My husband

This is Jan Michael's "I Was Just Woken From My Nap And I Don't Like It" face.
This is Jan Michael's "Wait! I Can Take Another Nap Tomorrow!" face.

Craftiness

I have begun the long and very often aggravating process of Christmas card making. I really like to be able to send everyone cards of my own creation, but it takes me a hundred years to think of what I want to do, and then much, much longer to cut, glue, stamp, fold, emboss, etc, etc until I have a finished product (hence, the aggravation). Lately one of my favorite tools is called (at least by me and my friend Jennifer) "The Ripper" which lets me rip paper in order to have fancy edges. I have learned that, although an eager ripper, I am not an expert ripper. A lot of times I rip at a diagonal when really I want a straight line, or I rip a piece of paper that ends up being too small, and then I have a huge pile of useless scraps (as evidenced above). But if ripped edges is integral to the design, then rip and rip and rip I must until I have the perfect result. Anyway, this is how I'm spending tonight because it's cold and icy outside and I'm trying to fight off a cold (which means I can't go anywhere), and besides, if I don't get going on these things, I'll never be finished in time.

Hmmm. I've just read through my paragraph, and it has a decidedly whiny, complainy tone to it. So I apologize. I really do like to make my own cards, and I'm thankful to have dear family and friends to send them to, and also thankful for Jennifer who lets me borrow all of her crafty supplies because I'm too cheap to buy my own, and also that I have a warm house to rip in (ahem) while the wind and snow blows outside.

Snow day!

Actually, it wasn't so much a snow day as an ice day. Jan Michael left for work about 5:45 this morning, and by the time he'd passed two cars off in a ditch, he decided to turn around. I, naturally, am very happy to have had him home all day :) They are forecasting another 1-3 inches tomorrow, with possible sleet and freezing rain, so I may be able to enjoy his company again tomorrow.

Snow

We were snowed on just a little bit more last night (although it's all gone now), but I'm still holding out hope!! We have three months of winter left! We took a quick drive around town before we went to bed in search of Christmas lights - we found a few houses all lit up, but I think it might be too early in the season for a huge display. People must still be cleaning up from Thanksgiving - I know we are! :)

Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow

It's snowing! Yessssssss! I've been complaining all day because the weather forecast said we would have an accumulation of 1-3 inches, but all we've seen is rain. Then, a few minutes ago, we looked out the window, and ta-da! We took a walk but came home quickly because it's cold out there! Maybe if any of it sticks overnight, I can take more pictures tomorrow.

Tee hee

I think this was taken right around Thanksgiving last year, and his little grin makes me smile :)

The dimensional adventure game of pitfalls and perils!

When it's late at night and you and your dear husby are feeling restless, it's a good idea to play a fierce game of Fireball Island. "It's a game of rip-roaring action and heart-pounding suspense!"

Thankful

Happy, happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We had a very cozy, quiet, LOVELY day, just the two of us. There's enough food here for an army (WHO is going to eat all of the leftover cheesecake and pumpkin pie? Sadly, I think the answer is me...) We have some very specific things to be thankful for this year, and I am - very, very thankful. But I need to think more about the things that go beyond this life - the spiritual things God provides through Jesus that give me reason to be thankful every day, no matter the circumstance or situation.

More from Sunday

Good morning hugs :)
Stairs + Uncle Jan + bouncy blue ball = BIG FUN!
Just after meeting

Artist in training!

From the mouths of babes

I'll interrupt our weekend pictures briefly for more wisdom from little ones about what love means.

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis, too. That's love."

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."

"Love is like a little old man and a little old woman who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

"You really shouldn't say I love you unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."

Sunday

Jan Michael fends off the Tickle Monster.
Jan Michael captures the Tickle Monster!
While I was saying "1, 2, 3" so they would know when I'd take the picture, Derek was counting with me :)


This shot is sans-Derek because he'd had enough of pictures and let us know in no uncertain terms that he was not having any of it.

Most lovely weekend

We are so grateful to Brent and Danny for making the trek up here and spending the weekend with us. Derek continues his reign as Brightest Boy the World Has Ever Seen - he can count to 5, recite the alphabet, identify colors, say 'Uncle Jan' and 'Auntie' clear as a bell, and kick a ball with great precision. Caleb is growing like a weed (11 pounds and counting!), is very, very snuggly, and also has strong lung capacity [ ;) ]. The grown-ups enjoyed good conversation and company and fellowship. Thank you, thank you, a trillion times thank you, B & D - we love you!

P.S. Pictures are below, just from Saturday. Sunday's come tomorrow :)

B & D visit

Parking lot high-jinks
A lesson in kazoo-ing

I'm going to send this to the Jones Soda Company and see if they'll use it as their label. I will make you famous, Brento!!
Derek threw himself onto the ball and was sent right over the top :)

Jan says this reminds him of Calvin and Hobbes :)
I like this one. A lot.

Daddy says, "We should take a nap." Derek says, "Not at this point in time...."
Some tickling ensued instead.....
And Derek proclaimed himself "Happy Derek."

Company!

On Saturday the Brent branch of the Pearson clan is planning to visit us, and to that I say YIPEEEEEEEE!
This is here because it's just plain cute, and besides, I miss you two and we should have some sort of rendezvous, yes?

Cozy house

My goodness, today is the definition of blustery. We were sitting on the couch earlier and are pretty sure we saw part of the neighbor's tree fly through the air. Weather like this makes me thankful for a warm, safe place to live :)

Quiz

I have just taken the "Which Superhero Are You?" quiz, and as it turns out, I am Supergirl - "Lean, muscular and feminine. Honest and a defender of the innocent."

Boy, I'm really scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of stuff to post.

More flood coverage

http://www.fischerfam.com/110706_Flood.html

I thought I would drive around yesterday and take pictures of the flooding, but the water is receding very quickly, so we'll have to rely on pictures my friend Jennifer took at the height of the craziness. I think she was taking these while I was stuck on the other side of the valley, coming to the conclusion that there really wasn't any way I could get home short of some sort of helicopter mission.

FLOOD, a big one

Yesterday all roads to my little town were blocked off because of raging, flooding rivers. And I was stuck outside my little town all night long, unable to get to my husband and my house. It was dreadful. (But I am home now, because one road has been re-opened, and I am so, so, so glad.) I will take pictures tomorrow and you will see the chaos.

Occupational hazard

It's dangerous sometimes working as a housewife. I decided today it would be wise to clean out the microwave before it reached a point of no return. The best way I can think of to get weeks of splattered chili and oatmeal, etc off the inside is to microwave a mug of water and then let the steam do its thing. This way I don't have to use a chisel. So I did this, and it was working, but I didn't take the mug out of the microwave before I started wiping away. Instead I tried to work around it, but the mug was very hot still, and I bumped it and now I have a burn as proof. Poor, poor me.

Everyone has a crummy day now and again

Once upon a time, a truck came careening down the street and drove through my parents' front yard, straight through the porch, and into the living room. And this is what it looked like.

Caleb

I've been sitting around lamenting about how I haven't done anything just recently which warrants picture-taking, which means I haven't been able to post anything new, and then I thought... Now wait just one minute! I have other Caleb pictures the world hasn't yet seen! So here you are.
The brothers hang out.
New mama :)

ANOTHER shoe picture?!

New running shoes for me, yahooooooooooooo! Slowly but surely making progress...