Notice the props. Stuffed fish, calculator, Spider-Man pillow & a fireman sticker. Talk about fun!Saturday, March 29, 2008
Fish
Notice the props. Stuffed fish, calculator, Spider-Man pillow & a fireman sticker. Talk about fun!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Verde
We have been working on our basement. A little here. A little there. All of a sudden it is starting to come together! I just painted some of the walls a green color. Josh is starting on the bathroom this weekend. Woo hoo!
Easter
We had a lot of fun this Easter. You can see how disappointed Jake was with his gift from the Easter Bunny...
We were lucky that the Easter Bunny heard Lander's prayers all year long. He was "just hoping" the Easter Bunny would hide his basket on top of the light. Way to go Bunny!
See the excitement here? Lander is ecstatic! Or are those tears of joy? I'm not really sure!
I had to work that night, so we tortured the boys & made them wait until I got home from work in the morning & changed my clothes before they could go find their baskets. I like torture!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Spoiled Brats
The following statement is erroneously attributed to Jay Leno. I don't know who wrote it, but I really like what it says!
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we sound happy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day?
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general''discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable '' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country.
There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day or at least be thankful and appreciative."With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we sound happy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day?
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general''discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable '' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country.
There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day or at least be thankful and appreciative."With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Spring, anyone?
I was getting excited because I thought Old Man Winter was finally leaving. I took this picture 2 days ago from my dining room. We actually had dirt and a deck!! (aww, and see how cute my baby tree is?)
I can't see the dirt now, and forget about driving on bare roads. Winter decided it wasn't over & gave us more snow today. The sad part about it all? We still haven't built a snowman yet!
I can't see the dirt now, and forget about driving on bare roads. Winter decided it wasn't over & gave us more snow today. The sad part about it all? We still haven't built a snowman yet!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Men at Work
Todd came up this weekend to help Josh in the basement...thanks guys!!
Lander even got in on the action...
Lander even got in on the action...Thursday, March 6, 2008
the GREEN chair
A few of you have asked about our GREEN chair. Well, here goes! As many of you know, Josh has this strange fascination with thrift stores. About a month ago he called me at work...
Here are some of the other acquisitions, just in case you were wondering :)
and last, but not least, one of our $35 couches. They have the coolest shape to them! Our Idaho friends thought we were crazy to buy these, but we just fell in love with the curves. (Can you see how the front is a "c" shape?) We are planning on getting them redone. 
Josh picks up his cell after spending an hour at DI, his favorite weekend hangout with the kids. "Hey Dix. How's work going?"
"Not too bad. What's up?" I absently respond as I scurry around trying to tend to the never ending demands of my always sweet natured patients.
"Well, I found this really cool chair at DI that I want to buy."
Interest piqued, I ask, "Babe, we already have like ten chairs. Do we really need another one?"
"Oh, you just have to see this one. It is totally awesome!"
"Well, if you love it that much, then whey did you call? Just go get it."
I can't tell you how many times this scenario has happened in our nearly 12 years of marriage. When I got home to see the green chair I was really disappointed. It didn't help that he had put it in the kids' room & where they demanded that it just had to take up permanent residence. It took me a while to figure out how to put a green chair in a room that was decorated with red, white & blue. But now you can see what I came up with:
Here are some of the other acquisitions, just in case you were wondering :)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
what a Sis!
Our amazing accountant just finished our taxes. We knew we would owe, but my sister worked her magic & viola. Tax bill reducto. She nearly cut our bill in half! Now my family can eat for the next month & a half . My could-be-starving-but-won't-have-to children thank you. As do I.
Thanks a trillion Keri!
Monday, March 3, 2008
a woman obsessed
Our ground is buried in snow, but it hasn't stopped me from trying to decide what to do about my yard & garden. Talk about obsession! Little did I know that the answer was in Grams' Sunset magazine. Now I have my answer. Thank you Grams! Check out my inspiration:
This is my vegetable garden design. Who says that a vegi garden has to be in rows? I am putting this mini-garden below my upper deck next to the octagon deck. I am going to use this general concept in my larger garden too.
Josh just rolls his eyes, but hey! We all know that he really likes it! :) Now we just have to find a bunch of rocks & get some dirt so we can get started. Oh wait, already done. I called the excavator this morning!!
This is my vegetable garden design. Who says that a vegi garden has to be in rows? I am putting this mini-garden below my upper deck next to the octagon deck. I am going to use this general concept in my larger garden too.Josh just rolls his eyes, but hey! We all know that he really likes it! :) Now we just have to find a bunch of rocks & get some dirt so we can get started. Oh wait, already done. I called the excavator this morning!!
Happy 79th Peepa!
No, even though Jake has been spreading the rumor, Gramps did not just turn 97. It's 79, just a few years different. We spent the day with Grams & Gramps & had a little party to celebrate the occasion.
See if you can read what Lander wrote on Peepa's card:
Gramps, aka Peepa, the crazy old coot! (Isn't he cute!)
We love these guys!
Winter Days
We went to visit "the old folks" a couple of weeks ago. Here are a few snapshots of our fun day:
Josh, a self portrait
the hooligans
Dix & Grams out for a ski...pretend the Tetons aren't hiding!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Parenting 101
Maybe we should have read a parenting manual first!
Rule #1:
Our interpretation:
Rule #2: 
Our misinterpretation:
Our misinterpretation:
Rule #3: 
Is is just me, or do these rules not make any sense?
Rule #4:
Whew! At least we got one right!
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