I love Sundays

Our time for church has changed to 1:00pm and you would think we would be on time every Sunday but not us...no siree...for some reason we are 5 minutes late everytime. But this Sunday we don't have any primary classes so no running around trying to finish lessons and stuff. I think we are staying home today anyway because I have been fighting a cold...and I am still feeling awful.
We had a pretty decent snow fall this past week..not quite enough to build a snow man or go sledding but it was fun to have snowball fights with the girls. Dene is a great shot and I have had to take her down a time or two. We are expecting more snow this week.
Cory loves school and he is still in love with PA but the shine is coming off the apple everytime he has to scrap the ice off the car. Right now he is doing anatomy (gross and head and neck) so he has been working with cadavers (sp?). He always has some yummy tale to tell that pretty much ruins dinner if you know what I mean...and I will never eat beef jerky ever again. I want to share in his "school experience" but not with that much detail...yuk!
Gotta make pancakes...I promised...so later dudes.
One L

Life can Suck

We returned home from AZ with our hearts full and our sunshine meter reading full. We have enjoyed unseasonably warm weather here in Pittsburgh...Not as nice as AZ but not as cold as it could be.
Shortly after returning home my mom called to let me know her cancer had returned...She battled and won a bout of breast cancer several years ago. The news is not good. There is no cure for secondary bone cancer...It is just a matter of how much time treatment can give her and how much pain she is to endure.
I am always heartbroken when I hear of small children losing their mothers...I think all children need to have a mom to love them and hold them and kiss all their boo boos. The most devastating thing for me would be to lose one of my children...I hope and pray I never have to endure that. I know my mother has lived 64 years and that in itself is a gift. She has loved, lived and touched many lives, I just selfishly want to have her for about 20 more years.
I keep writing things and deleting them because some things are just too...Well the word inappropriate jumps to mind.
I just wanted to let you all know what is going on in our lives..I will update soon.
One L

Back from AZ

WE are back and the girls had a blast hanging out with their brothers, cousins and friends...we didn't get to see as much of the brothers as we would have liked but beggars can't be choosers. They have jobs and school and girlfriends and we are not at the top of the list...its ok for now.
Friends and family were on our list and unfortunately we didn't get to see everyone we wanted to this visit. I thought 2 weeks was enough time but I was wrong...so many friends and family that we love very much.
Restaurants...that was Cory's first concern...and we did manage to eat at every place we had missed...and the Gecko Grill twice.

That is a picture of us outside the Gecko grill with Cory's family too.

I did a chance to work at Devine Memories twice and I had a blast...thanks to all my friends who could come out and crop with us...thanks everyone. I didn't realize how much I had missed working in the store until I put that apron back on...it was delicious.

The weather...the sun...the landscape...the mountains, were also soaked up...I couldn't get enough of it. On a strange note Pittsburgh is having the most unusual winter...with the highs in the low 60's and high 50's. Sounds like we brought a bit of AZ back with us...no complaints from me.

I loved visiting AZ but was glad to sleep in my own bed and cook in my own kitchen...now if I could just get my bed and kitchen to AZ then that would be great!

We had a wonderful Christmas and wish everyone the happiest of New Years

One L

Leaving on a jet plane

We are all packed and ready to go. We have to drop off the dog with friends because Southwest doesn't allow pets, can you believe that? Then it is off to the airport, and we will be in AZ in time for dinner at Gecko Grill...We can taste it now...Yummy.
The irony of it all it that it will be warmer here this week at times than it will be in AZ. But the sun will be a shining!
Thursday we will be at Devine Memories for a tasting party for a recipe swap I signed up for...What was I thinking? I have 26 6x6 pages to finish...I have one done as we speak. I might be in trouble.
Well I have to get going see you all soon.
One L

Devine Memories virtual challenge

These are a few of the pages I did, the flower pocket, black and white with a whisper of red and my version of winter joy. I did a clipboard and hand cut out the phrases. For the challenge to use some kind of office supply and I was in my element. I used a prong fastener to add some ribbon. That is all for now.
One L

Visions of sugar plums

WE are all getting into the Christmas spirit here in PA. Well, except for Scrooge aka Cory, he is about ready to snap...no warm and fuzzy going on in him right now. I guess I would be a little less into the season if I had an exam everyday...and my future hung in the balance. Come Thursday he should have an overwhelming sense of relief and have room in his life for some Christmas spirit. We are excited about coming home in a week, we have missed our family and friends more than we could have imagined. The girls are most excited to see their brothers...and Grandma.
Later
One L

Happy Christmas!

The girls decorated the tree and I think they did a great job! Since we are leaving here on the 19th I opted for an artificial tree this year...that way when we get back I won't have a dead tree and needles everywhere to clean up. It was prelit and let me just say "THAT ROCKS!!!". I just wish real trees came prelit too and that would be the bomb. The girls ask everyday if they can open 1 present and I am such a push over that I usually let them. (Not the big ones, just the dollar store ones) They don't care, half the time it is just ripping the paper off that floats their boat.
Cory got 100% on his final on Friday and I am so proud...not so much because he got 100% but because so many other guys had trouble. Does that make me shallow? Cory says it does but I disagree, I don't want to rub it in I just like him to be the smartest in the class...whats wrong with that?
I am more excited and have more energy lately than I have in months...I know it is because I am going home...dang I miss you guys! Soon I keep telling myself...soon.

More pictures of the house

Just thought I would show you guys a few more pics of the new homestead. I painted the provo craft letters and sanded the edges and I altered this table and chair set from IKEA. Everything is coming along...slowly. More to come.

First real snow

The girls were so excited about the snow they went out and made snow angels...you can wee the darks spots in the grass. It is funny that they didn't seem to notice the freezing temperatures because they were having so much fun. I stayed indoors like any sane person and made hot cocoa for the girls and warmed up blankets...they had those red rosy cheeks when they came back in and Dene said she couldn't feel her chin. They amde snow balls and threw them at eachother, but there really wasn't that much accumulation. They are expecting more snow over night and more tomorrow, we are hoping to build a snowman as soon as we can. I will take tons of pics.

Christmas decorations are done...the stockings are hung by the chimney with care. I made a huge wreath for the front of out house and it was prelit. It is beautiful if I do say so myself but we are having issues with finding an outlet to light it up...these 96 year old houses do not have outlets outside. Later all.

I've Been so Busy

I can't believe I have been so deliquent in updating my blog, but in my defense I have been out of the country. Ok so a weekend trip to Canada doesn't sound as impressive...But it has been an eventful couple of weeks
We had a super Saturday and I was busy getting ready for it and I still haven't cleaned up my scrap room either.
Thanksgiving was so nice, a little lonely but nice. We had a family over who was dealing with some health issues and making a turkey dinner wasn't going to happen for them so I got to spoil them. Everything turned out great except that my Mother in Law makes these rolls that are to die for and I used her recipe and they were great but not nearly as good as her. I am going to have to work on it.
The Friday following Thanksgiving we jumped in the car and headed to Canada to spend some time with my parents...And eat some yummy food. My parents jammed into 3 days about two weeks worth of adventures. There was shopping and eating and water parks and birthday parties and underground parking and valet parking...It was a blast. The girls want to spend every weekend up in Canada.
Crossing the border was easier than expected...Going there... But coming back the line up to go over the Peace Bridge was miles long. After inching along for over 2 hours we finally made it back into the great USA. It was the first time I felt like I was coming home instead of leaving it, I must be an American now.
I have a new calling in church...I am the Nursery Leader...And we have a huge nursery...yikes!
I told the Bishop that I have been in nursery or sunbeams for the last 5 years so I am hoping it won't be "for a long time" calling.
Now I am getting ready for Christmas, buying presents and making a few things and things to boot. I need a personal helper...or a personal stand behind me with a whip helper.
We are leaving for our Christmas vacation in AZ in 19 short days and I am counting them down with anticipation...I am more excited than I can say.
That is all for now I will try and post some pics from Canada trip.
One L

Cookie

Dene decided to take her dog to school...we caught it just in time. Cookie loves to be maulled by Dene and Dene loves to drag that poor dog around everywhere.
Cookie's life is in danger but not from Dene...the other morning I looked outside and saw a bunch of feathers in the back yard in a little pile. I thought the neighbor had killed a pidgeon and just left it there but no that wasn't the case. When I went outside to investigate, there was no bird just feathers and one foot. An hour or so later Dene noticed a huge bird in the tree just above where the feathers were...it was a huge hawk or falcon. Someone had told us that a Yorkie was abducted by a hawk but it was a tiny one...well I think this hawk could make a meal or two of our little puppy. So now we have to make sure Cookie is never outside by herself...that or get her really fat.

Daddy's turn

I love this picture of Cory taking the girls to school...it was a while ago so there is still leaves on the trees. The leaves are all gone now, but you can see their school up ahead.
The girls both love their teachers and love going to school...they are going to be geeks like their parents. They are growing up so fast I feel like stopping time for just a while. The day will come when they no longer want to snuggle and I won't be their favorite person to hang out with.
This is the one flat spot in Dormont, everything else is on a hill...some of them drop off kind of hills. I will take some pictures, you won't believe it unless you see it. I miss the flat streets of AZ, I miss the warmth of the sun, I miss my sister, I miss my friends. When we move back to AZ I know there are some things I will miss from here, but probably only people he he he.
I am painting the girls room this week and I am excited about it. We are going with knock your socks off pink but I am doing it only on the lower half of the wall...it is too powerful to go all the way up. I will post before and after shots.
Later
One L

Some pics of the new house

Well I finally figured out how to do this...I promise there will be a photo with each post from now on...unless I encounter anymore technical dificulties. So far the Living room and the dining room are just about done, and the bathroom is cute as all get out. I have the bedrooms and the play room left and after they are all done I could start on the basement. I kinda love this old house and all its creaky floors and old world charm, I am enjoying fixing it up. The few people who helped us move in cannot get over the transformation...heck even I am surprised at how cute everything is turning out to be. I painted the dining room but the living room and the bathroom are the original color...pale yellow (yuck). I have a plan for the girls room and I just have to paint in our bedroom, the one that I have no idea what I am going to do with is my scrap room/spare room. I will definitely do a before and after shot with that one. Miss you all
One L

Pretty & Scary

This Halloween we had a very pretty princess and and very scary witch. It was raining here in Pittsburgh but the girls still mananged to get enough candy to rot every tooth in their mouths. It is a good thing Cory will be a Dentist in a few years. Cory braved the cold rain with the girls and I stayed home and handed out candy to the multitude of brave children who don't seem to even notice the rain or the cold for that matter. I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween this year.
One L

BRRRRR

It is getting chilly here is Pittsburgh. I wish we had a fireplace that worked...for some unknown reason they sealed ours. That would make these cold evenings nice...a warm fire and that smell that takes me back to my childhood. Cory is immersed in biochem, dental anatomy and histology. He thinks it is all so interesting...nerd. But I guess if he is going to be doing teeth for the next 30 years or so he might as well find it fasinating.
I am finally fitting in here...or should I say the people here are finally seeing what a truely fun and "cool" person I am. I am teaching some scrapbook like classes at the super saturday here in Nov., so I had to go all "Kim" on them. (for those of you who don't know Kim, it means I had to go all out and make a mini book out of a card). Ofcourse they were all impressed, not that I am all that... it is just their idea of scrapbooking is CM and they haven't seen the old stuff let alone the new stuff. They were fairly easy to impress.
I think these 3 years and 9 months will be ok.
Later my friends.
One L

I did this page last night as part of Devine Memories virtual crop...it was a blast. This one was "the chipboard" challenge or the 10:00pm challenge. I cannot believe that I stayed up until 4:00am playing, but I did get 5 pages done. This one is my favorite.

Well I can upload some of my pictures to my blog and then others I cannot fine. I took a bunch of pictures of the house and I have 2 rooms pretty much done. Computers...can't live without them can't shoot them.

Greg called the other day and had a long chat with his sisters...they were having brother withdrawl. I knew we would miss them but I am surprised at the silly things I miss. I miss their excitement and appreciation of their favorite meals. No one gets excited about chicken spaghetti like Chris and I made baked subs the other day for lunch and there was so much left over.

Friday morning it was dang cold here and the girls were excited about seeing their breath, our furnace was down and we were chilly even with the oven going and the space heater on HI. Snow is coming and I dred it!. On the bright side...I could do some cool snow pictures.

We got the girls a swing set and it was delivered on Wed. I know I am going to have to put it up all by myself...Cory is focusing on school and he doesn't understand that a swing set IS a priority!

Till next post...I love you all my friends.

One L

Sorry with an "O"

Oh my goodness...I didn't to post until I had some pictures to download and then I had a series of unfortunate incidents. Now that I have the camera and computer working I still haven't taken the necessary pictures and it has been ages since I last posted an update here on my blog so I will just give a short update and try to put the camera thingy into the printer thingy and figure out how to post it on my blog all by myself because Cory is MIA these days.
The last I heard from the eldest son...he had lost his job and was looking for another one but he was in good financial condition because he was saving up for a car I think.
Son number 2 still hadn't resolved his car issues and he has to do something soon...his car is still in impound and he had no insurance when he hit the police car...now he has to pay for everything out of his pocket...I feel for him. I sent some money for school and living expenses but I think he might have to use that to fix the police car.
Here in Pittsburgh life is moving along regardless of how I feel...the girls are really enjoying the cool weather. They are patiently waiting for snow...and several people have offered to take them sledding as soon as there is enough snow on the ground. They are too funny...everyday they ask if I think it will snow and the other morning we could see our breath and they were totally stoked. Cory is studing hard and getting high "B" 's so far...they grade on a curve and there are alot of single guys who study about 6-8 hours a day...compared to Cory's 2 hours I think he is doing magnificient! He loves the stuff they are learning and he is already in the clinic. One of the perk is that a lot of toothpaste and toothbrush companies are trying to woo these young guys and they give them a ton of product to play with...needless to say I won't have to buy another tooth brush for the rest of my life.
I have been so very lonely here...the people here are very nice but only to a point...nobody wanted to play with me...they were willing to give me directions and chat for 2 minutes but nobody wanted to invite me over or come to my house. So I took the advise of some friends and sisters and stopped feeling sorry for myself and started inviting people over for diner...it has been my motto in the past..."feeding people...a great way to make friends and infuence people". So I have had people over for lunch and diner a ton of times and I am starting to feel like I could make a friend or two. But I will not get too attached because there is no way in hell I am staying here after Cory finishes school.
Well my short update has grown beyond its years...later my friends.
One L

Settling in

Finally I am beginning to settle in here in PA, not that I want to live here any longer than I have to. Cory is busy with school, he is doing well so far and he really loves not working at Boeing. The girls are starting to make friends...I wish I could say the same thing about me...I don't really want to make new friends...I already have the best friends a girl could ask for. I do miss having someone to paint with, scrap with, work with and just hang out with. I don't know what is wrong with me...I miss my friends but I am not willing to extend myself and make new ones. This part of PA sucks! Now if I could just convince 2 or 3 of you guys to come and live here for a year of so...life would be grand.
It is freakin cold here...all the time! I am not saying this to make you want to come for a visit...though that would be nice...I just hate being cold. Cory loves the weather so far...he is a weirdo...who loves gray skies and cold damp air? I miss the sun and have to find a sun lamp soon or my sun deprivation illness may rear its ugly head.
The son who never calls, called to inform us that he had a car accident and can no longer drive the car...he hit a police car of all things. Then he opted to buy my sister's car...then the next day it wouldn't start...then he calls. I wish we could help but when I told him to just pack his bags and move here with us he said "funny mom" like I wasn't serious.
I miss them tons...I miss my sister...I miss my friends and I miss all my family (especially Ella Bella).
I am not depressed, just reflective. I will try and post some pics with the next post.
love ya
One L

One box at a time

The process is slow but steady...I have committed to unpacking at least one box a day. Sometimes it is a very small box and some days it is 3 or 4 (like today).
It must be the rain that makes me want to settle in here, or maybe because I have the urge to scrap and I promised Cory I would get the other rooms in working order first. The bathroom is 95% done and the kitchen is a close second. Our bedroom is close and the girls room is even closer. The living room and dining room will be the toughest...lots of crap that I stored in the buffet that has no home now and I am at a loss as to where to put all this stuff.
The basement will be the catch all but because it has a moisture problem I can't store everything down there.
I have an arrangement with a lady I met while picking Dene up from school...she has a kindergartner too but she is in the other class. She was in desperate need of a babysitter from 11:00 until 3:00 and we struck a deal. I don't need the money right now but I would love to have a full day (8-3) all to myself. So we are switching off I will take her daughter for 2 days and she will take mine...yeah! Now I can take some time to check out the suburbs without worrying about being late to pick up Dene at 11:00. Also I could use the time to work on the house, since I decided to paint...I know I know I swore I would never do it again but I love color and would love to go crazy and do the dining room in chocolate and the girls in pink pink pink.
I will post pictures when a room is finished. Promise.
One L

Freak!

It has taken me for ever to get this computer up and running with internet. I am so happy to be back in touch with the world via the web. We had a nightmare road getting this house and I still can't talk about it without getting all choked up...but the final result is great, we moved into the house we wanted and life is good.
The girls absolutely love their new school and teachers, and I think the world of them too. The Principal is really on the ball and makes the school a fun safe place for the kids to spend most of their day.
The boys are ok in AZ, well I guess they are because the 18 year old hasn't called his mother yet!!!! I have left messages everywhere but I haven't heard from him, I know he is alive because I have spoken with his girlfriend Tara and she says he is alive and well. Greg and I text eachother often and I know he misses his sisters alot.
I am growing to love my new house and its old time charm...I have decided to do it shabby chic.
I will post pics as soon as a room is done.
Love to all.
One L