Life in a Small Town

The Shark Navgator. It Really Sucks!

You know how when you go to a funeral and you're sitting there at the post service meal and everybody is just about done crying and they are doing the whole trying not to cry thing?  And then inevitably somebody starts the round of "remember when _______ did this . . . " stories and they are usually incredibly ridiculous and hilarious?  This is that story that you can use at my funeral.  Now I have no intentions of departing this world anytime soon, but one never knows when "the role will be called up yonder" for them, so I thought I'd better share this story now instead of you having to hear it first hand from my hubby at the dinner.

I got this cute little vacuum about a year ago.  It is such a cute little vacuum, how much trouble could this cute little thing be?  Well let me tell you . . . . as those of you who know me well know, I am a tad OCD when it comes to cleaning and what have you.  Wednesday I was cleaning our living room and trying desperately to get all the beloved pets' fur off of our couch, this is a neverending task.  Things were going along well until somehow my hair and the "Pet Hair Turbo Power Brush" met.  For those of you who have never seen this handy little attachment in action I can assure you it has a power like none other!  It's crazy how this thing works.  It is awesome . . . on furniture.  For hairstyling, not so much.  Well, it went right ahead and sucked my hair quite effectively into it's super high speed beater brush there by just about giving me one huge bald spot as well as slamming against my forehead.  I turned off the super cute purple vacuum and called for backup.  "Backup" wanted to know if he should get the camera!  Luckily before he even arrived to "help" I had already removed my hair from the death grip of the Pet Hair Turbo Power Brush.  So, there is not photographic evidence that this happened.  I did a quick check of my head to make sure I didn't have a bald spot and resumed cleaning because I am a trooper.  I thought all was well until later that night when my forehead began to hurt.  I felt my forehead and sure enough, there was a bump on it and it hurt like mad.  It is now Friday and my forehead still is hurting from the above incident.  And my "backup"?  How is he doing?  Oh just great, he is researching articles on the computer and telling me I may have a case to sue just like this person he found on-line.  (he is kidding). 

Compassion runs shallow at our home.  

So, there's my story.  You can all sit around and say "Remember the time Melanie's head got sucked into the vacuum?"

Here's hoping your weekend doesn't suck.

Snow Day #2

We had another snow day on Wednesday.  For some reason the excitement wears off a bit after day one.  Hmmm . . . could it be there is little to do or could it be that I was greeted with a very wet basement that needed my immediate attention?  What a joy it is to wet vac the basement for an hour and a half and haul the world's heaviest vacuum up the basement stairs about a million times to empty the water.  Yep, it was super fun.  Why on earth could I not have discovered the flooded basement BEFORE I completed my "30 Day Shred" workout for the day?  I would not have needed it because the "Flooded Basement Shred" is quite an effective workout.

The really ironic thing is that on Sunday while I was in Sunday School I found this verse and thought it would be perfect to hang on the fridge to encourage the kids to not complain when they have chores.  You know, because only the kids need this kind of encouragement.  I am always a wealth of positive, encouraging energy when I am washing dishes.  Folding laundry.  Cleaning up dog poop.  Yeah, that's me.  Miss Ray-of-Sunshine 24/7.  Just ask my parents.  Or not.  Ok, you can ask my best friend, Bobbi.  No, maybe not.  Okay, just take my word for it.  At any rate, here is the verse:

Do everything without complaining or arguing.  Philippians 2:14

So, while I was in the basement sucking up gallons of water and feeling not so very positive, this verse came to mind and I had to smile.  Yes, I firmly believe that when we try to make a positive change there is one who will test us at every corner, even if it is in the form of a flooded basement.

But, oh isn't the ice storm lovely?

 
 

Spring!

Since I am on Facebook I am not doing so well keeping up with the blog.  I just can't seem to think of things to write about on here.

Weeks ago I bought plants and today I finally got done planting them.  It took me weeks to plant them because for a solid week I was sick and then when I was feeling better I was too busy to plant them.  So, now they are planted and I'd like to take you on a very brief tour of our home for Spring:

My new and improved flower bed.  This was the saddest flower bed on the block last year.  That was due in part to my preccupation with my July surgery and the possibility of cancer and that left the matter of flower beds on the back burner.  However, this year, this flower bed is super cute.  Thanks to my mom and her generous donation of perennials, this flower bed is looking super cute.

Here is my newly painted rocking chair and one cool $7 Wal-Mart pillow.  This looks like a great place to read a book and chill out.

Here are my $7 ferns.  Thanks to a tip from my shopping savy mom, she found these ferns for $7 each at Lowe's.  I thought 2 for $25 at Weis was a good deal!  Glad I waited to buy them, I saved a cool $11, worth the wait to me.

 

Maranda and I had a yard sale this past week.  Let's just say we won't be breaking the bank with our earnings.  However, it did help us clear some junk out of the attic and what didn't sell was donated to Goodwill.  I still have a dresser/changing table to sell, 2 aquariums, never worn men's boots and a crock pot insert for an All-Clad crockpot.  If any of those items tickle your fancy, let me know!  I'd be happy to sell them to you.

I went hunting with hubby last weekend.  Yes, you read that correctly, hunting!  Never say "never" girls!  I was his good luck charm, look at how happy he is.  That is his first turkey in years.  I was very happy for him.  He and Katie went this weekend, but didn't get anything.  Bummer, I hope she gets a turkey yet this year as well.  And then there is Lynn and I modeling the latest in fashionable headwear for hunting.  Actually my hutning attire was courtesy of the Katie Morrison collection, but she was in Georgia with the school band and not in need of camo, so I wore her camo.

 

I will try to do better and update more than once a month!  Not even sure if anybody is reading my blog anymore.  This is a great way for me to keep tabs on what we have done.  Sort of like an online diary.  Have a great Monday!

Great Song & Video

Half Baked

Today I had quite a swollen head thinking I just had my act together.  I had 2 dinners planned (one for me and one for Maranda's family) and both chickens were in crock pots by 8:00 a.m.  I also had baked corn and homemade scalloped potatoes ready and in the fridge so I could throw them in the oven by the time I got home from my hair appointment.  Plus I had a fabulous dessert already to go.  Well, I got home and put the items in the oven at their appropriate time.  When I got them out they all looked done, but when we started eating them the potatoes were not quite done and neither was the corn.  Ugh!  At least the chicken was completely done.  Then we had dessert . . . turns out that was also half baked.  It was sooooo frustrating.  This is why I like to eat out . . . it's less work!  Yep, my cooking is half baked and so am I.  But then, you all already knew that!  :)  I guess this is just God's way of keeping me humble. 

Slingshot Tuesday

I feel like the rock in a slingshot today . . . it's like the alarm went off and I was shot out of bed . . . a 5:45 a.m. start to the day began with cleaning up cat puke AGAIN, try to make myself presentable for work, wake kids, make pancakes and sausage for b-fast, pack lunches, wash dishes, wash kid, dry kid's hair, put dinner in the crockpot, make sure everybody has EVERYTHING and out the door by 7:45 a.m.  Off to work on the way get gas . . . try to get work done.  Try to leave early enough to get to 5:30 p.m. soccer game.  Dinner.  Baths.  

Calgone take me away.  

These years won't last forever :)  I am sure someday I'll look back and say, "I miss that."

Check out this hilarious video from our youth pastor.  She and her husband are absolutely dedicated to our church youth.  They are so awesome.  Enjoy.

Ugh!

Stuffy nose?  Check.

Irritating cough?  Check

Aching muscles?  Check

Fever?  Check.

Inability to sleep more than 1 hour (if I am lucky) at a time?  Check.

I am not oinking yet, so I am guessing it's just the common, ordinary flu and not swine flu.

In the bargain corner:

 

Sharp Shopper:  $3.99

Weis:  $10.99

And that is why I buy the majority of my snacking items at the Sharp Shopper!

They Day Everything Changed . . .

May we never forget all the lives lost on this day and be truly thankful for each and every person who has risked and/or lost their life defending our freedom for the greatest country in the world.

Let the craziness commence . . .

We are still here . . . alive and well and SUPER busy!  Hopefully I can post some updates about our family soon and some pics.  The first week of school has proven to be a busy one.  The girls are enjoying 7th and 1st grade.  H got new glasses today, so that is definitely a picture item.  K has her first football game band performance on Friday.  If you would like to attend it's a home game and it begins at 7:00 p.m. 

Crammin' it all in

It's been a crazy few days . . . nothing like cramming in all kinds of activities before school resumes TOMORROW :(  Thursday the girls and their cousin, Jack, went to Lake Tobias and McDonald's with Grandma Cathy.  They had a great time.  Thanks for treating them to a special day, Cathy.

Friday Mark and Shannon invited us to attend a Senator's baseball game.  We were so excited to go.  The girls have never been to a baseball game before so they were super ecstatic.  Well the weathermen predicted rain and since weathermen are wrong frequently, we threw caution to the wind and went to the game anyway.  The good news is that Hannah got a great new hat:

The bad news is the weathermen were right.  Only it didn't just rain.  Oh no . . . it came down in BUCKETS, but thankfully we got a great tip to have our seats located under the overhang behind home plate.  It was a mess.  We spent about an hour or so under the overhang chattin', "enjoyin'" the rain, watching time tick by and the temp drop and then . . . then the game was canceled :(  So, we hoofed it to the ticket booth and found out we can use the tickets anytime this year or through April 2010.  After that we headed to Wendy's for some food and conversation.  Thanks for thinking of us Mark and Shannon.  Hopefully in 2010 the game will not be rained out.

Saturday began with H's 8:30 a.m. soccer game.  Her team won again and she was very excited.  She did not score any goals this time, but she was goalie for the first quarter and she did a fantastic job at that position.

10:30 was K's soccer game.  They also won their game and K did fantastic. 

Following K's game we spent the day at home.  J tried to catch up on some sleep and the girls and I embarked on cleaning out cupboards and closets.  We got so much done and I am pleased to have more room in my kitchen.  In addition to cleaning out I attempted to be optimistic and hang out laundry.  Bad idea:

H helped me take down all that laundry in record time and then I spent the next few hours drying it in the dryer anyway.   So much for saving $$$ on electric on Saturday.

We made a quick trip to our library to turn in our Summer reading log.  H made out like a bandit.  We have a free ticket to Zoo America, a free kids' meal at Friendly's, free kids' meal at Texas Roadhouse, free soft pretzel at Auntie Anne's.  I think she got more, but I can't remember.  She got so many things, she was very pleased.  Katie did well too, she got a free book and a free pretzel coupon.  I also got a free book.  Can't wait to participate again next Summer.

Later in the day the girls made cupcakes for their final Sunday School in our old church.  Next Sunday is our final Sunday there and then it's off to the new church.  Yeah.  Here are the great cupcakes they made:

 

Here is what happens when you leave the kids with the camera and you go take a shower.  You get all kinds of random home photos:

 

 

 

 

I think she forgot to turn on the flash, which is why all the pics are blurry. 

We are off to K's 2:00 soccer game.  The weather is much nicer today, so it should be a pleasant day to sit outside and enjoy the game.  Tomorrow is the FIRST DAY of school.  They are so excited . . . not really, but they will be happy to be there once they are back in the groove.