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Strange thing...

Last night, Michael put the boys to bed and then grabbed a couple Oreos. Mallory asked if she could have some with a glass of milk. He hands her Matthew's glass of milk that he didn't finish from supper. She dunks her cookies and puts the milk in the fridge. This morning, Matthew has to finish his milk. ??? So I'm wondering why it's Matthew that has to drink this gooked up milk when he didn't even get the treat. Michael somehow pulls me into this. ??? So I support D-A-D like I'm supposed to, all the time wondering why Mallory didn't drink it after these oh-so-sacred Oreos. I repeat the scenario back to him to make sure I have it right, of course emphasizing the GOOKED UP MILK. No good. He still thinks Matthew should drink it. Then he gets in the shower. Matthew and I are left to sort this out. Well, no, not really. We're left to respect and obey. And for those who know my Matthew: you can imagine how the next few moments go. However, as I relay my thoughts to Matthew, he takes it surprisingly well. Then he says, "But I'm going to play a joke on him. I'm going to put the empty glass back in the fridge." Go for it, Hoss. Respect and obedience. Matthew gets huge points today. I think Michael knows I'm still standing on the inside, but hey, at least we all got through!!

Buggy

You know how your car never makes that noise when your husband's driving? Well, Jamie couldn't see anything wrong with our internet connection, and yet... anyway, last night he found it. Our antenna is doing something weird, so he's going to switch it out. I feel better already. Not that I have a lot of time to play or anything, but just to know that there is a reason why we could get internet sometimes and not others, and why we could get into some sites and not others, makes me feel a little less crazy. A little. So, I might down by one more problem this afternoon. And Randy should be back Monday. I'm thinking about making a list just to help him stay focused!!
Well, Michael's getting ready for work and I still have to press a jacket, so I'll have to go for now. Hope to be back in the land of the connected soon!!

Land of the Lost

Try again...

I have lost about three very lengthy posts and it's getting a bit frustrating, so this will be kept very short!

We are moved into our house, although there is no one room that is completely finished! It's pretty hard to truly unpack that way, but we're managing! We keep looking at the mountain of boxes in my mother's basement and wonder where we're going to put it all! Oh, well, at least the pit's still out back to discard the obvious!

We've been having a horrible time with the internet. We're using a wireless antenna that one of my classmates is setting up for us, but it's just so strange. The antenna doesn't get along well with our TV antenna, so they might have to be put in separate corners. When it is working, I still can't seem to sign into things like my banks or even blogger, or pick up email attachments. The video games, however, are usually the easiest to get up and running. Oh, if that were all I needed!! Sometimes I can only see my email, but can't actually get the email opened. I've tried to observe if it's weather related, but it happens on any kind of day. There were two days that were incredibly windy and the antenna blew to the wrong direction and Michael wouldn't get up there and turn it!! The nerve!! I guess when you know you can't do the important stuff anyway, there's not much use in risking life and limb on an icy, windy roof!

Anyway, just letting anyone who hasn't given up on me know that we are alive and well, though our enthusiasm is fading... no, it's really great to have a home and we're praising God through it all!!

PS... if I can't get email working today... crafting/cropping at the church this Saturday, 1-9pm!!

Technical difficulties... please stand by...

Well, this is attempt #4, but at least I've gotten this far again! Day 32 with no internet and I'm going batty!! I'll see if this posts before I try another day's journal!!

Happy New Year, Happy New Home!!

We've started staying at the Blue House, but it's pretty rough! The bathroom isn't really finished enough to "move in," and there's no real moving in to the kitchen yet, but the bedrooms are ready. Michael and I spent a while getting those closets ready enough. We still have no internet, but frequently run to Grandma's house to check messages and load up again. We'll get it all eventually. She tends to set out what she thinks we'll need next as well as that which she'd like to see disappear!
Just wanted to let everyone know why you haven't heard from me. I'll post more later, but wanted you to know we're alive and well and living in our new home. Spiff is enjoying being a house cat again and not a basement cat!
Drop by if you're in the neighborhood!!

Merry Christmas!!

Well, the eviction has been moved up, so I'm on my way to the Blue House to finish up painting so we can gather up moving help at Christmas Dinner! We opened presents last night so we have more moving time today, but I felt I HAD to catch up here. I probably will be sending out Christmas letters at some point, but it's so much easier to post life as it happens! It might also keep my letter to one page this year!!

Ok, I have to catch you all up over the last few days... so much has happened this week!!

This is Peach and Precious. They really came through for me this week. We've really had a lot of problems and headaches with my favorite plumbers from Shen, so I called in my dad's friends. They are quite the team. They are also electricians, so they can do about anything! They finished up the plumbing on Thursday; installed my sinks, faucets and garbage disposal, and fussed about not having cookies all day. So Friday, I had cookies and Precious forgot the milk! But they also got my appliances installed Friday, so my complaints were minimal. Peach needed a few more things to do while Precious finished up the dishwasher, so I had him finish up the closet light, hang my bathroom light and mirror, and I tried to get him to hang my shower door, but he really whined about that. Hmmm... cookies not enough??
Randy was really hard to get focused!! We made it clear how critical a bathroom door was for this party, so he did come hang that. He was supposed to come back to trim out four doorways, but apparently he had promised to lay tile in Shen. How important could that be??
Fortunately, my Uncle Paul and cousin Chad came over and helped me out. Uncle Paul got the bathroom doorknob set, and Chad got the pulls on my kitchen cabinets. Chad also got a basement doorknob set, which I thought was pretty important for keeping little ones from tumbling down the stairs! Chad and Chrissy put in a lot of the doorstops to save my walls, then they went shopping for Christmas decorations!! That girl is just so sweet, I have no idea how Chad landed her!! She brought back poinsettias for the end tables, garland and lights for my bay window, holly tablecloths for the card tables and then did all the decorating. She's just a dream!

Well, the party was a smash! We had about 50 people and Grandma Rose didn't know anything was going on. It was all a complete surprise to her. We were so pleased with everything and had a really great time!! This photo is Chrissy, Grandma Rose and Elena (Mary's) and the next is Chad with Casey. Once again, Chrissy came through and helped with the clean-up!! Mary grabbed up doing dishes. She liked our extra high counters. I have to say, that higher kitchen sink is quite fun! A new house just makes everything a bit more fun. It's much more fun to work down there with a working bathroom, too!! Well, I must go paint my trim and get ready for the move!! You all have a blessed Christmas, and even if you're moving and such like me, don't forget to remember the Savior whom we celebrate today. His birth changed our course and is the only way to Heaven. Praise Him today and always!!

No Sleep...

Well, it's 2 am and I'm still awake. Went to bed around 10 and woke up at midnight, and been awake ever since. I got up at 12:30 and did my normal list-making that usually eases my mind, but that didn't work. Just laid there for an hour. Poked around on the internet a bit but all the remedies there involve reading or listening to a good book. I guess I'd rather write one! I think the reason my list-making isn't working is because all my lists involve things other people must do for me. The tile is all laid and grouted, the carpet is all down, but now I need a working kitchen and bathroom, and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm no carpenter, I'm no plumber... I don't even seem to be a good organizer of these events because I never know what needs to be done next. So here I am. Awake and powerless. And yet so close to a home that I can really feel it. Speaking of feeling it, our eviction notice came today. We're moving next week, so I'm hoping things are ready!! No, Mom's just making plans for Troy's to be here New Year's weekend and it just all looks so possible that we're counting on a move next week. Things won't be done, but if we wait around for everything to get done, I'm not sure when we'd move. I've been so thankful for this party that really has everyone finally taking me seriously!! Plan the party, build the house. That's my way, I guess!! I'm just still a bit nervous about my garage sale toidy. What if it doesn't work? What if it works until half-way through the party? Ok, now you're seeing why I'm up. I do have to beat everyone over there tomorrow (today), though. Randy didn't want the carpet down yet, so I have to cover it well before he starts. And the plumber doesn't have a key, and he's really an early bird!! I normally like that, except that I know as soon as I do get some sleep, I'm not going to like morning! And then there's this job that really gets in my way. I'm scheduled in at the bakery tomorrow. I don't have time for that! On top of all that, the three of us girls came down with something this weekend and mine's still hanging on. Could be all that Sudafed keeping me up... oh, well, at least I can breathe for a while. Time to go try again... nighty night!