My beautiful tree...

Here is my beautiful Japanese Maple while she is snow bound.

Guest room finished

I have the guest room put back together and you are all welcome to come...snow and all. This is Mike ,a few minutes ago, cleaning off the neighbors snow with his new snow blower I bought him last year. It is starting to warm up...it is now 37.

Carpeting complete..

Carpet is all in for the 3 bedrooms and they are completely vacuumed. Top room is guest bedroom, the one in the middle is really brown and it is the playroom and the lower one is our master bedroom. The kids will be here around 6 tonight to help move the furniture back in the bedrooms. We may only accomplish our bedroom....but it will be better than sleeping in the family room. It is suppose to start snowing again tonight....ugh!

Remodel continues...

As you can see...Mike and I have been camping out in our family room. The man is here to lay carpet in all three of the bedrooms on the main floor. Our kids all came over on Sunday and moved all the furniture out of all three bedrooms. Everything that we need is where we can get to things, but it is kind of weird. Camera has been acting up, so I haven't been able to take pictures until today. The empty bedroom is our master bedroom, with vanity and bath that Paul has been working on off to the side. So far, we just have padding in the three rooms...but hopefully it will go together today. At least the next round of snow is not suppose to start until tomorrow evening.

Some fun surprises

Here's the Guys..

Here's the guys minus Sam...with their new toys. Tanner's scissors were the hit of the morning...he loves to do crafts.

I now know about....

Merry Christmas to each of my loved ones.
I now know what a blizzard really feels and looks like. Mike and I got up early and headed out in this mess to make it to Cindy's house for brunch and family Christmas. Worst weather I have ever been out traveling. We drove the truck, but do not have 4x4 drive. Paul and his family made it...but they do have 4x4. Cindy's in-laws could not make it....so we stayed for her dinner she was preparing for them. We finally returnd home around 7:30 PM. Really, really a white knuckle ride home.
Cound not imagine seeing Helen's kids outside without coats, therefore, I love Fleta's poem.
I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow.

Home Again...

Greeting all~ we are once again home. We made a quick run to St.Louis to deliver packages to our nephews. They were too heavy to mail. It was 57 when we left St.Louis and it was 18 when we pulled into our driveway.
Remodeling continues...our son worked while we were gone. I'll send along pictures when the first project is complete...maybe next year.

Milestone Reached..

Last night we attended Sam's Christmas program. This is the first time he has particpated. He did a fantastic job and was on stage for 45 minutes. He even got to play one of the rythm instruments. He has a fantastic Music teacher and a wonderful 3rd Grade teacher. It was a real milestone for him....we are so proud. Sorry I have no pictures...something is wrong again with the computer. However, just take my word...he was the cutest kid up there He got to go for a frosty at Wendy's afterwards.
So far the snow has missed us...we have it north and south of us. I was able to have my PEO luncheon and Chinese Auction today. It was a real success and somehow...I did not have to call it off because of the weather. This event had been planned for over 6 months and we made close to $1,000.

Really in the dumps...

I don't think I have ever gone into the holidays feeling this low.....just can't pull it all together :( Maybe church will help tomorrow...I'm sure going to lift some serious prayers.

We had a thankful day...

It was a joy this evening to read all the blogs of my dear cousins. It sure sounds like we are all so blessed.
Skip called early this morning and we had the best talk....I sure wish we lived closer to one another because we sure miss one another.
I probably had the smallest gathering I have had in many years and it was just wonderful. I think my grandboys like the rainbow jello and rolls better than anything. Helen...I'm impressed you make your own. I invite Sister Shubert and I can't fill my family up....she makes a really fantastic yeast dinner roll.
Here is the recipe for rainbow jello:
7 boxes of different colors of jello...do not use sugar free (it's yuck!)
Use a 13x9 pan
Dissolve on box of jello in 1 cup boiling water
Divide into two 1/2 cups
To 1/2 cup you add 1/4 cup sour cream-this is your first layer
Pour into 13x9 dish...it will be a very thin layer
Wait 20 minutes, then pour clear layer on top
Do this every 20 minutes...or check to see if set up after several layers

Sometime...I do it one evening and then finish the next morning
When you are going to leave it for awhile....I cover the dish with either wrap or a snap top.

It takes awhile to make, but it is so worth it....your grandkids will just giggle.

I love you all....you are dear, dear family

Happy Thanksgiving..

I want to wish all my cousins a very Happy Thanksgiving and tell you how much I appreciate the lift you all give me every day.
I am thankful for my dear family and I will have all of them here for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. It will be a small crowed for us....we usually have around 18 or 19.
More sadness....a couple in our Sunday School class had two of their grand boys killed in a car wreck over near St.Louis. The other two boys that were in the car were Life Flighted to a Children's Hospital in St. Louis. The two that were killed were 6 and 10. Another 10 year old and 7 year old are now out of Intensive Care. The other grandmother was driving the 4 boys home from a church activity and she was killed in the accident also.
Hold your family near and dear this holiday.... we have certainly learned over the last few weeks that your life can change on a dime.

The Sun is shinning...

The sun is shinning today and God's holy embrace is surrounding our friend that passed away peacefully this morning.

I'm Looking for sunshine.....

It sure would be a blessing today if the sun would shine. It has been dark outside since Saturday that the sky dropped some icky rain on us ....including a skiff of snow on Sunday morning. All this has contributed to my mood....along with my daughter's best friend being tested for MS yesterday. Whe had good news around 5 PM that things were all clear and that she did not have MS...Praise God!
Mike and I have a dear friend from church that is in the last part of his journey with Hospice...he has Brain Cancer...and the news was tough to take yesterday, but we know his suffering will be over soon and he will be in God's loving arms.
So....I did react over the top yesterday about the meeting with the teacher. I have been, so has my daughter, on the other side of the desk. I know very little of the incident or the other actions of granddaughter's teacher. I'm glad the meeting went well and that this incident is behind you for your granddaughter's sake and I hope the rest of this semester goes well.
Patsy...you are very dear to me......
Let's all pray for sunshine today and calmer moods.

What a mess...

Just a short note to let you all know that we are in the middle of a remodel to two of our bathrooms. Our son Paul is really great at doing all sort of things...so we are on his schedule since he works a really long week. I am so tickled, I don't care how messed up things are. Just so I look like I am busy also, I have been cleaning drawers and closets. It's wonderful to get rid of so much accumulated junk.

Last Hurrah!!

Now my beautiful tree is all in bags for the compost group....when she went, she went like whooosh!

Hasn't been the greatest....

Sorry for not blogging lately. Many friends in bad shape and we have been helping wherever we are able.
Dear friend, brain cancer...now home and with Hospice. I am coordinating the take in food.
Friend named Larry, shot while on duty with Police Force...won't be able to weight on foot for 30 days. He and his wife have a 7 month old.
Friend named Chris, still in burn unit, but doing better. He is a Fire Captain.

I read your blogs every day, but just wanted you all to know I have not fallen of a roof or something.

Beautiful Day...

We had a beautiful morning to watch Tanner play soccer. The field was muddy, but they played just fine. One little girl on the other team did not have on cleats and she just kept fallling.

Going....Going....

As you can see...our beauty is fading. By Sunday, I think I beautiful tree will be completely bare.

Enjoying so much...

As you can see....we are really enjoying these few beautiful days of our tree. It sure makes me smile and feel good.

Taking Advantage..

Mike is here on his scooter taking advantage of the last few warm days. He loves to ride to the store or to Paxton's games or practice. He finally has a scooter that has enough power.

Palin, Palin......

They just announced on our news that good ole' Palin is going to speak at S of O. Sure hope they don't go out to Inspiration Point...I think Mom might rise up ans spit in her face. Politics always embarrassed my Dad.

We're back home...

We got in yesterday after spending several days down at the camper winterizing. The trees in southern MO were not all that great this year.....but my beautiful Japanese Maple waited for me to get home and see it. It is just fantastic again this year. I think Mike and I have taken a picture from every possible angle. I will post a few...the one with Samuel, of course, will be first.

Where did fall go?

We barely finished up the trim and then all of a sudden it is winter!!!! Yuck!!!

Sprucing up

..Mike and I have been painting the trim of our house...we are worn out

Paul's cake

This was Paul's cake for the party last night. Paul really enjoys Jimmy Buffett...thus the tropical theme. I talked to Dawn a little while ago and I ask what time the party broke up....she said they got home at 2 AM.

Meet Gretchen

This is Gretchen. She is Sam's puppy and she is a Shi-Su and she is just 4 months old. She has been visiting since Thursday night and she goes home tomorrow....she misses Sam and Sam misses her. They get up at 5 AM at their house, so Gretchen thinks she needs to get up at 5 AM at my house.
Now I love dogs, but I can assure you....I'm not ready to have another dog. The last dog we had lived for 18 years.

Surprise...Surprise

We really surprised Paul this evening for his 40th! His birthday was actually on the 9th and we had a really special family birthday party....crab legs and shrimp. We knew he was really bummed that he didn't have a big 40th party...but we got him tonight. Yeah!
Everyone probably is still there enjoying the keg....but, that's not my thing and I was the oldest one there. I took plenty of party pics. Mike was not able to go because he is down with a horrible cough and Cindy's family is down in Branson. They are celebrating her 37th...which is tomorrow. We are keeping the puppy for them...the little dog is so cute, but it got me up at 5 AM this morning. She had better be a sleepyhead in the morning.