estir_bune {Easter Bunny} n. 1. a mom trying to release, creatively

hmmmmmmmmmm

It's been awhile, huh? Sorry about that. I just haven't really done much of anything, but stress out...

Ken had sinus surgery. He went in on a Thursday, had the surgery, went home, went back to the hospital because he wouldn't stop bleeding... we went home but were back at the hospital Friday morning, and he went through another surgery, still trying to staunch his bleeding. The second surgery seemed to have been a success... seemed to anyway. Monday,  Ken went back to the doctors, only to find out that he had some bleeding behind some tissue in his sinus cavity. The doctor cut it out right there in the office... since then there have been no more troubles! *fingers crossed* 

Moo kinda freaked out about the way Ken looked right after surgery... she even drew a picture of her "family"  with Ken... well... looking more like Hannibal Lector than daddy!

Mom's move is set... WOOT! The moving company will go in and pack her up on 02/28 then put it all on the truck 03/01. Then 7 - 10 days later,  all of her stuff will show up here!

Moo and I went over to mom's new place yesterday to measure the patio for a tie out line to keep Duncan tethered.

Oh and I brought my camera!

The place is fabulous! Looks like a resort hotel! Mom will be soooo happy here! and you know what??? I will be happy with her there too! 

Funk....

Have you ever just had one of those days where you just don't want to do anything and what you do end up doing doesn't seem to go according to plan?  Well, that has been my January - so far.

I think, mainly, I am worried about my mother's well being. Good news is that her house will go on the market February 1st, and let's hope for a QUICK sale! Then I think I get to fly my happy butt out there and drive her and the dog back home to Omaha. That is still up in the air... we shall see. Anyone up for a road trip???? LOL

Then there is the issue of my tooth. I had one pulled a few Tuesdays ago and I just can't seem to leave the hole alone for nothing! So it's still bothering me a bit. I have another tooth that needs to be surgically removed because the root is firmly embedded in my sinus cavity - oh joy! 

On the scrapping front I have had a few designers retire rather abruptly (4) so I am now on creative teams for HGD by Laurie Ann, Valorie Wibbens Designs, and Queen of Hearts.  I have applied to a few other CTs but I haven't heard anything and frankly if I don't get them I think I will do just fine with the 3 teams I have now. 

HGD by Laurie Ann

 
Valorie Wibbens Designs

 

Queen of Hearts

 

We have been shoveling snow all day - not so bad right yet but it may get nasty by Tuesday. I am already trying to talk Ken into carpooling as I hate driving in snow! 

well I guess a post just wouldn't be right with out any photos of Moo... so I snapped these yesterday... after she played in her make-up. She is trying to be a sophisticated lady at a tea!

the paparazzi just never gives a sophisticated lady a break !

Now I am off to shovel a bit more! 

and Christmas slowly closes...

Christmas came and went in a blur of excitement fueled by sugar!

We officially started Christmas eve in church...

the service was beautiful, and our little Miss Moo sang (albeit a bit off key) with the choir while dancers twirled and spun to the music.

It was beautiful, but I had a bit of an issue... I hadn't switched my phone ringer/notify tones to off and "Mrs. Claus"  text a  message trying to coordinate a phone call time from the "jolly man" to our Moo! It took me two texts before I figured out how to turn the tones off! Ackkkkkkkk! Texting in church, in front of Jon, during service... probably not the best example!

Well we made it through church. Then on to the house for dinner of turkey chilli, rolls, cookies and wild blue berry tart.  Then came the presents! The children, once again, made out like bandits! But instead of taking photos, I was way to busy trying to contain the flying paper as Moo ripped into her presents like a wild woman!

Then came the call from Santa! He called from somewhere over Argentina! Moo was so excited! When I asked what he said, she said "I can't remember, but he told me that I was on the NICE list!" I thought it was sweet, that before she hung up, she made sure to say "I love you Santa!"

So you will have to excuse this next set of photos.... I woke her up this morning for the sole  intention of photographing her in this CUTE coat! Ok so maybe that wasn't my only reason for waking her, but it sounded good!

 

She is currently glued to Toy Story 3 that her aunt Kim & uncle Steve gave to her! Jon got his X Box and some Thrasher gear, along with clothes and a subscription to Thrasher magazine among other things. Moo now owns 2 cameras, a Udraw pad for the wii (which we moved off the plasma screen tv) a bunch of cute clothes and accessories! 

As for me.... I am headed to Barnes and Noble, when they open (at 11 am), to purchase a NOOK color! :)

Hope you all had a tremendous holiday! 

you better watch out...

Santa Claus is coming to town... are you ready??? I think we are. At least I hope so! Getting close to D day! Today I actually even made some cookie dough for cookies for Santa. We will pop them in the oven on Christmas eve and have fresh cookies for Santa!

I have spent the last few days watching old movies and wrapping the last of the presents for under our tree.  I haven't been too excited to do much of anything... maybe this week I will get a rush of mojo and get a lot accomplished! 

I am looking forward to next Christmas! Mom will be here and I will have her with me to get the spirit going again! 

Happy Holidays!

after a bit of log in trouble... we are back!

My hiatus was not intentional... just a bit of a communication error between my log in and this here blog!

Well since we last talked, Moo and I have continued our dance classes. I really love it! The stretches at the end of each class are magical! The week of Thanksgiving our hip scarves came in... here is Moo with one on...

not quite as cute on me though! She (being Moo) doesn't seem to like our class as much as I do, but she's been a trooper none the less!

We had Thanksgiving dinner here, and I really didn't pull out my camera much. Shame on me... but what is needed after a good meal??? A nap...

like father, like daughter!  We had a great meal with some seriously yummy desserts! I really enjoy this time with family, but I can't help but think... next year will be even better when mom is here! I can not wait to have her hanging out in the kitchen with me!

Since Thanksgiving, we have been getting ready for Christmas... it's taken me awhile to get into the spirit, but I think I finally have!

These pictures may help you too, if you are lacking in spirit too...

Moo & Santa 2010 chapped face and all...

She really believes!

till next time! Happy Holidays!

Birthday and Halloween have passed by in a flash

... and we are on the brink of Thanksgiving! AAACKKKKKKKK! It's all coming at me soooo fast! I am still not ready to admit that summer is over...

Halloween... sorry for not posting pictures sooner...

 

This year she collected $25.06 for Unicef and she donated at least 5 pounds of candy to the Rainbow House.

We figure all of her candy could help bring a smile to those that were unable to go trick or treating themselves...

Words can not express how proud we are of her!

She turned 7 this past week! Oh my oh my!!!

She and I have started belly dancing classes and we had class on the night of her birthday! The class sang her Happy Birthday in a unity circle! Pretty darn cool!

We celebrated her birthday with a party at Whole Foods! She had a Spa party! They made room atomizers, sugar scrub and fizzy bath salts! The kids made fruit kabobs and had cheese and crackers  - the cheese had a smiley face in it! too cute! - and had ice cream sundaes... all stuff she can eat! The party coordinator, Shera... wow! She has the patience of a saint! The woman is amazing with children!

 



and now, thanks to the kindness and generosity of her friends... Moo's room looks as if Toys R Us exploded in there!!!

This Thursday is Thanksgiving... and my house is a wreck! AAAAAACCCCK! Hope I get a moment to at least straighten it up before the big day! 

Have a great week!

Halloween...

Doesn't seem possible, but today is Halloween... the true start of the holiday season... no rest from now until January 2nd!

Moo is going this year as Pinkalicious a character from a book that eats so many pink cupcakes she turns pink! 

I will have to post Moo's pictures later! She is donating her candy again this year. This year we will be giving her candy to the Rainbow House they told us that the families that stay there would be so pleased to have a bit of candy, a sweet treat while their children are seeking treatment at the hospital. 

We are also going to collect for Unicef again. Last year she collected over $16.00 for them! I was so proud of her!

Oh and starting November 10th... Moo and I will be taking a Belly Dancing class! It should be lots of fun, and an exercise we can both do that won't stress my knee out too bad! 

Moo keeps asking "is it time to get dressed yet??"  

Jon passed out candy last year, and we are hoping to get him to do it again this year.  I think he actually ate a lot more than he passed out... lol Speaking of Jon, he is doing really great in school! As  &  Bs for the most part. So far this year he has surpassed last year and we are hoping he can keep the momentum going forward! Only a freshman and if he can keep his grade point average so many doors will open for him as far as colleges go! I still think law school would be an awesome fit since he like to argue so much!

Well,  I will be sure to post photos of Moo in her get up this week! 

have a happy, safe and warm Halloween!

 

Oh and PS: I have actually started my Christmas shopping! :)

fall colors.... but feels like summer...

It's been gorgeous here! After a few chilly days, we are in temps that are just darn near perfect! If it was like this year round, I wouldn't complain!

I have a new "joy"! Instead of old Internet Explorer I downloaded and have been using Google Chrome! I love it! IE kept cashing sites like Facebook and it was driving me nuts! Since I started using Chrome I have had no problems! Big thumbs up to the GOOGLE people!

This is a short post, cause we have a busy day... Ken's grandmother's birthday celebration is today and we are off to Lincoln! I am bringing my camera so maybe I will get some good shots!

leaving you all with a picture of Moo...  who for now is cyst free (*knock on wood*)

here it is.... the beginings of fall...

Try as I may, I can't seem to hold mother nature back and she is bent on pushing through to winter. Spring/Summer was super short this year, and I was hoping she'd grant us an Indian Summer to make up for everything we went through last winter...

This past Monday, we lost a co-worker... a friend... she'd been battling cancer for several years and after a long, hard stretch of fighting, Ms. Rita finally is at rest. Godspeed friend, please know that you will be missed.

Moo developed another cyst, not in the same spot (thankfully) and we are now fighting a MRSA staph infection. Oh Joy! More meds, more baths. Poor kid, she just can't seem to catch a break... speaking of Moo...

The coming weeks will be filled with Scouts, bunko, pumpkin patches, trick or treat and excitement for a 7th birthday! Not to mention Thanksgiving & Christmas!

Have a great week!  

had a nightmare this morning...

Doesn't it seem odd to say??? A nightmare that wakes you at 6:30 am... well in some circles I guess 6:30 is considered night...

My dream started out all sugary sweet... we were traveling and Ken had the kids else where while I was trekking around the little town we were in... came across a children's theater that over the door a can of pink paint spilled but before it hit you the paint just dissipated (can you tell it's a dream?) and there was a walkway lined with smallish trees, that had a mechanism that allowed the trees to blow out a very fine (biodegradable, I am sure) glitter dust... it was soooo pretty (all up in my dream) and I remember trying to get good photos of it all for Moo.

Next thing I knew... I was in a dress shop that was really crowded, and I was trying to get through the place to get to my family... here is the bad part of the dream... I dropped something, bent down to pick it up, and my camera strap slid down my arm, just enough to allow my camera to just touch the ground... which of course it did... and that little bit a force broke the entire housing from the body... the lens was ok, but there was no place to attach it to the camera. When I woke, I was desperately trying to collect all the pieces to see if Ken could "fix" it for me.... AAAACCCCCKKKK!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of shooting one of Moo's friends family... say that 5 times fast! Very cute, very funny, and very very sweet...

while we were running hither and dither through the park, a fawn was meandering around eating all the crab apples it could get... It gave the kids a sniff, and even ate out of their hands...

 
I have tons to go through and edit... :)