And Then....

The camera broke. Well, actually first it broke, and then I lost the memory card. I apparently have bad luck with cameras. See, I broke the switch on the camera that made it possible for me to download them straight to the computer, but figured out I could still retrieve the pics by taking out the memory card and plugging it into my handy dandy printer! So it was all good for about 5 days until the memory card disappeared somewhere in between.

I guess this means I will have to start talking to you instead of just plugging in some pictures and a short description and calling it good. Gotta run for now, but hopefully you will hear from me again soon, one way or another!

Nov. 18, 2008.

Up And Running!

The stove is in and the fire is warm! We are loving the warmth in the morning when we get up, hanging the kids' gloves behind it after they play in the snow, and listening to the crackle of wood as it burns. Please don't mind the crazy stuff in the background! I'm trying to move all of the books out of the bookshelf and into new places so I can paint those shelves and Colby's going to turn the bottom portion into a wood box. That will be so nice - I'd forgotten how much mess is involved with a wood stove!! It seems like there are always a dozen projects going on at once here at our house or out in the barn and it's such a relief to finally have this one done.. or at least functioning! LOL! Nov. 15, 2008

More Birthday Fun!

On Friday night we went to Grandpa and Grandma J's for pizza and cake! I was so terrible about the kids' birthdays this month - Josh didn't get his Lightening McQueen cake, and Emmy didn't even get to blow out candles at all until the day after her birthday AND it was a Store Bought cake! How sad!!! They're only 3 and 5 and I'm already starting to slip! Hopefully next year their birthdays won't fall in the middle of the week! Nov. 14, 2008.

Three Years Old!

Emmy turned 3 last week. It's hard to believe she's that big already! Seems like she was just born the other day. She got to open a few presents at breakfast time - an I Spy book, and Auntie Raini's gift which included the curly blonde wig for her dress up box that she was apparently NOT impressed with, LOL! I'm sure Josh will have a great time with it, though! :P Nov. 13, 2008.

The New Stove

Is getting close to finally being a usable appliance in our house! The chimney insert went in just fine a few weeks ago, that is, after we removed 2 ft. of birds nests and some coal from the bottom. We removed the paneling that covered the wall where the chimney was in our living room, to be greeted by an old plaster wall this lovely shade of green! It goes nicely with the brown bookshelf next to it, the pink wall on the other side of it, the dark red wall close by, and of course, the hodgepodge 70's patchwork print couch in here too. If you really want a picture of it to remind you of what was in style back then I can do that for you, but I have to warn you - you will hurt your eyes if you look too long!!

I can't wait till we can have our first fire in our stove to warm up next to! Just have to iron out the last of the chimney glitches! Nov. 10, 2008.

Enough for a Snowball This Time!

The kids were so excited to wake up to a few inches of snow, so as soon as breakfast was over we bundled up and went out to try some snow angels! We had a little snowball "fight", LOL! and even tried to make a snowman, but it wasn't quite packy enough. It was very exciting, and Elayna loved it, except for the part where she couldn't get back up in her snowsuit if she fell down! Nov. 10, 2008.

Josh is 5 Years Old!!!

Josh's birthday was pretty simple - we had pizza here at home and a little cake with 5 candles to blow out! He wanted his bestest friend, "G" to come over for a party, but her family was otherwise occupied adding a new addition to their family, born right on Josh's birthday! Nov. 5, 2008.

Fun in the Leaves

The kids enjoyed all the leaves and played in the piles while I tried to keep it contained! Nov. 2, 2008.

Dorkus E. Doggus

Ha! Funny little hot dog! Oct. 28, 2008.

Elayna's Adventures

Elayna loves to climb up on the table and explore whatever is on there. And lately she's been realizing how fun it is to dump out what's left in her little cup that says "I love Jesus" when she's done getting a drink, which is fun to clean up. So this is one day when she did both at once! The top of the table is very wet, even though you can't really see the puddle! Oct. 28, 2008.

The First Snowfall

Our first snowfall of the year came on October 28th. It sleeted and snowed on and off all day, sometimes coming down pretty fast and furious, but didn't stick until nightfall.

Haircut Aftermath

Did I already name one my posts this? It's hard to remember considering all Emmy has been into lately! Here are a couple of pictures of Emmy posts haircuts. Yep, that's right, plural: haircuts. She has been brandishing scissors whenever possible, and so far her hair has suffered twice for it. I need a safe to keep the scissors in from now on!
This is how she looked the other day first thing in the morning, with all the little stubby parts sticking straight up around her face! I also took a picture of the back and added a couple of arrows to help you see the chunks of chopped hair. My, my, the stories I will have to tell of these years! Oct. 28, 2008.

Rockin' My New Sweater!

Okay, without all the long explanation I just had to take a couple of pictures of myself in the new sweater I bought at Kohls when I actually had a shower, blow-dried my hair, and put on make up all on the same day! LOL! Sounds simple and like no big deal, but I felt like a million bucks! Too bad I had to return the sweater when I found a hole in it :(
Oct. 27, 2008.

LEGO Man!!

He scales incredible stairways with no rails risking life and limb to base jump from the very top of Treacherous Towers!!! Afraid of heights?! Not Daredevil LEGO Man!

Colby and Josh had fun together building with LEGOs on Sabbath afternoon. Oct. 25, 2008.

Saying Goodbye...

It was a sad, hard day when we put Baron down. Saying goodbye is never easy, but I am thankful Colby chose to do this before it was cold and icy, before Baron was hurt or cold, or in pain. Josh and Emmy both got to sit on him (Josh got a ride to remember!) and then they went to stay with Grandma Rose for a few hours.

Baron was a Standardbred pacer who raced surrey carts in his younger days. Colby bought Baron when they were both 12 years old, and he was a good companion for 18 years. Oct. 24, 2008.