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!!!!!