When life gets in the way...
Just wanted to let everyone know that we are all alive and well here. We have been incredibly busy with our house this summer finishing the basement, remodeling the kitchen, etc.... So blogging has not been at the top or even close to the bottom of my list. I will post pics soon. We are finally going to the beach this weekend for our 19th Anniversary (just the 2 of us). I'll take some pics there and try to remember how to post them as well. Then next week, my hubby's mom is coming in for a 5-day visit. Can't wait for that either. Kids are doing great and enjoying their new rooms in the basement. Mikes has a door in it and I am wondering if we will have to lock it when he turns 16 and gets his license and tries to sneak out. OR, put bars up, HMMMM. things that make you say hmmm. I don't really think we need to worry about that, he is a good kid. Well, that's all for now and hope all is well with you and yours.

Thoughts for the day....from the YA-YA sisters
If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it will always be yours. If it doesn't come back, it was never yours to begin with. But, if it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money, and doesn't appear to realize you set it free...You either married it or gave birth to it!

Reason to smile: Every 7 minutes of every day someone in an aerobics class pulls a hamstring.

They keep telling us to get in touch with our bodies. Mine isn't all that communicative, but I heard from it the other day after I said, "Body, how'd you like to go to the 6 o'clock class on vigorous toning?" Clear as a bell, my body said, "listen fatty...do it and die."

The nice part about living in a small town, when you don't know what you're doing, someone else always does."

"The best way to forget about all your troubles is to wear tight shoes."

"Amazing, you hang something in your closet for awhile...and it shrinks two sizes.
HEE-HEE. Thought these were pretty funny and I figure we can always use a little more laughter. Especially during the winter. Helps keep away the winter blahs.

Blonde Moments!
Lately, I have been having more than a few blonde moments so I thought I would post a couple to give you all a good laugh. To start with, in my defense I haven't been getting a lot of sleep lately because the hubbies snoring has been on overdrive and I have been sleeping on the couch. Last Thursday I had to get up for work at the usual 0530 and I was half asleep when I was standing at the counter getting breakfast. I had taken a gallon of milk and a gallon of OJ out of the fridge. I poured myself a bowl of honey nut cheerios and proceeded to pour OJ on them instead of milk. Drained the Oj off and tried to pour milk on them because I didn't want to waste 'em or let anyone know that I put Oj on my cheerios. YUCK! The OJ left on the cheerios soured/curdled the milk and I ended up throwing half of them out. Then in my infinite brilliance, I thought I would save the hubby and the kids a trip to the video store and grabbed the movies off the top of the tv to return after work that night. I grabbed 3 videos and returned them on the way home from work that night. Smooth, right? Well, Saturday I was cleaning and discovered the 2 videos I was supposed to return on top of the TV and asked the kids, "How did these get back here?" The kids started laughing and said, "We don't know, we thought you took 'em back." I said I returned 3 videos, but 2 of them must've been ours. So, we all had a good laugh. I ended up paying an $8.00 fine and only was able to get one of my movies back. I am still missing one and if I knew the name of the one I took there, they would give it to me, but I have no idea which one it is. We have quite a collection of DVD's I just hope it isn't one of the kids or the hubbies. So, I'm good for blonde moments for awhile, I figure...

Just a little Humor for ya!
I love men, don't get me wrong, but I received these in my email and had to post a few! Just a few laughs to help get through the day.
He said: I don't know why you wear a bra you have nothing to put in it.
She said: You wear pants, don't you?

He said: Shall we try swapping positions tonight?
She said: That's a good idea, you stand by the ironing board while I sit on the sofa.

He said: What have you been doing with all that grocery money I've been giving you?
She said: Turn sideways and look in the mirror.

Q: How many honest, intelligent and caring men does it take to do the dishes?
A: both of them

Q: How does a man plan for the future?
A: He buys 2 cases of beer.

Q: what is the difference between government bonds and men
A: The bonds mature.

Man says to GOD: God, why did you make woman so beautiful?
God says, So you would love her.
But God, the man says, Why did you make her so dumb?
God says: So she would love you
HEE-HEE

A day of adventure...
The kids had a vacation day on Friday because it was report card day. I am not sure why the teachers needed a day at school without the kids to mail out their report cards, but maybe they weren't finished with them?!? It is indeed one of life's puzzles which I alone cannot answer. Anyway back to my story...
We decided to take a road trip to Ikea and the mall. We slept in a little, ran to get some gas and cappuccinos for me, Mike and Randy and root beer for the girls. Deanna had a friend over so we invited her to come with us. We talked most of the 1-1/2 hour drive there and had a chance to get caught up on what has been happening with all of us. Even though we live together we don't always take the time to chat about what's going on. It was nice to spend that quality time together. We stopped at a motorcycle shop and looked at the four-wheelers and new motorcycles. I told Randy that I knew just the one for me (four-wheeler). It was a little bright red one that was automatic. I was only kidding, but its fun to dream once in awhile. Deanna picked out a scooter and Mike liked all the dirt-bikes and sporty motorcycles.
At ikea I found some much-needed kitchen supplies, (spatulas, bowls, cookie sheets, glasses, and a strainer). We also found a lamp, some storage boxes, quilt cover and pillowcase for Deanna. Mike didn't want to get anything there because he said it was all too girly for him.
We went to the mall and looked around at all the different shops there. The kids each got a new book to read. I found a few books on the bargain table for $2. I bought a childrens book about Prilla, one of the fairies in Neverland. It is so cute. I'll write the name of the author in my next post if anyone is interested in reading it. I felt a little guilty buying a childrens book for myself. Like maybe I should give it away to a child, but there is nothing wrong with never growing up, right? Both of the kids want to read it too. I bought myself a really cute tinker bell sweatshirt from the disney store on sale for $5. I was so excited! I had to buy Deanna a pair of pants and a few shirts to get through the rest of the schoolyear because she has grown about 2 inches this year and her pants look like high-waters. She was so excited about finally fitting into a size 12 slim pants. I think it makes her feel more like a pre-teen instead of a little girl. We got some pretty good deals and didn't have to spend a fortune, so it was a success.
The weather has been cold here and we are expecting a snowstorm today. After the snow it is supposed to drizzle and turn into freezing rain. I hope we don't get the freezing rain but, time will tell... Take care and God Bless!

Randy's kitty turned 17 last fall-I love this picture of his white fluffy belly. 

Had to post this for those who haven't seen it-me and the family at my graduation from nursing school. 

picture of the house in summer of 2005 

Food for thought...
Received this in an email from a friend of mine and found it interesting and wanted to share it with everyone:

The Denver Post

THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT. Denver Post:This text is from a county emergency manager out in the central part of Colorado after todays snowstorm.
WEATHER BULLETIN-Up here, in the Northern Plains, we just recovered from a Historic event--- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands. FYI:George Bush did not come.FEMA did nothing.No one howled for the government.No one blamed the government.No one even uttered an expletive on TV Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit. Our Mayor did not blame Bush or anyone else. Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else, either. CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5 snowstorm. Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards. No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.No one looted.
Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something.Nobody expected the government to do anything, either.No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera. No Shaun Penn, No Bar bara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found.Nope, we just melted the snow for water.Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars. The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny. Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snowbound families. Families took in the stranded people - total strangers. We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman lanterns. We put on extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die".We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks. Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early, we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves. "In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% of the world's social problems evaporate." It does seem that way, at least to me. I hope this gets passed on.Maybe SOME people will get the message. The world does Not owe you a living!
AMEN! I agree wholeheartedly. We all need to help eachother in times of crisis, but we should also be able to help ourselves.