December 2017 Flickr Upload

My faves...

016 Shoveling the driveway...

016 Getting his Letterman's jacket

014 Getting his numerals

My dad

016 practicing driving

016 and 014 being goofy

014 being goofy - we were assembling his desk chair and he said "look, it's a booster seat!"

All done...

Febuary 2014 Flickr Upload

Ah this was a busy month!  I repainted both the bathroom and the kitchen when I was working the maintenance shift at work (0400-1300).  I had to do something to keep me awake in the afternoons!  Also lots more snow.  And Gadget loaned me one of his snowblowers.  It was the best thing ever!  Not only did it do a much better job, I just felt so much more empowered to be able to take care of myself!

As always, you can check out the entire upload here, and I've included some of my favorites (warning: there are a lot, I couldn't choose!)

 012 helping 010 with his homework.  This makes my heart happy!

 For awhile, my bed seemed to be the fun place to do homework.

 All geared up to blow some snow.

 Beautiful sunset God painted for me while I was blowing snow.

 Science Olympiad at Goshen College.  012 getting some advice from the guy who ran that competition.

 He did not win a medal for the wheeled vehicle, we found out later we were not up to spec, but this was for his Simple Machines entry.

 

The entire team, they placed 4th overall and won a wildcard spot in the semi-state down at Ball State

 

Me painting the bathroom

 The boys helping me scrape the wallpaper off of the kitchen walls. All our arms were sore!  It was a lot of work and they had just done some things that I thought were very weird.  Check out my new gas can in the background!

 Getting the last coat on...

 Double-decker closets are cool, apparently...

 Oh, poor Stretchy, he has been through so much!  This was 010's favorite toy when he was 004.  He would whirl and twirl him everywhere.  Sometimes accidentally letting go.  And then he would be lost.  The worst was spending 3 days out in the cornfield wondering if he would be massacred by the combine.  And then there were the what seemed like hours hanging in a tree until being rescued.  Now he has a much safer place to stay.  There were a lot of tears when he would get lost.

010 with one of his all-time favorite teachers, Mrs. Yenna.  She is amazing! 

January 2014 Flickr Upload

Good morning!  As usual, you can catch the whole upload here...

This was a very snowy month.  We had a blizzard.  I got snowed in at a hotel because I could not get to my house.  I got within 1/2 mile, and could not go any further.  I would not say we got as much snow as 78, but the wind and drifting were bad.  And we are just not that prepared with road crews as we used to be.  I was hard-pressed to find someone who would come clear out the driveway, and then I can't say as he did a good job.  We had gravel everywhere!

 This is where I stayed for 3 nights/2 days.  I was somehow able to get turned around and head into town.  Don't ask how, don't even ask how I managed to get that close to my house in the first place.  It is scary to think about now, and what could have happened if things went wrong.  They took care of me.  I was bored out of my skull.  I had a few magazines that I read through, did some crossword puzzles, wished I had a book!  Ran the battery down on my phone watching NetFlix.  I now make sure I travel with a charger and plenty of reading material!

 Someone from the kitchen must live downtown as they were able to get us some food.

 The next day we were still under a snow emergency but I needed clean underwear and a charger.  I ventured out to Wal Mart, and then tried to see if the guy had my driveway cleared.  He did not.

 The next day, he did.

 One of the many snow days.

 This makes it go easier...  From the new machine...

 And once it started melting, this is what I saw.  It broke my heart.  I did not expect him to know where the edges were, I didn't get a chance to mark them.  But I also did not expect him to push half the driveway out either.  Maybe he didn't have skids.  I told him a couple or 3 inches on the ground was OK to leave behind.

 And then one day I got to work and discovered this.  The blue spot is just a shadow, not sure why it did that.  I couldn't figure out why I kept feeling the seat cushion directly on my backside.  Hum...

And then we got more of this.  Always more of this.

The Wheels on the Bus ...

... go 'round & 'round...

I know, now I have that song stuck in your head.  But how often life is just like that song, it just keeps going 'round.

Like I can't believe it has been since August since I have posted anything.  Wow, I'll see if I can remember the highlights...

September:
For Labor Day weekend, we went up north and spent the weekend at the cabin.  009 took a friend a long.  That was an interesting experience.  The boys all camped out in tents & loved it.  We went over to the lake and swam & had a picnic - super fun!

012 and I went up to Marshal for the Brooks Field Fly-In.  He had a great time catching flying pancakes.  We learned that regular coffee makes him too jittery.  He also got to drive Gadget's Willy's.  He did a great job, even with the clutch.  That was totally cool!

The boys had their TKD promotion to Jr. Orange Belt.  Very proud mama!

We did more work in the house in BTL, getting the bathroom closet & cabinets a minor overhaul.

Hooligans did the Special Olympics breakfast here in town, and then the Applefest Wings & Wheels show & parade up in Nappanee.  Gadget came down in the 172 and we ate some breakfast, then had to leave before the guys, so that we could make it there on time.  My boys went with us again this year.  They weren't as thrilled to spend the day hanging out at the airport as me.  However, I got to be in the parade this year with the guys in the Willy's & thanks to the lovely Sue for making sure they were OK.  It was a ton of fun!

At church we had a fun craft day at the local pottery studio.  I made a coffee cup for Gadget.

The boys continue to learn how to serve others by helping Grampa take care of the property.

We participated a bit in our community by going to SES's Family Fun Night and getting 009 his Jabba the Puppet & Jedi Academy books he's been dying for.

We took a late-season ride up to Hastings to eat at the Waldorff.  Yummy burgers!

I continued to do more work on the gardens, locating large rocks to line the drive with.

And scrapping, getting back into it again & trying to get stories told.
 

October:
More gardening, now over on the east side of the house, so the pine trees aren't so prickly when I mow.

Teaching the boys more cooking skills, it's actually starting to be a lot of fun, and 012 loves it!

Taking my brother Eric go-carting at Dad's.  It is so weird to see my kids taking care of him.

009's birthday to 010!!  Most exciting part of the month!  He is growing up way too fast!  We had it at Cannonball Lanes in town & he had a friend there.  His dad, stepmom & my dad made it too. AND chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles, as ordered!

Gadget and I took another trip up north over the weekend - getting really chilly now!  We decided to drive up the Leelanau Peninsula - that is the eastern peninsula of MI to check out some wineries.  We stopped at Two Lad's up on the tip, went up to the lighthouse and learned about how dredging has really caused water level issues for the lake.  Then we scooted down to another, that for the life of me I can't remember the name nor can I find it.  It was "something" Harbor.  Sigh.

We went to dinner at The Boathouse.  That was quite lovely, and expensive.  But it was the best Kobe Wagu beef!  Amazing!

More dryer woes & repairs - my goodness how we need good, cost-effective repair people!

Finally started getting our cubes at work.  Not a big hit.

012 had a Band Concert.  Can't believe I have a Jr. High Schooler.  Sheesh!  But, I am so proud of him, he loves playing the trumpet.

Halloween was fun, and we went into a girlfriend's neighborhood.  It rained, it was cold.

More scrapping - yea!

November:
I don't remember when, I can't find the pictures, but 010 did get his braces off!!!  That was totally cool!

012 is having to learn how to do homework again.  Being in advanced classes is just what he needed - challenged!

 Finally got the old tree cut down. It was dead.  It is a lot of wood.  One of the guys at work came & loaded up 2 truckloads of stuff that he could take home & split.  Dad took a truckload or 2.  There is still a ton on the ground, but it is too big to transport.

More clean up going on at the Ceresco dam.  That was an oil leak that won't soon be forgotten.  Now they are talking about removing the dam.

Furnace acting funny - more troubleshooting - yea!  They can't really seem to find anything wrong with it.

More work on the dryer - hopefully this will do it.  Getting tired of drying laundry all through the house, but it does help with the static!

Got a new coffee pot - the one from my dad went on the fritz.  Found a Krups model that also does cappuccino!!!  How awesome is that!

We started putting in the new furnace in the house in BTL.  Wow, this is going to be a project!!  I'm just glad he finally picked one (I think it has been at least a year that we've been talking about it!)

Worked on new product a lot this month - fun stuff!  Made some special for the kid's crafts project they are doing at church.

Helped with a Thankgiving Get-Together for Growing Grounds.  A small group of men & women transitioning out of jail & their kids.  They are trying really hard to make better choices & it is really amazing to see them grow, and see the connections they are making.  We made journals together.  Even the guys thought it was totally fun!

Dad came up with me for the Stauffer family Thanksgiving.  That was so wonderful!  We've not done the Poole one yet!

And we had a cookout at home after cleaning up the yard a bit.  Hot Dogs!  And then we sat out there for a bit drinking wine.  I really need to get some nice camping chairs.

And more scrapping!

December:
More work on the furnace, have the board all mapped out where the pumps and controls and everything are going to be.

Getting ready for Christmas!!!

Another belt promotion - Full Orange Belt!!  So.Very.Proud!  It is absolutely nerve-wracking to watch them do parts of it!  012 has trouble with the breaking ones.  During his Jr. promotion, he missed it 3 times & had to sit down.  I was sure he was going to fail.  It was so hard to watch.  Then Master called him back & he got another try.  And he made it.  I thought I was going to cry!  Luckily he did NOT do that to me again this time!

Christmas Band Concert - They just keep getting better.  Mr. Hickman is probably one of my favorite teachers - he is just amazing with the kids!

More weatherproofing the house - hope it makes a difference!  This has been one of the coldest years.  And just staying cold - little fluctuations!  And lots of snow (that part I like),  we even had some before Thanksgiving.

012 being in shop/woodworking and making stuff.  Totally digging that!

Going to Chicago to visit S before Christmas - tons of fun, and way too much Jamison!

Stauffer Christmas - lots of fun!  And punctuated with an ice storm & loss of power.  Luckily everyone we knew was taken care of - either staying with others, or running on generators.

Baking cookies & going flying.  It was so beautiful, and it was good to get her out & going.

Spending time with friends, going to the Arcadia & the Cricket Club.

And more scrapping!

January:
We spent New Year's here with the boys.  It was  a work day for me, so I really struggled with staying awake.  I lost.  Gadget was sweet & woke me up a few minutes before the ball.  The boys giggled at me.  We then watched the Rockin' New Years' Eve show.  Horrible.  Dick Clark must be spinning!

The boys got to learn how to split wood, the old-fashioned way!  They've used the splitter before, and like it.  The maul gave them a new appreciation for it!

I went up to BTL the next weekend, and then the blizzard hit.  I ended up having to stay at Charley Creek.  I made it all the way to my road but could not make it down it.  I was so frustrated after 6 hours of driving.  I should have just stayed there!  The boys were with their dad & enjoyed 3 extra days.  The hotel was nice, however, I did not have a stitch of clean clothing, a phone charger or a book.  I did find a crossword book in my suitcase & I had 1 magazine.

Getting the driveway plowed out was an experience.  The guy I don't think wanted to come over & do it.  Then I found half my driveway - in my yard!  He had pushed all the gravel 6 feet into the grass.  I was not pleased.  Ernie from work had someone come over to pull it all back into the driveway and my neighbor waved them off saying he was going to do it.  I really don't need help like this!  Gadget plans on bringing the tractor down to do it.  So that has kicked off getting the trailer & the tractor ready for the road - he wondered what his next project was going to be after getting the furnace done!  That really needs to be getting all the wood split!

And more scrapping!!!