Since Christmas...

we DID make it to Idaho finally on Saturday. Had a fun visit with my parents and my siblings that live in that town. I sure do miss them! I can't wait for our campout this summer!!!

Mike and I even got to sit down with my parents and play a couple games of Pinochle. It's been forever since we have done that. We had so much fun! My mom and I were one team and Mike and my dad were the other team. We won a game, and they won a game so it turned out semi-fair!

We got home Monday afternoon and I have been busily trying to catch up on the laundry and other household stuff that got neglected because it was Christmastime and then we were gone. I am happy to report that I am one load away from being done with the laundry! Hooray!!

This morning Mike vacuumed out the dryer vents. It took him about 2 hours, but he got a lot of Crap out of them! No wonder my dryer wasn't drying things very well! It works great now! I should've taken before and after pictures, but some things are just too gross for even the internet! Now he is busy at work changing out the water (and properly building platforms for them) from our 50 gallon barrels. He loves having time off during this holiday season and I just love that he is home and getting little odd jobbies done for me!

big bang

Mike and I don't watch sitcoms generally. Apparently we would rather waste our time with hour long dramas. However, last season we caught a few episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" and absolutely laughed our guts off. This season it is set to record on our DVR every week, and we still laugh hysterically.

Why is it so funny to us? I have a few "theories" of my own. First of all, on any given day, my husband is nerdy enough that he could pass for one of the guys on that show. I.Kid.You.Not. I don't think he knows how to speak Klingon like they did on the last episode, but some of the other quirks they have he does too. Second of all,.....well, I better just stop while I am ahead. Let's just leave it at that.

I love my hubby bunches. I am the "hot chick" to his "nerdiness". (Stop laughing...it's TRUE!)

Anyway, check out "Big Bang Theory" on Monday nights. It's hilarious!

What we did today.

This morning's project was of the dirty kind. Our front lawn has this spot that is all sunk in and crappy because of the sewer excavation that had to be done last summer (2007) and wasn't made very level. All winter long in settled underneath our loads of snow and the grass has slowly been filling in all this summer on top of the unlevelness. Mike went and got a load of dirt so we could fill in the low spots and get it more level. Jonathan was Daddy's little helper today and helped him with all the steps for this project. Step 1: Tromp all over the dirt in the back of the pickup while Daddy shovels it out and onto the lawn.
Step 2: When you can't lift up the shovel because a) it's too heavy, and b) you are too little and not supposed to touch the shovel....then just kick it out of the pickup.

Step 3: Get in Daddy's way while he is trying to level it out with the rake. Can't even begin to count the number of times Mike redid the same spots because they had little shoe prints all over them.

Step 4: "Help" Daddy by sweeping the dirt out of the pickup and onto the driveway.

This afternoon's project was tilling up our garden area in preparation for winter. Mike got all duded up and started tilling adn his sidekick was following behind. Before long, Jonathan came into the house and told me that Daddy told him he "couldn't help or walk by the tiller unless he had a hankerchief over his nose and mouth too, and so, could I please get one for him."
Really this picture is just too cute for words. I think that Jonathan is even trying to step in Mike's footprints.

And not to be outdone, but the girls HAD to get in on the fun of hankie wearing. Jenny was the only one that opted for the cowboy look. The older girls needed to be more "girlie".

Wordless Wednesday

WoRdLeSs WeDnEsDaY

9 Freakin' Good Years!

Mike texted me this morning and said "hey, wanna do lunch? I know we have to take kids with us, but still..." I said, "sure!" S0 here we are enjoying our Anniversary lunch complete with Jenny, Jonathan, and Sidney in tow at Marie Callendars. YUM! Then Mike gave me my present. HOLY CRAP!! He is taking me to NEW YORK CITY! (or as Jenny says to Yew Nork) We go in a couple of weeks and I am SO EXCITED! Check out the pictures of the things we are going to do and see while there.....Phantom of the Opera!
Legally Blonde, the Musical!
The New York Temple!
Wicked!!!

And the Statue of Liberty (or the Statue of Liverty, according to Jonathan)!!

Do I have a keeper or what?

Thankful Thursday #6

I am thankful for my husband. He is my rock and my companion through thick and thin. Next Wednesday is our 9th anniversary and I can't believe that 9 years have already passed by. I love him so much and I am so thankful to have created a family with him and to know that it is FoReVeR! LOVE YOU HONEY! ;)

blah, blah, blah on the phone

Dear Honey,

I just wanted you to know that Sidney really likes talking to you on the phone. She will get better at it and someday she will actually TALK to you instead of just breathing heavily. She recognizes your voice and turns her head to "see" the phone because she hears you. And wouldn't you know it- the minute I take the phone away from her, she jabbers "Dadadadadada".

We all miss you and can't wait for you to be home TONIGHT! And then no more traveling for awhile OK?

love you,
Mommy (and Sidney too)

No longer participating in....

***Warning***
This blog no longer participates in Thursday Thirteen.

It was too dang hard and I gave up! That's right, you heard me...I GAVE UP!

So, now I am going to do Thankful Thursday. It's a little easier.


ToDaY I am ThAnKfUl for:

My kids and my Sweetheart! Oh how I love them. I mean it IS Valentine's Day after all! No really, they are the light of my life and my world truly does revolve around them. Here are a few of my favorite pictures to show how fun and awesome they are.