We're baaaaack!

After another long night of flying, we're back home. We left Utah later than planned last night and arrived in Anchorage close to 1:00 this morning. A poor little boy on our flight was very sick and spent 90% of the flight in only underwear while his mom and dad and all the flight attendants ran around feverishly trying to keep up with the vomit and the smell. Our flight from Anchorage to Kenai was at 4:30, but everything, including the gate, was closed when we arrived in Anchorage. We sat around in the terminal (where I incorrectly thought the kids would sleep) until 3:30 when we checked our bags and went down to the gate. The flight is only 17 minutes, but in that time 2 of the kids fell asleep. We were in the tiniest of tiny planes, which was really rather fun.

It was -26 when we arrived this morning. It took Doug's truck probably a good 45 minutes to warm up before we put the kids in it. There was a foot of snow on the windshield The airport is right by Safeway, so we stopped to get milk. I tossed it in the back of the truck and it was frozen when we got home.

When we got home, Brenden was ready to romp and play, but much to his dismay I made him lay down. Ethan was thrilled to be in his bed and Nolan didn't fight (which is saying a lot for putting Nolan to bed). Doug and I made it to bed around 7:00 (and mom, the dogs made it home before I fell asleep, so they didn't freeze to death - I know you were worried). It was a short day by the time I woke up at 1:00 and it was light and then 2 hours later it was dark again.

Our router isn't working for some reason, so I can't use my laptop, which is where all of our Christmas pictures are. I spent a while today getting them ready to post only to discover that I can't connect to the internet. Doug blames the internet connection on the fact that I have a Mac, but I doubt it. I was on my mom's internet for 2weeks and I wonder if my internet connection to my router was messed up. I will keep working on getting it up and running and then you will be overwhelmed with pictures from our trip.

Anticipation...

They boys are having so much fun with their cousins.  I keep looking around at my brother and his wife, my sister and her husband, and my mom and dad and it makes me miss Doug.  He has missed out on so much.  

BUT...

I am so excited to see my boys' surprised faces tomorrow when their dad is suddenly here for Christmas morning.  I am crossing my fingers that all goes well with his flight and it is on time.   We are going to try to hold 7 children in the basement in anticipation of the arrival of "the package" (which is what we call Doug these days).  I am just a little worried Brenden will be so excited to see what Santa brought that he will push Doug aside (not even noticing that he hasn't been here for the last week and a half) and head for the goods.

Having Fun!

We are having so much fun!  Thursday my mom and I left the kids with my dad (poor man) and shopped and went out to lunch and went to see Glen Beck's "The Christmas Sweater."  Friday we waited around all day to see if we would make it to my little sister Emily's house for dinner.  It was snowing pretty hard, so we decided against it.  My mom and I did make it to Wal-mart though (quite the treat to me since I don't have one near me in Alaska).  Saturday my dad and I went to Emily's house for lunch and left Nolan for a sleep over.  See her blog for details.  

Sunday my brother Dustin and his family arrived.  These 6 boys can make quite a racket!  They are having the time of their lives.  Dylan heads out into the snow the minute he wakes up (even before he is dressed).  We have commented how funny it is that they immediately split up into age groups.  Dylan is 6 months older than Brenden and Hayden is 4 months older than Nolan, so they have split themselves accordingly and play together so cute.  Ethan just tries to fit into one of the "big boy" groups as well as he can and Dustin's baby Kolton just rolls around on the floor.  We made gingerbread houses last night.

I have threatened emailing Santa more times than I can count.  We found out that Grandpa has Santa's email address, so the kids have been very concerned about whether or not I have been on my email today.

My mom got a fancy new camera for Christmas, so we have been taking pictures.  I need to find her card reader and then I will have pictures to share.

Utah here we come

And now we're here, but this post is about our trip.

We arrived early for our flight to Anchorage from Kenai.  I checked all of our bags - the flight is only 20 minutes, what in the world could I possibly need for the next half hour?  Less than thirty seconds later I turn around to see Nolan red in the face.  I said, "Are you pooping!?" to which he responded with an index finer indicating "give me a second."  Again I urgently questioned, "You're pooping?" and the index finger was thrust forward at me as if to inform me, "I said give me just a minute!"  All I could do was take him to the bathroom, dump the poop out of the pull-up and put it back on him.  Doug did finally decide to quickly drive to Safeway where he bought travel wipes and brought me back another pull-up.  I suppose I should be thankful it happened there when I still had some help.

The boys said their goodbyes to Doug and we left Kenai at 10:40 p.m. as planned.  As I said, the flight to Anchorage is only 20 minutes, but immediately upon sitting down, Brenden was ready to pull out the DVD player and coloring books.  No Way!

I had been very worried about our transfer in Anchorage.  Delta is in a completely different terminal than we were arriving, so we had to pick up our belongings and take a shuttle.  I had: 3 sleepy kids, a stroller, 4 carry-on size bags (2 of which weighed over 30 pounds), and a 48 pound large suitcase.  I needed to pick up my luggage from the first flight and take all of it and the kids to the next terminal.  For anyone who might ever come see me - although Era Aviation will tell you they cannot check your bags through to Delta, they can, they are just usually too lazy to do it.  I found that out one airport too late.

On our flight from Kenai was a wonderful woman and her teenage son.  She sat right in front of us and was high fiving the boys and saying, "Boys rule!"  She asked if Anchorage was our "final destination" and I informed her we were headed to Salt Lake City.  She asked if we were taking Delta and then I saw her Delta employee badge.  Exiting the plane, she asked if we needed any help and I jumped at her offer.  She and her son helped me haul children and baggage and were so kind.  She made sure we were all checked in and our checked baggage was off before she left us.  Thank you, kind Delta woman!

By this time, it was probably about midnight.  We soon found out our flight was delayed and we should be boarding about the time we were supposed to leave.  In the meantime, my children expelled energy (in a way I am not so sure the strangers appreciated, but I was sure they would appreciate it once we got on the all night flight and my kids were not expelling their energy in the tight confines of an aircraft).  Brenden soon fell asleep in a very uncomfortable looking way.  Once they called us to board, he was nearly impossible to wake up.  I poked him - nothing.  I shook him - nothing.  I stood him up - he immediately fell to the floor.  And try explaining to your deaf child that we need to leave NOW when he won't open his eyes to look at you signing to him.  We finally boarded at about 1:10.  I am pretty sure the plane was half full of small children.

Brenden fell fast asleep the minute he hit his window seat.  Nolan fell asleep after stating "But I'm not tired" about 50 times.  Ethan was the last to go.  

That was all before our plane even pulled away from the gate at 2:30 a.m.  They had to de-ice the plane, so we sat there for a long time before we even hit the runway.

The flight went well except there was always someone who needed re-arranged.  If Brenden moved, they all had to move since Brenden was the base layer of the sleeping pile.  I, on the other hand, did not sleep.  There was nowhere to sleep and not even a place to rest my arm.  

About a half hour before we landed, I suddenly got a bloody nose.  At that point, I had 2 children draped across my lap.  I immediately put my hands over my nose (although still bleeding on Ethan's head through my fingers) and frantically searched for anything to sop up the blood.  I looked down into the aisle and saw a napkin which I was fully aware had been in the aisle for several hours.  I thought, "No, I can't... but I have to."  During this time, I was also fully aware of the couple across the aisle pointing and saying, "Look she has a bloody nose." "Look her kids are asleep across her lap."  "I wonder what she is going to do."  To these people I say:  Could you not offer to help me?  I inched my way out from under the kids and headed to the bathroom - they were both occupied.  The stewardess started looking for napkins or anything to help me out until the bathroom was available.  Blood was everywhere!  Finally, the bathroom was available.  I stayed there, trying to get my nose to stop, but it was relentless.  I worried about my 3 kids sprawled out, all alone, knowing that the couple across the aisle would be of no assistance.  I worried Ethan would roll off the seat the way I had left him.  The "please take your seat" announcement came on.  "We are beginning the final dissent" announcement could be heard.  Finally, I shoved toilet paper up my, by this point, very raw nose and attempted to slide myself back under my children right as the plane hit the ground.  My nose continued to bleed as people exited the plane, but stopped as it was our turn to leave.  

I packed up our belongings as Ethan started wandering the plane.  By this point, we were the only people left on the plane.  The flight attendant urgently grabbed our carry-on bags and asked what I would like done with them and I told her she could set them out by my gate-checked stroller.

Then I had to wake the beast.  As I said before - not an easy task.  BUT, the waking beast must pee the moment he is aroused, so I sent him to the airplane bathroom right as the cleaning people were getting on the plane.  One stewardess, seeing Ethan's bobbing head a few rows ahead of me asked if I had forgotten something and informed me the plane needed to be cleaned.  I said I knew he was there and we would be just a moment.  A minute later, 2 stewardesses grabbed my kids and my last bag and told me I had to get off the plane now.  I said, "I realize the plane is delayed and there is a hurry to get it cleaned, but my son is in the bathroom and I am NOT leaving without him, so I don't know what you want me to do, but you are going to have to wait!  He needed to go, so your choices were let him use the bathroom or have him pee all over the plane on his way out."  She impatiently waited with me while the other hauled off the little kids (making me even more unhappy).  

My dad was there to pick us up (Nolan was the first to spot him and yell, "There's GRANDPA!) and he tossed the kids in the car while I ran back into the airport to get our bags.  We were fortunate that my grandma was visiting and has a huge trunk, so we fit everything all in one car (and reduced her MPG from 34 to 28.5).  The kids slept on the way back to my parent's house.

My mom and dad have worked so hard on their house to make it comfortable and accommodating for our visit.  We are thrilled to be here and love the changes they have made for us.

Nuttin' but bad

My kids are getting nothing for Christmas.  NOTHING I tell you.  They are naughty.

This morning when I went to tell Brenden good morning, he was in the shower.  I looked at him and his hair looked a little odd, but I thought maybe it was just partially wet.  Upon further inspection, I discovered several bald spots.  That which I had hoped only happened to people with little cosmetology bound girls had happened to me.  I asked Brenden if he had cut his hair and of course, the answer was no (he has become quite the little liar these days).  I told him someone had cut his hair and I wanted to know who and he finally confessed.  He missed the bus because I was trying to give him the best little army buzz cut I could, all the while threatening to call Santa and let him know exactly what had just happened.  He still has some odd bald spots.

Nolan has taken to being the authoritative big brother.  He freely steals toys and trips Ethan.  When I show my displeasure in his actions, I am greeted with a growl, and scowl, and usually a slap.  What happened to the sweet Nolan who used to live in this house?

Ethan has learned Nolan's tricks - as well as Brenden's.  He is currently covered in green marker, with glue stick in his teeth, but luckily no buzz cut.  Where have I gone wrong?

I was ready to bawl yesterday while watching my misbehaving kids in church.  Last night while we were praying, Brenden was attempting to slowly sneak off to play with his toys, Nolan was talking, and Ethan was being a one year old.  Again, where have I gone wrong?  Be concerned for my sanity.

I have been frantically packing for our trip to Utah.  The Leapster, DVD player, my laptop, cell phone, and iPod are all charging and the last load of clothes is in the wash.  I am going to miss this winter wonderland, but I am so excited to see my family and for the kids to play with their cousins.

We had "Christmas" on Sunday.  The kids didn't get a whole lot, but it was really fun to just slowly open presents and play with them for a little while and then open another and play for a while.  Doug and I didn't get each other anything, but watched the kids and really enjoyed ourselves.  Ethan wasn't at all interested in any sort of present opening - not even when we opened it for him and he saw it was a toy.

I always thought trees were supposed to be green...

Isn't that incredible?  That is frost, not snow.

Catching up

I had my seminary students over last night for a pizza party.  It was really fun - we ate, had a white elephant gift exchange, watched a movie, played pool, and played Boxers or Briefs (although the name of the game concerned the mother of 2 students).  My neighbors called the State Troopers on one of my students because she parked in their driveway.

Doug's co-workers will be here Saturday evening for a Christmas Party.  Traditionally they go to a bar, but this year we are throwing a family friendly, alcohol free event.

The kids and I fly to Utah in 4 days!  I am excited for the break from seminary and the chance to see our family and friends.

Sometimes I really enjoy living in Alaska.  Where else can you experience a bright, full moon in the middle of the day and sunrises like this every morning?

When we drove to Anchorage over Thanksgiving, it was a beautiful, white drive.  I thought nothing could compare to the drive in the summer, but the winter drive is just as beautiful - in a very different way.  We were able to see the tide go out, which was amazing by itself.  Alaska’s most famous bore tide occurs in Turnagain Arm, just outside Anchorage.  It climbs up to 6 – 10 feet tall and can reach speeds of 10 to 15 miles per hour.

It is amazing to me that here, a tiny branch of a tree can have 3 inches of snow on it.  It snowed it Idaho, but was so windy that the snow couldn't stay on the branches.  It makes things even more beautiful to see the trees like that.

I also love to get packages (even when they aren't for me).  We have gotten lots of packages lately and loved every one.

I look forward to living close to family again, but for the time being, I am trying to have a positive outlook on this new, beautiful place I live.  I had a few comments that people will be interested to see my posts in 6 months when we still have snow.  I never said I love every minute, but I am trying to stay as positive as possible.

I find my children ridiculously cute:

Ethan

Nolan

I look at this picture and see a much older boy that the one sitting on the couch in front of me.

While my sister was here:

My dogs received a little more love

(Jared and Fudge)

The kids exhausted themselves

Ethan was allowed to throw things

Halle was just darn cute (and refused to speak to or look at me the entire time she was here, but fell in love with Doug)

We went sledding... 

(Emily hauling Halle back up the hill)

We went snowmobiling... 

(Jared and Halle)

Jared went off on his own and made Halle cry...

We played pool...

Harry Potter came to visit

I gained 5 pounds - I generally do not make, buy, and/or eat junk food, but all inhibitions were tossed out the window.  I am now fighting with the scale and losing the battle.  I feel a New Year's resolution coming on...

(peanut butter balls, brittle cookies, hopscotch, and oreo balls - which Jared made)

Halle and Nolan watched Little Einsteins (which Nolan fell in love with)

Emily made hair bows

I made hair bows

The boys hunted and slaughtered a tree

And then they had to go home.  We were sad to see them go, but will see them again in less than a week!  I took a break from cleaning (and any other daily task I usually do) while they were here and just enjoyed our time with them.  It got a little out of hand and all had to be caught up when they left, but was worth it.

Our Christmas tree all set up, all 12 feet of it (and tied to the wall for added security)

Dec. 5 - Decorating the tree.

Dec. 7:

Ethan got a belated birthday package from Sabrina and Felicia.  He LOVES his dinosaurs and Nolan is totally jealous of the pajamas.  Go ahead, try to convince me they are NOT the cutest PJs on the planet.  Modeling on the runway:

Dec. 12 - We got a package from Jim and Linda this morning with these darn cute bears for the boys and a CD for Doug and me.  Thanks guys - we'll see you soon!

We are ready for Christmas!  The good thing about having such a big tree is that instead of hanging our Christmas decorations on the walls, we hung them on the tree and they don't look out of place.

A while back I posted about my mold problem in one of my Christmas totes.  I cleaned it out, but didn't discover the problem until a few days ago.  Last year Trudy (my mother-in-law) gave me a very cute musical Santa snow globe.  The music never worked, but there wasn't a replacement at the store.  We boxed it up and when I opened it this year, I discovered there was no water in it.  My guess is it was leaking when it was given to us (flooding whatever made the music) and then just emptied itself into the Christmas tote.  The only thing I lost that was of much value to me was my manger and some ornaments (well, AND the snow globe).  The other things in the box were either plastic and washed up ok or things that I liked too much to get rid of, but never really loved.

Pitch Black

It is currently 9:00 a.m. and black as night outside.  Literally.  Nolan just announced, "It's still dark out there mommy" and I haven't mentioned a thing.  I have come to realize though that being the early morning seminary teacher has come as a true blessing for my first winter of darkness.  I am up so early that I expect it to be dark and then never realize what time it should actually be light.  Friday I was sick though and called a substitute (named Doug - who then called a different substitute).  I had the hardest time getting out of bed at a reasonable hour more from the darkness than from being sick.

There is something very predominate in Alaska called S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder, aka. winter depression).  They sell these lights called "Happy Lights" that people sit in front of for 30-60 minutes (with their eyes open, but not staring at the lights).  Another interesting option is called "Dawn Simulation" and it is a treatment involving timing lights in the bedroom to come on gradually, over a period of 30 minutes to 2 hours, before waking up. Thanks to the very early stimulation of seminary, I have not experienced (yet) the effects of seasonal affective disorder.  I will be in Utah during the shortest day of the year.  We lose 6 minutes of daylight everyday until then and then we begin to gain 6 minutes a day.

I just laid Ethan down to change his diaper and unzipped his footie pajamas to discover he was naked and there was a poop-filled diaper wadded up in the foot of the pajamas.  He was promptly thrown into the bath (where he again pooped) and the pajamas are headed to the wash.

I need to add some pictures from the final days of my sister in Alaska as well as some of our Christmas decorating.  We have had fun.

Last night we lost power for about 2 hours.  It was cold and very, very dark.  I did my seminary lesson by flashlight and the minute I closed my manual, the power buzzed to life.  Doug had to pull out the flashlights that were being reserved as stocking stuffers for the boys and they had tons of fun.  I can't tell you though how many times we were told, "Turn on the lights!  It is dark!"  Luckily, we had our fireplace up and running, but as soon as the power was back on, Doug was on the internet looking for a generator.

Yesterday and today, our roads are like a big sheet of ice.  Doug and I have both plowed into the large snow pile across the street trying to make it around the corner.  We are lucky the snow pile is positioned appropriately because it is all downhill to the lake from there.

Hot, Hot, Hot...Hot Chocolate

Yesterday Nolan watched the Polar Express.  He spent the entire afternoon singing the hot chocolate song - while playing motorcycles, while running around naked, while peeing, while playing ball with Ethan...  Then, when dinner rolled around hot chocolate turned into "hot, hot hot...hot chicken!"  Suddenly Brenden wanted hot chocolate for dessert.

Homemade Christmas Fudge

Homemade Christmas Fudge

(sung to the tune of Jingle Bells)


Dashing from the mall,

with groceries yet to buy


lessons, work and housecleaning


life is so crazy. Why?


Bells on my phone ring,

the machine will take the call,

I have no time for family or friends,


it drives me up the wall.


How are you? How's your life?

I really want to know.


I'd love to chat and hear the news,


but please don't talk too slow.


How are you? How's your life?

I really want to know.

Hope you're ready for Christmas,

now maybe it will snow.


A day or two ago;

I thought I'd make a treat,

for all my special friends-

a Christmas gift to eat.


My intentions were top notch,


but my schedule would not budge,

hence, here's this year's edition

of homemade Christmas Fudge!

I gave this to my friend Jamie last year with a box of chocolates.  Thanks for the reminder, Jamie - I had forgotten all about it!  I thought maybe a few of you could use an easy clever idea as well.  I will likely be recycling the idea this year.

Anchorage and Thanksgiving

Wednesday we left for Anchorage at 6:30 A.M. to make sure we had plenty of time to drive in the "treacherous" snow conditions (according to the radio).  We got to Anchorage at 10:30 and our first appointment was at 11:00.  We grabbed some brunch and headed to the audiologist.  Brenden went off to his appointment by himself, I went with Ethan, and Doug stayed with Nolan.  I guess Brenden did a really great job (he is always better for anyone but me) and Ethan was more cooperative than most 16 month olds, so we were able to get great results for him.

Brenden had his cochlear implant remapped, his hearing aid re-preprogrammed, and we discusses getting him a second implant (for his left ear).  He is not fond of the idea because he doesn't want to hurt.  Ethan had his hearing aid re-programmed as well.  His hearing has significantly dropped in his left ear, but the right ear actually tested better than it did in June.  (FYI: Brenden and Ethan have a progressive fluctuating hearing loss - some days are better than others.)  Also at the appointment we found out that Ethan has an ear infection in his right ear, so we were referred to an ENT.  The audiologist suggested an ENT so we could establish a relationship for when Ethan needs a cochlear implant and if we decide to do Brenden's other one.

We left to find our hotel and I dropped off Doug, Nolan, and Brenden to swim while I took Ethan to the ENT.  What a waste!  We waited for a long time only to talk to an ENT who could not make himself understand any part of the kids' hearing loss, cochlear implants, or the fact that Ethan had an ear infection.  I told him that the audiologist had looked in Ethan's ear, it was bright red, and the tympanogram was flat.  He said that there was no way Ethan had an ear infection while still being able to eat fine, sleep fine, and no runny nose.  At my suggestions, he looked in Ethan's ear and to his surprise, Ethan had a red swollen ear drum!  Basically, the appointment consisted of him asking me repeated questions and in the end he said we should not come back to see him because he is old and doesn't understand a lot of the new technology.  Don't worry - we won't (and I think he should pay me for my information).  He also made sure I knew that he thought we were nuts for moving to Alaska and specifically Nikiski, with deaf children.

We had a good evening in Anchorage and a good night's sleep.  Thanksgiving morning, we had breakfast and wasted time at the hotel while Ethan took a morning nap.  We went for a drive after we had to check out and then we picked up Emily. Jared, and Halle at the airport.  It was a long drive home in the dark and snow, but we made it.  We had planned to eat dinner somewhere along the way home, but we forgot to take into account the fact that it was Thanksgiving.  We got home at 7:30 and threw together some dinner and got the kids to bed.

The next morning, we headed to Kenai to see Santa.  It was FREEZING, so I was glad we were early enough to wait inside the building.  Brenden told Santa he would just write him a letter with his list of things he wanted.  He also told me that last year he was shy of Santa, but then he asked Santa for a green truck and Santa brought him one, so this year he isn't shy of Santa anymore.  Nolan told Santa he wanted toys and candy - wow, that was easy.

Jared and Halle waiting in line.

Ethan waiting...

Nolan waiting...

Brenden waiting...

And finally Santa arrived (via fire truck).

The whole gang with Santa.

We came home and left poor Jared with the kids (to feed and put down for naps) while Emily and I went to a Pampered Chef open house.  We arrived only about a half hour before it ended and were surprised to find out we were the only ones who ever came.  I am still anxiously awaiting the results on who won the door prize.

After the kids' naps, we packed up dinner and headed back to Kenai to see the famous "Christmas in Kenai" parade and fireworks.  I guess it is a pretty big deal around here.  It is an electrical lights parade.  So, we arrived at 5:30 and the parade was scheduled to begin at 6:30.  We ate in the car and watched Shrek 2 while we waited.  And then, the parade began and we all decided it was warmer in the car and we could see just fine from there.  The parade was, well, I'm not sure I would quite call it a parade (some cars and trucks with lights on them), but the kids liked it and Santa was riding on a fire truck, so that was all that mattered.  Nolan stuck his head out the window and started screaming "Santa! Santa! HI SANTA!"  Then we waited for another 45 minutes for the fireworks.  Nothing will ever compare to Fireworks in Idaho Falls on the 4th of July, but they were fun for the kids to see.  (They don't do fireworks here on the 4th of July because the sky is too light to see them - Thanksgiving is the substitute.)  During all of this, there was a huge bonfire going on, but we chose to stay far away from that with 4 kids 5 and under.

Today we had Thanksgiving dinner.  Here is a picture of my perfect turkey (no, really it is called that on my oven setting).  Just give me a big ol' stick with a hand on it so I can pat myself on the back - I am just so proud. 

 Still cooking (while everyone around me is saying: It smells done!) - wait for it, wait for it...

And... PERFECT TURKEY!

It had great flavor and was so moist and delicious.  I made most everything else a few days ago, but there was quite the rush toward the end of lunch preparation because I didn't know the convection oven would cook the turkey quite so fast.  Afterward, we went sledding at the neighbor's house - they have a HUGE hill and no kids to sled on it.  We went snowmobiling for a little while and were finally frozen solid and exhausted.

3/4 of the way there...

The tile in the kitchen/dining room is so close to done, yet it feels so far when I look at what still needs to be done.  The tile itself is all finally laid (except 3 tiles) as of last night.  It has an odd stopping point because we decided against starting into the bathroom before we have Thanksgiving guests (the more bathrooms available, the better).  I have been scraping out the thin set between the tiles today in hopes that we can get it grouted tonight - and then the moulding up and the heater covers back on!  Unfortunately, I think the hardest part is still ahead.  We have a sunken living room, divided from the kitchen by 2 stairs.  We still have never officially decided what we want to do with the stairs, but I made the executive decision and removed the carpet from them.  Doug also needs to build a stair for the other end of the living room (unless I beat him to it).  

Doug re-set our toilet in our bathroom, so at least we have one more toilet (as long as you don't want to wash your hands when you are done).  I have also been scraping out the grout in our shower and I will have that grouted before Doug is home today and seal it first thing Monday.  This afternoon I am hoping to paint the bathroom where the cabinet was torn out and we are putting in a pedestal sink.  Doug has a few parts to pick up and then we will have a working sink.  I need to finish building our cabinets for our bathroom, but they're pretty low on the priority list.  Don't hold your breath for a "finished product" picture any time soon.

One of our friends said, "You must really like fixing up houses."  No, and I thought I was buying a house with relatively little to do.  Projects just seem to escalate out of hand around here.  All I wanted to do was replace the floor in the dining room.  The end.  We just start into projects and can't seem to resist making them a little more complicated than they really ever needed to be.  I keep saying that our next house will be done before we move into it.

While my mom was here, we took apart my vacuum (into a million and one pieces) to clean it - it just wasn't picking anything up.  Well, yesterday I received some new parts and now it is like new.  I have been vacuuming the house over and over and over.  I love vacuum lines.  They are so pretty and make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.  

I know, boring post, but I had to make sure you all knew I wasn't sitting around watching soap operas and eating bon bons.   

Blabber

Two days ago, my mom sent me an email and I haven't been able to get it off my mind, so I decided it needed to be shared so you can all share in my thought consuming story...

What Do You Do All Day?

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a Cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?'

She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world do I do all day?'

'Yes,' was his incredulous reply.

She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.' ... 

Okay, now that is out of my system.  I think about it all day - as I also think about my treadmill and elliptical, my untouched Twilight books, and my most recent Richard Paul Evans book (thanks, Jim - and for the cds too).  How many years will it be before I open to the first page?

In other news, Ethan has been especially dizzy today.  Even when holding onto a cabinet while simply standing, he loses his balance and falls down.  He fell down the stairs yesterday; something he has never done.  I am beginning to wonder if his nose is broken.  It is bruised and swollen, but I can't tell if it is out of place.

Speaking of noses: Brenden had a bloody nose last night.  This morning when I woke him up, I asked him what happened and if he had punched himself.  He said, "No, you did."  "Huh?  When?"  "Last night you did... You DID!"  I hope that rumor doesn't spread.  Jail time, indeed.

Speaking of jail time, I took a hilarious photo of Nolan which I will not be posting or I might be incarcerated for child pornography.  I think he wanted to make his own "Firefighter of the Month" calendar.  He was running around in a fireman hat and red rain boots and that's it.  In the picture, he is covering his "little boy parts" with both hands.  It was just too funny.

Now for some pictures:

Where would you say *THIS* (below) fits into the list of things to do?

Really, that is ALL the water that comes out of it - FULL FORCE.  Have you ever tried doing dishes like that?  (Doug told me faucets were hard and not to attempt it by myself or I would have.  I bought the new faucet/sprayer in July.)

I think Ethan was hungry - this is dog food.  He placed it in the microwave a piece at a time (which involved walking across the room between pieces).  Hey, at least he didn't eat it, right?

Lots of Pictures

Yesterday when I got home from seminary, it was 1 degree.  When I took Brenden to school, it was negative six.

November 13

Doug and Ethan started the day working in the garage.

"Look, I have a gigantic screw and my own seat!"

"Oops, I lost it."

"I love to help dad, we have so much fun together."

"Excuse me for a moment, I have a phone call..."

While cleaning out the garage, I found the sled we bought in the spring on clearance.  I think it took a half hour to get us all layered up and dressed to go.

"Dad, did you need me to clean your lens?"

Doug and Nolan went snowmobiling.  Yes, Doug is wearing shorts... still.  For anyone who doesn't know Doug well, you will find him in shorts daily unless he has to go to work.

Nolan loves to snowmobile.

The snow was so deep, Nolan had a hard time walking - heck, I have a hard time walking in it.

Nolan giggled and giggled.

Nolan enjoyed sledding much more than Ethan did.

Our neighbors across the street live on a huge hill, so we borrowed their driveway (if you can call it that - it is kind of like their own street up to their house) and Nolan and I sled for a while.  I picked up Brenden with the sled and pulled him home.  I couldn't figure out why I felt like I would die only half-way home.  Yes, I was walking up a hill, but I have walked up the same hill a hundred times before.  I looked behind me to find Brenden digging his feet into the ground while I was trying to slide him along.  I let go of the sled and he got a nice ride back down the hill.  Then we came home and went to the neighbor's house again.  I don't think I've ever had so much fun sledding as I did with Brenden that afternoon.

Unfortunately, after a day of play, Doug hurt his back and wasn't able to tile for a few days.  Here is how he got a back massage:

November 17

I spent the morning cleaning out the ash and coals in the fireplace.  Doug swept out the chimney and we had our first fire on Monday.  The boys are loving it.  I make a fire first thing in the morning when I get home from seminary, so Brenden can see it before he leaves for school and the boys sit and watch the fire for a while before bed each night.

Doug picked up Brenden on the snowmobile today.  All of my efforts have been foiled, so now Doug looks like the cool dad who comes to the bus stop on a snowmobile.  Brenden got home and said, "That was SO FUN!  We went FAST - like 100 miles........... (thinking intensely) .......fast.  No, maybe like 120 miles fast!"  My other favorite quote of the day:  "Mom, are you gonna chump some more cheese?"  (He made up his own word for shred.)

November 18

I spent the morning hauling wood to the house for our fireplace.

Nolan wore the snowmobiling helmet around all afternoon...

but he can't quite see out of it.

Brenden gets his homework done as soon as he gets home from school.

Practicing snowmobiling - too bad he won't wear the helmet ON the snowmobile.

Helper #3

Since no one ever gets to see my decorating (except Emily in ONE WEEK!), I thought I would take a picture.  Brenden brought me home the pine cones from school.

My Super Saturday Creations in all their glory...

(the tile, not the flower arrangement)