UGH!!!! Why????

Aye Ya YI!!!! Why is it always something? After consulting with Justin, it looks like my hard drive crashed on our desktop computer. I'm disgusted that I didn't back up my pictures since Aug. 2007. Boo Hoo Hoo! The only good news is that I have uploaded lots of pictures to Costco during 2007. So..... I have one hard copy, and after reviewing my photos on-line I've decided to make a disk of all my photos Costco saved for 2007. I guess that is a little silver lining in a huge black stinky cloud!!!!! Until Later............ (I'm going to back up my photos on this computer.)

It's been awhile!!!!!!!

So it has been awhile and lots has been happening... I have about 2 weeks worth of news and lots of pictures to post so.................... Let's start about 2 weeks ago at Mr. Nicholas' birthday.



Here is a picture of everyone waiting for the guests to arrive. I'm not joking. They were all eagerly waiting in anticipation.


Here is the cake.... Another Lightening McQueen, but this time I did not make him out of cake. I opted for the much easier race track with real dirt and grass.




The 4 year old Birthday Boy!

Unwrapping presents and playing with them..........



So that about sums up Nicholas' birthday lunch. Since then we have had lots of other excitement. First, the crazy weather... lots of snow, then ice, now rain and 56 degrees. As Nicholas and I walked home from the bus stop in the freezing cold snow 2 weeks ago, he was checking out the snow plow barreling down the street. He said, "You know what is inside there, Salt and Pepper." That made me smile. I told him he was right. There was definitely salt inside the snow plow, but I was not so sure about the pepper. However, in these tight economic times, with less money being spent to salt the roadways, they just might be peppering the roads soon.


The other excitement has been in the form of WHAT ELSE..... WATER DAMAGE. Of course we had to finish out 2008 with one more water problem. A broken sump pump was to blame for my basement misery. I am so GRATEFUL to have a wonderful family who came to my rescue. As I called my Dad in distress about the flood, he soon arrived with Mom and a wet vac in tow, along with Bradley who was sick. Several hours later the pump was purchased and changed, the water bailed out and vacuumed up, toys rearranged, and carpets dragged to the curb. What a NIGHTMARE for everyone involved. I hope that marks an end to the water issues in this house. I can't imagine anything else that could go (I'm not evening going to type it and curse myself).


Finally, the week before Christmas was shopping for gifts, wrapping, baking cookies and candies, grocery shopping, going to the Dr., and general mayhem. I have lots of pictures to share, but you will have to wait until later. Since Christmas has passed, everyone has been thoroughly exhausted. I'm finally starting to feel better tonight and it is already Sunday. Now I have 2 days to prepare before I have our poker friends over for a New Year's Eve dinner. Until later.......

A Snow Day!!!!!!!!!

Yeah! A snow day! No school. What a great way to start the kids Christmas vacation. I'll have to put them to work shoveling the drive when they get out of bed.

Happy Birthday Nicholas

So it is pretty amazing that this was only 4 short years ago today..........

Boy does time fly. Tonight we are going to celebrate Nicholas' 4th birthday with a little celebration. He can't wait until the big day on Sunday when he get his "official" birthday party.

Here are a couple recent pictures. I bought the kids new Christmas PJs and they couldn't wait to put them on. The minute Amanda got home from school the kids changed and got cozy. I couldn't resist snapping a few photos.

This was the enough already......... Can we be done photo.........

Until later.............

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Photo Frenzy!!!!!!!

Soooo....... Here are some recent photos... These are from Thanksgiving.

I love this picture of Dad and Steve.

Yeah Uncle Leon made the BLOG!

I don't know what is happening in this picture. Mo is being her usual strange self.

Should we be surprised that she married this strange guy.

Dad did an excellent job carving the turkey, even if it was an hour or 2 late. The picture below is evidence that Justin does dishes in exchange for rent.

These are the cupcakes I made this afternoon so Nicholas could celebrate his birthday at school tomorrow. I can't believe he is going to be 4 years old on Wednesday! I have a few more things to share and more photos to post, but I'm tired tonight. I'll try to post again soon. Until later...........

YEAH STEVE!

Another CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy to let everyone know that Steve is being inducted into the Northwestern University Hall of Fame class of 2008-2009. The Hall of Fame was established in 1984 to "emphasize and perpetuate the tradition and spirit of excellence that is Northwestern Athletics."

HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!! There will be a dinner and ceremony in Feb. I'm so proud of him. That is an AWESOME accomplishment. I only wish I could have seen him play during his career at NU.

(On a side note, I'm sure Steve will just love that I posted this photo. One day at work they ambushed him after getting off the court to take photos for a new brochure. He had to do all kinds of poses and mug shots. This is one of my favorites. I know he always has a smirk on his face before serving!)

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