Misc Post

Last day of 2008! No News Years Resolutions here.....I just want to keep what I have!

Last night, after our contractor (aka Kenny's high school buddy) buddy left, we snuck down to the basement to take a peek at the progress. In all seriousness, I'm down there constantly with the washer and dryer, so I walk past the construction all day, but I really don't pay attention to it. I'm waiting for the finished product, if you know what I mean. Anyway, Kenny got EXTREMELY happy when he saw that the lights and electrical were done and immediatly ran upstairs to get the 15 lightbulbs needed to turn on the lights. See for yourself....

Please excuse the butt-sniffing dog in that picture, apparently she can't help herself! So that's the progress is the basement. I'll explain it to you, but it really doesn't matter till it's all done. This is one half of our basement, and it will be one giant office space for Kenny with a wall dividing his half of the basement (the finished part) from the other half, which may be finished too, after we assess the financial part in a couple months. Anyway, of his half of the basement, it's literally one giant room for his work space, game space (cause every dude needs that Boston Bruins pinball game, right?), and TV space, of which I am allowed to be part of...but ONLY the TV area, everything else is totally off limits to me....I'm not complaining. LESS TO CLEAN!!! There is a closet on his side, which you can see in the pictures, a HUGE closet for all his crap. It's also another bathroom possibility if we need one later on down the road. We have two full bathrooms upstairs, and in our small ranch home, that's plenty, but our wise contractor told us that another bathroom (or the possibility of it) is always a good thing. So that closet was strategically placed near the bathroom/water pipes for future use. Good planning? Of course! And that's what's happening in the basement right now. I'll spare you the pics of the other half right now, which is jam packed ceiling to floor with all our worldly (crap, junk) possessions. Oh and my craft stuff, that is the only stuff worth keeping.

And this picture is for my mom. She gave BB that Christmas squeaky toy as her present last week, and BB has never destroyed a squeaky toy, but she did that to this one! I just had to show my mom what her grand-dog did!! Excuse the messy look I have going on...I'm still on vacation. And pregnant, the sick kind of pregnant, so cut me some slack:) One question about that....I'm almost 15 weeks prego...when will the puking end??????????

Happy New Year! Be safe!

My 3 Christmases

And we're still counting....

So far we've had 3 of them....my inlaws, my mom, and my dad. Whew! Today we are traveling for one last party, the extended get-together for my mom's whole family. And then we're DONE! Here are some pics from our 3 celebrations so far....

Kenny's family:

My mom, my brother and me:

And my dad's family:

This year, Christmas was just plain fun. Not too much driving, I did a lot of cooking (but really, not that much) and hosting, but the good thing about that is when the party is over, I can go to bed! No driving home! We have a lot to be thankful for FOR SURE this year. My MIL, my mom, and my stepsister all slipped in baby gifts...they just couldn't resist! How cute. I know there is more to come as this baby grows too. Like I said, we have so much to be thankful for!

Here's one last picture of us. Merry Christmas again!

Merry Christmas!!!

Enjoy every moment!

Love,

Kenny & Lindsey

PS: Here are a few of my new favorite ornaments this year.....

Dad, Lights, and Bump

Yesterday my dad came out to our house to take me shopping for my Christmas present....at Homedepot! Oh yes he did!! He said he was going to get some ceiling lights for us AND install them....bonus! We had two rooms left to find lights for, so off we went. And these are the results....

The computer room (soon to be the baby's room)...

And then our bedroom light....

I love 'em. It just puts that finishing touch on the room. Thanks dad!

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Here's my attempt at a first belly shot. Ignore the baggy shirt (I pulled it tight so you can sort of see the bump there, and also ignore the dark circles and....you know why they're there. The bump is there, just barely!

3 Days Left!

Three more days until Christmas? Are you kidding? I'm done shopping and wrapping, I just can't believe the big day will be here in three days and then it will be over. Just like that!! Every year it amazes me how much time we spend getting ready for Christmas Day and then how quickly it comes and goes. Kind of like a wedding day. Heh. We have several Christmases to have this year, and they won't be over on Christmas Day, which I like because it spreads the holiday out to just more than one day. We actually are having two Christmases AT OUR HOUSE this year. That's right. And we don't even have kids (yet) and we live an hour from my parents...how lucky are we? We are having Christmas with my mom in the afternoon on Christmas Day and then with my dad on the 26th. Now, that's a lot of cooking and preparing for someone who doesn't do that on a regular basis, but I'm going to make it easy on my self....one meal is lasagna and the other is potato soup....I can handle those! I'm just thrilled to not be traveling on Christmas Day this year. On the 27th we are going to make a 90 minute treck to have an extended family Christmas party, but no complaints here, that one is long overdue and I'm looking forward to it. Really, this Christmas is going to be great!

I can't sleep in very well. I don't know if it's the baby not letting me sleep and preparing me for the sleeplessness that comes with motherhood or my body used to getting up so early for work. I just can't sleep in, as much as I want to! And the update on morning sickness?? Still there, still going strong, still unpredictable and pretty much all day. Ugh. I'm almost 14 weeks so I'm hoping that soon I'll get some relief!!

Christmas Came Early!

And in the form of a snow day!!! I am home today, first day of vacation unexpected!! Getting that call in the morning to just stay in bed is more than music to my ears, let me just tell ya. Most of the county knew yesterday that kids in every school wouldn't be going in today, and that vacation was coming early, but it didn't really start snowing until 430am, so it was kind of hard to determine if I should get up or not. Then the call came.....whew!! So I slept in big time, something I never do, and I'm still in my PJs. It's going to be a lazy day around here. Kenny declared this morning that he wasn't going to do anything today too. I think someone has the case of jealousy....when I get to be home, he doesn't want to work, heh, heh, heh! It's now almost 11am and it's STILL snowing, and it's so beautiful. We actually went out and bought a brand new snowblower last night at Sears and Kenny put it together and when he gets up I'm sure he'll be outside using it. It's much bigger than we actually need (you know how guys are about that kind of thing) but he is looking forward to using it!

In other news....

I'M PREGNANT!!!

I'm 13 weeks today! Due date is June 24th. I had an ultrasound at about 9 weeks and here is our baby....

And then at my appointment yesterday I got to hear the heartbeat again....what an incredible sound. I've been absent from blogging as often as I used to because I've been incredibly sick every single day. Ugh. Not fun, but ALL for a good cause!

11 Days 'Til Christmas!

I'm another year older....ah! Oh well. My birthday was on Wednesday and I celebrated on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with friends and family. I'm so spoiled. But it was great!!

Yesterday I spent some time at Tasha's house just chillin' out. It's so relaxing to do that, it something that I don't think either of us get to do very much. Baby Ben is adorable, I can't believe how big he's gotten. He's got to be the happiest smiliest baby ever!! And when she says he doesn't cry, she means it!! He's the perfect little man!!

I stole this meme from Tasha, I may have done it before in previous years but I'm sure no one remembers:)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Both, wrapping paper for those who open gifts at our house, bags for those whose presents we have to deliver.
2. Real tree or Artificial?
When I was a kid we cut down our own trees from our farm, but since college, artificial!
3. When do you put up the tree?
It gets earlier every year! This year it was Thanksgiving Day.
4. When do you take the tree down?
After the new year.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Love it! But don't drink much of it, stomach ache central!
6. Favourite gift received as a child?
There were so many toys....pound puppies, my barbie dream house, my little ponies...
7. Hardest person to buy for?
Kenny. He never tells me what he wants, only that he wants to keep what he already has. I end up buying him practical things and nothing fun.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
My mom. She loves everything I do!
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail!!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I don't think there was one.
12. Favourite Christmas Movie?
Charlie Brown's Christmas, and Frosty.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually December, but every year I swear I'm going to start earlier.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Of course!
15. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
We don't have a food tradition, it's always a surprise. But I guess Christmas cookies are something I always look forward to.
16. Lights on the tree?
Duh!!!!
17. Favourite Xmas song?Favourite carol?
O Holy Night.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Both.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
I tried this last year and failed:)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Nothing....it broke and we haven't bought something new yet.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Kenny cannot wait until Christmas morning, so both.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Traffic & parking.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
My ornaments aren't themed, most of them are hand-me-downs from when Kenny and I were kids, plus we have bought some news ones along the way. Our tree is pretty eclectic!!

I have the spirit!

Off to a Christmas party today!

This will be the first one of the season for us. I'm getting excited about it too! Even though we put up our tree last week and I've been doing some Christmas shopping, it just hasn't felt like the season yet. Now it is. There is snow and I love it!

The students have been EXTRA squirrely at school, which is to be expected. In my book that means KEEP THEM BUSY WITH MORE WORK. Can you tell my students love me? They lost their "Fun Friday" movie privileges last week because of their constant interrupting of the teacher, so they had to write instead that they would respect my rules. I'm so mean. But they need it. I promise. 2 more weeks of teaching before the break. I'm counting every single day down too. Woo-hoo!

If you aren't a daily reader of Tasha's website, click over there and give her some love. She and her family are going through a really rough time right now and I know she could use all the support she can find.

I hope you are all finding the Christmas spirit like I finally did this week:)

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!

Oh I'm still here, just buried in totes and boxes....we're not moving, just finishing the basement. One. Month. Before. Christmas. O. M. G. I hate clutter, and as is just so happens, I married the MOST unorganized, clutter loving-stuff loving (and he fully admits it) man in the world. And we have a SMALL house. Less than 1500 sq feet for me, him, and HIS STUFF. When the basement project is finished (it begins Tuesday), half of our basement will be drywalled and carpeted, painted, and furnished as his office (it will be huge) and on one end a TV area, but not a family room, it will be more like his little space away from work, away from the first floor, and more importantly, away from me. And I mean that in the sweetest sense. Everyone knows a small house means you are constantly on top of each other, and having him work in this tiny computer room upstairs IS NOT WORKING. The room is always messy, I can't stand getting on the computer when the room is messy. I know it's probably OCD, but I can't help it. So all of this stress that I'm feeling from having boxes and totes EVERYWHERE and completely packed on one side of the basement leaving me only a small trail to the washer/dryer area is for a very good cause. Kenny needs a huge room to be a man in. To work in. To hide in. To be sloppy and messy and I don't have to see it!!!! Yay!!! I told him yesterday I wouldn't clean it unless he asked me to. He was thrilled AND SO WAS I. I just have to keep reminding myself the the next month will be complete chaos is this house, with extra messes and dirt and all that junk that goes with remodeling. There is light at the end of the tunnel. He is going to LOVE his new work space and so am I:)

Happy Thanksgiving a few days late. I worked with hubs most of the 4 day weekend so there was no vacation for me, but I'm actually happy to be going back to a normal routine tomorrow.

So if my posts are infrequent, it's probably because our computer room is occupied by too much clutter and I can't stand looking at it. Tomorrow is December 1st. Holy cow!

All Done with NaBloPoMo

I'm officially bowing out of NaBloPoMo. I don't normally give up on things, but this, I can't hack it! I tried, I failed. I don't even have a valid excuse why I didn't post on the 14th other than I just completely forgot again and was never even at the computer when I got home. And Friday? I just didn't post because I knew I was giving up. Sorry ladies! Too hectic. But of course I'm still posting in general, so it's not like I'm giving up completely. That, I won't do:)

This weekend, so far, has been nothing but running errands. Here, there, over there, across the street, and back again. I went to refill our ink cartridges at our favorite place, Rapid Refill. I got there, parked, walked up to the door, and BAM, they are out of business. I couldn't believe it! I was just there not too long ago! I was so sad. It only costs about $16 to refill our cartridges there, and at Ink Stop or any of the office supply places it's atill at least $30. I was so bummed to shell out $30. And even more bummed that Rapid Refill went out of business. So sad.

To equal out the sadness with something good, there is a new smoothie place that just opened by our house. It's call Tropical Smoothie Bar. I reeeeeaaaaally wanted to go there yesterday but Kenny wasn't with me and I knew it just wouldn't be fair to go without him since he is the king of smoothie drinking. The man lives for it. So when I came home I told him about it and I think we are going today. Yuuuummy.

I have a whole bag full of papers to grade this weekend. I'm not looking forward to it either. Ugh. I put it off and put it off. There isn't much to grade in first and second grade, most papers get checks or stars since there are not ABCDE grades on report cards until 3rd grade. But I still have to score their assessments and writings and so on. So that's what I'm doing. Conferences and the end of the trimester are NEXT week. Gulp. I'm nowhere near ready. Geez I'm behind everywhere!

Enjoy Sunday!

NaBloPoMo Day 13

I am a bad NaBloPoMo Blogger. I'll just say that up front and move on:)

Things have been very crazy around here. One computer between the two of us (soon his will be here) and the hubs works from the computer 24/7, it makes my computer time limited to BEFORE I leave for school, such as now. And the only reason I have time to be on it now is because my copilot is going to be late getting to my house this morning.

Yesterday there was a student council dance after school, called the Fall Fling. I volunteered to chaperone (along with several other teachers). I figured it's easier for me to do that NOW and not at the end of the year when it's hot and no one wants to be at school any longer than they have to. The dance was awesome, the kids had a great time and everyone behaved, even the teachers:) Our students wear uniforms, and they were allowed to change after school into different clothes for the dance, and so many of them dressed up....how cute! I have to admit though, I never knew how to dance that well when I was in elementary school. I can't even dance like that now!

In class today we are making landforms out of salt and flour dough. I've never done this before. Wish me luck. It's going to be messy and crazy.

This is my last day at school this week....tomorrow I go to a writing workshop about 4 miles from my house...how lucky is that??

Ooopps

Can you believe that I FORGOT to post yesterday? I just got up for work, and I'm getting out of the shower, and that's when it hit me....I FORGOT! So please, forgive me. I really truly did forget. I will post twice today to make up for it even though we're not supposed to do that. Forgiveness please??

Bye Bye Fall

The last few precious images of fall.....

I think autumn is over. I know on the calendar it's not yet, but it snowed last night and this morning. We were grilling hamburgers last night and Kenny went out and lit the grill, came back in while it warmed up, and when he took the meat outside to cook, it was snowing. Nothing permanent of course, but enough to let us know that yes indeed, it's here. Our drive to work this morning was ridiculus. My copilot referred to it as "snow driving amnesia." The crazies here in Michigan are known for that. It wasn't a blizzard for heaven's sake! It was snow flakes, that weren't sticking to the road! All that requires is SLOWING DOWN. We decided to leave this morning at 630 instead of 6am just to give ourselves a little more snooze time. Nice, eh? Not so much. We didn't get to school until 820am. We are supposed to be in our classrooms at 730, the children arrive at 8am. Oooops. It wasn't our fault, let me tell ya. We had to go so slow on the freeway going to work that it made us crazy. I'm not even sure what the problem was, but I can tell you it was someone OVERREACTING to the first snow of the year. Which does happen every year. AHHHH! Oh well, it was a shorter morning with the kids. The didn't mind. They were happily coloring in another teacher's classroom when I arrived. They were actually disappointed to see me when I came in to get them. Hmph.

NaBloPoMo Day 9

Got a computer virus. It's called AntiVirusPro2009 so BEWARE because it messes up your already installed spyware and it takes a genius (and a very good bestie) to get you out of the mess. So I'm currently at her house with my computer tower while she un-viruses my computer. I probably won't be able to post when I get home, so this is as good as it gets today!! Keep your fingers crossed that my computer is feeling better tomorrow!!

Colors

Even though the wind was blowing and it was cold, we played outside in the woods today. I was thinking that it would be one of the very last days we'd be able to do that this fall, so we took full advantage. The leaves were gorgeous! You'll have to excuse the messy post-gym look I have going on.

We had a blast. Dog and all. How can you not love these colors? Fall in Michigan = BEAUTY!

NaBloPoMo Day 7

Ever have a day where you just can't wait to get home? That was my day today. I wanted to be home the second I left the house this morning. My kids were very antsy today, which didn't help, and I think it's a trail off from Halloween candy, the election, and the unexpected warm weather streak. They were ALL UP IN MY FACE all day today. I think I heard my name OVER 1000 times, not kidding. I love the kids, love my job, but today, I wasn't feelin it. We got through all our subjects, a spelling test, and even an extra grammar lesson. I even got them some extra computer time in the lab to type up some cute little stories (yes, 1st and 2nd graders typing on Microsoft Word, don't you love it???? I'm so proud!) and even a paragraph. We rocked out the work today. That's the best thing to do with students when you don't have it in you to negotiate all day. Work. And ironically, they LOVE it. They are really hungry to learn. And that's why I love it too. But I couldn't wait to get home. There was a line at the copy machine after school, and I FORCED myself to stand in it (that's torture on Fridays, let me tell you) so that my copies were ready for next week. I will really appreciate that come Monday morning. But at the time, I was all grumpy and grumbling in my head. I did finally get home. And oh was I happy. Weekend at last!

NaBloPoMo Day 6

I found this meme over at MaryLUE's....

1. Have you ever had a moving violation?
YES! I have had several speeding tickets and one no-right-on-red ticket. However, my record is now squeaky clean because it's been a long time with no tickets, and I intend on keeping it that way. Better insurance bills!!

2. Have you ever voted? How old where you the first time you voted?
Another YES! The first election I voted in was 8 years ago and I did absentee because I was away at college and didn't register in that town. That wasn't an exciting voting experience. I would have to say that 4 years ago was my first REAL in-the-poll experience.

3. Are you glad this election cycle is over?
I am THRILLED that it's over. I won't be watching the news for a week so I don't have to see the same footage over and over again either!

4. Do you have guilty pleasure? What is it (or are they)?
I have several, one of them cleaning (no big surprise there) and also watching reruns on the DVR of 90210, Matlock, and CSI. There are several others, but I'll leave that to the imagination.

5. What is the most embarrassing thing you have done recently?
I made a big deal about taking my shoes off at the doctor's office before getting weighed. I know, I know, it's not that bad, but really, I made it such a huge issue that looking back at it, my face still gets flushed. Ugh, sometimes I'm such a pain in the ass.

NaBloPoMo Day 5

Not much to say today.....
Very sleepy.....
Glad the election stuff is all over and done with.....
Time change still messing with me.....
More to say tomorrow.....

NaBloPoMo Day 4

My Election Day

• Up at 430am


• Out the door at 6am
  
• In line to vote at 615 (voting started at 7am)


• #4 in my precinct to vote (and very proud of being #4!!!)


• Out the door and in the car at 715


• Picked up my copilot at my house at 730
  
• Sitting in our first meeting at work by 815

Not bad, eh? I guess it pays off to get up early every day, because on days like this, it didn't even phase me to be functioning that early. I am every day anyway!! Happy Voting!

Squeaky Duck

Listen to my lab story. We went to PetSmart last week and stocked up on doggy stuff. Treats, toys, a new HUGE rawhide bone that takes her a while to chew through, and a couple other things. Kenny found a squeaky toy, it was a duck, which was a new concept because we've never given her a squeaky toy before. When we got home we immediatly got out the squeaky toy and threw it and told her to go get her toy....she ran over to it, sniffed, and whined. Our dog almost never whines or barks. Kenny worked with her this weekend and got her to fetch it like she does with the ball, but when she picks it up, she holds it very gingerly in her mouth and if it squeaks, she sets it down, and whines this weird sounding whine. I can't figure it out...is she playing the motherly role with the duck? Is she afraid of it? Does she think it's her friend or baby?? It's crazy how she reacts to it. This morning I turned on the light in her room (yes, she has her own room) and there was the duck in her bed. She wasn't snuggling with it, but it was laying next to her. Go figure. If only dogs could talk!

I'm getting up EARLY to vote tomorrow and hoping to make it to work on time. What are you doing? Voting before, after, during work, already voted, taking the kids with you (Tasha & Linsday)?? I'm curious! Do tell!