Something for Moose...

Moose LOVES to look out the windows in my new space. There are just perfect height for her. But today isn't about looking out the windows...take a little closer look...

See her fancy bracelet?

I am sure you have seen the latest fad...rubber band bracelets. EVERYONE has them...including Moose! Jack made her a pooch perfect pink and blue bracelet for her to enjoy!

Now, all she needs is her nails painted!

Pick Up Your Clothes!

Jack had a tendancy to leave his clothes where he takes them off. I am ALWAYS telling the kid to pick up his clothes!  On this day, I misspoke, I told Jack to take care of his clothes! Well, he did take care of his clothes.

"Jack...What is this?"
I took care of my clothes and made them into a Cubs coach! Look...a whistle!"
"Great. Very creative."
Some days, I just don't know what to say.....

What do you think about the weather?

Moose came in the other day and looked at me.
"What do you think, Moose?"

I think she said:
"It's cold.
It's snowing.
I don't like it."
 

A Vikings Game...and RGIII

Since Jason and I had to head to Minneapolis to get a new piece from my scrapbook table,we decided to go the Vikings game while we were there.

Honestly, it was the other way around. We stopped at IKEA because we were up there for the game. Sometimes I like to pretend that I am the reason we went to Minneapolis and not the Vikings. (smile) This night the Vikes were playing the Washington Redskins...which meant RG III would be in the house! YEA!!!

We were able to watch Adrian Peterson warm up before the game.

And watch RG III run by after warming up!

Jared Allen and the defense came out to warm up...I think he is looking at me! He is probably thinking, you aren't allowed to have that long of camera lens in the dome!

Oh...that wasn't Jared Allen thinking that, it was the little security man in the yellow jacket who was actually yelling it at me! I pushed my lens in and he said, "Your lens is longer than a pencil! You shouldn't have that in here!" I asked him, "Why?" He then proceeded to pick up a program to point out the rules..I stopped him and explained, "I understand that there is a rule on the size of lens that I can have. But, can you explain to me why."  "I don't know why. Just keep that thing in. You shouldn't have gotten in here with that."  Wow. Glad their security is working...I feel safe!

I told the man in the yellow jacket I would keep my big lens tucked in. Then I proceeded to have Jason block my lens and take pictures of RG III running by. Seriously, how can I not use my big lens...it's not like this happens every day!

We also watched Cris Carter, who was being presented with his Hall of Fame rings at half time, blow the big Viking horn to start the game.

I used my big illegal lens to watch  RG III take some hikes!

 Watched Petersen make some touchdowns! It's blurry because he is so faaaassssttt!!

RG III

AP celebrating a touchdown. Wow! The Vikes might actually win this game!

 

Petersen walking ito the locker-room at half time.

Cris Carter headed to a podium to accept his Hall of Fame rings.

RG III warming up after half time.

Petersen running back on the field after half time.

RG III passing the ball. I think he is looking at me saying, "You go ahead and use your big lens. I am getting fined for wearing my camo shoes in honor of the veterans and my own parents!"

Petersen scored another touchdown...Vikes were ahead at this time! It was a nail biter of a game!

Where we sat, the human mascot of the Vikes came by and we got a quick picture with him!

The Vikes pulled it off and actually won the game. It came down to the very last! What a fun night! And I got to se RG III play...oh and AP and Jared Allen and Cris Carter, too!

 

Basketball Season!

Basketball season has started for Sam. He is on a new team this year and the families are just as fun as last year's team...which is important when you spend ALL day at tournaments with them! And we all know, it's about my happy social life! 

I love basketball season! Don't get me wrong, I love football, too, but weather can be an issue and I worry about Sam getting hurt in football. I know, he can get hurt in basketball, but you know what I mean. 

The team played great, but it did take a bit for them to get into the grove of playing together. They are a great group of young men...heehee...boys and they all go to school together and hang out at lunch. I have visions of them sitting on the lunch tables like the boys in the movie Grease.

Sam really worked the post position...it was fun to watch!

And the famous Sammy head tilt!

Sam was getting ready for the start of the game. At this time he tips the ball...which we need to work on his timing. The ref was asking him how many points he thought he was going to score.  Sam just giggled.

And the tip off...Sam is tall, but his vertical jump is a bit challenged.

Hello, Sam!

I ate my words of him getting hurt. In the second game,Sam went down, grabbing his knee and couldn't get up. Now Sam is very dramatic...he gets it from the males in his life (his dad and grandpa) so, at times I am not sure how badly hurt he actually may be. But this time, he tried to walk and went back down. Eek! I thought for a moment I was going to have to run out yelling, "MY BABY!! OH MY BABY!!!" But I just yelled on the inside.   After getting helped off the court, getting some ice and rest, he was good to go. What we think happened is that another player was driving to the basket and hit his knee on Sam's knee and he basically got a stinger. I don't know what that is, but that's what they told me happened. So I went along with it. Sometimes you just have to do that in order to survive when your child has an injury. Yes, he gets his dramatics from the males in his life!

The Beginning of My Space!

As I mentioned, last weekend IT WAS TIME! The house is about a week, week and a half from being completed. BUT, my "studio" as the workers refer to it as, (how glamorous!) was ready to move into. I got the go ahead from our contractor and I didn't hesitate!

I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but I have been "promised" (I use that word lightly) a scrap space since we moved into out old house...Sam was 2. It really never seemed to work in the plans until now and it was well worth the wait...I can say that now.

My previous space, for the last 4 years in this house, has been in the basement. It worked, but it's not a very creative space by the dehumidifier, treadmill and washer and dryer. Plus...no sunshine!

So, when we planned out room I was just giddy! It's everything I have ever wanted...and more!

The first thing to move on Saturday, was my scrap table. I purchased this table from IKEA about seven years ago and it still works perfectly.

This is my table that I had in the basement. We made a trip t IKEA a couple of weeks ago to buy an additional piece for the existing desk. When I got home, guess what...I bought the wrong piece!!UGH!! The piece I was suppose to buy, would actual mirror what you see in this picture. I bought the exact same piece!  No mirroring going to happen with the exact same piece!!

 

 So as I sat here on Saturday, with my Starbuck's coffee, I suddenly had a thought..what if we would use the "wrong" piece I purchased and make the table one large square?!?! After some discussion, we decided to try it out.

 

Jason, what a guy through all this table work, and Sam got busy putting the table together.

Jack even got in on the act!  The boys were awesome helpers! Sam even said at one point, "I could put legs together all day...if I have directions!"

Moose looked out the windows. They are just at the right level for her to check out everything going on in the big wide world and the dumpster.

Just a few adjustments and the table was good to go. The piece that was actually the wrong piece worked out like a dream! Even better than my original plan!

I spent the rest of the day moving things from the basement up to my new space. I did tons of steps, so I even got an all day "work out" in...with a few stops for lunch...snack...
Moose and I both had new spaces and we are enjoying them immensely!

Moose????

This last weekend we spent every waking minute on the house. We painted a bedroom, moved Sam into our old bedroom, put up his new bed and the list goes on and on! I have never moved so mush furniture!  The most "important" move we did, in my opinion,  was move me into my new scrap space! It is amazing and I love it! Will share pictures this week! I think all the commotion stressed Moose out. At one point we couldn't find her!

We finally found her all curled up and sound asleep in Jack's bed! She has NEVER gotten in his or any of our beds and there she was. When we went in, she looked up at us with those big brown eyes and Jack immediately said, "It's ok, Moose. You stay right there." And she did!

Wow.

Like father, like son.

That's all I have to say for this one!
 

A Little Conversation...

Jack: "I am going to go to Hawaii someday."
Me: "You are? How are you ever going to afford that?"
Jack: "I'll just use Sam's college fund."

Fancy!

Jason took the little guy to get a hair cut!

The he sent me a picture of the new look while Jack posed at the grocery store in front of m&m's!

A Bonfire....

We live outside city limits, so we can burn things in our burn pile. The pile was very large, so we decided it was time to set that baby on fire!

Wow. It was one big fire!!
How big?

That is our neighbor standing beside the fire watching her burn! We thought about roasting marshmallows, but it was WAY to big and we wouldn't be able to get close enough!

It's a Boy!

Our "Manny" from this summer, and his wife, had a brand new baby boy. We couldn't wait to meet the new little guy, Kellen. Jack got all dressed up for the meeting, khaki pants, nice shirt, a TIE and combed his hair!

Sam had football practice, so Jack and I headed down to the hospital.

Jack was just smitten with this little guy!

He said, "I was one of the first people that Kellen saw in his life!"

Kellen held onto Jack's finger and Jack thought that was the BEST thing ever! When we got home, Jack couldn't stop talking about Kellen and how he was just HOURS old! it was pretty cool.

A couple of days later, Sam got to meet the little guy. He thought he was pretty darn cute. He was a natural at holding Kellen...must be because he had just finished up child development in his FCS class!

Jack has now volunteered that he could babysit Kellen when Jack gets older...wait...Sam could watch Jack and Kellen both! 

Basement Tour Try 2..

Unfortunately, the basement pictures of last weeks house tour did not post, so...Take 2!

The door straight ahead is a where the sump pump and HVAC items are located.

When you come down the stairs, to your right there is a door, that will be hung soon, that leads to the basement of the existing house. The other door, leads under the steps and will be used for storage.

If you look to your left, you will see a door to the bathroom, the entry to the theater (which will have doors) and then the entry to the "social" area

I am standing in the theater area and looking back at the door that will eventually have doors. The half wall will have a counter and stool on the other side. The "bar" is visible in the back.

To the right of the theater door, is the component shelf. It will hold all the coronets for the theater...it's black so the components will "disappear."

A closer look at the bar. The large empty area will hold the fridge.

The area past the bar will be a card playing area and will eventually have a card table.

Now I am in standing in the "card" area and looking back at the theater area. The big "blank" area is planned to house a pool table. Now with all, this room don't you think that Jason could find a spot to work form home?

This is the entry to the bathroom.

A closer look...a light gray paint and gray plank tiles. The tiles look like gray wood...really awesome!

We are about two weeks out from moving into our new areas!! Cannot wait!!