Saturday, December 27, 2008
Aaaand, it's almost over
We had a VERY nice Christmas! We are trying to make room for the new toys and stuff....always the challenge. The rooms will be cleaned over the next month and donations made!
The weather at the beginning of the week was bitter, snowy and all around wintery! Today, rain, fog and mid 50s....craziness!!!!!
I hope you are enjoying your holiday season!
Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
But not for me....
For those of you with a snow day today - enjoy! :D
Sunday, December 14, 2008
"MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!"

And of course, what Christmas movie viewing is complete without:


"I want a Red Ryder an official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time"
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Catch up time
Our upstairs tree (snowman theme):



Here she is with her antlers during the program:

It's fortunately been a pretty uneventful week!
The Survivor finale is on tomorrow night - it should be interesting! I'm rooting for Bob...
I hope you had a good week and enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Thursday
I know I promised pictures last weekend, but OBVIOUSLY THAT didn't happen....still on my "to do" list - I promise!
Hope you're having a good week. Don't forget about my cyber crop starting tomorrow at my other blog.... http://challengeu2.blogspot.com/2008/12/cyber-crop.html
Friday, December 05, 2008
TGIF!
Well we got a little more snow Wednesday and yesterday. Hopefully we'll be done for the winter now....
Been a pretty uneventful week and looks to be a pretty uneventful weekend. Sorry nothing real great to report.
2 Peas Friday Challenge - How did you meet you closest friend? I can answer that 2 ways....

I met my DH at our friends' wedding - best man/maid of honor....the rest, they say, is history.
Next weekend - I am having a "cyber crop" on my other blog: http://challengeu2.blogspot.com/2008/12/cyber-crop.html So I hope all you scrapbookers will check it out and hopefully be inspired.
Enjoy your weekend - and I am REALLY hoping to get some pictures posted this weekend!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Tuesday again
The trees are up, decorated and lit. (Pictures to come) DD can't understand why we don't have outside lights. :) Call us the neighborhood Scrooges, if you want - they are a lot of work...
Saturday night, we went to Famous Dave's for dinner after I got done with work. It was SO yummy! We ate like crazy too - shame on us... :D
We got about 5" of snow Sunday and yesterday. Due to the fact that there is a salt shortage, there wasn't a lot of salt on the roads yesterday, thus making it very interesting driving. Not that our county is notorious for having great roads in the winter anyway...BUT! So winter has arrived! The temps have taken a nose dive!
I will try to get some of my weekend scrapping/card making posted this week. Yes, I actually did some!
The Cubs have "officially" parted ways with Kerry Wood and Bob Howry. I can't say as I'm real destroyed over this fact. I just hope they are wise in finding their "replacements".
We are debating what our family Christmas outing will be this year. We are kind of tired of Navy Pier, so we are searching to see what is available in the area. I am still on the hunt of DH's gift - he once again bought himself what I was going to get him - but have come up with some ideas. So, hopefully I can get that taken care of in the next couple of weeks.
Hope all is well and that you have a great week - thanks for stopping by!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thankful!!
*My family!
*My friends!
*My jobs -- and I actually enjoy them
*That we have food on our table
*That we have a roof over our heads
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and have much to be thankful for also!
It was Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day today. I thought I would be celebrating the Buy Nothing Day but alas, not so. DH & DS went out at 4 this morning to get in line at Wal-Mart. Then after they got home and we had breakfast, he decided to see if Menards had any more shop vacs and since it was about 8, I decided to go with. No shop vacs but we got 4 gifts taken care of! :-)
Whatever you did today, I hope you enjoyed!
Oh and did I mention...I got some scrapping done today!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
No more!
Sorry for the bluntness I'm just tired of one-sided friendships....
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Vivaaaaa Las Vegas!


Sunday - We checked out of the Hilton; drove to Wynn for their brunch buffet. If you left hungry, it was your OWN FAULT!!!! The dessert room (yes, I said room) was incredible! We checked into the Bellagio - where they upgraded us to a junior suite corner room with a partial lake view. We could see a little of the fountains but the views of the mountains were amazing! We spent part of the afternoon exploring Bellagio and a couple of the other hotels. We saw "O" that night - we were quite disappointed in it. Very cool concept but the story was lost on us.
Monday - we slept in (ok, I did - DH went downstairs). We went "looking for breakfast" - which meant we walked around for about 4 hours taking it all in. (Yes, we did find McDonald's for breakfast). We visited the pool again that afternoon and relaxed. We headed out early evening to take in the evening "entertainment" (aka: Sirens of TI; Volcano at Mirage [being remodeled right now]; Show in the Sky at Rio [only runs Thurs - Sun]; so we headed back to Bellagio to catch a fountain show); then a big foofy dessert to end the evening.
Tuesday - packed; had Bellagio's breakfast buffet (YUM!). DH surprised me with a mini-massage and facial at the spa. WHAT A MAN!!!! Sorry ladies, he's mine! :D We took a snooze before check out. Then drove to Paris to check out the hotel and find one more dessert before leaving. Our flight home was with 28 passengers (including the crew from the 6:05 flight that had been cancelled)
I promised DH if he took this picture - I'd put it on my blog...this was my picture with the Chippendales.....


Proceed with caution!!!!!
Friday, November 21, 2008
I'm back!
I will catch up with pictures over the weekend - have a good one!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
What Eurpean city do you belong in?
Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions.You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.
Update below......
Tuesday catch up - again....
DS had a karate tournament on Sunday. He took 1st in his open hand forms event. He did not place in his weapon forms event. He did his best and that was all we asked of him!
Not much else is new - the weather has been COLD!!!!!!!!!!! Barely out of the 30s during the day. We had a few snow flurries over the weekend - nothing stuck but the flakes were in the air.
I had to do the dreaded this weekend - jeans shopping! Is there anything more torturous?! SERIOUSLY!!!!! After trying on I don't know how many pairs (all of which are made for someone with NO hips or who like to wear their jeans with their ass crack hanging out!) - I was getting frustrated. We finally found some at Kohls for those of us too uncool to wear "ultra low riders".
DH & I got a little Christmas shopping done on Sunday morning. Good start to things! Fortunately, we don't have too much to do this year.
Congrats to the Cubs' Geovany Soto for winning the National League Rookie of the year! WOO HOO!!!
Hope you had a good weekend and the week is going well, so far.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Catching up - finally....

HALLOWEEN - our little "Belle" had a marvelous time trick or treating. The weather - couldn't have been better!!!! Mid 60s, sunny...super! Considering the week had started with highs in the 30s, we were slightly concerned. But Mother Nature came through!
Here is DS in his Halloween finery...


Thursday, November 06, 2008
Dashing through the leaves
Saturday morning (November 1) DD asked when Christmas was....sigh! It's going to be a long 2 months.
The TV commercials are in full swing now - it was bad enough in August.... "Oooo, I should ask Santa for that" is a common mantra the past few weeks.
And yesterday....the Wal Mart and Build a Bear Wish Books came in the mail. DH said DD sat on the floor almost drooling over them for over an hour last night. I fear what is on her "wish list" now.
Happy Holidays!
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Catch-up Tuesday!
Saturday, we had friends and their kiddos come to stay for the night. We had a great time and a nice visit. (She's starting to scrapbook too)
Sunday, was parade day! I didn't have my camera - sorry!!!!! DH & I were float judges so we had to be there early and worked with 3 other volunteers to look at them. It was SO windy (40 - 45 mph) and those poor floats were just falling apart! But there was a lot of creativity and time put into some of those and it was fun to be a part of it. We got to our seats a little before the parade started but had to run to get a blanket from the car. As I was heading back to where we were sitting, the color guard was coming through and it stopped me in my tracks to watch down the street as all those people got out of their seats as those flags went by. It made me very proud to live in this country. The parade was fun - the kids loved the bands. It sleeted during the parade. When we got home - it snowed. A lovely taste of winter....
It's been very cold the past couple of days - we had our first hard frost last night. No denying it, it's coming....
I hope you all had a great weekend!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Friday funny
to know each other so well, they decided to get married.
One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom.
The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was
handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely.
After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the bride-broom leaned over and
said to the groom-broom, 'I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!'
'IMPOSSIBLE !' said the groom broom.
Are you ready for this?
Brace yourself; this is going to hurt!
'WE HAVEN'T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER!'
..............
Oh for goodness sake... Laugh, or at least groan.
Life's too short not to enjoy... Even these silly
....little cute............. And clean jokes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds to me like she's ....... !
......been ....sweeping around!!!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A taste of autumn!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Weekend review
Running through the leaves!




I almost forgot, our "team outing" last Thursday. We had a perfect day - 60 and sunny. We stopped for apple cider donuts and warm cider - mmmm!!!!! THAT'S a breakfast of champions. Then it was off to the corn maze - we had a good time. I learned that giving a simple direction can be interpreted 3 different ways. Funny how everyone communicates just a little different....
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Thursday ramblings
DD's daycare class had their open house last night. I love little kids singing! She's such a ham.... Thanks mom & dad for coming.
Today our office is taking a "team building" day. We are headed to a corn maze. The weather should be nice & hopefully I'll get some pictures taken.
The basement is progressing. DH has everything trimmed out and a small wall painted (so we could see how we liked the color - LOVE it!).
I am going to scrapbook with some friends tomorrow night and I'm really excited about it! I hope to get a few layouts done - there's much talking to be done, you know....
Have a good day and I'll catch you up with some pictures soon!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Zoo Day!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
2 Peas Sunday Challenge & misc stuff
I'm usually pretty good at a general time frame. If I have a calendar handy (and I try to keep a journal of things we do) then I can look it up. So, remember exactly? NO! :-)
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Even though the weather is a bit summerish this weekend - the trees are starting to turn - I can take NO credit for any of the photos in this collage - they were created using flickr. (You can click on it to see it larger)

We watched a couple of movies yesterday/last night.
Don't waste your time and/or money!!!! It was BAD! The only thing we enjoyed about it is it was filmed at the resort we stayed at on Oahu and it was great to see other parts of it!
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Apparently when I changed my template - I lost my link list - hang in there, I will get back to your blog and add it if you were there.
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Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Thanks for stopping by.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Week in review & secrets

Sunday - we went to Kite Festival for about an hour before the skies really opened up. So we got

Monday - my parents celebrated their 35th anniversary! Congrats and Happy Anniversary!
Tuesday - we went to the mall after work to finish getting the rest of DD's Halloween costume. It was pretty quiet there and many of the stores had their summer stuff on clearance, so we got DS some new shirts.
Today - DS went to play disc golf with 6 (yes - 6!) girls from school. He was the only boy. Does this worry a mother? YOU BET!!!!! Bear in mind, this is after he said to me last night (when DH was teasing him about the girl he went to homecoming with not wanting to go out with him again playing hard to get) - "Well if that's how she wants to be, she can go to the back of the line because there's other girls waiting." I almost died laughing! Tonight, he's out with "the guys" for their annual pilgrimage to the local corn maze. They have gone every year for the last 3 or 4 and they have a good time.
Other than that, it's been a pretty quiet week - thank goodness!
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My blogging friend, Emily, tagged me with "6 Secrets". The "object" is to tell 6 secrets and then tag others. So I will start with tagging anyone who reads this!
My secrets (don't hold your breath on these):
1. In high school, I thought I would play piano or keyboards for a rock star.
2. I have a half-written romance story. My goal is to have it "published" by the end of 2009.
3. I really love my jobs but...I am somewhat envious of stay-at-home moms/dads. It's one of those things I've never been able to do and probably won't be able to. I hope you know how fortunate you are! :)
4. I have started watching General Hospital again - thank you, Soap Net!
5. I try to be the "sophisticated" library employee and read classics and good fiction - but I REALLY enjoy a good trashy romance.
6. I am a TERRIBLE housekeeper! The floor gets swept and the counters get wiped down regularly, other than laundry - not much else is done on a regular basis. I hate to admit it! My mom raised me much better than that - sorry mom!
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Enjoy your weekend!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Post #350
Nothing real exciting so far this week - thank goodness!!!! The wedding was wonderful on Saturday - a beautiful day and a very good looking, happy couple. We went to Kite Fest for about an hour on Sunday before the rain got too heavy. It was fun and DD loved flying her kite and looking at all the others.
We took DD to the dr this afternoon to have her eye checked. She has a small sty - we are told that warm compresses should drain it. Fun, fun! She's so patient....
I hope to get some weekend pictures up in the next day or two.
Hope your week is going well!
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Think Pink!
And NO, I don't want to talk about the Cubs!
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Saturday randomness
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I finished a book this week: I loved it - it's the 2nd in a series.
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I actually did a little scrapping last night - I hope to post this weekend, because I'm hoping to get some cards done tonight...
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DH is working hard on the basement - hopefully the computer/craft room will be completed by the middle of November. The bathroom will have to wait...
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My friend, Edith, is getting married today. Unfortunately, due to a schedule mix up at work, I will miss the ceremony but we should JUST make dinner...
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I think that's about it for now. I hope you all have a great weekend!
Friday, October 03, 2008
A big, deep hole!
So, now they are off to LA and if they lose tomorrow night - it's over. OVER! Do you hear me guys????!!!!!!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Happy October!
Well, last night's playoff game did NOT go well!!!!!! Mr Dempter (aka: Dumpster) pitched like crap! Excuse me, gentlemen, but you only have so many games before you are DONE for the season!!!! Get with the program. I hope Zambrano pitches better tonight. Oh, and another thing...I have a small wager riding on this series, so get your act together!!!! I do NOT want to wear a Dodgers hat!!!!
Other than the playoffs, it's been a pretty quiet week. Just work and baseball... The weather is very fall-like. Jackets are needed and the trees are turning.
I am hoping to get my scrapbooking mojo back soon! I have a layout that's been sitting on the table, unfinished, for 2 weeks now. I walk by it frequently but just look at it and can't seem to "make it work". My goal is to sit down Friday night and work on some cards and hopefully a layout or two.
It's Thursday and there's only 2 days left in the work week! Woo hoo!!!!
Have a great rest of the week!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
YES!
Thank you Cubbies for an amazing regular season - may this just be the start of more wonderful memories this season!
Bring it, Dodgers!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Give them wings
Reality check for mom! I realized when "the date" came to pick up "my baby" that I


To distract me though, DD threw herself down in the grass and cried because "she missed them". We took her to McD's for dinner and across the street that was a big group of kids all dressed for homecoming and she thought they looked "beautiful". She played video games and got her Wizard of Oz toy - all was well.
DS made it home by curfew - lucky for him. He reported he had a very good time and danced all night. Dinner was "ok" and her friends were "characters".
So, we have survived the 1st date. Does it get easier?????
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
It's coming....
DS's 1st date. He has a date for Homecoming this weekend. I am trying to be cool and calm. We went and got his clothes and shoes tonight - he should be one good looking guy. Does that worry me? YES!!!!!!!! She's older and she drives.
(Deep breath....)
Okay, sorry! I have a few more days to pull myself together and act like a "normal" mom.
These are things that make me appreciate what my parents did - with 5 of us!!!! Lordy! How did they listen to us talk about our crushes and dates and not lose their minds? (or did they...)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Hoping & praying!
Song by Eddie Vedder
Enjoy Cubs fans!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
4!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The magic number is 4!!!!!! My Cubs beat the Booers last night - woo hoo!!!!!!! That's right - they handed Sabathia is first loss this season in a Booers uniform. (Excuse me a moment - HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!! - ok, sorry!) Thank you Soriano for the homer - we would have been in DEEP doo doo without it.
Yesterday was declared Carlos Zambrano Day in the state of Illinois - after he pitched his no-hitter on Sunday. Congrats, Z!
(Remember, I don't have much of a life, so you're going to be hearing lots of baseball the next few weeks!)
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On another baseball type related notes: Cubs radio announcers, Pat Hughes & Ron Santo are both on the ballot for the Frick award. Vote often!
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Update on our ENT visit:
We received our order to go ahead with DD's CT scan. So once that clears the insurance "pre approval" we will set that up. Then comes the discussion on hearing aids.
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Happy Hump Day all!
Have a SUPER day!
GO CUBS!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tuesday
Well the rain finally stopped! The river across the street is over its banks and there are houses underwater. Fortunately, we have stayed dry through the storm. Thank you, Ike! For those who were in Ike's direct hurricane/tropical storm path, I hope things are ok.
Due to the rain, it was an uneventful weekend. It cancelled all of our plans - except work - but that's ok. It was restful.
6: 6 is the magic number for the Cubs! 6 is the magic number until the clinch the NL Central Division! It COULD come as early as Thursday. Zambrano pitched a NO-HITTER Sunday night against Houston - it was wonderful! Lille came pretty damn close yesterday - no hitter into the 7th. GO CUBS!!!!!!!
Not much else to say right now.
I hope you had a good weekend and a great week!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
To my girlfriends....
Leann Rimes' GOOD FRIEND & A GLASS OF WINE
Enjoy!
Friday, September 12, 2008
TGIF!
We take DD to the ENT this afternoon. New guy - hopefully he can start lining up some of the testing that she is now old enough for to possibly determine the "cause" of her hearing loss. Of course, this appointment will lead to the one where we discuss hearing aids. But that is a topic (the financial end of it) that just ticks me off and I won't go into it here for fear of possibly offending someone... (maybe another day!)
The big rivalry HS football game is tonight. DS is going but weather permitting, we will decide about the rest of us. He is SO excited about it!
Tomorrow....hmmmm....oh, BIG book sale at the library! I have to work but will probably take some time to browse the selection. And if we can get some non-rainy time, I told DS I would take him to the tennis courts so he can watch his old mom stumble around and gasp for air. :-D
Sunday we are planning on going to the kite festival. Again, from the sounds of things, weather permitting.
For those of you in Ike's path - please stay safe and I pray for little or no damage and your safety!
I have a new challenge up today on my scrap blog:
Other than that, just cleaning house and laundry. Woo hoo!
What are YOU doing this weekend?
And a fun "start your weekend" photo:
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Tuesday's almost over...
Garage sales/Saturday: YES! Spent about $35. We got DD a stack of clothes - including stuff from Children's Place, Gap Kids, a Lands End winter coat. I found a purse and a set of Friends DVDs. I worked the afternoon at the library - it was nonstop from 1:00 to 4:00 then it just dropped off. I guess everyone went home or to the bar to watch the Huskies.
Sunday: Fair Day! It was a beautiful day! We got down there and wandered through the livestock barns. DH had me going when he said he had bought a bunny. Yes, I was going to kill him. Then DS gave him away by snickering... BRATS! We walked through the arts and crafts buildings.

Monday: Came home from work early because of my head. I slept most of the afternoon away.
Today: Ahhhh, yes! Class ring day....so, we went and ordered DS's ring. Needless to say, it was more than we were looking to spend...BUT - he's only getting one so we figured this way he would get what he wanted to on it. All I have to say is, he better not be giving it to some girl and he better be wearing it. Merry Christmas!
2 Peas Challenge for Wednesday: What is something you would like to find at an antique store....
Hmmm...where would I start? I actually like to look for the old tin cookie cutters. I have found a few.
Hope you all had a good weekend!
I leave you with a couple more fair pictures....


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I decided to try to keep up with this challenge this year. Plus, it jumpstarted my scrapbooking for the year and got me doing this layout. ...
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I hope you all had a nice weekend! Saturday, I worked at the library. We got about 2 more inches of snow. Winter can move along, now! ...
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Happy Friday! I'm making some headway on these adventures this year. Yesterday, I completed #23-Try to be a movie/TV extra ...