LIFE...

Hi out there...
Today was just one of those "blah" days! A day full of laundry, cleaning and misc things. Life just seems to never slow down here at the Miller household, its crazy!! Today was an early out day for the boys so they hit the slopes with their dad for the afternoon, Blade and I stayed behind at home and got some things done... yep he was upset again that he didn't get to go, felt really bad for him because he just can't understand fully why he "can't go" and Jer of course tells him "he's not big enought yet" and Blade just refuses to acknowledge that fact... but anyhow he survived the day with his mom... but one of these times he will get to go with them and YES I will have the house to myself or a day to myself.

Today I realized something... Blade and I spend a lot of time together lately - not sure if its a good or bad thing yet... I'd like to think its good but he is getting WAY dependent on me ... and is that good or bad? I love to be at home with him. Since now that we are in the house he probably has only gone to the daycare a total of 3 days in the last several months and I dont think I can periodically send him anymore since he doesn't like it now and is SUCH a "home body". He was going to his grandma's once a week but well... that didn't work out like we wanted it too since grandma's schedule seems to be 'too busy'... so whatever, but I think I need to make a little change in the week... he has to go somewhere besides preschool 2 half - days a week to get out of the house... its good for him and its good for me. However if it gets "set in stone" that he can go 2 FULL days of Preschool next semester that would be good :) but when the boys are gone during the day and then gone at night to Sundown that is hard on this little guy... he really misses them so hope we make it thru the winter season :)

This weather isn't it amazing? Got all your outside jobs done? I am thinking tomorrow while Blade is at school I am going to try my damnest to get our "WT" yard cleaned up, its really been bothering me, not to mention the dumpy wagon we have parked on the driveway... now if that ain't a beautiful thing... but hopefully this weekend we can get that dumped.
Hrm... what else is new... well we offically have floor boards now laid at the bottom of the steps :) YEAH!!! no more freaky floor like Blade would say :) ... the mudroom floor was started today and hopefully will be finished up by Monday.
When will we tackle putting the lockers in? I would like to say 'soon' but time will tell... first we would have to make a path to get to it and then clean around them since all our stuff is in storage there.

Hows the shopping going? Done yet? I'm not but sure wish I was!!!! I have all the "hard ones" left to do as well as going with Jer to get the our boys done. I am getting to the point of "stressing" out about it and I shouldn't be but you know how that goes... it'll be fine I just have to keep telling myself that, right?

Well I better close - want to get some gifts wrapped yet and well the laundy still sits in the basket yelling for me... and its LATE... so wishing you all a great rest of the week - Sing a Christmas carol :)

time flies...

Well its been a LONG time since I last posted... sorry about that :(

So to update all of you on my life events... last week well I would not want to 'relive' that week... WOW sick kid upon sick kids... YEP they all got it... whatever it was... FLU bug or virus... then it hit me HARD on Wednesday evening and most of Thursday. My whole body ached! I would of rather had another child I think!!!! it was AWFUL!!!!! but it was here and then it passed but I still kinda feel icky :( from time to time yet. Jer was in Boston from Sunday to Wed., that was a change for us since we are so used to having him here more... and I was sure glad he was home!!!

So what else happened last week... Jer was gone, boys were sick, and then the weekend picked up for all the 'crappy' parts of the week.

Friday, I helped at Cranberry most of the day since it was a "LADIES DAY OUT" day. This year the stores changed it up a bit and went to a "Ladies DAY" rather than a "Ladies EVENING", it was kinda a disappointment for me since I knew what to expect from the previous years... but it was a nice flow all day so it was an "ok" day I think for Tammy, but my personal feeling I think they should of kept it an "evening shopping night" for the ladies. But wow! never a dull moment when you are with Tammy and Janice - I sure enjoyed the day hanging out with them, I love to get caught up in "purse world" with Janice and ha, well on Friday she of course surprised Tammy and I both with a new CUTE purse! Brown "alligator" pattern purse, its sure is cute and who would of guessed it was from Walmart? NOT me!!
So I worked until about 730ish then Jer came down to the store, we all bs'd for a bit and then Jer and I were off to DBQ to Houlihans for our little fix for the week. Its something I look forward to each week - just being with Jer and having a nice supper and just so happens that Houlihans "is the place"... We did a few errands then we were off for home for the night, short night but it was nice.

So now we are to Saturday... a full day! Started out with me waking up pretty early, I wanted to sleep in but I couldn't... so then I did a few things around the house and had to go run a few quick errands, then we met Jenn and Dustin here at the house for awhile- wanted to show Dustin whats been happening on house, it was hard to show him but yet I was THRILLED to see him!!!! He looks good, just hope things all work out and he can come back in Jan. to do a few things for us, he is such a GOOD GUY!!!! and just want the best for him and everyone in his life :) So then after that we were off to the McLees Christmas for the afternoon. I always enjoy this Christmas and seeing all the family, the picture thing is annoying but oh well thats life... I am just sure I will never ever do that to my kids! So we bailed pretty early on the Christmas party today... but the boys REALLY wanted to get to Sundown so Jer agreed to take them for the afternoon since they didn't get there during the week due to both boys being sick and his traveling so off they were for the day and little Blade was a little sad since he wasn't able to go but... cheered him up by going to visit Grandpa and Grandma Steffen, so then he was ok... so we were off to visit my parents and help them get their Christmas tree up, pretty neat this year my parents did a 6.5ft all white tree with colored lights and 100% John Deere ornaments, lights, all the trimmings of John Deere :) Blade was in heaven!!! He just couldn't stop looking at it, it was pretty cute. So after I helped them do a few things I was off to going back home to get some stuff done and of course Blade didn't want to home so Grandma caved in and let him stay and brought him home later on.

Now for the BIGGEST event of the weekend! The true HIGHLIGHT of my week!!!! WOW!!!!! I just get speechless when I think about it :) Jer's cousin Kim and her husband Bear got tickets to see Martina McBride's Christmas concert in CR and had two open seats... and she was so kind to call us and ask us to go, I was absolutely thrilled!!!!!! As you can see in the pictures she was talking to a boy right in front of us... it was just a moment I will never ever forget! The seats were amazing, we probably were 10ft from her at one point... when we made a little trip to the bathroom :) and it just was INCREDIBLE!!! Yes, it was her Christmas concert but she did sing two of her songs " In My Daughter's Eyes" and her newest release song... the name? gosh I can't think of it right now but when she sang it I had tears in my eyes... WOW no other preformer can sing like she can, its 110% amazing!!!! Martina means like ALOT in my life, she was there for me when I lost 50+ lbs four years ago, she was there for me when the dream of the shop began to become real, I listened to her all the time when we put the store together from bottom up, this lady is a true inspiration in my life!!! Just LOVE her!!!! So this was just SO SO touching to see her the way I did before my eyes talking to this little boy and having it be SO real... do I wish that was me in the picture? Sure I do but I would of just been SO SO more speechless! But I can tell you after seeing her preform the way she did again... since I have seen her preform 2x's before but had the "nosebleed seats" and was very far away from her and never this close... it was INCREDIBLE!!! She gave me the inspiration and motivation back for the upcoming new year to loose weight and get fit again!!! I am shooting to do that 'speedwalk 1/2 marathon sometime this year... but lots of training has to happen. I needed to see her, she is truely a idol in my life!!!!!! Enjoying life is what she is all about and I would like to think I am that way too but I need to stress less and just live life more, its too short!!!!!
So lets see... Sunday we did not much of anything! We all slept in... and had breakfast again in our "make shift" kitchen but it sure was YUMMY!!! Then Jer and the big boys went to sundown for a few hours while Blade and I went into DBQ to get a few more Christmas gifts bought, a few more gifts off my list :) I am getting closer and closer to being done... but I love it!!! I love this time of year and this year I have been really enjoying it more... weird but I have been :)

So I blogged enough... WOW look how long this is... sorry if it got carried away!

"FROSTY THE SNOWMAN"... IS ALIVE:)

Well this is one BIG thing I wanted to accomplish today and I finished it up after I located some lights... thank goodness Tammy had some because I could not find any anywhere!!! No Walmart didn't even have clear white stranded white lights!!! Well the Anamosa Walmart didn't! I was SO mad!!!! Anyhow here is the live "Frosty tree". He turned out better than I thought he would so yes I am pretty happy with him.

So there is sickness in our house :( Mitchel has been in bed all day, the only time he got up was to go to the bathroom - the poor kid can't keep anything down, I just feel helpless when my kids are sick! He proabably will be home again tomorrow but we will see how the night goes. For Blade I think he is back to being Blade :) all perky and happy!

I got some more gifts wrapped tonight and feeling pretty good about what I have done so far, we mainly have our kids left to do and a few good friends but other than that we should be done soon - YEAH!!!! and that is always a great feeling!!!

Tomorrow I am CLEANING all day - going NO WHERE except to get my hubby at the airport and taking the kids to school! Today I played with the tree and wrapped gifts most of the day... pretty lazy today :( and hung out in Mitchel's room with him and Blade after I did a few things.

Plans for New Years yet???? Hope not!!!! We want to host the party this year... yes our house is undone but life will go on into 2007 and what better way to spend it??? in our house filled with friends!!!! Hope all of you can make it!!!! Get your babysitters if you haven't already :)

Until I blog again! stay warm!!!!

Funny but Scary night...

Oh my what a weekend...

Friday night we had... "Naught Christmas night", It was the first year that my family decided to do a "Chinese Christmas with "gag" gifts...so it was... each person was to come up with a gift ... girl gift and a guy gift to exchange... OH my what a HOOT!!!!
I hate to brag but I would say Jer and I won the "BEST" gifts...

"female" gift was a blow up penis, the most UGLY old lady night gown, depends, slippers, and "Superman" thong undies... in a BIG ass "Victoria Secrets" bag with a nice $10.00 gift card.... It was FLIPPIN hilarious!!! I should of taken a picture of it but wasn't thinking :( this had a note with it too but can't remember it right now...

"male gift was a "screwdriver, screws, rubber glove, vaseline, "small pecker condoms", "flavored" condoms- all of this in a toolbox in a "DO IT BEST" lumberyard bag... then it had a note with it saying they had to read this tune aloud...
Happy Holidays to you, Happy Holidays to you, hope these tools will help you with your screw... if not Mr. Happy will do.
Happy Holidays to you... in a Victoria Secrets bag we had "Happy the Hampster" ... WOW it was fricken hilarious!!! because the whole night I wanted my brother inlaw Greg to get the gift and WOW... when it stopped he had to open it... but then it was passed around again... but the look on his face was completely PRICELESS!!!!

So now for the pictures of Jer that I have posted... SORRY JER!!! but I had too... Jer had a REALLY REALLY GOOD TIME :) Friday evening, although he proably should of paced his drinking a litte more... he got completely drunk within 3 hours or less on a whole bottle of "Saphire". Yes, Jer got drunk!!! I've seen him drunk on his 30th birthday.. but that was mild compared to this... and I have seen him "tipsy" but not drunk like this... the poor guy got sick on top of it! I was never so scared in my life after we realized at 9:30ish he had drank the whole bottle... I thought "oh my god he's going to have alcohol posioning" and I kept saying that... I was feeling good but I sobered off quickly, I was completely freaking out!!! so unlike Jer but it was good for him too and I was happy he had a great time!!! So about 10ish he got sick and it probably was a good thing because I was really starting to worry ALOT at that point!!!! My sister and brother inlaw were pretty persistant on us just staying the night at their house but I did not want to do that since we only live across town... so I called Jer's brother Kevin, and friends Jason and Billy to see if they could help me get him home... well we made it home after a hour of Jer laying on my sisters kitchen floor - but I just wanted to get him home. Thanks to all of you who helped me get him here safely!!!! After we were home he was ok, I didn't sleep worth a crap because I was worried he'd get sick or would need something... then about 4am he got up and bathed and I finally crashed.... slept until 8:30ish and realized he was not next to me... I freaked!!!! Here he was downstairs in the COLD COLD new room sleeping on the couch with just Mitchel's coat over him as a blanket... he stayed downstairs because he said he wasn't ok... so I helped him get up and brought him back upstairs.... GHAD I was flippin out when I woke up and he wasn't there though!!!!!

So the day of Saturday... Jer was not up to par at all! He was in bed... well most of the day. I did some laundry in the am, got kids lunch and then my sister wanted to do some shopping in CR and wanted to know if I wanted to go with... so I made sure the kids were settled with lunch and Jer was ok with me being gone for the day... and was off to shopping with my sister for the day, it was SO cold out!!!! I got back about 5ish and Jer said he wasn't up for doing much, so we ran into DBQ to get some supper and the supplies we now needed for Happy the Hampster... then we were off to home... home by 11pm.

Today another day we just bummed... but we did make a meal in our house today! Yep we bought a small griddle and made breakfast this am, eggs and bacon, toast, oj... and enjoyed it!!!! Did absolutely nothing really besides the laundry usual.
I got to watch my OC today... very good show last week... About 4ish took Jer to the airport- he's gone to Boston until Tuesday evening. On my way home from DBQ Mitchel called and said he was "sick", and just threw up... then later on tonight Blade threw up... sickness in the house... ICK!!! trying to get Blade to sleep now so best close.

Wish all of you readers a good week!!

Snowman...

So here is the "start" of the tree that the boys have been wanting to do... as well as me...
have to get the "white" stranded lights" and I messed up and didn't pay attention to that... and then decorate it :) I worked on the head tonight and going to cut a scarf and mittens for it yet tonight... Blade thinks its pretty funny.
Tomorrow I will go hunt some branches down for "Frosty" and do some snow effects on him :)

This will be one of two trees I will have up now... hope to get one more up yet. Yes changed my mind... just want it to feel morel like Christmas here for all of us since we have waited over two years to get here.

FREEZIN'

BRRRRRRR... I think winter is here... maybe I wished for it too soon! but I do have to say its better than rain rain rain!

So whats new friends? Not a whole lot here in Lis's world. I got a lot of misc. crap done today... like wash bed sheets, wrapped some gifts, did some cleaning...

Too cute this am... Blade woke up like early today which we are talking like 9am - yes this is early for him, he usually sleeps in until like 10-1030ish just depending on the day before if he got a nap or not.... but anyhow - he woke up and was roaring to go to school - just wanted to go so bad - it was SO SO darn cute! He wanted to get dressed and be on his way and he was worried about being "late".

After I got Blade off to school. I ran some errands in town here and then met up with my friend Tammy and ran to Anamosa.
Tammy wanted me to see this new store over there called "GATHERINGS". WOW super cute!!!!!! There was a TON of things I fell in love with over there!!!! So now I think I am adding 'gift certificates" to that store to my Christmas list FOR SURE :) So many unique antique peices that are just unreal - LUV'IN it!!!! I was truely impressed!!!! Now I have my mind stuck on a cupboard that I think would look awesome in our basement, took all the measurements for it and I am pretty sure it would work perfectly in one of the two spots I am thinking... just think its an AWESOME peice!!!!! So I have to do some more thinking and pondering on it and convince Jer "its" the peice for the basement :)

So tonight after I got back... was off to DBQ to do a few things... mainly wanted to get my nails redone... but they couldn't get me in... so made an appt. for tomm. am. Tomorrow night my family is having an "adult xmas party" with well supposed to be "funny gag gifts" so this should be QUITE interesting!!! I'm looking forward to it actually, 1st time for everything. I am just hoping my dad or mom gets my "sleezy" gift... cuz I will BUST a gut laughing!!!!

PRETTY BORING BLOG but trying to keep it back to a daily thing... cuz I've been slackin' lately :I

Have a great weekend!!!

CRAZY OR WHAT?

Wow isn't this weather crazy? I sure think so... I am SO SO tired of the rain... its cold and icky... come 'on its almost December... where is the snow? Not that I like snow but its better than rain.

Whats new? Hrm... In the last few days I got LOTS accomplished, I cleaned our main floor and got it MORE organized instead of crap just shoved somewhere - WOW was that a JOB!!!! but a HUGE accomplishment. I have a TON more to do thou... now I need to do my "normal" cleaning on the 2nd floor (bedroom level) tomm. and I do want to get some xmas trees and decor up on the main floor yet... so plenty to finish up this week... and all the LAUNDRY I dont ever get a break from... why is this job never ending? Geesh!!!

Lets see... today besides cleaning I volunteer at school for awhile for a gal - I did enjoy it but all I have to say... there is reasons why that is not my profession :) I would go INSANE!!! but it was a nice change. So after that I came home for awhile to clean some more... then it was time to get Mitchel and Blade early from school since Mitchel had a orthodonist appt. at 3:30ish.
After the appt. we flew back home and I got more done tonight- YEAH!!!

So lets back up to over the weekend... How was your Thanksgiving? Very good here... ate plenty! We went to my parents for lunch and mom had all the fixin's and plus some! She could of fed an army I swear! She had her homemade biscuits and that is something I look forward to every year... and I dive for the center ones :) and her apple pie :) Im really not a turkey or ham eater nor much of potatoes... so I stick to the bread, corn and pie... crazy I know but its me... So after dinner we got some pictures for mom - this is picture is going to be my parents Christmas card (all their grandchildren) isn't it cute? Blade is not looking at all by thats typical in Blade's world.

Friday the evil day of shopping for the year... WOW!!! I think this year was the craziest I've ever seen! Women fighting at Target, it was completely INSANE!!! wow over nothing but getting a damn tv... now thats just crazy!!! I like to shop the day after Thanksgiving but its not all about getting "deals"... if I get it ... great and if I don't... oh darn! Why are some people just so greedy like that?? Drives me batty!!
So did I get alot accomplished? Yes and no... got all our neices and nephews done, I got a ROOMBA :) the only TRUE thing I was after that day for myself!!! and I got the boys started as well as some other people so I happy with that but I have TONS to do yet. As far as the boys go thou... I have no real set ideas for any one of them... Blade just keeps saying he wants "toys, John Deere toys" so I find that entertaining :)
Friday night Jer and I went for supper with some of my family at Houlihans, it was nice! I was completely exhausted by 10 thou... hate getting older!!!
Saturday... I helped Ms. Tammy at the store for a few hours in the afternoon while the boys went to the farm for the day and Jer worked with jerry for a bit. I did some cleaning off and on that day. Later in the evening we just chilled and went to Red Robin for supper and called it a night.
Sunday - complete family day - it was a FUN day for all of us! We all slept in until 10ish, then we were off to see the DBQ Thunderbirds hockey game, its been SO LONG since I have done that, besides freezn' my ass off it was SO SO fun!!! Then we took the kids to a special supper at Houlihans. But it was a completely a carefree day and I loved it!!!! Great job planning Jer!!!
So lets see what else is new? We have now a granite floor in our entry way :) I absolutely LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!! Its just amazing!!!!
its a special addition to our house, just makes it feel more complete. Within a few weeks we should have the orginal hardwood floors laid which will be exciting. Yes... still no kitchen and the way it looks that date has not been "offically determined" we are just up in "limbo" for that one right now but as I have been told.... "good things come to those who wait" so its worth waitng for, right? Its just I am looking forward to baking and cooking again - yes I said that!!!!! I want to learn how!!!!
I will close for now and hope to blog tomorrow... I am going to see my new little baby tomorrow, Trenten James :) I can't wait since I saw pictures of him last night!!!!!! He's SO SO cute, just hope the weather cooperates!!!!!!

Hope you are all well... please can it stop raining already????

HaPpY ThAnKsGiViNg To AlL

Will write tomorrow - just crazy weekend and trying to catch up...

This is the tree Blade is SO SO proud of :) Its "his" tree. Yes, we stranded all the popcorn garland :) ... 5+ hours but it was a HUGE touch to our tree to make it personal for our first Christmas here :) Tomorrow I am going to make a "snowman tree"... hope it turns out cute ...

A weekend of shopping...

Well here I sit on this great am... in my bedroom... suffering from a slight hangover - thanks to the Paskers :) WOW I have not drank that much of a mix of drinks in a LONG time in a short peirod of time! We sure enjoyed last night it was a great change~ a group of "couple friends" got together at the Pasker's and had a "game night" with a yummy supper, it was very nice - Thanks Mel!!

Yesterday wow... what did I do? Hrm... not a whole lot of anything - I tried to pick up around here which is a non stopping, I just wish we could get the dust under control- that would be HUGE!!! that should happen soon I hope since Jesse is going to work on plaining the floor boards this week. We may have a kitchen before Christmas... if the guy gets back to us soon... that would jsut be FRICK'N awesome!! You don't realize how much you depend on one until you don't have one.

So Friday I had a AWESOME day - got some shopping done with Tammy and Janice - what a freakin' hoot of a day that was!! So many laughs - they are just fun to hang out with... they actually enjoy shopping!! We went antiquing and then did some real shopping - it was just a carefree day. Got back mid evening so I was off with my hubby to grab a bite to eat and we called it an early night - swear its age!!

So today... my sister Madonna called wanted to know if I wanted to go shopping so we were off to CR to meet up with Mom and Dad - we helped them get some shopping done for the grandkids as well as picking a few things out for ourselves... as crazy as that sounds. I enjoyed it since I really don't get to shop with mom and dad - so it was fun! I didn't personally buy hardly anything - I was just along for the ride. Jer and the boys spent the day out at the farm - Issac got to ride his 120 and he took Blade on a 4 wheeler ride, that little boy LOVES the farm!!! He could be the farmer of the family yet...

So here is the last tid bit... Christmas is going to be here in less than a month before I know it... and Holy Sh*t I have a TON to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It really bothers me that I have only a few gifts bought and I am by this point 1/2 done... but it'll be ok - just keep thinking I have no stress with the store this year and that gives me a little peace.

Thanksgiving week... ICK I hate turkey, ham and all the traditional crap... except the pumpkin pie :) So I hope this will be a good week to tune up and start getting on track!! Im going to kill myself walking this week if I have to!!

So until I blog again - hope all of you are well!

Happiness...

Happiness... its the word of the day? Are you happy? I am happy and content with life... it has its flaky points but overall I am very happy with the life I have, some other people in my life should just WAKE up and be happy!!! Life is too damn short! A clost friend of mine made me see the light today :) Thanks!!! Just can't dwell on the bad... I have so much going on but it shouldn't weigh me down... and now I am just going to smile thru it all, thats the way life should be, right?

So today I did LOTS of thinking pertaining to our bar area in the basement - I am getting really excited about it - just hope it comes together like my visions for it!
Lots has happened here at our house since I last posted... the entry way is no longer concrete and a crappy floor... it was prepared for the granite and some of the orginal hardwood floor was layed, the carpet is completely installed in the attic now, it looks GREAT!!! The widows peak is going to get the floor layed tomorrow - YEAH!!!

Christmas ... WOW around the corner it comes... but I am looking forward to it this year... no worries with the shop, no worries with Jer traveling. I can completely enjoy it this year with my kids and Jer without not have to stress about truely nothing... and when I am going to get the shopping done or anything - WOW that just feels good to just think about it. I have not a clue to what my kids want this year :( Will I put up a tree for Christmas? I'm thinking yes but just in the attic... and maybe in the boys rooms... but we'll see how much Christmas I can find before I decide that factor.

So what else is new... well I have offically set a GOAL for the year of 2007 hands down!!! I want to loose approximately 65-70lbs and get in shape again! No excuses or failure this time! I AM STICKING TO IT!!!! I also want to try and speed walk a 1/2 marathon in the year of 2007, I've got big shoes to fill but its HIGH time!!!! My weakest link is... giving up pop! and I am going to make that happen!!!!!!!!! I've been pretty good this week... 1-2 pops a day, its a start but I would like to get it to 1 or none - another HUGE goal!!!!!!

Stress... well one of my close friends asked me this week what my blood pressure was this week... HOW funny!!!!! That is what she said to me after seeing my house the way it is... but seriously it doesn't bother me as much anymore... I'm just happy to be here!!

Ok so I best close... be happy - life is too damn' short!!! Sing a tune it makes you happy :)

HO Hum... 32...

Weekends... why do they seem to go so fast? Can't believe how times flies as you creep to old age...

So anyhow, its been awhile since I last posted... so backing up a few days... Friday our boys did not have school, so I did not get much accomplished at all, but I sure enjoyed the time with the boys. WOW what did you think of the snow that fell on Friday? ICK... I'm not a snow person - but the boys sure were excited!! I like it when it looks pretty but don't care for the ice nor the cold :) Strange I know... but tis me... So lets see... Friday night... Ms. Molly came to stay with the boys and I met Jer in DBQ after he was done working for the day - we went to see a movie, we saw "THE GUARDIAN", it was VERY VERY good!!! (I recommend it to any of you reading this). Then we were off to get some supper at Red Robin then called it a night - night ended early since Ms. Molly was going to the Iowa game on Sat.

So for Saturday... not much happened during the day, the boys went to the farm to spend time wth grandma and grandpa Miller, they were out there into the evening until Molly could come... so needless to say I didnt' see them much today:( but Jer and I accomplished quite a bit while they were gone, he worked some and I got caught up on some cleaning and laundry... then in the afternoon Jer and I spent quite a bit of time "re planning" the basement...

YES "replanning"... we decided to move the "theater room into the new addition basement, we now are putting the bar area in the center basement, and for the front 1/2 we are going to put the pool table in that room and basically it will be the "teenage" hangout when that time comes :) ... well thats what we hope... we put a lot of thought into the basement this weekend and we keep pondering on it but time is ticking so we think we will have a "definate" plan this week with an AWESOME artist friend of ours :) so we can show our contractor exactly what we are picturing for the space.

So here we are now to Sat. evening - Jer had told me earlier in the week he wanted to get a group of people together and go out to celebrate my birthday - so we did just that... we all met up at Houlihans for some supper, I had a LONG ISLAND ICE TEA... whoa I was feeling mighty sugary when I was done with that... but it was good!! I thank all of you who could come enjoy the evening with me - it meant more than you will ever know!! I missed several of my dear friends like Abby but she is just a new mommy so there is another time I can catch up with her :) and for the others I will catch up with you later I'm sure of it. The gifts were so sweet!!! but not necessary at all!! So after supper we all hit the road for music at Courtside - LIVIN' LARGE (one of my all time favorite bands) was playing... so I very much enjoyed it!!! Its been a LONG LONG time since I danced nor drank that much... but it was a GREAt time, I hope all of you who were there enjoyed it too.

Sunday, well I slept in... didn't really have a hang over but I felt a little funny when I woke up.,, but no headache so that was a good sigh. We were up and at it... and off to Sundown to get all the boy's ski passes for the winter season, and dropped off their snowboards to get waxed and ready as well. My boys are sure growing up fast!!! Issac just got new snowboard boots last year and well... they are too small this year... same for Mitchel, but hopefully Issac can wear Mitchel's this year - time will tell. After all the "winter business" we had to do... I did a little shopping with Mitchel for some new shoes while Jer went to get a coffee with Issac n Blade... Issac was so THRILLED to go get hot chocolate at Miguels, it was pretty cute. So after our little errand run we all got back together and were off to "Movie Sunday" (a routine of ours) ... we like to take the boys to movies on Sundays, its seems like its one of the better days to do something like this, so what did we see? "FLUSHED AWAY". its so so FUNNY!!!!! any child or adult would like it :) YES another movie I would tell you to go see!!!

So whats new here on the new homefront?? Well lets see... main bath is all tiled- YEAH!!! I really really luv how it turned out!!
The attic, the carpet was layed on the main living area... waiting to get the steps done- hope that will be done someday this week. Jesse started to frame out the basement late last week and I'm sure he will continue to make process there.
We absolutely LUV how the attic came together!! its truely amazing!! Possibly going to be getting our granite flooring put in next week... YEAH!!!!! Still no REAL kitchen... but we are getting by and doing our best.

So anyhow I best close... I am dying... just really tired today, its the 32 ... ghad I feel old...

Birthday here and gone...

Hello Friends :)

Another birthday has passed in my life - it sure was a great day! I thank all of you who remembered me on my day and sent me your wishes, all the cards and gifts were truely amazing! WOW I have such a great circle of friends and that means so much to me more than anything!!!

A huge thanks to Jer - thank you for spending the day with me!!!! You are amazing!!!!! It was just one of those "carefree days" and I truely enjoyed it, I think I enjoyed the sleeping in part the most until my cell phone stated to ring consistantly... ha ha.

The boys did an awesome job picking out great gifts from Cranberry Hollow- thanks Tammy for helping them!!! They enjoyed it... it was quite cute when they gave me their gifts. It was also nice to have a "room" close to complete so we could hang out as a family - that was pretty COOL!!!! it was really all I needed for my birthday since its been so long since we did that together. The attic is truely an amazing room, I really like how its come together.

Other BIG news for our family... Jer and I have a NEW NEICE :) Brad and Julie had a little girl and joins her sister Samantha. They named her, Olivia Rose? I don't know the middle name for sure since I didn't get that detail... but I did see her tonight! WOW she is a precious little thing and it was FUN buying pink :) Think she has the Miller nose... time will tell for sure but she sure is a doll like her bigger sister :) Here is a picture of the happy family who has a little one coming home this weekend!!!
I am SO happy for them!!!

No real big plans for the weekend... I'm not sure if its going to work out to go as a group for my birthday or not... time will tell that. Until I blog again... enjoy this Indian Summer we are having... its beautiul!!!!!

Nice... Attic...

Here I sit... on our new futon in the attic... YEP... carpet got laid today but they will need to come back... to finish up steps but for the main part its done, its AMAZING!!! I absolutely love how its come together... now I just need to a few finishing touches in due time, Jer put up the REAL lights tonight, that made a HUGE difference too, they are pretty bright so may put a dimmer on them to tone it down in the evenings...

What else... well we now have access to thru our basement to the new side... YEAH!!!! but WOW our house smelled like gas.. due to the chainsaw that was used, but its a HUGE job done!!! looks so different, its probably the biggest job that had to be done yet. I think our contractor Jesse... enjoyed playing with that job :)

Also today the boys got out of school early due to Parent/Teachers Conferences tonight ~ Yes, i forgot to pick them up right at 1ish so they were 1/2 home before I realized it... whoops :( Tonight was the big night... conferences... for the most part the boys are doing ok - its the usual with our kids, they could apply themselves more but they choose not too... their teachers feel frustrated because they believe that they are capable of so much more. So needless to say things are going to change around here right after school... the reading is going to be SO MUCH more enforced!!! especially with Mitchel! Issac did meet his AR goal - YEAH!!!!!! but he needs to focus more on math and organization!!!

Not much else is new... pretty lame blog, sorry! but its late and just wanted to post something quickly.

Enjoy the day, its supposed to be nice out!!

Cranberry Days...

Wow what a weekend!! HOLY COW!!!! I worked at Cranberry Hollow on Friday and Saturday - brought the good 'ol memories of chaotic and business back... wow those were the days!!! It was completely insanely busy both days - but very very good days for Tammy! I am so that she ROCKSTAR'D the weekend!!! Lots of little questions... if I missed the shop... and I can honestly say I do but I don't... I actually enjoyed this weekend - I got to be involved but it wasn't my place so that was NICE :) and I actually got to get around to other stores and do some shopping that I would of never have done in years past... So that was very nice!

Since I last posted... whats happened? Well I worked a few days at Cranberry Hollow, Jer was in Boston from Wednesday evening until Friday evening... GLAD he is home!! I can handle the short trips... but got very spoiled by having him home so much lately that I don't want to share him... ha ha!!

The boys :) well... my gosh Mitchel is completely growing up into a little adult - becoming more responsible! He got another weekend of paintballing in this weekend, its his newest hobby and seems to really enjoy it! Issac... well he got into a little trouble last week - missing assignments:( so needless to say he was grounded over the weekend... but he has to learn the hard way sometimes... For little Blade... he loves to be here in the house, infact he likes to hide from mommy... and then I have to try to find him... he is such a tease! He loves loves to talk to Janet ( a lady who works here on all of our finishing (painting, staining, etc.) and just funny to listen to him talk to her... the other day she got the "monster" out of the attic for Blade... since his older brothers convinced him that there was a monster in the attic...

This weekend we also attended Trivia Night ~ we invited our some of friends to attend the event with us, THANK YOU all for coming with us, we hope you enjoyed the night!! I was completely tired with Tammy and Jan after a long day of "polite -ness" and chaos so I drank a lot to keep me awake... probably TOO much drinking! I got a little goofy :(

Not much else is new this way... I turn the BIG 32 this week... YIKES!!!!! Just scary getting older... my bones ache just thinking about it, but overall I am in pretty good health and I have a wonderful family and a great circle of friends to keep me in tack and I am grateful for that!! Am I partyin' this weekend? HRM... not sure yet... but I would like to think something in that nature will happen.

Until I blog again... hope there are readers out there yet... let me know who's reading... its open to anyone to comment (yes Mel... I liked your idea so much I snagged it too)

The Famous Clown ... Mitch ...

Couldn't post this all in one blog... so here is a close up of "clown Mitch"

Halloween 2006 Customes

Well... a day late here posting this blog... but here is a picture of my gobblins for Halloween this year :)

Mitchel was a "scary clown/farmer...

Issac was "a kids dirty laundry" character... it was a hoot!!! check out his wig :)

Blade was "Superman" with the dark hair and all (YEP we colored his hair black and confused many people) His "S" on his chest light'd up... so he was THRILLED about showing that off too.

What a FUN night for the boys!!! I always enjoyed Halloween but this year for once I actually enjoyed alot this year without the worries with gettting the shop ready for "Christmas Open House" ... it was a HUGE relief but yet kinda bittersweet too... yep I miss the store ALOT but its so nice to have REAL time for my boys and my hubby!!!! Won't be giving that up for a LONG time - life's too short!

Wow birthday month... age creeping in on me... best get to bed!! I'm beat today

PICTURE UPDATE

Here is the new little boy in my life :) Welcome Trenton!!!!!

Halloween... and Baby T

Well I finally met my little buddy ... the "Baby T" in which I have called him for months... and well how funny is it his name starts with a "T"... beautiful baby Trenton (sp... hope I spelled this right Abby)... He is perfect, so little and innocent... I couldn't wait to hold him and when I did... I wasn't sure I wanted to give him up... but there will be LOTS of Aunt Lis and Trenton time when he comes home... YES Abby I will be a frequent visitor for awhile :) You look absolutely wonderful today... I know you probably dont feel like you do... but you DO really look great!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!

Still waiting on to hear from the "Miller time baby"... should be arriving anyday now... sure hope its soon... How cool would it be to have a neice or nephew born on Halloween?? Pretty cool I think...

What else is new? Well I weighed myself this am... ICK!!!! Its the most I've EVER EVER weighed!!!! completely felt sick to my stomach all day about it SO now is the TIME to CRACK down and eat RIGHT!!!!! Just need to figure it out for myself!!!! So want to do somekind of marathon in the upcoming year so .... clock is now ticking... setting HUGE goals for myself!!!! tired of failure and I need to do this so I feel better about myself.

House update... color on the walls in the attic... that was pretty awesome to see this evening!!!! Rick the tile guy came back today and was hard at it in the bathroom.... that is going to look sharp when its done! Tonight Jer and I had to make a "fast" trip to CR to get a few more peices for the him since we were short some...

Tonight Jer and the boys carved pumpkins... they did a GREAT job!!! we only had two knifes in the house... how crazy is that? but guess thats what happens when we are "kitchenlis" ... anyhow it was pretty cute after Jer carved out Blade's pumpkin and cleaned it out... since he thought it was "yucky and gross" ... he went to get a plastic knife to cut out the two eye areas Jer had left for him... how comical to watch him go at that... we video'd some of it, just priceless.

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year... HALLOWEEN!!! Looking forward to it, Blade has his "first school party" tomorrow and I am going to go with him, so that should be FUN!!! I got all the treats for each boy ready to go tonight - how fun!!!!! and got all our little "special" treats ready for our "special treators".

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO YOU ALL!!!!!

The end of soccer... and BABY T arrives :)

Today was the end of soccer games for awhile... I will miss it but yet is its kinda a relief too... since we have so much going on with the house yet. Sad to say they lost all games this season - but played very hard on all of them, and I really think Mitchel enjoyed being on the DBQ team, so he will probably do the upcoming season too.

Well just got a call awhile ago from Ms. Abby - ITS A BOY, TRENTON JAMES!!!!!!! Welcome to the world little guy!!!! I love you all!!! Can't wait to see him!!!!!!! Abby is going to be a wonderful mommy!!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!

A weekend here and gone - WOW!!! I definately feel the age creepin' in on me... have to stop doing the late hours into the night!!! Friday night Jer and I went to DBQ to run some errands and get some supper then we were off for home rather early this evening, Saturday night we ran into get the paint supplies for the attic since that will be ready to pain this week... YEAH!!!! and did our usual weekend supper at Houlihans :) LOVE that place!!! I came back to town to meet up with my friend Carol at the Halloween dance - thought she stood me up there for awhile... since I didn't see her at all... but then managed to run into her after talking to a few other people. The dance kinda sucked... hardly anyone there I thought so when Jer got back to town he came over and we left, Tammy called and we met up with her... ran to Dagwoods for one drink and then went to the Bent Rim for a few more drinks... well it was like 2ish before we left... can't do these late nighter anymore... WOW!!! Not that I drank a lot cuz I didn't... its just waking up early and staying out late don't work well with me anymore.

For Saturday I got a lot accomplished, was very happy with the turn out... I put things up on Blade's walls - old license plates "bordering" two of his walls and then hung other things on it - like Jer's hubcaps from the "bomber" (car) and a old stop sign ad other signs I found... it was SO cute when Blade came home from his grandma's house and saw his room... he said "WOW, its COOL" and also I like that all the boys like each other's bedrooms - makes me feel good.

For house update, attic should be getting painted this week, carpet should be layed by the end of the week... and then we can move some furniture in - YEAH!!!! that is about all I have to report this week... except I think there will be little dust flowing around this week... well thats what I am hoping :) Bathtub got plumb'd on Friday so the rest of the tiling should be finished up this week.

Whats next on the agenda for house? Moving to basement with our current contractor since he is a guy that mainly stud things out... so we are going to start on the front part of basement by the entry of house... so it looks more attractive, then maybe start on Jer's office area... then theater room.... Hold on the kitchen and main floor for awhile.

HALLOWEEN is coming up... one of my absolute favorite holidays :) Finally figured out what all the boys are going to be this year... Lit'l Blade is going to be "SUPERMAN", and Issac is going to be "DIRTY LAUNDRY BASKET", Mitchel is going as "THE IT" he is a clown from some movie... simply because Issac hates clowns and he thought it would be funny... but this will be Mitchel's last year to go.

Well best going to crash, long day ahead tomorrow.. I HAVE to run in and see my new little boy!!!! I can't wait!!!!!! Then I am off to help Tammy at the store for the afternoon so she can get ready for her Open House that is this coming weekend, and Issac's class is having a Halloween party so I want to get to that too, then probably going to get Issac's costume ready... since we have to do some work for that :) its going to be SO funny!!

Wishing you all a good week... I will try to post some pictures soon... finally got my orginal template back too... had a bug or something... who knows...

Head Cold :(

Ok... this weather is getting darn cold... and its never fails I seem to get sick right away when the weather changes... oh darn! Just got a hell of a head and feel like shit... so it was lazy Sunday for Lis... its been a heck of a long time since I laid in bed and did absolutely nothing all day... WOW I can't remember the last time I did that... but sure felt nice :)

Tonight Kevin and Lisa made us a WONDERFUL supper, sure was nice of them to invite us over for supper since right now we are "kitchen less" Kevin made these awesome POPPERS... I usually dont care for them at restruants but oh my his ROCKED!!!! they were amazing!!

Yesterday I got quite a bit accomplished, laundry and the "dust cleaning" all caught up for now... and a few other little things done. The main floor constantly drives me crazy but hopefully we can get the floor boards layed down soon then it will be "less dirty" but all in all... I am happy that we are here together as a family and have each other to lean on while this project gets complete... so that is all I need day to day to get through it... we'll hit a few bumpy paths along the way but this house is truely everything I've ever imagined it to be plus more! Just feels wonderful waking up here each day!

Last night we hit a movie "Departed" wow... HOW f'd up it was... I dont like the kind of movies that make you think ... and it truely was a movie you had to follow to get it. We were off to supper at the Mining Co. and called it a night. I didn't feel to great last night so I was ready to come home, WOW is that age settling in too? Not looking forward to creepin on the next year in life in a few weeks...

So not much is new here besides that I am sick... and enjoying life in the new house, hope to see lots of progress this week in the attic so we can have a "family room" to hang out in soon.

Stay warm... its getting cold out.

Dust and more Dust...

Well we are OFFICALLY moved in and for the most part unpacked and settled for now, a few more boxes to unload and need to gather my collection of clothes from Billy's yet but then we are moved for now... the rest will stay in storage until the rest of the house is complete.

Absolutely LOVE waking up here every morning, its a great feeling!! to finally be here after 2 years - we have a lot of headway to make yet but we are getting there little by little each day and I like seeing the progress:) Unfortunately there is a collection of dust settling each day in every bedroom of this house and its constant cleaning! its driving me crazy but I can live with that way beyond the 600 sq. ft apt. we have been in the last year. I feel the boys are MUCH happier being here and having their own space, its like they are different kids, for Blade the move has been a drastic change... he's only slept in our bed one night since we have been here so thats good... he's in his own bed:) YEH!!! Still working on getting him on a schedule thou... he's definately not a morning person like his dad...

This week has just been really hard... dont want to get into details really but all I can say is... NEVER ever again will build a home or do a remodel like this again- EVER!!! I think for Jer and I both feel overwhelmed and we need to keep business seperate from friendships and have learnt that the hard way unfornately:( I completely feel vandalized in so many different ways that its CRAZY!!! I have cried a lot this week and just hope things will get better from this point out for everyone involved.

So other than the "crazy house" stuff that is going on... onto a lighter note - the attic should be getting drywalled tomorrow and then texturized on Saturday or Monday... not sure on the day yet... all depends on how tomorrow goes:) Billy got all the electrical ran last night and finished it up tonight for the attic - YEAH!!! The poly'ing of the boards will start as soon as the dust is done flowing around up there ... then paint... and carpet:) Then I can get furniture peices in set and other things done ... and WOW we will have a family room again:) until the main floor is done this is where we will hang out as a family, then after that it will be the "boys hang out room" and the decor is mainly for them too:) I'm looking forward to having it done and putting the finishing touches on it:)

No big plans for the weekend... no soccer games, no Molly tomorrow night so think we will hang out at home and get some stuff done or go to bed really early :) since we have EARLY bird contractors and we are up at the crack of dawn... unlike Jer who can sleep thru anything... but he does work LATE way into the wee hours of the night too... so he can sleep in:) I just want to sleep in on Sunday:) and I will be happy!

So anyhow hope this finds you all well... reach out and help a friend in need... great rewards ahead:)

OH MY BED:)

Here I sit in our NEW bed at the NEW house... can u believe it? Yep we decided to stay here tonight.... Feels like I'm dreaming!!
but it does feel pretty damn good. There is SO SO much to do yet! By the end of the week we will be outta little Mexcio and living in our dream home - I can't wait!!!!!!
So just to refresh you all so none of you get the wrong idea... just the upstairs level is complete and the attic should be completed by the end of this week exception of carpet and accessories:) So we are getting there slowly. I should have tiles in the kitchen all done by the end of this week and possibly have the main bathroom started- all so exciting.

Well its late and I was up until 3am last night and I'm crashing hard. I will post a real blog tomorrow maybe... life is getting on track for the Millers :) YEAH!!!!!!

Come see us on Saturday, BON FIRE and partin' until the cows come home to celebrate our move!!

Moving...

Will we be moving this weekend? That seems to be the ? of today... well who knows right now! Feeling a bit frustrated and stressed out at the moment!!!

Why is it when you clean an area - it seems to get piled of shit or gets dirty minutes later? WOW that is how I feel in this apartment :( Just hate it!!! So if it is at all possible to move this weekend - yes I would LOVE to do it but just seems impossible right now! Too much is left undone :( banister being the BIGGEST thing besides the fact attic is still under construction.

Just feel like the end of my rope is coming... very frustrated! The moving thing just seems to SUCK!!! and will work really hard tomrrow to get our bedroom cleaned out and packed up for the most part... and keep picking up after the kids!!

On a brighter side there is paint on all the walls on the main floor - so that is a huge highlight of the day! Although there was a LOT of talk at the house today about the color choices... oh well I like color :) and bold ones that is! We got power back running on the main floor - that was exciting to actually see the color at night with lights on.

It sure was nice seeing Ms. Abby tonight!! Hope you enjoyed your little tour of the house :)


Not much else to write about ... life is just a little crazy and I need to learn to say "no" MORE sometimes and be more aggressive about getting things done the house ~

Just another Manic Monday:)

Monday... monday... first things first...

Happy Anniversary goes out to my dearest friend Abby and her hubby Tory :) Hope you had a wonderful evening together! thought of you guys today when the weather was absolutely gorgeous!!! just like the day you got married which seems like yesterday!

Today not much happened... Blade and I got a walk in and he played outside for a bit while making a few trips up to house.
I got the light cleaning done for the day and most of the laundry caught up... but just really enjoyed the day with Blade :)

Exciting news for the day is.... our new washer and dryer arrived to the house - YEAH all installed, its a little tight fit but I love the color of them... so glad they are "different" from the just normal white - GOOD JOB JER!!! they are like a metallic grey almost, we went with the GE Harmony (they are supposed to be the "quietest" and most balanced) It was a hard decison giving up my Magtag Neptunes but after all the new reviews of the newer Maytag models coming out and warranty is very limited on them... due to the lawsuit they had... just thought it was best going with other options as well as it was going to be better to have a TOP load washer for the space. Also the ceilings are all painted at the house as of today :) YEAH!! and color will go on walls tomorrow I hope.

Tonight got quite a bit accomplished, finished up the laundry I started during the day then it was off to the house to pick up the hillside of the house ... that was FULL of walnuts! Thanks a TON to Billy for raking them into piles and I then scooped them up... went MUCH quicker than by hand... which was what I had intended... but good thing for brains!!! Thanks to Ja for hauling them away to the dump for us... one side of the house down and other side to go.

A pretty layed back night back at home after "walnut pickup" ate some supper and then chilled with the kids for a bit... we were going to watch Survior but... the eispode was posted wrong... so Jer bought it twice :( so hopefully they will get it corrected since there were many complaints online. Kevin and Lisa stopped into say "hi' ~ it was nice to see them, their little puppy Vinnie is sick... Hope they get to the bottom of it cuz she is a keeper! she is just SO SO cute!!!

So after kids were showered and did their reading Jer and I ran up to house to do a few things - started decorating the bathroom, got something hung and put together as well as put away, and worked on a "to do list" and many many notes of what needs to be done "for my checklist" WOW if there isn't a lot!!!

Well today is the 2nd day of October... we have to be out of the apt in 13 days... or less... just dont want to do a renewal on contract which they are "now enforcing" and never really enforced it before... Jer would like to really move in this weekend... we'll see about that one, it maybe possible... maybe! I'm off to help out at the store this weekend so Tammy can take a little vacation and get away- I'm looking forward to it, if you are around... come visit :)

Big week for Mitchel... tournament begins for the Dyersville League Thursday evening... and does his 1st preformance at homecoming in Marching band... he made front row :) which is a big deal I guess... he's pretty excited! Tournament this weekend... as well so hope it all goes well for him, since the boy lives and breathes soccer and excitement :)
Issac's first day of band tomorrow with his instrument... he is going to play drums. Blade... well unfortunately he is going to see a lot of the daycare this week... I've got a lot to get done if we are going to seriously move out this weekend.

Enjoy the weather... its AWESOME!!!

Weekend Here and Gone

Wow where does time go anymore? The weekend was here and gone before my eyes, it was filled with chaos; soccer, cleaning, walnut pickin' up (ICK!!!), and good times with family and friends.

Friday night Jer and I went on a "date" well... to Dbq to do our errands and then our usual of Houlihans- nice night before he took off on Saturday with Jerry to "BARCAMP" (some geeky thing in Milwaukee) and well was su pposed to stay until Sunday but he called surprising me by saying "I will be home tonight yet" so that was nice!!! I'm just really getting "used" to the idea of him being home more and more and well LOVING it!!!! its just so nice!!! So anyhow Saturday Jer was gone for the day, Mitchel had a soccer game, the other two boys went to Grandma Steffen's during the game - when we got back we went to house to get a start on the walnut picking up... WOW there is a sh*t load there!!! Yes... crazy idea keeping those trees... just wish I could get Jer convinced :)

The boys then wanted to go to the farm after we were done doing what we had boxes for ... so I took them out there for the late afternoon and they stayed until mid evening... sounds like they had a great time! Blade just loves to play with his cousin Samantha and they seem to play great together so thats really cool! So I got back to town and did my daily visit to the store and got a few more things done... WOW time just flew yesterday!!!! I was going to meet up with my friend Mel and Michelle for the evening and go to CR and bum... and we did just that! It was a great night girls!!! But geesh after seeing all those highschool girls in their homecoming dresses... WOW! makes me feel OLD!!! Too be that young again??? (Nah I just want my figure back... someday soon I hope to get back to my highschool weight or less :) Just need to get this house DONE!!! and the focus back!)

It was a nice night, we got supper, did some shopping, had some laughs and most of all had some Cold Stone:) So then we were on our way back home (Michelle and I) and Jer called to say that they were on their way back home... hrm ok! but they wanted to go out when they got back and was wondering if we were all together... well Mel just went home and we dropped the babysitter off so sadly it wasn't going to work... but wait a minute when Jer called... they were 3 hours away yet!!!! so there was no way we could of went out then and that was 11ish when he called me... Sorry Jer!

So Michelle and I after that decided we would go check out the "Karokee" at the Bent Rim... wow some good and some bad and some just entertaining... and some well there is a reason why they have other hobbies:) Michelle and I had a few drinks and my friend Carol came to join us too, I said it was going to be an early night... WELL! it didn't happen!! We were having a good time just BS'n... Michelle left us early but I really hope you had a good time!!!! It was her first bar trip :) I'm breaking her into good ol' Cascade life :) Interesting eh?

So anyhow the entertainment for the night was Dustin and Tony - Carol was in LOVE :) (just kiddn') she just really enjoyed both of them singing and we chatted with Dustin quite a bit, it was a good time! For me wanting to call it an early night... well we were there until 2... YIKES but we had a blast! NO I was not drunk... not even close!!! had a few and called it quits.
Never fails when I am out with Carol... we are out late:) but always a great time!!

Boy did I feel it this am... just didn't want to get out of bed!!!! Was so TIRED!!!! I did sleep in until 10ish thou so that was nice!
Today was a great day! We spent the day together as a family and were off to Gays Mills. The drive was SO pretty and so nice, I love this time of year, just enjoying the air and color changes is incredible itself. I did get some shopping time in today, we missed a store last time called "Simply"... awh CUTE!!!!! like the building reminded me of our building (old Green Cupboard) just adorable - not a whole lot in the store but its attached to a "coffee shop" and just the setting is COOL!!! I found a few things for the new house:) the coolest thing... a "door knob" wine cork, its adorable but I like different things like that!

So I must get this in... Abby I am sorry I didn't make it to your baby shower today:( its just a day where I could sleep in and spend the day with the boys and do absolutely nothing but be with them today- its priceless to me!! I hope you understand!!! My days just have been non stop lately and today was a day just about family and we all slept in :) it was nice! I will catch up with you this week... just remember shoot for the the 8th of Nov :) how cool would that be?? I hope your shower was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! cuz you deserve the best!

Well as I close ~ enjoy the week everyone, looks like another nice day tomorrow :) YEAH!!!!

What a gorgeous day! I absolutely love this weather!!!!

This week has been fairly productive for me - I got lots of thing cleaned out and boxed up to move to the house and moving it slowly. The tiny room of the boys is becoming bare :) I hope to move their clothes out of the closet next week... its an exciting thought for me:) Our bedroom closet was finished up today - its ROCKIN' AWESOME!!!! I just LUV it!!

What else happened this week... well I forgot my dentist appt that was scheduled for yesterday? So whats this mean??? Yes I am loosing it!!! Mitchel's bed came this week - they delievered it but... 1) they put it together wrong and secondly... something is wrong with the side rail... so bed is not functional at this point :( I was not a happy camper that day :( School this week for the boys seems to be going amazingly well - Issac's been having a good week with getting homework done and staying organized better... so much progress there that I can see anyway but I'm sure the teacher's opinion maybe lightly different... time will tell I guess. Blade's had a pretty good week potty training... tonight was his first accident all week but its all good! Today he was the snack helper at school today so he was all excited about that- it was pretty cute he wanted to put the snack in his bookbag but unfornuately it was not going to work since it was in containers... so yes he got pissed :(

We have soccer on Saturday and no games on Sunday so hopefully we can get a family day in and go up to Gays Mills for the day or do something fun all depends on when Jer returns from his little trip to Milwaukee. So looks like this weekend is just me and the boys... and we really should pick up walnuts but we'll see about that one...

Pretty boring blog... but yes I'm still tickin'

I absolutely love this picture of Blade... please click on it to enlarge it... to see all the little raindrops on his face :)
SO SO CUTE:) thats my boy!!

Its been awhile... sorry fans!

my week was full of "trying" to pack and organize for the moving... well I got one load moved and a bunch of things ready to go to house... but just a tiny problem... new basement is FULL of crap, so I must figure out what is junk and what is keeps before I do anymore moving... hope to get all this cleaned up this week... but have to do it during daylight since no electrical is running over there yet... in time this move will go smoothly :)

Quick house update... gotta love the progress:) cuz I am sure loving it!!! Plastering was completed last week, its just SO nice to see WHITE instead of grey, hrm... progress upstairs, well biggest job is done... that I was waiting for is Blade's closet and I am happy to report its DONE :) that was just eating me alive that it wasn't plastered or anything yet since we had the whole upstairs completely plastered and painted except his closet. Also all the boys closets have shelving now... they should be completed by tomorrow hopefully:) YEAH!!!! I can't wait to see my closet done... its exciting! They look awesome, thanks so much to Dustin!!

Happy to also report our shower glass was delievered and installed this week... totally LUV it !! Thanks to Billy! we have outside lighting and it totally ROCKS... it makes the place - its becoming real and its very exciting!!!

On to this week for the house... well painters come in tomorrow to get started on the main floor painting, they will prime tomorrow and ceilings and closets will be done on Tuesday, as for COLOR on walls that will happen Wed... I'm very excited but also VERY nervous!!!! This is HUGE and just want to make sure it all flows and feels comfy:) So the pressure is on... need to finalize it all by tomorrow and I'm very nervous about settling on my decisions... oh boy! Hope the new washer and dryer get delievered and installed this week... as well as Mitchel's new bed arriving. The attic process... well hope we make head way on it this week:)


Now on to our weekend update.... well Friday I tugged around here all day doing CRAP... got the boys closet all cleaned and seasons changed.... well not really but put all the summer clothes in totes and got that ready for the move, what a JOB!!!
Friday night Jer and I spent the evening with Ja and Tammy. We had a great supper at Houlihans... I know BIG shock :) but its our place :) just chillin' for the evening was FUN... we sure had a great laughs - Thanks JER!!! After supper we were off to Miquels for the men's drinks and then drove on back to town and ended up at the Bent Rim for a few drinks... kinda dull and quiet there and called it a early night- I was sure beat for some odd reason... CRAZY old age I swear!!!

On to Saturday... Jer took Mitchel to his soccer game in Dyersville, I stayed behind with the other two boys and got some stuff done since we were going to be off to Genosa IL for Mitchel's other soccer game... both games for the day ended with losses but at the Dyersville game ... he had a "assist" so Jer and him both were happy and excited about that factor... just hard to see them loose when they play SO hard! So long day of traveling... but got a little shopping in at Gordmans... yes one of my favorite stores! (lots of cute stuff for cheap prices:) then we were off to home and making a quick change of clothes and settling the kids in for the night since we had a good friend's 30th birthday party to attend at Lake Dehli and we were already running late, we gathered all our friends and headed up to the party... interesting ride! We had a wonderful time, hope you did too Jerry!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Mel, the party was great, so glad we could just hang out at the cabin as a group-THANK YOU!! Glad to see you were the entertainer for the evening for once:) The night will be forever a memory ... WOW we had a great time!!! What a late night thou... WOW all comes back the aging thing again I swear! HA HA

The next BIG party/fire hopefully will be at our location (HOUSE) within a few weeks and its going to be HUGE!!!! Hope to see all of you friends there!!!

Here we are Sunday... what a beautiful day!!!! We all slept in this am, then got up and headed over to Camp Courageous for the pancake breakfast- YUMMY :) going there brings TONS of memories back from my younger days, I spent a lot of weekends there volunteering and touching lives- those were the days I will never ever forget!

Mitchel had a soccer game in DBQ today at 3pm so we farted around at the house moving some stuff and looking at paint swatches... then we were off to DBQ... another hard game played but our boys lost 2-0... so hard to see them loose:( but they played well!. After game we were off to run a few errands... I had to hit Target to get a few things and had to get the new GILMORE GIRLS release! So excited to watch it!!! A quick supper at Taco Bell and off to home... well house to do a few more things before tomorrow, while we were there my mom and dad stopped in... that was very nice! I was happy to show them the progress being made... they are so excited for our move in a few weeks.

Did any of you watch Desperate Housewives tonight???? The show is back for the season as well as the new show "'Brothers and Sisters", liked it tonite so I will watch it again next week:)

Well wish you all a good week:) Enjoy!!

Well here we are Sunday evening... weekend here and gone! Time flies when good times roll...

Last night was a super FUN night, we met Jerry and Mel for a nice supper at the Club 528... food kinda sucked but it was fun just hanging out with them! Jerry hope your night went ok... sure wished you and Mel could of joined us but we will be sure to get you drunk this coming weekend:) So after supper we were off to take Marty out for the night... it was Jer, I, Jason, Tammy, Billy, Joey K, Katie. We went to New Diggins... a small bar by Hazel Green WI.... really cool little place. WOW I had LOTS to drink... have not drank like that in a LONG LONG time!! It was just so nice to see everyone again and have a good time together! Its nice having Marty home... from what I hear he was feeling it too... anyhow its been the first I have danced... WOW can't even remember the last time... Jer's birthday? Anyhow it was a GREAT time! it was a night I needed... just a shitful crappy week... and it was nice to just let it all go for one night. Although I felt it a little bit this am... and I totally passed out on the way home and I hear I missed the "singing encore"... Tammy said it was a hoot!

Today Jer and I spent the day with the boys... took off up to Praire Du Chein, took the kids on the Cassville Ferry, Blade was absolutely in LOVE with it, he was SO SO excited... when he saw the ferry coming and we got in the truck to get ready... he said so loud "this is going to be so fun" it was SO SO cute!! He giggled and laughed a lot on the ferry, and the other two boys thought is was cool too! Just a little weird you sit in your vehicle while moving ... and you're not driving... just a little freaky, but is cool. So then after the ferry we drove to the Cannery... I wanted to check somethings out there for the house... didn't find a whole lot but found a few things... became way crafty... and just reallly didn't find a whole lot, Jer took the boys to Cabelos while I was at the Cannery since we didn't want them running around in there... so it was all good, I hear they ran into Mr. Topping:) what a small world...

After the Cannery, we drove up to the near by Apple Orchard... got some apples, wine, beef sticks, etc... and then drove back thru McGregor and stopped at Pikes Peak, its always so pretty there but its nothing like it is later on in the Fall... when the leaves change... so we will go back up in a few weeks :) After the park we loaded up and headed for DBQ. for some supper... went to Red Robin, YUMMY:)

Tonight ... I watched TV for the first time since hrm... last Spring... watched Desperate Housewives... and Extreme Home Makeover... the shows are coming back! I can't wait to watch Grey's Anatomy this week!!!!! Love that show!

Lots going to happen this week... Im going to start moving little by little... clothes and stuff... to make this place LESS packed! We really hope to be moved in by the end of the month... time will tell I guess.

Better run... got a big meeting with the teachers in the am... hope it goes well!!

Enjoy our pictures!

Well another beautiful fall day... crisp air and wind blows as I write this :) and soccer game passes us, Mitchel's team played tough today but lost 2-1.

WAY TO GO IOWA!!!! Kickn' Cyclones ... lucky win but good win!

What a day yesterday! It was truely one of those days that I thought was going to completely suck... just cuz I'm so tried of not seeing anything done at the house... and I was completely frustrated all week since we are still on a stand still upstairs when it should be almost complete... but oh well life must go on ... and just keep waiting for the moment, right? Because I know at the end its going to be incredible!!

So yesterday after I did a few things here I had a few errands to run and I had to run up to the house to make sure the plastering guys were doing "smooth" in the kitchen... and I was just amazed how much they had done already... I love to see the "white" rather than just grey walls... and also the grading was being worked on again in the yard... so needless to say I was HAPPY to see those two things going on, but just a small snag... one of our contractors AGAIN was not around today, I just fell apart a little bit... just dont understand why HE doesn't want to be there nor cares to get things moving. FRUSTRATED!!

So while I was walking around the house a little bit upset... while waiting for Jer to come up so we could talk to the " grading contractor " ... as I was waiting, Jer pulled up and then up comes the FED EX truck... thought no big deal of it, right? I thought maybe it was something I got off Ebay... just confused a little bit and my mind was totally off track, didn't really care to open right then and there... and Jer was persistant about "what is it" and I of course said "oh its just something I got off Ebay" then I looked at it some more and then just opened it... OH MY GOSH!!! I nearly died!!! It was a PINK IPOD NANO (one of the new ones that just came out) I was completely stunned! It was from Jer of course... and he had it special engraved on the back saying... "YOU ROCK MY WORLD" along with my name on it. The whole setting of how it happened and where it happened to get that special gift will forever be within me, it was TOTALLY AWESOME!!! he also had a little card in the package... it was just the TOP of the day, and I was so glad he was there when it arrived, seriously Jer you got me GOOD! I still can't believe it when I sit here and write about it.

So needless to say the day was a TON better just by that little package, it was just a nice "pick me up" and gosh I needed it!
Yesterday afternoon after Jer did a little work and I did somethings here at home... we then went to house and hung curtains, shades, blinds, and did a lot of little crap, got some windows cleaned... what a fricken job that was :( since the windows are sealed so tight... they are hard to open... but got some done. Our room looks AWESOME I must say... I up'd it a notch and totally went outside my norm... and went more Victorian style in there... a deep robin egg wall color, dark bamboo shades, and terra cotta (orange) drapes... YEAH totally outside of Lis's normal box... but change is good, right? Just hope it will all look nice together once the bed is made and things on walls, etc.

Last night... Jer and I went on a "date" to Lowes/Menards/Wal Mart... and then our usual Houlihan's supper :) We just really enjoy going to eat there! Nice relaxing evening, after supper we decided to head back home and go to the house for awhile and get some more things done there... Jer's brother Brad came up to work on Blade's mural... well dummy me didn't print out the picture for him and we don't have internet yet so he was SOL... and by the time I was going to go get the picture... Jason called Jer... he and his date were on the way back to town and wanted to know if we wanted to get a drink with them... so they came up to the house for awhile... and then we were off... a hoot of a night! so many laughs and drinks were shared among our table, just a really good time! but geesh another late night for the Miller's... but it was fun! Thanks Ja for calling us, we enjoyed hangin' out. Hope the night went well for you! You deserve the best!!

Well I best get some crap done around here... Jer is currently at the bunker fixing the broken... and Blade is out cold on the couch and Issac is playing games... and Mitchel went skating with some friends, so it pretty quiet here.

Wish you all a great weekend! The Indian Summer may come to an end soon... so get out and enjoy it!!

Wow I love this time of year... FALL!!! The crisp wind, and the beautiful breeze!

Today Blade had afternoon Preschool... he had an awesome day! Just love picking him up and he comes running towards me talking words a minute - the moment is priceless!

I must say our house is finally coming together :) YEAH!!! Last night we had great help from Jason and Billy. Offically now all the lights are up and on in the upstairs part of our home! Also Jer and Jason tackled putting our bed together... this will be the first time in 10 years that Jer and I have owned a "our" own bed frame as well as headboard and footboard... so this is HUGE for me to have :) and very exciting to see it all come together... ok so we got a queen size bed... and it took most of our room up... and we yet have to fit a wardrobe in there... so just hope it will all fit and look pretty when we have it done... I got a chandelier light from Cranberry Hollow and I am just LOVING the look of it!!! Looks so nice!

So what else is going on at the house... well the plastering offically began yesterday but they put plaster on the foyer walls... looks amazing! Yesterday I had to meet the "guys" who are doing the work for us... all I have to say is "WHAT BABIES!" I mentioned I wanted smooth in the bathroom and kitchen... and I got shot down like there was no tomorrow... pissed me off!
I so wanted to say "I'm the boss here and you do the work" but instead I temperly walked out! Its just to the point where I dont care and just want it to be done...

The yard at the house is at a standstill due to all the rain we had since Sunday... so once that dries out we will finish taking some trees out, and hopefully get some retaining walls in and a sidewalk in soon. Little by little but believe it or not we are getting closer :)

Not much else is new here, our friend Marty is home for awhile so hope to catch up with him sometime while he is back.
The guys went skating last night until 2ish am... crazy but glad they had fun! Mitchel has soccer game in DYERSVILLE this weekend, so we are going to lay low over the weekend and get some crap done at house. We are looking forward to going to a good friend's 30th birthday party next weekend... its been awhile since we partied together :)

I think I am going to put WW on hold for awhile since my session is up... just too much running with soccer and until we are settled in the house I dont want to take the chance of it not working out for me and loosing it all together... so Mel... hang in there and I will be back!!! Hoping less than a month I can be back at WW meetings again!

Until I blog again... enjoy FALL!

Monday, Monday... pretty good day here! but I got a few things done this am... but I should of cracked the whip and got a lot more accomplished but I woke up to EXTREMING pain in my side... very painful!!! still kinda have it but not as sharp.
So today was a day for Mommy and Blade... we went to get lunch at Subway and took lunch down to the store... did a BS session and came home to finish up the laundry, then it was time to go pick up boys from school... it fricken rained and rained today... our yard is a MUD PIT!!!! I ordered some rock just so we can walk back and forth to the house... well Bard's just dumped it wherever without trying to spread it out... dorks!! I was SO pissed to see all this damn rock and which we didn't need like f' TON but seems like thats what we got... anyhow... its supposed to rain for days and it was a mess for the guys to be walking in... so thought I was helping out but WOW was I wrong!
So tonight... we set up Issac's bedroom, I had been asking people to come up and help this week, just whoever could come... come, so tonight Ja and Tammy came up, and Jer and I got his room almost complete. I love how it came together... all the things I bought seemed to work out perfectly... I even over bought actually but its ok... I just didn't know what was going to work and what was not... so now I am anxious to finish it up... like actually move his clothes in but I can't until closet is done... and ot lay the rug... but dont really want to do that yet either since alot of dust is flying around. Still a great feeling to see it come ALIVE and to actually beleive we will be moving in soon :) YEAH a few more perks to Issac's room and it is all ready to go.
Tonight Jer met his cousin, Lee at the house, he is going to help us out the next few days getting the panels ready to go, this will be a HUGE job done! and a relief for both of us.
Later in the week we hope to have plastering started for the main floor... this will be HUGE to have started...since we have waited over a month for him to come back... I just worry now about the moisture getting upstairs... hope it will all work out.

Well I best crash... Blade's 3rd day of Preschool tomorrow... hope to get some things done at house while he is at school... need to figure out how the windows open from the inside so I can get them cleaned up... what a job!

Hope you are all well!!

Whoops... forgot pictures... enjoy:)

Well here we are... Sunday evening after a nice weekend! I had a great time this weekend... I worked at Cranberry Hollow on Friday, it was a great day for the store... busy busy!! I remember those days when my store was busy and it made all the hard work very worthwhile... and for Tammy and her mom I was VERY happy to see all the people and bags fill up :) it gave me a lot of peace with within myself over the weekend knowing that I closed the store was definately the right decison... as well as giving myself a sense of accomplishments with the store and how we made that building the place it is today... all good things! I have less regrets of closing now then I ever did so to me that is HUGE to let the feeling go!
So back at the "homefront" of our lives at home... on Friday instead of Blade going to the daycare he got to hang out with his special godparents, Kevin and Lisa! He was so excited that he was going to their house rather than "the little school", I was happy he was going there since he was going to be with loved ones while I was away from him for the day, I missed him ALOT!! I am just getting so used to being with him most of the week and enjoying it! So house news ... I went up there earlier in the day before the kids were off to school to get the wall primed for a mural in Blade's room that his brother, Brad is going to help us with. As I was coming out I saw that Weber Construction was bring the bulldozer, bobcat, excavator and all their machinery up to get our yard cleaned up and start on the grading process... I for some crazy reason thought that they were just going to the machinery up there and start next week since nothing was marked from "Iowa one call" but cripes... Jer called me while I was working and said " do you hear that in the backround"... and I couldn't really hear any noises... but here they were already started and Jer was so so excited on the phone and kept saying "can you come up" and I couldn't of course cuz we were swamped... and I had the camera when he should of but I called my sister inlaw later on and asked her to do me a HUGE favor of going to take some pictures... so here they are... it LOOKS amazing!! We no longer have a safari... we have a yard... YEAH!!! Alot to be finished on it before we can seed it down but hope to have that finished by the end of the week if the weather cooperates:) I didn't get to see it until it was dark but I was just gleaming... I was SO SO happy to see something was done!
After working at the store, we all went and got some drinks at the Corner, Jer came down to meet us too after he got the boys settled at home, it was a good time, Tammy's family is quite the bunch... SO fun, her mom and dad!! and she is just a complete hoot... tells it how it is and full of life!! So after waiting for over an hour and a 1/2 for her parents pizza... Jer and I invited Tammy and Ja to come into Houlihans with us, we ran home to change clothes and I was dying to see the house... so off we were to do that too... so we were off to DBQ, had a great relaxing night! went and had a few drinks, went to Miguels and came home... it was a early night but it was FUN!!
Saturday... Jer and I went to look at the yard during the daylight and tried to figure somethings out, Dustin was there... he got the vanity peice done for the upstairs bath, LOOKS AWESOME!!! so happy with how its all coming together :) we talked to him about a few other things and then he mentioned the the basement floor in the 2nd part was going to have to be repoured... it was mixed wrong from Bards... so now that will have to be redone sometime this week... ARGH!! its always something ... I swear! But good news for this week... ran into Denny Friday night at the Corner... he is coming back this week, going to start on downstairs plaster on Wed, so Im happy about that too:) just hope he shows up! I just need to keep this project moving... would really like to get moved in upstairs soon. Saturday afternoon, I went to help Tammy at the store since they were swamped... Jer took Mitchel to his game then after the game he took all the boys to the farm for a bit so Issac could ride his bike, I got home and did a few things before it was time to go to Jer's cousin's wedding... time just flew I swear!!!
So off to the wedding we went, only went for few reasons... to see one of Jer's closest cousin's Kim and her husband Bear, and to see Margie and Marv. (since afterall he is our plumber contractor) at our house... so felt very obligated to go, as well as it being family. We had good chats with Kim and Bear, then ran off to show them our house... and then slid back in without anyone noticing our absence... we didn't stay long after we got back since the crowd was small and music seemed to be horribly bad... I ran into my good friend Carol and chatted with her for a bit, then went to mingle with Jer's siblings for a bit, well the ones that were sitting at the table, then we were off, just kinda a weird night... tense among a few members of Jer's family and we both felt uneasy so off we were to the Club and sat with my sister and my brother inlaw for a few birthday drinks... since it was Greg's BDAY! I was a little loaded at this point... had a few in me so I was kinda loud I guess but just love to hash shit to Greg and Madonna... and get them going, so when the Club closed we were off to meet up with Margie and Marv and gang at the Nest since we told them earlier we would party with them there... but we got there and no one was there yet so off to the Legion we were to see if anyone needed rides, etc... its was bout 11ish and I txt'd Tammy to see if she wanted to join Jer and I, too funny she did call us back and met us there... we saved her from McD's... ha ha, glad she came up since she is new to the area again and needs to get out ... I think she was entertained by the local drunks... WOW there was quite a few of them! I was not drunk but I was feeling damn good... I have not drank like that since... hell I can't remember... maybe the night Carol, Lisa and I were at the Nest back in April... WOW!!! LONG TIME!!!! We hung out until close time and it pouring out then... it was a good time!!
Now we are to Sunday... went to mom's for dad's birthday dinner and then we were off to East Moline for soccer... talk about crazy directions!!! we got completely lost! and mitchel was 3 mins late for his game so it wasn't too bad considering he also forgot his 'shin guards' and we had to make a quick stop to get some... but the road that we were supposed to turn on was not even marked correctly... frickn' riduculous!!! but we made it there and he did get to play which was a little concern of ours since he missed the "inspection" part ... but they did let him play... they played hard but lost 2-1. My neice Liana went with us we had a good time watching the game... but little Blade pulled a fast one on Issac... he "tried" to go potty on a dirt pile and Issac caught him... having Issac tell this story is HILARIOUS!!! Just a long drive down there to play for a hour... ya know? but my boys will only be this age once and I am just taking it all in:) while I can!!
Liana and I ran into Gordman's ( I love this store!!!) while Jer ran with the boys to Starbucks to get a drink, I got a few new things for fall, clearance items... what I love best!!
we went to get supper at Fuddruckers and off to home we were... LONG day but we didn't sit in the rain for soccer like I thought... so it was all good!
Great weekend, and looking forward to having a lot done at the house this week, hope this is a good week for the house!!!
We need to get moved in soon!
Enjoy the pictures :)