the extraordinary ordinary me

photo of the year

2010-05-21T22:49:00.004-04:00

You have no idea (well, a handful of you might know) what this photo means to me.

And what a year it's been... changes, changes, changes....

photos 254-255

2010-04-05T22:53:00.004-04:00

looky what just happened here....

hailfire and brimstone on ward ;) yeh, only a few of you will get that, but oh well!

although I will have to wait until the morning to see the damage, it was still very cool.

photos 251-253

2010-03-03T21:40:00.004-05:00

It's horribly strange when someone dies - that stark realization you will no longer connect with them in anyway. All "should have, could have's" swirl around your brain along with regrets, memories and pain.

You will be missed... We love you!
:(

photo 249-250

2010-03-01T18:17:00.003-05:00

oh yeh? well here in Ohio, we had SIX feet of snow!!!

The pack of conversation hearts I bought only had lettering on half the hearts. Does that mean it was a half-hearted conversation?

photos 245-248

2010-02-17T10:59:00.002-05:00

a hoar frost, fog and snow all in one morning... spectacular!

but kinda freaky at the same time. Nerve-wracking trying to drive on dangerous roads when one can't even see what is coming.

One morning, the sunrise made the snow pink. Just like the Seuss book. Well, maybe not quite that pink, but farmland covered in light pink snow is pretty cool to look at. This, however, is my front yard. The kids aren't thrilled with my stopping the van to take photos on the way to school so you will have to use your imagination. I have it tucked away in my brain for all time.

and it still snows.... snowing stilly. The weather man said the weather would start to 'quiet' down in a few days. What is more quiet than big fluffy flakes?

photo 244

2010-02-14T11:29:00.002-05:00

And after the swearing in, the officer said, "We got you now!"

Civil Engineering, here he comes.

photos 234-243

2010-01-24T21:54:00.011-05:00

photo 233

2009-12-25T07:56:00.000-05:00

merry Christmas!

photos 228-232

2009-11-01T20:44:00.011-05:00

how about a Mr D entry.

Mr D is Asvabicus Maximus. Well, not really. He "blew away the ASVAB" but only comm/nav people are regarded as true Asvabicus Maximus in the 171st Air Refueling Wing in Pittsburgh. We have visited the 171st many times.

Mr D's only regret about joining the guard is that one day he will have to cut his hair. And Mr D always got loads of comments on his hair at the 171st. The men, in particular envied it. "I swear, this is what my hair looked like before I joined the Air Force. Just like this!"

Here is a KC-135 Stratotanker. I got to lie down in the place where they make the refueling connection. Very cool. I saw the "orange" black box. The hangar door was re-structured so that the tail could stick out.

While waiting for a phone call from the 171st, he is working with his dad, drawing, creating more computer games, playing video games and once in a while, when I am not studying, watching movies with mom :)

Oh, and growing his hair and making it look 'just so.'

photo 227

2009-10-27T19:56:00.006-04:00

Time to watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown...

The Eternal Question: When are you going to stop believing in something that isn't true?

The other question: what happened to Dolly Madison?

Our Annual Pumpkin carved just in time:

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

~Edgar Allan Poe

PS - if you really are a fake, don't tell me. I don't want to know.

I need to believe in the unbelievable.

photos 225-226

2009-10-24T16:14:00.007-04:00

coolness.

We climbed in for the drive to school and enjoyed that we had a full moon out during the sunrise, but, but, but what was even more cool were the low ribbons of fog hovering in the fields. Creepy cool. I don't know what your screen shows, but in reality, the sky was a rich purply-blue. By the time I reached the 'big city' it was full-blown fog with visibility only as far as the next car, but in my neck of the woods, it was gloriously stunning.

On the west side of the road was the moon....

on the other side was the sun rising just above the fields, behind a slender wisp of cloud

I LOVE my drive. LOVE IT. I am a country girl.

photos 209-224

2009-10-22T20:38:00.014-04:00

what these turned into (third photo down - the weeds)

Anemic pumpkins seem to the be rage these days...

ticket to ride

The driver is a soft eastern spiny turtle.

I don't really think he had much of a choice in the matter, either.

I am a sucker for bling.

Nightime bling.

Another damsel fly.

ladybug plus some other critters...

luck in pittsburgh

native day lily by roadside

I was fascinated by how many shades of green this spruce tree had.

and mesmerized by the clouds....

lucky bling

hoosier moon

photos 193-208

2009-10-22T15:51:00.007-04:00

yep... been a while. Been busy. I have one week's break and then I have to go back to school, and I figured I better post a slew of photos on now while I have the chance.

I'll do them in genres. I hope these look better on your screen than they do on mine. This laptop does not have good color. These photos also look better BIG. :)

Nature is first.

look at the damsel fly's bottom jaw - vicious...

Overnight, we had a new house-guest. He made his own home.

Look what is coming up the road behind me - great balls of fire!

sigh... blogger is not uploading any more photos for me.

More later. I hope you enjoyed these!

photos 185-192

2009-09-08T18:32:00.001-04:00

Peter aka Peter the most awesome cat in the world... We are going to miss you.

1996-2009

may you get to chase the ladies, actually scratch something and take thousands of naps....

photo 184

2009-09-05T09:50:00.000-04:00

A Noiseless Patient Spider

A noiseless patient spider,

I marked where on a little promontory it stood isolated,

Marked how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,

It launched forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,

Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you, O my soul where you stand,

Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,

Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,

Till the bridge you will need be formed, till the ductile anchors hold,

Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.

`Walt Whitman

photos 179-183

2009-08-30T21:09:00.000-04:00

David

David - I will win...

just give up...

and I did... finally... after tons of shots like these

and plots using two different cameras and various other decoys

Quite the weekend in so many ways.

photos 172-178

2009-08-28T21:01:00.001-04:00

First day of school 2009-2010

Six of them this year...

Mr M in full day Kindergarten

Mr J in First Grade

Mr W in Fifth Grade and very happy to be back (he has a huge crush on a certain girl. He went bananas when he saw her and I said, "Uh, I think that isn't the best way to win her heart." He said, "Eh, she knows I am wild and crazy!")

Miss L in Sixth Grade and thrilled to be away from five boys

Mr P in Eighth Grade and just likes it that he can golf

Miss J in 11th Grade. Wow... seems like she was a freshman just a bit ago... :(

photos 170-171

2009-08-27T22:29:00.001-04:00

I've missed putting on some birthdays.

This cutie pie turned 16 on July 24th

This little one turned 19 on Aug 17th.

I'd put on some real birthday shots, but they have to OK them first. These will have to do for now as they are at the stage where they hate the photos I take of them. They hate seeing me with the camera. PS, the 'little one' is officially, per the military, 6' 3 1/2" tall. I won't be lugging him around ever again, except in a car.

photos 154-169

2009-08-19T14:25:00.000-04:00

A first batch of photos from the summer. These are best seen when clicked on... I especially like the fuzzy hairs on the grasshopper's legs. Photos taken especially for D.

yes, I KNOW they are weeds, but the colors.... the colors....

photos 149 - 153

2009-06-14T22:00:00.004-04:00

note that it is prayer time and everyone is praying but.... Mr M!!

what, does he think it is his birthday or something?

yep... my baby is five :(

and he is quite the handful. Does his face just say "Mischief"?

He grew almost two inches and got a birthday kiss from Mom. ;)

It's gonna be quite the year..... In fact, he came home from Sunday School today and announced that everyone could "eat in the living room" (a no-no) since "he was now a big boy and in charge." Apparently, he was made the helper for the morning, and decided that meant he was in charge of the world. It's been several hours and I can't convince him that I am in charge. Well, at least when Dad isn't around. He said, "No, you, and Dad and me - we are all in charge. And sometimes Miss J. But me, since I am a big boy now. I'm in charge." Yes, it's going to be interesting.

photos 137 - 148

2009-06-08T21:12:00.014-04:00

first watermelon of the summer. Miss J is wielding the knife

while wearing her Black Knight t-shirt.

Looks can be deceiving - this had little taste for all its yummy color.

another turn for Locks of Love... this time Miss J took the plunge and got her waist-length hair chopped. Seriously, you don't know how much thought and anxiety gets put into this. But isn't she cute? I can't believe how many people have said they didn't even notice she got it cut, though. It shocks me how unobservant people are.

When she saw the hair falling in clumps, her eyes grew even bigger than they are. AND the stylist never turned her to the mirror to let her see what was happening. Not once. I didn't think of that until it was all over. At least Miss J didn't wake up the next morning in tears wondering why she did it. She loves it. It doesn't get in her jeans waist, her supper plate or in the guitar strings :)

Mr J graduated from Kindergarten. Yes, a ceremony and everything.

Miss L doesn't like her hair (it is too short and she is afraid she looks like a boy but she gamely said, "It will grow, Mom").

The last day of school. She will miss it but the boys will only miss their buddies.

The last of the 'girls' to get her hair cut.

I hate cutting her hair almost as much as she hates it being cut.
See how no one is around helping me? We all hate it!

I know what you are thinking... no lock of love for Lucy,
although I can create an entire dog out of that pile of fur.

Isn't that gross?
You probably would prefer me to stick with playing with my food, huh?

now she is terrified of coming out on the back porch!

photos 123-136

2009-06-07T17:21:00.011-04:00

tickweed or tickseed.... hmmm I totally forget now
Anyway I planted it from my grandfather's greenhouse several years
ago so it ain't a weed!

evening primrose

the first rudbekia of the season

an uninvited guest to our house - the milk snake. He got a little upset, rattled his non-existent rattle and put off his yucky smell, but he was pretty, soft and silky feeling, all the same. Oh, and very strong, not to mention quite upset. I called hubby and he said, "look to see if it has pits - it could be venomous!" uh..... not gonna get that close, toots. Not this girl.

he was over 2.5 ft long

bad photo, but this is my fearless Miss L in the yard getting ready to let the snake go;
I, however, was on the deck far away with the scared BOYS in the family, and therefore, the photo was... well, bad.

a tornado went through when we were playing with the snake, and this is the back side of it - the thunderhead. That was quite the day for several reasons, for sure.

On a completely different day, we saw a circular double rainbow around the sun that was there for over an hour. The sky was not dusky blue, but a bright blue.

'twas very cool

photos 111-122

2009-05-17T20:46:00.011-04:00

It's locks of love time. Miss L is 12 and this will be her fourth time donating (at three years, six, nine and she just turned twelve) - she gives close to 20" this way. Sigh... such beautiful hair, but it is her choice. Jeez, three years go fast.

I hereby give you a collection of Miss L photos

It's time, she says... time to cut her hair and give it away. :(

past her waist

As a mom, I say farewell to her lovely long hair by forcing her to a photo session :)

Her teacher said, "Don't cut her eyelashes...." lol... uh, ok...

didn't even think about cutting them anyway!

Yes, I know several of you recognize that look and you have seen it from me for years
- she gets it from me along with her determined-ness (you call it stubborness)
This smirk is as close to a smile as I am going to get from stubborn Miss L.

"Mom, I look weird."

getting ready for the cut.
She really is wanting this done.
She just isn't liking the lady braiding her hair.
Granma Deanie knows all about that, don't you ;)

four big fat braids from one little girl.

ok... we asked for chin length... this is SO not chin length.
It's more like eye-ball length - gulp.

Alrighty then... deep breath from mom and Miss L
It will grow... someday.... "Three more years, Mom!"

She is still gorgeous.

Miss L is one stubborn girl, but she has a heart of gold

:)

photos 100-110

2009-05-16T15:54:00.002-04:00

my birthday fuchsia

over night an entire ant community was built. This is an ant condo.
They'll have to rebuild as right after this, the kids played tag all over the
apartment complexes, the mall and the business park.

home grown asparagus - still after three years, only enough for one serving...

a weed - but it is cool, you know?

snow on the mountain and dianthus

verbascum

a weed, I know... but VERY cool looking - I've always been fascinated with dandelions.

the first toad of the year.

Mr M let's him go before getting pee'd on...

daffodils from the grandparent's flower beds.

photos 90-99

2009-05-14T19:55:00.001-04:00

take me out to the ballgame... first one for us of the year.

Why are they way up there and I'm still down here? I hate escalators.... that's why.

new score board and new team. I don't know half of the names... weird.

Rosie asks Mr J why he is wearing a cubs hat and takes it from him....

The Astro's pitcher warming up.

Johnny Cueto

the third base coach was awesome with the signals.

OUT!

UP!!!

Mr M's secret signal to the cotton candy people.
They seem to know that only the adult signals count, however.

the pout as Mr M is once again passed by.

Taveras... and then my camera died.

photos 79-89

2009-05-03T17:17:00.011-04:00

here come some more birthdays - Mr W and Mr P's to be precise.

Mr W turns 10...

Mr P turns 14.

Mr W's birthday dinner choice: chicken patties

Mr P's choice was subway sandwiches, but his dad decided to save $$ and bought deli meat to make our own. Not quite the same, but it kind of worked. Somewhat. A little.

Mr P tricked Mr W into running out to the mailbox as is typical for a treasure hunt here. Mr W found absolutely nothing, but seeing how Mr W chose to not have a treasure hunt, it shouldn't have surprised him there was nothing. But seeing how he chose not to have a treasure hunt, he shouldn't have run out there in the first place.

Trick candles. Each child gets some on a cake once in their life -
but they never know when I'll put them on.

See Mr P with that envelope? That's how his candles were snuffed out - he waved the envelope in front of it. I'm not sure his wish will come true since he didn't blow, but he seems to think that since he was still the one extinguishing the flame, it counted.

The measurement - about 1.5" in a year.

Mr P - he grew 3 inches, but was a little bummed that

at 14 he still isn't as tall as Miss J was at 11.

At the opposite end of the table, these two were laughing so hard they couldn't talk.
But it didn't matter - when they could talk, even they couldn't tell us why they were laughing.
"What's so funny?" we asked them. "I don't know!" they said.

photos 67-78

2009-04-29T22:26:00.014-04:00

Mr J lost two teeth in a matter of minutes courtesy of
Miss J's tooth-removal talent.
I don't know how she does it or why she enjoys it so.
I heard the pop and snap of it, though, and didn't enjoy it.
It gave me the heebie jeebies.

I have a very lovely tooth fairy pillow that my mother made per my request years and years ago when Mr D started to lose teeth. The kids put their tooth in the pocket before bed and then in the morning, they find that the fairy has left money in it. I cannot find this pillow for the life of me. The children have also looked. I had it the last time the fairy visited. She must have liked it so much she took it with the tooth. She just left money this time under Mr J's pillow. hmph. She better hurry up with it since we have some more wiggles going on here. Ah, yes, in between writing this draft, Mr W pulled one out.

little tiny hairs, growing out of his face!

Mr W loves flying kites - always has. Here he is 'helping' Mr J out with a new one. I think he could spend the entire afternoon getting kites off the ground and running all over the yard with their pitching, diving, crashing, crashing, crashing - he is not daunted and tries all over again.
Of course, he was the kid who has tried to fly by tying capes on his back and going out in storms. I predict great things for him (that or being struck by lightning).

six leaves (and some dew)

six leaves (and uncle c and granma dorie)

for theo

rainbow after storm - the first double one of the year

sunset after storm

spouting off

nothin' but net

the peach trees in our neighbor's yard blossomed.

photos 54-66

2009-04-04T10:22:00.008-04:00

Miss L's birthday.... She is now 12.

The traditional measuring.

You can see how much she grew this year by looking at the tip of the pen and ending with my finger at the top. No, you can't see the one that is in focus, since then my kids' names would all be on the internet.

Her dinner pick, Papa Murphy's pineapple ham pizza. We also had the garlic chicken one as well.

She chose a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. She wanted them to surprise her with a pokemon.

Big breath and yes, she blew them all out. Silly camera was busy recharging for the next flash and I missed it.

Mr W picked flowers for his sister. He set the table. He is very sweet.

Mr P wrote his first treasure hunt and did very well. And of course, all treasure hunts MUST include a trip to the .....

mail box!! Gotta run off the sugar, yes?

Her present: Cosmic Catch by Nerf. A hot potato game.

At the end when there are only two colors left, it is a frantic toss back and forth until you hear a KA-BOOM!!!!

She's so great to pick a present that all the family can enjoy. :) Happy birthday, Miss L... one more year until I have four teens under one roof - YIKES!!

photos 45-53

2009-03-28T21:42:00.012-04:00

Last weekend, Mr P and I went to a Raptor rescue center. Very cool. I didn't use my camera, however and it was hard to get this point and shoot to focus through the wire and on the birds. Therefore, these aren't the best photos in the world, but I still think the subjects are pretty cool. Each of them have been adopted and named. Mr P and I forgot all the names except the one for the eagle, which he found ridiculous.

the tiniest owls there: Screech Owls

Big HUGE Short-Eared Owl

some of the raptor housing units

Great Horned Owl

Sam, the Bald Eagle.
"Sam?" the kids said, "What a stupid name."
puh. I disagree. It's a wonderful name.
it's funny, though, almost everyday for the entire week,
they've been picking on Sam's name.

Barn Owl
(probably tired of carrying mail)

Turkey Vulture

Kestrels

I'm not sure what he is.... (perhaps a Barred Owl) but I'm with him.
Sunday afternoons are for Happy Nappys.

photos 32 - 44

2009-03-21T19:24:00.009-04:00

spring is here!

That means:

Miss J's annual ceramic project

blooms

Mr W flying the kite he made in preschool - it won't fly and he isn't happy.

Mr M pouting -
He is CERTAIN it will fly if only he has a fishing pole attached to it.
I won't let him try.

I looked down and found my first 4-leaf clover of the year.

5 of the kids have the stomach flu....
Miss L and Mr W haven't yet gotten it and are taking no chances.
They are eating as if they DO have the flu.
However, they all have chest colds.

Let's see how many of these Mr W can cram into his mouth at once.
I doubt he chewed, either, the way he ate this so quickly.
Oh well, it will come up looking similar to the way it went down.

Silly lilac bush - you do this every year.
Unfold your tender buds just to get zapped by a killer frost. :(

warm enough to color

the stomach flu arsenal

my bling

hope your spring is great! I had a terrific first day and took many of these photos on the 'creative mode' of my canon (they were posted for you, D). small steps.........

photos 11-31

2009-03-15T14:26:00.011-04:00

when the windshield is covered with over an inch of ice, and I have to get somewhere, I pull out the meat mallet. Alton Brown would be proud of my multi-tasking kitchen tool.

slow going, though. Hours of pounding and cracking the ice.

I guess it is over one inch.

Ice storms are inconvenient, but pretty

I don't think you'll find a toostie roll or bubble gum center in this lollipop.

swar star

NOTE: When I find a perfect small box, I think - "Oooohh keep it - the perfect small box for a bling gift for someone!" When Hubby find the perfect small box, he thinks, "Joke time!" And freaks people out.

Hubby giving his kids a finger.

what he does to my small perfect box so it is no longer usable.
good bye small perfect box.

Mr M still doesn't buy the whole "it's really just Dad's finger" explanation.
He is officially freaked out. Dad is happy - he had done his job.

winter sky

the flake

time for the big surgery....

my two week post-op reward

Miss J all dressed up for homecoming.
She came home and said, "I hate homecoming!"
(Does she really look like Ann Hathaway?
I guess I can sort of see it.)

Mr M helping with Mr J's birthday cake

the traditional birthday measurement

The cake

the gift

Hats for sale!! Remember that book?
I think my fear of monkeys may have started then.

first day of school - that is for all SIX of them! Mr W wasn't cooperating :) off to preschool, kindergarten, 4th, 5th, 7th and 10th grades - sniff....

photos 1-10

2009-03-08T14:51:00.009-04:00

spring is almost here....

Mr P and Mr W playing around and getting grass stains all over their knees. :)

I started this blog in Feb of 2008 in the hopes of posting one photo per day. I know I failed to have 365 separate posts on this blog; however, I did post more than one photo per day thus exceeding 365.

This year, I will publish 365 photos and label it as such instead of 'day'. And since I have been recuperating, and not moseying around with my camera, I am going to post some new ones I took yesterday, but also I will later go back into the past for ones you missed. I might even try to start scanning my hard copy photos to get them on my computer so you might see some of those as well :) In other words... there will probably be absolutely no rhyme nor reason for my photos - well, any that you might see.

I've missed taking pictures.

The first truly warm day since all the snow snow snow. I tried unsuccessfully to weed (yes, I hear you all now - don't try to weed!!!!), and instead drew pictures with Mr M.

This is a picture of me. I am sitting very still for him,
although the wind has my hair all over my face and in my mouth. yummy.
That must be why I look like I have a beard.

my crocus

I'm not sure what plant this is except it has wicked thorns, but very pretty white flowers; I usually try to weed them before the seeds spread all over my flower bed, infiltrating and overcoming the good plants. I have to admit, I was taken with the colors in this, though, and in the full-size photo, it is rather pretty. I got a thorn in my foot when I took this photo which Mr M gallantly removed.

Lucy knows when I give the cats food. She opens the curtain with her nose and watches them.

this can only mean one thing - Miss L has a wiggly tooth.
She is the only one brave enough to use this trick.

day 332

2009-01-28T23:43:00.004-05:00

and after all that tromping around outside, taking photos, playing in the snow, what does my dear daughter make me... hot chocolate? Nope. Snow cream.

and talk about brain freeze. wowza...

day 331

2009-01-28T23:39:00.001-05:00

day 330

2009-01-28T23:21:00.004-05:00

woohoo! a new sled.

day 329

2009-01-28T23:17:00.001-05:00

bird food provided by God.

day 328

2009-01-28T23:08:00.004-05:00

my trees actually look a little frightening, like fingers ready to grab anyone silly enough to walk next to them and take them deep into the woods. I'm staying clear.

day 327

2009-01-28T23:05:00.004-05:00

beautiful sky for just a tad today... I took the opportunity to snap some shots before it turned gray/white/bleak again.

day 326

2009-01-28T22:58:00.004-05:00

darn hughesnet.... not only do we only get 200 mg a day to use, it goes out when it rains, snows, ices....

day 325

2009-01-28T22:51:00.002-05:00

ice and bling...

day 324

2009-01-28T22:25:00.003-05:00

here comes a lot of snow storm photos..... :)

loads of the white stuff falling down in big huge clumps.

day 323

2009-01-22T23:09:00.003-05:00

I had to laugh when Hurley ran into a convenience store, rifled through a t-shirt rack and pulled out "I love my shih tsu" shirt.

My own Lucy is not a frou frou dog. I shave her regularly. She actually has a nose that way.

The other day she brought me this piece of hershey's special dark chocolate. See her tooth mark as she gently held the scrumptious and valuable piece of yumminess? Yep, she knows her owner.

I can't believe she didn't eat it.

Just in case you are wondering, I didn't either.

And forget Jack, forget Sawyer... I am a Desmond fan.

day 322

2009-01-22T22:43:00.004-05:00

my mom brought over some donut holes. I ditched lunch and ate one. Ok, several.

But here's my philosophy. They are HOLES.... And HOLES are made up of nothing - so therefore, technically, they have no calories. See the rest of my theory on calories here and here.

Yes, I hear you now... they are a HOLE bunch of empty calories.

But what is emptiness? Technically, emptiness is nothing... a lack....

a lack of calories...

I win.

day 321

2009-01-17T13:44:00.002-05:00

When it snows and we get a dusting... this

always reminds me of this

day 320

2009-01-17T13:24:00.003-05:00

mr m wants to keep his snowballs forever. I found them in the freezer.

day 319

2009-01-17T12:56:00.002-05:00

when I was a little girl, this was used to carry me up the Allegheny mountains. I kept falling off.

day 318

2009-01-17T12:46:00.002-05:00

Our pipes are frozen.... this is our little space heater in the garage, doing it's job, sounding like a jet engine. So far, so good.

day 317

2009-01-17T12:36:00.003-05:00

a big foot sighting....

see this for the full story.

day 316

2009-01-17T12:29:00.003-05:00

the pellet stove is cranked up, but it is still chilly in here. We could only get it heated to 61 yesterday but today we are having a warming trend with a high of 64 inside right next to the stove. :)

day 315

2009-01-17T12:27:00.001-05:00

it is so cold here, the polar bears are migrating to my back yard.

day 314

2009-01-13T14:32:00.003-05:00

I was in an ornament swap with the women on the creative team of [ksharonkdesigns] two little pixels core creative team. Cheryl made me a set of these adorable angels. They are perfect for me - handmade, whimsical and blingy! (and way too cute to pack away so they are hanging on my wire cardholder.

day 313

2009-01-13T14:08:00.001-05:00

setting the table every night.

day 312

2009-01-13T13:47:00.002-05:00

I made this just for you - the quintessential winter lunch....

day 311

2009-01-07T11:09:00.004-05:00

sometimes Miss J and I have way too much fun - instead of helping her do homework, I entertain her.

day 310

2009-01-07T11:01:00.002-05:00

oh the joys of bubble wrap - don't have your own - get some here and start popping!

day 309

2009-01-02T00:04:00.001-05:00

movie date with the girls - the tale of despereaux

day 308

2009-01-02T00:03:00.003-05:00

glorious

2008 went out very cold, but very beautifully.

day 307

2009-01-01T23:39:00.003-05:00

making guitar picks.

take credit card that someone stole your identity from. You're not going to use it again after all that debt they ran up, are you? No.

Before you lose your pick, take a marker and trace around your pick right on your old credit cards, gift cards, phone cards, etc.

With some sturdy scissors, cut around the edges. These will not look very pretty. Now dig through your junk drawer and find an emery board. File the edges until they are to your liking. I ended up filing so much that the plastic coating started peeling off. oops.

Not pretty, but entirely usable.

day 306

2009-01-01T23:08:00.004-05:00

most puzzling...

It seems like we must do a puzzle during Christmas. I have some simple rules to follow to make the occasion a pleasant one. First you dump out all the pieces and sort them, and I sort them in color groups while I find the edge pieces. Isn't that the rule?

Next, as you put the puzzle together, you further sort them in piles (ie, sky with green leaves, sky with orange leaves, grass with flowers, grass with rocks).

Remember to ALWAYS hide one piece. Because sure as the sun will rise in the east, someone who didn't even want to help with the puzzle, will swoop down like a vulture, try to finish it when they see there are only ten pieces to go and claim victory. Of course, it doesn't work if they hide a piece, too.

Final rule: Do not let that happen.

day 305

2008-12-28T22:11:00.004-05:00

Do you have a cookie jar? I grew up with one. It was glass with a stainless steel lid that 'dinged' when it was opened. However, after much practice when my mom was not around (which was frequent, as she was a working mom), I knew just how to open it up without making a noise. Lift slightly and then pull straight out. Voila. Cookies unlocked. I did suspect that my mom knew exactly how many cookies were in the cookie jar and knew that I stole them, though if she did, she never let on. As a rule, we were only ever allowed to have two cookies. As a rule for me, two is not enough.

I have never owned a cookie jar. I am still looking for the perfect one. I want it to be slightly whimsical yet somewhat coordinate with the bunny/Harvey/rabbit theme I have going in my kitchen, but really, why would I even buy one? With 9 of us, a batch of cookies doesn't even make it off the cooling racks to go into anything other than a mouth in just a few short hours.

One of my favorite Arnold Lobel Frog and Toad stories was when Toad makes cookies, takes them to Frog's house and they eat them. And eat them. And decide they don't have will power so they hide them in various places. And of course, they continually get them out and eat them again. Frog decides to take matters into his own hands and feeds the cookies to the birds. Toad gets mad and says, "Now we have no more cookies to eat.. not even one."

His dear friend Frog is very proud, however, and reminds Toad that they now have "lots and lots of will power."

Toad (dear to my heart) says to Frog, "You may keep it all, I am going home now to bake a cake."

day 304

2008-12-27T19:11:00.001-05:00

"Mr J... you're my best friend," says Mr M after Mr J helps him out of a jam.

day 303

2008-12-27T19:04:00.001-05:00

wii have lots of fun... will you come play with mii?

day 302

2008-12-27T18:59:00.004-05:00

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care
until the kids remembered that they were there.

day 301

2008-12-27T18:33:00.004-05:00

Contrary to what you might be thinking, this is not my brother giving me a high-five. I've been given 'the hand' of 'do not even THINK of taking my photo'...

And zounds - he got up before some of my kids did! On Christmas!! We had to wait for Mr D and even he didn't sleep too long.

day 300

2008-12-27T18:21:00.004-05:00

When I asked the kids what their favorite present was, they would hesistate. Why? Because their favorite present wasn't theirs. It was "Mr J's nerf gun."

yep, even an 80-year-old woman was forced to pick up a gun to protect herself after the kids realized that the bullets stuck to her sweater. Four guns, 20+ darts, 11 people = total chaos, bullets flying everywhere...

great fun. All present-opening stood still.

and yes, Mr W almost had his eye shot out.

day 299

2008-12-27T17:28:00.004-05:00

the hugs...

You know you hit pay-dirt when they hug the present, jump around and leave the room screaming without opening any other present.

Mr W, however, was a little upset when he opened his. He has been bringing home what he calls "F-antastics" on his papers. not cool. I thought I would his present would help raise that F to a better letter. "Like E, Mom? For E-xcellent?"

He was not a happy boy. But then he played it. And liked it. And couldn't wait to get up the next day to make his brain bigger.

I would try to make my brain bigger, but unfortunately, hand-eye coordination has a little more to do with it than I would like.

day 298

2008-12-27T17:19:00.002-05:00

uh oh.... caught!

I spy with my little eye... a stealth stocking stealer. Fortunately this was after Santa made his visit.

day 297

2008-12-27T17:15:00.002-05:00

another cool thrift store shirt that begged for bling.

swarovski chili pepper coating 4mm crystals with green pearls and copper seed beads.

day 296

2008-12-25T10:30:00.001-05:00

The loot for the kids - thanks to Granma Deanie, Granpa Paul, C&B and Granma Dorie and Mr D :) We love you!!

day 295

2008-12-25T02:35:00.001-05:00

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas...

and don't shoot your eye out ;)

day 294

2008-12-24T09:27:00.000-05:00

Santa, thy name is Amazon....

day 293

2008-12-17T20:07:00.003-05:00

my 'little' brother waaaaaay back when....

crappy photo... but you see how little he really is ;)

and I am wearing one of my all-time favorite t-shirts that I have tried to photoshop to death so you can see it...

My family knows I had a slight obsession with the Wizard of Oz.

day 292

2008-12-17T19:50:00.004-05:00

brrrrrrrrr.....

two hour delay.

NOoooo, not the wipers... they were on a two-DAY delay. School, silly, was on a two hour delay.

day 291

2008-12-16T12:16:00.002-05:00

A good friend and I were discussing our 'old' toys recently. I had quite the Dawn Doll collection, as Barbies were strictly verboten (yep, go figure that one out)...

I saved my dolls in order to savor my youth and share it with my own daughters, who were not doll girls, much to my dismay. And something about how over the years in storage, the dolls' faces turned blue, disgusted them. "You PLAYED with these ugly things?" they asked.

Oh yeh....

I put them on eBay for someone new to treasure as much as I did. This little collection went for almost $100.

There used to be a man, but they wore him out. Took his head off, literally.

day 290

2008-12-15T18:03:00.002-05:00

first swim meet... by the start, the natatorium was filled to capacity and the fire marshalls were upset at how many people were there :)

fun stuff...

day 289

2008-12-15T17:44:00.002-05:00

in a pickle...

I love deli pickles and they are always eaten last after the sandwich ;)

day 288

2008-12-08T13:17:00.003-05:00

all different - just like people - incredible....

day 287

2008-12-08T13:08:00.002-05:00

This happened Friday night... through Saturday. The first big snow. The kids wanted a two hour delay, but by Sunday evening, most of the roads were cleared... well, except for ours...

day 286

2008-12-08T12:57:00.003-05:00

two words about these eyelashes:

not fair.

day 285

2008-12-08T12:54:00.001-05:00

swish... compliments of Nate

day 284

2008-12-08T12:25:00.005-05:00

I took the two oldest to see my alma mater play basketball - here is the gym. It looked pretty much the same.

we were in Indian territory.

and there were several scouts around... spies... sent from the enemy....

Not much had changed. Except for me. The seats were a little harder. Stairs a little steeper and the kids were a little noisy :) what fun :)

day 283

2008-12-06T09:57:00.006-05:00

Saturdays have become folding laundry day for me. I sit and watch a movie while I fold Mount NeverRest. The most hateful job is the sock job. How many white sweat socks can one family own? and they have various styles. This only respresents some of them. I see five others since that the photo has been taken.

One of them has a W on the bottom... ironically, it belongs to Mr M who thinks it is an M and they made the socks just for him.

And while no one wants this job it does give me the best excuse for sitting on my bum and watching a movie. I'm going to watch Sweeney Todd while folding today. THAT should keep things interesting.

day 282

2008-12-06T00:34:00.001-05:00

oh boy....

I'm thinking I have one less candy cane now.

day 281

2008-12-06T00:29:00.002-05:00

what to do with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup and candy canes?

make mint chocolate milkshakes, that's what!

day 280

2008-11-29T22:44:00.001-05:00

while Mr D didn't get his height from her, he certainly got his curls from her...

day 279

2008-11-29T22:24:00.007-05:00

Indiana in November....

These two houses make me ponder so many questions.

one of my most favorite silos I have ever seen.

Mount Metamora... beats me. What is it for? My kids want to ride sleds down it, though. It is a new medieval castle built in 2005, but again... what is it for?

the horses we never rode.... :) or did we?

day 278

2008-11-29T22:16:00.002-05:00

the mill... they used to use the canal water, but have converted it to an engine. They still grind corn meal.

day 277

2008-11-29T22:08:00.003-05:00

girls' day out in Metamora, IN. Cool signs...

day 276

2008-11-29T22:05:00.002-05:00

sixteen sanity savers... otherwise known as biodegradable cups.

day 275

2008-11-29T22:04:00.002-05:00

yet another beauty treatment for Mr D, this one given by his cousin.

day 274

2008-11-29T22:02:00.001-05:00

and this was before the turkey dinner... a teenager and a toddler.

day 273

2008-11-29T21:53:00.005-05:00

the new corn hole - lasso golf with bola balls.

Uncle J did better at this. Did I mention he was playing with kids?

incoming bola!!

no water hazards in this game, but other types of hazards....

day 272

2008-11-29T21:48:00.002-05:00

Wii played a lot.

Uncle J liked winning; unfortunately, it didn't happen much.

day 271

2008-11-29T21:42:00.003-05:00

Prior to going to the in-laws for Thanksgiving, Lucy needed a bath to smell her almost best. Miss L does the honors most of the time.

Having returned from the in-laws, I just let Lucy in and she smells like putridicity having found something vile in which to roll *gag* which is totally not fair, since I just washed her bedding. On the upside the smell isn't coming Mr W, which I initially and mistakenly thought it was.

day 270

2008-11-25T11:34:00.002-05:00

rainy days and mondays.... and it was both in this picture.

my two youngest taking the mail up.

day 269

2008-11-25T11:29:00.003-05:00

this may look like a normal hotel bed to you, but it meant a lot to me. It meant a night with a bed to myself, without kids... something that has rarely happened in years. YEARS!!!! You moms with little kids know exactly what I mean :)

And did I sleep well? nope.

day 268

2008-11-25T11:24:00.002-05:00

yep, Mr M packed a man purse for church full of video games. methinks angelina ballerina needs to disappear.

day 267

2008-11-25T11:20:00.001-05:00

someone wants in and out of the snow....

day 266

2008-11-25T11:15:00.002-05:00

Mr D has curly thick hair and would like it straight. Miss J had homework, so of course, she decided to help her brother with his dilemma instead of doing what she was supposed to... which makes her a lot like her mom.

day 265

2008-11-15T18:07:00.003-05:00

the season begins...

How ex-basketball players are baptized into the swim team.

Actually, this is the way the team does their sit-ups.