Hopes for the New Year

The year is coming to an end & a new one will begin before we know it. This past year we've had some ups & downs but all & all it was a good year. Of course it was a good year!! It was an EVEN numbered year!!!

Birthdays were celebrated, another anniversary with my hubbykins was had, crafts were made, adoptions failed, hearts mended, relationships nurtured. There was weeding out of toxic relationships & oodles upon oodles of hours spent canning & preserving. We went raspberry picking for the 1st time at a farm, witnessed numerous sunsets, swam in the lake, ran with the pups, camped in the sticks, read I don't know how many books, my gorgeous niece Hayley was born, we paid off the tv & den furniture. We saw the mountains & trucked 100,000 miles & didn't take a single moment of it for granted.

Every year I have a list of hopeful accomplishments for the coming year. I was surprised to see a real crafty gal Holli over at http://feedingthebigguy.blogspot.com/ posted a partial of her aspirations for the New Year. Below is a smidgen of my hopes for the upcoming year.

• Grow what fruits & veggies I can in the limited space we have
• Visit the Farmer's Market religiously
• Can & preserve as much as humanly possible. This not only provides fresh produce but saves on the pocket book in the winter months when the produce is out of season
• Further my knitting skills. There's so many neato ideas to make but yeah, I don't have the knitting mojo in my bones apparently.
• Crochet at least 6 afghans
• Continue being a Chemo Angel & up my letter/card sending
• Learn a new sport even if it's through a DVD. Such a Yoga, Kickboxing
• Read at least 28 books.
• Better balance my diet to help control my Meniere's
• Only purchase yarn when needed for a project. I have a tendency of purchasing yarn for funzies
• Be more frugal. Ex: shutting off lights, hanging clothes on the line (which I luv to do by the way) Keeping the finances in order & better myself at saving
• Laugh every day. I'm a firm believer in positive thinking will make a much happier person
• Keep a journal of daily thoughts of my wonderous hubby & give it to him next Christmas or our anniversary
• continue working on my strong headed-ness. I know I'm no walk in the park sometimes
• stay connected with friends. This is such a struggle sometimes with being on the road
• Visit Nana in Massachusetts
• drink more water
• go out with friends. yes, I typed that right. We rarely, if ever go out with friends anymore. Whether it be for dinner, movies, bowling or gatherings.
• Visit our babies Memorial carvings at least twice
• Go camping & watch the sunsets
• become more familiar & less afraid of our canoe
• Use my crockpot at least 50 times
• go on a closet cleaning bonanza
• Make meals for neighbors
• make pillows out of Gpa W's old shirts & Mom's old dress
• un-rustify my ASL so when we see Gwen & Shash we will be able to converse
• which leads me to...going to NY to meet Shashica, Darren, Logan & Dasha

And to live live to it's fullest, not take life, or my loved ones for granted. I know I can't save the World but I will do what I can to hopefully make a difference.

The purpose of life is not to be happy – but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. - Leo Rosten, American teacher and humorist

Be the change you want to see in the world -Gandhi

Happy New Year!!

Mom in the dress

I have recieved emails & comments about Mom's dress & how it must have looked on. I didn't have pics to include in the previous post but I do now...thanks to my brother Kelly!!! =)


From the left in the back row we have my sis Christine, brothers: Darryl, Bruce, Joe, Jim (my real Dad) The front row left to right we have Pat, Mike, Mom, Dad, Laurie & Kelly. I am not in this pic because I was a lil diaper wearing babykins & the neighbor was babysitting me.

Here we have Mom, Darryl, Memiere (my Dad's Mom) & my Dad

Mom & Dad

Mine came wrapped in green

After I gave my siblings the “secret project” my brother Mike presented me with a gift. He went on to say he’s no Martha Stewart & that I will have to finish what he started.

I was pondering what in the world this gift could be. Contrary to most people’s thoughts, I’m not an attention seeker. I like to blend & don’t like undue eyeballs staring at me. So naturally I was thinking…It couldn’t be Mom’s wedding dress. That’s in my bedroom on the wall. I have the afghan that was my Mom’s & sleep with it every night. Hmmm what could it be. I rarely, if ever let my guard down so I was trying to prepare myself for what it could be.

I opened up the top & saw a picture from a magazine on top of some sort of circle wreath type thing & fabric. The picture was of a wreath made out of ties….Ok, eyeballs welled up before I was even able to see what the gift was. It dawned on me…the circle with the fabric was my Dad’s old ties!! Flood gates opened & head fell to my hands. Mike had made me the best gift ever!! A piece of my Dad!!! Looking at the ties memories that were stashed away, that I thought were forever gone came to the surface.

I am not going to “finish” the wreath like Mike said. It looks super fab the way it is & he put the time & effort into making it so why fix it as the directions suggest. It will be hung in our bedroom which is a very special place. Mom’s wedding dress hangs on the wall above our headboard, Grandpa Woodbury’s memory quilt I made out of his old shirts lays on the log bed my real Dad & lil brother made, pictures of sunsets we’ve seen while on the road hang on the wall, Mom’s blue afghan gets nuzzled in between my arms each & every night & now this ultra fabulous wreath with so many memories of Dad will hang on our wall. How much better can that get!!!

You know how I posted the story about the gold wrapped gift where the kiddo wrapped a “empty” box filled with kisses for her Mom? Well my Gold Box was wrapped in green & the gift of Dad was in it.

The "Secret Project"

The "Secret Project"

On November 12th was my Mom's 23rd anniversary of her passing. I was having a frumpy wumpy kind of day & then my brother Mike called me. Actually he left me a mssg on the answering machine that he was just calling "to talk" Oh boy...I wonder what he needs to talk about. Did I say sumthin wrong in my post about Mom? What could it be? I called him back & he told me he has something of Mom's and asked if I'd be interested in looking at it. I was like, heck yeah!! I didn't even know right away what it was but was interested! He went on to tell me it was the dress Mom wore to my brother Darryl's ordination. He went on to talk about me being all into crafts & wondered if maybe I could make something out of it for us kids. Of course I said YES!!! He said the dress was stained from water damage but the beadwork might be able to be used to make ornament type sachets. I went to pick up the dress that very night. That's when Mike told me the story of the dress. Apparently Mom had a dress ordered for the Ordination but it hadn't come in yet. She gave some $ to my brothers & sent them out on a dress buying adventure. Ate the time St Vincent DePaul was near our house so they went there. It was there that they picked up the dress. There was no time to order another or go to a speciality shop...the Ordination was too close!! So this dress they picked out would "do" Mom wore the dress to Darryl's Ordination into the Priesthood (did I say that right?) and people remarked on how she looked like a Princess. I knew when I took it home I had a big task ahead of me. I wanted to honor my Mom & siblings & not ruin the dress. It took a good month before I even made the 1st cut. After that it all came together & sachets were born. I presented these sachets to my older siblings on Christmas Day after the meal. When Darryl opened his he sniffed it. I went on to tell him "it doesn't smell like anything but an old dress" I then handed him the photo that was taken at the Ordination of the family...with Mom in the dress. I had hoped to scent the sachets with Charlie perfume as it was my Mom's favorite. Even though Mom was not with us...she was!!!

The dress

Beadwork around the waist

Beadwork around the neck

back of neck beadwork

back of waist beadwork

The dress still had the pricetag in it!! A nifty $3.00 bought this!!!! I wonder why Mom left the tag in there.....Just think though, her dress was ordered & I'd imagine it was a nice dress, probably far more expensive than this...but this dress was the dress my Mom chose to wear when the day came. Mike said the ordered dress made it there in the nick of time but Mom thought it more special to wear the ones her kiddos picked out...and she was called a Princess!!! How cool is that!!!

Brayden could sense my emotions, he always does. Now, I don't know why, and you can call me silly but deep down I think he even knew this dress was special & he took it upon himself to nuzzle in it & pose.

Christmas 2008

Christmas

Christmas was AWESOME!!!! Family, Friends & Food. Three of my favorite things!!

Christmas Eve we went to Ken's Grandparents, ate entirely too much, visited & had a fanfreakingtastic time!!! Ken's Aunt Laurie just may have found her calling in life...a Walmart greeter!! It's a totally funny story. Of course my mouth got me in trouble...in a funny way. I have a tendency of speaking before I completely think things through. It's all good though if it provides a laugh.

Afterwards we went to our Friend Sammi's parents house for even more food. Even before I was able to take my coat off Tom (Sam's Dad) presented me with this....

A cookie woman with big "hooters"! Let's just say, Kaffy has, on occasion has flashed the midnight train. So it's a running joke. But this year Tom way outdid himself!! I absolutely love the thoughtfulness & hard work he put into this creation. Face it, it's hella funny!!! I am so thankful for the gifts we received & the fabulous friendship we share with not just Pat & Sam but her family as well!!!

It was midnight by the time we got home so we didn't make it to the neighbors for visiting & yuletide drinks. BUT I did put my totally heine kickin new jammies!!! I should have taken a picture but I didn't. Here's the story...My Mom always gave me new jammies on Christmas Eve and the tradition continues. Talk about super comfy!!!

Christmas Day came before we knew it. Ken & I met the man at the VFW Hall. As some of you know, I come from a HUGEMUNGUS family. I don't mean as in fat, ok, we are on the chubby side, but no, there are 31 of us around the table for Christmas Dinner. We find that having Christmas at the Hall provides us with the room we need & allows the kiddos to run around & play with their toys Santa brought them. Once home I made meatpies. The base is Ken's Meme's recipe & the seasoning of it is much like my Mom used. Then it was time to get ready & head to the Hall. It was a whirlwind of eating, visiting, laughing, more eating, more talking, cooking, & more eating. After we finished eating I passed my "secret project" I had been working on to my older siblings & was presented with something so kick ass I cannot include it in this post!!!

We played the gift game which was oodles of fun!! Ken ended up getting a gift my brother Pat & his wife Kim took & it was heated seat covers & a super fab Upper MI Calendar. I picked the gift that my brother Darryl brought & it was a portable Dust buster kit & a reindeer that "poops" that Maddy took over. Total kick butt! Both gifts will be out of this galaxy awesome to use in the semi!! The dust buster will help keep Ken's allergies at bay & I've always wanted a hot arse!! LOL

This Christmas was one to remember. Good times, good food & oodles of awesome chaos!!! =)

Gold Box

This is another email I recieved. It had me in tears, like big crocodile ones. With Christmas Eve tomorrow & Christmas day only two days away I thought it was so important to share the profound message this email brings. Merry Christmas from our home to yours. May we all recieve a "Gold Box" & appreciate it for all it's worth.

'Gold Wrapping Paper'

I received this from a friend who had a choice to make. It said that I had a choice to make too. I've chosen. Now it's your turn to choose.

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and then
said, 'This is for you, Momma.' The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her anger flared again when she opened the box and found it was empty. She spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner. 'Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?' She had tears in her eyes and said, 'Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full.' The mother was crushed. She
fell on her knees and put her arms around her little girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless & anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life. Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a Golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our Parents,children, family, friends and GOD. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

They like it!!!!

Woooohooooo! Total stokage here!!! The birds found the pine cone creations!! There were about 20 birds on the lil liac tree when I got up to take the pictures. I take it only the photogenic ones stayed around. Once I was done snapping pics (from inside the living room) they all came back. Not a single pigeon either!!! YAHOOOOOOO!!!!

Ken noticed this today. Our two fat cats in the small cat condo. Ok, I confess, the condo is normal sized & our cats may be slightly "pudgy". Buster on top & Betsey below.

I completed my "secret project" today and can't wait to post about it next week!!!!! =)

Through the neighborhood

Tonight was our night to get on our comfy clothes, pile the dogs in the suburban & go for a ride to see the Christmas lights in the neighborhood. My lil brother is spending the night so he got to come with us too. Total funness!!! Afterwards we went for shakes.

It's been snowing on & off here most of the day & tonight it was total snowflakage!!! A perfect night for this. The pups were awesome & JJ got a bit stoked too. We're supposed to get blitzed with snow tonight & tomorrow. I'm seriously hoping for oodles upon oodles of white fluff. We'll see what we wake up to in the morning =)

It's Crunch Time

I grabbed the bag of pinecones we picjed at Ken's Nana's in Massachusetts, grabbed the peanut butter & a bag of birdseed....

spread peanut butter on the pinecone...

rolled the gooey-ness in birdseed....

And hung them outside on the lilac tree for our feathered friends....now hopefully we don't get pidgeons!!!!!!

This is the afghan I completed the other night. It's for our friend Janet...who happens to be his dispatcher.

There are still projects needing to be finished, including the cards & packages that need to be mailed!!! Christmas will be here before we know it. It's crunch time my friends!!

What is on your Christmas List

A Different Kind of Wish List

Ya know…I'm actually a deep thinker. It would come as a surprise to many. Especially the ones who only know the goofy, loud, in your face, obnoxious Kathy.

Tonight I surprised my sweellacious friend Jewel a phone call. Her & her hubbykins are having another baby. They already have one perfect lil guy & this new blessing will be absolutely perfect! We talked for a good hour & a half. Talking about the upcoming babykins, our hubby's, grade school days, economy, religion, numerous other things & Christmas. Of course we spoke of Christmas!!! You can't talk to me this time of year & NOT have Christmas come up in conversation.

We spoke of gifts & what we'd like. Neither of us had "things" on our list. I think she was surprised when I told her what I "wanted" She said. "Your favorite holiday is Christmas & you don't want presents?" I'm not going to lie. I do like receiving gifts…but I don't expect them. Then I thought about my fantastical friend Brandy who instills giving to others in her children. She totally wrote a blog about it…made me tear up…cuz I'm an emo like that.

I went on to tell Jewel I'd love to have a new bookcase. I actually need one for my upteen books. There is no possibility of throwing books out either. I can read a book several times. Books rock my world. They are my "nic nacs" I'd also like jammies. I get them every year. The selfish side of me would be sad if I didn't get jammies on Christmas Eve. My Mom always gave me jammies then. But seriously, that's all I really want. Sure there are things that I think would be nice to have….but are they necessary???

It's been a few hours since my phone call with Jewel & this is what I've compiled on my Wish List:

To be surrounded by my family & friends

When my 15yr old brother gives me a hug & tells me he loves me always rocks my socks. What 15yr olds do that?

To see my nieces & nephews & see Christmas through their eyes

To host a game night with friends

A sledding, hot cocoa, yummy treat eating bonanza

To revisit fading memories of my Mom & Dad. It's been 23yrs since I've had a Christmas with Mom. Dad's 23rd anniversary is next month. Even though he was alive for the Christmas after Mom passed he was not "there" The memories fade as the days go by…but every now & then there's a reminder & it all comes back…it's those moments I cherish this time of year.

And there is one more…It's what I wish the most….I wish this every year….I would absolutely love, more like it would be a dream come true if I could meet the police officer who saved my life when I was 5 days old. There is no police record of it happening. It was August 30, 1975 & the Mayor of Manistique hit us head on. This officer gave me CPR & brought me back…and for that I am eternally grateful. I have experienced a lot of pain, went through my fair share of not too swell times. But you know what? I have had the best times too!! I had the opportunity to have loving parents, oodles upon oodles of siblings, nieces & nephews, cousins, aunts & uncles, friends & my one & only hubby Ken. I have seen the states, waded in the ocean, climbed small mountains out west, walked on the Great Salt Lake when the water was evaporated. I have gone camping & ran with my dogs. I have seen sunsets that have made me cry…for real. I have seen Eagles fly & heard train horns, I have had the privilege of being pregnant, if only for a short time by the most amazing man that exists, I have had the grief of losing ones I love. Those losses have taught me to love deeply & not take life for granted & to be humble & compassionate. I have been abused by an old man…it taught strength & to appreciate my body. I have laughed till I cried & cried till I laughed. I have witnessed the birth of my niece…the miracle of life…even though I am unable. I have had the amazing opportunity to meet new people & learn to crochet. I have felt kittens kick in my cats belly…something I would never experience in my own, I have been blessed with amazing in-laws who love my punk ass. I have ridden my bike in a rain flooded Sheridan Road, I have experienced the coughs & gags of smoking that 1st cigarette, I have laid on a blanket staring in the sky wishing upon stars to one day meet this man… so much has been experienced….. All this because a man, a hero decided a 5 day old baby was worth saving. It's the least I could do to give him a proper thank you…and even then, it's not enough. So yeah….meeting this man is always on my Christmas wish list and my birthday list. This one man has given me so many gifts that no Christmas gift could ever hold a candle to….

What's on your wish list this year???

She's a Gemtastical Gal!!

Ya know what??? I have the most amazing friends a gal could ever want!! Seriously! I already have an out of this galaxy butt kickin hubby, a funtastical, a bit out of the "norm" but awesome family & then I am blessed with these wunnaful friends...who are what I call an extention of my family!!

Tonight I made a phone call to my swellacious grade school friend, Jewel. I had to congratulate her & her hubbykins. They are having another baby!!! =) Now let me tell you about this friend.

First I give you some definitions of the word Jewel.... Definition: a person who is brilliant and precious as a piece of jewelry

definition 2: a precious stone : a gem

and definition 3: One heck of a great Mom, wife & precious friend!!

I think we talked for well over an hour. Talking about their son, baby #2, our hubby's, Christmas & oodles of other miscellaneous things. I have to say by reading her blog, and talking with her she kicks all sorts of butt in the Mommy department! I told her she & her hubby should write a book on parenting! How they are raising their son is how I always imagined my childhood would be. Anytootles...I just know they will be amazing parents to their upcoming blessing!!! Now wouldn't it be super neato if they go to their next ultrasound & find two lil blessings in her tummy???? =)

Rat a Tat Tat

Jazzy Jazzy day here!!! Well almost everything is going as planned. The dryer decided it would take some sort of crap though. I ventured into my basement with not 1 but 2 phones, a flashlight to check the fuse to see if that was what was funktifying the dryer. Ken walked me through this step. Plus he was my moral support in the basement. You see...I don't go down there! It's creepy & dark & just not swell!!! But I need my dryer & Kenster is on the road so what the farts was I to do. Anytootles...the dryer is still funktified so laundry is on hold until he gets home. A new dryer would be lovely now that I think about it. I don't foresee that happeneing though.

Anygoofs, I'm feeling oodles better these past two days!! WHEW! I was really getting to be one frumpy frog. Yesterday was a great day!! Watched a cute as heckles Christmas movie before we went shoppin to finish out our gift buying for his side. Then we decided to go on a date & went out to eat!! Super fun! I know, it doesn't take much for me to get excited. I'm still Ken's cheap date. =) Once home we put on our jammies & watched the 1st movie called Snow & part 2 came .. that. The Christmas cards are coming along & the gifts are wrapped. There are only a couple more things & we'll be all set. Can you believe Christmas is right around the corner?

OH! I know what else!! I have been informed by my neighbor that Thursday night, while we were gone, our light in the den was on. She thought we were home or that my lil brother JJ was here checkin on the cats, tortoise & fish. But nope....looks like our ghosta are back!!! YIKES!!! Two weeks ago when I went up to our bedroom I opened the door & it was freezing! We have a door in our bedroom that opens up to the back roof. Well that thing is always locked! I reapeat, ALWAYS locked!! Well it was open that night. Which still makes no sense at all. Not only is the door always locked but there's a Christmas tree in front of the door! Now tell me....what the heck is goin on here!!! Anybody want to shoo them away for me???

I'm still thinkin a sledding party would be funtastical OR there are these super neato ice caves by Trenary that would be boat loads of funl!! Is anybody game? Like after Christmas...Ok, back to the cards!!! Hope everybody is having a jazzy day!!!

Caller ID Mix Up

Isn't caller ID a fancy invention? I know we love it! Sometimes it's nice to screen those telemarketers out, or if there is someone you're not into chit chattin with. I know, not a very nice thing. But, there are fun things about caller ID!!!

Like, don't be surprised if you call my house & I say hello & say your name. Or if you are a good friend I say something super robo nerdy. Last night was such a night. After shopping & going out for dinner we came home. The phone rang & I saw on the caller ID who I thought was going to be my friend Val. Well Val & I call each other "Schnookie" & "Schnookums" In fact, I use all sorts of names for people. So don't be surprised if you call me & I call ya pumpkin nose, or button butt or whatever dorky words spew from my mouth.

Ok, so the phone call...I answer "Hiya Schnookie!!" in my upbeat chirpy loud voice. I get a chuckle. Ok, I thought, this must be Val's hubbykins Ken. So I say, "How the farts are ya?" I get a lil giggle & a "ummmm is Ray there?" CRAP!!!!!! The caller ID said Boyer, NOT Bellows!!! But it came up Ken...so yeah...what to do, what to do. I appologized. As not too many people like being called goofy things. The guy responds " No problem, you can call me Schnookie anytime you want" We both said have a good night & as I hung up the phone my Kenster asked what the heck that was about!! LOL

I'm still be boppan around

Greetings!!!! I'm still here... =) I had to escape for a few days & clear my head & work on my heart. Things have been beyond hectic & I am still feeling like what I'd imagine being ran over by a semi would feel like. The flu has passed, the cold is gone & what remains is the stupid Meniere's crap. It's been non-stop dizzy, pukeyness & sleeping. I went back on my meds after being off them for months...grrrrrr. No wine for me during the holiday season!!! Not that I'm hard core in the drinking dept anyways. I know that with the season change & stress elevates it so my going with Kenster on Thursday was a must!!! =)

We are dealing with some hurt & lies coming to the surface. Even after 2yrs there is still more coming out of the woodwork...one thing I hate is lies. I'm having a hard time forgiving & am not sure if I will ever get to the place. Just when I think I am getting better with the whole thing I am reminded all over again & the vicious cycle continues. I know it's not right to not be forgiving but when there is just so much hurt how is forgiveness even an option....

Anyways, now that we've established why I've been on my blogging sabbatical let's talk about funtastical stuff.....We saw Santa in Johnson Creek, Wi on Thursday night!!! Yup, we sure did! I thought he drove a sleigh. Well apparently not in this day & age. "Santa " was sitting in the driver seat of a big rig when we came out of the restaurant. A big white haired, white bearded guy with a red hat...sitting in the driver seat of a Kennyworth!! Except this "Santa" was half nakie!!!! WI must be too warm for his North Pole self because this particular Santa was shirtless & his legs were bare...I sure hope he was wearing shorts!! I glanced at him a few times & each time I got a big smile & a friendly wave.

It was fun on our way to Indy. Ken took a different route so seeing these lil towns & numerous Main Streets was fancy as all heckles!!! I did oodles of crocheting & finished an afghan. So stoked about that. Once I get my rear in gear I'll post some pics on what I've accomplished crafty-wise.

We got home at 2am this morning. It was as if we were driving in a snowglobe of fun. Then today was spent cleaning & my lil brother Jesse, JJ & my sis Amber came over & we had ourselves a baking bonanza. We took some pics of that too but like I said...gotta get my rear in gear. LOL

Anyfartles, once I get de-funktified & back to my dorky goofy self I'll be posting much more. Until then, just bear with me =)

Transformationalizing

So, the day is almost done...I accomplished quite a bit in the house today & got my behind out of the house to pic up our pictures for the cards & then went shoppin for some odds & ends.

One more Christmas gift is bought!! We are both sooo clueless when it comes to ken's uncle...and we have his name for Christmas. I scoured the Lions sh** with disgust & couldn't bring myself to purchasing such poop. Soooo I figured I'd let the kenster figure out what to get him...it's his uncle...heeeheee. Well standing in line at the checkout was taking forever & a day & that's when I spotted it....GIFT CARDS!!!!!! Yup, I totally went the easy route & got a gift card. Is that bad? I know Ken will say that's bad. But then again it's not like he puts any effort into buying gifts. And really, who wouldn't want a gift card? I know I think they are dandy things. Fingers crossed his uncle likes it.....

I also decided in order de funktify I need a change....in the form of a hair color. I've had it my natural dark brown for months now & honestly, the Kester isn't too snitz on it. LOL It's the reason I kept it for so long. ;) But today I picked up a handy dandy light brown with highlights & am all ready for my outwardly transformations. I should have bought a new over shoulder boulder holder too to spruce up the girls. I planned on zip zappin (waxin) my eyebrows & doing my nails all snowflakey too but that will wait till after the hairdo.

I just totally ordered the gift I am giving for my family gift exchange!!! I'm superly duperly stoked!! We play this super fun game & the gift changes hands...yeah, I can't explain it but it's pretty darn fruitan funtastic! I wouldn't be sad if my gift ended up in my hands. I have a few ideas for our other gift for the exchange but want to have ken put some effort into it too. I'm guessing I'll be left figuring it out. I also bought some yarn...and it's not even for me!! Yup, imagine that my friends!! My brother & sister have been on crocheting safari's every night & so, they will be getting yarn for Christmas!!!

We nixed the idea of putting a real tree on the porch & decorating it with birdseed drenched pinecones & cranberry & popcorn garlands...too many darn tootan pigeons!!! Now, I know they have to eat but I'll be darn tooted if I'm gonna turn out like the crazy bird lady!!! Plus to cut down a tree just for that kinda makes me sad for some unknown reason. Now watch, I'll have some r-tarded dream about a tree screaming as I slowly kill it....

Anyfartles....I'm workin on the de-funktifying still & I have ta thank my swellacious friends for their support & for the laughs!!! You know I luv your punk butts to the moon!!!!!! xoxoxox

Will it ever go away?

You know how when you’re sick you have oodles of time on your hand to think about things? Well that is how this past weekend was for me. Ken went on a short run on Wednesday & got home late that night. What was supposed to be a quick jaunt to WI turned into a long day. Ken came down with the nasty flu bug that’s going around. Poor guy. While he was on his way home I went grocery shopping & on a mission to keep the nasty bug from invading my system. I decided I’d give airborne a try, stocked up on OJ, toilet paper, Kleenex & made home made turkey noodle soup. I knew Ken was in for a doozy!! Or so I thought. I started with a nasty sore throat, coughing, sneezing & we quickly went through the boxes of Kleenex’s so my best friend became a roll of toilet paper. Then it hit me!!! The flu that is!!! YUCK!!!!!

Friday was horrible. Especially having only 1 bathroom & two heines in need of the toilet!! So not cool. Sure we can choreograph our movements much like a dance in our tiny kitchen but give us a grumbling tummy & 1 toilet….it’s not that easy!!! We missed the Christmas Parade downtown Friday night. =( Totally saddens me!! I have yet to see the parade downtown at night. This is the 3rd running of it at night! GRRRRRR. Darn flu!!! We did watch the NACSAR Award banquet though…which totally rocked my socks!!! We decided we’d go to Christmas In The Village on Saturday afternoon & meet some friends there. I could handle that. At least we’d get some Christmas cheer. WRONG!!! Ken was doing better but I was completely on shut down & out of commission. Not only did I have the flu but my MM was on one heck of a rampage. Darn me for making comments about having that under control!!! So, Ken rented movies & we sat around all day. I’m not one to sit through more than 1 movie let alone 4!!! But we squeezed them all in.

Yesterday was another movie watching day. Ken rented another 4 movies. And guess what? Yup, we watched all 4 of them!! I had a doozy of an attack yesterday. I try to hide them from Ken for the most part but yesterday I totally blew it when I went to dump my glass of soda in the sink & totally missed it by a long shot. Hey, I could have sworn the sink was where I aimed. Apparently not! It’s funny now but not yesterday. I left the kitchen feeling like a total jackass. So, needless to say after than not so swell event Ken made the soup for dinner & brought it to me so I wouldn’t make a mess. Bless his cute lil head!!!! =)

All this downtime made me one frumpy frog though & I have way too much on my mind. It would be hard for people to believe but this time of year gets me down sometimes. I try to stay positive & let the past be past. Like the saying goes, Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present…that’s why they call it a gift. I try my hardest to live by those words. But for some time there are some things that have been eating at my happiness for some time now. It’s time such as the flu, MM attacks that I have only but time that alots itself to these “things”

Last night as I laid in bed tossing & turning my thoughts began festering. Why is it that after 2yrs I cannot stand to be in the same room as this one person? The person who stole my very dream at having a family through lies, deciet & selfishness. The selfishness is never ending, putting themselves before their kids. But yet the government rewards them!!! I could go on but I don’t want to ruin my whole day.

Another thing…The economy sucks sumthin fierce right now as we all know. We have people losing their homes, their jobs, their pride. People who WANT to work, people who are not ashamed to work at McDonald’s or in other non big time jobs but yet there are still people who have jobs whining about having to go to work each day! It boggles my mind at the ignorance of these people!!! I swear, if I were a manager of some sort somewhere & heard such a statement the person would be crap canned & the job would be given to someone who is willing & WANTING to work!!!

What about the people who “mooch” from the system? I’m not talking about the good citizens down on their luck, sick or incapable of working. I’m talking about the baby grunter-outers, the professional Welfare bums. The ones who figure “why bother when we can get it for free” bums. The people us working class support!!!

This Christmas I say it’ll be different. Because this Christmas we don’t have our hearts out there to be broken. We aren’t in the process of any adoptions…nobody can hurt us. No family member stealing our dream, no other potential family brought into the picture….but yet it’s killing my yuletide joy. Last year was happy, the year before that I wish never happened.
Ugh, all this frustration…all this hurt…will it ever just go away?

I want Christmas to be special. I want to find the happiness. I find it in many moments but it quickly gets sucked out of me when I remember the hurt, the lies, the deceit.

Today Ken will be leaving to go back to work after a long 4 day weekend due to that not so swell flu-bug that invaded Woodbury-ville. Me, I’m still dizzy as all heck but am determined as all heck to re-discover my Yuletide Joy!!! I need to snap out of this funktifiedfunk and make some Christmas cookies or something. It’s not like me to be so frumpy & let past circumstances rule my present….which is a gift =)

Reminder to self: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery…today is a present. That’s why we call it a gift.

A Fantastic Recipe!!!

A GREAT RECIPE...

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God aboutwhat is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'Mypurpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food thatis manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskansalmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issuesof the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Insteadinvest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like acollege kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what theirjourney is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friendswill. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: Iam thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.You'll be smiling before you know it.



I got this "Recipe" in am email & just had to share it!!! I know some of these are no brainers but in this hustle bustle time of the year I thought it would be fitting to post as a reminder to slow down....and appreciate life!!!

Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away!!!!!

A Christmas Quiz =)

I was invited to join in on this cute Christmas question and answer quiz and I thought it would be fun...cuz I'm all about Christmas

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both -wrapping is oodles of fun!!!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial in the living room, den, bathroom, dining room & bedroom & today Ken agreed that we can put a real one on the porch!!!! =)
3. When do you put up the tree? They are up. I start on November 1st. This weekend we'll do the real tree outside =)
4. When do you take the tree down?After New Years
5. Do you like eggnog? Only the stuff Ken makes
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I think this was asked in a previous quiz...but I've had many faves....
7. Hardest person to buy for? Ken
8. Easiest person to buy for? the nieces & nephews
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes...but I'm scared to put it up
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? snail-mail all the way
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? ummm no comment
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Now this is truely IMPOSSIBLE for me to answer
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? peanut butter balls, meme's meatdressing made into pie
16. Lights on the tree? the one in the living room has white & green, den has multi colored, bedroom has white & blue, dining has white & outside will have multi
17. Favorite Christmas song? Carol Of the Bells, Christmas Shoes
18. Travel at Christmas time or stay home. We pretty much stay in town but go to people's homes
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel on den & dining, star on bedroom, living, bathroom & staircase tree
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both -Christmas Eve with hubby's family & my family on Christmas day
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? greed
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? no particular fave...maybe that's why I have so many trees in our house!! I luv Christmas trees!!! =)
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? turkey, taters, green beans, pie, Ken's Meme's meat dressing pie
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Outside of the health & happiness for the ones I love I'd really like to have a sledding party with oodles of friends & fam, a game night, and a bookcase for my umteen books.

If you haven't been tagged with this yet, I invite you to join in the fun as well.

FREE!! And a resolution

You are looking at the picture we are going to use in our Christmas cards. We have never done the whole picture in the card type thing. But it's not too often we can get Ken, myself & our fab 5 doggies in one picture and I couldn't pass up the deal I ran across while reading one of my favoritist blogs EVER!!! http://www.moneysavingmom.com/. 75 FREE 4x6 prints from Kodak Gallery for joining!! Wooohooo! I could have paid the $4.35 to have them shipped to my house or pay $2.49 to have them delivered to Shopko (or a store closest to you) I opted for the shipping to Shopko & should have my prints by Wednesday!! Wooohoooo! How stinkan neato!!!

Another blog that has consumed A LOT of my time reading is http://jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/ What this woman achieves is nothing less than AMAZING!! I can't seem to step away from my computer when her page is up. How in tarnation does one feed their family for $800 a year?!?!

I haven't always been the best shopper & I tend to do frivolous things a bit too much. But I'm getting better & so is the hubby. Our goal is ultimately to be debt free & buy something in the country & have a garden & all that jazz. It's a ways off but wouldn't it be super fab!! As of right now we have 3 loans with the credit union. One for our pickup truck, one for our suburban & one for our camper. We also have our mortgage & a new semi. I've come to the conclusion we'll always have a semi payment but it sure would be nice to eliminate the others! Imagine the $ saved! We can squirrel some away , or heck, take a vacation...we have NEVER done that together since we've been together. There are home improvements in our future & 2 doggies upcoming surgeries. Imagine what an extra grand a month could do to our savings account!!! Heck, we'd actually have one!

I think a lot about our economy & our future. Most people wouldn't know me as a deep thinker. But actually my deep thoughts can be somewhat scary at times! LOL

Every year I make a New Years Resolution...a realistic one!! This year it is to save $ & pay things off. We are not credit card fiends but do have a couple. Well I am stoked to say, we are one less now! It's been paid off. None of them have high balances but still. If we can't afford it, we don't get it.

In years passed I have had the resolution of working on my stubborn-ness, my cussing (the reasoning behind my swellacious wording) , weeding out the negative people in my life, allowing others to "know" me. This year is all about getting out of debt & using our resources!!! How bout you? What's your resolution?

By Golly Gee!!!

Check out something that has had me swooning in delight!!! Ken spotted it by the books at Walmart while I was buying books for my niece this weekend. By golly it's a whole entire magazine dedicated to NKOTB!!! That's New Kids On The Block if you live under a rock & are not aware of the sheer delight these guys brought to teenie boppers in the late 80's & 90's.

Ahhhhh they still get me giddy & I find myself singing their songs and using some of my super mad skills dancing ;) They look darn tootan swellacious even in their mid 30's & Jon, the oldest just turned 40! So, technically they are not "Kids" anymore. Sigh...I don't think I'll ever grow old of these boys!!!

Who says Crocheting is for Girls?

Whew! November flew right by!! We had a pretty fun weekend. My lil brother JJ spent Thursday & Friday night. Friday afternoon Ken, myself & Jj went to the movies & saw Twilight. Fantastic movie!!!

Friday night Ken decided we'd have an Indiana Jones marathon. Well we sat through the 1st movie & part of the 2nd. Both JJ & I were extremely bored out of our gourd. So I worked on a project I'm hoping to have done for Christmas. While crocheting JJ asked if I would teach him. So I did!!!




He went home Saturday afternoon & scoured the attic for hooks & yarn. I had called Jim & Donna to talk & Donna had told me about JJ searching for crochet stuff. So before we went to my niece Michaela's birthday party we stopped at Walmart & picked up some hooks & yarns for JJ & mys lil sisters. JJ is hoping to teach the girls how to crochet. Pretty neato if you ask me!!! I know with JJ's determination he'll be creating some fabulous things & I can't wait to help teach Amber & Jessica!!! Mom may not be here but her love of crocheting lives on in another generation!!! =)

We gobbled till we wobbled

We hosted my family for Thanksgiving Dinner. We had a total of 12 for the meal & 26 were here for desert.



We saw this technique of pulling the skin from the meat & inserting seasoned frozen butter beneath the skin. Ken was in charge of that grossness!!!

Our long tiny dining room actually fit 12 people around the tables. Although when my lil brother Aaron & his girlfriend Trish came we had to come around to the back door. LOL

The table & set & ready for forageing. We used my Mom's silverware which was ultra special. Before the meal guests relaxed in the living room. My brother Darryl is in the recliner, behind him are Ken's Grandparents, then seated on the couch closest to the window is my sister's fiance Ernie, my sis Laurie & my brother Mike.

Ken & Darryl chit chattin in the kitchen

On the love seat are my brother Kelly on the right & my brother Joe on the left. And on the couch you can get a glimpse of Mike, Laurie & Ernie's face.

Ken thought the turkey was over-done. But I thought it was yummalish. The whole butter under the skin thing browned it up nicely.

More chillaxin before the meal

My Mom-in-law Jeanne & me gabbin away

See why Aaron & Trish had to go to the back door to get in? On the left side of the table we have :my mom in law Jeanne, Father in law Bill, Joe, barely see Mike's shirt & Ernie. At the head of the table is my sis Laurie then on the right side of the table we have my brother Darryl, Kelly, Ken's Gpa & Gma. Ken bopped himself out of his chair for this pic....the wanker!!!

After the meal extravaganza. In this pic is Jim (my real dad) my lil brother Aaron in the black shirt, behind him is my lil brother Jimmy & Aaron's g/f Trish on the couch & in the front with the black shirt is my youngest brother Jesse.

On the left side is Joe, Laurie, ernie, sis in law Kim (my brother Pat's wife) their kiddos Jessica, Jeremy in the orange & Jon in the blue hat. In front of Jon is my brother Mike then my brother Pat is standing against my treadmill. Pat is talking to the top of Darryl's head & Kelly is finding something funny, Then we have Gpa & Gma Krause.

My brother Kelly sent me pics he took of the day. I'm trying to figure out how to upload that album still to post on here.

All & all it was a fanfreakingtastic Gobble till we wobbled Day!!!

Allison Jeanne

Our baby Allison Jeanne turned 7 today!!! And well, we love our pets so here's some pictures of the lil chunky monkey butt!! =)



Last winter we took a ride up to camp during a snowstorm to let the pups run. She has a tendancy of burying her head & catching snowflakes.

Last New Years before we left for the party.

Camping at Lyman Lake. We are not able to keep her out of the water if we tried.

Our truckin pup Alleybellison chillin in the sleeper of the semi. =)