Live from Tormville!

Today is my Monday

Sorry I'm late this morning

Today is my Monday.  I've been excited about it for the last two days.  It's my dig-in day - my knock as many things off my list as I can day and rejoice that I have no appointments on my calendar day.  It's my delayed Monday.

*pumps fist*

One thing on my list today is to photograph some of my husbands carvings - and I hope to start posting a few of those tomorrow.  Today I'll go through and see which ones actually fill the special requests from last year.  There aren't a ton of carvings - it was a busy year work wise - but there are some. Stay tuned.

enjoy your day!!

Another list, written in red

As I was making my lists on the way home last Sunday, I realized that I hadn't yet gotten 'wish lists' from my children and really have no inkling of what they are hoping Santa will bring them this year.  So I flipped the page and started a new list.  I told them I would go around the circle three times and they could list one thing each time.

I began with Allan

A: I really don't know
W:  A dsi!  (handheld Nintendo game thingie system) (her big brother has one)
B: A dsi!
M:  same Brian has!!

Round 2

A: I honestly don't know
W: M&M lip smacker
B: M&M's and Crackers (note to self: get Brian's hearing checked)
M: Crackers!

Round 3

A: Mom - I really haven't thought about it! (his procrastination comes naturally)
W: A humongous bag of skittles!
B: A bunk bed!
M: A bunk bed!

Then - since I saw the lightbulb finally click in Allan's head I did one more round

A: Legos Indian Jones 2 for my dsi
Mom:  doggone it - that just came out, how did you hear about it?
A: Moooooom, I do keep up on these things you know

W: A pot maker (a pottery wheel)
B: skateboard
M: Skateboard!

Time to seal the deal and mail it off to Santa

Hello December

In no way, shape or form, am I ready for the month of December.
And yet it arrives.

Alas.

We set a Tormville record last night.  I think his jaw actually dropped when the kids said, "mom said we could put the tree up!!!"   Even when I told the kids to go tell dad - their eyes glazed over.  Really? Already? they chorused, stunned.  Looking back, I'm not sure what hit me. We usually wait - in fact always wait, until two weeks before the holiday. I might regret this impulsive moment. There's a good possibility that the tree might be hucked out that window, ornaments and all, by the time the 25th comes.

We traded in our big fat bushy lovely tree last year, for a pencil tree - more suited for our living conditions (read: tight)  One of the best decisions I ever made.   The kids aren't on board with me.  In fact, they forgot about the trade and when we started putting this one up they were all sorts of wistful and sad, remembering ol' fatty that took up half our living room.  Proof that kids don't care how small their living space is, they just remember the good stuff.

I reminded them that the Only reason I even suggested putting the tree up this early is because we have one now that actually fits.  (And the thought that if I start decorating earlier this year, maybe I'll have it all done by Christmas) They commenced to decorating.

Funny of the night:

Wendy, holding little clay snowman:  Mom, Who made this one again?
Me: Granny made that one, she's not with us any more.
Brian:  Wendy!!  Our dead granny made that one!!!  (all excited like)

Happy December!

Quote of the Day

Allan (14) to his sister Wendy (9) over some ridiculous thing or another:  *Scoff*  (Disgusted) WENdy! You are SO cartoon. !

photo heavy Thanksgiving post

If only to knock this off my list.....

Thursday:

 

Dinner was at 3:00 at my cousin Carla's.  I took this picture real quick and then the rest is a blur.  Food, laughs, more food, laughs, laughs and laughs, topped off with more food.

It was great

Friday:

Slept in until 9:30
Shuddered when I thought of the rest of the world (except for my friend Liz) (she's smart. like me) out shopping, including my oldest who headed out with his aunt Sherry.  That he even considered it must come from a Pennala gene.  NOT from my genes. *shudder*  His Laakso/Eskola/Ryynanen genes kicked in by the time he was done and he said, "never again"  I'm so proud.
I stayed in my jammies until after 11 then slowly sauntered up to the shower
Found a friend for Wendy
Then at 2:00 I took photos in front of the above barn
and visited until after 5
got pizza
headed back to my mom's and listened to the hockey game on the radio
went to bed

Saturday Morning (Saturday was busier and thus must be divided into segments):

9:00 - Did a photo shoot of some cute kids in front of this gem

10:30 ish: Went to the bazaar at the Rozsa Center.  Didn't buy anything but enjoyed people watching and visiting

11:30: My aunt (on the left) and my mom (on the right)  We had picked up my aunt on the way down to the sale, and it's a good thing we did as she's the only one that bought something. or two.

Early Afternoon:

Went back to grandma's
Ate lunch
Then my mom napped and hubby and I took the kids to McLains to burn off some energy

Wendy says (that's Wendy) Mom - the boys are doing something really boring.  Curious - I went to check...

Boring meant they were experimenting with balance.  So science and math and stuff.  I thought it was pretty cool.

Boring over, it suddenly dawned on me that I had all four kids in one spot. That doesn't happen as much as you might think - so I lined them up.

And that's pretty much how that went.

I decided to take pictures of wildlife instead

Contemplated just sending wildlife pictures for Christmas, or just individual shots.  Again.

I actually had a brainstorm late last night, so now a new thing on my list this week is to see if I can make it happen.  And yes, I procrastinate on my photo card. Every year. It's a tradition. I thrive on pressure.

After a couple hours, we old folks were ready to wrap it up - but the kids needed some convincing. And carrying.

Late afternoon:

We dropped the kids off at my moms
gave them strict orders to behave
and headed out to a little jamboree

I'm always hearing about these musical get togethers, but haven't attended one since my Uncle Bill (on the way left) used to play in the living room when I was a little girl.  I enjoyed every second, I could have sat there all day.

Saturday night:

Began packing the van
No pictures, but we went over to my husband's sister's house for awhile
Then his sister and I went out to coffee
called it a day

Sunday: Traveled all day

And with that - the kids are telling me that they are staaaaaarving and it's time for me to get something else done around here

be good!

home again. again.

A few outtakes from the week:

Traveling for Thanksgiving hadn't been in the plan when I bought that ticket to Denver
Monday and Tuesday last week were l.o.n.g. days in preparation - 3 hours of sleep each night
I slept well at my mom's house

My husband doesn't usually come with us when we go to grandma's in the summer, as we usually go when he's pretty tied up with work and we extend our stay.  He does however, get up there - I'm thinking at least once a year, when we travel in the fall time.  But when our 4 year old realized he was coming, he was all - REALLY?  DAD is coming to GRANDma's?  Jumping up and down excited.  Dad's coming!!!!

It was funny

We left here about 7am on Wednesday. It's a ten hour drive. Brian - the 4 year old - hurled his guts out at the first rest area. I made a judgement call and decided it was car sickness and we continued on. I'm pretty sure I was right. He did manage to get most of it out the door, which we are grateful for.

North of the bridge (that would be the Mackinaw Bridge) our 9 year old (GIRL) started having bladder issues. Which doesn't work well north of the bridge. (peeing options are few and far between) Her dad refused to bring her into a bar to pee, (which is honorable. I suppose. But it was hard for me to appreciate at that time)  and I had to teach my husband and oldest son that a girl can't pee on the side of the road like a boy can. We finally found a little hidden dip in the road and I taught my daughter (via verbal instruction) the fine art of peeing in the bush. As a girl.

She was peeing every 50 miles for a bit there, but managed to hold it after that.  It was a fluke thing.

Trips are awesome. My aunt asked, was your trip uneventful?  and I said, uneventful? what's that?

My husband and I usually split the driving 60/40 ish.  I'm used to driving that trek by myself so often that it's hard for me to be the passenger. (but I'm the 40ish)  I can't read in the car like I used to, and if I take Dramamine so that I can, I get groggy.  I don't like sleeping as the passenger.

I believe it's the passenger's duty to keep the driver awake.  Unless the driver is me. 

I think maybe I'll consider learning to knit just so I have something to do as a passenger.  Not having something to do resulted in me eating too much, and making long lists - such as that one shown above. There are actually three pages of those lists.  A Christmas to do list/what to shop for on Cyber Monday list, the kids wish lists, and just general thoughts and inspiration.  I love to write.
Usually not with a red pen tho, but it was all I could find. The list in the picture is my 'do this week' list. which I've already added to and scratched things off since we got home. 

We got home at 4. The drive was gray and rainy yesterday - with more and more traffic the closer we got to home.

I unpacked, then ran out and got milk. and bread. and eggs.

It was weird being gone for Thanksgiving this year - missing the Festival of Lights parade, but I'm glad we went -- it was a good time, but short. 

Pictures later - I'm still catching up here

be good!
Happy Cyber Monday!

headed home

We're headed home tomorrow and I'll share more when I actually have a computer that works (pffft) but for now, some bullets for my own memory

• This has been the warmed UP November in years. No Snow. Odd.
• Enjoyed the bazaar this morning at the Rozsa Center - didn't buy anything but caught up with friends
• Looked for Lara - didn't see her
• But did ask one person if they were her. They weren't.
• Love the art galleries in Calumet, enjoyed a quick view today.  It's been a fun stop for a few trips now
• Broke a tooth last night. That makes me 3 trips out of the last 3 for breaking teeth when I come up north. What's up with that? I don't break teeth at home.
• Went to McLains this afternoon to let the kids burn off some energy
• It was cold
• Brian was going down the slide, and he seriously wouldn't budge.  All ticked off he says, "WHO put honey on the slide??"
• I tried getting a photo of all four kids. At the same time. It's not easy. I might have to learn how to switch out a head in photoshop yet.
• Hubby and I enjoyed an afternoon jamboree - I grew up listening to my Uncle Bill sing and play, and I've never tired of it. Totally made my trip. And Gordie sings too! How did I not know that?
• My husband has two sisters who live here too - we're going to visit his OLD.er older sister tonight.
• After I pack.  I should be packing.
• I'm kinda excited for Monday.
• No sauna and no pasty this trip. That just feels odd.
• Wendy had a ball at Molly's house yesterday. "And we went through the woods and we crawled through the electric fence and we wore a lot of orange so we didn't get shot"  She'd fit in well up here.

All for now, I seriously have to go pack.....

be good!

computer question

Okay. So we're at my mom's.

She has a laptop and a wireless connection.

When trying to access that wireless connection on my husband's computer, whatever page the person was on actually asked for the router number rather than the password. (The person has since been given a lesson in wifi connecting)

They put that router number into my husbands computer and now his computer works gloriously.

My mom's computer, however, will no longer connect.

We're awesome guests.

Any clue how to fix it? Because we're not having much luck

Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving

 

May your travels be safe, your company be good, and your pants be stretchy.....

there is life beyond traveling and turkeys

There is, after all, stamping and sneak peeks. 

Just a little midnight peek into next Monday's stamping lesson for my Get it Stamped! class.  I love sharing. 

Happy Wednesday!!

ps. for all of those traveling - hyvaa matkaa (good journey) and drive safe!