If you want a fabulous post about surviving winter, go here, she really sums it up so perfectly!
As for me and trying to survive January- here's the things occupying my brain lately:
- Thinking about the seed catalogs that I haven't had time to actually open them yet. Need to dig out some graph paper to start drawing new garden layouts...
- Pondering the best way to prep and paint those kitchen cabinet doors.
- Listing all the other little things that need to happen to finish Phase 1 of the kitchen project.
- Still contemplating what kind of counters and floors I want when I get a good tax return.
- Looking forward to my silent retreat- just two weeks away, can not wait!!!!!
- Pestering my poor homie into joining choir (so I can sing vicariously through her).
- Thinking about baking, especially from my new Christmas cookbook about baking Artisian Breads in 5 minutes a day - which I also haven't had time to experiment from in the last couple weeks.
- Thinking about all the other awesome projects I want to do around the house - not the ones I need to do- those boring reorganizing and purging projects - but the fun ones- repainting the living room, making new curtains, maybe repainting the bathroom, hmmmm... so many fun things to dream about... while trying to survive the cold, sunless existence.
And to part on a positive note:
- I love an evening at home, with my puppies, in my sweats, with the heat on.
- I love my friend who brought by a six pack of beer in case I needed it for my one evening at home this week. And that she stayed to visit before going to her next stop.
- I love that Saturday will be spent on my kitchen project.
- I love the phone call from my friend who doesn't make phone calls- I know how hard that is and really feel loved!
- I love that I work right next door to Jesus and get to stop in to see Him to begin and end each day.
- I love that it's already the end of January, meaning I just have two more months of winter to survive before SPRING! and then SUMMER! And then FALL! I do love those three seasons!!
- I love that I live with someone who is fun, and low key, and allows me to be me.
- I love Thursdays when I get to see most of my favorite munchkins as they troop down the hall to and from their preschool class. There's nothing quite as great as cute munchkins at work.
- I love life- even when I'm overwhelmed and a little Seasonal Affective Disordered... I am blessed.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
More nephews
These are my cute nephews that I definitely do not get to see often enough. The 17 hour drive between our homes is responsible for that, so naturally it was great to see them while they were here visiting after Christmas. I love these guys and just had to share their cute faces with you.
Guillame - almost 5
Pascal - almost 2
It's that time of year...
I'm sitting on the couch going through paperwork. Current bills, paid bills to file, new health insurance info, old health insurance info, a couple tax forms that just came in, bank statements... sooo much paper. Of course, the one paper I need, a receipt to turn in for reimbursement from my flex account, that I had set aside, is missing. Grrr. I also should go downstairs and get my whole paid receipts file for the year and start going through all of it for taxes... but I can't handle that right now and since I'm still waiting on W2 forms, I guess I can put it off another week or two, for that magical day when life slows down... right?
In the meantime, it's a three-dog weekend around here. Our regular visitor Buck is here with his cute face. Maggie and Buck have a pee-off every time he comes. It goes something like this: the dogs go out to the yard and pee in random locations. Then Maggie goes to smell where Buck just was and pees over it. Meanwhile, he's off peeing somewhere else. And then Maggie follows him, pees over everywhere he peed. Every time they are in the yard. Pretty awesome. But I'm pretty sure in all cases, Maggie gets the last pee. Oh the joys of a dominant dog.
Everyone, and I do mean everyone, is asking about the new job. It isn't that I'm trying to withhold information, but it's really hard to say much sometimes. Particularly because it is a new job, and every new job has it's own stressful transition involved. So... the new job is fine. It is exactly what I expected in a lot of ways... definite pros and cons. It isn't difficult at all, but a constant stream of things to do and people to help, so it's fine. Thank you all for asking. In another month or two, once the transition is done, and I've figured out how and where I fit in, maybe then I'll have a better answer for people. In the meantime, things are fine. I am thankful to be employed.
Have I mentioned that I'm longing for spring? Like crazy?? It's that time of the year again. The cold gray days really get to me after awhile... and knowing we have 3 more months of this... I wish I could just hibernate it away. No worries though, the seed catalogues are coming in... I can start drawing out extravagant yard and garden plans for summer... One can always dream.
Yep, it's that time of year again...
In the meantime, it's a three-dog weekend around here. Our regular visitor Buck is here with his cute face. Maggie and Buck have a pee-off every time he comes. It goes something like this: the dogs go out to the yard and pee in random locations. Then Maggie goes to smell where Buck just was and pees over it. Meanwhile, he's off peeing somewhere else. And then Maggie follows him, pees over everywhere he peed. Every time they are in the yard. Pretty awesome. But I'm pretty sure in all cases, Maggie gets the last pee. Oh the joys of a dominant dog.
Everyone, and I do mean everyone, is asking about the new job. It isn't that I'm trying to withhold information, but it's really hard to say much sometimes. Particularly because it is a new job, and every new job has it's own stressful transition involved. So... the new job is fine. It is exactly what I expected in a lot of ways... definite pros and cons. It isn't difficult at all, but a constant stream of things to do and people to help, so it's fine. Thank you all for asking. In another month or two, once the transition is done, and I've figured out how and where I fit in, maybe then I'll have a better answer for people. In the meantime, things are fine. I am thankful to be employed.
Have I mentioned that I'm longing for spring? Like crazy?? It's that time of the year again. The cold gray days really get to me after awhile... and knowing we have 3 more months of this... I wish I could just hibernate it away. No worries though, the seed catalogues are coming in... I can start drawing out extravagant yard and garden plans for summer... One can always dream.
Yep, it's that time of year again...
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Today needs to be the day...
I'm getting a late start after a late night with the fam last night, but it's my first real Saturday in a long, long time. And I need it to be a productive one... so I'm sharing it here to motivate me to actually get stuff done- sorry for using you like this, but sometimes it helps.
- laundry, personal and house laundry (as in rugs, dog blankets, towels, etc)
- final coat of paint on the trim in the kitchen
- wash the kitchen floor
- deep clean the kitchen
- deep clean 2 bathrooms
- put away all the toys (out from the kiddos visiting last night)
- undecorate the Christmas tree
- take tree to the curb
- shovel the sidewalk again
There's plenty more to do... but this sounds like a good start, wish me luck!
- laundry, personal and house laundry (as in rugs, dog blankets, towels, etc)
- final coat of paint on the trim in the kitchen
- wash the kitchen floor
- deep clean the kitchen
- deep clean 2 bathrooms
- put away all the toys (out from the kiddos visiting last night)
- undecorate the Christmas tree
- take tree to the curb
- shovel the sidewalk again
There's plenty more to do... but this sounds like a good start, wish me luck!
A boy and his dog
Actually, a boy and my dog, but it is no less adorable. 
Geno has always loved Suzie, even when her exhuberant licking got out of control. This past summer, he discovered the joy of a dog who will play fetch (when thrown the one correct ball) for hours, always bringing it right back and ready for more. For a boy who loves playing ball as much as Geno does, this was like hitting the jackpot.
After not visiting for awhile, Geno came by with his dad for a haircut last weekend. Suzie, thrilled as usual, spent most of the time pinning him against a wall licking him (gross). And Geno loves it. And hugs her and even gives her the occasional smooch back. I cut his hair and then he spent the rest of the hour following Suzie, cuddling with her in her bed, talking to her, being licked by her. We also worked on him being able to execute the "Down, stay, treat" trick, where you tell her to lay down and stay, then you put a treat on the floor in front of her, and she has to wait until you say "OK" to get it. Geno is finally able to get her to listen (mostly) when he executes the trick so he wanted to repeat it over and over and over again.
Geno: Reenie, Suzie loves me most of all, even more than Maggie!
Reen: I'm sure she does buddy.
Geno: Yeah. Suzie is my best best best friend, even with all the licking.
Reen: Aww, she sure does love you!! (as she comes back for another round of licking his cute face).
Last night the fam was over for Owen and Suzie's birthdays. Geno followed Suze around with Ben for most of the evening and kept coaching Ben "No Ben, she likes to be petted like this." "Ben, you have to count to seven before you say OK for the treat!!"
At the table, Geno was talking about how much he loves Suzie and why he should have the chair closest to her, etc. He looks up at me and says "Reenie, I love Suzie as much as I love you!"
Reen: What? Don't you love me just a little more than her?
Geno, with a big, loving smile, and brutal honesty: Nope!!
I think there's a compliment in there somewhere, he wasn't telling me that he loves me as much as he loves my dog, it was more along the lines of loving his best friend Suzie as much as he loves his Aunt Reenie... or at least I hope so ;)
Geno has always loved Suzie, even when her exhuberant licking got out of control. This past summer, he discovered the joy of a dog who will play fetch (when thrown the one correct ball) for hours, always bringing it right back and ready for more. For a boy who loves playing ball as much as Geno does, this was like hitting the jackpot.
After not visiting for awhile, Geno came by with his dad for a haircut last weekend. Suzie, thrilled as usual, spent most of the time pinning him against a wall licking him (gross). And Geno loves it. And hugs her and even gives her the occasional smooch back. I cut his hair and then he spent the rest of the hour following Suzie, cuddling with her in her bed, talking to her, being licked by her. We also worked on him being able to execute the "Down, stay, treat" trick, where you tell her to lay down and stay, then you put a treat on the floor in front of her, and she has to wait until you say "OK" to get it. Geno is finally able to get her to listen (mostly) when he executes the trick so he wanted to repeat it over and over and over again.
Geno: Reenie, Suzie loves me most of all, even more than Maggie!
Reen: I'm sure she does buddy.
Geno: Yeah. Suzie is my best best best friend, even with all the licking.
Reen: Aww, she sure does love you!! (as she comes back for another round of licking his cute face).
Last night the fam was over for Owen and Suzie's birthdays. Geno followed Suze around with Ben for most of the evening and kept coaching Ben "No Ben, she likes to be petted like this." "Ben, you have to count to seven before you say OK for the treat!!"
At the table, Geno was talking about how much he loves Suzie and why he should have the chair closest to her, etc. He looks up at me and says "Reenie, I love Suzie as much as I love you!"
Reen: What? Don't you love me just a little more than her?
Geno, with a big, loving smile, and brutal honesty: Nope!!
I think there's a compliment in there somewhere, he wasn't telling me that he loves me as much as he loves my dog, it was more along the lines of loving his best friend Suzie as much as he loves his Aunt Reenie... or at least I hope so ;)
Friday, January 01, 2010
Happy New Year!
It has been a doozy of a couple weeks... new job adjustments, getting sick, the typical Christmas craze, plus a trip to visit a new baby (and her family)... whew. Here's a few highlights:
Time spent with the fam celebrating the birth of our Savior!
And of course visiting with the rest of the Loves is always a good time!
My very own three wolf moon sweatshirt from my brother Emmet. Awesome!! (Wondering what this is about? Check here (read the reviews), here, and here.)
Time spent with the fam celebrating the birth of our Savior!
Cecilia Noel - I love her (shocking, I know). She's in that snuggly, smushy baby stage and such a sweetie. As usual, I exercised my amazing talent of being able to bore almost anyone to sleep; Cecilia was no exception. Snuggle that girlie in my arms and start talking (about pretty much anything) and she's out.
And of course visiting with the rest of the Loves is always a good time!
Then home to a party hosted by my housemate - being out of town, I didn't really do anything for it, but it was fun to hang out with some friends and welcome in the new year.
And now the new year stretching out ahead of us... Happy New Year!!
"The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!" (Numbers 6:24-26)
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