on my pelvic bone.  Need I say more?


2. How much sleep do you get at night?

I try to be in bed between 10:30 and 11 pm every night.  Then, the boys wake me at 6...and C. and I cuddle until 7.

No less than 6 1/2 hours, no more than 7 1/2.

My wellness coach would be so proud of the previous statement.

Bring on the Melatonin!

3. How long did you believe in Santa Claus? How did you find out that he does not exist?

****M, avert your eyes!!!*****
I was about 8.  My brother came into our family room, and just blurted out, "you know there's really no santa, right?  Mom and dad...they do it all."  Just like that.  Casual conversation for him...life changing for me.  In the long run, he was doing me a favor.  Most of my friends at school already knew the truth - he helped me avoid some pretty embarassing moments within the next few weeks.


4. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?

Um....something animated. 
And before that, something animated,
and before that...something animated.

Hmmmm, is there a pattern here?

5. What do you wear to bed?

Jammies. 

I'll just leave it at that.



Happy Weekend!!!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

What's happening at the Love Shack...

Remember the post the other day?

You know, the one in which I left you hanging?

Well, wait no more.

Because I just know that you guys have been on the edges of you seats just wondering...

Nah, I'm just fun with mystery like that.
(snort)

Anyway, we live in the woods.

Many of these trees are old.

Some of them grow diagonally.

Diagonally through and leaning on other trees.

Diagonally toward the house.

Diagonally into the power lines.

And since we now have (part of) a house that we actually care about,

Well, it was just time to get them taken care of.

So we marked the offending trees with caution tape, got some estimates, and hired a crew.



A crew that kept me waiting all morning and then showed up 10 minutes into nap time,

but hey...they showed up, right?


That crane was high up.  I took this pic from the boys' second story window,
and he had about 35 feet on me.


I thought it funny that one of the crew members looked like a lumberjack.


And then the carnage....


And the lack of driveway...


And the family night hauling logs and sticks...


Even better (!) that the tree closest to the house was a box elder tree.

Which means more more of these babies all over the back of my house.




 And today, the carnage gets removed.  At least, the messy parts.  The stumps may be there a while.







Hooray for one step closer to the addition on the addition!!

Hooray for one less worry this winter!