12:01 a.m.

12:01 a.m. – the party’s over, 2013 is here and it’s time to buckle down!

We have been in our new house for a month and I still have piles all around.  We’ve gotten tons put away – but every time one pile disappears – another reappears.

We still have boxes and furniture in the basement and some things in the garage (along with the piles in the house) but we are making this house our home and it feels good!

My resolution for the new year – GET MY LIFE ORGANIZED!

~Happy New Year~

Merry Christmas 2012

 

Merry Christmas

from our house to yours

Coin

Make a wish

ONE

One nation under God

Outside

This is my view outside from the kitchen window. 

It may look like “just” a dirt pile, but to my boys it’s pure joy.

The city is renovating all the sidewalks in need of repair – how nice you may think!  Well, think again; it’s great that they are fixing/replacing every sidewalk in the city that has been in desperate need of repair for years, but it is all at the expense of the property owner.  We don’t mind helping out, but to say to us that you need your sidewalk replace now and here is a bill for $2,000 that needs to be paid immediately is like a kick in the stomach.  We are able to pay this bill, but I am sure there are many that can not.

Now, back to the dirt – my boys are in utter joy over this pile!  They have jumped their bikes over it, dug holes (or tunnels depends on who you ask), climbed all over it and have gotten out all the matchboxes and monsters trucks they can possibly find.

The funny part – watching the bobcat driver this morning sifting through the dirt pile to get out all the abovementioned toys before he can scoop up some dirt.  My theory – I am paying two grand for this project, the dirt pile is mine!

On a side note, I probably have a 1/4 of that dirt pile throughout my house to include my kitchen floor, dirty footprints up the stairs, all over my bathroom floor, dirty handprints along the side of the shower and a hefty pile in the bottom of the tub. 

**sigh** Guess I better get cleaning – they’ve just delivered a new pile……

August Photo A Day

So I totally flopped on the July Photo A Day Challenge, so why not try again in August.  

Photo a day August challenge list

Just follow the list, use the daily prompt as inspiration and take a photo. Share that photo anywhere you like, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Twitter etc.

Here’s some more details on the list, explaining what each prompt MIGHT mean.  There are no rules.

1. Outside: Take a photo of outside {outdoors} or something outside of something.
2. One: This can be anything. The number 1. The word one. A single item.
3. Coin: This can be money. Perhaps a coin you see on the ground. One from your wallet.
4. Somewhere you sat: Where have you sat today? Take a photo.
5. Logo: Take a photo of a logo, on something you buy, somewhere you see it or something you have at home. Or even your own logo?
6. Writing: This could be your own writing, something you’re reading, or something someone wrote to you.
7. 8 o’clock: Take a photo of whatever you’re doing/seeing at 8am or 8pm. Or both.
8. Glasses: This could be drinking glasses, sunglasses or spectacles.
9. Messy: What’s a mess? Take a photo of it. Again, be creative. Think outside the box.
10. Ring: This could be like a wedding ring, or a circle or even someone on the phone?
11. Purple: Take a photo of something purple.
12. Spoon: Take a photo of a spoon, the eating utensil.
13. Simple: Take a photo of simplicity, whatever this means to you.
14. Arrow: Take a photo of an arrow.
15. Ready: What’s ready right now? Are you ready to explore? Is your lunch ready? Are you ready to leave? This one will get you thinking.
16. Food: Take a photo of food, real or play.
17. Faces: Do you see faces in things? In clouds, on cars? Take a photo. Or take a pic of real faces.
18. Inside: Go outside and look in, take a photo. Or take a photo of something inside something else.
19. Hole: Take a photo of a hole.
20. Today: Take a photo of something in your day today.
21. Cool: This can be something in temperature or something that’s ‘hip’.
22. Home: What reminds you of home? Or even take a photo of your home. Or simple a house.
23. Pair: Take a photo of a pair, two people, salt and pepper, two things that go together.
24. Path: Take a photo of a path, or your feet on the path.
25. Fresh: Take a photo of something fresh.
26. Dream: What did you dream about last night? Or what are your ‘hopes and dreams’?
27. Tap: Take a photo of a tap, or someone or something ‘tapping’.
28. Clock: Take a photo of a time-telling device.
29. Down: Look down, take a photo. Or however you want to interpret this!
30. Card: Take a photo of a card, a business card, a loyalty card, a gift card or something else.
31. Hidden: Take a photo of something hidden.

Setting Sail

Goodbye, Farewell, Bon Voyage,

Sayonara, Arrivederci, Adios,

Aurevoir, Shalom, Hasta La Vista

So long my friends!  Me, my oldest son Gregory and my Mother are getting ready to set sail on our first cruise.  The journey will begin at 2:00 a.m. when we leave for our drive to Albany.  From there we will board a train to NYC where we will board the ship.

For two and a half days we will be at sea, then spend two days in Bermuda and then head back to NYC.  We will arrive back in NYC on Sunday morning and will board the train late Sunday night – this will give us a whole day to spend in the city sightseeing and shopping.

While I am very excited to show my oldest the Big Apple, I’m very sad to be leaving my youngest at home.  It was decided that this first cruise will be a learning adventure and we will see how the little guys will do so we can take them on the next one.

I will miss you my babies!

My Three Guys

These three guys hold a very special place in my heart – and always will. 

I love you boys forever and ever.

Happy New Year!

Ornament Party 2011

Luke’s teacher, Mrs. Keenan, hosting her annual ornament party for the kindergarteners. Every year she puts this party together for all her kids and the parents are encouraged to come and participate. This was my second year and, unfortunately, my last.

Luke was so excited and we had so much fun spending the morning together.

 

 Best Buddy Jack

 Lucas and Bella

The girl he is currently exchanging love letters with!

Thanksgiving 2011

This year, as always, we had our meal at Steve’s parents house.  His sister and her family came to town and Uncle Lenny was there.  Carol puts together a fabulous meal, the boys played until they crashed and the adults laughed and ate and ate and ate.

Thanksgiving night at 9:30 p.m. me, my mom and my friend Tiffany headed out the door to shop the sales!  We hit Walmart, Target, Panera Bread, the mall, Michaels, Kohls and a pit stop at McDonald’s for a large diet coke!  We did not spend an outrageous amount of money nor were we after any high ticket items – we just love being in the mix of it all.  We did not get home until 7:30 a.m. Friday morning.

While we were at my in-laws I had the boys sit so I could try to get a couple pictures for our Christmas cards.

This makes me laugh!

This is going to be the one.  

Cousins

Joseph, Jason, Gregory, Daniel and Lucas

 

Homecoming 2011

Gregory went to his first homecoming dance this October. 

Him and Keirsten looked great and had a wonderful time. 

I’m so proud of the handsome young man he is becoming!

~SUMMER~

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far!  We have been busy with wrestling events, t-ball, basketball, swimming, birthday parties, zoo trips, cottage stays, crafting and plenty more.  We still have to fit in another cottage stay, a trip to the state fair, the Renaissance festival, more birthday parties and tons more swimming!!

Stay tuned and when things slow down, the kiddos go back to school and the weather forces us to stay inside I’ll post about our summer.

Happy Easter

 

So, it’s Easter Sunday, the boys are all here, dressed and looked great and the sun is out.  What better time for some pictures!!  Steve had to work, so when my family came over, I made them stop with the Easter business and start snapping pictures!  I’m very pleased with how great they turned out.

  

This one is my favorite, it shows the exact personality of each child – Greg just wants them to behave, quit horsing around and get the show on the road so he can get to his girlfriends, Joseph loves getting his picture taken and will smile the best smile and pose anyway you ask him to, Luke he just wants to screw around, try to make everyone laugh and pull off the funniest face!

  

I love these guys!!

HAPPY EASTER

Spring Concert

 

The first grade classes at Joseph’s school had a small spring concert.  I just love hearing all those kiddos belting out the songs!  They did fabulous!!

 

Spring Blossoms

 

Spring is in the air afghan!

For more details – check out our craft blog HERE!

Craftin’

Let the crafting begin!

We applied for and finally received our Federal ID number which means we can now attend craft shows and, better yet, are able to purchase items at Michaels – tax exempt!

The next step is deciding on and preparing our display area and finding shows. We have tons of ideas up our sleeve and have already researched all the shows in the surrounding areas.

Keep an eye for us this summer. For a preview – check out our craft blog by clicking - The Pineneedle Valley

Maggie May

Our kitty Maggie May is getting bigger – so much so that we really can’t call her a kitten anymore!

She still has a the feistiness though and is constantly playing, running and attacking my yarn.

At a Stand Still

 

Well, a few weeks ago I finished the last of the Sue Grafton Alphabet Series.  All is at a stand still until V is published!  I finished this book about two weeks ago and am just now getting around to posting it…..things have been crazy busy!!

*Photo courtesy of suegrafton.com

S is for….

Silence

I finished up another book today and I love that I can start on a new one tonight!  I have already read T is for Trespass (back in December) so now I’m on to U is for Undertow and that will complete the series until V is written.

photo courtesy of suegrafton.com