This is Mittens

or "Mitzer"

or "Schmitty"

or "the Mitt"

This is the last remaining kitten that "Dot" had out of three. Poor little guy. He is an outcast in the Kitty Community, but "Snickers" seems to like having him around (only when we are not looking).

Sunset on the farm

The cloud formations were just the coolest, so I had to run into the house to get my camera, I know, "why weren't you wearing it?"....I was out doing some chores.....

Give a kid a camera....

...and this is what you get back

...one decent shot...

...and then....

really?....

...nice.....

I sent the old digital camera up north with the "crew" and this is 5 of the 85 photos taken....you can guess by the majority of these that the remaining 80 are about as nice....and relevent as these are. Rather funny to look at I guess, as an objective observer, but seriously.....do they do any hunting up there?

EXPO weekend

We were in WAUSAU for the weekend for s Stamp & Scrap EXPO. After work on Friday we packed up the Torrent with supplies for the Make & Takes, stuff to sell and things to display them with...and took off. We had just enough room to each have a seat!
After unloading the works, setting them up and beautifying it all we headed for the hotel. Since we had some time to kill before bed and needed a little snack, we headed to the Hudson Grill...after crossing the 4 lane highway twice (that's another story)....to find a cool car themed restaurant/bar. It looked like a scene out of "CARS" the cartoon movie, but with real cars and road signs. They served "Lug Nuts" (deep fried cheese curds) and "Piston Rings" (onion rings)...as well as $1.99 margaritas, all day, all the time! We were in margarita heaven.

Retreat weekend

We were housed in the "REFRESH" room

Two of the jacuzzi tubs in the 4 season room

Room for 16 in the scrapbook room

Our quarters for the weekend....4 single beds, one full bath and a sink/mirror outside so we could all dress for the day without getting in each others way. Oh, and the beds were SUPER COMFY!!

Living room to dining area. Through those windows in the background is the store I work for....just steps away from scrapbook heaven!!

What an awesome weekend that went WAY TOO FAST. I got to meet a lot of great people and reconnect with some friends too. COPIC markers ROCK too.

Thank you SALLY LYNN for the awesome classes.

Flower pounding video!!

After spending HOURS uploading this....here it is!!

kids

my boys being silly.

taking a picture of me taking a picture....where have I seen that one before??

Dedication

Little Autumn, my how's she's grown.

For someone who started out life less than two pounds, she has grown a bunch!  These are photos from her Dedication party on Mother's Day..yeah, I am a little behind....

Second to last run...

Zero minutes, 8 laps to go....
A photo from the Regional race.  Nick finished in 4th, just behind the two boys in blue that are behind him in the photo.  This put him in the Sectional race where he was seeded 10th and finished 10th.  A great first year for his High School Track season.

I am just glad it's over.  We had fabulous weather for almost the entire season....except those last two races where it rained.

Now I have to get the album pages done.....

Last run

The Q-man had his last run tonight.  This is his take-off in the 1600.  I was running the timing table, so I got an up close photo...and that was it after that...I was in charge of the timing afterall...can't be taking photos and pushing the button at the same time!  I believe he came in 5th in this one.  I was in charge of first place finisher, so I am only sure of the guy who crossed first.

Track night

The CITY track meet.  All four schools in the EC area competed.

Two D1 schools and two D3 schools

The 3200 team

(blurry again)

Nick

now that's what we call DRAFTING...really

The photos are a little out of order....the bottom one is from early on in the race, probably the first two-three laps and then after that the boys in green took over the lead.  Actually, the last four guys in the bottom photo, that is the finish order. Brian, Nick, other kid and Dave.

Nick had a personal best time of 10:45...our school record for a freshman is 10:26....he's working on it (four more races).  The all time school record is 9:55....Brian is working on that one.  That 9:55 record happens to be held by Nick's Uncle Joel.

Running some more

Pix from last week......Here is Nick running the 3200 relay..he normally doesn't run a relay but this was a special meet where everything was scored as part of a relay...including the shot put!  This run happened to be on his birthday.  
Quin preparing for his middle school race. I video taped the whole race so these are the only photos that I have for this one.
Tuesday nights run.  This is pretty much the way the race started and finished only the runner in front was farther ahead at the very end.  Go Brian...he's trying for the school record and he's getting close. Nick is the third runner. Nick is trying to pass the Freshman record in the 3200 too and he is getting close as well.

It's raining men

So, how many guys DOES it take to put 20 bricks back into my sidewalk?

There are MEN EVERYWHERE....literally.  I had 6 pieces of construction equipment parked in my front yard last night when I got home from track. This morning at 6:45am they started showing up and turning them on and tearing apart the ditches to put in our new fiber optic lines for the phone/internet/tv combo.  YAY! and BOOO, because hubby had just gotten home from work and was attempting to sleep.  Anyway, around 8am they ripped through my sidewalk and driveway and were in the process of putting it all back together again when I snapped this picture.  It's not warm enough yet for them to be working without their shirts...and a few of them look like they would be worthy of looking....

We are also in the middle of farming and we have guys all over with tractors and fertilizers and corn and beans and.....well........more men.

Around 3pm today I will have yet another man in my house (besides my hubby) to fix my stove and microwave.  My brand new, less than 5 month old, microwave does everything but heat....this is kinda important, heat I mean.......so the company is "fixing it". Seems to me a new microwave would actually be cheaper...the service guy even said so...but, whatever. So "service guy" is going to fix my new microwave and do a little fixing on my old stove (7 years old).  I have been without a microwave and stove for almost 3 weeks.  I am sitting on a ton of chocolate chips that need to made into cookies!!!  Plus the rhubarb is ready to be plucked and made into Rhubarb Crisp....yum!

Hopefully after today my world will be just down to the three men in my normal life and things will be as usual.

Speaking of the other men in my world.....Quin has been running the mile, 800 and 400 in track an enjoying it.  He hasn't been happy with his times but he has improved his times every single race.  He has another meet tomorrow night.  Nick ran a personal best last Friday beating his own record by 20 seconds!  He is now running the 3200 in under 11 minutes and placing in the top 5 usually.  And last, but not least, hubby is enjoying the new job....just not this morning...lol

The stash

This isn't even all of it, it just didn't fit in one photo.  I got two paper packs too.  One is Flames with checker flag on the back and the other is a floral design with burgundy stripes on the back.

It is really difficult to show just how much stuff I came home with from the FISKARS warehouse sale....but I tried.  Everything was a buck.  $1.  100 cents.

Now, some of this stuff I am thinking to myself, "what am I going to do with 6 of everything I buy"....but then, the retail cost on most of that is WELL over a dollar. I tried to shop with that in mind.  Afterall, alphabets never have enough letters (so I bought two sets....now I have twelve...lol).  I did get things I thought I would most use, like brads (in cute little tins mind you!..I got three different colors...6 of each...what was I thinking??) and the fabric flowers (should have gotten more of those....grrr) and the alphas (should have bought more of the "flame" letters now that I think about it....because 6 packages just won't be enough!) Now the cute brads with designs on top are also giving me fits about the fact that I should have picked up a few more....gotta get over that feeling...I KNOW I have plenty!!

So that is my haul...just thought I would show you.  It fills two grocery bags and cost me $36.  Not bad huh?

Whoops

Ok, it's been a WHILE since I updated here...bad blogger me!

Above photo is a quick snapshot of the line waiting to get into the FISKARS Warehouse sale we went to on Thursday in Wausau, WI.  Lots of fabulous deals on paper, embellies and stickers. Not much for punches and tools.
Quin is running in his very first Mile run in Middle school Track.  He finished 6th...whoohoo!  A great first run.  He is also doing the 800 and a relay.  He is enjoying it.
And here is Nick at his 6th met of the year.  He is doing well and keeping in the top 4 during most races.  As long as he improves his time every race he will be doing fine.

OK, so you see what I have been up to and why I have been too busy to update.  I can't keep up with all these things!!  Blogger, FaceBook and more!  When do I have time to actually create?  Once in a while, check my crafy blog for that.  SEe, I have three blogs to keep track of, two kids and a job......calgon, take me away..I wouldn't have it any other way.

Life is a blur

Constant running...working...cooking....you name it.

Anyway.  See my boy run.  He is the green blur.  It is difficult to get a good photo inside a building while the subject is running.  It is difficult for me to get one outside for that matter.  I guess I suck at action sports photo taking.  So, my boy finished 4th overall in the mile at Friday's meet in Wisconsin Rapids with a time of 5:20.  Tonight he finished 3rd overall in the 3200 (two mile) with a time of 11:19.  They ran at the U in town tonight thank goodness!  Friday they ran in Wisc Rapids and our drive home was in a blizzard....not fun.  Remember I was debating making the drive last week....well, we went, the whole family.  The drive down was nice...very nice.  Other than that is sucked.  Not to mention we got home at 1am from that meet.  Still, it is nice to have these meets be indoor ones....because the weather is unpredictable to say the least.  Blizzard Friday, sleet/rain today.  I think it will be sunny tomorrow....or not.  Gotta run, sleep is calling.

POST 101

woo.

Actually it is more than that, but since I moved over from one blog to this one, I had to start over.

Well, anyway....life goes on as usual.  Kids go to school, hubby goes to work (the new job) and I am working....and working.  Work is good.  I get to create while working, but there is actual work work to do to.  And hey, I get paid at the end of the day, so that is great!  More goodies for me to buy.

My birthday was this past Monday and we celebrated most of the last weekend because we didn't know how this week was going to go with hubby starting his new job and it being a night shift thing.  But he is still working days until he learns more stuff....yay.  One perk that I have not enjoyed YET is the Nestle' store.  He brought home some goodies after work one day but I need to get signed up to shop in there...mmmmmm, chocolate!  He brought home a bunch of Butterfinger stuff, who knew they made Butterfinger Hot Chocolate? Wild.  So, anyway, that will be on my agenda for next week....getting registered as a "spouse".  I can't wait to see what all is available to purchase (at cheap prices).

The oldest is driving and started track.  They actually have a meet already next Friday, but only a limited amount of kids are being taken (14).....guess who's kid is going....mine!  I haven't decided if I am making the TWO HOUR drive to go see him run for 15 minutes! Maybe I will let the weather decide. Thank goodness the meet is an indoor one.....it was 10 degrees here yesterday.  The morning temp when we woke up was -10.

The high for today is supposed to be almost 50!  Michigan girls prepare for nice weather (at least cross your fingers it gets to you all). 

Well, off to work I go.  I have to meet Miss Annette for breakfast before we head into the "office" for the day....lol

Blogland is missing me?

Probably not.  Since I am busy with the other two blogs that I take care of for the store, my Facebook account and just life in general...there isn't enough time in a day for all my little pet projects.

Today is a "day off" of sorts.  I sit here working on my "work" blog and will soon be stuffing Doggie Bags with all our little leftovers from store projects.  So, a "work at home" day.  My hope is to get some ACTUAL crafting done too....but the sun is shining and the temps are rising (only to about 30, but that is a major heat wave for us).

So, to play catch-up for those who wonder....

Hubby is off this week as well with a little stretch of time between leaving his previous job and starting his new one. Scary times to be making this move, but it was the right move to make due to the economy.

MY oldest is now a driver...that is more scary than the economy!  He's a pretty good driver, but putting him on the road with all of us in the vehicle is still a scary event.

The kids begin their TRACK season next week as well.  We have snow on the ground so that should be interesting!

The evil snuggie is still in my house.  I even packed one of them up and sent it to my BIL (the one who sent them to us)....and he sent it back two weeks later.....a plot to get him back is in the works...

I finally have my Wii FIT and am loving it.  We are really enjoying it a lot.....even when it gives us criticism (which is often!)  I even achieved perfect balance on Saturday after using it for just 29 days.  Not bad.  In other Wii related news....The Redneck Jamboree game is a little disappointing, not as much fun as we thought it might be.  NASCAR kart racing is entertaining (so say the boys anyway) and Chicken Shoot is a good one if you like a target practice, arcade style shooting game.  

Ok, enough for now.  I think my dryer just 'dinged'

Surprise package in the mail

We were not expecting any packages, nor had we ordered anything and forgotten about it.....

Our first clue when we went to open the large puffy shipping bag.  I looked at the "sender" info on the bag and saw that! Who the hell would be sending that to our house.......hmmm.   What was in the baggie.....two sage Snuggies of course.....the devils robe. lol  Not to offend the lovers of the Snuggie...but this a running joke in our household....and now we own two.  I wonder who sent these???

The boys love them.....NOT!

Quin found the perfect use for it!

We'll get you uncle Joel!!

Things I have done

I have seen these on other blogs.....and I have nothing to add to my blog right now...so...the highlighted stuff is something I have done.....others, not so much

In 42 years, I've:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band - if you count the marching band..lol
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (but not to the top, just a long way up!)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon...no, but I did run in a race.....and finished.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community - they're all around here
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant...no but I bought a guy some snacks at a gas station when he didn't have enough to pay for it with his gas purchase
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (does the one Vegas count??)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie...no, but I have been on a TV show, twice
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies, no but bought plenty!
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone , one in my foot and my tailbone....probably more, but I don't know.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

100. Been in a car accident

Think Spring?

If I think about this....
...will THIS go away?

Ok, morning temps here are -27....yes, MINUS TWENTY-SEVEN DEGREES.....with windchill we are talking a negative 35.  Fabulous morning to be out and about wouldn't you say?

Well, the kids are off today because of the cold, but I am off to work.  I better bundle up.  The good news is that the temps will rebound later this afternoon to almost 5 above.  That will be NICE!

Nothing much else happening in this world of mine.  Keeping up with the work blogs and such and that's about it.  I just joined facebook, but haven't had much time there either.

Keep warm people.

Screen shots

NO, I am not posting any screen shots of myself, but I got to chat online with a pal the other day and it was so nice to see and chat at the same time...of course, I was not looking to lovely, but she's used to it...lol...

The hard part is not being able to move around while chatting, you have to actually sit there.  OH, well, maybe I could incorperate some scrappin' and chatting somehow.  At least I will be hands free chatting!!

Construction

Hard to tell from this photo (which is the point) how bad this bathroom looks, but, trust me, it looks much better now.  I just don't have a photo of it yet.  I am not quite done decorating.  I only had to live with a mess for a month but that was OK with me.  I just wanted to get that shower out of the room so I could see how much room we really were going to have when it was all out.  Who knew what we might find behind those walls??  I am still not sure!  And we are not done with the remodel, but this will do until we finish the other walls later.  Everything is in place and working for now, so happiness abounds.

 A nice photo of the new bathroom will follow soon......

Shooting the moon

So, the other thing I did over my little Christmas vacation was shoot a commercial for the store.  I was just supposed to do a voice over for the whole commercial (at least that was what I agreed to anyway) but when the team showed up they wanted me miked up and walking and talking at the same time!!!  YIKES, are you nuts....I didn't learn any lines!!

So, that is me (in green) with my mike in my back pocket getting my "directions" on how I was to perform my stunt and say my lines.
Hopefully I can get a copy of it posted later when it is ready, but if not I will walk you through it....maybe.

And, I am back....

Christmas was a FUN! I made sure the kids had to work for their gifts. Nick had to open several boxes inside his big box before he got to the real gift. But, inside each little box was a "little something" to make it interesting....like a used candle, a Sharpie, a piece of wood and a Rock. Then there was the iPod in the last box.... somehow he managed to open that one last!!

Anyway...my present (to hubby and myself) was a Wii. I wanted the FIT to, but that wasn't to be. I did purchase "Outdoor Adventures" and it is a total kick ass game. You have to move your booty a lot to move on to the next level and improve your score!! My knees and legs were killing me the next day...a lot of jumping, running in place and arm moving. I LOVE it.  Not that the other games are not totally fun, but I wanted it for the "moving" and playing part of it. 

This one looks hilarious!!

another ass kicker....gotta have it

and the one we have....its good for all ages too.

So, other things going in in my life will be posted in future posts...I promise!