"Dad My Monkey Got Knocked Down"

That's just one of the funny, inexplicable things I've heard in the last 24 hours.Austin got his hair cut and they had some really groovy blue clips.

I still can't see his eyes.

(Kimmy I will try to get an after photo tomorrow)

Stephen DID NOT want to get his hair cut.

He won

Andrew got his cut and he did great.

Charlie worked on some ribs for dinner...the lights on the fence are pretty.

Stephen sure is cute.

A great sunset after a stormy day.

Again...too cute for words.

Cousins.

Smarty pants.

Opening some presents last night.

Andrew made Uncle Steve a special present.

It's A Very Long Drive

But we are finally here!

Merry Christmas

Hope yours was as good as ours.

Last Minute

A rare picture of a smiling teenager.
And of course...little brother.

We went out in the craziness yesterday for some last minute shopping.

Christmas morning picture to come...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Merry Christmas Eve

"So that's what Christmas is really all about," I said.

"Yeah, it's about giving," he replied hugging close to me.

We'd just taken some magnetic letters to the children's librarian at the library we like. We've spent many hours in their children's room. Spelling our names, figuring out how many 3 letter words we can make that start with 'c'. We always play some after we pick out books.

He gets as many books as years he is old. And I get to go with him.

The letters cost me $4 but the lesson will last him a life time.

Merry Christmas.

A Few Of My Favorite People

I've been coaching for many years and I have collected a wonderful group of young ladies who remain a part of my life and each others lives. We are friends. It's wonderful. Most holiday breaks we gather for breakfast at the same place at the same table. The girls are back in KC from the places they have scattered to and we make a point to meet at least once. The group changes each time. Today we missed Summers, Elizabeth and Adrienne but some of us got to meet mister Jake for the first time.
I guess when my rowing kids have their own kids...they are kind of my...'grand rowers'.

No matter what I call him...he sure is darling.

It's great to catch up...they are finshing college, beginning college, starting families, changing the world.

I am so proud of all of them.

Let The Wrapping Begin

Sorta takes the joy out of it.

Maybe I just need a nap.

Cookies Today...Soup Yesterday

I spent today with my sister and her family (Happy Birthday Kenny!) and Amanda making cookies, decorating our KC stockings, bowling a few games on the Wii and playing a little drums for Rock Band.

It was just the kind of day that makes me feel like it is truly Christmas. Busy and loud...full of food, drink and family.

Some little mint chocolate short breads cooling next to the jam thumbprints...yummy.
The cutouts...my favorite!

Kim's tree is so pretty.

We have some great stockings but they are in Texas where we usually are for Christmas. We needed stockings and Kim found some plain red ones really cheap.

We all had a hand in the decorating...aren't they great!

Soup Today...Cookies Tomorrow

Tis the season for much time spent in the kitchen...cooking, baking and washing dishes.

Today was our annual Petty Christmas with my Mom's side of the family. We always bring soups and other treats, have a great white elephant exchange, share some books and just enjoy each other for a few hours.

Thanks to the Craig's (Dan, Carrie, Owen and Joe) for hosting.

As Manda just said "Our family is hilarious."

The Story Behind The Picture

So most of you know that I have been partaking in a little December photographing...what you don't know is what I've done for some of these photos.

You don't know about the cute photo I just tried to take of Rescue on the couch ("in our house dogs are strictly forbidden from the furniture....yeah right") but when I got up to get the camera she also got up...photo, over.

You don't know about how, when I tried to take a picture of the fuzzy blanket I'm making for a little green loving nephew, my camera battery was dead and I had to stop working on the blanket for like almost an hour while the battery charged.

You don't know about how I had to ask the girls at the gym for permission to take the picture of the bikes and then I had to talk to the manager and he asked a bazillion questions.

You don't know how I had to take pictures with my IPhone of Andrew walking home from school in the snow because I can't remember to take my camera everywhere.

You don't know about how the little slice of nutcracker that everyone thought was creepy was from the very first day of this project and I posted it because I'd been too busy to get anything else.

You don't know about the picture of Jack on my feet was really supposed to be a picture of both Jackie and Gus but....again....when I got up to get the camera, Gus left.

So...there is always a story behind the picture...

Shhhhhh....Can You Keep A Secret?

Someone is getting a fleecy blanket for Christmas...and Tasha really likes it, too.

What Time Did You Get Up?

4am...'nuff said.

Snow Day

I picked Andrew up from school yesterday for a little shopping expedition. We needed to stop at his house to pick up Austin. They only live about a block from school and Andrew wanted to walk. In the cold and snow.
So I, of course, drove along side taunting him with descriptions of how nice and warm I was in the car.
I don't think he cared.

To see more December Photo Projects visit View From The Prairie Box

Just A Little Slice Of Christmas

A New Winter Torture

Most winters I am deep into Concept 2’s Annual Holiday Challenge as Christmas nears.

The Challenge is to 'row' 200,000 meters on a rowing ergometer between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Donna and I have been doing it for many years.

One year we started by placing two ergs in the parking lot in front of her church and erging together on Thanksgiving morning. One year she came to firestation #10 and joined me in a Thanksgiving row.

We check up on each other, encourage each other and have even celebrated 'halfway'.

I've been fighting some nasty tendinitis in my forearms since March and I am not able to join her in the fun this year. I hope to be back in my boat in the spring so this winter I have a new obsession.

Spinning.

No, not making thread.
Spin class is an indoor biking class.

Oh, so hard.
But oddly addictive.

So...Donna ergs and I spin.

And we eat.

It's a good thing.

To see more December Photo Projects visit View From The Prairie Box

My Home Away From Home

The idea of the December Photo Challenge is to show in pictures what this month is like for each of us.

It would not be a fair illustration without life at my little station on the edge of town.

This is my favorite place. My bunk. With my fleecy blanket, my computer and the remote.

The girls are with me today and I'll try to get some pictures of them later...it's supposed to start snowing and...well, I could get busy.

Stay warm.

To see more December Photo Projects visit View From The Prairie Box

Happy 25th Amanda!!!

I hope it is all you'd like it to be.
Happy Birthday roomie.

What!?

You don't paint storm windows in the dining room in December?

Well...anyone who knows me knows that I tend to procrastinate...as a matter of fact I come from a long line of procrastinators.

The Jayhawks are dismantling Jackson State and I just might get this put back on the kitchen window before the temperature plummets.

Not so bad a day.

(edited-I figured out later that the game I was listening to was a rebroadcast of an earlier game...wondered why I couldn't find it on the radio...duh)

Thing 5 And Thing 30

Did 'em

I now can flip in the pool and I do....almost every lap.

And...

On Saturday I ran 3 miles without stopping!

I'm pretty excited about both things!

Are You Ready?

Yeah...me neither.

I have to say that the December Photo Project has been so much fun. It has really pushed me creatively and photographically. I'm trying new things and remembering things I thought I'd forgotten. I did, however, drop my camera yesterday breaking my small lens (hint, hint Santa)...now I'll really need to stretch.

To see more December Photo Projects visit View From The Prairie Box

Petty Girls

The women in my family (most of us, anyway) get together on Wednesdays for lunch.

It's one of my most favorite things.

Yesterday my cousin Carrie and I were the only two available.

I've been struggling with the way flash makes things look. I just don't like it.

So I tried one without flash...and then we joked that this is probably a more accurate picture of her anyway...if you've ever met Carrie you know that she is never still.When I uploaded the photos I found this one...I think it is even better.

To see more December Photo Projects visit View From The Prairie Box

It Was A Snowy, Snowy Night

And my girl loves to ride in the car (not) and to ride in the car for a very long time in dense traffic and snow...well, let's just say she was very excited (worried).

We ventured out in the weather to see Santa. I've done a lot of goofy things with my girls but they've never had their picture with Santa. So out we went.

He was a VERY patient Santa. Rescue just wanted her belly rubbed.

Then she was worried again. Maggie...Maggie was good.

She always is.

And finally a very good Santa picture.

Aren't they just darling...

To see more December Photo Projects visit View From The Prairie Box

One Little Blue Lego

I noticed it just yesterday, there on the shelf with the nutcrackers.

Just a little bit of Andrew (and Austin, too, as he reminded me. The Legos his brother plays with are the same ones he played with when he was a little boy).

I think I'm leaving it right where it is.

To see more December Photo Projects visit View From The Prairie Box

Lights Today, Snow Tomorrow

I took advantage of the 50 degree weather today to put some Christmas lights up.

It's hard to imagine that it's going to snow...

To see more December Photo Projects visit View From The Prairie Box.

(I like this picture so much I may try it for a banner)

My View From The Couch

I've got this furry guy on my feet, a glass of wine and the remote.

Doesn't get much better than this.

To see more December Photo Projects visit View From The Prairie Box.

What Did You Have For Lunch?

Me...a little hot doggity goodness. With mustard of course.

Guess Where I Am?

Well....I'm not at John and Kathy's with my fab friends....

I'm hanging out with some folks I don't see very often.Be careful....Yup...it's a fire truck...you're sooo smart!But it's not my fire truck. It's Pumper 17. Just working a little overtime on 1st shift. Missing the party today but the overtime is nice this time of year.

Hope you all have a great Saturday.

To see some more December Photo Projects visit View From The Praire Box.

December Photo Project

I'm joining View From The Prairie Box in a little Christmas photo blogging.

So check back daily to see if I can remember how to use my camera.

I Had A Nice Quiet Friday Planned....

So I was going to sleep late, get up and make some coffee which I would drink with my eggnog, watch the news, peruse the Internet for things I needed to know and maybe start one of the sewing projects I need to finish before Christmas.

Instead I got up early and have been sitting for the last hour at the blood draw place....you know, the yearly cholesterol etc. Crammed in a very small waiting room with a 1 year old and his 8 yr old brother fighting loudly over a ballon and a handicapped young adult girl who is enthralled with them....very loudly.

Did I mention that I've had to drink my coffee black and have not had any breakfast....

Not how I pictured this day.

Hope yours is better.

Thursday Thoughts

1. Spin class is getting easier...I still feel like laying on the floor gasping for air but the feeling goes away.
2. The girls got a bath yesterday at the groomer. LONG overdue. It's a 3 load of laundry affair. Can't let clean dogs sleep on smelly dog blankets.
3. I only work 2 more shifts in December! I bundled several vacation days together...yeah for me.
4. It's cold. Inside and out.
5. Yeah...that's about it.

(I remember last winter, I blogged every day...had sooooo much to say. Surely I didn't say it all?)