Christmas

I know it's been a couple days since Christmas and everybody wants to know what an awesome Christmas Mike and I had, but it seems every time I get on the computer to post I am drawn to the Fitbit website.

Yes, I got a Fitbit from Bryan and Mary for Christmas. I still do not have it set up right, (maybe right isn't the correct word)  I just don't have it set to what I want to track. Steps instead of calories and time of day that starts at midnight instead of noon, auto sleep.... You get the idea. But I visit the website to find the answers every time I get on the computer and spend all my time there.

OK, enough about that. I'll figure it out eventually.

Christmas started on Christmas Eve morning as always with breakfast with the Dupplers and Florys. It was at Jon and Erica's this year, so Ben could get a nap in at home. Roger got cozy with his cousin Erica. I think he wanted to pet the dog and be safe at the same time. Erica's lap fit the bill.

Christmas Eve at our house.
It was a really good time. With Mike working this summer I got to spend some extra money and I loved doing it. LOVED doing it. Yup, That is me, thrifty Karen, saying that I loved shopping.

Owen was the first to get a present. A spinning hamburger. Stack it, push the button and watch it spin outa control. Nothing like a baby's laugh. Roger and Luke got a before dinner present too. It's Christmas after all.

After 1 1/2 pans (so glad I made 2 kinds - with teenagers in the house) of lasagna and 24 slice of garlic bread is all consumed, we got down to the rest of the presents.

Roger and Luke got a present together. I wasn't sure if they would be OK with that, but it was the biggest present under the tree and they opened it together. A Easel for the masters artist. They got very excited and wanted to put it together. Good thing we had other presents to move on to.

* The easel is in our living room waiting to be taken into the city. Turns out Bryan had to choose between taking the easel or the wine frig. with them home, both wouldn't fit into the car. Wine frig. won - go figure.

I am sorry about the quality of my pictures. Owen found the camera and pushed some buttons. This one I had to post. Bryan wearing Kaylyn's hat.

The older boys in the other room working on their Star Wars leogs in their Star Wars P.J's with their cousin Logan.

To keep Owen outa their hair. He got to climb all over Mike's tool chest in the living room. He thinks  he's all it.

And of course his Uncle Brian thinks so too.

Our family is getting bigger - and in this case Bigger IS Better.

Now I gotta go - maybe somebody answered my question on the Fitbit community page.

Santa's Lap

I tried to sit on Santa's lap. I didn't fit. Ended up sitting on the arm of his chair.

That's OK - He told me I was good enough to get my Christmas wishes this year.
I told him just take care of my Grandkids and we can call it even.

What's That Noise?

I think I have a pretty good sense of hearing.

I prefer a quite space apposed to a room with a TV or radio on, same in the car. Everything turned down low or off.
Whenever our friend Steve visits, he always asks when we are watching TV "Can you seriously hear that?" Maybe not a good example, cause he can't hear much of anything. Point is I love me some peace and quite.

I am sitting in my chair, reading - house is quiet and I hear some noise.
First I think it's just the birds in the bush outside the window and continue reading. When I look out the window, I don't see any birds so I take a walk outside and listen and nope that's not it.
I know, Mike left the TV on in the basement. Nope, that's not it either.
The frig just came on - I walk over and listen. Nope not it either.
I know there is no point in asking Mike. He has tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and has a hard time hearing anything.

I take a walk down the basement and can't hear a thing. The noise is definitely upstairs.
I sit back down in my chair and listen some. Then I start to laugh. I remembered the grandkids were here this weekend and like his older brother Roger, Owen loves my clock radio next to my chair.
It's an old thing and I'm not sure the music even works I like to keep it there to check the time occasionally. I let them touch it and push the buttons on the top. They think they are getting away with something. It's so cute to watch and all I have to do is reset the time when they leave. No big deal.

Right now it's hidden under my golf Christmas tree, but Owen still managed to find it.
He must also have found the on/off switch along the side - because that's where the noise was coming from. The little bugger turned on the radio to static.

COOKIES

It all started with Me, Sharen and Mom getting together and baking Christmas cookies in my kitchen. Mom just couldn't stand for that long and Sharen and I just didn't want her to stop baking her Christmas cookies.

It's now a annual Christmas cookie exchange with some of Mom's recipes still coming out of my kitchen.

Gangs all here

Sharen and I sat down with our Grand daughters and decorated some cookies. Kallie and Kendell would of stayed there all day. What great little helpers. 

Around the table, The "K" team, plus Sharen.    Kallie - Kendell - Sharen - Karen - Kaylyn. 

Stacy steps in to see if we need her. We got this.

 Carrie checks on her group . Yup, the Grandma's have this all under control.

Mary and the boys were running a little late, but I saved them some cookies to sprinkle.
Roger jumped right in, but Luke just wanted to fix the new puzzles. (Thanks to the Reuters.)
Ben sat long enough to decorate a couple cookies, but there were toys in the other room that looked more interesting.
Owen shares a seat with Erica that got Ben's attention.

You know that's not me right...Hey Mom, I'm over here.

I think Mom would love that we are getting together to do this each year.
I love that our daughters WANT to do this each year.

The Christmas cookies are an added bonus.

Santa

Time for a visit with Santa and breakfast.

It's great that the boys daycare does this every year. The Florys don't have to fight the crowds at the malls for the boys to get to tell Santa what they want for Christmas.

Both boys told Santa they want light sabers.

Roger with Santa

Luke with Santa

Owen wanted nothing to do with Santa

Merry Christmas!

White Christmas

Every morning I read the paper and then hand it over to Mike to read.

"Hey, Did you see...?" and before he finished his sentence I say "No, I don't want to see it."
See, I DID see the ad for White Christmas the play, and I have no desire to see anyone but Bing Crosby in that porduction. Period.

A few days later he asked me if I wanted to see "White Christmas" on the big screen, Are you kidding me? A big fat YES! I've never seen it on a big screen.

Marcus Theaters is showing holiday movies now until Christmas and "White Christmas" was the first one showing.
I was pretty sure that my niece, Carrie hasn't seen it on a big screen either so I called her right away and asked her if she would like to join us. She is a huge fan of the movie too. Every year we keep each other informed on when it's on TV - even though we both have the movie on DVD.
She jumped at the chance.

Big smiles

I watch this movie about 5 times a year and I know I have seen it 100's of times, but this was by far the best one. Bing Crosby on the big screen  - Wow.

You really notice the little things on a big screen. Like the lipstick and makeup that Bing Crosby had on. Pink Lipstick. Oh and his blue eyes Yowser.

The "Positively No Smoking" sign next to the smoking sign that says "Keep all ashes and cigarette butts off the floor". And still everyone is smoking. Ashtrays everywhere, on every table and on kitchen counters, dressing room tables.

The bright red nail polish worn by all the ladies and the red wigs the dancers were wearing. I asked Carrie if the wigs were plastic. They sure looked it.

You wouldn't even be able to see it on a little screen, but the TV that the Ed Harrison show was on was a DuMout.

It was magical and even though I tell myself over and over "You are not going to cry - You are not going to cry" when the general walks down the stairs and into the theater in his uniform - I cried. It gets me every time.
Good thing I brought extra Kleenex with me. Carrie had the sniffles then too.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving.
It's always been, our huge family, getting together and eating (and a few occasions drinking) and playing games - being together. Come on, what's not to love about that. Yeah, I love everything about all of it.

I was a little bummed this year. Bryan and Mary and kids were headed to St. Louis. The other grandkids are spending the day with their Father and his family.
Mike suggested we do what HIS Mother always did and have a celebration the Sunday before.
Ooookaaay, (said with sad face) But I really want to see everybody on Thanksgiving. That's the day you are supposed to get together, eat too much and watch football.

Well, we had our Thanksgiving last Sunday and you know what - We were all together - we ate too much - and we watched football on TV. It was a really, really GREAT day.

Luke and Papa fixed some new puzzles that I got for him, while Mary and I got stuff together in the kitchen. Roger was the only one missing. He was already in St. Louis. He went down with Grandma Murphey last week.

paw Patrol Puzzles

Papa really must love this little guy, because he hates fixing puzzles.

When I asked for muscles for help in the kitchen, both Dylan and Logan volunteered.

Lifting the Turkey out of the roaster

Notice Dylan's hair?
The football team all got their hair bleached blond for the playoffs. He just did the top - I like it.

As I put away the leftovers, Mike and Brian did my dishes. I missed my sisters right about then. We'd hang out in the kitchen and we used to play a game - who can find the perfect size tupperware (and lid) for the amount of leftover.

While Owen and Bryan stayed inside to watch the Bears...

Owen giving Daddy High 5

Mary and Kaylyn took Luke outside for his first time sledding. We have the perfect hill for a 2 yr old. He loved it! He told me he is asking Santa for a sled.

He also loved the icicles hanging around the house. Bryan had a fascination with icicles when he was little too. Mary held him up to knock them off the front of the house where she could reach them from the deck. Then Daddy was called upon to lift him up to get the ones along the back porch.

Look at the beautiful trees in my backyard. That first snow fall is always magical to me. It's now Wednesday and the snow is gone.

Tomorrow, I just might head on over to the Turkey Bowl and watch my nephews and grandsons play some flag football. It calls for rain, so it might be interesting. Mike and I are going to have homemade Turkey soup from the leftovers and maybe take in a movie (Mockingjay).

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Readers!

Fall Decorations

After a visit to JoAnnes and Hobby Lobby I decided that decorating my house with fall foliage had to come from the forest preserve down the street.
The fall decorations were ridiculously expensive and the ones already made up ran up to $80. Ridiculous. I can do this for no cost, Just a little fun work.

Sharen and I took a walk around the trails collecting my stuff. Anything that looked good or interesting went in the pile. I don't use it - so what - I throw it away.
It was a beautiful fall day. We have been really lucky around here with the weather. November 14th and it's still in the 60's with clear blue skies.

Sharen collecting fussies

I decided to take the car down to get our treasures home. We would look mighty funny carrying all this stuff down the block. And I think this is illegal - taking weeds from a Forest Preserve.
Not Sure - Don't care!!

Back home I dug out my old crock pots, washed them up and got down to business.

Me at work

I made a big mess in the kitchen, but I am loving the results.

Yeah, poo poo to Joanne and Hobby Lobby! This was much more fun and the best part is I don't have to put it into storage for next year. I can throw it all away, because I have free weeds down the street.

Go Golfing

Just exactly what are you supposed to do when it turns 70 degrees in November?
You take advantage of the sunny beautiful day and call the Dupplers for some free golf at the Country Club.

It was also a good time for me to try out my birthday presents from the Flory crew.
Bryan and Mary gave me beautiful shining chrome golf balls.  "Her favorite color is chrome".
I tried using the yellow one, but they were super hard to find in all the yellow leaves. I had to put them away for next summer.

Mike brings home golf balls everyday from work. We have a storage bin in the garage full. Most of them are pretty good used balls. Lets just say golf balls will not be on our Christmas or birthday lists any time soon.
I took a dozen of the not so good ones  (Lets be honest he works at a Country Club - most of the balls are high caliber) and put them in a egg carton for Roger and Luke to decorate for me.

Bryan told me that they worked very hard to get it just right.
Being the great Grandma that I am, I picked 2 of my favorite, one from each of the boys to play with.

Roger's was colored in red with a piece of tape around it. He knew that red was my favorite color.

Roger's handy work

Luke's, of course, had to have stickers. Not just any stickers either - Spiderman Stickers!
All 6 of Luke's were taped together - in case I lost them.

Luke's sticker ball

I knew they weren't going to go very far, but it was fun playing with them.

Splitting

So it's been a few days since we helped Sharen and Dup split their wood.
The soreness is gone but the bruises are still here.
Sharen rented this major splitter from Home Depot. Only $100 for the day. We had to haul ass and get it done. This was a Deluxe, Heavy duty monster machine. Sweet!!!

Putting the splitter in the right position is crucial.

positioning

Sharen positioning the wheelbarrow

 Mike and I have done this a few times and have a routine by now.

Wheelbarrow - Tractor with cart - and something under the splitter to catch the shavings and bark that falls - Check, check, check!! Sharen had a brilliant idea and put the kids saucer sled under it. A whole lot less raking.
Lets Roll.....
 We had a perfect day for it. Sunshine and cool.

We had a fire going - logs were getting split and stacked, momentum was building. Then Dup's mower decided it didn't like the workout and stopped in the middle of it all.

Time for a break. Mike walked down the street (so nice that we live 6 houses away from each other) and got our tractor. Back to work.

Stack number one complete.

Time for a lunch break. Jimmy Johns is next to Battery Plus so the boys killed 2 birds with one trip. Battery and Lunch returned.
It wasn't easy getting back up from those lawn chairs after eating, but we only have this machine for 1 day. Back to work...

Me at the controls with the boys lifting the logs

 Dup hasn't done anything like this before and just went were he was needed. Tell him where to go and what to do and he did it. Yeah, I would definitely put him back on my splitting team.

Sharen and Dup stacking

Mission accomplished - All of the Duppler's logs were spit by 2:00.

Now down to our house to split the branch that fell a few years back.

It doesn't look like much, but it took us another hour before and I called it. We have enough wood to last us 4 or 5 years and another dead tree that has to come down next year. We are done.
The last of the wood is going to have to go to someone with a fire pit. NO more splitting.

Home Depot had their splitter back by 5:00 and we had a hot tub that was calling out.
Funny, I still find this hard work fun to do.

Owen is 1

His birthday is October 17th, but since all the family was going to be here visiting last weekend we decided to celebrate a week later. He' 1, he has not idea.

Happy Birthday dear Owen

Luke blew out the candle for Owen - Then I had to re light it for Roger to blow it out too.

Roger was standing by to help with Owen. His present was pretty big.

 Turned on it's side it was a bit more manageable for him.

Owen and his foot locker. I had given one to Roger and Luke on their 1st birthdays also. Now Mary has a place to put away all their childhood memories.
He wasn't interested in having his picture taken. He wanted to check out how the hinges worked.
I couldn't pass up the giraffe. Mary had told me that lately Owen likes to hug the full garbage bags that have to go out. So I thought this giraffe would be a good replacement.

Happy Birthday, Dear Owen - Happy Birthday to You...

5000

Two months ago Sharen and I were doing our morning walk around the neighborhood and noticed that Jill, one of our neighbors, was having a garage sale.
Sharen spotted some puzzles so we walk up the driveway to get a closer look.

Then I saw it!
A 5000 piece puzzle.
Aaaahh,  The clouds parted and the sun shone down right on it - I had to have it.

Jill was busy selling one of her quilts. (Yup, she's a quilter too, and her kids informed her they did not want them and suggested she sell some. I feel bad for her. HER KIDS DON'T WANT HER QUILTS??)

I took the puzzle (along with a few others) up to her husband and he was ready to do a little jig. He and Jill have tried to fix it and gave up on it. He was glad to see it go.

I took it home and got started sorting pieces right away. 4 large zip lock bags stuffed.
I sorted pieces from the box about 7 times before I got smart and got out extra work space..

The puzzle is 5'3" X 3'4" so I knew it wasn't going to fit on just one card table. It took 3 and some extra pieces of wood for more pieces. AND most of the living room.

3 card tables

added work space with pieces on top of pieces

Jill would stop by to keep up with my progress and was surprised that I stuck with it.
What she didn't know was I had help...

Roger found a piece 

Luke tried one too

 I ended taking out all the pieces they put in, but I applaud their efforts. Mike would just walk by shaking his head. The pieces were so similar in shape and had muted colors. It was Hard... I took a few of my pieces out too.

 Sharen would have to put a piece in every time she stopped by and also spent a few mornings with me  toward the end.

After 2 month I got it done. I never gave up and never wanted to quit. I really enjoyed fixing it.

Me crossing the finish line

4998 pieces later - 2 were missing.
I invited Jill down to see it. I put the pieces in baggies by section so she and her husband could fix it if they wanted too. She laughed at me and told me her husband does NOT want it back in the house, but was proud of me for finishing. I am pretty proud of myself.