I'm still trying to get used to the Vista operating system, but this is one neat feature that my web developer friend Stacey turned me on to. It's really fun!!

A winter wonderland...

Good grief Charlie Brown...
We've had a heck of a winter thus far. Oh WAIT - Winter hasn't actually started yet.
Good grief!!!

Just this week we've had two late starts and one early dismissal due to weather, and an another planned early dismissal.

I sincerely hope that true winter does not follow this same pattern. We did find a high school girl to babysit for us on late starts and early dismissals. Unfortunately, she has a ways to drive and today with the fog it was just too bad to ask her to make the trek. I am such a mom - even when they're not my kids.

We've been busy cleaning and organizing, getting ready for the loot the girls are sure that Santa will be bringing. In the organizing, I found a journal that I had started. I've been thinking of getting a guided journal, so this was a fortuitous find. Although it's not guided, per say, it does have quotes on each page that you can contemplate in your entries. I've really wanted to do some writing that will stand as a keepsake for my daughters of who I am. Not the daily events of our lives, although that's good stuff too. I want them to know me, the meat and potatoes of what makes me who I am.

Like I said, I had started this journal already - 10 years ago. 1997. Reading through the handful of passages, I realized that although it feels like so much has changed in the last ten years - really the meat and potatoes of who I am has not changed. It is a little bit daunting to actually lay it out on paper. It makes it somehow permanent. And I must confess that I do worry a bit about what my daughters may think reading it years from now. Maybe they won't like my meat and potatoes... But I think the benefits outweigh any negatives. My meat and potatoes aren't perfect, but I'm pretty pleased with them. I can picture my daughters reading through some day and laughing together - "oh, that's where I get that trait from", or "oh, I so remember her talking like that".

So - that's my resolution for the New Year. To take pen to paper in the journal I haven't touched for 10 years.

We're back!!!! We have a new computer AND working internet connection!!!

This is what we do for fun :) Poor doggy!! I don't think she was all that fond of being dressed up!!!

Look at my big girl!! We took advantage of the predicted 60 degree day in November to wear this cute little dress and tights.

Progress on the house...doesn't my dear husband do good work?

Making muffins to share with her preschool class for snack.

Happy Fall!!!

It is a great day! Roger's surgery went very well yesterday. Thank you to everyone who had him in their thoughts and prayers. They ended up doing four bypasses - weren't sure if they would have to do three or four. The surgeon said that the damage to his heart from the heart attack was very minimal as they were able to get the stent in so quickly. He is still in ICU this morning, but should be moved to a room in the cardiac unit today. He's in a lot of pain, but doing very well for what he's been through. You can send him an email card through Allen Hospital's website. www.allenhospital.org

It is also our wedding anniversary today. We received a card in the mail from Chris's dad on Monday. It surprised us both. With RAGBRAI and Roger's surgery, it really wasn't on either of our radars. Hard to believe that we've been married for nine years, or is it that we've only been married for nine years.

Aside from that, girls are growing, grass is growing, Chris continues to work on getting the house ready for siding.

We had a great visit with David and Great-Grandma Floris on Friday night. I'm always astounded by how natural Dave is with kids, and how they just love him. I can see why his niece and nephews are sad that he's leaving Fargo. Also - he let me beat him in cribbage :) What a good guy!!

Chris and Dave left bright and early on Saturday morning, and the girls and I have been enjoying GGWW ever since. I mowed on Saturday and we went to McDonalds for dinner (Olivia won coupons for hamburgers from her summer reading program - so she treated Elliott), and got groceries and watched a family movie.

On Sunday we went shopping for school supplies and girl clothes. We even made it to Crossroads mall and rode the carousel. You can see their new nightgowns. Olivia chose flamingos and Elliott chose sock monkeys. The sock monkeys made me think of my friends Jennifer and Carol - good monkey people!

Last night was the first night of bible school for them, and Board meeting for me. Jackie came and had dinner with us, went with us for bible school drop-off, and then hung out until it was time to pick them up. They were just thrilled to have her babysit!! I was most impressed with Elliott. I worried that she would hesitate at bible school drop-off. Waste of my time worrying. She sat right down next to her teacher and started chatting her up.

Chris reports that they are having fun as usual on RAGBRAI. He said that he had his usual first day flat on Sunday, and that they've seen Lance Armstrong a few times. So far, no Matthew McConaughey sightings. Sigh...

Lake was good. Technology is bad. Our computer at home is dead. Completely. We've been having email problems at work. I can receive email just fine, but cannot respond to many of my favorite people :( Don't give up on us!!!

Special hello to Mark and Lynn!! It was nice to get your comment - we would love to see you guys and see how Max and Kate are growing!!!

Chris is busy getting ready for RAGBRAI. His cousin Dave will come to our house on Friday, and they will catch the bus on Saturday morning. He's just about itching he's so anxious to go. Hopefully we will be through the bout of severe weather we've had lately. Cedar Falls reported grapefruit sized hail a few days ago. Glad we missed out on that!!

Happy first day of summer - now it's official - I have my first summer cold! It was a going away present from Elliott - bless her heart : )

We went out to dinner with Jackie and Jamie last night in celebration of my older and wiser friend's birthday. I only have thirteen days of her being older in numbers than me - so I have to get my cracks in while I can! We had a great dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

I had to snap some pictures of Jackie's cats - she shaved 2 of her 3 long haired cats. They look tremendously funny - quite a bit smaller without all that hair. They like it though - I think the petting is better without all the fluff in the way. And of course - I don't have any kids to post pictures of this week - so the cats will have to suffice for entertainment.

The girls went home with Grandma Katie and Papa Al on Friday. Chris and I have been busy around the house - with projects!!! I scraped the wall paper border from the kitchen - was surprised to find a second layer under about half of it. We then repainted the kitchen and dining room. Chris is so good at the cutting and the trim. I stuck with the roller - and still there were a lot of "dopes" coming from my mouth. He has much more finesse. The walls in the kitchen are golden corn, and the soffit is baked pumpkin. The dining room is blue again - but brighter.



You can see in the picture, it looks really great with Olivia's artwork!

When I go too long without blogging, it's hard to even know where to start! I think I will let the pictures do most of the talking.

The girls had a great time with a face painting kit that Olivia picked out at Dollar Tree.

Olivia had a great last day of school and has been promoted to third grade :)

The girls had a lot of fun in swimming lessons - it was every night for two weeks. A lot of running, but they loved it. Grandma Katie, Papa Al, and Grandma Diane and Papa Roger came to watch their last night of class.

Olivia is looking forward to the end of school - her last day is on Monday. It's hard to believe that she will be a third grader, even harder to believe that I will be the parent of a third grader!!! She was cooking up a storm today. She made french toast for breakfast, and then was inspired by the side of the cereal box to make rice krispie treats. She required very little assistance, and she loves to cook.

The girls start swimming lessons on Monday night. Elliott is very excited to be able to join in this year. It was hard for her to watch and not be able to participate last year. She really likes the water, loves to blow bubbles and play in it - so I think she'll do fine - as long as she listens to her teachers. She hit me with a new one this week. We were in the bathroom, brushing her teeth. I asked her to come over so I could give her a once over. She looked and me and smiled and said "make me". Let's just say that didn't go over too well. Sarah said that her little sister's favorite line when she was little was - "you're not the boss of me!" I can just see that in our future...

It hasn't rained yet today. It seems like we've been on a nonstop rain cycle here lately. It will probably rain tomorrow morning though as the guys are planning to do a bike ride.

I always think that I'm going to have more time in the morning to post than I actually ever do. If I were smart, I would get up earlier - but I DO SO love to sleep!!

We had a great long weekend. The girls and I went to see Shrek 3. It was quite a good movie - and the real milestone was that we didn't have to get up to go potty at all during the movie!!! Woo-hoo!!!

We went to the big city to get prices on siding materials. I am anxious to get the siding started as I know that it's going to be a summer-long project.

Brian, Lisa, Kayla and Dillon came over to grill out on Monday. The kids (including Brian and Chris) enjoyed a water balloon fight. They had a great time loping water balloons over the fence and up into Savannah's tree house. The girls put up a good fight though!

Elliott came home from Grandma and Papa's last night, disappointed to find that her dad was not home. I explained that he was on his bike ride. She looked at me with her sad little face and said, but I wanted to say goodnight to him, he's my best friend... Talk about the sweetest thing ever. Of course I had to call him on his cell phone so she could say goodnight.

Funny how it wasn't quite so sweet when I went into her bedroom at 9:15 to tell her that she needed to be quiet and go to sleep. I had tucked her in at 8:00 and she was still jabbering away. She said that she was waiting to get a daddy snuggle. I told her that an extra mommy snuggle would have to suffice. It's no wonder she's such a bear to get up in the morning!!!

Well, time to get the posse on the road!! Happy last hump day to my Dad, who will be retiring at the end of the month. Make sure you get the most out of it - wink, wink, nudge, nudge ;)

Friday was a great day! We joined Elliott at pre-school for her end of the year program. We painted stepping stones and got to play on the playground. As you can see, Papa Roger was the Pied Piper in the sandbox. All of the kids wanted him to bury their feet. I think Caleb was his new best friend by the time we left.

We also got to see Breezie graduate from Capri. We are so proud of her and all of her hard work!! She graduated top in her class!!!!!!! We also enjoyed a nice dinner at Daniel Arthur in Cedar Rapids. It was great to be able to spend time with some of Breezie's family. I always enjoy her mom's company, and at dinner we got to sit near her grandma and Uncle Erik. Talk about some neat people!!!

Ben and Breeze have been busy working on their house getting it ready to sell. Their bathroom remodel is beautiful - even if it got rid of the retro ceramic fishes that had been cemented into the shower :)

Happy Mother's Day to all of my mother readers out there. You are a strong and beautiful bunch of women! I had a very nice mother's day. Chris and the girls presented me with lovely cards, and a beautiful necklace. Olivia and Chris went shopping together. Chris had told me beforehand that the gift I was going to get wasn't what he had in mind, but that Olivia insisted that I would like it better than what he had in mind. After opening it, and hearing what he had in mind - I gave her a high five. Not that silky pajama pants wouldn't have been lovely - but I really love my necklace - they did good :) Olivia made me a very neat book at school, and Elliott painted a wooden hand cut-out for me.

We also got to spend time with Perry and Floris this weekend. Perry came down to spend some time with his mother in honor of mother's day. Elliott was most amused by the knowledge that Great Grandma Floris is Papa Perry's mother. She made sure to work that into the conversation often. "The other day we went to see your mother..." It was pretty cute! The girls both really enjoy spending time with their papa and great grandma, and the weather couldn't have been nicer.

Olivia has been having a good time practicing her batting skills. We probably spent over an hour working with her both yesterday and today. She even pitched a few for me this afternoon. Only beaned me on the nose once, so not too bad!

The girls had a great time "fishing" out of the back of Chris's truck. They don't need fancy playground equipment... The bed of a truck and a few bungee cords and they're set!!

You can see which girl was more cooperative when it came time to put the nightgown on tonight- Sugey sure does look good in yellow, and 4T must be equivalent to extra-large in dog sizes!!!