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Friday, October 30, 2009

Always a Comedian


Jeff is a little too fluent in Photoshop. He is quick enough that he can alter a photo in a few minutes, so he can easily add his own 'special touches' to things. Like swapping my brother Nate and Katie's eyes to make a creepy portrait of them. Or photo-shopping my brother-in-law in a mullet wig into a group of protesters. Several weeks ago, I put a perfectly nice picture on the desktop of the kids and I. I knew immediately when I booted up the computer a few days later that he had worked some Jeffro-magic on my picture. I told him he's slipping. Next time he is going to photo-shop Sasquatch into my picture he better make it a little less conspicuous! :)

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Monograms


I have been having fun lately monogramming stuff. It goes pretty quick and makes me want to monogram everything in sight!


Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The Next Great Thing

James has come up with an invention that will leave people scratching their heads and wondering why they didn't come up with it first. His ingenious idea uses household objects to effectively store necessary tools close at hand. Using a laundry detergent cup and a clothespin, he created his masterpiece. Behold, I give thee the DIY Toolbelt, ala James:


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Today

Today was one of those days where you feel like it was three days long. This morning we went the grocery store, which was as almost as fun as reciting the quadratic equation while someone is lighting your hair on fire. It led me to an important conclusion: the kiddie car shopping carts are directly from the pits of hell. In addition to being petri dishes for swine flu and other nasty germs, they are really not made for two children despite the fact that they have two seat belts. They are designed for 1.34 children, otherwise known as the average American family size. They provide the perfect environment for massive sibling squabbles, not to mention the fact that they are stinkin' hard to navigate with. But I digress. Grocery shopping. Then, my friend Merry Jo stopped in for a visit. We haven't seen each other for almost a year and a half, so it was especially nice to visit in person, and we got to meet each others' littlest babies. Here is a picture of all our kiddos:'


After they left and the kids were up from their naps, we carved jack-o-lanterns. James was so excited he could hardly contain himself. I raided Jeff's toolbox for his drywall saw, which worked splendidly in case you are wondering. I put the kids to work scooping out the seeds and goop.


I scrounged around for a few candles and a match, and lit 'em up. The kids loved it!!! Can you guess which Jack-o-lantern is which, and why??


After the pumpkins, I made a batch of apple butter...11 jars to be exact! Then dinner, clean up and all that jazz and now, I'm tired! Goodnight, peeps!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Beautiful Picture

I have been having fun transferring my Grandparents' slides into digital format, and this is my favorite picture so far. I don't ever remember seeing it before! It is my Dad's parents. Grandma, you look quite saucy in this picture :) and Grandpa looks so much like my brother Nate does now. Here are a few more fun ones:


I think this is my Dad as a baby


Dad and Aunt Lynn


Grandma and Grandpa's Wedding (I actually tried on Grandma's wedding dress around the time we got married. I should dig out the picture of that)


Aunt Lynn, Uncle Ron and Dad

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Stayin' Alive, Stayin' Alive

On Wednesday, Jeff got the order to go ye therefore into all Ohio and don't come back til ye get the job done. And go ye pronto. Well, he couldn't go Wednesday because a) He had school, and b) He doesn't carry extra socks and underwear with him. So, he scheduled his flight for Thursday morning, called home and said 'Guess what? I'm going to Ohio.' To which I replied 'How long?' 'For as long as it takes, probably 2-4 days.' That's not too bad, but I would of course rather him not be gone. Tyler hadn't slept well all last week so I am operating on a sleep deficiency. Today I told someone that Tyler's name was James, and didn't even catch myself. Someone walking past looked at me like I was nuts and said 'James? Isn't his name Tyler?' Uh, yeah, thanks for telling me what my kid's name is because apparently I don't know. Long story short, Jeff had to put pressure on the shop to complete a project for a nuclear plant, then personally drive the part from Ohio to the shop in Pittsburgh, where he had to have it inspected by some fancy, schmancy nuclear inspector and let the shop do its thing. So, he ended up coming home Saturday morning. All that to say that last week, from Wednesday through Saturday morning, I set myself one goal...stay alive. And the kids too. Keep them fed, happy, and entertained. That's all. And you know what? I did it! Sometimes you have to set yourself achievable goals and let the rest go to the wayside. I just wish the 'wayside' would disappear, like laundry and dishes. Anyway, this is a long and rambling post with really no point whatsoever. After Jeff got home we had a really fun day with the family, and a childhood friend of ours who ended up coming out here on business. We had a lot of fun with everyone!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

What Did You Say?

James has this annoying, uh...endearing little habit. Everything I say something he says 'What did you say?' He'll say 'Mama, what is that guy doing?' and I'll say 'He's mowing the lawn,' and he'll say 'What did you say?' First of all, he already knows what the guy is doing. Second of all, he heard me the first time, and third of all, argh!!!! It drives me nuts! I think it is just his way of processing information and I recently found out that his little friend does the same thing too. Sometimes I look at him, shake my head and say 'Am I speaking Spanish? Do you understand me? Can you hear??????' But lately I have been asking him, 'Well, what do you think I said?' and he can repeat it verbatim. I hope he grows out of this stage before he's, say, 16, or I think my head will explode. What? What did you say? I can't hear you!

And here are a few completely unrelated pictures. The first three were taken after our marathon apple picking/pumpkin choosing morning yesterday. Three kids, fifty pounds of apples, two pumpkins, a hay ride and only one meltdown later we came home. The weather was gorgeous and we had a nice time. The last two pictures are just bonus cute baby pictures!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Slow Down

I wish I could bottle up the essence of each of my babies and keep it forever. Their smell, the feel of their tiny little bodies sleeping in my arms, their dimpled knuckles, their fat bracelets (James!), their sounds and smiles. Alas, I have not figured out how to do that yet, and Tyler is not cooperating with my plan for him to stay little for a long time. Not forever, but slow down darn it!!! He is three months old, and already is doing baby sit-ups in his seat. He is trying to sit up. Hello! Doesn't he know its too soon!?! I, his mama, am not ready for this yet. Soon he'll be rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, and talking. I really wish I could slow it all down, well, everything except the waking up 5 times last night. That I don't need to repeat. I guess I just need to try really hard to commit it all to memory, and hope that someday they supply me with a plethora of grandchildren!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Lovely

I have three kids. I am lucky to get a shower in. I am also an organizational failure when it comes to looking at my calendar. I write it all down, then forget to look til the 'event' has already come and gone. Like my nephew's 16th birthday. I know, I'm horrible. Well,this morning I was excited that the planets were aligning in such a way as to allow me a shower. I could hear the clouds parting and angels singing. This was the day. During a brief lag in the murderous threats being thrown back and forth between the older ones, I decided to take a shower. Now, I know I do not get a shower as often as I like, but gee golly, was I ever dirty. Hey, wait, I can't be that dirty. Eeeeeeew! Gross!!!

Note to self: check calendar regularly. You might be able to prevent yourself from taking a shower during the 'semi-annual water main flushing.'

Sunday, October 18, 2009

***Extreme Cuteness Advisory***...and another sewing project

The pictures in this post contain cuteness of the highest degree. Prepare to smile!




Here is a dress I just made for Katie. She seems to like it, and it sure was easy to make!


The pictures in this post contain cuteness of the highest degree.

Friday, October 16, 2009

The Fam

It is such a wonderful blessing to be close to family. The kids love being with their Grammy and Chappy and Auntie and Uncles. We go to Mom and Dad's often, and they pretty much think that even the tap water is better at Grammy and Chappy's house. Its fun to watch the kids interact with everybody. They each have their own special relationships. They go to Grammy when they are hurt, or want something to eat (which is every 3.73 minutes when at Grammy's), or want to build a puzzle. If they want to go outside, they go for the nearest sucker. If they want to rough-house and giggle their little selves silly, they pick Phil. Auntie Rach is always good for snuggling, or a book, or to play or kiss a boo-boo, or anything they want really. Katie especially loves to climb up with Chappy on his chair and read. Even better, she likes to flash him a sideways chipped-tooth grin and weasel a handful of M&M's out of him. The colored drool gives her away every time. :) I always love it when everybody gets together because we all have so much fun and the kids get to enjoy everyone too.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Its fall!






We had a fun time this morning going to Tyler Park. It is a really nice place to visit especially in the fall. We had fun taking lots of pictures of the kids with Aunt Sally. The kids liked being outside and exploring. James is even starting to identify flowers and such. He remembered a flower we had looked up in the book last week! Katie insisted on going all the way up the big hill without holding my hand, and she did it. What a fun morning!

PS. Aren't the pigtails just delicious!?

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

And now I'm back...


All looking at the camera? How can it be!


Playing with my new camera...taking creepy pictures of myself


They love to 'hold hand' with Tyler (as Katie says)


A finished project! For my friend Jenni


More finished projects, one for Tyler, one for my friend Jenni


Delicious babyness!


Noisy little party animals



They don't sit still



James 'helping' me make goodies for the shower; you should have seen when he stuck his head in the bowl to lick the batter out

And yes, my arch nemesis is back, or one of his cronies. Jeff has set a snare trap for this critter...he's going all Bear Grilles on me.

Looooong busy weekend.....it included a really fun Friday night visit from Rach and Phil, a girls' trip to the flea market, more fun with the family, a last minute rush to make birthday cakes, shower treats and sew buttons on some jammies, a birthday party, church, and a baby shower. Phew!! Glad its all over.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Funny Article

Here is an entertaining article about a guy in Grand Junction carving all sorts of fake artifacts and 'planting' them, just to get people going.

No Time to Blog

I currently have approximately 12 zillion sewing projects going right now, give or take a few. One of them has to be done by Sunday. Sunday, I am having a baby shower for my friend Jenni and her soon-to-arrive little boy. Saturday Rach and Phil are coming down and us girls (and Tyler) are going to the flea market!!! Saturday, we also have a birthday party for which I am making the cake. (Happy Birthday, Emma!) And I need to clean my bathroom and mop my floor. I'm off!

Oh, and as a brief side note: I 'skyped' for the first time last night. That is funny stuff. I kept getting distracted by myself in the corner, and I kept critiquing the way my arms looked (lunch lady-ish). Then, at random, my lovely brother-in-law would stick his cavernous nostrils up near the camera, or otherwise try to mess with me. It was hilarious. And the kids jumped in and out of the screen too. It was fun, but I am going to have to get used to the whole new-fangled technology thing. Some day I might even have to learn how to send one of them thar' text messages.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Beautiful Day

Today is a very breezy fall day. We made an impromptu stop at Tyler State Park and took a little hike in the woods. My kids are apparently part mountain goat, as they climbed up the rocky trail very well. The sun was shining, the leaves are turning, the water was sparkling and it was beautiful! Of course, I didn't have my camera.

And on a side note, when you pick up your sweet, innocent and beautiful baby and there is something dripping out his pant leg, be afraid, be very afraid.....pooptastrophe!!!

Monday, October 05, 2009

Neighborhood Intrigue and Completely Unrelated But Fun Pictures









We love our neighborhood. It is friendly and quiet, and neighbors look out for each other. There are those who randomly try and drop off their kid at our door, and another we refer to as 'lingerie lady' due to her back yard attire (hello...chain link fence, not privacy fence!!), but for the most part everyone is great. Except for one neighbor, whom I will refer to herein as 'Morally Disabled Neighbor,' or MDN. I realize that is a harsh term to use, but seems how he brags about faking disability to get to the front of the lines at the amusement park. And how he is on life-time disability for a knee injury but rides a motorcycle all about, washes his car extremely thoroughly at least once a week, and chop down parts of the neighbors tree while he is on vacations. What?! Yep. You got that right. Our next door neighbors (NDN) have a feud going on with MDN going back a long way. Well, pretty much everyone has it out for MDN, but he is especially disfavored by NDN. Last year, MDN accused NDN of throwing a thorny chestnut at him over the fence. It ended with MDN threatening to 'come after' NDN and the cops being called. So, last week when NDN was away, MDN took it upon himself to a) blow all the leaves off his yard onto NDN yard, b) throw all the chestnuts from his yard onto NDN yard, and c) get out his ladder and chainsaw and hack away several branches off of NDN tree. Apparently he was pretty hard on the tree. The war is on, folks, and the NDN have decided that to get him back for his evil deeds, they have been putting out bread just along the edge of their property line. Bread as retribution, you ask? Well, MDN is an absolute spaz about keeping his car clean. When I say once or twice a week, I am serious. And not just a spray it off with the hose type thing. No, he washes the roof, the wheels, inside the gas cap, etc., then towel dries it. Rinse and repeat. Every other day or two. Its bad. So, back to the bread. Birds like bread. Birds like to poop. The neighbors are hoping that by attracting the birds so close to their driveway that the birds will shower the MDN car with, uh, 'well wishes,' or something like that. All I know is that its going to get worse, and while the bread thing is kind of humorous, its going to get ugly one of these days.