It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!!!!!

Does anyone miss that song that Mr. Rogers sang at the beginning of his shows?? Yeah, me neither. But....... looking outside at all the snow in my neighborhood, I really wanted to sing it. Shout it at the top of my lungs. I am sure my neighbors would appreciate it. :-/ Weird. I know. But that's how much I LOVE snow. We are getting more tonight, too!!! Yeah me!!!

Catching some air!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, my mom, Danielle and I decided to enjoy the snow piling up outside, and go sledding. We got all bundled up in our warm winter clothes, grabbed our sleds, and headed for a golf course in CDA that was filled with snowy hills. We parked and found that it really wasn't that busy, and so we got started. Danielle went first, of course, and we got a good laugh as she slid quickly down the long hill. It was so fun. When I slid down the hill I laughed the entire way. Couldn't stop. The same went for my mom, and so on.....Danielle caught some awesome air on some "jumps" that some kids made before we got there, it was great!!!
So, if you want a good laugh, try out sledding. It's not just for kids, ya know!!!
Oh, the picture doesn't do it any justice, but Danielle was just hitting a jump as I took it. The hill was steep, and she was actually just getting some air, but you can't really tell. :-(

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Hey everyone, I hope you all have a safe, healthy and happy 2008!!! Time really flies, doesn't it???

We Finally Got It!!!

Snow. We woke up to snow. Ok, we HAVE had it on and off here this year, but mostly just a couple of inches here and there, and then it melts. But, today as I looked out the window this morning, I was like...."Damn...", We got like almost 8 inches. And I can confirm it because I shoveled myself out of the driveway so I could hit the "after Christmas sales" at Wally-World. I know, I am crazy. But I just couldn't miss it. The suspense was killing me. And, Danielle had a couple of gift cards that she couldn't wait to spend. She ended up buying a really cool and kind-of expensive telescope. It takes pictures and everything. she can't wait to use it. Not tonight though, because it is still snowing. Yeah!!!

Peanuts.......

It is an ongoing "joke" around here that I get Joe peanuts for every gift giving occasion. I thought peanuts were a thoughtful gift for a guy who likes peanuts. But, the rumor is out.....he is kind of getting sick of them. Birthday..........peanuts. Anniversary......Peanuts. Christmas............peanuts. Heck, I thought he loved peanuts. I thought I was being nice by buying him something so "personal". I have bought every flavor of peanuts they make. You know, honey roasted, salted, beer flavored (those seemed to be a huge hit...), hot and spicy, ranch, cajun, you name it. I am the queen bee of cheezy Christmas gifts, and I just don't have the heart to skip this year. Oh, and Joe, don't you worry, because this year I got you something OTHER than peanuts (unless they come out with an all new exciting flavor right before the holiday...). I know, the suspense is killing you.......

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas!!!

On Nieko's head, that is. Thanks to the groomer, he came home with festive red bows with little green trees in his hair. Joe wonders if the groomer forgot that he is a BOY???? Just to put my two cents in.....I think they are CUTIE-PIE.


Oh, this is what Nieko did after looking in the mirror.......

The Stockings Were Hung by the......

.............Gun Cabinet????? Talk about a Red-neck Christmas. Do you think Santa will be to scared to fill them??? I hope not!! Don't even ask me why we don't have a mantle to hang them on. That is Joe's department. Hint, Hint....honey!!!!
:-)

Strike A Pose........

Danielle just loves posing for pictures. Thank god for digital cameras. ....And cute kids!!!
:-)

Just another day of shopping at the local thrift stores.....

How come Joe thinks I buy too much crap at thrift stores??? I am not sure how I even got home. I couldn't see behind me, I couldn't see beside me, I just kind of hauled a** like I was the only one on the road. :-) Ok, here's the truth, this is NOT stuff I bought at thrift stores. Although, I have seen my car look close to this after what I call a "good" day of thrift store shopping. So, "Why do I have so much stuff in my car???" You ask. Well.....I have good news. No, our fixer isn't sold. But......(maybe) better yet....it is rented. Yeah!!! All of this "stuff" is what I used to "stage" our house to sell. Hmmmm, but it didn't sell. So now, we will hold onto it for a year, rent it out, and save some moolah come tax time. So, it works out. It definitely wasn't my first option, but as my second (and last), it seems to be going just fine. Especially since she just called and asked if she could move in 10 days early. "Heck Yes!!!", we said. That is just more money in the bank for us!!!! Wish us luck and keep your fingers crossed in hope that she doesn't turn our beloved fixer into a good ol' North Idaho meth lab...!!???!!!

Time to get the snowblower out...

At least that is what the guy across the street thought this morning. Gosh, we only got about 1 inch of snow....tops, and it was the really cold kind where it will blow away if the wind picks up, and the guy just walked around his driveway with his snow blower blaring, and barely anything was coming out. What's the deal?? He needs to just keep it in his garage till it "really" snows. I think he might be from Arizona or something. You know, he's never seen snow, and he just got this new snow blower he needs to use so his wife doesn't think he wasted his hard earned money on a new "toy". Crazy.

Eleven....

Yep, today is our anniversary. Eleven years. It seems like just yesterday we were having our 10th. Wow, this year has flown by. I called Joe yesterday, because I know he hates any occasion where he must go out and actually BUY a gift, because he is used to me doing all the shopping, because you know, I am a professional shopper and all....lol. So, I could tell he was a bit flustered because he mentioned that shopping in the mall is about as pleasurable as putting a bullet in your head.... Nice. ( I wonder if he meant his or mine???) :-) Who said he had to go to the mall? Honey, you could have bought me something at good old Cabela's. You would have at least felt "at home" there. Really honey, it is super sweet you go through so much "trouble" for me. Thank you for wanting to make me happy. You have succeeded!!!! Happy Anniversary!!!!

To fluff or not to fluff.......

That is the question. My neighbors have decided not to. What the heck am I talking about??? Well, here's the scoop. My neighbors have decked out the outside of their house for Christmas. You know, the big blow up decorations that when you don't have them plugged in, they look like a heap of garbage just sitting in their yard. Oh, and they also put a faux evergreen wreath on a two story window above their garage. Well, it's not that I don't appreciate the holiday spirit coming from their home, it's just that I have noticed that their wreath could use some fluffing. Ok, if you know me, you will know that I am almost obsessive compulsive about things being "just right". Especially fake evergreen trees or wreaths. So, I really feel like I should go grab my ladder and hop up on their garage and "fluff" it for them. Just get it over with. I mean, it looks like they just threw it in a bag with a bunch of decorations last year, and this year, they grabbed it out of the the bag and just hung it up. Done. No fluffing. Don't they know that BEFORE hanging it up you need to arrange each and every little branch so they look perfect??? Don't they know that every time I pull in or out of our garage I feel this terrible need to hop up on their roof and fix the flipping thing??? I feel anxious every time I leave my house for crying out loud. I have to force myself not to look in that direction. So, anyway, I was thinking on just doing it, and then I talked myself out of it, because I really didn't want to have to explain to the city police why I was trespassing on my neighbors roof....."But officer, I was just fluffing their wreath for them. You know, just being a good neighbor and all....." I don't think so.....

Happy Birthday Danielle.

She's 9. Where did the years go?? Nine years ago at this time I was holding her in my arms, just trying to take it all in, I just couldn't take my eyes off her. I can remember thinking....."she is so perfect." She still is. Yes, we have our moments, but she is truly a blessing to me each and every minute of every single day. How can one child complete your whole world? I don't know, but she did. I love you Danielle. Have a great day!!!