Before and After

We are going to have some new neighbors. The house also looks like it is going to be pretty. Pretty and big. They started building it about the beginning of fall and it seems to have gone up over night. They had a roof on it before our first snow fall.
So here is our view from our back door now.



Our view last year in March.

Progress really amazes me sometimes.

Can you believe its 2011?

Boy! Time sure does fly! Just like the boys. ;)

What did You Do New Years Day?

Happy New Year!!!!! We spent most of the day inside because the temperatures were in the teens.
I would have been perfectly happy to stay indoors. Then Rick mentioned the wood that was stacked up on our fence line. The previous owners had it there for possible fence posts. We probably won't use it for that purpose. Rick decided to get a wild hair and cut the wood for our stove. I agree we needed the wood but I sure didn't want to do it. I told him I felt bad that he had to be outside in the cold. Then I lost my mind and said, "Do I have to help?"
He laughed at me. Doesn't he love me and have concern for my comfort? I am sure he would be just fine without me. I know it would take longer. But like I said, baby its cold outside.
He then gets me by saying, "So you feel bad that I have to go out there but, you don't feel bad enough to come and help me?"
Dang, I didn't work that right.
Lesson learned.
I went upstairs and began putting my layers of clothes on. Went back downstairs while telling myself, attitude is a decision. I need to choose to be nice.

To our surprise the wood was cedar. Very pretty. Kind of a shame to burn it but we were running low. Cottonwood just doesn't burn like we like it.

If you were wondering, I did help. I didn't take pictures the whole time.
Cedar smells good burning too! I am once again in the house, in my jammies and loving the wood burning stove.

10 I Loves

1. I love it when we are blessed with a sunny 60 degree day at the very end of December.

2. I love it when I get to play cards with my mom.

3. I love it when Aiden tells me that he likes and loves me.

4. I love it when my hubby is home from work (especially on Fridays).

5. I love it when I get to catch up with my good friends.

6. I love it when I tell my boys I am going to vacuum and I can hear their feet running around picking up all the things they love before I vacuum them up into the unknown.

7. I love it when Aaron flaps his arm around when he is excited about something.

8. I love it when my home is finally clean...even if it only lasts for a day.

9. I love it when I find a good book.

10. I love it when the boys are on vacation from school. I love them here.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. We sure did and we still have a week off before school starts back. Here are some pictures of the boys from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Gram and Grandpa always gives us all PJs on Christmas Eve. This year the boys pajamas were How to Train Your Dragon themed. They loved them. Especially the wings! They were sooo wound up and bouncing off the walls!



At Grandmas, our cousins gave the boys some "reindeer food". It was a combination of oatmeal and glitter. Very neat. We went out side and sprinkled the food on the ground in preparation for Santa and his reindeer.




On Christmas Eve we had some snow. It was pretty and NOTHING like last years snow. Yay!



The boys received alot of great gifts and one of the best was from Gram and Grandpa. Their own personal DVD players. Aiden has watched the movie Cars over and over again on it already. I like it because they are still with us in the living room and Rick and I can watch something besides cartoons.

I hope everyone has a blessed New Year. Be Safe and Keep Warm! Thank you for everyone keeping up with our family and sending us such wonderful comments and emails. We love to hear from all of you and I will keep trying to keep up with the blog some more in 2011.

Twist and Turns

The last few months we have been thrown alot of curve balls. But through all I couldn't believe the GRACE that God has given us through it. Things do happen for a reason I am sure but sometimes it is hard to see the reasons.
One thing that got us was septic problems...I know, ewwwwwwwww!!!!! The worst part about it is that the lowest part of my house plumbing wise is the kitchen sink. THATS where it came in at. With the kitchen being the heart of a family mine was sick. Really sick! Of course it started when my inlaws came to visit.
Through asking questions and some figuring we realized that the septic had NEVER been emptied by the previous owners and they were here for about 30 years. We have been here for four. *sigh*
I called a septic pumping company and told them we had a idea where the septic was but we were not positive. Would they find it? How much would they charge to dig it up? How much to empty it? Ya know all the questions I am sure.
When the guy came out to find/pump out the septic the first thing he mentioned the septic never being pumped and we are not real sure how old the septic is so, it is probably shot.
My stomach dropped. Not a good thing when you really can't use the toilets. I stayed outside with him while he poked around a determined the place and shape of the septic. He dug and dug and dug. As I watched him I was sure the wasn't making the money he was worth. He needs a raise! After several attempts and holes later he found the lid. Yay! He informed me with the amount of digging he had to do that the price to dig it up was higher. Fine, fine. I still don't think he is paid enough.
He pumped out the septic. I am sure I was sitting in the fetal position just waiting to hear the fate of our septic. Would this be thousands of dollars or a few hundred? I prayed the whole time. I prayed for the grace. Gods grace to get us through this.
I wanted the old farm house. I had to take the good and bad with it. But sometimes I feel that my husband has to take care of alot of the bad. He really is a wonderful man. I must say that I have handled things well when needed. Like the time I saw a snake come out of the paneling at the ceiling of my kitchen. I handled it...yep, like a scared little school girl. I can handle just about any reptile or rodent but when things are above my head I get a little anxious.
Anyways, back to the fate of the septic. IT WAS ALRIGHT! Talk about answered prayers! He pumped it out. Lines were still clogged. That was not in his job description.
My handyman came home and fixed it with the garden hose from the business end of the septic...Have I told you I just love that man? Also got some pictures for ya. ;)


Aaron was in charge of turning the water hose on and off <----- Future handyman in training.



You know I took this with the zoom lens.


Ricks homemade hoist to lift the slab of concrete they used for a lid.



I love him <3

Talking Turkey ... Already

(I originally wrote this the day after Halloween. I still needed to upload the picture still, then BAM! it is Nov. 7th. Oh well, here you go)
I heard something the other day that has ran through my mind over and over again. They were so right. They were saying that Halloween is the start of the holiday season. When I was younger time didn't go by this quickly. Actually days seemed to drag by. Even summer vacation seemed to last a while. Now, time goes by with just a blink. I blame alot of it on bills. As soon as a month goes by and you are paid up to date it is time to start all over again. To think about it, we only do this twelve times a year.
Just last night was Halloween and today there was talk of meeting up for the holidays and what do the boys want for Christmas. Christmas!?!?! I have no idea! I haven't even put up the summer clothes. Yes, I do know that summer is over and I am not one bit happy about it. We have taken the pool down and we are now stacking fire wood.
Geez, I really need to get the family holiday pictures printed. I am afraid that I will go to sleep tonight and I will wake up the day of the deadline. Does this happen to anyone else or am I the only one that feels like Father Time is stepping on my toes?
I do have to tell you that last night was nice. The weather was very comfortable. I didn't want to stop trick or treating with the boys because I was thoroughly enjoying my walk with them and mom. Rick was our driver and we would go to some houses and jump back in the car and go to a new neighborhood. The wind had died down last night and it was really pretty out.
I did have a side splitting thing happen with Aaron though. As you see in the picture he was quite dark. Well, we didn't think much about it when he picked out his costume but his costume became harder and harder to see through as the night became darker. We were stopping at our final house, Aaron quickly threw his mask back on and hopped out of the car. I was standing there waiting on him and I got to witness the whole thing! When he jumped out he caught his footing just on the edge of a ditch and when he turned to maneuver his way around he walked into the car door. He turned around hopped over the ditch and fell into the persons front yard. I watch him pick himself up and just stand there...face to face with a sapling. I noticed his mask was on backward. He just stood there. I asked him what he was doing and to turn his mask around. I told him he was in front of a tree. I was laughing pretty bad by then. He turned his mask around and said, " I was just waiting for the tree to go by I guess." LOL!!! I had tears running down my face. The home owner was just standing there with a smile on his face and staring at me. I am sure he thought I was going to tumble into the ditch because I couldn't stand up straight.
All in all, it was a good night.