Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Happy New Year!

O' great and wonderful people of Bloggerville,
let me welcome you to 2008!

NEW YEAR

A big thank you to those who helped us ring in the New Year last night/this morning! We were a bit nervous with the change in our normal routine, but it turned out to be a most joyous event.

Slowly people began to arrive around 9pm -- after traveling from out of town, the babysitters' arrival, and finishing up at the wedding reception (Best wishes Mandy & Nate! ;) Hope you didn't mind our early departure.). We didn't have all that were invited, but to make up for it we ended up with a few who aren't normally around.

And we never even got to play our new Apples to Apples game. (It was even purchased for last evening specifically. Admittedly we already played it a few times this past month, but that was just to make sure it was fun -- it is!) Between Wii Land (aka living room), grazing in the Tree Room (formally known as the dinning room), keeping Bear away from the food (both cat & people) & socializing in the kitchen... I guess we were just to busy enjoying ourselves to think about it! :)

I don't know why, but I didn't start taking pictures until after midnight...

Here are a few for you to enjoy.
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:)
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I didn't think I caught the action in this shot -- but sideways streamers qualify!
What your camera looks like to everyone else!
Good poppers gone bad.

Sparklers... good idea!


It's all fun and games, until someone gets a streamer up the nose.
Solo in Wii Land -- enjoying his new accessory! (Thanks for sharing too!!)
Ahh... heat. Heat is good! Something funny was said. (I don't know what, but it was something!)
Too all those who came, and those that didn't...
Wishing you a healthy and happy New Year!

Random side note:
*ABC Cookies we made...

(*already been chewed)

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Happy Holly Days!

snowman seasons greetings

Regardless of what you celebrate this holiday season,
May your days be jolly and your heart joyful!

snow


Happy Holly Days!

A little Sugar Plum flashback for those from the PPAC!

Monday, December 24, 2007

I'm Back

Betcha didn't even know I was gone!

We left Saturday morning to do our annual trip East for the holidays. We always spend Christmas Eve with my dad's side.

Instead of giving you the play-by-play of who we visited... I'll just leave it at we visited with my dad's side; extended family on my grandmother's side (people from out of town who I don't know if I've seen them in the last 20 years); and my mom's mom & sister. :) It was a good visit. Always too short, but I made as much of it that I could.

The only pictures I took were today of Sami. Here they are...

Hold On Tight!

Hop High!


Tomorrow is our time with all of Keith's (immediate) family...
And my "holiday" with my mom, well, I don't know when that will be yet. Hopefully soon.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Mrs. Hughes



no, from my mom

Brrr

Well, another snow day has occurred. It is currently 21 degrees, but feels like 6. Only 20 mph winds at the moment, but it could reach 55. Yay, I love, I mean loath, winter. :(

Oh yeah, my 4 wheel drive still isn't working. Keith has been working so diligently on it. Other than for watching the disappointing football game yesterday, he was strictly working on it. (This was not a happy house.) For all his efforts I hope he figures it out -- he's earned the right to say it was him. That & his labor is cheap. With his work being seasonal (tis the season for no income) & my pay being "hourly" (& less are available to use with 'snow days')... cheap is good. Cost, not quality though. But I'm sure that's everybody's story. Especially this time of the year -- between the holidays & gas money for traveling near & far... the wallet does get thin.

Only 8 more days for you procrastinator shoppers out there. (Keith's name is somewhere on that list.)

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Tis the Season

These cartoon classics are featured every winter on a local news station. I've wanted to share them for quite some time but didn't know how. Today YouTube dawned on me... obviously I was successful!
I hope you enjoy them!! :)

Suzy Snowflake


Frosty the Snowman


Hardrock, Coco, and Joe

Monday, December 10, 2007

Photos, Part 2

Kathleen & my Mom
The pictures aren't nearly as exciting & energetic as the ones with somersaults and hopscotch... but the turn around rate for receiving them (after my latest public request) -- that's something to be amazed about!


Mom, Gramma & Myself
(Keith said something silly... I don't remember what...)
Our Photographer

Sunday, December 09, 2007

What?!? It's December!

Ok, so this month has snuck up on me. I can't believe that a week of December has already gone by. It's nearly the holiday season... Pretty soon it will be 2008! AHHHHHHH!

I'm wanting to post "Photos Part 2" from my Thanksgiving travels. I've been politely waiting on receiving the pictures from another source. (*clear throat here*) Her camera was working better than mine... (Boo hoo... I've found a fault with my camera -- low light levels.) Maybe seeing the reference to her here (*clear throat again*), will motivate an e-mail containing photos. (No hint or anything.)

Snow has arrive here. Too bad my 4 wheel drive decided not to work. Perhaps it happened this summer, I really don't know. However when I needed it Monday to get home from work, it was not there. :( Not to worry, I made it home safe & sound. It just took a lot longer to get there. Keith's been working & researching diligently to fix the problem. However it is turning out to be quite the irritating challenge. [If anyone knows anything about the workings of 4 wheel drive, push button, not lever... :) He may have already tried it, but then again, maybe it will inspire the correct answer.]

This weekend has not turned out to be the fun eventful weekend I was hoping. Still busy nonetheless, but not as expected. If you read "Under a Tree and Dreaming," you'd know what we were supposed to do... alas a death in her family occurred & sadder plans developed. (To those who were supposed to attend, I'm sorry we didn't get to hang out & KC I'm really sorry about your great aunt.) Meanwhile I worked my fingers for hours upon hours to finish creating some holiday cards to send out. (Refer back to my "What?!? It's December!" feeling.) I was under the impression that there was a 5pm postal pick up nearby, only to find out at 4:55pm that the last one was at 2:30. At least the thought of a deadline made my day productive. I didn't have enough supplies to make everyone a homemade card, but those that have come to expect & look forward to them won't be disappointed. I tried something new this year -- instead of just cut paper, I used metal rimmed tags, raised epoxy stickers & rub-on images. Hopefully they are Post Office friendly & actually get to those intended. If not, well happy holidays discarded bin at the local post office. (So if you don't get on from me... I didn't forget you, really, they were slaved over. And if I did forget you... I mean, I didn't, it's at the post office too.)

We put up the tree last night. (Mulder is thrilled -- the branches make great dental floss!) I give all the credit to Keith. (Bow down to him, we're not worthy.) He was motivated & initiated the whole thing. As he added branches & strung lights, I unbent the bent branches to point in every which way. It was my best effort to turn a flattened blob into a respectable artificial tree (a year, or two [I don't remember if we put it up last year] of being cramped in boxes can make it pretty, well, unpretty or would that be 'nonpretty'...). While the star is already on top, we still have ornaments to attach and presents to wrap (I'm at least on the ball with that part -- the attaining that is, not the wrapping), but it's a start. No pressure, still have 16 more days 'til the deadline...

Today perhaps we'll get to some ornaments. Or not. Thinking about the day there is a lot going on... laundry, cleaning, bridal shower, family birthday dinner, football game (not that I'll be glued to the game, but that means Keith will not be available for anything productive). Don't forget we desperately need some groceries! The list just gets bigger doesn't it?

Oh, random bit... Yesterday I was called away from card making with an odd request. Let see how many of you get this one. "Smell the fish tanks for me. Tell me which one smells worse." So... how many of you raised your hands?

Last thing for today. (Or now at least.) In my morning internet surfing I came across an article on "regifting." Tis the season, so I thought I'd share. I don't know if you're a believer in regifting or not, either way you might get something out of the article. I think you should be able to give a gift for silliness sake, just follow up with "you can regift it if you want."

Since another hour has gone by, I should get moving. I am doing laundry as we speak, but I could & should be doing other things too. So if I don't get back to this for an undetermined amount of time. Sorry & have a happy holiday season!