Little Moments Like That

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

What's up, Wednseday?

I took the Prius to the dealership this morning to have it Simonized with a glass coat to prevent paint chipping and rust damage, etc. They gave me a 2013 Avalon for a loaner!! Not too shabby!! I had a few errands to run, so I enjoyed cruising around in this baby for a while before heading to the church to work. Nice!!!!

Sylvia dutifully practiced her violin right after school today, without being asked. She likes to play her violin, and she also likes to have free time to just play.

Tonight, she got out the Crayola Glow Dome and created an underwater scene. She had to show everyone her creation once it got dark.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Labor Day Fun and Frustrations

After the family portraits this morning, Krampa and the kids went for a "last ride" in Ol' Blue, Krampa's old farm truck. The kids have loved riding around the farm with Krampa in the rusty, dusty truck, but he bought a different one. Ol' Blue is too old to go on the road, but Mean Green will be able to go both on the road and on the farm. Poor Ol' Blue kinda ran out of juice at the back of the farm, so Krampa and the kids had to walk all the way back. This was unplanned, so the kids had on flip-flops and weren't lathered up with bug spray. So they got a few mosquito bites on their walk back up the lane. But, they just turned it into a need for a quick, refreshing swim. We sure do enjoy Krampa's pool, and were glad for one last swim of the summer!

Gram made a delicious pot roast for lunch, and fresh green beans from the garden. Wow, we feel spoiled (not to mention fattened up!) when we visit!

We had such a wonderful time with Krampa and Gram this weekend. Precious times and memories made. We love you Gram and Krampa!!

On our way home, we stopped at Grandpa L's butcher shop. Even though it's Labor Day, Grandpa and Uncle Eric were there working hard. While Grandpa loaded up a couple big freezer bags for us, Uncle Eric showed us how they make bacon. We're excited to try all the flavored bratwurst and other items they sent with us. Mmm!

It was fun to watch the screens in Pearl the Prius on the trip this weekend. It's just amazing how our little car gets over 50 miles per gallon!!!

When we arrived home, we were extremely disappointed to see that our new area rugs had been delivered. Well, more like they had been dumped in our driveway! (I had called Lowes Friday evening before we left to make sure the rugs would not be delivered while we were gone, because I didn't want them sitting outside. I was assured that they'd just been shipped Friday morning and shouldn't arrive until Wednesday.)
We found a FedEx post-it by our front door that, when I looked up the tag number online showed they'd been delivered Saturday. They had been sitting outside in 90-some degrees for 3 days! It had rained on them! They smell terrible! And, why were they just dumped there?! Yes, I am angry; yes I am!! When you spend a significant amount of money for something, you don't expect to see it dumped carelessly in your driveway! We didn't know FedEx would be delivering them, and I hadn't been offered a tracking number or anything, but FedEx delivers to our house frequently and always leaves our items carefully on our front porch.

The darker rug is okay, but the one that is bent in the photo above is not. We could see the moisture through the plastic before we opened it.

It is totally soaked. We unrolled it and put it over empty laundry baskets in the living room to dry it out, but it smells really bad. I will be calling Lowes and FedEx.

We bought these rugs expecting to use them for years--possibly decades. This one is going to have to be replaced. I don't like to complain, but it really is disappointing.

Some Better Shots

I'm posting these photos that were some of the better shots we got now that Christmas has passed and cards have been sent and received.

Family Portrait Time

On Saturday, we decided to do family portraits this morning. Jeremy and I were standing around as Dad prepared the camera and tested the light in the portrait place, so we were his "models." Uh, yeah. I believe he asked, "Do you want feet in the picture?" and I said, "No, no feet in the picture." This is our life, folks. Real life.

Me and my favorite man in the world, right here.

He still makes my heart go pitter-pat, and I am so infinitely blessed and honored to be his wife.

My favorite parents in the whole world, right here.

They have taught me so much, constantly supported and encouraged me in so many ways, and have always shown me love regardless of what I was giving back to them.

For now, I'm not going to post any of our "good" family photos, as I doubt we'll get around to taking another before Christmastime, and I may get around to sending cards this year. If so, I'll include a family portrait then. For now, here is more of our really real life...

We thought this would look cool, but it turned out that Caeden looks like a floating head...oops.

I should've stepped down one step...

Getting ready for the big family pic...Not sure what Caeden and Sylvia were so disgusted about. There were wasps flying out of the deck, which were sprayed with about an entire can of RAID, so maybe they were gagging at the smell of that. Or just being dramatic about something else.

I'm guessing my parents will choose a different one for their Christmas card , but it is my favorite of the group shots.

I feel so blessed to be part of this family, to have been raised by such wonderful parents, to be joined at the heart to each of these precious people. I love them all so very much.