Photography by Sam

Sam loves to take pictures. If you have any doubt just ask my Mom and my Sister who have developed rolls of film and are "surprised" to discover his "talents". He took these pictures, not too bad...the hockey picture is of my cousin Matt. Sam was getting restless during the third period (not so many goal celebrations going on) so, I let him take some pictures. He did pretty good at deleting the ones that were blurry (and there were many)...digital makes learning much easier (and cheaper). It's not his fault that the picture is dark, I wouldn't let him use the flash...no need to blind the players (the ref's maybe but, not the players). So, guess what Sam is getting for Christmas? I would love to tell you but, you'll just have to take this post as a big hint because my kids have a habit of reading over my shoulder. I'm off to finish decorating the house...hopefully I'll post some pictures of it tomorrow. Have a great Wednesday!

Change is hard...

We are having some trouble convincing Sam that summer is over but, I guess since there's no snow what can it hurt, right? Notice the different colored gloves...cute, huh? We are barely into fall and he's already lost one and Chayley chewed the other, at least it left him with a "pair"...sort of. Lets see if we can break the record for number of cheap "fits all" gloves worn in one winter season! We're off for our final Thanksgiving dinner of 2007...have a great Sunday.

Ready, set, decorate!

Bet you thought I was going to say shop, didn't ya??? Come on people, first things first! Rick is so anxious to hang the lights he can barely contain himself. For some strange reason he isn't exactly thrilled (trust me when I tell you that's an understatement) to climb on the roof of our two story house...silly boy! Guess who gets to hold the ladder...yup, you got it, me. Does anyone see a problem with that arrangement? I'm not sure why but he seems to think it's safer for him to be on the roof than me...okay, so grace isn't exactly my middle name but, I could try, couldn't I??? I made some ornaments yesterday inspired by Pottery Barn, Better Homes and Gardens and Ali Edwards. It's just rub-on letters on clear glass ornaments (Michaels) with a little fake snow (Michaels) and real evergreen sprigs...EASY! My Mom decorated the sled...TOO COOL!!!

Thanks Mom for an AWESOME Thanksgiving dinner. YUUUUUUM!!!

So much to be grateful for...

There is so much to be grateful for but, for me it starts with these two. Happy Thanksgiving!

Boys can be fancy too!

Just in case you were wondering, Sam can be "fancy" (that's what he calls it) when he wants to be! He is extremely excited that he gets to have TWO Thanksgiving dinners 'cause he loves turkey. That's 'cause he's a skinny little munchkin that can gain a few pounds and it's a good thing....me, not so much!

P.S. In honor of the passing of Mr. Whipple, squeeze a little Charmin today!

Hey! Look, I made something!

I know I'm supposed to be working on Christmas stuff but, this was on my table half done so, I had to finish it. Trust me when I tell you that this is only some of the "outfit" pictures I have of our little diva. It's nice that all of my old dance costumes have a new life (thanks Mom for saving them), the wigs and purple boa are from Aunt Julie and the floppy hat and fur collar once belonged to my Grandma Siefert. I bet you didn't know that a visor upside down makes a crown???

Windy Wednesday...

The poor little pretty pooch she really misses Rick! She just kind of mopes around when he's not here...such a daddy's girl! Just for the record, we miss him too!

Honor...

(That's Dad on the right)

As a very proud daughter of a WWII veteran I would like to thank my Dad for his service to our country on this veterans day. We owe our freedom to all that veterans sacrificed and endured and for that we are all so very grateful...THANK YOU! Please keep in your prayers the families of those who didn't make it home and all the service men and women currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.

"The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission" - John F. Kennedy

For anyone interested in learning more about the 96th Infantry Division Deadeyes (where Dad served) just click on this link.http://www.96th-infantry-division.com/

This, that and there's always next year!

We'll we didn't freeze at the football game, it was actually a great night for a game...unfortunately it turned out better for Glencoe-Silver Lake than it did for us but, only one undfeated team would be left after the game and we were not it. I think it was the "snazzy" purple football "coats" Glencoe was wearing on the sideline. Come on this is Minnesota...tough it out! I say this after I litteraly layered clothes on my kids to the point they kind of waddled but, there was no way I was gonna hear "Mom, I'm cold" five minutes after we got there and I didn't! Congrats to our team for a GREAT season...11-1 is something to be really proud of!

We are soooooo happy Rick's home even if it is for only a couple days and then back to Idaho. Is it wrong to be jealous of a cheese plant??

Congrats to Rick who is 3-0 in his fantasy basketball league...I'm so excited I'm just jumping out of my seat, I am!

I just got an e-mail from Hobby Lobby, they are recalling some sort of halloween basket thing because...get this, they have lead paint and were made in China!!!! I got this e-mail after I spent the morning trying to come up with a birthday gift for a one-year-old (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AIDEN!) and could not find one toy at Target that was not made in China. First toys and now this madness has invaded my "Happy Place". Barnes and Noble is rapidly becoming the only place I shop...nice that they have Starbucks too!

Happy Saturday...Bye!

Hmmmm...

You just can't make this stuff up. It makes you wonder what the story is behind this...let's hope it was a high school prank. I choose not to believe it could have fallen off someone's truck without them noticing but, you never know....and to think before this story I was left to wonder why there is always ONLY one shoe in road. Happy Friday!

P.S. Go Giants...the kids and I along with Grandpa and Grandma are off to watch LSH FINALLY beat Glencoe tonight. Say a prayer that we don't freeze!

Happy Wednesday!

This face say's "Please throw it, please, please, hurry, hurry...come on you silly human, throw it"!

Hi!

These are some photos from last weekend. Chayley got to play frisbee A LOT because Rick is in Idaho this week and he feels bad that when he's gone I'm the one who has to throw the frisbee...it's not good. I acknowledge my inability to throw a decent frisbee but, at least I don't hit the house. We have "frisbee marks" on every window on the back side of our house. Why, you ask, well someone thinks it's funny to scare the crap out of me by randomly hitting the kitchen window. At least that's what he says, maybe he's not as good as he thinks he is...at least I never had to get out the roof rake to retrieve the thing off the roof...of course I couldn't get it that far if my life depended on it. I guess it's a draw. I'm off to retrieve the dead bird that just hit our picture window...I hate it when Rick's gone! Have a good day!

P.S. Any advice on how I can get a good action shot of my dog catching the frisbee???

49 Days until Christmas!

Christmas 2006

I don't mean to be a scrooge but, is it really necessary to skip right over Thanksgiving straight into the Christmas season? I love Thanksgiving...family, great food, fun parade and most importantly a time to reflect on how much we all have to be greatful for. A week before Halloween I had to move past the Christmas display to get to the costumes...does anyone else find that WRONG???? Now, if we were skipping over Thanksgiving to "celebrate" the meaning of Christmas that would be one thing but, it's not...it's about the gifts. It's about the fact that our entire economy is based on the holiday shopping season (huh?). I love buying gifts for people but, I am the ultimate procrastinator so, starting the shopping season early will do nothing for me...twenty days, 49 days really doesn't matter much to someone who considers it a success to be done two days before Christmas eve. And my response to all those Christmas eve shoppers they show on CNN...you rock!

In honor of the early shopping season I am including a passage from "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Linus say's it all...

"And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid ... And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord."
"And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men."
"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus Van Pelt

Happy Shopping!

The day after...

I love November 1!!!!!!! Thank you to all my neighbors...such a generous lot! And to my neighbor who while dropping NUMEROUS candy bars in my kids buckets said "don't forget to share with Mom!"; I am holding you responsible for my nightmare of floating in a river of chocolate on a boat driven by oompa loompa's.