Dashing through the snow...

Well, I do not have a one-horse open sleigh, or even a horse for that matter, nor has the weather been all that friendly to being outside.  For any reason.  The wind is gone, and for that I am extremely grateful.  It also proves the point that my house needs more isolation.  However, I am just stating a fact, not complaining.  I am very thankful that I had a house to give me shelter, even if it wasn’t as cozy as I would like.  But snuggled down under the blankies it really wasn’t so bad.
Last Sunday I took the boys to go see The Hobbit after Gadget had to return home.  Wow, it has been like 30 years since I read that book & I was surprised at what I did and did not remember.  And of course, they’ve changed the story a bit for Hollywood.  Overall, I thought it was a very good story, and the boys super-enjoyed it.  I had NO IDEA they were making it into parts though, so imagine my surprise when it ended with Smog waking up… Oh that might be a spoiler if you’ve not gone to see it. Sorry.
Last night started my 4 day weekend, yea!  I wrapped presents, watched TV and read LOTR.  The boys were at dad’s house, getting some grampa time, and being warmer, I am sure.  So the DVR got cleaned off a bit, which is always a good thing, presents are under the tree, save the 1 that I am having trouble with because the clay doesn’t want to stay together, and I read (well fell asleep trying!) more out of the Lord of the Rings.  I am afraid it will take me forever, but I have finished The Fellowship and started the Two Towers.  For those of you that don’t know, it’s actually like 6 books all together so to call it a trilogy isn’t really accurate.  Just the movie is.  And I am pleased that it is far more engaging for me at 40+ than it was when I was 14.  I guess that is the way of the world.  Having the movie has really helped it to come alive in my head.  Normally, I prefer reading the book first, but this is one time when I’m glad I had broken that rule.  I introduced the boys to the movie a couple months ago & they fell in love with it.  I’m sure we’ll need to watch it a few more times before it all really starts making sense to them.  I won’t mind.
Gadget comes down today, and due to some bad weather & family sickness, we will be having the combined Thanksgiving & Christmas tomorrow, 12/23, instead of today.  I’ve spoken briefly with Kelli & am delighted to hear she is feeling better. I am saddened that she has been laid off (again) but knowing that she is super-smart & a wonderful woman, I know it will not be long before she sets out on a new adventure.  After Dad’s house, we will make the trek up to Battle Creek for Gadget’s gramma’s celebration, some time with friends, and some time with all the kids.  It should be quite exciting & entertaining.  I hope they all like their gifts!
Well, I must get busy and see if I can fix a clay plane before fetching my sprouts.  Merry Christmas to all, and in Christ’s name I wish you the most blessed holiday.  Don’t forget to squeeze all your loved ones extra tight.

June 2011 Flickr Upload

I suppose that June makes up for the light picture month of May.  This is was the month we went on vacation, and Gadget let us borrow his cabin to do it.  We spent a wonderful week in upstate Michigan & had several park adventures to boot.  There were MANY here, so the full feed is here http://www.flickr.com/photos/81154606@N00/ but I have several in this post, so thanks if you make it all the way to the end!

010 Sporting his new helmet so he can go on Warren’s Ride this year…This thing is pretty awesome,  it has a built-in sun visor ala Star Wars blast shield style!

My new helmet that my baby found for me at Lifecycle in KZoo

008 with his new helmet too.

010 on the street carnie ride we found.  008 was petrified & crying almost the whole time until he was on the ground.  I felt so bad for him.

What he really wanted to win at the carnie

Some sidewalk art I found on the porch.  I thought it was so cute!

Kalamazoo Air Zoo – Awesome place to take kids!

Gartlett’s Corners breakfast.  It is phenomenal.  Corner of M37 & 55, it’s worth the drive….

Crystal Mountain Ski resort.  They have a really cool slalom ride you can do in the summer.

008 & my feet.  Love it….

Gadget & Ben.  Two of my favorite guy-folk.  I was so thankful he was able to join us for a couple of days.

Getting drinks on the terrace after the slalom rides.  Not the best picture of any of us, but it is the best picture.

Making hobo dinners.  They actually turned out not so good.  We learned a bit how to make them better next time.

Put-Putting in Traverse City…Pirate’s Cove

Go-carting at the cove.  One of my favorites!

The water slide.  Gadget got a bit wet after I said he wouldn’t.  We had to go buy shorts after.  It was actually pretty chilly.

At the cherry store.  Yummy!

We took a foggy drive to the lake one day.  Ended up in Manistee and got new books and stopped at a coffee shop.

My mom has this same shot of my younger brother Eric, at Dutch Village in Holland.  I couldn’t resist!

010 took mine too!

008 playing in the shoe-house

This thing was pretty cool, we all liked it!
Miles on the car – wow!  That was when we got back.

Park in Westfield, we could do obstacle courses.
010 and his dad at Warren’s Ride.

008 and Gadget at Warren’s Ride.

More obstacle courses….

Goofing off & having fun!

See the full gallery on Posterous

See the full gallery on Posterous

Do you believe in magic?

In a young girl's heart?  Oh, what a great song! Click here to hear the song...  Somewhere, I think we lost our amazing ability to be artists; songwriters.  Now, so much of everything is made in the studio & just well, manufactured.  It's a shame I think...

So not much has happened since the last time I wrote...I did not drive up to Battle Creek last weekend, Gadget had to work Saturday.  That was unusual.  At the new plant he's not suppose to have to do overtime anymore. And he does again this Saturday.  But I don't care.  I'm going to go up & see him anyway.  He didn't really ask me to, I just want to.  Maybe I should have waited to see if he would have.  I never know what the right answer is.

We had our WES girl's Christmas party at the log cabin show house this past Wednesday.  That was  a lot of fun.  It really gives me a chance to put faces to the names & voices.  It's funny how without that there is not the same connection as when you do have the visual.  They are super sweet women & oh my the food is delicious!  They even liked my cards for the white elephant game, and they got "stolen"! I couldn't believe it!  I was thinking of making up a little package of them for the other girls that were wanting some.

I'm now the Service Manager at work.  It's OK.  But it means I'm in charge of the oldy moldy tickets.  The ones that linger & no one can get fixed.  I don't have to fix them, just find someone who will.  So I'm in charge of the customer satisfaction piece. And the productivity/performance part.  Making sure we schedule enough time for each task and that we have the right person doing it.  It's hard getting extracted from the actual doing part.  But it is slowly happening.

And we're getting a new phone system.  It was installed last night.  I'm nervous & scared to death.  I hate phones.  Well, they scare me. I'm always pushing the wrong buttons and I can't ever remember how to do certain functions.  So it should be interesting this AM.  But overall, I think it will be better for us.  Better able to control how the calls flow in & get them assistance.  And maybe reduce stress a bit for the staff too.  I'll keep you posted...

Christmas shopping is nearly done  011 wants money for a new laptop, 009 wants Legos & DS games.  Money for the nephew.  Gift cards for everyone else.  Well, I'm getting cigars & some whisky for Gadget, and probably making him a  little something, C I have no idea what to get, S is getting a mini album of her Europe trip this summer as well as a replacement bottle of champagne.  That's a long story...D I'm trying to get a metal print of him doing the DRE at Mugello Italy track.  It's gonna be really cool, I think.  So I also need to get for his Mom and Gramma but have no clue!  I'll keep you posted on that too...

Let's try to remember though, I realize this is supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year" it is not for a lot of people.  That there is a lot of pain and sadness that surfaces as well.  Suicide rates actually increase during the holidays.  If we can all be that loving hand & heart of Christ, who knows who's life it could make a difference in?

Well, the munchkins are up & in the shower so I suppose I need to go start getting ready so I can pack & whatnot too!

May 2011 Flickr Upload

Apparently May was a slow picture volume month!  It was the end of school, and the start of summer.  009 was in fourth grade and here in Indiana, they have an Indiana History class, where of course, they learn all about Indiana.  His class did a program on all the famous people from Indiana, and he was chosen to be James Dean.  He had to research about his life, and I helped him create his poster board.  I think he did a pretty bang-up job! It was awesome to get to go to this during the day and watch it. It is one of the hardest things about being a working mom is still finding the time during the workday to be mom.
007, with one of his art projects on display in the hallway.

And 009 also won several awards for Math and Reading that year.  I was so proud of him & I was glad again, that I could get the time away from work to see it.

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