Post Christmas and other such

Christmas is done.

We had a wonderful day. 

Caden didn't wake us up until about 730a, which must be some kind of record for sleeping late on Christmas day in our family.

I've been having problems with that new photo storage place today. 

I'll crop a pic, which is all I do now cuz the damn thing freezes up if I try to do more, then copy it over to the blog and the crop changes wont be saved. 

Irritating.

I've wasted enough time futzing with that so no cropped pictures for today.

Caden showing off a new shirt, course you can't read it - it says all I do is win!

Colton

And the lovely Chyann.

Later in the day Caden had a lego build fest, while 

Chyann napped and Colton played his DS.

The boys hit the hot tub after the outside chores were done.

It's been really nice having Colton home again. 

We've seen quite a bit of him, but that is about to change I think - he's got two jobs going now.

As a helper for our electrician friend a few days a week and he got his old job back at Taco Johns working about four days a week. 

YAY Colton! Make some money.

(course I am snarky and say if you had worked during school you probably could have taken off the christmas break)

Can't figure out why this picture has a border around it when I didn't put one on it?

**note - one of the kids did the editing - didn't even know they knew what program I was using. 

The Hubby got me a Kindle Fire for Christmas.

Seems like I don't have a lot of time to sit and try to figure it out.

Although I do have Pandora going all day during work, I haven't figured out how to do audio books from the library yet - which is the main reason I kinda wanted one.

Good thing our local Library has been putting on how to classes for using them, because I'm going to have to sign up for one. 

With the Kindle Fire comes one month free of Amazon prime.

Which entails free movies, some books/audio books and 2 day shipping for purchasing items. 

And apparently there is this cloud thing, where you can store you photos?

Might have to check that out too.

Work for me this week has been incredibly busy.

We are flooded with work and LOTS of folks have taken time off this holiday week, which has left those of us that are working totally scrambling to stay ahead of the deadlines. 

In fact they are offering double time and a half for working New Years day.

Yeah, I think I'll be working.

That's all for now. 

Have a great Saturday!

I'm ready

well, except for wrapping some presents and cracking the whip on the kids to help clean.

Caden's infectious excitement for Christmas has sure helped me get in the mood.

All the kids helped make cookies yesterday.

We teased and laughed talking about Christmases past.

Like when Caden was two, he grabbed a present from under the tree to open - it was a few days before Christmas.

 Colton was going to get the present from him and chased him into the bathroom, where Caden threw it into the toilet!

We went snow machining yesterday too. 

It was cold and fun. 

How about those Packers, eh?

I'm working today so I suppose I'd better get with it. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday with your family!

(this year's xmas photo)

Tis the season....

For Christmas concerts.

The High School concert was fantastic!

Chyann even had a solo!

You'll hear her playing throughout the piece.
It's a tinging sound.

Originally it was to be a solo for the cow bell.

Then it was a spoon solo.

In the end it was her hitting a hunk of steel with some kind of music mallet. 

Yes, that is the Hubby at the end saying "more cow bell"

You ever see that SNL skit with Christopher Walken?

Well, that is what the cowbell comment was all about. 

And I'd share a video of Caden's concert, but it would make you sea sick beyond belief. 

As you can see in this picture,  he is taking after his older brother in being a major ham when the camera is pointed in his direction.

He has all his buddies talked into being in band and choir next year.
His group of buddies will be a fun bunch to watch grow up.

Colton made it home from school yesterday.

He scared himself shitless by running into the ditch and quickly out again when a car swerved in his direction and almost hit him.

We got about three inches of snow, but the wind was freaking howling all day. 

Made for some drifts here and there.

Heard on the news that the Madison area got something like 20 inches of snow.

Yowzer!

No, I am still not ready for Christmas.

There are presents to be bought, wrapped and cookies to be made yet.

Planning on heading out tomorrow after I get off work to hopefully finish it up and get the weekly grocery shopping done.

Time it flies

and

I'm running out of time this Christmas.

Although I am finding some spark of  Christmas spirit within myself.

Better late than never right?

Have a good weekend :)

Basketball and other stories

It rained most of the day Saturday.

Not a lot of snow left - bummer.

We went to Turtle Lake for the last basketball tournament.

Yes, the last. 

Short season for 4th grade boys.

Next year I'm told, will find me wishing the season was shorter (oct thru feb)

The boys played three rocking games!

Short video of Caden.

 He missed the basket, but it was oh so close... drat.

He made this shot.

I love basketball.

Already looking forward to next year.

We are thinking maybe a basketball camp this summer too.

Afterwards the kids had a bowling party to celebrate their short but successful season.

I even bowled and managed to break most of my nails back to the quick - ouchy!

Damn balls are heavy and my rotten arthritic hand does not like trying to throw the ball.

Was a lot of fun, but definitely don't think I'll be bowling much in the future.

I think we'll be going back up to Turtle Lake one of these days.

They've got a casino there - not that I'd do any gambling, but would like to see some shows they have.

And it's not too far from a ski/snowboard/tube hill that I really want to go to this winter.

I have skiing on the brain this winter. 

Still not quite ready for Christmas, but closer.

Got the cards mailed out today.

The xmas picture is not the best, even considered not doing one this year, but the kids/hubby outnumbered me in the vote.

Glasses glare for me, dour looks from Caden and the Hubby. Colton looks happy tho and Chyann's arms look "normal" whatever that means.

Next year I'm going to ask pretty please for my friend Sherri to take our picture because she is a wonderful photographer.

No company planned for dinner - trying to talk Krissy and TJ into coming over though. 

For those of you that are Krissy fans, she is doing well. 

New job and moving is keeping her busy - and lack of internet.

Colton has finals this week, then he'll be home for 33 days. 

We are really looking forward to him being around more - or at least I hope he plans on hanging around some. He did get his old job at Taco Johns back so I know he'll be working some.

School.

A place where you hope and believe your children will be safe. 

Friday's news made me want to get in my van and go get them all. 

Bring them home and hold them close. 

Heartbreaking.

Take care.

It looks like...

we'll be having a white Christmas after all!

After it was all said and done we got about 14" of snow and a snow day for the kids on Monday.

Not Colton though, he had to traverse the snowy/icy roads back to River Falls.
YAY for the hay guy who came and plowed the driveway so he could make it for his first class!
The Hubby had broke a trail at 4a with the truck, but his trail had all drifted in when Colton was ready to leave.

After work I/we spent about four hours moving snow.

The Hubby who hates heights of any kind, had to clean off the huge drift which developed between the two sections of the roof.  

Caden made a very cool snow fort.

 Chyann had to get Jenny out for the first deep snow ride. 

No pictures of that as I was working at the time. 

Gorgeous sunset. 

Somehow from last winter to this I've managed to loose my bunny boots. 

 I put them away somewhere and just can't remember what I did with them.

So, now I need some new boots. 

Funny story for the day.

Yesterday after work I was taking a nap on the couch.

I zonked right out and immediately (or so it seemed) began to dream about being at Caden's basketball practice. We were doing drills with the ball, passing it back and forth - chest passes and bounce passes. When all the sudden someone yells WATCH OUT! but I turned too late and the ball hit me right in the face!

At which point I am jerked from sleep by what felt like the concussion from that hit!

How weird is that?! 

Needless to say I couldn't go back to sleep - I had just gotten smashed in the face lol

I'm working in the office tomorrow and will start, yeah you heard that right, start my Christmas shopping when I get off. 

I don't know why I have such a hard time getting motivated for Christmas shopping. 

Also need to get the Christmas cards sent off and mail some junk.

Tomorrow will be long - I foresee that a Papa Murphy's pizza or Taco Johns take out will be dinner - not to mention a couple glasses of chillable red.

Speaking of eating out.

We don't do it often. 

Living a half hour from fast food is good and bad. 

Good in that you don't eat a lot of shit food, but also bad on those nights you just don't feel like cooking.

Anyhow, a week or so ago I had decided we were gonna get that BIG BOX deal you see advertised from PizzaHut and if you ordered on line you could get a free thing of soda pop.

I ordered it all on line and specified the time I wanted to pick it up, which was two hours in the future. That would give me enough time to do my running around and kid picking up and be just in time to get the pizza.

Wouldn't you know it right after I hit submit my order, the Hubby says what kind of pizza did you order for me? I said your usual and he says well I think I want 4 meat instead. 

hmmmm.. alright.. how to fix this..... 

So I called up the Pizzahut location that I'd online ordered with and said:

Me: I just placed an order online and made a mistake with my order, can I change one of the pizzas?

Pizza lady: let me check with my manager. 

After being on hold forever she comes back

Pizza lady: Sorry no, your pizzas are already in the oven and the order can't be changed now. 

Me:  let me get this straight, I stated that I wanted my pizzas ready at 7pm and you have just put them in the oven to be cooked at 515pm?

Pizza lady: yes.

Me:  whatever happened to fresh pizzas? I don't want pizza that has been sitting on your counter for almost two hours. Cancel that order.

Pizza lady: but you can't! They are already in the oven!

Me: well I'm not paying for cold pizza.

Pizza lady:  ok, I'll tell my manager.

Fine.

 I think the issue is over and I'll be finding something else for dinner.

About 15 minutes later the Hubby calls on my cell and says Pizza hut called and made a mistake with my order and they thought I was talking about another order and yes they could change the order so did I now want it?

LOL

Yeah, so we had PizzaHut that night. 

Have a good one!

 I'm off to basketball practice and will be on the look out for any balls coming in my direction!

Basketball and other stories

Sunday oh Sunday.

It's snowing out.

Winter storm warning.

Predicted to get anywhere from 5 to 8 inches.
It's a little breezy too.

Yesterday Caden was in his first basketball tournament.
The boys played three games.
It was AWESOME!
(I had a sore throat last night from shouting and cheering so much)

Since we have a big team they rotated into the game in groups of five every five minutes.

As I figured Caden played great defense, getting a lot of rebounds and stealing the ball on numerous occasions then passing it to his teammates to take down.

When he had the ball for offense he seemed a little timid, until the last game when I think he found his confidence and made a great shot!
Oh man was that a wonderful moment - had to whistle and jump up and down since I just couldn't yell loud enough at that point.

Team picture after the game.
If you can't tell which is me, I'm the one with the damn glare on her glasses.
 That sure is irritating.
The gal next to me has glasses on and she has no glare - what is up with that?!
Caden is front and center looking all cool.

Next Saturday we've got another game up in Turtle Lake.

Can't wait.

In  other news....

We've got the hot tub up and running again - YAY!

The Hubby and I were relaxing in it the other night when out of the corner of my eye I see this blur and splash into the water. 

Jets are on high with bubbles on.

I look at him and say what was that, then I feel something on my foot. 

OMG it's a CAT!

I scramble to the area where I felt the fur with my foot and start scooping in the water to grab her.

When I finally get a hold of Jinxie she is sputtering and totally freaking out.

SO I'm standing in the hot tub holding her high screaming at Caden to open the door and get this cat!

(remember the hot tub is right off the living room on the porch)

He finally comes unglued from the TV to hear me screaming and gets her inside.

HOLY SHIT MAN!

It was like she was just going to hop up on the side and slid right into the water.

Happened so fast I hardly knew what I'd seen.

She is no worse for the near drowning experience and got to stay the night in the house, which she loved.

The scratches on my left arm and hand are superficial, but sure were sore for a day or two.

Quite a funny/embarrassing/strange story to have to explain to my Hand doctor that I just happened to have an appointment with with next day.

Diagnosis on that?

Tendinitis in the left hand and maybe more than the basil thumb arthritis in my right.

Blood tests come back next week some time. 

I'm sure all I have is rotten loose joints, but the Doc is not so sure.

Guess we'll see.

Are you ready for Christmas?

I'm not. 

Many, many things on my to do list.

Better get started on some of them now before the football games start.

Have a nice Sunday :) 

Hump day once again

Another week gone.

Basketball, OT and life.

Can you believe it's December?

We got the tree up on Sunday.

Poor tree doesn't look too bad either, for being about 20 some years old.

The weather has been pretty wacky.

Monday we had a high temp of 57* and HUMID.

Was windy too, but that didn't stop Chyann and I from taking a ride.

We started out across the field next door.

The sun was already starting to set and the cloud formations were pretty cool.

You can see the back of the house in this picture. 

The pinks and blues were beautiful - vivid.

Isn't that just amazingl?!?!

We only went out a few miles then turned around and headed back.

These rides with Chyann are the best.

She talks about the most interesting things, she is so smart.

Did I tell you she made a declaration the other day that she is going to be an astrophysics and study black holes?

Imagine that!

She is determined enough to make anything happen if it is what she wants.

I can't believe how fast she is growing up.

Do you see the round bales lined up against the fence?

It was plumb dark when we arrived back home.

Was twilight and then dark in the blink of an eye it seemed like.

Jenny did not appreciate being out after dark, she got a little jumpy when we were crossing the field towards home. 

Not Scotch tho, he knew we were in the direction of home and always has a bounce to him when headed homeward.

Caden's first basketball tournament is on Saturday at the school.

He is hell on wheels - plays great offense and even better defense. 

Can't wait!!

Oh, and yes our wacky weather is just that. 

Today only a high temp of 30*, quite a change from only two days ago.

Burrrr. 

Have a good one :)