Archive for January, 2011

This kind of hunting I can get behind

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

Paul and Tyler went hunting a couple times over Christmas break (yes, there are headless, skinless dead [do I need to add that?] squirrels in my freezer; what if I accidentally grab that instead of a burrito for lunch I will be PISSED). I have to say that I still am pretty wigged out by the whole gun thing. Turns out that Paul could not find some sort of orange something to go hunting so he put Tyler in my orange T (let the record reflect he DID call me at work to ask!). So Tyler tramped around the woods in a T shirt that says, “Better than all the udders!” Apparently my nap-needing disease is passed by osmosis–check out this photo that was snapped of Tyler “hunting.”

Yep, that is a Tyler-sized bump on that log.

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Posted in Family, Hunting | No Comments »

Maybe Aurthur isn’t the culprit

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

You remember my old friend, Arthur, right? Maybe there is another reason for joint pain–or at least my low back pain…

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Posted in Family | 1 Comment »

Arriving home after a long day at the office…

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

Yep, after a long day of hustle and flow of the grueling working world, all I want to do is come home to peace, tranquility, and the schedule being executed by MY expectations (ALWAYS BUSINESS BEFORE FUN DAMMIT!!!!!). However the kids got some really sweet gifts for Christmas that they wanted to play with…

The artist at work

So instead of the fantasy world I live in where the kids are diligently working on their homework, Paul is making a delicious calorie-free dinner made entirely of cheese and garlic, the pets are all napping cuddled together on the couch while classical music plays on the stereo (you know–to build up the brain power during homework), and an ice cold Landshark beer (or glass of red wine–depending on the time of year) is waiting for me, I came into the Red Hot Chili Peppers on iTunes, cats fighting in the hallway, dogs drooling on the new couch, and….well…. this:

The scene at my kitchen table when I arrived home from work.

Tyler had been asking to make and launch (? is that was you do to a volcano?) the volcano that Elli, Michael, and Sydney gave him. So that project started while Anna channeled her inner Gerogia O’Keefe by painting with her new easel and supplies. She is SO gifted in her artwork.

Another angle

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Posted in Family, Humor | 2 Comments »

Did you hear I got a new camera for Christmas!?

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

THEN I GOT A NEW LENSE THIS WEEK! Look how great this photo is:

Anna very generously shares her rubber bracelets with Bluesy.

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Posted in Pets | 2 Comments »

Recovering from the holidays

Monday, January 17th, 2011

Most everyone who reads this blog knows what insanity exists in our lives in December since Paul and the kids all have their birthdays in a 2 week stretch, then Christmas and New Years. The last couple years we have started the year by bringing our lives to a screeching halt in January. We plan nothing, do less and love it. Until I get antsy and start making lists. This year was no different.

Fido the Fit before his much needed---and deserved-- trip to the spa after keeping us safe through 14 hours of snow and ice on our trip back from Indiana at Christmas after only 12 hours of visiting (really 6 b/c we slept some too).

The house and pets took a beating too. Check out this picture of Bluesy amongst the chaos of leftover Christmas crap-o-la. No matter how ruthless we are at cleaning out before the holidays (and the kids were REALLY thorough this year), there is never enough room for all of our treasures. We are very good, after all!

Waiting for Santa was exhausting!

Paul takes a much deserved nap. So tired--this is even DURING a Carolina game with the kids playing all around him.

The pets have to handle so many schedule changes: Paul staying home from work, then the kids are there all day of some days, then all of us leaving for days at a time to travel, coming home late from parties (ok, late for us). Their whole world gets turned upside down. Barton and Katie even forgot they were not supposed to like each other!

Sign the Apocolypse is upon us.

I started feeling the old twinges of needing to make a list today though. This year we are not going to take on any major new projects. More like just finishing up that last 2% of the projects that never get done. We will keep you posted of course! Stay tuned.

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Posted in Christmas, Family, Home Improvement, Pets, Travel, Vacation | No Comments »

Fancy Pants

Friday, January 14th, 2011

Now, I know I am a very Fancy Nancy, but I swear this did not come from me.

Yes, that is Tyler drinking his eggnog from a wine glass. It is a favorite of his lately that Anna is getting on board with too.  They say that drinks just taste better in the fancy glasses. Hell yeah!  Do we need to add “alcoholism” as a blog tag? I have to admit I did teach the kids to toast, regardless of the type of glass they were using. Check this out:

Cheers!

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Did you hear I got a new camera for Christmas!

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Its amazing how great the photos are! Maggie is cute and all, but check this out:

Paul's other girl.

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Posted in Pets, Technology | No Comments »

Paul is pregnant!

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

We went to Sir Pizza for Mom Mom’s 88th birthday. We made Paul get his own pizza because apparently he must be in a delicate way (according to the book Stephanie and Roy got me for Christmas, A Girl’s Guide to Being a Southern Belle, that is a more appropriate way to say knocked up) because he wanted a ‘za with JALAPENOS AND PINEAPPLE. Even his grandmother disapproved. Check out the look on her face in this photo:

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Posted in Family, Food | 2 Comments »

365-Day Shred

Saturday, January 8th, 2011

OK, so maybe other people get it done in 30 days (do the video daily for 30 days, eat right, washboard stomach arrives in the mail), but Ruthan and I are embarking on a modified version. I mean, anyone could do the 30-Day Shred, right? Apparently not. Here’s what happened…

We met in 2006 through Team in Training. Here is us last year when Ruthan was training for the Vineman Half-Ironman.

This fall when I started my new job, I realized that she lived only 2 miles from my office (ok, it took me 2 weeks to figure it out, but I have never claimed to be Magellan). So we started Wednesday Morning Workout World. OK, we ran. We had a pretty good streak going until Mother Nature started kicking our butts in December. January came and we decided to take it inside. Which is where Jillian Michaels comes in.

This is really my body w Jillian's head photo shopped on

20-minute workout? How hard can that be? We were running for 30-35 minutes before. I have jumped rope for 20-minutes straight. I have run marathons. I am an Ironman for crying out loud! Surely I can do a 20-minute workout in Ruthan’s living room! I even giggled a little inside at the 5 and 8 pound dumbbells we were going to use. Then Ruthan pressed play.

OMG. Granted at that point I had been sick with my annual respiratory infection, complete w no voice for 2 days; however, OMG. Here is the quote of the day from Ruthan, “You have to be pretty good friends to do a workout video in your living room at 6am.” I didn’t even have enough breath to laugh. And that was during warm-ups.

No way in hell I could do that every day. We decided weekly on Wednesday would suffice. And the 365-Day Shred was born.

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Posted in Family | 6 Comments »

I’m in love with my brother.

Sunday, January 2nd, 2011

For Christmas Stephanie and Roy gave me a label maker from Brother, and I am madly in love. After a fabulously productive Saturday night together, I know this was a match that was meant to be! Let me introduce you to my love:

I love being organized and having organized surroundings. I am sure Paul and the kids would help me maintain that if only they knew where to put things right? Before I had ghetto hand written labels or perhaps labels I typed and laminated, but I am THE worst cutter in the world. It never comes out straight so the ghetto-ness is in full effect. So I redid all of the existing labels and added a few. Last night was the perfect night to do it b/c Paul went to his friend’s house to play guitar and the kids were at Robin’s. I was alone. For hours. With my Brother. OK, the dogs and cats were here too, but I created  “dog food” and “cat food” labels first so they were ok with it.

The other bonus is that I will no longer be the household St. Anthony, Patron Saint of Lost Things. I know we did this to my mom (sorry, Mom!!!) and now I know how annoying it is to be asked to find socks, shoes, school papers, backpacks, etc.I also give the equally annoying answer, “where did you have it last?”

I love reusing items so labeling is key. Side note to emphasize my point: My favorite column in Real Simple Magazine is the “New uses for old things” [did you know they have a BOOK OUT WITH 869 NEW USES?!?!?!]. As you see here with Brother’s home, some may mistake it for an old shoe box, not the resting place of the Holy Grail.

Although, now The Others know where it is and I might have to share it… crap.

I love being organized and having organized surroundings. I am sure Paul and the kids would help me maintain that if only they knew where to put things right?

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Posted in Christmas, Family, Home Improvement | 3 Comments »