A wonderful Thanksgiving

I think my ideal Thanksgiving would be at home in bed - being served meals all day. Well, this year wasn't like that but it was nice. We enjoyed spending time with Mom & Dad - longer than we've visited since we were newlyweds! The girls had a lot of fun too! DJ worked on the kitchen and even though it looks like he was working the whole time - he actually had a bunch of down time too!

The trip home was the biggest part of the adventure. DJ wanted to see a bit of snow to get in the holiday spirit. So - we took the "back way" home figuring that was our best chance for adventure. About halfway there - the rain started comming down. Then it was snow. Then the road started looking white (packed snow). I was too scared to pull over and let DJ drive so I ended up driving all the way home myself. We were listening to "The Fire of the Covenant" that Sharon had loaned us - about the part where they were going across rocky ridge - during this drive. The snow added to the tension of the story and the story added to the sympathy for snow travel for those pioneers! Before we got home, though the snow/rain had totally stopped and we were just driving on wet roads!

I used DJ's laptop and got my scrapbook kits organized by color this past week! I'm so excited - now I just have to find time to really get going doing pages.

Also - we found that our big beanbag had arrived when we got home! It's still "fluffing" and expanding from being compacted into the two big boxes. It's really fun, though. Today's the day I normally go to Kimball's school to help out - I just haven't called my trade friend and checked to see if she's up to all that fun yet or not....I'll have to let you know tommorrow. If I don't end up going - I think I'll spend as much of the day as possible in that beanbag. Just resting. I'll post a picture soon....

Listening

This might sound a bit crazy - but last night DJ and I were watching a movie - when I became distracted by a sound. It was a clicking sound...and I couldn't figure out what it was for the longest time. DJ couldn't hear it. Finally I realized - it was the sound of his eyes blinking! I don't know why it was so loud - maybe something funny going on with his contacts - or maybe my ears were extra sensitive. Crazy! Well, we had a good laugh over me hearing him blink - then I tried to ignore it and enjoy the movie. It was still distracting me - then I thought - I should be thankful that I can hear this - it means he's here with me instead of doing something else! Interesting the way we're led to appreciate the little things.

We went to Dan & Kaye's for dinner and had a real nice time. It was good to spend some time and visit especially since we won't be there for Thanksgiving dinner. We were able to express our love and concern in person and ask some follow up questions. The "mass" is really quite small - the size of a period at the end of a sentence. Still - it will be good to have more information next week. We so love living close to them and enjoying family get-togethers on a monthly basis!

Have a great day - and don't forget to listen!

A little Paint, that's all...

Well, I decided to finish painting upstairs today - just fine-tuning the trim line basically. A little paint can drive you crazy I've learned. It's impossible to get a perfect line - especially with so-so tools! Anyway, it's good enough. I started moving the clothes bins upstairs - then the bags of clothes to sort through and finally the seasonal decoration boxes. It's really looking good - especially since I sorted the clothes! The big beanbag is scheduled to arrive Wednesday. Not sure how that will work since we'll be at Chuck & Sue's....but somehow it will - It has to!

Now I have a huge bag (or two) of clothes to take to the DI - and a bin full of newspapers to recycle. Our city is hoping to get some curbside recycling going - sometime....so for now I take the newspapers to the Recycle drop-off.

While I was working - I had to transfer some Tivo movies to DVD - Big fish, Last Samauri, and X men 3. The things I do for the guys in my life who like these movies....evey tried to take out the commercials :)

It's almost 4:30 and I'm exhausted. I can't figure out why.....just kidding. Seriously, my counselor suggested at our last visit that my crazy activity (huge projects, etc) is for me to prove to myself that I can still do something....We're still thinking through that. These ideas just come to me - I don't plan them ahead enough to think - DJ could help. Well he was supposed to help upstairs tonight - but I thought - If I get a head start - what else would he be able to do? So I bring it on myself. I just need to figure out dinner.

On a sad note - My MIL Kaye had a test done last week to follow up on a spot on her lung showing in a X-ray. Well, there is definately a mass - they will follow up with a PET on the 27th to determine whether it is growing or has been there a while. Keep her in your prayers, please! The amazing thing is that they saw it on her lung at all - the X ray was of her abdomen (some other issue).

Tonight/tommorrow we pack for our trip - and leave tommorrow evening. We won't be back until Sunday night - but I hope to post updates while we're there - maybe not pictures, though.

Pumpkin Roll Madness

How do you know it's almost Thanksgiving at our Home? Pumpkin Roll Madness happens - this year Cori came to join in. Just look at that frosting!

We almost exceeded the amount the bowl could hold! We made (for the record) 9 pumpkin rolls. I wanted 3 and Cory took home the remaining 5 after we ate one at lunchtime. It was great fun! DJ is working on the radio in his truck tonight - hopefully he can get the new one working - He's really missed having a radio these past 4 or 5 months - Just the old radio stopped working.

Well, that's enough for today - have a great one!

Upgraded

I upgraded to the beta yesterday - so I couldn't access it to blog....But today - Hooray! Finaly I can post again! I thought I'd add some pictures of the remodel - I think I've got some decent ones....

This is the best shot I have taken of the Date Loft (top left). I ordered the beanbag - so I'm just waiting on that to come - of course I do need to paint the trim....So I better hustle!

The girls are so excited that it's almost done - we even picked out some curtains yesterday. On the right (below) - you can see the baking center next to the fridge. DJ keeps reminding me to get a picture of it open - so you get the idea. Maybe soon.... Some other various pictures that show my kitchen is a bit dark....I always have lights on but somehow you don't really get the idea..

We're trying to get some things finished up so we can go put in Grandma Sue and Grandpa Chuck's new kitchen over Thanksgiving. We'll keep you posted...

My comfy Computer chair

I'm thankful today for a comfy chair at my computer that allows me to be so relaxed and work at the computer - even when I don't feel my best. But - today I think is a bit better. Last night was really rough - so maybe I'm comparing it to that? Who knows. My lymph nodes in my neck are still visibly swollen and sore! I don't remember the last time I had something like this.

I had to write about our vacation last week, though. We went to Utah and had a pretty restful time! On Friday we decided to go visit Kari and the kids and Julie and the kids. I thought since I had to stop at Wal-mart in Tooele, I would go ahead and go the "back" way to Kari's - I had been the back way once before coming the other direction. Well, I didn't realize that there was a turn-off going south. I just followed the main road. I was having a lovely drive - recognizing little - especially the towns I was passing. I didn't get scared until I lost cell-phone reception. When reception returned I called Kari and explained my position as best I understood it - 30 miles or so outside of Delta (where is that anyway?) She helped me out by telling me to go toward Nephi (there was a turn off - onto a unlabeled, unpainted road). I followed that and her directions and made it safely! Here's just a couple pictures of the scenery....

So technically, I wasn't lost - I just didn't know where I was, but I could have retraced my steps and returned to my point of origin. And I did make it after all!

Just waiting....

So we had a really fun weekend visiting GG & Bruno. We are all back safe and sound. I developed a sore throat that is lingering....I went to the doctor and the quick strep was negative. So I'm just waiting to get better. I'm really tired so this will be short...I hope to update it with the great pictures from this weekend, though it will be another day at least. Have a great day!

Away we go!

We are spending the morning making all our trip preparations - I hope I don't forget too much! I plan on taking along my new external scrapbooking drive so I can work on pages if time comes up. The girls are enjoying a little extra TV time this morning - it sure helps Mama get packed up!

Kimball has her parent-teacher conference today so we'll check that out just before heading out on the open road. The real question is where to catch dinner- which fast food joint. They each have their opinion - and they don't always agree. Wherever we end up - I'm sure the food will quiet them for a few minutes.

We are so looking forward to seeing the Grandparents! We'll post some pictures tomorrow!

So here is a picture of the view from the front door. Things are comming along - it's just hard to be patient and believe that it will ever really be DONE! It's hard to really take a good picture and get it all in. DJ is in the kitchen and Shuggie is in the foreground of the picture. I'm grateful for a kitchen sink that has a disposal and running water. Living without that even for a short time really helped me appreciate them!

My girls are getting excited because we decided to take a quick trip without DJ to visit Bruno and Grandma Jo! With Kimball not having school, we couldn't pass up this chance for a visit longer than just a weekend! Mckay started taking about orange juice and how much she liked having that as an option! So today I'm busy cooking, cleaning and in all other ways getting ready for our trip! Kimball has a bake sale next Monday - and I'm pretty sure I won't feel like doing much on Monday - so I have to do it now. Also - a bit of food prep for the Bachelor pad here - Dad and DJ should be eating pretty good!

The long weekend

Well, It was a nice long weekend. I really was feeling fairly well - just so busy I didn't even take time to write on here! Mom and Dad came on Friday - and we had a lot of fun looking for some sucker supplies for mom - she ended up getting a couple of things in town - but ordered some other things from a web site : getsuckered.com

Saturday DJ worked on his truck all day - Kimball had her first festival. That went so well! She is really doing good - she'll find out what the judge's comments were tomorrow at her lesson.

Well, it doesn't sound that busy - but somehow it was :)

Had a wonderful visit with Grandma Jo - she requested more pictures of the kitchen - so I'll try to get those on for everyone to enjoy!

I can tell it's Fall

Costume legend: Harlan was Peter Pan, Gracie was Tinkerbell, and Emery was a Skunk (lost boy). Kimball was Belle (blue farm dress), Mckay was Snow White (of course), Hinckley was Aurora (AWahwa as she pronouced it) and Biscut was a bumblebee. I just posted the group shot to save time instead of individual pictures.

Kimball is getting ready for her first music festival this weekend andwith Grandma Sue coming, it's going to be a fun time! Grandpa Chuck only has a few more weeks of school left - four I think. We're really going to miss the weekly visits but hope to see them for longer periods of time when they do come to visit.

Well, fall is a great season - and here the trees are looking so colorful! Unfortunately, I'm discovering that my fibromyalgia flares this time of year. Last year was my first fall flare-up and this year looks to be shaping up the same :( I'm working under the idea of focusing on the positive, so if I miss a day on my blog - or two or three - it's probably because I'm having a tough time. Today has been really rough but I pulled out my aromatic microwavable heating pad and it is helping my mood if nothing else. I've got to find my electric one - Keep the heat coming!

Halloween Fun

What a wonderful, peaceful evening! DJ took the girls out Trick or Treating while I stayed home to pass out candy. We only had a handful of visitors - so I enjoyed a nice quiet evening on the computer. I took this sweet picture of my girls and Cory's kids while they were all here. It was really cold here - everyone had to wear their coats over their costumes. Biscut wanted to wear her bumblebee costume today even!

Just to clarify a bit - I did take the picture in the aforementioned post. We were not able to get close enough to tell if they were real or not - you be the judge! There were 2 other palm trees you can't see in this view. I was just so glad to have my camera with me to catch such a strange site!