Just a Quickie

I'm remaining fairly calm for having a party week coming up next week!  The only thing that is starting to concern me is that we have a crew coming to sheet rock downstairs on Monday.  Do you think I'll have much dust upstairs after they are done?  There is a door at the bottom of the steps, so I hope not since my jewelry party is on Tuesday!

In preparing my house for perfection, I feel the need to add decorations that have been missing up until this point. Why didn't I put them up before? Well, I had to make some and the others I'm just not sure where to put them. . . So, here is a picture of what I created tonight! I'm so darn excited, I can't stand it AND the best part?? The flowery paper in the frame I can change out with whatever I want, whenever I want because the 'H' is on the glass of the frame!

BEFORE

 AFTER

 Isn't this so fun?? It will eventually go on the outside of the door, but we don't have a storm door on yet, so I'll only put it outside when we are expecting guests.

It's OVER!!

Basketball season ~ check
Celebrated a birthday ~ check
Sent out invites for birthday party #1 ~ check
Sent out invites for birthday party #2 ~ check
Sent out invites for Jewelry party ~ check
Changed the ivory outlets and switch in the black granite to black ~ check!

This isn't everything, but it's what comes to mind when I think about what's been done this last week.

Saturday was a 2 for 1 ~ the final tournament of the BB season AND Chris' birthday
The tournament. . .
I won't bore you with the details, we will NEVER recommend that DV send a team to HULL, IA for a tournament again ~ just one thing I'll share and you can go with it from there in your mind. . .

The referees from our first game were also the coaches of the team we had to play the 2nd game ~ yahhhaaa, not sure how that one works!

After the game, though, most of the players were able to stop in LeMars to the ice cream shop for a treat from the coach.

 There are our boys (minus a couple little ones) :~)

 Lori and I were going to get a picture with our boys all day on Saturday and it wasn't until we dropped them off at home that we were finally able to.  I'm not sure why the photographer/coach didn't tell Taite to stand in back since he is the biggest of the boys, but next time. . .

When we got home that night, our "electrician" had gotten a ride from his neighbor (who was on his way to St. Louis) and was at our house.  Chris didn't feel like grilling on his birthday so we went to RED ROBIN yuummmmmm. . .  for supper.  Nothing too exciting so I hope the birthday boy wasn't disappointed, but we can make up for that tonight!  We are celebrating Chris and Jane's birthdays at Pasta Night at the club since Chris' birthday was Saturday and Jane's was Sunday but she was gone for the weekend. 

As most of you know, I hate planning and hosting birthdays, so the next week and 1/2 are going to be stressful for me!  To add to that stress, I'm also having my jewelry party on Tuesday night (once I have the house clean, I might as well, utilize it to the fullest! haha).  I'm very excited for this party for 2 reasons.  The main reason ~ whenever I see one or two or all of these women I have invited at something we always share a good laugh and have fun!  You know how you are supposed to surround yourself with others who make you happy?  That's what I'll be doing ~ can you feel the excitement???  Add a little wine to that and shopping and you've got the perfect evening!!!

Oh, yeah, about the outlets in the kitchen "barland" (bar/island).  The electrician who worked on this house initially just used the same color as he did in the walls despite the granite being a black mix.  They looked terrible and stood out like a sore thumb!!  So, one day while I was at work and our electrician was at our house waiting for his return ride :~) he changed them out for me ~ YAHOO!!!  It looks SOOoooo much better now!!  Now about getting some things on the walls. . . haha! 

I suppose, I'd better get to work so I can pay the bills ~ hehe.  Actually, with Japan in the situation it's in, each day we are waiting for "the email".  It seems as though the "it's not as bad as we had anticipated" email we received last week from one steamship line lifted our spirits (just Chris and mine, well, on second though, probably just mine) but that was only from a company who was "stopping by".  'The lack of fuel at the port was not as bad as anticipated.'  'The congestion of containers at the port was not as bad as anticipated.'  But, these are not the people who have to deal with everyday cleanup and, unfortunately, the email we received from the company in Japan we work with, it's not good. 

With so many people lost, that cuts down on the demand.

With so much to clean up and fix, that cuts down on money to be spent on the product.

People saving money and cutting back will not be entertaining others, which cuts down on demand.

The age of the population of Japan is cutting down on demand (we actually learned this last summer ~ the younger generation of Japanese people do not like Tofu and traditional food, they prefer a more western diet which includes a lot less soy!)

The number of small-sized tofu manufacturers who will not re-open their business producing food products will be reduced by the 1000's.

The larger tofu manufacturers are expecting huge reductions in demand despite being the "big dogs" in the market.

That is our little lesson for this week, so please continue to pray for their recovery efforts as we are all so very blessed and fortunate. 

Nothing, really

I must tell you one of my many blessings is my son, Taite.  Yes, both my kids are great and so is my husband, but this particular story is about Taite (the others will have their moments too). . .

As he was supposed to be getting ready for bed last night, Taite came to ask me when the Tooth Fairy was coming to get his tooth that's under his pillow.  I'm bad, really bad. . . he knows, so I quit giving the effort.  Why, you ask?  I'm not sure.  The pressure is too great, the tooth grosses me out, it's Chris' thing, I don't know (I seem to have an abundance of excuses, however).  So, in good Tooth Fairy form, I tell him he can search out my purse and grab a dollar.  I need to back up a little at this point ~ Taite typically gives Chris and I a hug and "I love you" before he heads to bed to tuck himself in (another thing I will regret when I get older, I know).  Last night at this point, he had given me one "hug" (I was on my computer so it was more of a lean and wrap one arm around his back, kind of hug) shortly to be followed by another pathetic hug as he's searching for my purse.  I was pretty sure I had left it in the van, but he finally told me,
"MOM, I don't want a dollar!  I want one good hug from you!"  So with thoughts of my computer and non-necessary stuff on it, I gave Taite a very warm and strong hug for about a minute (well, it was probably more like 30 seconds because a minute is longer than you think, especially when you are waiting for a minute so you can finish brushing your teeth).  It felt great, it was exactly what I needed, I am humbled that my 11 year old had to be up-front enough to say "I NEED A HUG".  Thank you, Lord, for my family!!!

Supper time around here is difficult.  Difficult because Chris is trying to figure out what is affecting his stomach so poorly and he's wondering if now it's wheat ~ sheesh, have you ever tried to cut that out of a diet??  Wheat in addition to dairy makes it nearly impossible to make a meal.  So tonight we had cheesey chicken with broccoli & rice ~ Chris?  He had chicken with rice and some onion powder and parsley.  It tasted like chicken noodle soup and no "soup".  He wonders why he always feels hungry. . . um, because he ends up eating not much of anything.  Poor guy!  The boys and I enjoyed dinner, so we'll keep working on Chris. This is with cheese. . .

 Without cheese. . .

 The boys are having trouble understanding that our weather isn't still 55 degrees outside.  Last night and tonight they were outside playing football.  Brayton without a coat, no less!

 Poooorrrr Brayton!  Taite just FLUNG him to the ground!  LOL

 This is the newest addition to our house.  For those of you who figured, like we did, that Cable & Dish are alike, you are sooooo wrong!!!  Since we are finishing our basement we have to pull any cable that we might ever want in the future of this planet (who knows, could only be 8 months) in the house now!  So, we switched to Direct TV and are LOVING IT!!! 

 Today we got the new directory and guess what???  We are in it!!!  Not only is our home info in it. . .

 NI Midstar is listed in the business section!  hehe

PARTY!!!

For those of you who love to shop, I am having a Jewel Kade party!  I love the necklaces in this line because they aren't the normal kind of jewelry parties you typically see.  With this line, you select a necklace or 4 and add whatever (or change) the charms as you wish.  The charms are hand made and soldered!  My description is doing no good, so go check out their website:  http://www.jewelkade.com/ and let me know if you can't live without something and I'll add it to my party!

2 posts in 1 day! Yippee!!

Okay, since I can't get my video of Taite's choir concert to upload, I've found a solution.  I will send you to the schools website where the video is already uploaded and will share with you my favorite song.  Go to this site:
http://dakotavalley.k12.sd.us/ms/content/5th-6th-choir-concert
Click on the "click here" to view the 5th and 6th grade choir concert performed on March 10, 2011.
(Taite is on the left 2nd down from the top and 2nd in from the left)
It will bring up a video and if you want to watch all of that, that's okay.  I prefer to skip to the part that Taite is in and more importantly the cute song they sang.  So, to do that, move the place on the video to the 12 minute mark and you will get to hear "Peace on Earth and Lots of Little Crickets".  I really like the tune and think it's a neat song, but it's even better when you know all the words (the only thing you will miss from my video of this song is the giggling going on when it talked about getting the lonely cricket a girlfriend and then his room is full of baby crickets which he shared with everyone, including his enemies).  I hope you have a happy, peaceful weekend!!  (I suggest you put the video on and then still be able to read the words while the video is playing)

One night a cricket crept in my room

so I ran to my mother and said make him go away,

she said that crickets bring us good luck

so I let him stay and fed him night and day.

Later on my cricket looked so sad

and he said "I'm getting lonely to no end,

so I ran out into the field

and I brought him back a sweet cricket girlfriend.

Before too long my whole room was filled

with baby crickets all chirping their "do-re-mi's"

I gave all my friends a baby cricket for luck

and I even gave them to my enemies.

Then all the people in the neighborhood

let the lucky little crickets be their guide,

new friends were made and bitterness forgotten

and the happiness and crickets multiplied.

Then my mother said let's buy some little boxes

and fill them with crickets and send them on their way

to people here and there and everywhere

and bring all the world a happy brand new day.

There were little crickets chirping far and wide

and I winked and I smiled and I laughed with my mother,

all the people were so happy go lucky

they forgot how to hate each other...

And there was Peace on Earth, and joy everywhere

there was Peace on Earth and hearts filled with gladness,

Oh yes, there was Peace on Earth

..and lots of little crickets!

Yep, fell right off the wagon. . .

I realize I haven't been updating my blog like I had big dreams of doing!  UGH, another resolution down the crapper.  hehe  In my defense, I did try to upload a video a month ago ~ not sure what it was ~ but it didn't upload, so I didn't do a post.  That's a good one, right??

We have been busy, busy, busy and with this warmer weather we've been having, it's a different busy (no more basketball practices and games) as the boys have spent a lot of time at the park which is a hot spot in our neighborhood and only about 3-4 blocks away (one of the "blocks" is rather long so that's why it's an estimation) :D The boys comment every day how much they LOVE living in a neighborhood like this ~ friends nearby and a park all accessible by walking or biking.


About a month ago, we (the boys and I) were given the opportunity to tag along on a business trip for the truck stop business side of our lives.  We flew down to Florida on Friday morning and came back Monday.  The boys didn't have school on that Monday, so they only missed one day of classes.  The conference that Tom, Jane & Chris had to go to was held at a Disney resort ~ the Coronado.  The boys and I had a tough time of laying around by the pool while the others were stuck inside at the conference ~ I know, I can feel your sympathy for us.  On Saturday night, we went to Epcot as our Disney park of choice.  We even talked Chris into riding on some rides (he was a little green afterwards). 

 On Sunday night, the conference had a farewell party at the Disney park ~ Hollywood Studios!  They had a great meal, face painting and some rides. 

 Taite chose an alligator. . .

 Brayton was the Joker. . . (he really wants to be this for Halloween, but he has ZERO faith that I could duplicate this look in October)

 I realize this one is very similar to the picture above it, but look at Taite's expression!!!  LOL ~ I have no idea where that came from!!

 One morning a few weeks ago, we woke up to the sound of sirens ~ you may not have experienced this before, but vaguely you register that the sound gets louder before it shuts off completely, while in your groggy state of sleep.  It was a house far enough away that it wasn't a direct threat to our house, but close enough that when you went out on the deck, you could hear it burning. . .  Turns out you should not smoke cigars in your garage unless you completely extinguish it before going to bed!

 In between basketball practices and games, Chris has still managed to complete more of the basement.  He is getting very good at building soffits.  This is at the bottom of the steps looking towards the movie room.

 This one is above where the bar will be.  We decided to run the dropped down in the ceiling the whole length of the room even though what needed to be framed in was shorter, it will just look nicer.  The 3 can lights you can see in here will be above the bar area/cabinets.

 This is another look at the bar area.  You may also note that our pile of lumber has dwindled considerably since we first started this project. 

Taite's class had a large project called the Living Museum.  Each student had to choose someone from history and create a presentation on this person.  Their speeches would be given to whomever wanted to hear them during the 45 minute period that their class was giving speeches in the gym.  Taite chose Nigel Gresley ~ I know, no one has heard of him before, but Taite chose the man who created the fastest steam train ever.  I would like to give a tip to other parents who might find themselves in this situation: let them choose someone who would interest them.  Of course since Nigel built and worked with trains most of his life was extremely interesting to Taite and I didn't have to harp on him once to get his work done.  In fact, since I was in charge of his "costume" (shortening one of Great-Grandpa Bolles' suits) he had to keep on me to get that done.  It was amazing to see how many of the kids had actual features that made them look similar to the person they had chose (same face shape, etc.).  I learned a lot that day from each person I listened to!
I tried to upload the video of his speech, but there was an error again.  I need go get that one figured out!

Taite's very good friend Tayler (my friend, Lori's, son) as Martin Luther King Jr minus the moustache which lasted only about 30 seconds. LOL

Taite & Tayler's brother, Jordan.

Jordan on the left and Tayler on the right (he told me Martin Luther King Jr. didn't smile. . .)

So, Lori couldn't make it to the Living Museum day.  I was going to do a video of each of her boys for her, but didn't realize that Jordan's class was in the gym BEFORE Taite & Tayler's class, so I missed it!!!  UGH, he was kind enough to put his costume on at their house and did his speech for me there (Lori was shocked he humored me and did this ~ the whole time he was worried that Taite & Tayler were eating his Funyons. . .) :D  Oh, Jordan was the guy who carved Mt. Rushmore, but I can't remember his name. . . so sorry Jordan!!

Tayler talked Taite into joining Choir for 3rd Quarter.  I didn't know they could join in the middle of the year, but apparently when you are hard up for kids, you'll do whatever works!  This is a picture of the boys after their concert.  It was very good and only about 1/2 hour long.  Our boys had the same "theme" going on because these are the clothes that are in stores for Easter :~)

 When the twins were getting dressed up for the concert, their little brother decided he needed to find a nice shirt to go to the concert!  Afterwards, when everyone was taking pictures, Daiton felt left out, so he and Taite had a little photo session :~)