Just time for a short post - five stolen morning minutes - quite a precious commodity. We had an eventful day on Sunday.

We wrote our letters to Santa. Olivia requested some Polly Pockets, and two surprises, and a toy for Joseph. Elliott requested Spiderman uderpants and Sponge Bob underpants, and a toy for Sugar (I think she's still reeling that I had the audacity to suggest she share some of HER toys with Sug).

Papa Perry stopped by for a short visit on his way back to Minnesota. Elliott would have loved for him to stay and play all day!

Olivia and I took Elliott to her first movie theater movie - Happy Feet. She did okay for a first movie. We only had to go potty twice, and she only started saying she wanted to go home during the scary parts. And she REALLY enjoyed having the whole bag of m&m's to herself along with popcorn and rootbeer - that was a true treat in itself - who needs the movie!

Then we came home and put up the Christmas tree and decorations. The girls had so much fun going through all of the ornaments and treasures. It still seems to early to me, but I will catch up.

I fell down the stairs twice on Sunday - not bad falls - just slipping and missing a few steps - but by the second time, it was enough. I don't think I've fallen on the stairs that many times since we've been here - much less twice in one day. I chalk it up to Grandma or the new firewall - both of which I suspect might be cursing me. The new firewall that Chris installed has decided that I really don't need email at home. I put in my login and password and boing - it brings up his email. Grumble, grumble. And it won't let me open my Picasa photo program - otherwise you'd be seeing photos of the girls with the Christmas tree. Darn firewall...

But you will be glad to know that the Christmas tree made it until yesterday before Sugar knocked it down. She might say that it was our fault for putting it in front of her favorite looking window - but I say it's her fault because she's a nonny-doogy!!! Fortunately the ornament breakage was minimal!

Happy Wednesday!!

Happy Thanksgiving!! I try to count my blessings on an ongoing basis rather than saving up for Thanksgiving - but it is a good time to reflect on how truly blessed we are.

We spent last weekend in Cedar Rapids, celebrating Thanksgiving with Ben and Breezie and my parents. I was somewhat surprised to learn when we arrived that my Grandma Schmitt had died sometime Thursday night, or Friday morning in her sleep. She was 95 and crabby. She didn't want to have to go into a nursing home, and that would have been impending. So really, it was a blessing.

We had a great celebration and feast at Ben and Breezie's house. Elliott even got her first haircut from Breeze. She sat very nice and still - like such a big girl. Might have been because she was in front of the big screen tv playing cartoons, but still... I also got a haircut from Breeze - she did a great job on both of us! I was really hoping that she would give Elliott her first haircut because I can still remember Ben getting his first haircut from our Aunt Jan. Somehow a first haircut is a lot less traumatic if it's from someone you love. And me getting a haircut - that was just plain a bonus!!!

Unfortunately, Sugar led Shadow into a life of crime before we left. Actually, I'm sure it was all Sugar - Shadow just happened to be nearby. We had left the dogs in the kitchen on Sunday while we went to Sam's Club. Chris and I did a sweep of the kitchen - knowing how opportunistic Sugey can be. We put up the bread and other miscellaneous goodies - but somehow we both overlooked the trash can. It has a swinging lid - but I'm sure it posed no challenge for Ms. Trashy herself. We came home to find ourselves locked out - neither Ben or Breezie drove, and neither one had a key to get back in. So, after breaking into the house, we had the pleasant surprise (NOT) of finding trash strewn all across the kitchen flooor. Again - I must say I'M SO SORRY to Ben and Breeze : ( There's a second part to that story that involved a carpet cleaner rental - but I will have mercy and not share that part of the story here.

Monday night I made the trek back to Dubuque for Grandma's service. She didn't want a viewing - although I guess the funeral director kept saying that they could open the casket if anyone really wanted to see her. Chris has never seen her in the 13 1/2 years that we've been together - I offered that he could come and have a peek, but it somehow seemed anticlimactic.

The Deacon started off by saying that Hazel Smith had led a full and wonderful life. I wanted to say that although I was unsure of just who Hazel Smith was - perhaps she could have taught Hazel Schmitt a few things. Hazel Schmitt didn't seem to enjoy her life, or her family all that much. The Deacon also asked for stories about Grandma - something that took most of us that knew her by surprise. Oh, don't get me wrong - there are stories about Grandma - but not the kind that you share during a funeral service.

After the service we went to the restaurant in the lower level of Grandma's apartment complex for lunch. Interestingly enough, the apartment complex that she died in was the hospital that I was born in. It was really nice to be able to sit and talk with some of the relatives that I haven't really had the opportunity to get to know. Some of them I had not seen more than a handful of times during my life. Unfortunately, my Uncle Steve and his family did not stay for the lunch. I guess you reach a certain point of alienation where things begin to seem irreparable - or not worth the bother of trying to repair.

I guess if there is anything to be learned from my Grandma, it is to hold your family close. Although none of us are perfect - we are richer and stronger for keeping our connections. We each create our own story and we need to be mindful of that.

And with that I'm done preaching. I think I probably preached more in the past few paragraphs than the Deacon did throughout the service...

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Roger and Diane, Great Grandma Leota, Cody and Nicoll. It was awesome to be able to go for a walk after dinner with just light jackets on.

We have spent the rest of our long weekend working on cleaning inside and outside. I mentioned renting the carpet cleaner - which involved removing all of the stuff from the floor in the living room. I really liked how that looked - no menagrie of toys covering the whole front entryway. So - that started the bug to move the toys all upstairs and reclaim the main level of the house. It was a big project - but so worthwhile!! The glider has moved from Elliott's room down to the living room - it is now designated as the reading chair. And Elliott's toys have all been sorted into totes - which slide under her bed, and her little people stuff has all been dusted and is out where she can play with it. She is very pleased to have a big girl room and more space to play with her toys.

Sorting through things with her was no easy task though. She had a few stuffed animals that were in the bottom of her toy box that I had the audacity to suggest we might be able to give to the dog. She informed me that in no uncertain terms we could NOT give them to the dog. After all - this was her most favorite little frog ever!!!!

Olivia informed us tonight at dinner that pretty soon she was going to be as tall and wide as I was. I think my jaw must have dropped, and then she reconsidered - well as tall, but maybe not as wide.

On that note.... :)

Well, I can breathe a sigh of relief! We had our big unannounced survey at work last week. We were due in the spring, so it's been a waiting game. I really had hoped that they would come while I was gone to San Diego, but no such luck. I'm not easily stressed, but I must say that by the second day of the survey I felt physically stressed. It all went well, and the surveyor was very complimentary in her report. I expected no less, but it's still such relief to be done with it!!

I really should be blogging more than once a week - I'm afraid I miss a lot in the middle. Let's see... My former co-worker Mary's daughter gave birth to Mary's 3rd granddaughter - Sophia Marie. Mary sent pictures, and I'm just tickled by all of Sophia's red hair - you know me, I'm a sucker for redheaded little girls :)

I was able to sit in on 2nd interviews for a new position at the hospital on Friday. It's for a nursing administration assistant. I felt honored to be included in the process, and also glad that I was on the asking side of the table rather than the answering side. Much less nerve-wracking.

We had our annual employee awards banquet on Friday night. It was a great way to end the week and celebrate the fact that our survey went well. Grandma Diane and Papa Roger picked up the girls and they went to Great Grandma Leota's church for their fall bazaar. We had a very nice evening, and enjoyed sleeping in, almost as much as the girls enjoyed spending the night camping on Grandma and Grandpa's living room floor with them. I am amazed at how much cleaning I got done on Saturday morning in the two hours with no help.

Chris went to help finish the playground at daycare on Saturday morning. I must say that he has suffered the gamut of weather as far as the playground has been concerned. We worked a few weeks ago in the pouring rain, and this Saturday they worked in the cold and snow that had accumulated on Friday. Actually Friday was our first real snow storm of the year. It started out with rain and sleet and then moved on to full blown snow globe. Luckily it cleared up by mid afternoon. It made for a really beautiful scene - wouldn't have been quite so lovely if I would have had to have been out in the midst of it - but driving home, the trees were covered in snow. The wind had blown with such fierceness that everything was coated in winter wonderland like fashion.

Chris went out for some quality time with Brian this morning. Okay - they call it squirrel hunting, but I'm pretty sure it has more to do with the quality boy time than the squirrels as they usually don't come home with any squirrels. We went out for pizza and shopping this afternoon. We hit the bookstore with Olivia's gift card from her summer reading program. The girls both had fun browsing the books and picking out their favorites to take home. Aside from the bookstore and pizza, our trip to the big city was pretty much a bust. We had stopped at Sears in hopes of getting a replacement part for our vacuum and a water filter for the refrigerator. We came up empty handed on both quests. It seems that they no longer have their repair/parts place at the back of the store. Now you have to go online for everything. We also stopped at Target - they had something in their ad that I knew was on our Christmas list. Of course - the shelf was empty. Suppose I'll have to go online for that too!!

Skipping back - we had Olivia's conference at school on Thursday. I really like her teacher Mrs. Epley - I think she does a great job. She went through the report card that had come home earlier in the week - along with her reading and math scores from the testing they have done. I was amazed by her reading scores. We've always known that she was a good reader, but I didn't know how good she was. She's been in the third grade reading group this year, and her scores on the reading tests surpass what the goal is for ending third grade. Wow!! Aside from that, we had the usual stuff. Gym is never her stellar subject - I'm afraid that she's inherited my coordination. We encourage her to do her best and keep trying. She also needs to work on sitting up in her chair, and not fidgeting so much, and to continue paying attention - even when she thinks she knows the material. It seems that she would much rather be reading at times when she should be paying attention. Chris said that in ways it was like re-living his second grade conference. I guess he was a doodler when he should have been paying attention. All in all a very good conference, we are very proud of our daughter.

We watched the Wizard of Oz last night. I waited because I wanted to be sure that we weren't going to scare the tar out of Olivia. Somehow I didn't have the same concern with Elliott. I think Olivia was at least 5 1/2 before she was able to make it through a Scooby Doo video. First she would turn off the sound, and then she would have to turn off the picture, and then she would be glued to my leg for the rest of the afternoon. Elliott has been in love with Scooby from the get-go. I guess she will be the one of us that can actually ready suspense novels!!! I did worry about the movie holding her attention - as it's not animated - but she was completely enthralled from beginning to end. She spent a good part of the day cackling today. I'll get you my pretty - and your little dog too!!! Chris and I both enjoyed it as much as the girls did. I think that one of the beauties of having children is getting to re-live some of the quintessential childhood joys.

Have a great week!!!

It has been another busy week, although I guess I say that every week. Working full time with children, I should just expect that it's going to be busy. Must be like the weather, I still feel the need to comment on it.

Sounds like my folks had a good trip to Austin, Texas to visit my brother and sister in-law and their family. Dani sent pictures of the kids all dressed up and trick or treating. It was so amusing to see the difference - some of the kids had shirts under their costumes, but not a one of them had a winter coat on!!! Dani reported that the high temperature on Halloween day was 87 degrees - but they had a cold front move through, so trick or treat temperatures were only about 70 degrees. Wow!!! As a kid, I would have killed for temperatures like that to trick or treat in - just think of all the costume options that opens up... I guess there are some advantages to living in the south - but I still wish they were closer!!

Olivia was my junior witch this year, and Elliott was a bumble bee. The girls both had multiple layers beneath their costumes, and they trick or treated for about a block with Chris. Olivia has always been much more keen on handing out candy and seeing all of the kids that come to the door. We were able to help with Olivia's class Halloween party again this year, along with Gillian's mom. I am so impressed with her teacher, Mrs. Epley. Granted, they only have 12 kids in the class, but she is completely in control of what's going on, and not in an authoritarian way - just a really confident, good way.

I can't believe that it's already November. Soon the snow will start to fly and the mad scramble to find matching mittens in the morning will be on.

We've been laughing a lot lately at the comic Baby Blues. They have had a series on dinner table olympics that has truly hit home. Funny stuff!

Today was the day that Olivia's studs could be removed. We tried this morning. It didn't go well. They make them so they don't easily come out - even when you're wanting them to come out. I felt horrible - she cried when I was trying to take them out - she didn't even cry when she had them pierced!! We gave up this morning. Barbara, Savannah's mom, said that Savannah's studs were also quite difficult to remove, but they got the job done. I'm sure we will too - I just hope it's not too hard on us. Olivia and I both tend to be the tender hearts.

I got to go to Yoga today - it's been a few weeks since I've been able to go. I missed it! Our regular instructor was gone on her honeymoon, so we had a substitute we have fondly nicknamed Killer. I like all of the stretching, but truth be told - I'd be okay with just the laying down/relaxation part that we do at the end!

I don't think we have any real big plans for the weekend. I need to finish the summer/winter, too big/too small clothing transition and get all of the totes stowed away again. And I suppose I should get the Halloween decorations packed back up - but I do hate to see them go.

I will close with the Elliott funny for the week. One morning this week she was not at her most cooperative - she had trouble listening in the morning, and it was continuing on into our journey to school and daycare. She wouldn't get out of her seat when it was time to drop Olivia off at school, and she still didn't want to get out when we got to daycare. When I prodded her further, she told me that she wanted to get out, but her ba-hind just wasn't listening. How's that for toddler logic - the spirit is willing, but the ba-hind just won't cooperate!! The girl continues to alternately bust our chops and crack us up. Bless her heart - she is a buttercup!!