4 Day Weekend

Did everyone have a lovely Thanksgiving? Did you take advantage of the long weekend and relax? Face the frantic mobs and go shopping? Trudge down to the basement or up to the attics and sort through all the boxes trying to find your holiday decorations?



We had a busy weekend around here. Thanksgiving weekend is always a little frantic. We have children you see. They think that as soon as the Thanksgiving meal is over, we should IMMEDIATELY start bringing out all the Christmas decorations. I on the other hand, believe that we should take advantage of the of the 4 days to get some much needed miscellaneous home improvement project(s) done. While Ricardo, believes that the 4 day weekend should involve football and fishing. Sooooo, that is what we did.



Friday we set up all the outside Christmas decorations and lights.



These lovely snowman siblings are outside our front door waiting to greet you upon your arrival. Aren't they just all kinds of cute?! Ignore the present in front of them. I needed something heavy to keep them from toppling over if it got really windy. I placed some bricks in a box, wrapped it, and placed it in front of them. Ricardo laughed and said someone would probably take the gift. I said, the wrapping job is so hideous that they wouldn't look twice at it. HA! I can't wrap gifts to save my life. Missed out on the "beautiful wrapping gene" entirely. It's sad really. Almost tragic. But I digress....



We also got all the Christmas lights up.



Some people prefer clear lights. While others prefer multi-colored lights. Which type are you? I always think that clear lights look so elegant, while multi-color lights look so festive and fun. As you can see, we are in "multi-color mode" around here. Purdy-Purdy don't you think?



But what are lights without an inflatable???!!!

Or a little "yard art?"

Check out the little pup at the back of the sled howling. He makes me laugh.

Alright, so that was our Friday.....On Saturday, we transitioned from outdoor lighting, to outdoor landscaping.

Our poolside was a mess I tell you. All the grass was growing up in between our trees and shrubs, choking them out. We had those recycled tire tree rings around all of them. They were supposed to keep grass from growing up and around your plantings, while keeping them hydrated at the same time. Notice I said SUPPOSED to. In reality...Not so much. So, ripped up each one and placed edging and mulch around our landscape.

But before we did that, we had to put down weedscreen to keep the grass from growing through. Yards and yards of weedscreen. With cutouts around each individual plant. It was quite the chore.

We had to do this on both sides of the pool.

But don't you think that a little mulch can really make an area look nice?

And that A LOT of mulch can make it look even better??? :) *Note* -The grass left behind the bed here was not from laziness by the installers. We had to leave it alone for drainage purposes. Ugly, but necessary. Thank you-Mgt.**

In between these projects, Ricardo managed to watch 3-4 football games and go fishing twice.

Which leads us up to Sunday evening. We then decorated the inside of the house. Stockings were hung. Garland was strung. And trees were .....

well, what ever it is that you do with trees. "Put up?" Makes it sound like you are putting them away? "Assembled?" Makes it sound like you made it yourself. Oh I don't know what the proper term is. Just leave it at- "We put the flocking tree up." Hee Hee. Yep, still tickled by the word "flock" in all it's forms. I know, its "flocked up"...but some things will never change. ;)

Which leads us to Monday morning. I will say, there is nothing quite like a 4 day weekend to make your husband question WHY he married such a goal oriented, gotta get it done gal. On the bright side, after a 4 day weekend-he was more than ready to go back to work...so he could rest. HA!

I am now off to our regularly scheduled scholastic and housework program. No rest for the wicked. Yep, I'm a busy, busy gal! Guess you could say "I'm flocking busy"....if you were the immature, almost juvenile, laugh at anything type of person. ;)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend! Now, bring on Christmas!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a day full of laughter and much to be thankful for!

Twas the Month Before Christmas....

Twas the month before Christmas.
And all thru the house,
Not a child was stirring.
Nor was my spouse.

I awoke early.
Logged on the laptop.
Did all my Christmas shopping,
Wearing Jammies and flip-flops.

No standing in long lines.
No waiting for hours.
Got all that I needed.
And then hit the shower.

My family heard me exclaim,
As I jumped with all my might.
"Free Shipping to my doorstep...
How fantastic! What delight!!!"

Going Clubbing in your 40's

In my 20's clubbing was something I looked forward to. Took hours to prepare for. Once there, I spent hours dancing and drinking and laughing hysterically with friends. After closing the club down, we'd usually all go out for breakfast. Then the next morning, I might wake up with a headache. I might also vow to not do it again...til the next weekend.



Clubbing takes on a whole new meaning in your 40's. Oh, I still go clubbing. I went today as a matter of fact. Went with my husband.( Who was giving me such a hard time, I mentioned I might try meeting someone new once we got to the club....Hee hee!) We even took the kiddos with us. Sounds shocking I know! But then again, clubbing in your 40's means an outing to the local Sam's Club. There is no preparation beforehand; except, preparing a shopping list. There is no drinking involved-although, now that I think of it- it would definitely make the whole outing a more pleasant experience. Perhaps drain the box of wine before you reached the register. Hmmmm...Would be much easier to load it in the truck. :) Alas, there is also a whole different type of dancing involved too. Dance moves that include swaying from side to side with your cart to get out of the congested aisles. There is no unpleasant headache the next morning to contend with however. No. The headache starts the moment you see your total on the register. Shocking indeed!!! Buying in bulk can add up quickly.



I sometimes miss the good ol' clubbing days of my 20's. But I do have to say, when you go clubbing in your 40's...you definitely have a lot more to show for it. Just ask me, I have the receipt to prove it!

Anticipation...

When you are a pup, there must be a lot of things that are difficult to deal with.


But amongst the most trying things of all....

Waiting for your little brown eyed buddy to wake up so you can play!!!

Good Boy Maestro!!! Patience is indeed a virtue.

Tis the Season...

Well, it's that time of year again-catalog season. Catalogs with food for yourselves and others during the holiday season. Clothing, toys, furniture,fishing supplies, pet supplies, gift ideas, you name it-We'll get it. Daily. Then after Christmas, we will receive all the "Post Holiday Clearance" catalogs.



The sad part of all this, many would say it is the amount of paper used to print these catalogs. However, we are recycling fanatics. So, every possible thing that can be recycled at our residence, is indeed recycled. Today's catalog is sent off to the recycling plant. Destined to become tomorrow's toilet paper, grocery bag, perhaps... even another catalog.



No, the sad part of this is my reaction to the catalogs. I get giddy with excitement. I peruse nearly every single one. It's like being mailed a treasure chest and not knowing what you will find inside. The beautiful presentations of food that I will never make, let alone eat. The extravagant holiday tree and holiday decor that you will never find on display in my home. The abundance of gift ideas that had not been previously thought of. Useless items I didn't even know existed. It's like a sickness really. The need to look at these catalogs. A greater sickness still, the joy that all this visual stimulation brings me. If they had scratch and sniff catalogs, it would probably send me over the edge with excitement.



So, my question to you today is....Do you love the catalog season or dread it? Do you read yours, discard it, or opt out of receiving them all together? Are you a catalog junkie? Or do you think I am just a sad, pathetic individual who should seek treatment as soon as possible?.....Never mind. Don't answer that last question. But if you know of a good medical facility....you could send me their catalog. :O

55 Hours

55 hours doesn't seem like a long time. It didn't seem like a long time spent in a vehicle driving because I was so busy gabbing like a schoolgirl. 55 hours wasn't nearly enough time to indulge in my sister's fabulous cooking. Yummy!!! To reminisce with a sister and father you love more than words can say. To visit with wonderful friends you cherish and don't get to see nearly enough. While these moments are transpiring, you want time to stand still. But, time flies by in a blink of an eye. Yet, there was some true quality time jammed into those 55 hours. Smiles. Laughter. Hugs. As well as precious new memories to hold close.







However, 55 hours seemed like an eternity away from all my boys and critters. It was so wonderful to wrap them back up in my arms again as well. On the surface it didn't appear that much had changed in the short time I was away. Yet, in 55 hours my teenage boy who was the same height as me when I left...grew a 1/2 inch taller than me when I returned. His shoe size also grew 1/2 size larger. In 55 hours, my youngest son had another tooth emerge where a gummy grin had previously been.







Seems 55 hours can make a dramatic difference in your life and of those around you. It can bring you rest, relaxation, joy, bliss, fantastic memories, and even personal growth. It can also remind you that time is a fragile thing. Something we should not take for granted because we don't know how much we are guaranteed.







So, I am now resolving to seize onto every moment and make the most of it. To spend more quality time with those I love. To find more time for myself and self improvement. To make a difference no matter how big or how small. To try and remember how precious the gift of time really is.

Heading North for the Winter

Okay, so maybe not for the winter. :) More like heading north for 55-56 hours and then turning right around and heading south again. But 55-56 hours without husband, children and pets will feel like an entire season. I will be excited to see everyone in the great state of Kansas. I will be excited to gab like a schoolgirl all the way up there and back. I will be excited to finish a thought, a sentence, a meal uninterrupted. Take a few deep breaths. Relax. Be responsibility free.



And then,after 55-56 hours, I will be even more excited to see all my boys once again. All my assorted critters of all shapes and sizes. To hug and kiss all of the aforementioned repeatedly. I will think thoughts and finished sentences and uninterrupted meals are over-rated. I will welcome all my responsibilities with open arms. I will be excited about all my chores. The cooking, the cleaning, the bill paying, the.....



Okay, everything is true except for the last 2 sentences. I really don't think I will ever be excited about those things.



Now, I'm off to spend the rest of the evening with my wonderful family. Then tomorrow I'm off to see my wonderful extended family and friends. Also, saying a little prayer that we will all stay safe while we are together and apart. Amen.

Love Is....

Love is .....a soft, warm puppy! We are pleased as punch to introduce you to an early Christmas present.... Maestro the Magnificent. A 4.5 lb little bundle of love sent to help heal a family's heartache.

Yes, love is definitely a soft, warm puppy....

No matter what the size!!!!

Our neighborhood really does Halloween up right. There is plenty of Halloween decor in the yards. Pumpkins and ghosts a plenty. And on Halloween night, all the neighbors are outside passing out candy and visiting. To make it even better, one of our neighbors has his own "party business" so, every Halloween he passes out his party favors....Popcorn from his popcorn machine, cotton candy-fresh spun, and Frozen Margaritas from his Margarita machine....with refills too mind you. :) I used to be able to hang with the big dawgs once upon a time. Shoot, truth be told I could bark louder than anyone. Ha! But not anymore. Uno Margarita for me por favor...no barking allowed. :) But it is a fun evening just the same.

But the best part of the evening-getting to see my boys dressed up in their costumes! Course I always have to snap a few pics. I ask you, when is the best time to capture the images? Before the big event, when they are too impatient to leave? After you return, when they are eager to dive into their goodies? Or after they get all "hopped up" on sugar-when you can get some real action shots??? I always do the before photos. I only get a few in before I hear "Come on! Come On!!! We are ready to leave!" :)

All that being said, here are this years costumes.... (cue the music please)...."da da da dummmmmm" (thank you!)

Brown Eyes went as....


The cutest Cat in the Hat EVER!!! :)

While Blue Eyes went in a costume designed after some comicbook/story character he invented and wrote several short stories about....

The Adventures of Muscle Man....(patent pending. :) Doesn't he look buff? And strong? And capable of rendering aid to those in need???

Just look at one of his many good deeds from last night...

He used his ultra strong muscles for good (not evil)- by helping his favorite aforementioned feline friend by hold up his drooping hat.