More pics from today

This pic of me and the kids was a poor attempt at a long arm shot in the cornfield. And, I never realized until looking at this close-up that the kids and I all have the exact same color of eyes. Hmgh...learn something every day.

Goats

Corn Maze

I took the kids to a 6 acre corn maze in Grandview this afternoon. They enjoyed it. Although, Creighton thought we were lost the entire time, and seemed a bit relieved when we escaped. You have to find six different stations within the maze and at the station you punch your card. After finding all six stations and finding your way out you put your card in for a drawing for something or other. There are some goats to pet, a gift shop, a fire pit to roast marshmellows and hot dogs and pumpkins for sale. It was a good hour and a half of entertainment. (though I thought kind of pricey--$5 for kids, $6 for adults, more if you want hot dogs and smores)

Pictures of course :)

What else would one do when hanging out in a cornfield for an hour this afternoon??? I would say taking pictures is the best option :)

Sweet Niblets

Last night I was working on the computer and Creighton asked if I would play a game with him. Apparently, I wasn't quick enough getting to him. So he came to the computer desk and asked if I was going to play. I said 'yes'. He grabbed me by the hand and looked up at me with a big grin and with his best southern accent said "Well, come on then, Sweet Niblets". I busted up and said what did you call me? He said with a chuckle, "Sweet Niblets". It was the cutest thing ever. I asked him where he ever heard such a thing and he said "Hannah Montana". Obviously, it's time to cut back on the the Disney Channel viewing! Cute nonetheless :)

Creighton last weekend...

I just got around to uploading my pics from last weekend. This was my favorite. Colby was gone with a friend, Greg working and Creighton and I hung out at home all weekend. He played while I worked. He spent many hours sitting in the driveway digging and hauling rock.....I love the sound effects that went along with it too :)

I love it

I love it when I get emails during the workday from our daycare with pictures of my kids. It just puts a smile in my heart....


Creighton and his beloved dog (and no Creighton doesn't comb his hair before daycare unless it's a school day:))
The girls and their adventures from last weekend.....

Well then....

The plumber came out tonight to get an idea of what we need done to get this bathroom put in and give us an estimate. Needless to say, when he left, Greg immediately went to the garage, got some tools and started on it himself. We really have a hard time hiring anyone to do anything. So, another project on the list. Probably no "check" next to this one any time soon......

Homecoming

This is my niece and nephew, Damon and Mackenzie ready for the homecoming dance.

Mackenzie, Damon and Damon's girlfriend.....

Damon and his girlfriend........

Mackenzie and her homecoming date...........

Sounds like they had a good time. I dread the day I send my daughter off to the homecoming dance, ugh :)

Alot of 'checks'

Many projects have been tackled at our place over the last two weeks.
1 - complete basement overhaul - check
2 - big bathroom makeover - check
3 - front porch painted, cleaned and new porch swing - check
4- storage room (4th bedroom) makeover - check
5 - new porch walls, new ceiling, new paint job - check
6 - complete garage cleaning including the garage bathroom and 'living space' - check
7 - plumber coming Weds. to give estimate for 3/4 bath on main floor - check
8 - house completely cleaned from top to bottom - check
9 - Toyroom, mudroom, laundry room, coat closet complete clean-out and de-junk - check
10 - yard mowed, trimmed, etc. - check
11 - realtor here today to do market analysis - check

Yes, it may be on the market soon. Very bittersweet. The more we get done, the more I love it. The more I think about moving, the more I realize how much we all love it here. We don't know what is going to happen until the analysis is complete. What we do will depend on the value of our home. Either way we will be very happy....whether we stay or go.

work, work, more work

I am working my tail off around here trying to get many projects done in a short amount of time. I am not working alone and without the very generous help of family and friends, you all know who you are, I would be a very stressed out girl.

Needless to say, I am still stressed. If Greg and I survive this 'makeover' of the house it will be truly a God thing, because, well, as of yesterday I wasn't sure that both of us would go on living :) Unfortunately, Greg's dad got to be witness to some very intense fighting between us (and some words he had probably never heard me say). We are tired, I am on a mission, and you know how well husbands and wives work together on home remodel projects. The combo of those things all came to a head yesterday and I LOST it! Today is better.

Typically, Greg and his dad do all of the construction work around here. Well, that can be a little taxing on them so yesterday it was decided that we would hire someone to do the 3/4 bath we are putting in on the main floor. Because of our 18 inch thick brick walls some special equipment is needed to run the plumbing. Old houses always make projects very interesting.

Took a little break this morning and rode the horse for just a few minutes and this afternoon went down the road and visited a dear neighbor who just got a new horse. Now I am off to tackle the yard.

I took the kids +1 to the parade and football game this week. The game was a fun one to watch despite the periods of rain. Colby spent the night with a friend and should be home later. Only having one kid around today has made it much easier to get stuff done. I don't have to stop to referee every five minutes.

Off to work again, remembering that despite all that is going on and all of life's problems, I am one blessed girl....

Tired

It is after midnight. I have been up for about 19 hours now working my tail off, at work all day and at home tonight. I just quit for tonight because I felt like I was spinning in circles, but not having any energy to stop and do anything of significance. At this point in the wee hours of the morning EVERYTHING just seems to daunting to take on. I am off work the rest of the week. I will be tackling many more projects over the next few days. I am thankful for dear friends and family that so willingly gave up their days this week to help me.

Skipping dinner has become a habit this week so after some Lucky Charms I am going to crash. By the way, I hate milk and I don't eat cereal. That's how my stressful day is ending....with a crummy 'meal'.

Pray for some renewed strength and energy for me tomorrow.

Give Thanks....

I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait
until I see results or receive rewards;

I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better;

I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or
until they stop talking about me;

I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ;

I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves;

I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are
asleep and the house is quiet;

I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job;

I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief;

I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the
challenges are removed;

I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive.

I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties.

I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.

I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do
more and do better.

I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.
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I came across this prayer this morning which led me to do some reading in Phillipians. How often amidst the chaos of life do I forget to give thanks. I am blessed in more ways than I can fathom.

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Another project tackled today....

Thanks to Andrea so graciously giving up her Saturday to help me, I was able to get a good start on the spare bedroom/store room. We emptied it out, did some scraping, cleaning and painting and got it looking somewhat presentable. However, everything that was in there is now piled in my bedroom. Sorting and organizing will be the challanging part. I need those people from the show "Mission Organization" to show up at my house...tomorrow :)

Thanks again Andrea!!!!

Doesn't look appealing to me.....

She doesn't look too sure about this in the first picture, but looks like she decided that the snake was pretty neat. Not sure I would have been brave enough to hold it like that. That's my girl though.

My Little Pioneer Girl

Colby has been looking forward to going to Heritage Days at Wild Cat Den with G&G Carlson for quite sometime. Gramma Carlson even made her this special dress to wear. Sounds like she had a wonderful time and must have stayed quite busy because she was out like a light early tonight. Glad she had such a fun day....

A Tea Party

After the girls roasted hot dogs and marshmellows they decided to have a tea party. So they took their showers, put on their night gowns and sandals, got out the tea set, my sun tea, wheat thins, and yogurt and had a little tea party. I listened from the other room. They were trying to be very proper and use very formal etiquette which NEVER happens around here. Honestly, she must have learned it from a movie, because we never are that proper around here, typically pretty casual. Very cute.

One down....

I get the call from daycare at 2:30pm--always dread taking calls from daycare. Typically...it's not good news. Creighton has a fever. Pick him up, he looks awful, temp about 101 and says his belly hurts. Great. Now I have to sit around about 20 minutes until I can pick up Colby from school. So we sit on the porch at daycare. I am silently hoping that Creighton hurls BEFORE we make our way to the car :) He doesn't, we make it home with no projectile fluids. His ibuprofin kicks in and he is begging for FOOD! Which I in turn think--I really don't want to clean up any puke messes tonight. So I held him off as long as I could then gave in to popcorn.

The kids are sleeping (of course--it's 11:30pm) and I just got done painting (primering) the ceiling panels for the porch. Heading to bed hoping that I don't have to get up until the alarm rings at 5:45am.

Colby's sleepover....

Lots of fun to be had when these two get together.

Our big dog

This horse must have been a dog in another life. He just has such a big goofy dog attitude.

He stands at the gate waiting to be let out......

The kids thought this was funny. He was sticking his tongue out at me.....

Silly Blaze, we love you!