FINALLY done!!!

My 'new' kitchen!
3 months?


Took long enough, huh?


And there's Vanna Tink again, showing off our handy work. Credit for the redesign goes to Nana and cooperation, thanks to the Doc!


I know, still more work to do!
....Now we need some color on those walls!

A Fool's Ball Day

Yesterday, a friend gave us tickets (great tickets) to see a college football game! The Dragons won, of course, swaying our opinion of this team! We traveled to a small town outside of Syracuse, dressed in warm Fall weather clothing, ready for the cold (and it wasn't! We were sweating instead!) and snacked on chocolate covered pretzels and apple cider while we cheered for this unknown team.

But I love football!

I retract that statement. I love offense and defense!

I was a basketball player, but I still love the elements of the game. Any game. Hockey, basketball, football, soccer, you name it! It was exhilerating, watching the intense discipline, know-how, and foresight that the players displayed on the field.

I miss it.

(Nicole's favorite part was when the cheerleaders did their dances and the mascot [someone in a dragon costume] danced along with them.... And the free donuts, cookies, and apple cider!)

It wasn't that long ago... I CAN'T think of myself as old, yet, right? But as we were watching the game, these girls were sitting behind us and gossiping. (They were loud and made it hard to pay attention to the game!) Gossiping about judging boys they see at school for obscure traits (being a good kisser is a rait) and other 'cheerleader' talk. An interesting encounter, for sure!

On the way home we saw the most beautiful fall colors! Doc cringed as I whipped the camera out of the moon roof to snap a pic (don't worry, I put the band around my wrist!)... I saw a Jewish cemetary on the steep side of the hill... Never seen one of those before! And an exit for a mall in some place called 'Shoppingtown.' Fitting, I'm sure!

But the most comical element was the ride home. On the radio we switched over (or the the lack of reception switched us over) to a 'story hour' kind of station. He told a story about a cult-ish group of people in the US that travel North to Canada at the end of summer, then slowly travel all the way to Argentina by the end of the Fall just to see the leaves change. They named themselves the Autumnal Devil Trees Association (And I found nothing on the web!). Still, it was interesting to hear of such a common-interest group! I admit, Missouri is gorgeous in the Fall, even WV... But I doubt I will be making such a trek!

A recent dinner

Sorry, no pics, but it was delicious!

Thanksgiving Pot Pie

1. Line pie pan or muffin tins with pie crust.
2. Layer with shredded turkey breast, stuffing, and top with gravy.
3. Top with pie crust and pinch edges to seal.
4. Bake according to pie crust directions.
5. Serve with cranberry sauce, or better yet, add cranberry sauce in filling!!!

It was the 5th day in the 3rd grade...

...And the 4th grade... "You could buy a zoo with all the doctor's bills he paid"  Just kidding, that's a Veggie Tales song.

I am working in the YMCA SACC program and this year I have the 3rd AND 4th graders... All 18 of them!  It's quite a mixed group.  I have half intellectuals who want to do homework and creative writing, and half hyperactive linebackers who want to run around and don't know how to sit still!  But I LOVE being with kids!  I am so happy to be connecting with them n a personal level, impacting their lives and education.  I feel a constant struggle between being where God wants me and being in a comfort zone.  And Nicole being in her comfort zone, too!  Poor girl comes to work with me SO early in the morning, goes to her school, goes to her SACC, then comes home for dinner, a bath, and bed... 

But today was a rough day.  I had to battle the 3rd graders who wanted to go outside and play and the 4th graders who wanted to finishe their homework before they went home.  I really can't stand those opposite-type struggles.  So many times I have considered leaving this job, then something pops up that I love and adore (and that's mainly the kids!).  

So for now, I'm paying my dues and hitting the daily grind.  Some days I enjoy it more than others... 

Firsts

1st day in the 1st grade

Miss me???

Well, all 3 people who read my blog did!!!

I have been busy. When Nana was here, she got me to start painting my kitchen cabinets. (Addendum: She and her creative 'get-up-and-go' motivated me and my lovely laziness to rennovate the apperance of my otherwise boring kitchen) I have complained plenty of times about how dreary my kitchen is!!! I don't have a finished picture yet, as the doors just got their first coat of actual paint... (You see, I sanded, primed a few layers,then painted a few layers, sanding inbetween each coat, but the doc came behind me, sanded everything really well, and is spraying on the coats all over again!!!) Poor doc!

We also celebrated our anniversary! 7 years. With a hundred more to go!!! I surprised the doc with a little picnic dinner (I took forever to decide what to make and decided on steak at the last minute!) I prepped this wonderful meal, my sinister drove me up the hill to the park and dropped me off. Nicole and LJ got to hang out for a few hours! It was lovely! We had steak, french bread, wine (er, I had cream soda!!!), and strawberries with whipped cream for dessert. We talked about lots of stuff and even watched the sun set. I was so much fun! (But I think my favorite part was that it was a surprise! I love surprises!) It ended with the moon and the sun being in the sky at the same time. Unfortunately, I can't upload the pic of the moon!

We also visited a friend who lives on the lake, tye-dyed some socks and tees, went to the zoo, rode the ski lift at Old Forge to the top (it was beautiful and we were glad we thought to bring Subway with us!), visited with the doc's fam and they left, and now I have a house FULL of mess! I just need to clean! Unfortunately, I invited some friends over tomorrow morning, so I think I'll plan a little outdoor tea party for the girls and the moms and I can sit out there and chat! Let's hope it doesn't rain!!!

Anyway, the summer is coming to a close, although it has barely reached over 70 degrees more than once in the past 2 weeks... I wonder what the winter will be like? And I received phonecalls from 2 of my jobs, stating that I will be re-instated as school resumes.... Gotta love the city school district! Cutting corners wherever possible!

What can I do in a week?

• We found a new church (I love being a part of a church family!)
• we went huka-diving... This evening we're going to try it at the lake! (We practiced in a pool!!!)
• we went sailing on the lake! Doc got a sailing lesson and he 'drove' the whole time! We also BBQ'd while we were on the water, learned some geography and history, and I had the best seat... The one at the back of the boat, watching everything!!!
• I PAID off a student loan 100%. Poor Doc has a long way to go for that! (Come on, a doc, seriously!!!)
• Nicolee had a bday party in the park for fairies and pirates, it was a blast!
• Nana and LJ came and Nana already left.... LJ is here for the rest of the week!
• We saw Mama Mia! It was so much fun! (But how often in life do we realy burst out into song to express our feelings??)
• And this morning we are headed to the local Science Museum.

Wow! This has been one busy week! Not to mention plenty of sewing, cleaning, cooking, laundry-ignorning, and movie watching! Whatta bum, huh???