Neighbors!

Well..... you will all be very proud of me.

I FINALLY got brave enough to go next door and meet the new neighbors (they moved in the day before thanksgiving - and in my defense I did have company for awhile there).

They are a lovely family that moved here from Florida - like us they have some family here too (i mean really like us... one set of parents and one brother! - eerie!). Like us they were living in the 'rents basement while the house finished. Like us they have never been "midwesterners" before. They are a family of three (a four year old boy that will be able to play with ethan!) and another one on the way. Whoo hoo! A baby!!

I had to try to contain my enthusiasm to meet them. Didn't want to seem too stalkerish. I am just so tired of not having a social life here. Didn't quite have the time to ask her if she was a scrapbooker (didn't see any scrap related "droppings" though), but she is a stay at homer too. Cross your fingers for me - I haven't always had neighbor luck in the past. Don't get me wrong, I've had nice neighbors - just didn't click with them on a social level. Cheryl was my most recent "neighbor" friend, and she was a goodie!!! Oh and you may notice that I am not referring to the neighbors by name.... well if Kristin was on the blog live she could answer why... can you? Answer at the bottom of the post.

So, you will note that I am posting daily. I will try to keep it up.

Prior to meeting the neighbors my day was fairly glum and gloomy. The gray weather here bothers me more then I expected it to. I think I am going to look into some tanning believe it or not. Maybe just once a week for about 15 minutes, just for some good ole sun. What do ya think? Ever heard of that helping? I just have to make sure that nobody has to see me in my bathing suit (oh the horrors!) in order to do the tanning thing.

Hey, if you have a moment can you send me your favorite thing to do on a gray and gloomy day? Just PLEASE don't say to bake! I am all too good at that one and unless I want to look EXACTLY like Edna Turnblad I need to stop baking NOW. So, non food related tips please.

For your viewing pleasure here are the frames I made for my niece and nephews for Halloween. Are you planning any Christmas projects? I haven't decided yet. I haven't even given much thought to teacher gifts yet - so KRISTIN (mentioned twice in one entry, perhaps she will write back???? - broad and obvious hint) if you have any ideas... that goes for you too Michelle (who reads but doesn't comment much... let's go chickie!)! Deb, any thoughts for me? What are you doing this year Spinny? Krafty Kristy? I know you don't have to do teacher gifts yet girl, but it's never too soon to start compiling those ideas! Kim? Kimmy? Sue? Becky? Aunt barb? Somebody give me an idea okay????? Back to the Halloween projects - the one that shows what the back looked like is Ruthie's, I didn't forget her. I used wood frames, halloween paper, initials and doodads from Michael's, paint, sandpaper, and my all time favorite MOD PODGE!

Happy Hump Day!
me

PS - the reason I am not featuring my neighbors names is that they went in one ear and out the other! In my nerves/excitment to meet them I don't even think I heard their names. I just remember their little boy's name. Yep, that's it. Egad. Oh well.... I'll figure it out somehow!

In My Humble Opinion...

Hello Again!
Two days in a ROW!
Aren't you impressed????
If you haven't read in awhile make sure to catch the one under this one, it has updates and pictures in it.

Okay, so believe it or not based on my lame-o posting I have seen a few movies lately (well within the past two months anyway). Part of the reason is that we don't have "normal" TV yet (ie: no cable) but when Meme and Papa were here we got some rabbit ears (antenna inside thingys) and were able to receive a few channels. We got the parade, we got football, at least that was covered.

Anyway.... I thought if you hadn't seen some of these you may enjoy:

"Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer" (out on video) - very good, fine for whole family. I love super hero movies anyway (not a chick flick fan) but even if you hadn't seen the first one you could follow this one. Good vs Evil always fun to watch.

"Mr. Magoriums Magical Emporium" (in theaters) - Very cool special effects. Very appropriate for adults too, especially if you are a fan of Dustin Hoffman. Not what I was expecting the movie to be. Ethan was bored. I liked it, but was bummed by it also. Sooooo... a good one, but you could wait for the video. Everyone else liked it more then me. That includes Meme and Papa too.

"Hairspray" (video) - OH MY OH MY i LOVE this movie! Love Zac Efron in it (Link) love love love John Travola in it and Christopher Walkin is hilarious. I have watched this multiple times (well, parts of it) and I only bought it the Wednesday before thanksgiving! The big kids love it! Get it! Watch it! Of course, I love all musicals and also get this excited over HSM and HSM2....
but this was fantastic.

"Transformers" (video) - Okay, this one was a surprise for Jeff and I. I got it because I like the main actor (Shia LeBouf) from his disney days and think he is very talented. Well, we loved it! Didn't have the big kids watch it (pg13) but I know Abbie could have. A very surprisingly good movie. Two thumbs up!

Well, that's not as many as I thought.
Have you seen any good ones lately?
Give us some tips!

I personally cannot wait to see this and ESPECIALLY can't wait to see this.
Have you seen the first one yet? I heard it is fantastic.
Leave us your reviews!
Happy Tuesday!

Ummmm..... hello???

Hello there and happy belated Thanksgiving!
I know, it's been a bloomin month since my last post!
I just got soooo behind I didn't know what to update you on first!
So... in no great order here's what we've been up to...

*We went to a "Festival of Trees"
*We had our first CT guests! Meme and Papa broke in the guest room. :)*We hosted Thanksgiving for nine! At nine it was my smallest in years, we really missed our other family. Instead of being too sad we tried to concentrate on our blessings. Still missed you all though.
*Okay, this one's for Heather... and it's a biggie. Over the four day weekend Jeff made a home depot run and got the lumber to make these shelves. They go all the way around my "back" basement. Should go a long way to helping us organize down there (oy vey, it's terrible believe me). Should also help me to be able to FIND my Christmas stuff which is why there are no pictures of our new tree here. Inevitable delay I'm afraid.
* We got new furniture during the month. Finally replaced the slip covered set. It is chocolate brown leather. This is the chair, there is a sofa and love seat too. Looks kinda sorta grown up even doesn't it????!

*This tree was the last tree in our yard to lose leaves. It hung on in this brilliant red color for the longest time. Here is one of my attempts to get an "artsy" picture of it. Not so great. Really Spincerely rocks the best at artsy nature pictures!
*During November I did an activity with Max's boy scout troop that involved painting with mashed berries. Kristin and I often did it in our classrooms when we taught next door to each other (um, i miss those days). The boys LOVED squishing the blueberries and raspberries through the sieves using rocks. Just like "Little Gopher" would do.
This is the book the activity is based on. Little Gopher is the Native American on the front cover. If you have kiddies I highly recommend this book. If you want the "paint" recipe let me know. Oh, and after doing the scout troop I did it for his whole class too. Can you say "insane"?
*At the Festival of Trees mentioned above Rudy came and posed with the kids. Ethan was missing because he, like all of us, had "peri-flu". Never mind that he had flu shots, they all did. Just a strain of flu going around here. On this day his temp was 104 and he wound up needing an x-ray at the hospital to make sure he didn't have pneumonia. Fun. All of us were sick, starting with Abbie, then Max, then Me, then Ethan. Please note Jeff missed it. Lucky duck!
*Pumpkin picking and the corn maze. HUGE corn maze. Lost a kid in there. Really. Almost had to get the people that run the farm to come and help me search. Luckily the child popped out just as i was about to sound the alarm. It was not the littlest child. I'll just leave it at that.

*Halloween. Love this pose of Abbie as I truly believe you see the real her in it! Sassy little devil isn't she!!! ;)
*Favorite pic of "Count Maxula". Flying down the drive on his too small scooter! Perhaps Santa will remedy that.......
*Firefighter Ethan off to the rescue by way of John Deere!
*Rudy's butt! We went to the holiday parade and it was fantastic! Lasted over an hour and even had these huge balloons. Hard to photo though, hence the booty shot. It was such a gorgeous day for a parade! Santa and his Mrs. ended the parade and the kids were thrilled. Oh, and also they got more candy that day (hurled at them from the floats) then you would believe! Three full bags of it. Yippeee... more candy! (said dripping with sarcasm) (and a chuckle)
That's it for the pictures in this picture heavy post.

You're kindof sortof caught up with me now.

What's new with you?

I have an idea for Christmas... it has to do with a blog challenge where each day you would get an "assignment" for a different holiday picture to take and I would post mine. I would try to find a way to post yours too. Would anyone be interested? Then those of us who scrap would have a minibook all done at then end. If you are interested let me know - otherwise I won't bore you all with it!

Have a great week! I'll try to stay caught up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

J