Columbus Day

So today being a holiday - Ryan and Claire had the day off. Technically, Ryan never gets a day off (everyone is his lab works all hours, all days), but he didn't work today. Instead we stayed very busy doing things around the house. I made more salsa with the tomatoes from our garden, cleaned the kitchen, swept, wiped, took out trash, organized toys, folded clothes, washed dishes, made beds, etc. Ryan worked hard in the yard planting some bushes that were a steal at Lowe's. Fall is the time to buy plants (perennials anyway); you can get some good deals. We also made two trips to the hardware store and a trip to the lumber yard. Our next major project is putting up a wood fence. We're going to get the planning and buying done this week and build it next week. Hopefully the weather holds for us. I made fried chicken and cornbread for dinner and then we were back outside, aerating and tilling the lawn for reseeding. It got dark, so we'll have to finish in the morning. I then replaced the toilet handle with broke this afternoon and re-caulked part of the kids' shower while Ryan attached a hook in Claire's ceiling for her bed-net thingy. Now Ryan is trying the re-caulk around the base of the bathtub.

Needless to say, there is a lot to do and we have been working hard. We have a huge list of things that need to be done to the house. It's more than I want to think about. Owning a home has opened our eyes and clarified what we want one day. We used to think it would be fun to fix up a historic home. Well, that ain't happenin'!!! We have now decided to buy a piece of wild, wooded land and then have a modern, modular home built. They are very "green", easy to maintain, very sleek and clean, and we would buy a small one. The bigger the home, the more to maintain and pay for. So that's our plan; now actually being able to do it is another thing. We can dream, can't we??

I want to write about or conference weekend and post some pictures, but I'll have to do that another day. I'm off to bed!

Night Owl

So it's after midnight and I'm wide awake. I thought I would take this time to write a quick post. There are several reasons I'm awake right now: long, late nap, 16 oz Dr. Pepper and lots of chocolate. I can only blame myself. However I would not have needed that nap if William had been a good boy during the previous night instead of crawling in and out of my bed, whining, etc. So here I am, the house is dark, everyone is asleep, our eccentric neighbor is out working in his yard, and the toilet keeps running (don't you hate that??). I decided to quit trying sleep and to do a little online browsing. I have browsed IKEA (I'm looking for end tables for the living room), read a little news on CNN and checked my email since I didn't get a chance earlier today. After I'm done here, I think I'll curl up on the couch and watch some reruns on the TV.

Tonight we went to Target to pick up a few things. I love Target, but there isn't one anywhere near my house. There is a KMart fairly close, but it's incredibly trashy and most of the employees there seem lacking in the intelligence department. Don't get me wrong, they're friendly, but "off" somehow. So then the next closet place is Wal-Mart: a little less trashy, but always crowded, loud, and sometimes smelly. There always seem to be a lot of mothers yelling threats at their children as they try to get them to behave at midnight. Who in their right mind expects small children, after being in day care all day, to behave when their cranky parents drag them to Wal-Mart for a shopping trip at 10:30 at night? Screaming at them to get their "butts" over here is not the solution - try "bed" people or give them a break!! Anyhow, so then there's Target two cities over. I made the extra effort to go to my favorite store and it paid off big time. While we were walking up to the store, to my surprise and delight, there were two little girls calling out the sweet words "Girl Scout Cookies!!". Twelve dollars later, we are enjoying some Thin Mints and other cookie treats (enter the chocolate). We found everything we needed and more (enter the Dr. Pepper to wash down the Girl Scout cookies) and left in good spirits despite the kids running around the lighting isle with lamp shades on their heads. I think Ryan took a picture - I'll have to post it later.

Well, time to hit the couch, maybe with a box of cookies. I hope you all slept well and I hope I get to sleep soon; I have a lot to do tomorrow. Goodnight, or should I say good morning?!

Photos- Trip to Maeystown, IL

We were searching for a run-away frog in the Maeystown creek.

Papa with Claire and Willam

Group photo

William was unhappy about having this photo taken.

Who says playgrounds are just for kids?

Beautiful children.

Lots to Share

Our family has had a busy few weeks. Ryan's parents flew in to help us paint some of the interior of our home. They were kind enough to purchase paint, prep and paint the living room, dining room, and kitchen. We could not have done it without their help - as it was, we barely got it done with their help. Previous owners mangled the walls by not removing old wallpaper glue and then doing who knows what to it so that paint would not stick to the wall!! It was truly amazing.

While they were here, we took trips to two historic towns in the area. One was called Mayestown and the other Lebanon.; both are beautiful and very old. It was wonderful having them here and it was sad to see them go. Who knows the next time we'll see them - we average about once a year - SAD!!

I had to get back into the swing of things today. I spent the entire morning doing laundry and ironing clothes. Then I spent the entire afternoon on the phone with insurance companies and paying bills. Then when Claire got home, we made a trip to Sam's Club for some much needed items (one of which was diapers - I forgot them and Ryan had to go back tonight). Then it was dinner, baths, a book and bed. No nap for either of them, so by 6pm, I had had enough of them. Some kids get grumpy when they get tired, mine get psycho. They were literally running around, screaming and running into each other; and that was just the beginning.

So now that the kids are asleep, the dishes are clean and Ryan is home, I'm going to call it a night. I have a ton of pictures to share (thanks to my mother-in-law), but Ryan updated our virus protection/firewall and now I can't upload photos or use my laptop. Good times.

Absent...again.

Once again, I have been missing from the virtual world. This time, I have a better excuse than reading books all day (see previous post). My in-laws are in town and we have been busy painting the interior of my house. They have been here a week now and will leave tomorrow afternoon. We have had a wonderful time with them here and they have been fabulous sports with the painting. Seeing as how it's already late and I'm exhausted from teaching and from the evening festivities, I'm going to make this short and crawl into bed. I promise to be back tomorrow with pictures of the newly painted living room, dining room and kitchen. I still have to paint my bedroom, William's, both bathrooms, the garage and the pantry and hall closet. Then there is all of the trim in the whole house to be painted white. I don't even want to think about that right now. The kitchen was so horrible (I'll explain tomorrow) that it makes me never want to paint again.

I have enjoyed reading all of your blogs and emails. Once again, sorry I have been absent and antisocial. Things will start to slow down this weekend - I hope. Goodnight.

Book Worm

So I get to playgroup last Thursday, and a friend of mine brought a book that she had just finished and was wondering if anyone wanted to read it. I was up for it since I was currently looking for a fun, fast book. I took it home Thursday, thinking I would read it here and there over the next several days. Well, that didn't quite happen. I read a few pages Thursday afternoon thinking it was OK. But when I began reading again that evening - I was up until 3am. Ryan came looking for me around 2am and then again at 3am. I figured he wasn't sleeping well with me out here, so I went to bed and I'm glad I did. I had to teach Friday and I was very tired.

I finished the book Friday and had a day of "rest" on Saturday. I ended up having to work at a marching band festival during the afternoon with my band - they did very well and I was proud of them. I didn't stay for the next festival because Ryan had to chaperon a church dance and both of the kids weren't feeling well. So Ryan brings book 2 in the series home Sunday from my giving friend. I finished it this afternoon and I just got back from her house, picking up book three. I did spend the afternoon (after finishing book 2), cleaning and getting my house ready to paint before I picked up the third book.

But now that I have book three, I should warn you that I will be out of commission for the next day and half. I promise to be better about writing once I'm finished with these books. They are very good and a lot of fun to read. I think Ryan is cursing my friend under his breath for exposing me to these books - but I'm loving it! When life gets dull, discouraging, or a little depressing, there's nothing like a good book to take you out of your world and into another. If you're curious about the books I'm reading, drop me a comment!

Home Office and William's day

It's already late as I start this. I have to teach in the morning, so going to bed is next on my 'to do' list. I wanted to document a little of a typical day for William while Claire is at school. Here he is taking a break with his goldfish.

Playing with cars is what William does most mornings.

A little play-doh

And a little play-doh on the couch.

Claire's "office"

Playing in the rain Sat.

I had more to write, but it's after 11pm, the kids are asleep, and I'm going to bed. Goodnight.